The hospital wing door burst open, startling both Draco and Astrid who were still lying wrapped in each others arms, gazing adoringly at one another.

Draco turned his head to see Snape striding purposefully in, his cloak billowing dramatically behind him.

"Blaise Zabini has been sufficiently dealt with," he barked, rubbing his hands together brusquely, "and it is now time to deal with-"

He stopped abruptly in his tracks as he looked down upon the bed at his niece, who was clinging onto the white-blond haired Slytherin, her eyes full of desperation and fear. And blue.

"Astrid?" Snape said, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "Draco...could it be that you were correct all this time?"

Draco sighed heavily and rolled his eyes.

"Uncle," Astrid breathed, sitting up, but without releasing her hold of Draco, "you've got to help me. Something is taking me over and I don't know how to control it."

"How- how did you manage to get back?" Snape asked, his eyes flickering curiously.

"Only when she is on the brink of death, nothing else seems to work!" Draco cried desperately, praying that Snape could find a way to fix her.

"That is...interesting," Snape muttered, clearly deep in thought.

"Care to share?" Draco snapped, feeling suddenly infuriated by his old Potions master.

"Not until I know for sure," Snape drawled, studying Astrid as though she was some kind of newly discovered potion.

Draco jumped up, shoving his face into Snape's. "When she falls asleep tonight she might not be there again in the morning. The only way I can think of to bring her back is to try and kill her; literally watch the life drain from her body. If you know something then please do tell me, because the thought of having to harm even a single hair on her head makes me feel sick - let alone trying to kill her!"

Snape closed his eyes and sighed as if trying to stay patient. "Draco, I appreciate how... difficult this is for you. But there is no simple answer. And I do not wish to alarm my niece any further, especially when unnecessary."

"It's okay, Draco," Astrid's small voice sounded. Draco felt a hand on his arm, and he turned his head towards it's owner. She was looking up at him imploringly, and his heart twisted with such a fierce feeling of love for her. "I trust Severus," she continued, "and you should also. He's our only hope."

Snape nodded down gratefully to her. "Your father has made no announcement of his plans for you this Christmas. I suggest you stay with me at Spinner's End for the duration, and I'll conduct further investigation into your situation."

"I'm not leaving her side!" Draco roared, suddenly feeling panicked at the prospect of not being able to protect her over the next two weeks.

Snape gave a derisive sigh. "Very well, Draco, if you must. I'll inform your parents of the change of plans. No doubt it will devastate your mother."

"She'll understand," Draco mumbled, feeling a pang of guilt, but knowing he would feel even worse if he had to leave Astrid's side. Besides, there was no reason his mother couldn't visit.

"I expect both of you to board the Hogwarts Express with all the other leavers in the morning. Your driver will be made aware of your new destination." He gave one last curt nod to them before spinning on his foot and heading straight back for the door.

Draco sat back down on the bed, pulling Astrid into his side and kissing the top of her head.

"Do you think he'll find out what's happening to me?" She whispered.

"Let's hope so," he said, sighing heavily, because the thought of not being able to hold her and touch her like this again, made his heart hurt.

"I'm dreading going to sleep," she trembled in his arms as he held her tight. "I don't know how long it will be until I see you again. Or if I even ever will again."

"Don't say that," Draco growled, cupping her face in his hands, looking fiercely into her fearful blue eyes. "I'll never stop trying to find you - I promise."

She nodded tearfully as he lay her back down on the bed, curling himself around her so that their bodies intertwined.

"I'll be here with you the whole time," he murmured furtively, tenderly stroking her cheek, "I'll not leave you, no matter what. Just remember that, okay?"

"Okay," she whispered, blinking her sad blue eyes as she stared soulfully back at him. "I love you, Draco."

"I love you, too," he breathed, leaning in to press his lips against her forehead.

And when he leant his head back to look at her, he found he had to stifle a sob.

She had fallen asleep.

...

"It's time to get up dearies, the train will be awaiting soon enough."

Draco blearily opened his eyes and let his sleepy state of mind take in his surroundings.

He was in the hospital wing, with Astrid still asleep in his arms. Madam Pomfrey was busily opening the curtains at the window, allowing the morning winter sun to shine brightly down across their tightly curled up bodies on the bed.

He didn't want to wake her. He wanted to pretend for a while longer that it was his Astrid he had in his arms; imagine that her eyes were still a brilliant blue, waiting to look upon him warmly from under her lids.

"Make sure she takes this the second she wakes up," Madam Pomfrey said, placing down a cup of potion next to his head on the bedside table, "she lost a lot of blood and this will help replenish her iron levels."

Draco nodded sleepily, wishing she would just go away before she woke Astrid.

As Pomfrey bustled noisily away, he felt Astrid stir beneath him and he pulled her body tighter to him, preparing himself for the moment she would open her eyes and be the dark eyed stranger he dreaded.

"I love you," he whispered as he kissed the top of her head.

"I love you too, Draco."

Draco froze. His heart hammered crazily in his chest.

"Astrid?"

He looked down at her face as her eyelids fluttered open, and he could scarcely believe what he was seeing.

Her eyes were still blue.