"Why did you do that? We need to go back and see if he's okay!"

Draco looked at the empty space where the panicked voice came from in confusion. Why on earth would he want to go back for Potter?

"Relax," he drawled in a careless tone, "Potter always finds a way out of these things. He's like a bloody boomerang that won't flipping stop coming back."

There was only silence in response.

"Astrid?"

"You just stamped on his face like it was nothing."

His blood suddenly turned ice cold. He had been so furious at discovering Potter spying on him that it hadn't even occurred to him what it would do to Astrid - witnessing him doing something like that after everything she'd been through. He was grateful he couldn't see the disappointment that was surely in her eyes.

"Astrid, I-"

"Let's just get this over and done with."

Her voice was cold. He felt ashamed - he really hadn't meant to upset her like that. He wanted her to know she could depend on him.

As they made their way to the castle, he wondered what she was going to make of his task to murder his headteacher.

He felt sick - he was taking her away from one world of violence only to bring her into another. This wasn't saving her. This was him being selfish because deep down he wanted someone with him. He was doing this because he knew he couldn't bear to face this lonely task alone.

"Astrid," he whispered, as he dumped his trunk outside the gates with the others. As far as he could see, they were alone, but he still wanted to be careful.

"I'm here," her voice whispered right behind him. He jumped slightly, not realising she was so close.

"Take my hand," he whispered, "the only way a Muggle can enter the castle is by being invited in by a witch or wizard."

He shivered slightly as he felt a warm hand slip into his. Looking down, he saw the bizarre image of him holding a floating hand. He squeezed it gently, enjoying the pleasure of her touch, which somehow felt reassuring.

They stepped through the gates and he heard her let out a little gasp.

"It's beautiful," she breathed in awe.

Draco felt relief swoop over him. It had worked. She could see it.

Without letting go of her hand, he led her up the stone steps, keeping a watchful eye out for any teachers.

Sneaking through the halls, they made it to the seventh floor and didn't stop until they reached the troll tapestry.

"This is it," he whispered as he closed his eyes and thought carefully what to ask for.

As he paced the floor, a door eventually appeared. It had worked! He had never felt so relieved in his life. They had done it. Draco had managed to sneak a Muggle into Hogwarts.

He looked around the room in astonishment, until his eyes rested on the cabinet - causing his heart to thud in trepidation. This was it, this was the room he needed.

"You can take it off now," Draco murmured. "We're here. This is your new home."

Astrid suddenly appeared next to him as she removed the cloak. His stomach clenched slightly as he took in her pale and frightened features.

"Who are you?" She asked in a small, shaky voice, looking at him warily. "The boy I saw today wasn't the Draco I knew from the playground."

"Astrid, I'm me," he implored reaching out to hold her hands, but grabbing at nothing as she abruptly stepped away from him.

"You stamped on a defenceless boy's face! Draco, I actually feel sick by what I saw!" she cried, her face screwing up in repulsion.

"I'm sorry, Astrid," he beseeched, feeling a bubble of panic rise in his chest, "but that was Harry Potter, we have this... thing, between us."

"So? What if you and I fall out? Would you do the same to me?" She asked, and Draco watched in horror as tears started spilling from her eyes, "because I've had enough of living in fear from people like you."

"I'd never hurt you, Astrid, please - I'm nothing like your father." He once again tried reaching for her - he was so desperate to hold her and comfort her - but she flinched so badly, he decided to drop it.

He hated the way she was looking at him, as though he was some kind of monster.

Maybe he was.

"Astrid, I need to go downstairs for the welcoming feast." He said, sighing dejectedly, "I'll bring you some food up as soon as it's done. You'll be safe here, I promise."

She shrugged, refusing to meet his eyes. Draco hated how broken and vulnerable she looked.

And, as he sprinted down to the Great Hall, he wondered if he had done the right thing by bringing her here at all.

Because rather than rescue her, he felt like he had just kidnapped her.

...

So this is what a Room of Requirement looked like. A junk yard.

I was still shaking from the day's dramas by the time Draco left. I tried hard not to think about that poor boy - Harry Potter. There was nothing I could do about it from here, and I just prayed that Draco was right and that Harry Potter had a found a way out of his dire situation.

I decided to explore my surroundings. It was more like a cathedral filled with towering mounds of crap than just a room. I wondered where I was supposed to sleep, although I wouldn't have been surprised to find a bed somewhere in here.

Helping myself to bits and pieces, I managed to make quite a cosy living space for myself. I hadn't found a bed, but instead put together some huge cushions I had found and managed to locate some warm looking blankets. I placed them on a space on the floor near this huge cabinet that reminded me of a wardrobe, and a nearby sofa.

Draco walked in just as I was thinking about how hungry I felt. I hadn't eaten anything since Draco had snuck me up some toast that morning in his bedroom. I had felt too nervous to eat on the train, much to Draco's concern.

Draco stopped short as he took in the living space I had just created. His eyes rested warily upon the cabinet.

"Are you okay?" I asked, noticing his clenched jaw.

He appeared to shake himself out of thought, before his eyes flicked over to me.

"Yeah," he muttered, thrusting the bag he had brought with him towards me. "Here, I got you some food."

"Thanks," I said, gratefully plonking down on the sofa to inspect what he had brought me.

"Wow - Draco," I said, pulling out a Tupperware box containing what appeared to be a complete roast dinner. "How did you manage to sneak this out?!"

"I have my ways," he shrugged, taking the other end of the sofa, his grey eyes studying me cautiously.

He had even packed cutlery, napkins and lots of bottled water.

"This room is something else," I said, tucking in gladly to my hot food. "But where am I supposed to wash?"

"There's a door over there, that leads to a bathroom," he explained, pointing over past a tower of tottering chairs. "It should have everything in it you need."

"And no one else knows about this place?" I asked, my mouth gaping open.

"They do, they just don't know about this particular room." He paused, fixing his eyes on me intently. "I conjured it up just for us."

"Us?" I asked, surprised at the fervid way he said the word.

"There's so much I need to tell you about, Astrid," he growled softly, his voice sending shivers down my spine, "so much more I need to explain."

His silver grey eyes burned into mine, and I had to resist the sudden strange desire to reach out my hand and touch his cheek.

"Then tell me," I breathed, my heart thudding wildly in my chest, "I'm not going anywhere, Draco. Tell me everything."