Blaise twirled me around making me laugh exhaustedly, I hadn't realised dancing could be so fun.

"You know, more than half the room can't take their eyes off of you," he drawled silkily in my ear, as he pulled me hard up against his chest. "Wizards and witches."

The tempo of the music slowed down and he held me close as we moved slowly around the dance floor. I couldn't help but think that his cologne didn't smell as nice as Draco's.

I observed the other party goers, spotting Hermione - looking fairly pretty in a pink dress - seemingly trying to hide from someone. I saw Harry and that odd girl standing chatting to Slughorn and a tall, greasy black haired man in long black robes who was looking at his company with disdain. I wondered if he was another teacher. I usually spent my time in Hogwarts trying to stay out of their way, so it was strange being in such close proximity to them.

"Who's that?" I whispered up at Blaise, beckoning towards the man. Blaise looked from him to me in complete shock.

"How on earth do you not know Snape?" He said incredulously, his eyes widening in a look of complete disbelief. "Don't tell me you don't take Defence as well?"

"Um... I- it wasn't something we did in Beauxbatons," I said, crossing my fingers that Blaise didn't know much about that other school.

"He's head of Slytherin," Blaise explained, his eyes flashing amusedly, "and famously hates Harry Potter. He's great."

I liked this Snape already.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the door, and both Blaise and I whipped our heads around from where we were dancing. I gasped.

Draco was being dragged roughly through the room by a miserable looking old man.

"Get off me, you filthy squib!" Draco roared, wrenching himself free from the old man's clutches.

Draco angrily straightened out his jacket, his eyes flicking over to where Blaise and I were still holding on to one another on the dance floor.

My heart stilled as his grey eyes burned into mine. I saw something flash in them, and I couldn't work out if it was irritation or hurt.

Behind him, the old man seemed to be arguing with Slughorn about Draco gate crashing. Slughorn didn't seem to care though, leaving the miserable old man grumpily sloping away.

Nodding at Slughorn, Draco strode right on to the dance floor where Blaise and I stood, having ceased our dancing during the commotion.

"Draco, man," Blaise said, looking baffled at Draco's cold expression, "what brings you here? Don't tell me Granger asked you?"

Draco recoiled in disgust at the mention of her name. "As if, Blaise," he snarled. "I need to talk to Astrid. Now."

I wrinkled my nose in annoyance at Draco's attitude. He really was a frigging pig sometimes.

Blaise looked from Draco to me, a confused expression crossing his face. "Something I should know about?"

"No," I sighed, extracting myself from his arms, "Just excuse us for a minute, Blaise - this won't take long."

"What the hell are you playing at, Draco?" I hissed, as we made our way over to the refreshment table, "you can't come in here interrupting my date!"

"Well you seem to be getting quite cosy!" He spat, "I don't want you doing anything you might regret!"

"Are you telling me you gate crashed this party just to give me advice on my sex life?! Who the hell do you think you are?" I said, not being able to help the rising tone of my voice. People around us began staring at us peculiarly.

"Sex life?" He hissed, "So you're not denying that you are going to sleep with him?"

"Well if I do it's none of your damned business!" I shouted, not caring who was hearing now. I was just so angry at Draco, I didn't care about anything else.

Of course I wasn't planning on sleeping with Blaise. But how could he even ask me that? I didn't even like being touched by anyone other than Draco. I was shaking - I was so hurt he was talking to me about sex as if I went around doing it casually to anyone who showed the slightest interest in me.

After everything I'd suffered and endured - that he knew about - it made me sick.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over us, making both Draco and I look up startled. It was that Snape man.

He was looking at me most curiously, his beady black eyes widening slightly as they met mine.

"Draco, a word, please," he said in a cold, drawling voice, not taking his questioning eyes off of me. I swallowed feeling very uncomfortable.

"In a minute, sir. I just need-"

"Now, Draco," Snape ordered, his steely black eyes still boring into mine as he grabbed Draco's shoulder.

Draco shrugged him off, staring furiously into his face. "Certainly, Professor!"

Draco gave me one last wary glance, before turning on the spot and striding out; Snape following behind him, his cloak billowing in his wake.

I suddenly felt very nervous about that look Snape had given me.

It was as though he knew I didn't belong here.

...

"What in the blazes do you think you're playing at?" Snape hissed, rounding on Draco as they entered an empty classroom, slamming the door behind them.

Draco shrugged, not caring at all what Snape thought anymore. "What's it to you? You know I've been chosen to do this mission. Stop trying to wrangle in and steal my glory!"

"I'm not talking about that!" Snape spat, "although you know I made the Unbreakable Vow with your mother to assist you!"

"I don't need your assistance - I need you to keep out of it!" Draco bellowed.

"Will you keep your voice down!" Snape said, looking beadily at the closed door. "Or you will get us all into trouble!"

Draco made a 'pfft' sound. He wasn't in the mood for one of Snape's lectures about the Dark Lord. He was too angry about Astrid and Blaise. He made for the door wanting to get out of there.

"That girl, Draco," Snape said in a voice so dangerous and low, it made Draco pause at the door and look round. "Who is she?"

"Uh," He was thrown off guard. He had completely forgotten she was supposed to be in hiding. "I'm not sure."

"Don't play games with me, Draco! You seemed pretty well acquainted from where I was standing!" Snape hissed, bearing down upon him. "Now tell me who that girl is. I know she's not a Hogwarts student. What is she doing in the castle and what is she to you?"

"Nobody! She's nobody!" Draco said in a panicked hiss. He felt frantic with fear, he wanted to get out of there and go grab her at once. They had been so stupid to think she could just roam around the castle without question.

"A Muggle girl has gone missing from the town you live by," Snape said, making Draco's blood turn cold, "her father is frantic with worry. Apparently she was last seen hanging around with a boy who's description suspiciously matched yours. The day before Hogwarts started back."

Draco swallowed, looking into Snape's face. The game was up. He knew it. There was no point in denying it now.

"Her father was hurting her," he murmured quietly, and his heart twisted at the memory of finding her in the church - terrified and broken. "In the worst possible way."

To his surprise, Snape didn't start yelling at him, but instead, his face crumpled, and Draco thought for a horrifying moment that Snape was going to cry. Snape hobbled to the nearest chair and slowly sat down upon it, looking as though he'd seen a ghost.

"Professor?" Draco prompted, wondering why Snape was reacting like this.

"No," Snape said, shaking his head, "it can't be."

"Professor, what is it?" Draco urged, curiosity clawing at his insides.

"I thought she was safe, I thought she was being looked after."

"Do you- do you know her?" Draco asked in astonished disbelief.

"I had a Muggle sister - a sister who died. She left behind a husband and a little girl." His eyes looked sadly up at Draco, and he saw that they were swimming with grief.

"The thing is, Draco," Snape continued in a strangled whisper, "that girl out there - Astrid Williams... she's my niece."