"Don't forget we're to attend Diagon Alley today, Draco," Narcissa reminded her son as he came into the kitchen to see what had been served for breakfast.

Draco wrinkled his nose in annoyance. He'd forgotten about that. And he hadn't told Astrid that he wouldn't be around today.

He had seen her pretty much everyday in the last weeks of the summer holidays. He liked hanging out with her. She didn't demand constant conversation from him and he felt he could just be quiet around her. He liked that she was quiet too. Although sometimes he felt that she was holding something back, something big that was on her mind. Like himself, though. He had refrained from telling her about being a wizard.

Besides, he found it refreshing pretending not to be. It wasn't as though he could use magic out of school anyway.

Draco sat up slightly when his father entered the kitchen. He wondered briefly what his father would think if he ever discovered that his son had befriended a Muggle. Draco couldn't help but snigger under his breath. His father eyed him suspiciously and Draco quickly squeezed his lips shut tightly together.

"Something amusing, Draco?" His father asked in his cold drawling voice. "Would you care to share?"

"No father," Draco replied quickly, "just thinking about Hogwarts."

"Ahhh," Lucius breathed, his pale grey eyes flashing. "I hope you're thinking about how best to get Harry Potter onside. It would be good for the Malfoy's to be associated with such a name."

"Of course, father," Draco answered automatically, yet inwardly groaned. Another friendship encouraged by darling daddy. No doubt this Potter boy will be another bore.

His thoughts drifted to Astrid and he wondered what she'll be up to today. Sitting on that swing probably. Thinking. He wondered what it was she thought about all day.

...

Diagon Alley had predictably been a bore fest. He would have much rather have spent the day exploring the woods with Astrid.

He hurried to the playground as soon as he could escape, after breakfast the next day.

"What did you get up to yesterday?" Astrid asked as he took the swing next to hers.

"Had to get my school things," Draco answered airily, "was a bit of a bore to be honest. Did you miss me?"

She gave her shoulders a non committal shrug, but he couldn't help but notice the slight pink tinge rise to her cheeks, making him smirk.

"We should do something fun," Draco said, letting his seat swing back and forth, "seeing as I leave for school tomorrow."

Astrid's head shot up and he could see the alarm in her blue eyes.

"Tomorrow?" she whispered.

Draco shifted uncomfortably on his seat and found he couldn't quite meet her eyes, "I'll be back at Christmas - I come back for the holidays."

Astrid jumped off the swing suddenly. Draco looked at her in surprise.

"Well then," she said, a smile creeping to her lips, "you said, fun - let's race down to the river."

And with that she turned and ran. Draco jumped off the swing immediately and startled hurtling after her, hearing the tinkling of her laughter as she headed towards the woods.

...

I hated the way I felt when Draco had said he was leaving for school the next day.

It was as though someone had reached inside of me and started squeezing my heart in their hands. My throat had constricted of its own accord and a dull sort of sadness fell down upon me like a dark cloud.

I had enjoyed having had a friend to play with. And now it was going to end.

But I refused to let him see me sad. Refused to admit that I would miss him horribly. Of course he had plenty of friends he would no doubt be going to school with. Like that Pansy for instance.

He said he would be back at Christmas - it was sweet of him to say it as though he would want to see me again. But I knew he wouldn't. I knew once he had settled into his new life, I - Astrid - would be the last thing on his mind.

"What did you do?"

I blinked, confused at the question. Draco was pointing at my arm, where I had just breathlessly rolled up my sleeves after our race had taken us to the edge of the river.

My blood turned ice cold. Without looking down, I knew what he was referring to. There was a cluster of small round marks on the inside of my left forearm.

My heart hammered. I hadn't meant to roll my sleeves up. I was usually so careful. I cursed myself for being such an idiot - but I had been momentarily distracted by Draco's news.

"It's nothing," I mumbled hurriedly, quickly pulling my sleeves back down, "just a few moles, that's all."

I saw Draco frown slightly out of the corner of my eye, but then to my relief he shrugged and started pulling his socks and shoes off.

"Last one in is a stinky loser," he laughed, his sparkling silver grey eyes glinting in the sunlight.

I was going to miss him. He had been the only thing in my life worth smiling about.