She'd woken from her sleep due to a stinging sensation in her forehead, and she'd swiftly come to the conclusion that she was having a headache. Last night's memories were as vivid as certain dreams but they were certainly not dreams. Bella had made plenty of poor choices over the past few years, but the night of April 13th officially topped her list. Who did she think she was, running off to meet a gentleman in Ireland behind her parents' — well, everyone's — back? What made her feel the worst was that she couldn't wave off her actions as an act of naivety, because she'd very well known what the consequences of her actions were, and at some points what Mr. Crouch's intentions with her were. No, her actions were a result of good ol' reckless behavior and impulsive urges.

But what did that mean for her? Merlin, she'd had her first kiss taken — no, she'd given it away! It was her who had moved to kiss him, but to her later dismay. She'd gone to see Mr. Crouch with the intention of spiting her father, but she'd never have realized that actually doing the thing he'd accused her of — becoming a harlot for a night — would make her feel so awful in the aftermath. She would never marry now! Even if no one besides she and Mr. Crouch ever found out, people would be able to sniff out her harlot-ness in less than a minute, right? Oh, Witch Weekly was going to have a field day! She may as well hand in her resignation at St. Mungo's, because she'd be disgraced within the week!

By this point, he was fully crying and was unable to keep herself quiet. At least she'd had the good sense to change into her regular clothes and clean her face when she'd returned home; anyone who came to check on her wouldn't have the chance to see her in the same state she'd come home in last night. Did it really matter, though?

No matter how alluring he'd been, Mr. Crouch was decidedly a mistake, if only because he was not husband material no matter what happened. What stability could she ever get from a gentleman (if he even deserved that title) who went running off on curse-breaking expeditions and had a habit for running off with girls? She might have felt a little better about herself if she'd gone with the hopes that Mr. Crouch would fall for her, because then she could blame it on her girlish naivety, but no. She was just stupid, and now she had to sit stupidly in her stupidity and deal with consequences.