"Expelliarmus!"

Draco yelled the incantation as soon as he kicked open the door.

I gave a little yelp and closed my eyes, clutching onto Draco's hand as tightly as I could.

When I opened my eyes, I could see a very pale Dumbledore standing against the ramparts, showing no signs of panic or distress.

Instead, he merely looked at the both of us and smiled. "Good evening, Draco... and Astrid - so wonderful to see you in my castle again."

I noticed Draco studying the two broomsticks which were propped up on the wall next to Dumbledore. "Who else is here?" He spat.

I flinched at his harsh tone. Draco was panting very heavily and it was as if I could actually see the adrenaline coursing through his body.

"A question I might ask you two, or are you both acting alone?"

"No," Draco said, his eyes shifting back to Dumbledore. "There are Death Eaters here in your school tonight. I let them in."

"Very clever, Draco," Dumbledore smiled, "very clever indeed."

"I've got a job to do," Draco said, his wand hand shaking. I felt his fingers grip sweatily around mine. Tears stung my eyes as I looked up at his frightened face. This wasn't him. I knew my Draco, and I knew he was too good a person to do this.

"Forgive me, Draco," Dumbledore murmured, "but I do not believe you are a killer. And I also believe your beautiful young lady here, does not think you capable of such evil, either."

Draco took his eyes off of Dumbledore to glance down at me. His face - full of angry determination - dropped slightly as he spotted the tears rolling down my cheeks. Sorrow and regret immediately flashed in his grey eyes, and I could tell he was struggling to decide what to do.

"Please, Draco," I sobbed, begging him with my eyes.

"We can offer you and your mother protection, Draco," Dumbledore said softly, "your father, too. Just say the word, Draco."

Draco looked utterly conflicted now, his wand still pointing at Dumbledore's heart, but his face full of panic and fear.

And then, as tears filled his own eyes, I saw to my complete relief, the lowering of his wand. I smiled up at him, my heart swelling with a rush of love and gratitude.

"Good boy, Draco, you've made the right decision." Dumbledore said, trying to right himself, but having trouble in his weakened state.

And just as I began to step over to help him, the door flew open and we were suddenly joined by the woman I knew to be called Bellatrix, and the other Death Eaters.

Draco immediately grabbed me by the waist, hauling me out of the way, thrusting me protectively behind him again.

My heart thudding, I closed my eyes and buried my face into his back, clasping my fingers tightly around his. We were too late. And I was freaking terrified.

"Well done, Draco! Well done!" Bellatrix sing songed delightedly, as she skipped over to us and giggled in Draco's ear. I felt him flinch. "Cornered and wandless!"

"Come on then, Draco!" Yelled the ugly lumpy looking Death Eater, "get on with it!"

I could feel Draco's body trembling beneath his suit as he raised his wand again. I squeezed his hand in mine, reminding him I was with him, and that he was not alone.

"Ah Amycus, and Alecto, how lovely of you to join us." Dumbledore said pleasantly. "And of course, Bellatrix too. Oh, and is that you Fenrir I can see at the back?"

"That's right," the horrifying rasping hairy Death Eater said, "pleased to see me, Dumbledore?"

"No, I cannot say that I am..."

I dared glance up from behind Draco's shoulder at the scene. Blood was dripping down the face of Greyback making my stomach turn to liquid.

"But you know how much I like kids, Dumbledore." He grinned, licking the blood obscenely from his lips.

"Well I cannot pretend that I'm a little shocked that Draco here invited you, of all people, into the school where his friends are..." Dumbledore trailed off, pointedly flicking his eyes towards me.

"I didn't," Draco breathed, tensing up as his fingers, slick with sweat again, started slipping around mine, "I didn't know he was going to come-"

"I wouldn't want to miss a trip to Hogwarts, Dumbledore," Greyback rasped. "Not when there are throats to be ripped out... delicious, delicious..." he raised a yellow fingernail and picked at his front teeth, leering at Dumbledore. "I could do you for afters, Dumbledore..."

"No!" Bellatrix screeched, silencing him. "We've got orders. Draco's got to do it. Now Draco, and quickly."

I clung onto Draco with everything I had, squeezing my eyes shut as he tried to steady his wand arm. I could feel the rapid beating of his heart and the exaggerated rise and fall of his back as his breathing drew more ragged with fear.

