Draco knocked lightly on Astrid's bedroom door.

He hated that it had come to this - but he didn't feel like he could just waltz on in anymore, not now that things had... changed between them.

It flew open almost immediately, as if she'd been waiting for him. Astrid was stood, dressed in her newly acquired Death Eater robes. He was shocked at her sickly pale complexion.

"Are you ready?" He asked as she took him in too, dressed in his black robes, ready for battle, "your father and uncle are waiting downstairs with the rest of them."

She nodded, her eyes wide and fearful. Draco couldn't help but notice they lacked the darkness that had appeared since her initiation. It made her look like the old Astrid again, and he had to fight the urge to wrap his arms around her and gather her to him.

"Are you sure you're up to this?" He asked, not being able to help the concern in his voice.

He immediately spotted the darkness flash in her eyes again. "Of course I am!" She snapped, pushing past him and making her way towards the stairs.

Sighing, he followed. He didn't care how she acted - he knew his Astrid was still in there somewhere, and it was her he was vying to protect tonight.

Draco collected their broomsticks as they joined the gathered and robed up Death Eaters in the Entrance Hall. He couldn't help but notice Astrid's trembling hand as he handed her the Nimbus, making his heart twist. He was going to do everything in his power to keep her as far back from the battle as possible. Even if it meant her throwing a hissy fit at him.

He wasn't letting her get hurt on his watch.

"Hoods please, everyone," Voldemort ordered, and the gathered simultaneously covered their faces up with the sinister disguises.

Voldemort led them out the front door, Draco making sure to keep him and Astrid as far to the back as possible. He was glad that she didn't shrug him off when he placed a hand on her elbow, making sure they weren't to be separated.

They stood outside in the cold night air, the Manor's doors closing behind them, leaving them bathed in only the moonlight. The atmosphere was tense. No one spoke a word, as they waited for Voldemort to give the order to fly.

Draco looked down at Astrid through the slits in his hood, and her eyes met his, looking bluer than ever. The fear in them was rife and Draco's heart broke for her, desperate to take her back inside to the safety of her bedroom.

He had to settle for reaching out for her hand and giving it a gentle, comforting squeeze instead. And despite the terrifying situation they were about to face, his heart soared when she squeezed back, blinking up at him through the hood.

"Mount your brooms!" Voldemort cried, "and remember, kill anyone you wish - but leave Potter for me!"

Draco noticed Astrid fumbling shakily with the Nimbus as she tried to mount it, but her nerves made her drop it and she gave a little gasp as the broomstick clattered loudly to the ground.

Draco immediately bent down to retrieve it for her. "It's okay, I won't leave your side," he whispered fiercely in her ear as he held the broom steady for her.

One by one, the Death Eaters started to rise. Draco waited until Astrid was ready before kicking off. He couldn't believe Voldemort was willing to allow this to happen. Astrid may act tough but she really, truly wasn't. There was no way she was up to this.

They flew behind the rest of the Death Eaters, Voldemort leading the way. Draco was careful to match Astrid's pace and stay close to her side, so that if he needed to, he could just reach out and grab her. She had only been flying for literally half a day for merlins sake!

"Wands at the ready!" Voldemort yelled, "I see them up ahead!"

Astrid, Draco noticed, was gripping her broomstick so tight, there was no way she would be able to reach for her wand.

Retrieving his wand, he moved yet closer still to her, "just concentrate on flying," he muttered into her ear, "it's unlikely they'll attack us if we don't attack them first."

He just hoped for her sake, Voldemort wasn't keeping an eye on her performance tonight.

There were muffled cries from the Death Eaters around them, as they neared the enemy.

"There are seven of him!"

"Seven Potters!"

"Which one is the real one?"

"Who do we attack and who do we not?"

"Leave the Potters to me!" Voldemort yelled, "kill the rest - but I'll take on the Potters one by one!"

This was ridiculous, Draco thought.

The Death Eaters split up around them, each heading for a Potter and immediately started firing spells at the escorts.

Draco decided to head him and Astrid towards the Potter on one of the broomsticks, following five other Death Eaters.

As they neared, Draco recognised the escort as Mad-Eye Moody. He instantly felt a stirring of hatred in the pit of his stomach, before he remembered this was not the actual Moody that had turned him into a ferret. But it didn't stop the painful and humiliating memory coming to surface.

As the Death Eaters in front started firing spells at Moody and Potter, Draco realised the danger they were in when spells started getting fired back. Diving across to Astrid, he took hold of her broomstick and swerved it immediately to the left, narrowly dodging a Stunning jinx.

He was amazed that he had managed to stay upright on his own broom. Panting, he looked down at Astrid who looked absolutely terrified.

"Draco," she sobbed, "I can't do this."

"You can, Astrid - you just need to hold on, okay? Let me do the rest."

Dodging another jinx, he was just thinking about flying them off to safety when he noticed Voldemort flying towards them.

Fuck, he thought, as he quickly released his hand from Astrid's broomstick, and brandished his wand, making it look as though they were joining in with the battle.

But luckily Voldemort flew right past them, his red hungry eyes only on the Potter on the broomstick ahead of them.

"Let me take this one!" He roared at the Death Eaters who were still flinging Killing Curses all over the place.

"Avada Kedavra!" He screamed, aiming his wand directly at Potter. But before the Curse could hit him, he Disapparated, leaving the Curse to land smack bang into the back of Mad-Eye Moody's head.

Draco heard Astrid let out a strangled cry as Moody's lifeless body crumpled and fell sideways off his broom, toppling like a rag doll down to the ground until they heard the inevitable sickening thud.

"Bugger," Voldemort muttered, before flying off to the next Potter.

"Come on!" Draco yelled to Astrid, seizing their chance.

But she seemed frozen, staring at the spot up ahead where Moody had fallen down, dead.

Grabbing her broomstick, he swivelled her completely around and started heading them back in the direction of the Manor.

When they landed, he ripped the hood of his Death Eater robe down, looking furiously at Astrid, who shakily lifted hers, revealing tears streaked down her cheeks.

"You see? That, Astrid - that's what you signed up for!" He bellowed, pointing angrily at the sky from where they had just come. "That's what I was trying to save you from!"

"I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I just didn't want you to die for me - why can't you see I don't want to be in a world that you're not in!"

Draco's heart surged and he suddenly, couldn't possibly, not have her in his arms anymore. He threw his broomstick to the ground and stepped forwards, flinging his arms around her, pulling her tightly to him, sighing in relief at the feel of her body against his as she brought her arms up tightly around him too, sobbing into his chest.

"I love you, Astrid," he murmured, kissing the top of her head, "I love you so much."

That night she slept in his arms, and Draco wondered how long he would have her back for this time, before Voldemort continued to sink his deadly claws into her.