"Never Again"
by Christine Anderson
aka Lilly Malfoy

Ya know, I think I've gone this route already. Been there and done that, as they say, and it's not an experience I'd care to repeat. A couple of years ago someone took my place, but I wouldn't call it an even trade. It wasn't. He used a potion to take on my appearance- and let's not even talk about how long it took to scrub the damned Polyjuice out of my flask. He caught me by surprise, and used dark magic to get me to tell him nearly everything he wanted to know. I was able to hold a bit back, to fight a few of the spells, but not enough of them- not enough by half. I've never forgiven myself for that. Probably never will.

Nine months, this went on, September to May, or thereabouts- I tried, but it wasn't easy keeping track of days. I spent those months locked in my own trunk, while that scum walked around fooling my friends, my allies, and a school full of children into thinking he was me. The only reason I survived that year, if you want to call it that, is because he needed me alive. He'd drop in every now and then for a bit of interrogation and light torture, and to rip out bits of my hair for the potion.

If I'd been a vain man, what I looked like when they pulled me out of the trunk might've concerned me more than it did. It sure as hell troubled a lot of other people. But Gods know I was never the best-looking man, and I'd given up any lingering thoughts of vanity a long time and a lot of scars ago.

It was hell, that year, and much as I didn't feel it, I knew I'd been lucky to survive it. It could just as easily have gone another way, and I've never forgotten that. This is what happens when vigilance fails, and it cannot happen again. It cost far too much, then.

One thing I know for certain is that trading places with someone would mean asking them to become me for a time, and there's no way I can do that. I wouldn't trust many people to do it, and the ones I would, I'd never risk like that. My enemies can come after me if they'd like, but I'm not about to stand by while they go after someone else for no better reason than my selfish desire to be someone else for a day.