A/N: Just so everyone's clear 0 means a little bit of time has passed and 0000 means I'm skipping scenes.
Disclaimer: The Poem is Called The Journey by Mary Oliver.
Chapter thirty-two, We Were Banned
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice --
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognised as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do --
determined to save
the only life you could save.
A soft whisper of a breeze fell over sun lit lands. The sky slowly dispersed from misty grey to startling pink, gravity pulled downwards, a silken white petal fell from its place in the elements, gradually dispensing to earth. It danced downwards to the unheard music of early morning summer, a fairies dance, the dance of innocence soon to be corrupted. Ginny watched its progress through the half misted window of the hospital wing. Her eyes were blotchy from crying and she felt like death.
Somehow Harry, Hermione and Ron had heard about Faye's 'accident', at about five in the morning they had joined her and her distraught friends waiting for Faye to wake up again. Harry had his arm tightly strung around her shoulders and she was grateful for it, he was her rock her only support to sanity. Around two seconds after Faye saw the needle in her chest she fainted from shock, Madam Pomfrey had then insisted on her staying the the hospital wing for at least a week. Faye had been in and out of sleep ever since.
Ginny looked from the window to Harry, his glasses were askew and his hair seemed even more messy than usual. The very first rays of golden sunlight subtly lit up his face, there precise streams embracing him and her, so they were encased in the safe warmth of them.
"You all right?" He asked her gently.
"Spose so," Ginny replied tiredly, leaning into his chest.
"Aiden's still talking to Dumbledore it's your turn next," Harry told her carefully.
"You don't think he'll expel her and Conroy do you?" Ginny said looking up worriedly.
"I don't know baby, I really don't know,"
At around six in the morning Dumbledore had arrived, he had observed the scene with stormy eyes subsequently calling each witness forwards in turn. So far Kaiya had been, Vanessa had endured her turn and Aiden was still in his interview. Faye's mother (Diana) had arrived with Dumbledore and was at that moment observing everything with a glazed expression. Ginny looked at the clock fervently the time said it was seven thirty. She faintly noticed the sun was coming up a bit late.
"Ginny luv Dumbeldore wants to see you now," Aiden said as he came out of Madam Pomfreys office.
"Right I'm just coming," Ginny replied sickly.
"Good luck," Harry said giving her a quick kiss.
Ginny walked to the small office feeling as if she was walking to her death. As she walked she passed other sickly people all looking at her with what seemed to be condemning eyes. She brushed past Diana who gave her the filthiest look imaginable, as if it was her fault Faye was a smack addict. Ginny could almost hear Diana thinking (I've known that girl since she was eleven, I told her to take care of my girl and what does she do? She fucks me over and leaves my baby to almost die, bitch). Ginny shivered sliding strait into the shadowy office, much cooler than the steadily warming hospital wing.
0
"Hello Miss Brockelhurst, I was wondering if you would like anything to eat or drink?" Hermione asked the addled woman tentatively.
"Um no dear thank you I'll be all right," she replied looking up with a tearful gaze.
"Are you sure because Ron and I are going down to breakfast and we can get you something?" Hermione persisted gesturing to the lanky red head.
"Really I'll be fine."
"Um ok then."
"C'mon Mione," Ron said taking her arm and leading her forcefully out of the sun lit room. Once they were outside they both shared a shuddering look. The two friends walked down to the great hall in silence, their footsteps echoing through out the empty stone halls. The great hall was practically empty to aside from Draco who was eating alone at the Slytherin table.
Draco turned when he saw the two enter but he didn't speak. His eyes stared on at them gauntly, his face void of emotion. The trade mark smirk was gone it seemed as if he didn't have the energy to taunt them. Instead he briefly gave them the finger but his heart wasn't in it.
Ron and Hermione ignored him and sat at the Gryffindor table, the sun was directly above them so it bathed the oak table in its warmth and light. Where as the Slytherin table was cased in shadow, the only source of light coming from the Ravenclaw table next to it.
"Well that was all a bit odd," Ron said helping himself to bacon.
"A bit odd Ronald, I felt like I was in a fucking soap opera with Faye O.D'ing and all,' Hermioen replied.
"Uh ok one you just said fucking, yes brake through! And two what's a soap opera?"
"A soap opera is...oh never mind," Hermione said agitatedly. instead of eating she picked at the worn table mercilessly.
"I can't believe Ginny was friends with those lot," Ron said after an uncomfortable silence.
"I know, it makes you think doesn't it?"
"Makes you think what?"
"Well has she done any drugs?"
Ron's eyes went wide and he missed his mouth with his fork, sending bits of food out everywhere. "You don't think...?"
Hermoine shrugged looking thoughtful, "Actually no I don't, I think she's to sensible to do anything heavier than weed.
