DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author Notes: This story contains both SLASH and blatant drug use. If these themes offend you, please do not read this story!

The characters in this story may seem a little out of character, but give it a chance. Consider this story a "coming of age" tale about the characters developing into adults. I anticipate many flames telling me off for my OOC-ness. So be it.

This story is COMPLETE. I will post new chapters weekly.

Prelude: A Night to Remember

On the night of the Yule Ball, Neville Longbottom was sitting on the edge of his bed, staring at his hands. It was his last Ball at Hogwarts and he wanted it to be special. He had a date-- if you could count Ginny Weasley as such. And he couldn't, as she was his best friend. Ginny and he had attended each Yule Ball together since Neville's fourth year. It was an assumed tradition now. Of course, this year he would be sharing Ginny's attention with her boyfriend Harry Potter. Neville was, officially, the "Third Wheel". That was his role in life. He was doomed to be second string, second rate and an expendable part to an essential whole.

Neville sighed. He did not want it to be that way. He wanted to be remembered as something other than the clumsy, forgetful idiot who faded into the shadows.

And so, Neville had devised a Plan. Neville reached out. He asked around. He made an unlikely contact. And finally, just minutes ago, he had scored.

Neville looked down at his clenched fist and opened it slowly. In the palm of his hand was a small white tablet. In the middle of the pill was a tiny, impressed Snitch. He wanted just one night of freedom from his nerves and reputation. He wanted to feel free. And in his hand, he held the key to that freedom. The Muggle drug Ecstasy.

All he had to do now was swallow. Neville licked his lips nervously. Could he not even get high? Was he too scared to swallow?

The sound of an approaching group of people made the dark haired boy jump to his feet and shove the pill into the pocket of his dress robes.

"Hey, Nev," Harry called as he led Ron, Hermione and Ginny into the Seventh Year Boys' Dormitory. "You're looking sharp!"

"Ooh," Hermione smiled at Neville warmly, surveying his dark green velvet robes. "That is a fantastic color on you! Much better than the aqua ones you wore last year."

"That's what I told him," Ginny smiled and went to brush the wrinkles out of Neville's robe. "It makes his eyes stand out."

"Give over," Neville brushed off Ginny's busy hands and walked to the door. "Shouldn't we get going?"

Harry moved to take Ginny's hands in his. He let his eyes rove over his girlfriend's entire form before smiling at her. "You are breathtaking, Gin."

Neville rolled his eyes. Ron cleared his voice and called to Hermione.

Another sodding couple.

Neville turned and left the room, leaving the happy couples to giggle amongst themselves. He ran his fingers through his dark brown hair as he descended the stone staircase into the Gryffindor Common Room.

"I can do this," Neville muttered to himself. He retrieved the White Snitch from his pocket and popped it into his mouth. He swiped a glass of water from a study table nearby and swallowed the drug before he could reconsider. Smiling, he turned to the stairs. "Oi! Come on, you guys!"