Monsters In My Head

The instant Harry woke up, he knew something was wrong. The house was too quiet. There was no noise from the kitchen, or the sound of Dudley stomping. Slipping on his glasses and dressing quickly, he headed downstairs.

In the kitchen, Harry found an unusual sight. His Uncle Vernon was sitting alone at the table, clutching a letter. In a crate beside him was... Pig. 'Oh crap.'

"All these years, we fed you and clothed you." Vernon was practically shaking with rage. "And all the while, you do this behind our backs!" He shook the letter in Harry's face. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?"

Harry took the letter and read it, growing increasingly embarrassed with each line.

Hey baby,
Can't wait to see you again. I just got a new riding
crop and some nipple clamps. When you come to visit,
we'll have to try them out.
Love,
Percival

'Those idiots got their letters mixed up again!' Harry suddenly realized how this probably sounded. "Uncle Vernon, it's not what it looks like."

"I'm not harboring some faggot in my house!"

"I'm not a-"

"Don't lie to me, boy!"

"But I'm not-" A fist met his face. Staggered by the blow, Harry dropped to the floor. He could taste blood in his mouth, feel it on his face.

Things got worse. The toe of Vernon's boot kicked into his stomach, and then pinned him by one wrist to the ground. "I always knew there was something depraved about you. With parents like yours though, what could I expect?" Grabbing him by one arm, Vernon threw Harry into the cupboard under the stairs, slammed the door shut and bolted it. "You don't deserve what we've given you all these years, boy!"

Something inside Harry snapped. This hadn't been the first time his Uncle, but it would be the last. He was Harry Potter, hero of the Wizarding World. He deserved better. "You're right, I don't."

That night, after they'd gone to bed, he used 'Alohamora' to open the lock, and called the Knight Bus. He was at Hogwarts by sun up.

-----

Draco stared at the ceiling, counting the rough stones. '26, 27, 28, 29, 30. 1, 2.' His cage was six stones by five, and he had long since become acquainted with his ceiling. He'd been in here for weeks, since the moment the hexes had worn off. His father had vowed he'd remain here until he became a Death Eater, or died.

He'd stayed strong, though. His father wasn't here all the time, and his personal house elf had been feeding him when he could. Draco wouldn't submit. He'd stay strong, he had to. For himself, and for Pansy. He knew she must be facing the same thing.

But now... for the past week, there had been no sign of his father. Draco was beginning to think they'd actually done it this time. They'd left him to die. He closed his eyes, and rolled over to face the wall. His claustrophobia was acting up. He'd spent too much time here over the past few years. Draco's curled into the fetal position and slipped into his dreams. He hoped he'd dream of the Lady, tonight. His dreams of her kept him sane.

A beautiful blond woman, that looked mostly like Narcissa, except she cared about him. Draco was sure it was a sign he was cracking, but it was a nice way to go crazy. He felt loved in those dreams. 'I wish you were real.'

When he woke up again, the lamps had burned out, and no one had relit them. If it was dark... none of his father's scrying spells could see him. This might be his last chance, his last chance to end it his way. The Lady hadn't come to him. Maybe it was a sign, that even she couldn't save him this time. Draco's hand curled around a piece of jagged stone with a razor edge. It would have to do. He was going to end this on his own terms.

A half hour later, when their house elf Skippy came to report that Master Lucius had left the country, and would Master Draco like some lunch? He started screaming at the sight of all the blood.

-----

Draco awoke slowly, to an unfamiliar ceiling. "What the-"

"Lie still, Mr. Malfoy." It was Professor Dumbledore. "You've been through a horrible ordeal."

"Professor?" Draco looked around. He was in the Hogwarts infirmary. "What am I doing here?"

"Skippy owled Dobby. Professor Snape and I came to retrieve you."

He lifted his arms. His wrists were neatly bandaged, as were his ribs. Draco couldn't even remember which beating they had come from. "Oh. Sir... my parents?"

"Have gone to join Voldemort. Several of your classmates presumably won't be returning next year."

Draco knew what that meant. Blaise and Avery had finally joined up. He'd been expecting it. "Are you going to send me back to the Manor?" Right now, even being alone at Hogwarts sounded better than being alone in that tomb of a castle he lived in.

Dumbledore hesitated before answering. "You'll have a roommate if you stay here, and I doubt-"

"I don't care!" Draco realized he'd shouted. "Please, sir, don't send me back."

"Just relax, Mr. Malfoy. I won't make you go home." Dumbledore knew he was probably going to regret this.

"Hey, who is my roommate?" He could only hope it was Pansy. Draco knew they'd been pushing her to bear the mark.

"Oh, I think I'll let you see for yourself."

-----

The next morning, Harry wandered into the Great Hall. He'd heard a lot of commotion in the hospital. Of all people he'd been expecting, a trembling, bruised Draco Malfoy had not been one of them. Rage boiled inside him. How dare Malfoy invade his sanctuary? "What are you doing here?"

Draco looked up from his bowl of porridge. He hid his surprise. 'Show no weakness.' "Well, you're not my ideal breakfast companion either, Potter."

"You didn't answer me. What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" Harry's teeth were grinding.

"I've decided not to join my parents on their trip this summer." Which was partially the truth. "Dumbledore said I could stay here. He didn't say you were part of the package."

He sat down, and banged his head on the table. "I should have stayed on Privet Drive."

"Well, maybe you should just go back home." Draco couldn't imagine how Harry lived. Why was a rich hero spending the summer at Hogwarts when he could be at home being pampered by his own house elves?

"This is home." Harry wished he hadn't said that.

Draco snorted. "Whatever you say, Potter." He turned his back to Harry. "Everyone knows you have a fortune stashed away in Gringott's. You probably have a huge house somewhere in the Muggle world."

Huge house? Oh, Draco was going to get it now. Harry looked at the table, and saw the instrument of his revenge.

He laughed under his breath. He knew it was wrong, so incredibly wrong, but the chocolate pudding was right there, so within his reach, shining and gleaming so happily, and Malfoy's silvery blond hair was just begging outright to be dyed a different color...

Draco was trying not to slip into daymares of that cold, damp cell, so he wasn't expecting Harry's quick movement. He couldn't help but scream when the cold ooze dropped onto his head. It brought Dumbledore running, and he found Draco on the floor, desperately trying to get the pudding out, mumbling to himself.

"Mr. Potter... I expected better from you." He pulled Draco to his feet and marched him out of the hall, leaving Harry behind, confused. He'd been expecting a food fight, not a nervous breakdown.

-----

Three days passed without incident, despite the fact that they were being forced to share a room. Draco walked out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. Opening his trunk, he completely ignored Harry.

"So, Malfoy, what are your plans for today?" Harry already had his next attack planned, but it depended on Draco's plans.

"Homework." He couldn't find his shirts. Had he hung them up in the closet? He opened the walk-in and took a few steps in. Even this was making his claustrophobia act up. He quickly grabbed for a t-shirt when he heard the door creak.

Spinning around, he caught Harry's grin as the door slammed shut and a lock clicked. Bounding forward, he started banging on the door. "Let me out! Let me out! For the love of god, Potter, let me out of here!"

Harry didn't catch the frantic lilt. He just whistled to himself as he walked out of the room.

Minutes passes and the screaming continued. "DAMN IT, HARRY! Don't leave me alone in here!" Inside the closet, Draco slowly sank to the floor, his fists still banging on the door occasionally. It was in a whisper he said, "Please, Daddy, let me out." The memories had him in their grasp.