The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes on Friday morning was a pair of twinkling silver grey eyes staring lovingly down at me.

"Stop watching me sleep! It's creepy!" I cried, playfully smacking Draco's shoulder.

"I can't help it, you're beautiful." He lowered his face, brushing his lips over mine. "Happy birthday, by the way."

"What did you get me?" I looked up slyly at him.

"Am I not enough?" he smirked, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me towards him.

"You're cute and all, but I'd rather have something to unwrap."

"Who said you can't unwrap me?"

"Draco, you're already naked."

He lifted the bed sheet, looking down to make sure. "Completely, it seems. Oh well, this will just have to do then." He said, reaching down the side of the bed and tossing me a small flat rectangular package wrapped neatly in silver and green paper.

Feeling a flutter of excitement, I sat up and ripped it open to reveal a long black velvet box. And as I lifted the lid, I gasped.

"It's beautiful, Draco," I breathed, lightly touching the delicate silver bracelet, tracing my fingertip over the intricate silver star shaped flowers that adorned the chain.

"They're edelweiss's," he explained, tenderly stroking the back of his fingers against my cheek, "they represent courage and devotion. I thought it was fitting."

I looked up at him and my heart stilled to see the amount of love mingled with sadness in his eyes.

I swallowed, feeling so completely touched that a lump actually formed in my throat. I couldn't believe how much love I felt for this boy, and I could see - no feel, how much he loved me too.

I brought my lips up to meet his, letting the box containing his heartfelt present fall from my hands as they instead found the back of his head, weaving my fingers through his hair, my fingernails gently scraping his scalp as I pulled him to me, hungrily deepening the kiss.

Our already state of nakedness helped the natural flow of events run without interruption.

"A simple thank you would have sufficed," Draco panted ten minutes later, choking out a breathless chuckle as he rolled off of me, "not that I'm complaining."

***

We walked together down to breakfast, my hand clasped tightly in his as he led us into the kitchen.

"Happy birthday!"

I blinked at the sight before me. There on the kitchen table was a feast. Pancakes, waffles, fruits, a selection of pastries, bacon, toast - it was endless. Narcissa and Snape both sat around it beaming up at me.

"Sorry," Draco murmured in my ear, tugging me towards the table, "mother insisted."

I looked in awe at all the wonderful things to eat, and thanked God that we were not in the dining room - I didn't think I could ever stomach food in that room ever again.

"Happy birthday, darling," Narcissa said, smiling warmly and standing up to greet me with a kiss on the cheek.

A present was thrust in my hand.

"You didn't have to do this," I gasped, looking down at the soft wrapped package that Draco's mother had just handed me, feeling ridiculously touched.

"It's not everyday you turn seventeen," Narcissa smiled, sitting back down at the table.

I opened the present to discover a beautiful shimmering green silk scarf.

"I thought you could wear it at Hogwarts, I'm sure there's no question you'll be placed in Slytherin."

I couldn't help but notice the furtive look exchanged between Draco and my uncle.

"Happy birthday, Astrid," Snape said, standing at once, walking around the table to hand me a present of his own. "It was your mother's."

Hardly daring to breathe, I unwrapped the present to reveal a silver locket. Shakily, I opened it to reveal two photos of me. No - one photo was definitely me, the other...

"Your mother." Snape said softly. "She left it behind after she ran away from home. I've kept it till this day. She is sixteen years old in that photo. As is the one of you, which I put in especially. I want you to see how much you look like your mother... and it's also a way you can be together again."

I looked up into my uncle's somber black eyes and, without another thought, I threw my arms around him as a sob choked in my throat.

He stood rigid at first, but then I felt his body relax as he brought his arms up around mine and hugged me back. Tears fell from my eyes as I buried my face in his black robes, the top of my head only coming up to the height of his chest.

"I love you," I sobbed.

Snape did not reply, but instead, squeezed his arms a fraction tighter around me. It was enough.

"Well, let's not let this food go to waste," Narcissa spoke, her voice wobbling with emotion.

I pulled away from my uncle, and couldn't mistake the glistening in his eyes as he hastily retook his seat.

It was the best breakfast of my life. The four of us ate and chatted in a relaxed way that had been extremely rare, if not non-existent, since my arrival in Malfoy Manor. Narcissa regaled stories of her seventeenth ("I snuck out of my bedroom window to meet Lucius and he took me for a midnight ride on his broomstick-" "Mother! Do you mind?! I am eating!"). Snape was quiet, but as he was often a man of not many words, I did not find this unnerving. He smiled a bit more than usual though, and I caught him looking at me in an almost affectionate way more than once.

I actually felt sad when it ended.

"I think Draco has plans for you," Narcissa smiled as her son took my hand, coaxing me up from my seat. "Go and enjoy yourselves."

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking up expectantly at the white-blond haired boy whom I loved more than anything. "I didn't think we were allowed to leave the Manor without permission from my father?"

"It's a surprise. And I promised I'd look after you and have you back by tonight," he said quietly, and I couldn't help but notice his eyes dart apprehensively to my uncle's.

I tried to ignore the uncomfortable feeling that twisted at my insides.

"I'll see you tonight, Astrid," Narcissa said softly, smiling a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, "enjoy yourselves, won't you?"

A sick feeling swooped low in my stomach. I suddenly didn't want to leave. Draco squeezed my hand encouragingly as if sensing my hesitancy. "Come on, Astrid, let's go."

But I didn't want to go. I had the dreaded feeling that this was the end of something... I just didn't know what.

I was soon to find out though.