Fool Me Once (Book One) - Fred Weasley

24. The Days

TW MENTIONS OF SEXUAL CONTENT. NO ACTUAL SMUT IN THE CHAPTER THOUGH. AND AGAIN MENTIONS OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION AND RECOVERY

Mrs Weasley left after a few hours and Fred and Aaliyah fell back asleep. Aaliyah had got off classes for the day, courtesy of Minnie. It was decided that when Fred was out, nobody needed to know the real reason that he was in the hospital wing. Poppy decided to tell everyone that George and Fred were practicing Quiddich and that Fred got hit by a rogue bludger that neither of them saw coming. It made sense to everyone as they knew Fred was addicted to playing Quiddich. The whole school really didn't need to know that he was addicted to drugs as well.

So, because of the cover up story, the only people who actually know what happened to Fred are Aaliyah, George, Lee, Riviera, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Bill, Poppy, Minnie and Dumbledore. The other professors probably knew. Godric knows what they talk about in that staff room. Aaliyah, Mrs Weasley, Poppy and Fred went over his plan for recovery. It was going to be hard. He was already starting to feel the effects of his withdrawal. Fred hadn't gone this long without a drink or even a smoke in the last nearly two years. A fact that made both Aaliyah and Mrs Weasley tear up when he disclosed it. Of course, Aaliyah knew about the drinking, she also knew about the smoking, but hearing that it was something he had been doing day in day out for the last two years was something that scared and shocked her.

The only thing that they all agreed that Fred could continue was the cigarettes. Mrs Weasley and Aaliyah weren't too happy about this, but Fred knew that he needed something. He knew that this was going to be hard enough to cope with without having to add cigarettes to it as well. The plan was that if Fred ever felt like he needed a drink or a smoke or something harder that the first person he would go to would be Aaliyah. Poppy was hesitant at this because she said Aaliyah didn't need extra stress but Aaliyah wanted to help Fred in any way that she could. She was even the one to suggest she be the first Fred talked to, she figured that either herself or George would be the people Fred would be most comfortable talking to, and seeing as George wasn't included in the current conversation, it would have to be Aaliyah.

If it didn't work going to Aaliyah and talking or doing things to take Fred mind off the drugs and alcohol, he would have to go to Poppy. Poppy had decided that she was going to put a lot of plans into place for Fred's recovery. One, he had to be with either Lee, George, Aaliyah or Riviera at all times outside lessons. He wasn't allowed to be on his own. For the first few months anyway. This was just to ensure that Fred didnt have the time or the ability to sneakily take drugs, something all three women in the room with him were worried about. Two, Fred had to make sure that he went to all his classes. She said that routine was very important.

Three, Fred had to do a drug test every week. And it wasn't a muggle one. It was a wizard one that Poppy had only just learned. It would pick up on anything that wasn't supposed to be in Fred's system, even nicotine from his cigarettes and caffeine from tea and coffee. Four, Fred had to meet with Poppy and Minnie twice a week. Once with Poppy and once with Minnie. Fred tried to get them to let Liyah into the meetings with him, saying that he would be more comfortable if she was there, but both Mrs Weasley and Poppy were having none of it. They said it was important for Fred to do things on his own and not rely on Aaliyah for everything. Eventually Aaliyah understood what they were saying and agreed with them. Fred had just wish she could be there.

Five, Fred had to keep a diary. Well, a journal. Poppy wanted Fred to write everything down. And Aaliyah even ordered Fred one of the books and quill that she got Blaise for Christmas a few years ago, the one where only the person writing can see what's written in the book. That made Fred come around to the idea a bit more. Poppy thought it was a brilliant idea because nobody needed to know what he was writing. She just wanted Fred to have an outlet for his stress that wasn't an addictive substance that could kill him.