Somewhere I Belong

Miss independent
Miss self-sufficient
Miss keep your distance
Miss unafraid
Miss out of my way
Miss don't let a man interfere, no
Miss on her own
Miss almost grown
Miss never let a man help her off her throne
So, by keeping her heart protected
She'd never ever feel rejected
Little miss apprehensive
Said ooh, she fell in love

What is the feelin' takin' over?
Thinkin' no one could open my door
Surprise...It's time
To feel what's real
What happened to Miss Independent?
No more the need to be defensive
Goodbye, old you
When love is true

- "Miss Independent" by Kelly Clarkson

Alex wasn't sure where she was when she opened her eyes the next morning. Her vision was slightly indistinct, but she could see. She was in an elaborately decorated room, that would have looked better had it not been so dark and gloomy looking. She found herself still not able to move her upper body, but she pushed with her one hand to lift herself to a sitting position. That was when she realized where her other hand was. It was firmly, but almost protectively clasped in Draco's. His head rested on the arm of the couch she was laying on. She looked down at their intertwined hands, remembering what he'd said to her the night before. His pale skin stood out against her olive skin. She stared at him for a few minutes, before diverting her attention to Lucius Malfoy entering the room. She ripped her hand away from Draco's causing him to wake with a start. Luckily Lucius hadn't seen. "Well, well, well, I see the Mudblood is awake," he said coldly. Alex didn't answer, but she just glared at him through threatening tears. He moved swiftly across the room until he was standing right over her.

"Your mother...she knew. She fought so much when I killed her," he said smirking. Alex bit her lip to keep from crying. Lucius couldn't say anything else because he was interrupted by Draco. He was glaring heatedly at him. Lucius ignored that and then said, "Get up boy. You have work to do." Draco stood, looking quickly to Alex, then to his father. Then Lucius said, looking directly to Alex, "And you, come with me." Lucius started out of the room as Alex struggled to stand. When she did, she followed far behind Lucius, who seemed to be almost running. He left her in a dark room all alone, that must have been something like an attic.

"You can stay here until we decide what to do with you," he said gruffly before locking the door behind him, and continuing on his way. She was so confused as to what was happening. She sat in a chair and waited for something...anything to help her figure out what kind of situation she was in.

About four hours later, someone entered. She gasped, hoping it wasn't Lucius. She sighed when she saw it was Draco. He was holding a candle, and the key to the room she'd been locked in.

"I thought you could use some company," he said, setting the candle on a rickety desk. He looked around, taking in the condition the old room was in.

"Well, I don't need any," Alex said, hoping he would stay anyway.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Peter Pettigrew did everything but beat the life out of me, I've been sitting here shivering for four hours, and I can barely breathe. On top of that, I can barely remember who I am, and I would like to know what I'm doing here. So, if you add that all up, I'm not going to be a very cheery person!" she shouted, before realizing just how loud she'd said it. Draco blinked several times, trying to grasp the sentence she'd just blurted.

"Well, I just thought I would check on you," he said standing up to leave.

"Why the hell would you want to do that? You and your father kidnapped me, and are most likely going to kill me. Why should I trust you now? You betrayed me so many times! You practically let him hurt me! I guess I was wrong about you all along. Here's another lovely reason why I don't like people! I have every right to scream at you right now!" she said, letting her emotions take over and not really making much sense of what she was screaming. Draco stepped back from her outburst, but he essentially expected it. He spoke after a few minutes.

"You're absolutely right," he said quietly.

"What?!" she shouted. He looked at her puzzled.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, referring to her last outburst.

"I hate when you do that," she said, much quieter this time.

"When I do what?" Draco asked, smiling a little, noticing her defeat.

"When you make me feel guilty about being mad at you," she said barely audible.

Draco heard her and said, smirking slightly, "Well, I'll leave you alone now."

She bit her lip, but uttered, "Wait...I don't want to be alone again." He turned around, noting that once again he'd gotten her to open up. He looked at her for a few minutes before he spoke.

"Well, ok, if you want me to, I'll stay," he said. She nodded, not responding, not wanting to open up too much to him. She was still mad, but she was still frightened as well. He sat in the chair he'd been in, and Alex sat up on a desk, opposite him. They sat in silence until she spoke.

"I would like you to tell me why I'm here," she said, trying to warm herself up, her arms crossed over her chest. Draco stood, crossed the room and opened a trunk. He pulled a black blanket out, and handed it to her before taking his seat again. She looked at it, her dignity still nagging at her. She finally just gave in, and wrapped it around her shoulders. He smirked to himself, before answering.

"To be honest, I don't understand why. I only understand my part in it," Draco said, wanting to kick himself afterward.

"Yes, and what would that be?" she asked, her anger returning. Draco could tell just by looking at her, that she had already guessed what he was going to say.

"Well it's not important," Draco said looking to the floor, hoping she would drop the subject.

"Well, I think it is," Alex said glaring directly at him. He gave up trying to hold it back from her.

"I had to...befriend you and gain your trust," he stopped. He couldn't accept what he'd said himself. Alex remained silent. He didn't have to look at her to know she was crying. He stood and went to where she sat.

"I didn't mean for you to get hurt," he said, sounding a bit defensive on his part. She looked up at him, not able to speak. Without warning, she grabbed Draco to her and kissed him. Her kiss was hard and driven by her resentment and emotion. Draco went limp for several seconds, not being able to react to her force. Also her sudden attack caught him off guard. She put all her anger and stress and fear in the form of an aggressive kiss. She ruffled his perfectly plastered hair with her fingers. In the midst of their snog, Lucius threw open the door. He gaped at them, shocked. Draco shoved away from her, his cheeks scarlet, his hair a mess, and his lips burning. Alex's chest heaved as she struggled to breathe. She couldn't explain what had just come over her. She just had a sudden urge that she couldn't control. Draco smoothed his hair with a shaking hand.

"What do you think you were doing to my son, you disgusting little nothing?" Lucius shouted through gritted teeth.

"I...we..." Draco started, but Lucius hit him hard across the face. He stumbled to the floor, covering where his father had struck him.

"I know exactly what is going on here," Lucius said grabbing Alex by her hair. Draco was still on the floor, covering his face.

"Let me go!" Alex screamed, kicking Lucius hard. He pulled out his wand and pointed it at her.

"The only reason I haven't killed you yet is because of this," he spat, holding up her pendant that he'd had since they captured her. Just then a wicked smiled crossed his face. "If I can't hurt you," he started, but didn't finish. He pointed his wand at Draco and shouted, "Crucio!"