Navy's shoulders sunk, and it was as if she could feel the world fade away in front of her. She felt helpless, small, and forgotten about.

''It started a year ago, and it wasn't... It wasn't supposed to happen. None of us planned it. It just—''

''When?'' Navy whispered as he looked down at her. There were flashes of hurt in his eyes, ''Exactly when did it start? When did you start to... care for her like that?''

Theodore hesitated at first, but he could feel the pain as it radiated off of her. He'd hurt her enough. This had to stop now. It wasn't fair to keep this going.

''The night of your birthday.''

Her heart stopped. She felt the tears sting in the corner of her eyes, but she refused to close them. She kept them open because she knew that she wouldn't be able to stop crying if she did.

''Why?'' She managed to breathe out, her eyes dragged over the world in front of her, ''Why did you do this to me?''

''As I said,'' Theodore cut her off, ''It wasn't supposed to happen, it just... I was so fucking out of it, and you disappeared. Clara kept giving me drinks, and the next thing I knew — I woke up next to...''

He swallowed, clearing his throat after, ''Her.''

Theo could see how much that hurt her, how much her bones caved within.

Yet, she was still too kind — too kindhearted to even show it. All she did was nod while her world crumbled around her.

''And then?'' Navy whispered again, slowly dragging her knees up to her chest, ''What happened then? Why did you keep doing it?''

Theodore looked at her again, noticing how the muscle in her jaw ticked, ''And then... I fell in love with you.''

Her head snapped to face his breaking stare, ''Why would you say that?'' Her eyes narrowed in his, ''How could you even try—''

''Let me finish, please.'' Theodore pleaded. His teeth gritted as he sought to tame the fleeing temper,

''Just let me speak.''

''Then speak.'' Navy fired back, shaking her head at him.

The wind danced through her hair as she focused on keeping her head straight. She didn't want to give in or to give up with this.

''This wasn't about you or anything you did. Never think that. This was about me—''

Navy huffed, her head tilted to face him again.

''I should've told you, but it was right in the beginning. I wasn't sure of where we stood, and Clara didn't want to tell you. I wanted to, believe me. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you.''

Her veins ached as she folded her arms around her knees, hugging herself, ''Then why didn't you? Why did you give your trust to her and not me?''

Theodore stilled, his fingers hastily curled up to fists, and his knuckles turned white, ''I don't know.'' He whispered.

He was angry with himself.

''Because I would've listened to you, I think... I think I even would have forgiven you, Theo. I know we weren't a couple, but you didn't tell me. You chose to listen to her instead of giving me a chance.'' Navy's words scored right through him.

He stayed quiet, and she could almost see tears in his eyes.

''And then?'' She asked, ''How did it happen again?''

Theodore released the tight grip of his hands as he stroked the grass they were seated on, ''And then, it didn't happen until you left me that night in our common room—''

''Don't lie to me.'' She snapped. Her voice almost broke, ''Don't lie anymore, it's not worth it, Theo. I know about the night of the summer party, so don't even try to lie.''

His face tensed, his muscles clenched as he once again was caught in a lie.

''Just be honest, and tell me why it happened again.'' She hugged herself tightly, ''I want to know.''

''Naves, please. I don't want to hurt you—'' He tried to beg, but her mind was set.

Navy knew that this would hurt. She knew that this would break the fragile heart she possessed, but she needed the truth. She had to know everything, so she could decide what she wanted to do.

This had been happening for too long behind her back. She was always the one being kept in the dark, even by her best friend.

She needed to know.

''Tell me.'' She demanded again, and the aching feeling that rushed through her fumed in anger, ''I need you to tell me everything, so I can decide what I want to do.''

Theodore shifted on the grass, crossing his legs in front of him, ''The night we were supposed to go to the Malfoy's, I was... high, and Clara was there, and one thing led to another—''

Navy couldn't hold it in anymore. She had no strength in holding back the tears. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth, to muffle the sounds she tried to hold back.

''And the night last week?'' She sobbed into her palm. Her body flinched the second she felt his hand on her back.

''Don't.'' She warned him, pushing herself off the ground as she stood shakily on her feet, ''You don't get to comfort me in this. You don't get to feel any better with yourself.''

He pulled away, meeting her gesture by standing up.

