Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters in it. If I did, I would not be living the life I currently am.

A/N: This is my first ever fanfic, so reviews and feedback are greatly appreciated! I am really bad at continuing the stories I start, so hopefully reviewers will be my motivation. Also thanks to my partner: this story was her idea and I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without her! I don't really know where this is going, so let me know if you have ideas or requests. I have a paring in mind, but you'll have to wait to find out who it is!

Prologue: A Taste of Darkness

He felt a dull, throbbing ache at the base of his skull, a pounding pressure on his eyelids as slowly his senses returned to him, and he realized he was splayed out on a cold stone floor. Now where… The last place he remembered being was the carpeted corridor between the charms and transfiguration departments, so what was with the slick cold tile underneath him. Squinting against the glare that greeted him when he finally risked cracking his eyelids, Harry looked down to find himself lying in a pool of blood. A pool that seemed to have emanated from the cooling corpse of George Weasley, laying in a contorted ball next to Harry.

Catching site of the corpse, Harry scrambled away. A bad idea, considering his sopping robes drew a trail of blood across the floor of what he now realized to be the 3rd floor bathroom. Horrified with the spectacle before him, Harry tried to jump-start his sluggish brain into action by pacing back and forth from the sinks to the toilets. Finally, his common sense kicked in, and he decided to go to Dumbledore's office, were he was sure to receive an explanation.

With the triumph of his decision in his eyes, Harry turned to the door, and ran straight into Draco Malfoy. Malfoy took one look at the scene behind Harry before pivoting on the heel and running down the hallway screaming "Potter's murdered Weasley, Potter's murdered Weasley."

'Just great,' thought Harry. 'This is the last thing I need: Malfoy spreading more nasty rumors about me. Besides, how could I have killed him if I was knocked out on the floor the whole time?'

Still groggy from his earlier state, Harry failed to notice the approaching footsteps until they were almost upon him.

"Well, well, well, Mr.Potter, I do believe this gets you a one way ticket to Azkaban, for sure." He'd know that sickly-sweet voice anywhere. Turning, he was greeted with the revolting sight of Professor Umbrage grinning like a maniac.

Harry growled, "I didn't do anything! I just woke-"

"No lies can get you cleared of what you've done, Potter," she interrupted, smiling evilly at Harry.

"But I'm not-"

"What seems to be the problem here?" Malfoy had returned with the Headmaster.

"Professor I-" Harry began.



"As you can see, Albus, Harry has obviously just murdered this poor boy, and I am about to place him under arrest. He will be brought to trial in the next few days, and, I am sure, sentenced to a lifetime's imprisonment in Azkaban."

Before Dumbledore could get a word in edgewise, Umbrage waved her wand, and Harry could feel invisible ropes tighten about his body, effectively gagging him and towing his body down the hall behind the brisk, squat figure of Umbrage's retreating body, leaving in their wake a startled Dumbledore.

Harry was beginning to think clearly now, and he could feel his anger beginning to surface. Umbrage was framing him...again! Damn it, why did these things always happen to him. Here he was, hoping his life could be normal for once, and he was already being dragged back to the ministry, under ANOTHER false charge, after only three and a half months.

Struggling to reach his wand and resist the invisible force yanking him down the corridor, he only succeeded in forcing the ropes tighter about himself. His asp of pain as the gouged into his flesh caused Umbrage to turn and grin maliciously at him.

"I'd keep still if I were you, Potter. "Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself, now would we?" She giggled happily at her own joke, obviously pleased what Harry was in pain.

He gritted his teeth and allowed himself to be pulled along behind Umbrage as she opened the door to her office and hauled him inside. The last thing he remembered seeing was her reaching for a handful of floo powder as she waved her wand at him, and a overwhelming wave of pain washed over him, sending him careening into blackness.

A/N: Thanks for reading, and please review! Be as harsh as you like!