I could feel Draco's panic coming off of him in waves, his eyes flitting nervously to each one of us as Hermione's continued screams echoed all around us from above.

"It's okay," I whispered, taking his hand and looking up into his blinking silver grey eyes. "You don't have to do anything, Draco. Just go back upstairs and we'll think of a way out of this ourselves. Please don't get yourself in trouble."

"I can't leave you locked down here, Astrid," he murmured, cupping my cheek in his hand. "Whatever I do, I will not lock you up as a prisoner."

I sighed as he closed his eyes and rested his forehead upon mine, his warm hand still tenderly cupping my face. I could have drowned in his touch.

"Well, please do let us know when you've decided what to do," Harry barked sarcastically, "we're in no rush. I mean, our friend is slowly dying of torture up there, but whatever."

Draco let out a sigh of frustration. I could tell he was trying his hardest not to lash out.

"Leave it, Harry," I warned, "Draco is in a difficult position. This is his home!"

"Oh sorry, I forgot to wipe my feet on the welcome mat." Harry scoffed.

"Just shut up, Harry!" I snapped, suddenly feeling furious at him. Anyone decent could see Draco was in a horrific position. "You're the reason we're here in the first place - remember?!"

Draco grabbed my hand and pulled me away before Harry could give a smart retort. He dragged me to the far corner of the cellar where we couldn't be overheard.

"Sorry," he growled, shoving his thumb and forefinger in my face, "but I was this close to punching him. I honestly don't know how you've been putting up with the git."

I lifted a hand and placed it tenderly against his pale white cheek. "I've missed you," I breathed. "I've missed you so much."

He closed his eyes as he snaked his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him. "I've missed you, too - more than you can ever know."

His lips connected with mine as he gave me a sweet yet gentle kiss. Breaking away, he glanced at me oddly.

"Sorry, but it's like I'm kissing someone else." He said closing his eyes as though he couldn't look at me. "It's your eyes but your face is different. I miss your face."

"I'm here, Draco," I assured him, nuzzling my head against his chest, under his chin, "it's me; it's your Astrid."

I felt his hand lovingly caress my back as he held me close, the sound of his heartbeat calming me.

We stood like that in silence for a while and I wished so much that we could stay like that forever. I felt so exhausted by everything, and I just wanted to stay in the comfort of Draco's arms.

"DRACO! WHAT'S TAKING YOU SO LONG?! I NEED YOU TO FETCH THE GOBLIN!"

Draco and I jumped apart at the sound of Bellatrix's voice from up above us.

Our eyes met and I could see the fear swirling around in his.

"Go up, Draco," I implored, taking his hands and giving them a gentle squeeze, "please, go back upstairs. Please."

Slowly, he nodded, "I love you, Astrid," he said shakily.

"I love you too, I love you so much, Draco." I trembled as he looked at me sadly.

Letting his hands drop from mine, he gave me one last longing look, and then strode across the cellar floor to the door.

"Coward," Harry sneered as Draco disappeared behind the door and locked it behind him with a click.

"Just don't, Harry," I spat, sinking down to the floor feeling as though my heart was weighing me down.

Suddenly there was a loud crack in the air and to all of our surprise a house-elf appeared.

"Dobby!" Harry cried.

As luck would have it, this Dobby was able to Disapparate and Apparate without a wand.

He took Luna and Ollivander to Ron's brothers cottage. And then Wormtail entered the cellar, and after a scuffle he ended up killing himself with his own hand.

I just sat and watched all this drama unfold in a daze. I was exhausted, and seeing Draco again made me wonder what the hell I was doing all this for. I missed him. I missed him so much I didn't know how I could live another day without him.

"Come on!" Ron bellowed in my face, as he dragged me to my feet. "We need to get Hermione!"

I blinked.

Hermione.

She was being tortured.

People were being killed and tortured everywhere thanks to my father.

This is what I was doing it for.

"Lets go." I said with new determination. And I sprinted up the stairs after them.

Ron led the way, Wormtail's wand in his hand. We stood quietly looking at the scene in the drawing room through a gap in the door.

Bellatrix had finished with Hermione, who was slumped barely conscious on the floor, and had started on the goblin. My eyes flicked to Draco who was stood by the fireplace in between his parents looking green with terror.

As if sensing my gaze, he looked up and his silver grey eyes penetrated mine. I saw his throat bob as he swallowed.

"I'm bored. I think I'll kill the Mudblood now," Bellatrix announced as she stepped over to Hermione's body.

"Nooooo!" Ron roared, flying through the door and aiming Wormtail's wand at her. "Expelliarmus!"

Bellatrix's wand flew out of her hand and Harry dived forwards to catch it.

Jinxes started flying across the room as everyone began to battle. Not having a wand, I ducked behind the nearest sofa, my heart in my throat, feeling utterly helpless.

"STOP OR SHE DIES!"

Shaking, I stood up, and saw to my horror Bellatrix holding up Hermione's barely conscious body with a knife to her neck.

Harry and Ron threw their wands onto the floor at Bellatrix's command.

"Pick them up, Draco," she barked.

Draco scurried towards the wands and shakily picked them up. He threw a furtive, nervous glance at me as he straightened up, before returning to his mother's side.

Unfortunately, this didn't go unnoticed by Bellatrix, who looked curiously towards me.

"Well, it seems my nephew can't take his eyes off of you, pretty little girl. Come closer, let me get a good look at you."

My heart racing, I edged out from behind the sofa. I was terrified she was going to recognise me. It would be sure to ruin everything.

However, as I took a few steps closer, I could hear a funny noise from above. Everyone glanced up and the room gave a collective gasp as Dobby was sat upon the massive chandelier, seemingly trying to unscrew its bolts.

"What the-"

But Bellatrix didn't get to finish her sentence as the chandelier came toppling down.

Everything happened so fast. Draco dived across the room towards me, as glass smashed all around us. But before he reached me, out of nowhere Harry jumped on top of him and wrestled the three wands out of his hand.

"Harry - no!" I screamed.

Draco, who had been taken by complete surprise, lay sprawled amongst the broken glass blinking up as Harry ran back towards me, grabbing my hand and started to pull me towards Ron who had managed to get Hermione.

"Draco!" I cried, reaching my hand out to him.

The last thing I saw was his own arm reaching towards me, the expression on his face full of pain as he tried to pick himself up.

But I was too far away.

And then I was on a beach.

And Dobby the house-elf was dead.