Somewhere I Belong

I've been waiting for a good day
I've been holding back long enough
I've been hurting to tell you some things
it's not the falling of the temperature
that's making all our bones run cold
it's the breeze you make
the presence felt when you're around me

and it feels like I'm at an all-time low
slightly bruised and broken
from our head on collision
I've never seen this side of you
another tragic case of feeling
bruised and broken
from our head on collision
I've never seen this side of you
another tragic case
- "Head On Collision" by New Found Glory

He couldn't quite identify where he was and what he was doing there, but he opened his eyes. There was only light, and large amounts. It blinded him momentarily, and he closed his eyes, waiting for sounds of his surroundings. He didn't hear any, so he tried opening his eyes again. It was much dimmer this time, and he could see that he was in a white bed. His body had no feeling, and he felt limp and helpless. He wanted to get up and walk out of wherever he was, but he couldn't move. He lay still and kept his eyes tightly closed. He was trying to wake up from whatever dream he was experiencing. He heard a voice but it was distant. He opened his eyes and he saw Alexandra staring at him. She looked scared, her face pale with fear. When she saw him open his eyes, she moved to the chair next to the bed. A cloak Draco recognized as hers was draped over the chair. He regained his senses and stared at her, astounded and terribly baffled.

"What the hell...where am I?" Draco asked, his voice coming out hoarse.

"Are you crazy or something? You scared the shit out of me!" Alex shouted in his face. Draco was unsuspecting of her outburst and curious for the purpose.

"What are you talking about?" he asked squinting at her, something he usually did when he was unsure of something.

"What am I talking about? You don't get it do you?" she asked, but continued, not giving him the chance to answer. "You jumped in the lake. I was so scared that I jumped in, and got you out. You almost..." she stopped, but Draco knew what she was going to say.

"How long have I been here?" he asked, looking around at the familiar walls of the Infirmary.

"About three hours. Are you sure you haven't lost your mind or something?" she asked looking at him worriedly.

"No, I'm not crazy, I just can't move," he said, trying to sit up.

Madam Pomfrey entered just then and said, "Well, it's good to see you're finally conscious. What in your right mind made you jump in the lake this time of year?" She moved to the opposite side of the bed than Alex, and dumped some type of potion into his mouth.

"I was unconscious?" he asked after swallowing the potion that made his body feel instantly and thoroughly warm.

"Yes, and it's a good thing she got you out of there. You can put your clothes back on in a few minutes if you wish. They should be dry," Madam Pomfrey said while tidying up the Infirmary. Draco, now able to move a little looked at himself, and noticed he wasn't wearing much under the blankets. His skin was a dark reddish purple color. He looked quickly up at Alex when he put the pieces all together.

"Don't worry, I wasn't here when she stripped you down," Alex said hiding her emotion behind a wall of sarcasm. Draco smirked slightly and sat all the way up, relieved. It was much harder for Alex to talk to him after the whole situation before he jumped into the lake, but she didn't let it show. An awkward silence rippled through the room, until Alex broke it.

"You know...you're such a...what the hell? Why did you jump in the lake?" she asked, her frustration taking over her once calm self.

"Why did you jump in after me?" he asked, not looking up. Neither of them had a chance to respond because Madam Pomfrey back came into the room.

"Alright Alexandra. You were a big help, but I think he ought to have his rest. Out you go," Madam Pomfrey said pointing toward the door.

Alex stood, picked up her cloak from the chair and headed toward the door. She turned back in the doorway and said, "Hey Draco, you might want to stay away from all kinds of large bodies of water for about forty eight hours. Just in case you have the urge to jump in one again." Her voice was filled with sarcasm, but her face remained empty of emotion. She turned and left shaking her head to herself as she did so. Draco put his clothes on and got back into the bed. He wasn't feeling very tired, but Madam Pomfrey had insisted that he sleep.

"Well I suppose a Dreamless Sleep potion should do it," she said going over to where the potions were kept.

"Um...actually Madam Pomfrey, I would rather dream tonight," Draco said solemnly. Madam Pomfrey smiled, and grabbed the bottle containing a regular sleeping potion. She put some in a glass, and brought it to Draco. He drank every last drop, and lay down peacefully on the pillow. He didn't care what was going to be in his dreams that night, but he didn't want to be left alone, even in his sleep.

Alex had been scarred from earlier that day. The only thing she remembered was Draco kissing her, then getting into an argument with him. She had begun to run away from him, but she's heard a loud splash, and he was gone. Then there was just cold and darkness. She remembered waking up in the Infirmary in the bed next to Draco's. He seemed so calm about what he'd done. Like he'd meant for it to happen. She shrugged, and continued to her dorm. She didn't know how she could ever sleep with her mind so occupied, and her feelings so caught up. She was reaching a point in her life when she wasn't so dependent on others. She was putting a lot of pressure on herself to stay away from others, and try to be independent. However, she was also reaching a point in her life when she had to stand back and say 'What the hell'. Nothing else made sense, and she couldn't figure out how she'd gone from her normal unseen, secluded self, to saving people's lives that had no use for her before, and getting her first kiss, all in one day. She was as confused as she could be, but she had to admit that this new thing in her life wasn't so bad.