"Or she's just too poor to buy anything better," Malfoy drawled from behind the couple. Hermione and Ron whipped round to face his steely grey eyes.
"Fuck of Malfoy," Ron's said laboriously.
"Oh touchy Weasel. I'm sorry but I couldn't help overhearing your delightful conversation so what's this about Faye over dosing?" He asked menacingly.
"What's it to you ferret boy?" Hermione answered her eyes blazing.
"Well well Granger, I guess you have some passion in you after all. I was running a bet to see how long it would take for you to lose you cherry I guess Nott one."
"What the fuck does that have to do with anything?" Ron spat angrily.
"Well you two are shagging aren't you? Because I don't see how anyone would defend a Mudblood or a Weasley unless they were getting some pleasure out of it,"
"Just fuck of you prick," Hermione whispered.
"No," this time Malfoys voice was deadly serious, he pushed Hermione up against the table with his one slender hand. "Now Granger tell me what is going on and what it has to do with Ginny Weasely and I wont blow your boyfriends brains out," Draco held his wand up against Ron's head threateningly.
"You wouldn't dare," Hermione said slyly.
"Oh really you don't think I have enough stones do you?"
"Malfoy babe. You don't have any stones."
Malfoy growled angrily. "Lets see shall we..."
"No wait!" Hermione said her voice suddenly shrill and fearful. "Faye had an overdose of Heroin and Ginny, Kaiya, Aiden and Conroy bought her to the Hospital wing, their there now."
"Is Ginny all right?" Draco asked suddenly.
"What?" Hermione said distractedly.
"Nothing. Thank you mudblood, I'll see you very soon," He then swaggered out of the hall.
"Are you ok?" Ron asked her worriedly.
"Yeah I'm fine, are you?" Hermione replied massaging her shoulder.
"Yeah. Listen I'm sorry I didn't stand up to him. I should've grabbed his wand or punched him...or something I should..."
Hermione cut him of placing her hand comfortingly on his arm. "Ron you shouldn't have done anything. He's just a big bully, and I think Harry's right there is something different about him this year, we don't know what we could be up against."
Ron nodded for a moment transfixed on his platter of food. He stared unfocusedly at his sausage as a line of fat dribbled down the shaft of the pink meat. "Still I'm sorry," Ron mumbled.
"C'mon, lets get back to the Hospital wing Ginny might be out of her interview by now," Hermione said hauling him up.
"Shit Ginny!" Ron said finally realising the full impact of Dracos words.
"Ron! We can't tell her!" Hermione said hysterically.
"What? Why not?"
Hermione glanced around a few students had begun to emerge for breakfast. Fearing she would be overheard Hermione dragged him into the shadowy entrance hall.
"Ron if Draco does have the dark mark then who knows what he's planning," Hermione whispered.
"All the more reason to tell her," Ron whispered back agitatedly.
"No you're missing the point, we can't worry Ginny with this kind of thing, the chances are she'll just go looking for Malfoy and then she'll be in even worse trouble. We just need to keep a close eye on her which wont be that hard seeing as she's going out with Harry now."
"Oh yeah I guess you're right," Ron said slowly starting to walk back up to the hospital wing.
"Ok good now lets get back."
0
Ron and Hermione reached the Hospital Wing without heed. They looked at Aiden, Vanessa, Conroy and Kaiya pityingly before walking over to Harry.
"Hay Harry is Ginny out of her interview?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah she's just gone to the toilette, why?" He replied tiredly.
"We have to tell you something," Ron said darkly. Hermione and Ron proceeded to tell their friend about the mornings occurrence with Draco.
"Jesus, I can't believe he would do that," Harry said angrily once they were finished.
"I know but listen man don't tell Ginny she might go looking for trouble," Ron implored him.
"Don't worry I wont,"
The room fell into silence again, Ginny came back without a word. She sat next to Harry resting on his chest. Vanessa was determinedly ignoring Aiden who kept on trying to make a go of talking ot her, and Kaiya was placidly looking out the window her large wedding dress splayed out around her. Half an hour later Dumbledore and Conroy reappeared.
Conroy slouched over to a seat by Faye's bed trying to act nonchalant. Dumbledore addressed the teens warily.
"After listening closely to all accounts of Miss Brockelhursts story, I have chosen not to expel Faye nor Conroy. Faye will stay in the care of Madam Pomfrey until the end of the week, and tomorrow I shall hear her end of the story, if there are other circumstances we did not take into account from her friends tales then she shall not be able to stay at Hogwarts any longer, Now if you will all please head to your classes."
There was a sound of chairs scraping as the seven teenagers headed out of the Hospital Wing. Ginny, Aiden, Kaiya and Vanessa were immediately at Conroys side.
"So what did he say?" Ginny asked.