''Navy, please.'' He begged again, his tone desperate, ''Please just don't push me away—''

''Push you away?'' She nearly yelled out, taking a shoe back, ''Push you away? You have been lying to me for a year. Clara has been lying to me, and I'm the one pushing you away?''

His face fell, and his shoulders sunk as he watched her catch another step away from him, ''I'm not trying to... Fuck!''

His arms were thrown out in the air as the temper he fought so hard to manage failed him. Theodore raised a finger towards her, pointing it accusingly at the crying girl.

''What about you? Yeah?'' He kept his accusation, ''What about you, Navy? The night of the party, what happened then? Don't you think I've noticed that something has been going on with you?''

She stepped back further. His anger scared her as she gave her surroundings a swift look.

''And the night Pansy came to get you? What the fuck happened then? Care to enlighten me why you always seem to be suspicious when it comes to—''

His tongue halted. His arms dropped to his sides as he realized what he was about to say.

''Malfoy.'' Theo breathed out,

Navy's brows furrowed, the hand over her mouth slid off it. Her veins froze, and her breath hitched at the spoken name, ''What—''

His jaws gritted, his face turned into stone as he nodded towards her, ''Malfoy.''

She shifted around, noticing the blond boy walking up from behind them.

Draco held a stern look on his temples as he booted closer, ''White.'' He looked right at her, noticing how the soft skin underneath her eyes glinted in tears, ''What the fuck happened?''

''What do you want?'' Theodore snarled, crossing his arms over his chest, ''We were right in the middle of something here.''

Draco didn't drag his eyes off of her. He saw as she quickly pulled her sleeve over her fingers to wipe the tears away.

''I can see that.'' The blond mumbled, ''I'm here because Professor McGonagall sent me.''

Both Navy and Theo's heads snapped to watch Draco, ''She wants a word with all of us.''

And without another word, Navy marched her way past Draco, hearing as Theodore shouted from behind her. But she didn't care.

''Navy, wait. We're not done talking about this. Please.''

''Navy, please just listen — fuck!''

She couldn't care if he wanted to clear his mind even more. She would break if she let him explain himself.

—

All six students were seated around a table in the professor's classroom, impatiently waiting for her to join them.

The tension shared between all of them was touchable, hostile. Draco had slipped down next to Navy and William. Clara took a seat between Theodore and Blaise, and not a word was shared as they waited.

''So...'' William mumbled, ''Does anyone know what this is about?''

''Not a clue.'' Blaise groaned, his fingers toyed with the quill on the table, ''But if I am being dragged into your funny business one more time, guys, I swear to God...''

Draco's tongue rolled on the inside of his cheek as he narrowed his eyes on Theodore. He had a bad feeling about what he walked in on. He didn't like the way Theo shouted at her, and he felt sick at the look of her tears.

But Theodore kept his sight locked in Navy, who only looked down at her crossed arms. She didn't want to look at anyone. She wished to get this over with so that she could go back to her room, bury herself in her sheets, and forget the cruel and unfair world around her.

Navy knew that people went through much worse things every day, but to her — to her, this was the worst thing that could've happened. Her best friend and her boyfriend.

''I see that you all got my message.'' Professor McGonagall spoke harshly as she slammed the door shut behind her. The lady stepped up to the table, eyeing every one of them down. ''I'm glad to see that listening isn't one of your flaws.''

All of the students nodded.

''Very well then. It has come to my attention that the incident last week—'' McGonagall placed a hand on Navy's shoulder, ''Wasn't an accident after all. Madame Pomfrey has informed me that some sort of substance was found with miss White.''

Navy's body tensed, her breaths ragged as she felt McGonagall drop her hand from her shoulder to walk around the table, ''And that is something we do not accept at this school, and I hope all of you know that.'' Her voice turned heavy, and her words severe.

''I have some questions about this, and all of you will answer me truthfully, or else—'' Her hand shoved into her pocket before she hauled out a small vial, ''Or else — I won't hesitate to use this on each and every single one of you.''

She held her arm high up in the air, revealing the potion in her fist, ''Veritaserum has never once disappointed me before, unlike you children...''

Navy's eyes dragged over her friends, halting at the blond boy next to her as he shot her a daring look. She was nervous. All of them were. This could mean that the teacher was able to find out everything about their after-school doings.

