Disclaimer: Characters/wizarding world belong to J.K. Rowling.

.: PROLOGUE :.

Of Confessions, Crises and Crime

The wind howled. The trees creaked. Drops of rain began to tumble down from the sky above. Eight students of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were out wandering about, each lost deep in thought.

One sixteen-year old boy stood motionless out on the grounds, staring blankly at the redhead standing in front of him, barely noticing that he was getting soaked from head to toe.

Pregnant? He thought to himself. Pregnant? She can't possibly be pregnant!

She looked up at him, her green eyes tearing up. He shifted his eyes from hers. He couldn't look at her just yet.

Breathe. Just breathe, he told himself, trying to calm down. He passed his hand over his face, a nervous habit he'd picked up over the years.

He didn't know what to think or what to do. What could he possibly even say? The only fairly coherent through running through his mind was 'How did this happen?'

She whispered his name, reaching out to him with one hand, another holding her stomach. He involuntarily took a step back. She whipped her arm back, hurt. He forced himself to look up at her: her defensive demeanor, her trembling voice, the tears rolling down her cheeks, the pain in her eyes...

He willed himself to pull it together but he just couldn't. His mind reeled. What am I going to do with my life? What am I going to tell my parents? Does this mean I'm going to have to take time off to care for... it?

He wasn't ready to be a parent. He was barely ready to go out in the world and take care of himself. How could he be responsible for another human being? And what would his parents...

His heart skipped a beat. He didn't even want to begin to think how far into the next century his mother would hex him if she found out what her son had been doing in his free time.

He swallowed and forced himself to look at the young girl in front of him. He knew the right thing to do was to hold her in his arms and tell her that everything was going to be ok, that he'd be there for her no matter what happened… but it wasn't ok. He couldn't just pretend that everything was fine when it wasn't?

He couldn't help but wonder how his night had gone so, so wrong. Fifteen minutes earlier, he'd snuck out onto the grounds to for a midnight rendezvous with his girlfriend. The sky had been clear, the stars shining brightly down at them. In a matter of a few seconds his world had been turned upside down, crashing down like the rain on the cold, hard walls of the castle.

He took a deep breath and opened his mouth. No words came out. He realized he had no idea what to say. He closed his mouth and stared at her miserably.

He had no idea what to say.

-:-

Meanwhile, on the other side of Hogwarts, inside the warm common room of the Gryffindor Tower, a girl was sitting on the floor. She unwrapped a chocolate frog and tossed the box on the growing pile of empty candy boxes and wrappers littered around her. She bit off the head of the squirming frog and stared glumly into the fire.

She couldn't believe she'd thrown herself at him like that.

She stuffed the rest of the frog in her mouth, fighting back tears. Oh my god. Pull yourself together! She told herself. It's been weeks! Why are you still letting that loser get to you like that?

But that was the problem. He wasn't a loser. He was a nice, kind, smart guy- And she'd made a complete fool of herself in front of him. He'd probably laughed for days afterwards. She shouldn't be surprised seeing as the way he cheated on-

More tears began rolling down her face. She just didn't know any other way to deal with the situation. She'd never felt more embarrassed in her life- or expected things to get so out of hand.

She'd thought he was one of the good guys. He was charming and sweet... She unwrapped and ate another chocolate frog amid her tears.

She wished so much that she could take back the last two hours. It was one thing for him to lie to her. She'd been getting over it. But to completely violate everything by-

It's true what they say, that ignorance is bliss she decided. She'd been much, much happier before she'd known, before she'd seen what she'd seen. She wished it was possible to unsee things. If only it was as easy a oblivating-

She paused on that thought. It wasn't possible to not see what she had. But it was possibly to not remember.

She wiped away the tears. She wanted so much to be strong to be like her friends who never let guys faze them. She wanted to hold her head high and tell off stupid, idiotic guys for being jerks. But she couldn't. She was too soft spoken for that. She only knew to cry and drown her sorrows in chocolate.

She sniffled and sighed, as a fresh set of tears rolled down her pale, freckled cheeks.

But maybe it doesn't have to be that way, she thought. Maybe this time it will be different.

With determination, she reached for her wand.

-:-

Just a few stories above her, in the boys' dormitories, a boy was sitting on his bed, clutching a letter in his hand.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. You have to understand why I did it. I wish I could explain it to you but I can't take the chance to see you again. I'll put what I can in this letter but this will have to be our last correspondence.

He crumpled it and threw it away in a rare fit of anger. Without thinking he punched the wall; the adrenaline pumping through him temporarily numbed the pain.

I don't need anymore of your bullshit he thought. I trusted you and you threw it all away for what? Friends who aren't even real? You don't deserve me. I don't need your pity.

