As he ran into the Three Broomsticks, his stomach dropped. The place was a disaster area. How could she have survived this?

Stop it, Neville. She owled, she's going to be fine now. She's just upstairs in her room. She's fine.

Neville's eyes looked over everything, the bar stools, the chairs, the tables, various rubble, and his breath quickened. He nearly lost her, he knew it.

"Mac!" he shouted, half-hysterical. He needed to see her with his own eyes. Neville rushed up the stairs, avoiding bits of wood and glass, and rushed to her room. He threw open the door and leaned on the frame when he finally saw her. Neville saw her chest rise and lower. She was breathing. Her eyes were open at looking at him. She was going to be fine. "Mac," he said softly, slowly entering the room. "My God, when you owled I had no idea..."

Mac opened one eye. "I told ya I were fine. Gin healed me. Ya dinna need to come, but I'm glad to see ya." Mac patted the bed next to her. "I would get up, but Gin sent over potions tha' make me groggy. Sit. Sit."

Neville immediately rushed over. "You telling me you're fine and me seeing are two completely different things. We have varying opinions on the word 'fine', Mac." He gingerly picked up her hand as he sat next to her and brought it to his lips. "Please don't do that again. I don't think I could take it. Save the hero for the Gryffindors, yeah?"

"I wasna goin' to stand by and watch a mon get beat, Nev. Not even Malfoy."

"Malfoy?"

"He and Crabbe busted through the door and were tusslin' Malfoy were tryin' to wrest out where Parkinson is. He called the Aurors. Did ya know his patronus is a ferret? Bro and I were just tryin' to keep Crabbe inside since ya canna apparate in or out the Sticks, only outside the doors. He kilt two," Mac frowned. "He kilt Danny Boy. He crushed his throat."

Her eyes watered and she turned her head away. She didn't want Neville to see her cry.

Neville ran a hand down her arm, trying to soothe her.

"They're going to find him, Mac, and Harry's going to make him pay. I promise. Everything will work out. Parkinson will come back, and she'll make everything fine. Everyone will back to normal."

"I was just... I tried so hard to help, but he were so strong, Nev. He actually knocked me out. Me."

She rolled over and moved as close to him as she could.

"I dinna know he were a werewolf. He threw me like I were a doll."

Neville wrapped an arm around her gently and leaned down to kiss her head. "I was so scared when I got your owl, when I found out you could have been hurt. I swear my heart stopped." He leaned his forehead against hers. "It's over now. It's over. I won't let him touch you ever again."

"I know you're not goin' to like hearin' this, but had he no' gotten a lucky hex in, Malfoy woulda had him. I were scared Crabbe kilt m'brother." Mac snuggled to him. "Stay wit me a while? Can ya? Even iffen it's just til I fall asleep again? I... I were scared. Still am. I... I never felt so weak, Nev. Never."

"Of course I will," Neville said, scooting down on the bed so he could lay down next to her. "I'll stay even after you want me gone. I'll be here while you sleep. I won't move, promise."

Hearing she felt weak made his heart ache. She was such a strong woman, and he felt a physical ache to know she was nearly gone.

Mac's eyes were feeling heavy again.

"He cracked two of m'ribs. The skele-grow potion Gin gave me makes me sleepy." Mac's hand fisted around part of his shirt. "Sorry I scared ya, Nev. I dinna mean to. I just... he wasna leavin' iffen I could help it."

"You did well, Mac," he whispered to her. "You did beautifully. I only wish I had been here to see you in all your glory. Sleep now. I'll be here when you wake up."

"Mmm," was all she said in reply.


{SUMMARY} Neville rushes to check on Mac after her eventful Friday night.