Somewhere I Belong

I'm looking down now that it's over
Reflecting on all of my mistakes
I thought I found the road to somewhere
Somewhere in His grace
I cried out heaven save me
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say

Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
- "One Last Breath" by Creed

Hermione stepped back from the shelf in front of which she stood. She couldn't tell if she was fully certain if she'd really seen what she'd seen. She returned to her seat looking preoccupied. Harry noticed this, but decided against asking her. She always complained when she was disrupted in doing her homework. Harry had also seen Alex run off. He wasn't quite sure why, but he could tell that something had just happened.

Alex reduced her pace when she looked back and saw that nobody was following her.

"What was I doing?" she asked herself under her breath. Her head was spinning and she understood very little of what had just happened. Her face was blushing so red, that it appeared as though she had spent a great deal of time in the sun. She knew why she'd left him there alone. She was afraid. She'd never been in a situation such as that. She'd never had a boyfriend before, not that she considered Draco her boyfriend. Also, not having a mother figure in her life to explain love, and romance made her withdrawn and was the main cause of that fear.

Draco stood and left a while later, not wanting to look obvious to anyone. He then remembered, while heading toward the door, that there was nobody in the library anyway. He passed the table Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting at. Hermione looked up quickly at Draco, who looked slightly upset. He noticed the curious look on her face as he passed. He could only think of one reason for that kind of look. She must have seen them.

Alex walked down to the hall the next night for dinner. There was a chatter about the other students she noticed when she entered. She took her seat, and when she observed Dumbledore trying to get the attention of all of them, it made sense.

"If you'll please give me a moment," Dumbledore started. The hall went immediately dead silent. He continued, "There are some things you should be aware of. Some new policies will be taking place. There will be no venturing about the school after hours. As you know, that's already a rule, but that means everyone. No exceptions. If you need to go anywhere, you must be accompanied by a teacher or a prefect. This policy is to ensure the safety of our students, not to limit you. We have evidence of Death Eaters walking freely in and out of Hogwarts at night, and secret plans involving he-who-must-not-be-named. You have no need to worry because we are increasing the amount of security, and strengthening the charms protecting the castle. Now, on to your meal," he finished by filling the plates. Few touched their food. Alex sighed now that her nightly walks were off limits. She looked up and saw Draco looking at her from across the hall. It was only for a second, but she was puzzled by his stare. After dinner, he walked past her and looking around him, pulled her into a corner.

"What the..." Alex started, but he put his finger to her lips.

"Don't talk. I just wanted to ask you to meet me by the lake tonight," Draco whispered, looking at her hurriedly. He was acting strange, but Alex ignored it.

"We're not supposed to," Alex whispered back. She noticed how close he was to her, and she began to blush again.

Draco, as if reading her mind backed away slightly and whispered, "That never stopped you before." Without another word, he resumed his walk down the hall casually. Alex stepped out of the shadows, and went the opposite direction. Hermione, watched her, as she had been on her way down the hall, puzzled.

Later that night, Draco waited by the lake. He was hoping she would show up. Alex grabbed her cloak, and put it around her shoulders, before heading out to the lake. As she approached, she stared at Draco. She wondered why he could possibly want her to be out there.

"Well, I'm here," Alex said. Draco turned around, a strange look in his eyes.

"I'm glad you came," he said stepping forward. Alex felt that something wasn't quite right about him, but she shrugged it off.

"So what did you want to..." she was cut off when a gag was slipped over her mouth from behind. Her hands were grabbed forcibly and fastened tightly behind her. She tried to scream, but she couldn't. The attacker hit her a few times, causing her to fall at Draco's feet. They kicked her sharply in the ribs and she curled into a ball. She forced herself to look up. Draco stared down at her, helplessly. Alex's body ached, and she felt her fingers going numb. She cried behind the choking cloth, inhaling her tears. He winced, wanting to help her, but knowing he couldn't.

"Brilliant job Draco," Lucius said coming out of the shadows. Draco nodded, but stayed silent. Alex looked up at all of them, clueless as to what was going on. The person who had grabbed her, stepped out of the darkness as well.

"Peter, are you sure she can't escape?" Lucius asked Peter Pettigrew.

"She can't. I made sure they were tight enough," he said gruffly. Lucius smiled, pleased with what was going on, and stepped over to where Alex could see him.

"Well, we meet at last, Alexandra," he said, leering. She was still crying, and with the gag, couldn't respond. Lucius's mild tone changed into a serious and hurried one.

"Quickly, let's get her out of here," he said to Peter. Draco still stood, not moving from where he'd been. Alex couldn't breathe and she felt herself slowly losing consciousness. Peter grabbed her from the ground roughly, making her ribs ache. Draco cringed slightly. He had cringed each and every time Pettigrew hit her, and swore he could feel the pain inside himself. Alex had tried to make an escape when Pettigrew brought her to her feet, but he grabbed her by her hair, causing her to hit the ground again. This time, something fell out of her pocket. Draco picked it up, recognizing it as the pendant. She had worn that cloak to the lake when she'd showed it to him, and it remained in the pocket all that time.

"Here father," Draco said handing it to his father.

Lucius opened the box and examining it said, "The Dark Lord will be very pleased as to what you've done for him." Draco nodded again, looking to Alex. He couldn't stand to look at her, so he looked quickly away.

"Let's go, Voldemort awaits," Lucius said, before they apparated from the spot by the lake where it had all began.