A high tittering peel of laughter stopped me in my tracks as my foot reached the top stair.

"Astrid, darling!"

I turned around to see Bellatrix lifting the skirt of her dress and running hastily up the stairs behind me.

"Isn't this exciting! Your first meeting! We must find you the most amazing dress - the Dark Lord has promised us a treat tonight!"

I smiled, despite groaning inwardly, the last thing I wanted was for Bellatrix to dress me up as though we were giggly BFFs getting ready for a party together.

I just wanted Draco. I felt really upset after earlier. I wished so much I hadn't told him to piss off.

I ended up in the dress that Draco had pointed out looked liked a Bellatrix number.

As Bellatrix brushed my hair ("Have you ever thought about curls? I'm sure you'll look divine - just like me. We would be like sisters!"), I kept looking at my closed bedroom door, wishing that Draco would enter, but he never did.

"Come on, come on!" Bellatrix sing songed excitedly as she looked up at the clock. "Let's go and get the best seats!"

She pulled me down the stairs towards the dining room as I looked desperately around for signs of Draco. I wanted to turn up to this meeting with him - I was scared and needed his support. Not his crazy aunt's.

There was already a gathering out in the hallway - the dining room doors were firmly shut. I was relieved to spot the familiar white-blond hair amongst the black sea of clothing. He was standing with his mother and a man who also bore a head of platinum blond hair - but a long, matted mane of it.

I realised this must be Draco's father.

"Lucius!" Bellatrix cried, dragging me over to them as everyone glanced up at her excitable arrival.

Draco glanced down at me and I could see his eyes widen slightly as he took in the dress I was wearing, and then looked pointedly at my hand which Bellatrix was still clasping.

"Oh dear," Bellatrix said, stopping short as she neared her brother in law. "Azkaban didn't do much for your looks, did it?"

Lucius looked as though he was going to retaliate, but stopped as Narcissa placed a hand warningly on his arm.

"May that be a lesson, Draco," Bellatrix continued, turning to her nephew, "don't get caught, or this pretty little one may not want to let you in her knickers anymore!"

She gave a high pitched cackle as the rest of us flinched uncomfortably.

"Thank you, Bellatrix," a soft dangerous rang in the hallway, silencing her laughter.

The atmosphere stiffened even more so as my father entered the foray.

"Welcome, welcome, my dear supporters," Voldemort said, addressing everyone, his eyes resting on Draco's father. "And welcome back, Lucius. I do hope you've had a lot to think about during your little excursion to Azkaban."

"Y-yes, my Lord," Lucius stuttered nervously, "it is a great honour to be back."

"And I have a little treat for you all tonight in honour of our returned host!" Voldemort smiled delightedly around the room, his red eyes twinkling as they rested upon me. I shrank slightly behind Bellatrix, who was still grasping my hand. "Wormtail, if you will."

Everyone watched as the funny little rat like man appeared out of nowhere and scurried towards the doors to the dining room.

He bowed slowly at the gathered, before opening the doors; and everyone in the hallway gave a collective gasp. My heart stilled, as the blood in my body ran cold.

For there, hovering above the long dining table, was the unconscious body of a woman, suspended upside down in midair.

Bellatrix gave a little squeal of excitement as she squeezed my hand delightedly. I looked straight across to Draco, who was looking upon the scene nauseously. I was desperate to go to him and wished so much Bellatrix would just let go of my god damned hand so I could go and hold Draco's instead.

"Come on, come on, let's not keep our guest waiting!" Voldemort crooned, ushering everyone inside.

Bellatrix dragged me in behind her, skipping delightedly, and to my horror - choosing us seats directly under the unconscious woman. I breathed a sigh of relief as Draco sat my other side, his father sitting next to him and then Narcissa.

When everyone had settled, only two seats remained empty. I glanced up at Draco next to me, but he was looking determinedly straight ahead, his jaw clenched tensely.

"We appear to still be waiting for Snape and Yaxley," Voldemort said from where he sat at the head of the table, tutting at the empty chairs.

Just as he said this, two black cloaked figures entered the room, shutting the doors behind them.

"Yaxley. Snape," Voldemort addressed them in a high, clear voice. "You are very nearly late."

"My Lord," my uncle said, taking his seat further along the table, "the Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry Potter from his current place of safety on Saturday next, at nightfall."

I barely listened as a conversation ensued about whether or not Snape's information was correct.

How could I concentrate when a body was revolving slowly above us? I had no idea if she was alive or dead. And what was Voldemort's plan with her? This whole situation terrified me to the core.

I was just glad Draco was next to me, even though he was acting as though I didn't exist. I nudged my leg slightly so that it pressed against his. A flood of relief swept over me when he didn't flinch away from me, but instead felt his leg add gentle pressure back into mine.

It was enough to give me a degree of comfort.

Especially when my father stood up and walked over to where we sat and took a terrified Lucius's wand off of him.

The atmosphere was incredibly tense. Nothing like our dinners, which to be honest, were tense enough.

"And now," my father spoke as he retook his seat at the head of the table, "I'd like to draw your attention to our guest of honour."

I watched in horror as he flicked his wand towards the suspended woman, her eyes opening as she let out shriek of fear.

"Severus, please," she trembled, her eyes looking desperately towards my uncle.

"Of course, Severus, she is a colleague of yours," my father smiled, before addressing the rest of us. "To those who don't know, Charity Burbage, until recently, used to teach Muggle Studies at Hogwarts. She believed that Muggles were not so different from us! Having her way, she would have us all mate with the vile creatures."

My chest felt as though it had turned to lead. It hadn't been that long ago when Draco made love to me believing I was a Muggle.

This whole situation was twisted and so, so wrong.

"Please, Severus," the woman implored, and I was horrified to see the splatter of tears splash on the table only inches in front of me.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A flash of green light filled the room at my father's words.

The loud bang of the woman's body slamming onto the table before me made me jump out of my skin, causing me to tumble from my chair to the floor.

I found myself heaving, gasping for breath on my hands and knees as Draco dropped down beside me, gathering me tightly in his arms, pulling me desperately to his chest.

"Don't look," he whispered fiercely in my ear, after we heard my father's voice say, "Nagini, dinner."

But, as I buried my face in Draco's shirt, I knew I would never un-hear the sound of the snake's smooth body as it slithered across the polished surface of the table. Or the sound of teeth sinking through flesh and the crunching of bone.

My father was wicked. There certainly was no denying that.