Disclaimers: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, nor do I own any lyrics from the song 'Running for Home' by Matthew Good Band

Spoilers: possibly some from Order of the Phoenix

Chapter 1: Finding Out

They beam things into your head

The ghosts of your pleasure and contempt

I was heading back from the library on my way to the Gryffindor dorms. I decided to take the long way back and do a quick patrol to make sure no students were about. Being a Prefect, I was allowed the responsibility to make these kinds of routine checks. Especially with it being so late, some students like to roam. For some unknown reason, I decided to walk past the Room of Requirement tonight. I just had this gut feeling that I needed to walk past it on my way back.

As I was heading past it, I got an odd feeling by just standing in front of where the door should be. Maybe it was just memories of everything that has been happening, of everything that had happened. Starting Dumbledore's Army there and trying to defy Umbridge. Those had been good times. But now everything was different. Sirius had died. He made an ultimate sacrifice that night in the Ministry of Magic. If only Harry hadn't tried to play hero that night, things might be different. Harry might not feel even more burdened with everything.

I let out a sigh knowing that dwelling on the past wasn't going to help. Besides, I needed to get back. Harry and Ron both said that they would what up for me.I turned to leave when something caught the corner of my eye. A wand was lying on the floor a little ways from the Room of Requirement. I walked over to it and picked it up. Something about this wand seemed familiar. I stood up and, I looked at it long and hard when it dawned on me whose wand it was. It was Ginny's. Why was her wand lying on the floor right in front of the Room of Requirement? I was puzzled by this.

Suddenly the door started to slowly open. I thought that it might be Ginny coming out of the room, and she had accidentally dropped her wand and was coming back to get it. I turned and looked towards the door only to see…Malfoy?

What was he doing coming out of the room? And why was Ginny's wand right outside the door? Ginny wasn't the type to usually lose things. But a cold feeling ran up my spine at seeing Malfoy come creeping out of that room, and here I had Ginny's wand in my hand and she was no where in sight.

Malfoy hadn't noticed me yet, and I had already pulled my wand out and had it at the ready if he decided to try something. He finally looked my way and an expression of surprise, anger, and eagerness crossed his features all at once.

When we were liars things were seamless

When we were wired the world was like a secret

"Well, if it isn't the filthy Mudblood. What are you doing out and about so late at night Granger? Shouldn't you be doing some studying instead of lurking about? Or did you want a piece of all the action that I have been so willingly offering tonight?" Malfoy said leeringly.

My blood ran cold. Everything he just said couldn't be true. I could feel my anger slowly rising. I asked him while trying to keep my voice calm and steady, "Where's Ginny?"

He's eyebrows rose up, and he almost seemed lost in thought for a brief moment. Then his sneer returned, and he set his steely gaze on me. I didn't back down from that gaze as he said, "It seems your friend decided that she finally wanted a real man to show her a good time. I was more than happy to oblige to her request. Now, if you would like the same thing Granger," he took a step closer to me. I could tell he was drawing his wand out slowly, "I will be more than willing to show you what a real man is like."

In the blink of an eye, his wand was out and pointed at me, but I was already ahead of him. "Expelliarmus." Malfoy's wand flew from his hand, but I wasn't the one who had caused it to do that. Professor McGonagall appeared from the end of the hallway, and she was seething mad. I don't think I have ever seen her that mad in my entire time at Hogwarts.

"Mr. Malfoy. Miss Granger. I was happening by when I happened to overhear your conversation, and so far if everything I heard is true, it is going to result in your being expelled Mr. Malfoy. Now, where is Miss Weasley?" Malfoy knowing he was defeated actually started to try and run. I probably would have laughed if the situation had been different, but I was mad.

"Petrificus Totalus!" I was quicker this time than McGonagall. I watched as Malfoy's body went rigid and crashed hard into the ground. I chanced a glance at McGonagall, and she gave me an almost grateful look that said she would have done the same thing if she had only been quicker.

"Now Miss Granger, I do believe that you should keep an eye on Mr. Malfoy." She glanced at the door to the Room of Requirement which was slightly ajar from when Malfoy had walked out. "I will go see if anything that he has said is actually true." With that McGonagall turned and started heading towards the room. I turned a glared on Malfoy who was laying a little ways down the hall. He wouldn't be free from that spell for a while. I had hit him hard with it.

So low

For how high

My attention shifted from Malfoy to noises coming from inside the room. I ran over to the door and peered inside. Crabbe and Goyle were both on the floor in the full body bind with Professor McGonagall standing over them. She had gone from seething mad to an anger that involved her whole body shaking with rage. I glanced around the room, and my heart literally stopped beating when it saw Ginny Weasley in a heap on the floor. She wasn't moving.