"Me and Faye have to attend therapy three times a week until further notice and Sprouts searching my room this instance for drugs, I'm gonna be on some wizarding Methane shit for the next month or two," Conroy said angrily.
"Well at least you can be clean now and start focusing on school," Vanessa said.
"Right," Conroy scoffed, "Aiden can I wear some of your robes and use your shower I really don't feel like watching Sprout disassemble by possessions?"
"Whatever," Aiden said shrugging, he was getting rather allot of looks as he walked through the school as he was still not wearing his top. A group of third year Hufflepuffs starting nudging each other and giggling as the group walked passed them, one of them winked at him smirking.
"Ok we'll see you lot later," Aiden said dragging Conroy up to the Ravenclaw tower. The girls also parted ways leaving the spot where they had been standing eerily empty.
0
In Hogwarts gossip spread faster than small pocks, so true to form the news of Faye's over dose was by noon all over the castle. Ginny couldn't walk round a corner without being ambushed by someone wanting the tale told by a true witness.
Vanessa was walking to lunch when a group of girls waltzed right up to her asking if it was true that Faye was a hooker and had been poisoned until Harry Potter saved her with mouth to mouth. Vanessa had very politely told them that the only person who was a hooker around here was them, and by the way Conroy Smike saved her life with Adrenaline.
Once Vanessa reached the hall she saw that there was a sign saying everyone must attend lunch that day, she walked into the room and immediately whispers broke out. Vanessa hastily seated herself next to Conroy.
Dumbledore rose from his seat commencing in a hush settling over the students. "Students of Hogwarts concerning an incident early this morning we are having a drug search in Hogwarts this afternoon. Ministry officials will arrive at two O'clock classes will proceed as normal."
The students broke out in raucous talk and indignant shouting as Dumbeldore sat down. Over at the Slytherin table Pansy looked mutinous.
"Fuck my stash's gonna get caught!" She whispered angrily.
"Yeah so's mine Merlin that coke was expensive!" Draco said angrily.
On the Ravenclaw table Aiden didn't feel much like eating, he had a rolled splif in his bag, a packet of skunk in his dorm and to top it of all his smoking stuff. Through out the day people were being hauled out of classes by strict looking wizards and witches all holding various packets of drugs.
Transfiguration for the sixth years was hilarious, Blaze who everyone new to be a heavy stoner was dragged out by a strict woman with horn rimed spectacles and tight robes. The class watched avidly as the woman held up a large packet of skunk. Blaze looked at it with a mild interest, before he said something that made the woman blush, the class then saw Blaze tilt his head smirking and saying other most probably inappropriate things, after a while of flirting Blaze walked back into the class triumphantly holding the packet and leaving a very dazed and giggly woman outside.
Several futile attempts to copy Blazes actions were made through out the day, Ginny who had her own secrete stash of hash managed to aquire hers by braking down into tears once they entered the classroom, she took one look at the packet the old wizard held in the door way and fell to her knees sobbing. She claimed it had belonged to her hospitalised friend and she only kept it as a reminder of her, when the man told her it wasn't safe to have in the school and even if she didn't smoke it someone else might she screamed ranting that they couldn't throw it away because she would then have nothing left of them if they died. The man realised it was pointless to argue and let Ginny keep it.
The day finally drew to a close leaving behind a trail of pissed of students and detentions. The Gryffindor common room was particularly lazy that evening, dusk had settled over the grounds and a bird trilled its solitary tune. Ron was seated in an armchair trying and failing to do his homework, he glanced around the room and to his immense shock saw Lavender looking healthier than she had done in months. Ron made up his mind it was time he stopped dithering about and asked her out.
He walked over to her casually, "Hi Lavender how are you?"
"Fine and you?" She replied looking up from her book.
"Great, um can I talk to you?" He asked nervously.
"Sure."
"I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me to Hogsmeade next weekend?" He asked in a rush.
"Oh...oh Ron I'm so sorry but I really don't see you in that way, lets just be friends," she replied looking truly sorry.
"Nah it's fine," Ron said calmly.
"Ok well I'm going to bed bye," she brushed past him sadly. Hermione watched the exchange soundlessly. As Ron was about to turn around to go to bed she spoke, her desire to say these words finally tumbling out.
"Maybe it's not such a bad idea," she said to his retreating from.
"Excuse me?" He asked turning around.
"What Malfoy said about us two, yeknow being together," Hermione replied.
Ron stood there in shock for a full minute before he found his voice, "I thought you weren't interested," he said hoarsely.
"You never asked,"
Ron made his way over to her sitting on the couch next to her. "Hermione I would be with you in a second, I have always wanted to ask you."
"Then ask."
"Hermione you wanna go out?"
"Yes!" He lent forwards and they were soon tangled in a kiss that evoked so much passion each of them could hardly catch their breath.