Prisoner of the Mind

It's hard to think

That life is okay

When you're on the brink

Of a slow decay

When your path is rough

And your wounds go deep

It's hard to be tough

On a stair so steep

Life gives you troubles

And will make you mourn

And it's hard to recover

When your heart is so torn

And often you tell yourself

Of the hardships you find

How healing may be impossible

When you're a prisoner...of your mind.

By Emily Krempholtz

Chapter One: An unexpected guest

Draco wiped at his bleeding lip. His father had resorted to beating him again. He had been glad to get out of that hellhole, Hogwarts, for Christmas, but now he wished he was back in the school. At least there, he was away from his father. Now he had to spend another week and a half with the madman that his father had become, before he could go back. Since his escape from Azkaban, a month before, Lucius had become increasingly irritable, and often beat his family when he didn't get what he wanted. Draco's mother, Narcissa, rarely left her personal wing of the manor lately, not even going to the social events and parties she used to live for. Draco didn't blame her, as he rubbed at one of the many bruises, then checked his lip again. Still bleeding.

He made his way up to his bedroom, and entered it with a sigh. He immediately went to the bathroom, and found some first aid supplies. He had needed them a lot lately. After his lip had finally stopped bleeding, and his bruises didn't hurt as much, he sat down on his bed. The emerald silk comforter didn't seem as welcoming as it normally did, so Draco got up. He paced his room, searching for something to look at, finding only things that reminded him of his father.

His gaze eventually turned to the window, and the not yet iced over river near his manor. He leaned against the glass, thinking of how much the water's path looked like the profile of his father's face. A shadow of a tree looked as though it could be a fist...his. Or his father's. The river could be him. He stared coldly at it, realizing that it could very well be the shape of a person, either him or his father. Even that rock was in the right place for an eye...at least, it was. Now it moved, and it looked instead like a mouth.

Hang on...thought Draco. Rocks don't move... By some strange force, Draco found himself walking downstairs, towards the back door of the manor. He passed his father's study quietly, successfully leaving his father to his business...most likely drinking.

Once outside, he trudged through the snow, closer to the river, with every step his heart pounding louder, and his body growing colder. He reached the river, and looked around. He couldn't see anything.

"Hello?" he called. No answer. He walked downstream for a few minutes. "Hello?" he said again. He heard only the sound of running water. He looked around him. All he could see was a pile of logs, sticks and some chunks of ice building up against something. He moved closer to check it out. The driftwood and bits of ice were pushed up against some dark mass of something. Jumping up break off a branch on a nearby tree, he took the branch and poked the dark shape. He used the stick to push away all the driftwood and debris, and dropped the branch at what he saw. A girl was lying motionless in the water.

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"But I'm worried. I sent her nine owls and she didn't reply to any of them."

"Nine? Really, I'm sure Meg's fine."

"She better be."

"If it comforts you at all, I'll have Dad go see Aunt Della tomorrow."

Hermione Granger was worried. She hadn't heard from Megan, her best girl friend, in days. Normally, she got an owl every day. Ron Weasley was busy trying to comfort her.

"Maybe Harry knows what's up with her, but I'm sure it's nothing, 'Mione."

"But it IS something, Ron! You don't know her like I do! She's not the kind of person to forget my owls."

"'Mione, you've only known her a few months. You can't possibly know her that well by now."

"Of course I can, Ron. This isn't like her at all. I don't know what's wrong, but it's really bothering me."

"I'm telling you. I'll have Dad check up on her. He stops at Aunt Della's a lot lately, since we found out there actually IS magic in her family."

"Okay..." Hermione wasn't convinced.

"Okay, I can see that this isn't working, so...I know! Let's go now."

"To your aunt's?"

"Sure. Dad had his friend at the Floo Network install their fireplace."

"But Ron...Megan's parents are muggles."

"I never said it was legal." Hermione opened her mouth to protest, but shut it. She would be seeing one of her best friends again!

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Draco waded into the ice cold water. The current almost swept him away, but he stood tall, taking long and careful steps towards the body. The girl was motionless. He reached the middle of the river, (silently thanking God that it wasn't very deep) and there she was, pushed up against a rock. The water was up to his neck. He took the strange girl in his arms, and carefully carried her back to the riverbank. Draco laid her on the snow, and turned her head so that he could see her face. He gasped. Looking up at him was the face of Megan Parker, Gryffindor, friend of Harry Potter, and one of his archenemies.

"Well, this is great," he said to himself. "I have one of my enemies on my front lawn, dead. How am I going to cover this?"

He looked at her again. She was deadly pale, from the cold, and wearing, oh dear God, wearing only a bra and panties...both white and very wet. Draco knew he should be disgusted, but he couldn't help himself. He literally slapped himself.