I close my eyes now and I scream

I turn the light on and there's nothing left redeeming

McGonagall swiftly turned around and saw me standing at the door. She quickly advanced toward me blocking my view of Ginny. She had tears of rage and frustration in her eyes. She ushered me out of the room and pulled the door closed enough so that I couldn't see inside.

I felt my own tears starting to form behind my eyes. The image kept running through my mind. Ginny on the floor. Ginny being beat. Ginny being abused. Ginny being raped. I knew what had happened even before I saw her lying there on the floor. I was just hoping that somehow Malfoy was just being his usually obnoxious self, and had been telling his usual lies. He hadn't lied though.

McGonagall set me with a look that told me not to speak and listen to her. "Miss Granger," her words were forced and were starting to crack, "I need you to go get Professor Dumbledore. The password into his office is 'Lemondrop.' Tell him that Miss Weasley," she faltered and was now starting to cry, "Tell him that she was taken advantage of and that three students are facing expulsion. Get him to come here as quick as you can. Once he is on his way, go get Madam Pomfrey. Bring her back with you, and tell her a student is injured and is to hurt to be moved." She gave me a weak smile.

I saw your face before it changed

"Prof…Professor…is Ginny…is she going to be…?" The words stumbled out of my mouth as I felt my airway constricting closed, and I left the question unfinished.

She gave me a grave look, her eyes still pouring out silent tears. "I'm not sure, but I do know that we need to hurry and get her help as soon as possible. Can you do this for me? Do you feel like you can go get Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey for me? I would go myself and send you to your dorm, but I need to keep on eye on these three. Also, someone needs to stay here with Miss Weasley." I could tell she was trying to regain some of her composure so that I would follow through with her wishes for her.

It's too late

Tonight

And I'm sure your right

I let out a shaky breath. "I'll be right back." I whispered. The sooner I got back, the sooner I would know if Ginny would be okay. The sooner I would be able to see her and know how bad the situation really was. I turned away from McGonagall and started walking down the hall, away from where Malfoy lay, towards Dumbledore's office. I just realized that I was clutching something in both my hands. I still had my wand firmly in my right hand, and I was still clutching Ginny's in my left. I put both wands inside my robe as I felt the silent tears again forming behind my eyes. I wanted to cry, but I knew I had to get to Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey. I knew that Ginny's life was in my hands in a way. The quicker I was, the quicker Madam Pomfrey could heal her. I held back my tears. I would have time to breakdown later. I clutched Ginny's wand even tighter in my hands. Curse Crabbe. Curse Goyle. Curse that stupid idiot Malfoy. Why had they even done that to her? Did they think they would get away with it?

I then started running down the halls. Running from a friend in pain to go find help. Running with everything I had, not knowing whether hurrying or not would make a difference. Running so I knew that healing could begin if I just pushed a little faster. Getting help faster. I needed to hurry.

I close my mind now and I scream

Before I knew it I was in front of the Gargoyle to Dumbledore's office. I took a deep breath knowing what I had to do, what I needed to do to help a friend. I uttered the word 'Lemondrop' and watched as the Gargoyle slid aside to let me in. I took another deep breath and started to walk inside. Dumbledore was about to find out about everything that had just happened. He was probably about to expel three students from the school because they were being complete idiots. He was about to realize that a student had just been violently raped.

If I hadn't been walking by the Room of Requirement tonight, then McGonagall would never have heard Malfoy and me talking. Ginny probably would have never been found tonight. I stepped on the spiral staircase and was slowly taken to the top. I don't know how serious Ginny's injuries were, but there was the chance that she might have died because some one might not have found her in time. If that hadhappened, thenthree evil gits would have gotten away with rape and murder. Now, just because I happened by there on my way back from studying, she was alive.

I got off at the top of the staircase and stepped up towards the door and knocked.

I heard the muffled words from inside say, "Come in."

So low

For how high

It's too late

Tonight

Again I took a deep breathe. Maybe Ginny would have rather died tonight than let me save her. My hand found the handle of the door. But no one else would have wanted her to die, especially not her family and friends. I know I would rather her be alive than dead. I turned the knob and pushed open the door and walked inside.

Everyone was about to find out what had happened tonight.

"Ah Miss Granger…" Dumbledore said as I walked in.

Everyone was going to know what had happened and everything was going to change.

Looking for those defects

Talking like it's a reflex

"Professor Dumbledore. I have some bad news," I slowly said with my voice already starting to shake again. He gave me a concerned look but didn't say anything. "It's about Ginny Weasley…"

Everyone was going to know that Ginny would never be the same again. Everything was going to change. Nothing would ever be the same again.

Nothing.

So low

For how high