''So, who wishes to go first?'' The professor looked out over the students as she kept on strolling around the table, her cloak flooded wildly after her, ''Perhaps you, miss White?''

All eyes fell on Navy, and everyone held their breaths. They were more than aware that Navy could be the one shattering and telling McGonagall everything she craved to hear.

''I'll go first.'' William stretched his arm up in the air, and the professor granted him a swift nod. ''As her brother. I can happily tell you that my sister would never do anything—''

The chuckle leaving Clara's lips hewed him off, and all of them clocked their heads to hers. Draco's fists balled.

''Is there something funny about this, Adams?'' Draco growled from his seat, slamming his elbows down on the table, ''Or is it just you acting fucking mental again?''

''Oh,'' Clara smiled, cheekily, ''Don't be so tense, Malfoy—''

''Don't speak my fucking name,'' He fired, shooting her a disgusted look, ''What the fuck is wrong with you.''

''Wrong with me?'' Clara pointed her finger at herself, innocently batting her lashes at him, ''What is wrong with her—''

''Don't you dare even look at her, Adams.'' Draco was fuming now, ''Don't you fucking address her.''

''No.'' The professor raised her voice, ''I would like to know the same thing, miss Adams. Is there something amusing with this?''

Clara leaned back into her seat as the smirk on her lips faded, ''Of course not, professor.''

''Very well then, care to go on, Mr. White?''

William nodded, his fingers tangled together on the table as he shot his nervous sister a comforting look, '' As I was saying. My sister would never do anything like this—''

Another chuckle fled Clara's throat, ''If I may, professor.'' She smiled, ''You might as well give all of us that truth serum because apparently... we're all liars here.''

William sighed, loudly as his palm slapped against his forehead, ''Or you can just learn when to shut up—''

''Language.'' McGonagall hewed him off, ''If that's necessary—''

''It's not.'' Navy spoke up, her neck arched to face the lady, ''I can tell you everything you need to know.''

''So kind of you, dear.'' The Professor walked over to where Navy was seated, staring down at the brown-haired girl, ''Whenever you're ready.''

Navy swallowed nervously, and her arms crossed over her chest tightened. She tried to conceal her shaking self and the lies she was about to spill, ''It's all my fault. I didn't know that those pills were bad. I took a few from my mother's bathroom cabinet because I have a serious problem with headaches, and I guess that I took the wrong ones...''

McGonagall stared at Navy for a brief moment before gazing over the students around her. She looked shocked but still satisfied with what Navy had told her, ''Is this true, Mr. White?''

William nodded quickly. He bowed his head towards his sister, ''It's true. Navy has always had a problem with headaches.''

The professor stayed on her feet, and her lips pushed into a firm line as her mind battled whether to believe the friend group or not.

After several long minutes of torture for them, McGonagall finally released a breath, ''If that is what happened. I don't see any trouble in this anymore, but Miss.White—''

Her head tilted towards Navy, ''If anything like this happens again. It will be handled much differently.''

Navy gulped as her eyes fell onto the blond boy next to her. Draco granted her a look similar to the Professors. He was worried about her actions that night, too, ''It won't. I promise.''

''Very well then. I will see you all in class tomorrow.''

With that, she turned in her heels and stepped out of the room. Leaving all of the students alone in awkward silence.

Moments passed where they all simply stared at each other and the vial still standing in the middle of the table.

''That was close.'' Blaise muttered, scratching the back of his neck before forcing his chair back, ''But if you all don't mind. I have too—''

''Wait.'' Theodore urged. His hand was placed on the backrest of Blaise's chair, which made him stop from standing up, ''It would be a shame to let that serum go to waste.''

Navy's brows furrowed, her eyes met Theo's green ones, and she instantly caught on to where he was going with this.

He knew.

He had grasped the truth of what Navy had been up to — all the missing pieces of the mystery of a puzzle she was — fitted right into Draco.

''I say that we all drink it, and we all start being honest with each other.'' Theodore pushed, and Clara nodded to his words.

''Navy.'' He raised a brow at her as he stretched over the table, wrapping his fingers around the potion. ''Navy, Navy, Navy.'' Theodore kept going, '' The most honest of us all, isn't that correct? He mocked her.

''Since your morals are so high, it won't be a problem for you to go first, right?''

He reached over the wood, placing the bottle in front of her.

''Bottoms up, love.''

—