(A/N: I'm going to start using the telepathic communication between Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Drake. Any speaking in {here} is telepathic. This chapter is in honor of the one year anniversary of 9-11. Also for the FDNY, NYPD, all the people who gave blood all the medical workers, all of the people of New York who helped at Ground Zero or helped in whatever way. To the victims, the families, the children with one less parent or no parents. To anyone who did anything to cheer up, help out, assist, or comfort anyone affected in anyway in NY. Also to any of the same sort of people in Pennsylvania and DC. Thank you Flight 93 for showing people to stand up against anyone trying to take over a plane.)

Chapter 24

        Drake awoke sore from laying in the window. [Last time I fall asleep anywhere but in a bed.} He stretched out and somehow popped his back into shape. He noticed everyone but Neville was gone.     

"Wake up Neville. I think we're late or everyone else is early." Drake says.

"Huh? I'm awake." Neville says sleepy and slurred, and then he dresses fast and runs out after realizing he's alone with Drake.

Drake shakes his head slowly and sadly and exits to go to breakfast.

[I knew that day would come back to haunt me.] Drake thinks bitterly.

Drake is barely paying attention to the food he's eating when suddenly, *POP*, and he turns into a giant weasel.

He has an evil looking snarl on his face as he turns toward Fred and George. He turns back into a human then, and approaches them his eyes like a fire of ice. The table stops laughing when they see his eyes.

"Being a smart ass?" Drake says with malice. "Not a smart thing to do."

Drake shoves their chairs down hard and they hop up in a split second. Drake looks like a mad man and starts to play the part. "I thought that since you… fools seem to think I'm a mad man, and I'm acting that out right now, that you would be more cautious. But, NO, the twins have to pull a prank. I'd've though a Weasley would know me better but I guess the only smart Weasley here is Ron." He waves his hands and the twins' shoes are ice.

"Now." He whispers in the malicious tone. "Leave. Me. ALONE!"

Drake stalks out of the Great Hall and it appears a trail of frost follows him.

Fred and George are seething yet shocked. They turn their shoes back into shoes somehow and pick their chairs up and sit down.

"Stupid git." Fred says.

"Yeah. He'll be sorry." George says.

"I hope he gets detention for that." They both say.

"You should be ashamed of yourselves." A female voice pipes up.

Hermione gets up in an uncharacteristic fit. "How do you know he did anything to deserve that? For your information, he didn't, but he did just try to kill himself. Are you trying to make him try again and possibly succeed? If not you're still doing a good job of it." She starts to leave. "You could try using your brain, if you have one. 15 points from Gryffindor each and a detention for both of you. Don't protest I can do that."

"Yeah." Three other voices chime in, and three chairs scrape back. Harry, Ron, and…

"You agree with us too Ginny?" Harry says.

Ginny blushes but says, "Yes, it seems like when everyone though you were the one opening the Chamber of Secrets but you weren't." She glares at the twins.

The three of them catch up with Hermione and go to look for Drake. They check the Common Room and any other obvious places.

{Hey guys let's try the room.} Hermione thinks.

"Good idea Hermione." Ron says.

"Yeah let's go." Harry says.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Go where?" Ginny says running after them. "Hey wait for me!"

 "Psst, Hermione. Can I tell you a secret?" Ginny says while the boys are trying to figure out how to get into that room he took them to, to tell them his past.

"Sure." Hermione says.

"Well… (Ginny whispers in her ear and Hermione's eyes go wide)" Ginny says.

"You sure?" Hermione asks.

Ginny nods her head.

"Ok then go for it." Hermione says.

"Open you son of a…" Ron starts.

"Ron!" Hermione says.

"Hmm. Open Sesame" Harry says jokingly and the wall slides open.

Harry's jaw drops. He looks around. "Well he's not here and couldn't be since it opened."

{DRAKE!}

A voice snaps Drake out of his reverie.  "What whose there?"

