Everyone departed the train in a state of shock.

It was now common knowledge that Luna Lovegood had been captured and horrifically dragged from the train.

"We should have done something!" I cried as we stepped onto platform nine and three quarters. "We just stood there and let them take her!"

"I wasn't going to risk anything happening to you," Draco said sternly, taking my hand authoritatively in his as he scanned the platform for signs of a Malfoy driver. "You would be sent straight to your father if it got back that we tried to interfere in Death Eater activity. And I'm not having him take you away from me again."

Seemingly spotting what he was looking for, Draco marched us towards a suited man in dark glasses, giving him a curt nod. "I trust you have been made aware of our new destination."

"Indeed, Master Malfoy, Miss Riddle," he said, doffing his drivers cap at us in turn, "if you follow me, I'll escort you to the car before fetching your bags."

I raised my eyebrows impressively up at Draco. You had to give it to the Malfoy's.

Less than ten minutes later, we were on the road.

"Have you ever been to my uncle's home before?" I asked, looking up at Draco who was staring deep in thought out of the window watching the scenery fly past.

"Once or twice," he shrugged, intertwining his fingers around mine. "It's a bit of a Muggle dunghill to be honest, but at least your father won't be around to interfere."

I just prayed he was right.

I watched the surrounding area get bleaker and bleaker the further we drove. We passed a graffitied sign that read 'Welcome to Cokeworth.' The town was filled with streets all lined with identical brick terraced housing. A dirty river ran alongside banks strewn with litter. In the distance a tall chimney rose up of what looked like an abandoned, disused mill.

The car turned into a dank little street with broken street lamps and boarded up windows. A scraggy looking cat was scavenging for scraps in an upturned dustbin.

"My uncle lives here?" I asked, stunned. I don't know why but I had assumed he was well off like the Malfoy's.

"Yeah - like I said, a dunghill," Draco muttered, his top lip curling in clear disgust.

The car came to a stop and Draco didn't attempt to move until the driver got out and opened the door for him. I noticed he took a deep shuddering breath before stepping out.

We found ourselves ringing the doorbell of a dilapidated black front door. I tried not to shudder as the smell of the dirty river hit my nostrils in the cold moist air.

"I guess one gets used to it," Draco grimaced, noticing my trepidation as he took my hand in his.

The door slowly creaked open and there stood my uncle, sallow faced with greasy long black hair. I realised he looked as though he actually belonged in a place like this.

"Astrid, Draco. Glad you made it safely," he drawled, standing back to allow us through.

I blinked, looking into the tiny dim sitting room. It had a dark, neglected feel about it. Dusty books lined the walls and a single scruffy sofa sat in the centre before a worn looking coffee table.

"This is- uh... lovely," I smiled nervously as I dreaded what the bedrooms were like.

The truth was, between staying at Malfoy Manor and Hogwarts, I had been spoilt.

"Astrid," Snape said, staring at me properly once he had snapped the door shut behind us, "it's good to see you're still here with us."

I assumed he was referring to my eyes.

He walked us through another door leading to the kitchen where food was already laid out on a small, yet cosy table. We sat and discussed the coming two weeks over cheese, meats and wine.

Snape shared his plans to use intense Occlumency sessions on me to try and penetrate my mind, and work out more about the darkness that lay inside of me.

"I must warn you, Astrid, it may not be a pleasant experience," Snape forewarned in his slow deliberate voice, taking a deep sip of wine from the silver goblet.

"In what way?" Draco asked, looking alarmed as he grabbed my hand under the table, "you're not going to hurt her, are you?"

"If you want me to get to the bottom of this, then you must trust me to do my job." Snape replied, looking at Draco sternly as he lowered his goblet. "And no - I will not intentionally hurt my niece, but I will do everything in my power to help her!"

"Thank you, uncle," I smiled, as I reassuringly squeezed Draco's hand. "I understand the dangers, but I'm willing to do anything to get rid of this fear of being taken over. And... I trust you."

"Fine," Draco sulked, scowling up at Snape, "but I'm not leaving her side."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Draco," he sighed, and I caught the derisive tone in his voice.

Once we'd had our fill of food and wine, Snape clicked his fingers, summoning a scrawny little house elf into the room, who began to immediately clear up after us.

"Let me show you upstairs to your rooms," my uncle said, standing and motioning to the door.

We followed him up a tiny dark staircase onto a dusty looking landing lined with portraits of various solemn looking witches and wizards. I shivered feeling all their eyes on me.

He paused outside a large dark wood panelled door, and turned the handle slowly. "This will be your sleeping quarters for the duration of your stay, Astrid," he said, beckoning me inside.

I stepped in to see a large double four poster bed. Again - it was a very dark, gloomy room which contained little light. There were two other doors which confused me.

"One is to a washroom," Snape explained, striding over to open one of the doors for me. It was indeed a tiny little room containing the basics. "And the other," he said dramatically, sweeping across to the second door, "leads to an adjoining bedroom. I've taken the liberty to have that made up for Draco. Make what you will of that - it is not my business to choose how you sleep."

His black eyes glinted awkwardly over us for a painful moment, and then without further ado, he swept from the room, closing the door firmly behind him after wishing us good night.

Draco and I looked up at one another.

"We're sharing a bed, right?" I asked.

"Fuck yes," Draco answered immediately, and in one swift movement, closed the gap between us and pulled me in for a kiss.