"SLYTHERIN!"

Well, of course, Draco thought dryly. What else?

He held his breath as Astrid stood up to applause from all around. Every single Slytherin accept Draco himself looking gleeful.

Please don't sit with me. He silently begged.

He couldn't help but study her face as she drew near. Her eyes were not Astrid's. They were black swirling whirlpools. It was beyond disturbing - she may as well be wearing a pair of dark glasses, for you couldn't tell where her focus lay.

"But isn't that the Hufflepuff you were banging last year?" Theo asked in utter confusion, digging Draco in the ribs with his elbow. "What the fuck have you done to her?"

Draco closed his eyes choosing to ignore him. Because no, as far as Draco was concerned, that girl had died. Killed by Voldemort.

"There's a space here!"

Draco shot his head up towards Pansy on the other side of the table, who was eagerly pushing Daphne off her seat to make space for Astrid.

Astrid paused, looking down at Pansy, as though seeming to consider her. Pansy stared up at her hopefully, and Draco was strongly reminded of his aunt every time she was around Voldemort.

In the end, it seemed that the seat would do for Astrid, and she sat down in the chair next to Pansy, who looked liked she was going to faint. It seemed that she had either not recognised Astrid as the 'Hufflepuff' who Draco had dumped her for, or simply didn't care.

"Typical Pansy, creaming her pants over the Dark Lord's spawn." Theo muttered, leaning over to grab some potatoes which had suddenly appeared at the centre of the table.

Draco ignored him, instead trying to focus on the food in front of him. But try as he might, he couldn't help but glance up across the table to where Pansy was waffling on to Astrid.

"Of course if you prefer my bed I can always swap with you. Are you taking Potions? Perhaps we can be partners? Wouldn't it be great if we spend the holidays at each other's homes!"

Draco couldn't help but notice that Astrid said not a single word back. Not that Pansy stopped long enough for a breath, let alone time enough for anyone to answer.

When the feast had finally ended, Snape dismissed them all. Draco stood wearily to his feet. It had been a long emotional day. No - week. No - summer. No - year. He was strung out.

"Well, Head Boy - you go and enjoy your new private chambers," Theo said, winking. "You lucky dog."

Draco blinked at him. It hadn't occurred to him that his new role meant not having to share digs with a bunch of disgusting, smelly, teenage boys anymore.

He continued to follow the rest of the Slytherins down towards the dungeons, wondering where his room would be located now. A loud tittering up ahead alerted him to Pansy who was still yapping around Astrid like an excitable puppy dog.

He wondered where Astrid would be sleeping. Surely she wouldn't be expected to share with the other seventh year girls? The thought actually made him feel a pang of sympathy for her at the idea of sharing with Pansy.

He quickly shook that thought away. It was not his concern.

"Malfoy, Riddle, if you could both come with me, please."

Draco's stomach twisted into an unpleasant knot. Professor Slughorn was standing just inside the Slytherin common room, greeting all the students back for another year, as he paused to gesture them over.

Sighing, Draco stepped over to him, making sure to turn his head slightly away when he felt Astrid's presence to the right of him. Still she said not a word.

"Welcome, welcome," Slughorn chortled jovially, "what an exciting year - A Slytherin Head Boy and a Slytherin Head G-"

Slughorn paused, and Draco shifted his eyes enough to the left to see that he was squinting down at Astrid's unusual badge.

"Oh," He said, his face falling as he read the words on her badge, "Well... well - that is rather a long title, my dear, would you mind if we just stick to Head Girl?"

Draco noticed the abrupt nod of her head, which seemed to satisfy Slughorn, who clasped his hands together delightedly.

"Bravo! Excellent, then! Well, come along, come along. You both have new quarters to settle into!"

He led them through the common room, right to the back wall, towards a large portrait of... Voldemort.

Fucking fantastic, Draco sighed. Of course it was fucking Voldemort.

Slughorn got out his wand, tapped Voldemort's face three times and muttered, "Glory be to the Dark Lord and child."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Draco spluttered before he could help himself, as the portrait swung open.

Slughorn gasped, staring back at Draco in complete horror, his eyes darting nervously to where Astrid stood next to him.

"Mr Mal-"

"Please don't tell me I actually have to say that every time I want to go to fucking sleep?!" Draco roared, suddenly not caring anymore.

"Mr Malfoy!" Slughorn fumed, pulling himself up to his full height, which barely reached Draco's chin. "You may be Head Boy, but it would do you good to remember where you are and whose company you are in!" He beckoned his head ever so slightly towards Astrid at this last bit, as if Draco needed reminding who she was.

Draco just rolled his eyes and grunted an apology.

Astrid still said nothing.

Shaking his head, Slughorn stepped through the portrait, Draco stood back while Astrid followed, and he hesitantly stepped through after her, making sure to leave the painting wide open.

They were stood in a hallway, containing two doors adjacent to each other. The space was only just big enough for three of them.

"This," Slughorn said, tapping the door to the left, "is the Head Boy's chambers. And this," he said tapping the door on the right, "is the Head Tort- Girl's chambers. Enjoy!"

With a little wave, he stepped out of the hallway, and closed the portrait hastily behind him, leaving Draco and Astrid alone.

A thick silence suddenly fell upon them making Draco feel horrendously uncomfortable.

Draco nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt her place a hand on his arm. Without thinking, he rammed down the handle of the door to his new room and hurriedly stepped inside, slamming it firmly behind him.

He leaned his back against the door, breathing heavily. He pinched a thumb and forefinger to the bridge of nose again, as hot, frustrated, angry tears pricked behind his eyes. But try as he might, he couldn't stop them from falling, and a loud, shuddering sob escaped him.

What Draco didn't know, was that just on the other side, a girl stood; lightly touching her fingertips to the door that separated them.

And down her cheeks her own tears fell; sad, lonely, heartbroken tears.