Through All the Pain // N. Longbottom

Seventh Year // Chapter 17

"How's it coming, Seamus?" I called leaning over the railing of the bridge. 

"Just peachy! Now stop bothering me, so I can get this wiring finished. If you couldn't tell by the growing army on the opposite side of the bridge the hour is slowly coming to an end." He looked over at the hill just above the bridge. I gulped as I saw it was just a sea of Death Eaters and those alike. 

"Hey, we'll be fine," Neville said taking my hand. "The liquid luck, remember?" he laughed lightly. 

"Y-yeah, the liquid luck," I said hoping he wouldn't notice the vial in my pocket still full of the potion. 

"What do you not trust my potion-making skills?" 

"No, not at all." I joked back, as he wrapped his arm around me. "I'm still nervous about this like something is bound to go wrong." 

"Lori, it's life ... nothing can go perfectly. Not even the life of Lorrinda Maye Longbottom." I coughed and looked up at him. His face was frozen in a mixture of fear and joy at the same time.

"What did you just say?" 

"Nothing."

"No, you definitely said something," I said cheekily looking up at him.

"Hey, love birds! Wanna give me a hand here?!" Seamus shouted as he climbed over the railing. I laughed as I rushed over to help him. "Explosives are set up for ignition, Neville."

"G-good." stuttered Neville as he slowly came out of his fear freeze. I glanced around to see white spells start to hit the protective barrier the professors and order had cast over the school. I grabbed Seamus's hand since Neville was a bit of a distance away and Seamus spoke softly.

"It's okay, Weaslette. Nothing can harm us now." His hand slowly pulled away as I looked behind and saw Ginny standing with a few other students near the edge of the bridge. I waved at my sister before going to join Neville. I stood beside him and took his hand, and watched as some dumb Death Eaters charged at the barrier and turned into dust. Neville of course decided that this was the time to start mocking the bad guys.

"Yeah? You and who's army?!"

"Nev ... don't tempt fate," I muttered. Neville let out a sigh and looked at me. 

"Go be with Seamus and Ginny. I can handle the bridge by myself," he said.

"What?!" I was appalled. "You think I'm going to let you handle this big mission all by yourself, then you must be high on Muggle drugs cause breaking news, that is not bloody happening!" I shouted. "You are my boyfriend, the love of my life. So if you think for one minute that I'm going to let you -"

"Darling!" Neville grabbed my shoulders. "This isn't up for debate. You're going over there, not for me but for your family. Merlin if anything ever happened to you I would never forgive myself, and your family can't lose you. They just can't." He kissed my forehead before he waved Seamus over. I felt Seamus take hold of my arm and he started leading me away from Neville. I started crying as Seamus pulled me away.

"Hey, hey c'mere," he said once we were off the bridge. He hugged me tightly as I heard the crackling of the barrier falling. I whipped my head over to see Neville as he started backing up slowly like it meant nothing. Suddenly, I heard the Death Eaters shout and they started running onto the bridge. Neville turned and started sprinting, trying to stay ahead of them. 

"C'mon Longbottom, light the bloody fuse!" Seamus muttered. Seconds later Neville lit the fuse and the line of explosives started to go off. Neville was almost to the safety of the land when the latter half of the bridge started to fall.