"This plan is ridiculous!"

A gentle hand was placed on his arm, and he looked down to see Astrid giving him a reproachful, yet tender look.

"We have just three days," Snape continued as if Draco hadn't said anything, "three days to prepare you for facing your father. I am confident, if you put in the effort, that I'll be able to teach you how to close your mind successfully."

"You mean more Occlumency?!" Draco spluttered, "hasn't she been through enough?!"

"Draco," Snape sighed derisively, "Astrid has the Dark Mark. She cannot go gallivanting across the country without the Dark Lord's express permission or the consequences could be dire! She needs him to believe she is going as a spy for him and that will only work if he is unable to see conversations like this!"

"It's okay, Draco," Astrid said softly, "I don't mind. If it's what I have to do."

"I mind!" Draco implored, taking her hands in his, "I can't bear to see you go through this. And the thought of sending you off to Potter when you are one of the prey he is hunting - it terrifies me! I just want to keep you safe."

"The moment my father made me a Horcrux I stopped being safe, Draco," she said sadly, placing a hand gently against his cheek. "I've got to do what's right, and this is the right thing."

"Fine, then I'm going with you." Draco said with an air of defiance.

"Draco," Snape sighed, "for Potter to believe that Astrid has genuinely switched sides, it is imperative that-"

"I'M GOING WITH HER!" Draco bellowed, and to his horror, his voice broke on the last word and a great big shuddering sob escaped him.

He sat down on the sofa, putting his face in his hands, shaking as tears fell from his eyes.

"Draco!" Astrid gasped, crouching down in front of him and wrapping her arms around him, pulling him to her.

"I'll just give you two a moment," Snape muttered, backing slowly out of the sitting room.

"I'm sorry," Draco sobbed as he wiped his face with his sleeves. "I just can't bear the fact that I can't protect you - again."

Astrid kissed his forehead, cupping his head in her hands as she continued to leave little light kisses all over his face.

"You have done everything you possibly can for me, Draco," she said earnestly, looking fiercely into his eyes, "I have never felt more protected by anyone else in my life."

This just made him screw up his face and cry again. "I knew something was wrong when we were kids, Astrid. I knew your father - then - was hurting you, but I just ignored it and left you to go back to Hogwarts. I'll never forgive myself for that. Never."

"Oh, Draco, you mustn't hate yourself for that!" She implored, "You don't have to spend the rest of your life trying to make amends for something that wasn't your fault!"

"I love you Astrid, I love you so fucking much. All I want to do is take you away and marry you and have our own family. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You and me forever."

At these words, tears welled up in Astrid's eyes and fell helplessly down her cheeks.

"I wanted that too, Draco," she wept, holding him fiercely, "I wanted that from the moment you walked into my life."

Draco couldn't help but notice the past tense of her words.

And he knew then, as his heart broke into a million pieces, that she had accepted her doomed fate.

...

"Ah! Daughter, daughter! Come closer, my flesh and blood."

I shivered at my father's words. But I had to try and remain calm. So I stepped forward.

"Hello father, it is good to see you again," I lied, forcing myself to look up at his terrifying noseless face.

We were in Malfoy Manor in the drawing room. I had just spent three whole days having intense lessons from my uncle in how to close my mind.

I was exhausted, but determined.

Snape had bewitched my eyes to look black again. It was imperative, he had said, that Voldemort believes I am still shrouded in the darkness.

I felt Snape and Draco's eyes on us from behind me as I stepped towards my father.

"I wish to assist you father, in your quest to thwart Harry Potter." I said, forcing my voice to sound as cold and emotionless as possible.

Voldemort's red eyes flashed as he studied me carefully. I tried my best to close off the thoughts I needed to hide from him.

That I knew I was a Horcrux.

That in fact I was planning on helping - not destroying - his number one enemy.

"I propose I go to him and pretend I have switched allegiances, that I want to help him in his piteous attempt to defeat you."

My father carried on burning his intense gaze into mine. My heart pounded against my rib cage, and I prayed he couldn't sense my nervousness.

"This is welcome, very welcome indeed..." he drawled in his silky soft tones.

"My Lord," Draco piped up behind me. "May I request that I escort your daughter. To protect her."

I tried not to show the fear upon my face as my father let out a soft, deadly chuckle.

"Draco, Draco," he sing songed in that deadly way, "as I understand, you wish to do right by my daughter, to maybe even marry her one day?"

I froze. I didn't like his tone one bit.

"Y-yes, my Lord. I love her very much." Draco stuttered. My heart twisted at the conviction he was trying to convey despite his nervousness. "I would do anything for her."

"Excellent, then you wouldn't mind staying on at Hogwarts to complete your schooling. I can't have my daughter marrying an uneducated fool."

"But, my Lord-" Draco began, panic lacing his voice.

"Are you suggesting that my daughter is too weak to face Harry Potter alone? That she needs protecting from the four-eyed moron who is so pathetic he has gone into hiding ever since his precious Dumbledore has not been around to save him?"

"Of course not, my Lord. I- I just worry..." I could feel a lump forming in my throat as Draco's words trailed off. He knew as well as I did that there would be no changing Voldemort's mind.

"Isn't that sweet, Draco?" my father smiled coldly, still staring evilly past my shoulder at him. I dared not turn around to meet Draco's eye. It was essential, my uncle had coached, that I keep my full attention on my father at all times. "However, I feel my daughter can handle this one by herself. She's made of tough blood. You concentrate on getting those good grades and I might consider giving you my permission for my daughters hand."

"Yes, my Lord," Draco said, his morose voice full of helpless defeat.

"Excellent! Well then, daughter. I trust you have a plan?" He said, turning his attention back on me.

"My Lord, I have gone through it exhaustively with Astrid and can assure you that it is foolproof." My uncle answered for me. "Nothing can go wrong."

"Well, with my most loyal and valued Death Eater behind it, how can I possible argue?" Voldemort smiled. "Go ahead, daughter, prove to me you are worthy to be carrying my blood."

I nodded, my heart now in my throat.

For this felt like the beginning of the end.

And I didn't know how I was ever going to be able to say goodbye to the boy I loved more than life itself.