He angrily paced the room. He'd given so much to her. He was there for her through every breakdown and every bad day. He took her on fancy dates and bought her expensive things. He'd shared with her his hopes and dreams and fears and secrets... He'd loved her dammit! And this was how she was going to repay him? By betrayal, lies, and a pity letter. Well he didn't need her. He was over it.

He stopped pacing and threw himself on his bed staring at the white ceiling.

He wished so much that he really was over it, over her, but he just couldn't turn his feelings off. She was the first girl he'd liked, definitely the first who'd paid him any real attention. But how could he have been so blind?

There were signs. There had always been signs. He'd just ignored them because it was more convenient that way.

I should have known from the start that she was a goddamn bitch who was only looking out for herself. She is selfish and cowardly just like every other girl.

If anything, he had learned his lesson. He'd finally understood the meaning of real cowardice.

She couldn't even face me. She didn't even care enough to do this face to face.

He sat up, his head in his hands.

She had just been using him and playing with his heart. She didn't deserve a chance to explain herself. She didn't give him any respect. Why should he be any different? Why should he listen to her?

He took a deep breath and looked at the crumpled ball of parchment contemplatively. His eyes hardened. He'd made up his mind. He wasn't going to read her cheap explanation. He was going to give her the satisfaction. He was going to throw it into the fire. That letter had no place in his new life, his life without her.

He was going to burn it to crisp.

-:-

In yet another part of the Castle, in a hidden corridor on the seventh floor, two students hastily broke apart from a kiss. Their chests heaving, eyes locked together, they held each other's gaze, staring at each other in shock. It had definitely been unexpected to say the least. The young man opened his mouth but before he could say anything the girl turned around and fled. He called after her but she kept to running.

She could hear him following her so she turned a corner, hoping she'd lose him. She saw a staircase up ahead and sprinted up the stairs. She turned around for a moment and watched in satisfaction as the staircase moved seconds after she'd reached the top, leaving him stranded at the bottom. He called her name again, hoarsely, desperately, but she ignored him and kept going.

Certain now that she'd lost him, she slowed down, stopped, and caught her breath. She looked around and realized she had no idea where she was. She spun in a circle, trying to decide which was the best way to get back to the dormitories. She picked the most likely course and started along it, praying she wouldn't run into Filch, the caretaker. She couldn't afford another detention.

She tried not to think about what had happened. What good will that do anyway, she tried to tell herself but her thoughts kept going back to the kiss.

What did it mean? She couldn't help but wondering. Does he like me?

He was one of her best friends. He had no business liking her! Why oh why did that idiot kiss me?

More than the kiss she tried not to think about how good it had been. Was that just because he's a manwhore or is it that I have feelings for him? she couldn't help but wonder.

She didn't want to have feelings for him. She'd had more than enough failed physical relationships in the past year, and even more failed emotional ones. She didn't want a boyfriend because clearly, the only guys who were attracted to her were idiots and players.

Her confusion eventually gave way to annoyance. It was his dammed fault. Why would he do something so stupid? Did he want to ruin our friendship?

She should have known a friendship with the guy who was quite possibly the biggest slut at Hogwarts would lead to disaster. There was a reason he didn't have girl friends. Or girlfriends for that matter. It was a stupid, stupid idea and she'd paid the price for it.

She tripped over her own feet and nearly fell. She caught herself and grabbed the wall to regain her balance. When she felt wood instead of the cold stone of the wall, she turned around to see that she'd grabbed the wooden frame of an empty portrait. She recognized the empty tables and firewhiskey bottles in the portrait—she was close to the Gryffindor Tower.

I'm going to ignore him she decided as she walked. She couldn't think of a better way to handle the situation. A confrontation would only lead to unwanted conversation and she wasn't sure if she was ready to face the consequences. No, it's best to avoid him. If I stay away, he'll get the message.

With every intention to put the events of the night from her mind, she quickened her pace and continued walking in the direction of her warm bed.

-:-

The guy who had been following her was left at the foot of the stairs, now leading to an entirely different floor, watching as she ran away from him, robes billowing behind her.

Fuck!

He ran a hand through his hair and stood staring at her.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

He knew there was no point in following her without any way of finding her. She could have gone anywhere and shouting after her would only attract Filch. He wished he had the Map with him. But it was locked safe inside his trunk inside the Gryffindor Tower.

Inspired by the idea of finding the map, then looking for her, he started walking towards the dormitories.

He only just wanted to talk to her. It didn't mean anything. I just want to tell her that it didn't mean anything.

She was his best- his only- girl friend. He hadn't meant to kiss her. She'd just poured his heart out to her and he'd done the only thing he knew to do in that situation: comfort her physically. He just hoped she wouldn't do anything stupid... like tell someone about it. Because if she did then it would only be a matter of time before-

He paled a little at the thought.

