A hand reached out and steadied me as I stepped down from the fireplace. I smiled a thanks at my uncle, before looking around in a shaky awe.

We were in a huge, dark, dusty kitchen. A dumpy red haired lady was scurrying around with a teapot in hand.

"Ah! You must be Astrid, my dear!" She cried, her plump red face beaming at me warmly, "Severus has told us all about you!"

He has? I looked up at my newly acquired guardian wondering just how much he knew about me.

"Er, hi," I said in a small nervous voice.

"Call me Molly, my dear," she said, pulling out a chair for me at the large kitchen table, "I think you may know my children: Ronald and Ginny - they are both currently attending Hogwarts."

I sat down as she handed me a cup of tea, feeling utterly bewildered. Why was I sat in a kitchen with Ron and Ginny's mother? Was this their house? Would I be staying here with them and not Snape? I had so many questions, but my biggest one was about Draco. Was he going to be alright?

I suddenly felt very tearful and would have done anything to have Draco with me. I needed him. He kept me calm in a way that nobody ever could. I felt the panic rise in my chest wondering when and if I'd ever see him again. My throat started to close up and I felt for sure I was going to suffocate.

"Are you okay, my dear?" Molly said, looking over at me in concern, "you don't look well at all."

"She's had a shock," Snape explained, taking the chair opposite me from across the table. "Molly, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to a have a moment alone with my niece to discuss a few things before I return to the school."

"Very well, very well," Molly tutted, looking annoyed at being dismissed. "I'll trust you'll be here tonight to join us all for Astrid's welcome feast?"

Welcome feast? That sounded terrifying. Who was going to be there? I didn't want to meet a bunch of strange people who seemed to know me more than I did. I just wanted Draco.

"Of course I will, Molly," Snape said, his black eyes glinting - almost in disdain, "she is my niece after all."

I felt Snape studying me closely after Molly exited the kitchen.

"Are you not staying here with me?" I asked, cringing at my how timid my voice sounded.

"This is not my home, Astrid. This is the Black house and, until last summer was owned by a man called Sirius Black. You may or may not be thrilled to hear that it has since passed down to his godson, Harry Potter."

"This is Harry's house?" I asked horrified. I suddenly really didn't want to be here. I wanted to kill Harry Potter for what he did to Draco - not live in his house.

"Do not fear, you won't be seeing him anytime soon," Snape snarled, his lip curling in obvious distaste, "he has generously allowed the Order of the Phoenix to use this place as headquarters. Various members, like Molly, will come and go, but you will always have someone staying here with you at all times. You will meet the rest of them tonight."

"Oh," I answered not really knowing how to respond to this. I had no idea what this Order thing was, nor did I really care. "S-Snape?" I added, blushing slightly - I wasn't really sure what I should be calling him.

"Call me Severus," he said gently, his sharp features softening slightly.

"Severus, are you really my mother's brother?" I had to ask, I needed to ask.

"Yes," he said sadly, "Pandora was my older sister, she was a Muggle like my father. I got my magical ability from my mother. You- you look so much like her."

"I don't remember her telling me about a brother, but I was only seven when she died, I'm even starting to forget what she sounded like, what she looked like..." I trailed off, feeling a horrible tightening around my chest.

"I am sorry for what you've been through," Snape swallowed, looking at me with intense sorrow, "I am sorry I wasn't there to... protect you."

"I had Draco," I bristled, with a slight tone of indignation.

Snape nodded, saying no more.

"He will be all right, you know," Snape said quietly after a while, obviously reading my thoughts. "Both Dumbledore and I are watching out for him. He will not have to kill. We will make sure of it."

"Will I see him again?" I dared asked, even though I was terrified of the answer.

"Our plan is to get him here in the end, but in the meantime it is essential that he completes the task in order for his mother to survive."

"Can't you just bring her here, too?" I asked, wondering why the wait. I wanted Draco here now. It was ridiculous they were making him work himself sick on that awful cabinet.

"Sadly, Astrid, I very much doubt Narcissa Malfoy will stray, especially one so loyal to her dedicated Death Eater husband. It would be too dangerous an idea to approach."

"Can you tell him that I'm safe?" I said, my voice quivering, "please, tell him that I- that I... that I'm safe."

I wanted to ask Snape to tell Draco that I loved him, but I couldn't bring myself to say the words out loud. Besides, I thought, Draco already knew.

"I will," Snape said, standing up, "now I must get going before he wakes up and undoubtedly starts trying to kick my office door in."

I stood up too, walking with him to the fireplace.

"I shall be back tonight, Astrid," he said, placing a tentative hand on my shoulder. I tried not to wince, but I still found it difficult having people touch me uninvitedly. Snape obviously sensing this - or even reading my mind - swiftly removed his hand.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, and I could tell by the emphasis he put on the word 'sorry', he didn't just mean about his physical gesture.

"It's okay," I whispered, as a lonely tear fell down my cheek, "thank you, Severus, thank you."

"You are safe now, child," he said looking at me with a surprisingly warm expression, "as long as I breathe, I will make sure you always will be. For Pandora."

And as I watched him vanish in the fire, I was suddenly grateful to have Severus Snape for my uncle.