{Drake where are you? This is Hermione and this voice is inside you head. I am telepathic remember?}

Drake looks mighty miffed and thinks back. {I'm in my secret room.}

{No you aren't. We are.}

{I said secret room not the one I told you about.}

"THE ONE BACK HERE!" He yells after he makes the back wall open and they all run to the room.

"Whoa…" Harry says staring at the headless dummy and everything.

Drake keeps his head down and his bangs slightly cover his eyes but everyone could sort of tell they were shiny and bloodshot and red around the edges. It also appeared that there were dark circles under his eyes.

"What do you want?" Drake asks slightly snidely.

"We were looking for you, duh." Ron says getting slapped by Ginny.

"What he means is we were worried about you Drake." Ginny says blushing.

Drake eyes her suspiciously.

[Great… Now he thinks I'm just a dumb kid…] Ginny thinks.

"Who's she? A Weasley?" Drake asks.

"Yes." Ron says pointedly. "She's Ginny, my little sister."

"Mmm." Drake says nodding. "Two smart Weasleys then. Now that you found me could you leave me alone?"

"N…ouch" Ron says getting poked in the ribs by Ginny.

"Actually I was wanting to talk to you alone for a minute Drake if that is ok with you." Ginny says sort of stumbling over her words.

"Why not." Drake says.

"B…" Ron starts before getting dragged out by Harry.

Hermione gives Ginny a wink and mouths bring him out with you before leaving.

15 minutes later the trio is still waiting for them.

They finally emerge. "Well, Drake and I have had a long talk (Ron rolls his eyes) and Drake is feeling much better." Ginny says with a wide smile mirrored by Drake.

"Psst. Hermione." Harry says.

"Yeah?" Hermione says.

"You think Ginny and Drake like each other?" Harry asks.

"What gives you that idea?" Hermione asks and Harry gives her a look.

"Oh all right. Ginny told me she liked him so I guess its mutual." Hermione says.

"That's right kiddos." Drake says walking up which makes Hermione and Harry jump.

"But you are twe…" Ron starts ready to pummel Drake.

"No I'm not. Not anymore." Drake says semi-sadly. "F.O.Y. had a bad reaction to what Alexan… Professor  Phoenix used to cure my concussion."

Ginny gets a half shocked half disgusted sort of expression on her face.

"You'd better tell her you..." Ron growls at Drake.

"I can tell you under Veritaserum right now that I'm 15. Want to try it? I know you carry some with you lately." Drake says toward him with disgust/hatred. 

"Fine." Ron says pulling it out and pouring a couple of drop in Drake's mouth. "Professor Phoenix made this."

"I know I saw you get it." Drake says with the glazed look like Bill.

"How old are you?" Ron asks.

"I am 15… used to be 25." Drake says with the glazed look then the potion wears off.

"What?" Ginny says shocked. "15 used to be 25??"

"Yep. I was taking a Fountain of Youth Potion. Not my place to decide what I'd do. Not after what I'd done… I told you that part. There weren't more than three teacher positions that would need filling so I had to be an exchange student. Now, unless I'm in the OOP&F robe I'll be in all ways but mentally and somewhat internally 15." Drake says ashamed somewhat.

"Oh…" Ginny says half blushing. "Don't worry about it." Ginny then gives Drake a hug.

"Where would I be without you? Probably still ripping heads off of the dummies in that room…" Drake says with a half grin. "But seriously… you're like a miracle or something sent just when I needed you."

Drake smiles wide, showing all his teeth, oblivious to everyone but him and Ginny. Ron however has a scowl on his face and Harry and Hermione look happy.

"Oh we're gonna get him good for that one." Fred says with a mad grin.

"Yeah. No weasel like him is gonna put his arm that far below our sister's shoulders. It was practically below the hip line. Oh no! No weasel git is gonna do that, much less date our little sister." George says reflecting on lunch time when Ginny and Drake's relationship became known to Gryffindor.

Ron came walking up right then and became a part of a 'prank' he'll wish he hadn't.