"Get the girl off him!" I heard the one called Alecto screech, "she's holding him back!"

"No!" Draco yelled, as Bellatrix, in one swift movement, yanked my arm, pulling me roughly away from him.

"Just get on with it, Draco!" Bellatrix hollered, shoving me out of his reach and throwing me into Greyback's hairy chest. "And then you can have your girl back."

I shuddered in fear and revultion as a disgusting stench hit me. Greyback, who dug his fingernails painfully in my upper arms keeping me clamped to him, was breathing down excitedly over me.

Draco looked on horrified, his wand now shaking so much that even if he had wanted to, there was never going to be any way he would be able to aim that thing.

And just then, there was another clattering on the stairs, and all heads swivelled towards the door as another figure burst on through.

My heart soared. It was Snape!

His beady black eyes surveyed the scene before him. They almost bulged out of his head when they landed on me, clamped painfully in Greyback's hold.

"Get your hands off of her!" He snarled threateningly.

"Who is she to you?" Greyback spat back, digging his fingernails in further.

"He- he's my uncle," I sobbed.

"Your niece?" I heard Bellatrix yelp, and Snape's eyes widened in horror when he snapped his head towards the voice and noticed her standing there.

"Ahem!"

Everyone on the tower suddenly turned their attention back to Dumbledore. Surprised looks fluttered across faces at seeing him standing there, as if in all the excitement, they had forgotten why they were all there in the first place.

"Severus, please," Dumbledore seemed to beg.

As he gave a heavy sigh, we all watched Snape lift his wand and give a lazy flick towards Dumbledore.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Before Dumbledore's body had even hit the ground, Bellatrix had snatched me from Greyback's hold, thrusting her face in mine.

"It's her!" She screeched delightedly, spittle landing across my face making me flinch, "it's really her!"

There was a sudden commotion around us, both Draco and Snape had swept across the tower and wrenched Bellatrix off of me, causing me to fall clumsily to the floor.

There was roaring and yelling all around as feet pounded the ground and the Death Eaters started to pile down the staircase.

"We need to get out of here - now!" I heard Snape cry as Draco helped me back to my feet, and started dragging me down the staircase.

"You murdering bastard!"

I could have sworn that voice belonged to Harry but as I looked back up the staircase I couldn't see a thing for Snape and Bellatrix were blocking the view as they thundered down behind us.

"Come on, Astrid!" Draco cried, tugging desperately at my hand.

My heart was pounding terrifyingly in my chest. I had no idea what was going on anymore, and gripped Draco's hand tight as we ran through the chaos.

Jets of light flew everywhere and the sounds of shouts and horrifying blasts filled the castle halls.

I could hear Bellatrix cackling loudly behind us. "This is fantastic! He will reward us beyond anything! This is bigger than killing Dumbledore!"

"No, Bella!" I heard Snape bellow angrily, as we ran, dodging the fighting around us. "You promised! He must never know!"

Frightened, not knowing what they were arguing about, I clutched Draco's hand tighter, willing myself not to fall as we stumbled and tripped down yet more stairs.

We finally made it outside the castle and started pelting across the grass. I looked behind to see Harry hot on our heels, screaming furiously after us.

"Don't look back, Astrid," Draco implored breathlessly as he continued to pull me, his fingers clasped tightly around mine. "We need to get out of here!"

Bellatrix was dancing and skipping joyously alongside us, her wild black hair whipping around her face as she set fire to various things around us. Snape seemed to have been left behind, getting in some sort of altercation with Harry.

"We've killed Dumbledore! We've got the child!" she kept singing over and over again.

I was so confused and frightened, but as long as I was with Draco, I felt safe.

As soon as we reached the gates, Draco halted and gathered me in his arms. "Close your eyes and trust me," he whispered furtively in my ear.

"What?" I asked fearfully, "Draco, what's happening?"

"Just trust me!" He said urgently.

So I did.

And the next thing I knew, we had appeared out of nowhere outside a Manor. Malfoy Manor.

Two loud pops either side of us announced the appearance of Bellatrix and Snape.

"Let's call him!" Bellatrix shrieked excitedly, pulling up her left sleeve.

"NO!" Snape bellowed, practically tackling her. "He must never know!"

"Oh, come on, Severus!" Bellatrix laughed manically, her eyes glinting wildly as she grabbed me out of Draco's grasp,

"We have the Dark Lord's child!"