"Where is my child?"

Draco swallowed, gathering all his courage to look Voldemort directly into his cold, crimson eyes.

"Like I said, my Lord, she ran away."

"Don't lie to me, boy. She wouldn't. I don't believe she would have left without you."

Feeling him penetrating his mind, Draco did everything in his power to close it.

"You're hiding something from me, boy!" Voldemort hissed. "And I demand you to show me what it is! What have you done with my daughter?"

"Draco! Please! You must show him!"

"Quiet woman!" Voldemort spat.

Draco's eyes shot up to the panicked voice of his mother. Her eyes were wide with fear and Draco felt awful for what this was doing to her. But it was the only way to save Astrid.

They were all in the drawing room. Death Eaters gathered, ready to witness Astrid's initiation into Voldemort's inner circle.

But of course, Draco had returned without her.

"You gave me your word that you would look after her," Voldemort's voice was soft and dangerous as he slowly circled Draco. "You gave me your word that you would have her back here to me tonight."

It was as though the whole room, including Draco, was holding its breath.

Draco was about to be punished. And it wasn't going to be pretty.

"I'm sorry, my Lord." Draco tried to hide the tremble of fear in his voice. "There was nothing I could do."

"Liar!" Voldemort shrieked, swishing his wand violently.

Draco cried out as a searing, white hot pain exploded in his head. Collapsing to his knees, he felt for sure he was dying. He could just about make out his mother crying in the background, but other than that, all he could hear, see or feel was this horrendous pain.

Kill me, he thought, kill me now.

"NOT UNTIL YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO MY DAUGHTER!" Voldemort bellowed, answering Draco's thoughts out loud, as he flicked his wand yet again - this time causing an even bigger eruption of pain inside Draco's head.

Draco did not think he could possibly bear this much longer. It was like no pain he had ever experienced before. But even if he did know where Astrid was being held, he would never tell.

"Then you will die, you foolish boy! Die for love in front of your mother. I will take pleasure in watching her suffer!"

It was as though Voldemort had crawled inside his mind. Every slow, deliberate word spoken made his head feel like it was being ripped in two.

"STOP!"

The loud sound of the door banging open followed by this particular voice made Draco think he was now hallucinating sounds. But as the pain suddenly lifted from him, and he looked up at the commotion, he realised he hadn't been.

The sea of Death Eaters parted, revealing Astrid, who was striding into the room, her face set with a determination and fury he had never seen before, as she marched straight towards Voldemort, her voice strong and fierce.

"Do not punish him. I am here to serve you, father. I am here to take the Dark Mark."

No, Draco thought wildly. No, no, no! He couldn't believe it. He couldn't understand how she managed to get back here.

He willed her to look at him, but her fierce blue eyes were fixed solely on the man she was handing herself over to. There wasn't a single ounce of fear in her features as she halted right in front of Voldemort and ripped up the sleeve of her left arm.

"I am yours, father." She said unflinchingly.

"Astrid... no!" Draco choked out, still gasping from the pain of the torture he had just endured.

"Silence!" Voldemort hissed, flicking his wand in Draco's direction. An invisible gag prevented Draco saying anything more. His eyes looked imploringly up at Astrid instead, but still she refused to even glance in his direction.

He was helpless. He looked back at the sea of Death Eaters - all watching the scene with rapt silence. He searched desperately for Snape, wondering what the hell went wrong. He thought their plan was foolproof. He just couldn't understand this.

"I am pleased to hear this, daughter." Voldemort smiled coolly, "I was beginning to think that young Draco had foolishly tried to hide you away from me. And I can't have my Death Eaters betraying me so."

"He did no such thing, father. It was my fault, not his. I wanted to explore for a bit longer but he insisted we get back. So I lost him on purpose. There has been no betrayal tonight."

Voldemort gave a loud high pitched roar of laughter. "Stubborn, child! Rather like me. I quite like it."

He looked around expectantly at his Death Eaters, who all gave a sudden nervous chuckle of laughter. All but Draco, who was still gagged and drained from the torture, kneeling on the floor just feet away from them.

Voldemort gave a loud clap, silencing the laughter. "Well, in that case, let us begin! It is not every day your child turns seventeen!"

Draco watched in helpless horror as Voldemort lifted Astrid's left arm, her beautiful, pale delicate skin exposed as her father placed the tip of his wand upon it.

"With this Mark, you choose to serve me, daughter. To be loyally mine forever, until you breathe no more. You will obey me at every turn, my judgement will never be yours to question. You will help our plight to rid the world of Muggles, Mudbloods and Blood Traitors. My enemies will be become your enemies."

Draco started trembling, his heart hammering in fear as he looked up at the face of his beautiful, sweet Astrid. He didn't think he could bear to watch the next part, to see him burn the Mark upon her.

"By the grace of Salazar, do you concede?"

Don't do it, Astrid, Draco thought desperately, willing for her to look at him, please don't.

But to his dismay, Astrid stared determinedly up into her father's eyes, not wavering in the slightest.

"I concede, father."

Draco flinched as Voldemort's wand suddenly emitted a powerful green light as he pressed it firmly to Astrid's arm. He could see the force of the spell vibrating both the wand and her arm as Voldemort gripped onto both tightly, steadying it as he continued to burn the Mark into her skin.

Astrid's face glowed green under the light and Draco stared at her in complete awe. She didn't flinch. Not even slightly. And he knew how painful it was. The agony of it had made him throw up afterwards.

He watched as her wide blue eyes sparked, seemingly to flash darkly under the spell's glow, her parted lips looked more crimson than he'd ever seen them, and her chest heaved heavily up and down as adrenaline visibly flowed through her body.

It was almost like watching an exaggerated version of the girl he loved.

When Voldemort finally lowered his wand, he brought Astrid's arm up to his lips and kissed the newly placed Mark that was burning brightly into her skin.

"Welcome, daughter, our newest recruit."

And as the room broke into applause around him, Draco felt an alarming feeling of terror rise in his chest.

What had Astrid done?