"Great. I'm checking out a dead girl." He changed his mind to another subject...he didn't know what he would do with her. He couldn't just leave her in the middle of his yard, but even he didn't have the heart to throw her back in the icy river. His thoughts were interrupted by a small cough. It took him a second to realize what he had heard. He looked down at Megan. Her stomach was gently rising and falling. It was so slight a movement that he had missed it before. She was alive!

Now what do I do with her?

He did the only thing he could think of. He picked up the unconscious girl, and carried her back to the house. Quietly opening the door nearest to his room, and farthest from his father, he snuck in, avoiding all the main corridors where the house elves mainly wandered. He crept to his room as silently as possible. Once inside his room, he leaned up against his door, and sighed. He laid Megan on the bed, and went into the bathroom to get dried off and warmed up a bit.

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Megan's eyes fluttered open. The first thing she thought was, Oh thank God. He's gone. Then she looked around and realized she didn't know where the hell she was, and so the next thing she thought was, Where the fuck am I?

She tried to sit up, but was too exhausted. She laid back down with a groan. Her eyes started to flicker shut again, but she saw something move at the other end of the room. Her eyes opened wide and she screamed as a half-naked Draco Malfoy came into view. She found her scream muffled as a cold, pale hand covered her mouth. Instinctly, she struggled against the strong hold, but found herself held still by another hand.

"God, Parker, shut up." Malfoy removed his hand. Megan pulled herself away from him.

"What am I doing here? Oh God, I don't need this. Not after--no. Make it stop."

Malfoy looked confused. "What??"

"Leave me alone. I've had enough."

"Parker, what the hell are you saying?"

"Get away from me! I don't want this!" She desperately moved away from him, pulling herself with her arms, but fell off of the other side of the bed. She landed on the floor with a thud.

"Ow," she said absently, and passed out.

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Draco picked up the once again unconscious girl and set her back on his bed. He noticed her half-naked form again. She really needed some clothes. He went to his closet, and grabbed a t-shirt and some boxer shorts. He hadn't ever dressed someone before, only undressed. After much effort, he managed to get his clothes on the girl. So he grabbed some clothes for him, and got changed into them. He didn't think she appreciated him walking in with...not many clothes on.

After changing, he flopped down into a big armchair near his bed. Looking at the girl lying unconscious on his bed again, he shook his head. Now what was he supposed to do?

How did she get here anyway? he thought. Why was she floating in an icy river in the middle of December? And WHAT the hell am I supposed to do with her? I can't just let her stay in my house. What would my father think? I mean, she's a GRYFFINDOR, for Christ's sake!

He sighed. Grabbing a nearby book on Quidditch, he started reading, but not really comprehending any words. Eventually, the book dropped to the floor, and Draco's head dropped as well in a light, fitful sleep.

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Ron and Hermione appeared in Ron's Aunt Della's living room. There was no one there. Hermione looked around interestedly. She had never been to Megan's house before. It was furnished much like her own, as both of them were muggle-borns.

"Aunt Della?" called Ron. A plump, auburn haired woman appeared in the doorway.

"Ron! How nice to see you! And, you must be Hermione. Megan told me SO much about you! It's wonderful to finally meet you," she said in her odd, American accent.

"It's very nice to meet you, too, Mrs. Parker."

"Now, Ron, tell me. Is Megan staying at your house, without telling me?"

"No, Aunt Della. Why? Do you mean she's not here?"

"Why, no Ron. She disappeared a few days ago, about a day after Christmas vaca--holidays started. We haven't seen her, and we're getting very worried."

Hermione's eyes widened. "I knew it! I just knew it when she didn't write back to me that something was wrong! Oh, where could she be? This is awful, simply awful!" Mrs. Parker's eyes started to water.

"Yes, I know. My husband and I have no clue where she could be. We're so worried, and I don't know what could have happened to her." Ron found himself enveloped in a tight hug by his aunt.

"It's alright, Aunt Della. She'll turn up somewhere. She has to!"

"I hope so, Ronnie. I don't know what your Uncle Dennis and I would do if she were gone." Ron ignored the nickname for once. This was important. His cousin, who was also one of his closest friends, was missing.

"We put an ad in the papers, but it hasn't come out yet." Aunt Della continued.

"Me and Hermione will ask Dad to get an ad in the Daily Prophet, as soon as possible." Aunt Della nodded tearfully. Hermione patted the poor woman's shoulder comfortingly.

"She'll be okay, Mrs. Parker. She has to be! She didn't get into Gryffindor for nothing. She's a brave girl, and she'll get through this somehow and find a way back home!" Ron noticed that Hermione's eyes were watering dangerously. He touched her arm. She faced him, lips trembling.

"Ron," she said softly, burying her face in his chest. "This is awful."