Merlin I was stupid! So, so stupid! Why did I do that? He chided himself, not wanting to really dwell on what would happen.

He passed a hand over his face. She was never going to forgive him. He was never going to forgive him.

"Fuck," he cursed out loud, as he approached a passageway he knew would lead him directly to the tower. He politely asked the door to open and it swung open with a click. He drew his wand out and muttered, "Lumos." The tip of his wand lit up, illuminating his path.

He had never felt this helpless before. He always knew what to say to get himself out of tough scenarios. He always knew the right thing to do to save his ass. But this time... He just wasn't sure if there was anything he could say.

He reached the portrait hole only to find the fat lady missing. He let out a string of curses and wondered where to go. He couldn't just sit outside until she came back. That was just asking to be found by Filch.

He just wanted to go up to his room and get drunk dammit.

Is that too much to ask?

He supposed he could go to Hogsmead... But without the cloak or map, he was blind. Risking sneaking out was just plain stupid. He had no choice but to lay low somewhere. He began to walk towards what was probably his best bet: the Room of Requirement.

How had this year gone so wrong? he wondered as he scanned the corridors for patrolling the teachers. First the locket, next the poisoning, then Jo and now this?

It was supposed to be the best year of their Hogwarts lives. They were going to pull pranks on all the teachers, explore the grounds in the middle of the night and get drunk every weekend.

We were going to rule the school he thought miserably. We were going to leave our legacy. Is this all we're worth?

Dejected and lost in thought, he continued quickening his pace until he was nearly sprinting. It was best to get to his destination quickly.

-:-

Somewhere behind him, in the prefect's bathroom, a girl was taking an illegal bubble bath. She lowered herself further into the depths of the warm water, struggling against the tears rolling down her face.

She couldn't believe that one guy had made her cry- what a thousand people had failed to in the last 12 years of her life.

I'm supposed to be strong dammit! She cursed herself, hastily wiping the tears away.

She didn't have room in her life for something so weak as crying. Her father had raised her to have more self-respect than that. She tired to force herself to stop but it was to no avail; she continued to sob, her thin shoulders quaking.

She didn't understand how this could have happened to her. She didn't understand how she, who took all the precautions in the world, who was so strong, had let a guy take advantage of her like that. He was supposed to take care of her, he was supposed to love her, not-

More tears cascaded down from her brown eyes as she thought about the one person she'd trusted who'd betrayed her the most.

She shivered. The water felt cold all of a sudden. She reached for the hot water and turned it back on. She let the water envelope her and closed her eyes.

She didn't even know how she was going to tell her friends about... Her eyes snapped open.

They'd warned her. They'd told her to stay away and she'd ignored every word... She'd fought with them, said they didn't know what they were talking about... But now...

Everyone saw it coming. Everyone except me.

She gasped for breath, the realization coupling with the scalding heat to make her feel suffocated.

It wasn't about him, not entirely. It was about how he made her feel. And he'd made her feel worthless. Cheap. Disgusting. She shuddered again.

The water swirled around her just like her thoughts as she stared into space, lost in thought.

-:-

Meanwhile, a young man sat contemplatively on a plush chair in the Room of Requirement, surrounded by bookshelves. He stared vacantly into the roaring fire in front of him holding his cheek. It was still throbbing; soon he'd probably be able to see the well developed print of a small, feminine hand.

I deserved it, he thought, depressed that his evening had taken a turn for the worse. I was stupid enough to think it wouldn't be a disaster.

He should have known from the second he'd met her that it was going to be a mistake. But he'd never felt comfortable enough with anyone before. She understood him unlike anyone else. Obviously it was a mistake to think she'd understand him that well.

His heart raced as he tried thought about the consequences if word got out of what he'd done. It was going to be the end of his world. If he wasn't shunned and hated for what he was...

He'd worked so hard to make people see him a certain way. Despite the bad cards he'd been dealt, he'd found a way to make people see the good in him. Now...

And his friends... He'd have to tell them himself. He owed them at least that. He couldn't wait for them to hear it through the grapevine, especially when they'd done so much to protect him, so much to make him feel safe, happy, wanted.

No. He owed it to them to be honest.

He thought back to how it had all begun, that fateful moment two weeks after they'd gotten back to school. Things had been so easy back then, so simple. Everything was as it was mean to be. No surprises, no mysteries, and best of all, no girls.

It was just the four of them, doing what they could to make their dreams come true. They were planning to have an amazing year. Somewhere down the road amazing had faded and now...

Now everything was spinning out of control in unforeseeable ways and there was nothing any of them could do to stop it.

A/N: Hello =]] I put up the prologue to see what kind of reception this story would get. Let me know what you think so I can decide where to take this story and how long to make it based on reader interest. Thank you!