Draco felt sick.

It took him everything to keep it together as he helped Astrid up the staircase. As horrific at what they had just witnessed was, a part of him hoped this would make her finally see what an evil brute her father was.

"Draco," she gasped as he got her to his room, and he instantly recognised the look cross her features and got her quickly to the bathroom where he held her hair back as she vomited violently into the toilet.

"I'm sorry," she wept, as she continued to heave over the porcelain bowl.

"Don't be," he murmured, not leaving her side, his hands still in her hair, trying desperately not to start heaving himself.

When she had finished, he sat back against the bathroom wall, and gathered her to his lap where she sobbed into his chest.

As he held her, he wondered desperately what they were going to do. It was her seventeenth birthday in just a couple of days and he knew that Voldemort must be ready to mark her soon. He would certainly do it before they left for Hogwarts, at least.

He couldn't let her go through anything like this again. He had to save her from getting marked - otherwise meetings like this would become a regular occurrence for her - he would know.

He didn't know how long they were sat for on the bathroom floor, but eventually - when he could feel his butt no more - he helped Astrid to her feet and led them out to his bed.

Taking only her shoes off, he lay her down on his mattress, and crawled in between the sheets with her, wrapping his arms fiercely around her, trying to give her as much comfort as possible.

Whether she slept or not, he didn't know. He must have done, however, as a sharp rapping at his bedroom door woke him up the next morning.

When he peered down at Astrid, he saw that her eyes were open, looking towards the window - but it was as though she was staring at nothing.

Draco opened the door to reveal a stern looking Snape.

"She's not well, Professor. She's still in shock. Can't lessons wait for one day?" Draco sneered, assuming that was why Snape had come knocking.

Snape, however, looked over Draco's shoulder towards where Astrid lay and concern flickered over his features.

"Has she slept?" he asked abruptly.

Draco just shrugged sadly. "Her eyes are open but it's like she's not there."

Snape delved into his pocket, and handed a vial of purple potion to Draco. "Give her two drops of this. It will numb her mind and allow her to sleep. Stay with her - for when the potion wears off, her memories will come back. It will be... difficult. But it is essential for her health to get some sleep."

Snape went to leave, but Draco called out to him, stopping him in his tracks. "Professor, it's her birthday in a couple of days. He's going to mark her, isn't he?"

Draco's heart sank as Snape slowly nodded. "He has arranged a ceremony for the evening of her seventeenth. He is referring to it as her birthday surprise."

"Can't you stop him?" Draco asked shakily, already knowing the answer.

"She is the Dark Lord's daughter, Draco. It was always inevitable."

"She is not made for this! Look at her! It is going to destroy her, Professor," Draco implored, almost weeping on Astrid's behalf, "please - you have to help me get her away from here... away from him. Before it's too late."

Snape hesitated, looking from Draco's desperate face to Astrid's terror-stricken form on the bed behind him.

After a moments consideration, he seemed to come to some sort of decision. And when he spoke, his words were slow and deliberate.

"I may have a plan."

...

Visions and sounds came crashing into my mind almost instantly, making me scream in terror, begging it to stop. Just stop!

"Astrid, it's okay,"

I felt arms slither around me. Slither. The snake.

I screamed and thrashed further. My heart was pounding. I couldn't find a way to breath. Get it away.

"GET IT AWAY!"

"Astrid!"

My eyes flew open. Draco was leaning over me, worry etched over his features, looking as though he wasn't sure whether to touch me or not. I could feel my dress sticking uncomfortably to me as sweat drenched my body. I tried to peel it off but I found I was shaking too much.

"Here, let me help," Draco said, starting to undo my fastenings down the back of the dress.

"NO!" I screamed, flinching away, and seeing the look on his horrified face, I burst into tears.

"I'm sorry," I blubbered, as an angry wave of tears literally poured down my face.

"It's okay, Astrid, you're just coming down from the potion Snape gave you. He said this would happen. Can I- can I hold you?"

I tearfully nodded as Draco lay down next to me and immediately wrapped his arms around me. I found this to be a glorious comfort. I buried my face into his chest, and waited until my sobbing had died down before I lifted my head again.

"My uncle was here? W-what time is it?"

"It's late afternoon. You've been asleep most of the day."

"But my lessons - I need to-"

"No, Astrid! You need to rest!" Draco spoke sharply, tightening his arms around me. "And Snape agrees. He's permitted you to have a few days off. And don't look at me like that. You won't learn anything if you make yourself ill."

I relented, sinking back into Draco's chest. I couldn't argue with how shattered I felt. But I felt as though I needed something - anything to get my mind off of... last night.

"Let me take care of you," Draco murmured softly, running his fingers soothingly through my hair.

"I'm sorry I told you to piss off," I mumbled, only just remembering our fight. The fight where everything Draco said was right.

My head shook slightly on Draco's chest as he gave a soft chuckle. "I've been told to do a lot worse - believe me."

"You were right though," I whispered, "my father - Voldemort. He is- he is... evil."

Draco sat up, forcing me to look at him. "It was never about me being right, Astrid. It was about making you realise how dangerous that man is. It scared me the way you were speaking about him, almost like you admired him."

I shivered involuntarily. I couldn't deny that I had been curious about him, that I was perhaps warming to the idea of having a father who treated me like a daughter.

But then he went and fed that poor woman to his snake. And not only that - had invited me along to watch.

Just thinking about it again made me feel nauseous, I squeezed my eyes shut in pain - willing the memories to disappear. Draco's arms held me tightly to him as he kissed the top of my head hard.

"Astrid," Draco said carefully, almost cautiously, "it will soon be time to go downstairs."

My blood froze in fear. It hadn't even occurred to me that Voldemort would still continue to come to our evening meals.

"No, Draco, please - I don't think I can face it tonight." To be honest I didn't think I could ever face that man ever again. Forever wondering what horrors he might subject us to next.

"I'm sorry, Astrid." Draco said, a pained expression in his eyes. "But it could be worse for us if we don't show. I won't leave your side - I promise. I'll look after you, Astrid. I always will."

I knew he was right. So I just prayed that it wouldn't be as horrendous as the previous night. That it would just be a dull, ordinary dinner.

Dinner.

Nagini, dinner.

I wondered how I'd ever be able to eat again.