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Megan once again awoke, her breathing ragged and harsh. She struggled into a sitting position, and took a good look at her surroundings. She was in a large, green room. There were two doors at one end near her, one open to reveal a bathroom, and another door on the other end of the room. The bed she was laying on was very large, and also green. The covers were made of silk, she assumed, and so were the pillows. The bed hangings were embroidered with silver serpents. Slytherin. The room had a small fireplace near the bed, with a large, green armchair next to it. Next to the armchair was a small end-table. Megan struggled to her feet, and walked around the room. She opened the door next to the bathroom. It was a walk-in-closet. The door at the opposite end led to a hallway. When she reached the space with the fireplace, she almost tripped over a book on the floor. She picked it up and almost set it on the armchair, but stopped herself just in time.

Draco Malfoy was sleeping in the chair. Her eyes widened in shock as she remembered her short awakening before. At least he seemed to be clothed now. Reminded of her own state, she looked down at herself only to find that she was, in fact, dressed. In boy's clothes, but clothes, nonetheless.

She crept away from the chair and her sleeping enemy as quietly as she could, making for the door out of the room, but when she was almost there, she tripped over her own feet.

"Shit!" she cursed loudly, before clapping a hand over her mouth in realization of what she had done. It was too late. Malfoy awoke. She watched in silence as he slowly stood up and stretched. His eyes went immediately to the bed, and he rolled his eyes when he saw that it was empty. He immediately searched the rest of the room, and when he saw Megan near the door, his eyes widened.

"Don't go out that door," he said slowly, and softly.

"Leave me alone Malfoy."

"Parker, I'm serious. Stay in here."

"Why?"

"Because I don't need my father seeing you," Megan scoffed to cover her confusion, then changed the subject.

"Why am I here?"

"Because I brought you here."

"Duh, but how did I get here?"

"I found you floating in a small river nearby. So really, I saved you. You owe me, Parker."

Megan's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I owe you nothing, Malfoy." And with that, she bolted for the door.

But her muscles were tired and still half frozen, and Malfoy's were stronger and faster. He grabbed her arm just as she grabbed the doorknob. She struggled for a moment, but yielded as soon as she realized she had no chance.

"Let go of the door," he said calmly. Megan obeyed. "Now go sit down in that chair, or somewhere else where I can keep an eye on you," She didn't move. "Parker, now," Still, she stood, frozen to the spot. Malfoy groaned. His hand still on her arm, he dragged her across his room, and stopped at the chair. "Now sit," he said. Megan pretended not to hear. "Please don't make me do this." With no response, he picked her up in his arms, ("Oh!" cried Megan, surprised.) and set her down in the armchair. "Now, please. Stay there!"

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"I want to know why you were just found floating in the river outside my home." It wasn't a question, it was a command. Megan disobeyed.

"Well, I want to know why you even 'saved' me, as you call it."

"Answer me, Parker."

"No. Not until you answer me."

The two held a short staring contest, until Malfoy looked away in frustration.

"Fine," he said. "Be difficult." He stood up and walked away from her. Megan watched him, but her hopes were squashed flat. He took a chair, set it right in front of the door, and sat. And sat. And sat. Megan amused herself with Malfoy's Quidditch book, which actually, was quite interesting, waiting for Malfoy to quit. He didn't. Both were too stubborn to give in. For about two hours, they sat, not moving, until both looked at each other and said simultaneously, "Okay, I'll tell you. My God!" Megan blushed a little, and almost laughed. Malfoy shook his head and looked annoyed.

"You first, Malfoy."

"No, you."

"You."

"I asked first."

"So?"

"You owe me. I saved your life."

"TELL ME."

"No."

Megan could see she wasn't getting anywhere, so she groaned in frustration.

"Okay, fine. I was floating in 'your' river because...I was...running...from something. Your turn."

Malfoy wasn't satisfied, and she knew it, so she smirked for effect.

"Fine. I saved you, because I saw you and...I felt like it. Happy?"

"No."

"Me either."

"Why did you feel like it?"

"Parker, did you really think I would just let someone die like that?"

"Well, actually--"

"Nevermind. Don't answer that question." Megan smirked again. Malfoy asked next.

"Did you run away from home?"

"Yes and no."

"Wha--"

"Nope. My turn. Why did you bring me to your house? Why didn't you just leave me in the snow?"

"Parker, do you know how weird it would look if there was a dead, half-naked girl in the snow near my house? The Daily Prophet would have a field day!"

"Well, I guess."

"What did you mean by yes and no?"

"I meant, I was running away from home, but I didn't want to."

"Er, sure. Okay."

"How did you find me?"

"I looked out my window, and you were in the river."

"Oh."

"Why did you run away?"

"I didn't want...er...someone to find me."

"Who?"

"It's not your turn, Malfoy."

"Fine, ask."

"I'm out of questions. Looks like we're done."

"Parker!"

"Sorry, Malfoy. Game over."

"Fine. Just...fine." Malfoy made his way over to his bed, and plopped down on it. "I'm going to bed."

Megan was about to make a face when she thought of a question. "Er, Malfoy?" He grunted. "Where do I sleep?"