The second Voldemort Disapparated, Draco strode across the room to Astrid.

"Please tell me this isn't happening," he murmured fearfully, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I'm sorry, Draco," she wept, looking up at him. Draco's stomach knotted unpleasantly at the blackness of her eyes.

"Turn them back, please! Let me see your eyes." He implored, suddenly desperate to see the comforting blueness of them that he knew and loved.

At once, Snape stepped forward as if ready, flicked his wand, then stepped back. "You have half an hour to say goodbye, and then you must be on your way."

"Half an hour?!" Astrid exclaimed, her once again blue eyes darting fretfully between Draco and Snape, "please uncle, that's too soon!"

Draco felt sick, and utter panic gripped at his chest. He wasn't prepared for this in the slightest.

"Once the Dark Lord has agreed to a mission you do not dilly dally!" Snape snapped. "Even half an hour will be risky, so take it and be grateful it's not shorter!"

Wordlessly, Draco grabbed Astrid's hand before she could waste anymore of their time arguing back, and pulled her from the room, out into the hallway. He knew Snape was right and so he intended to make the most of every second.

His mother and father were waiting anxiously outside, wanting to know the outcome of the meeting. They had not been permitted to attend due to the highly confidential matter of the subject. They had only been informed that Draco and Astrid were both requesting permission to drop out of Hogwarts, much to his parents dismay.

"He's not allowing me to quit," Draco gritted, daring them to look relieved, as he hurriedly dragged Astrid past them towards the stairs without waiting for a response.

As soon as he closed his bedroom door behind them, he pulled her instantly into his embrace, holding her so tightly to him he didn't think he'd ever be able to let her go again.

"Astrid," he breathed, kissing the top of her head and inhaling the scent of her hair. "I don't think I can bear this."

She lifted her face upwards, blinking her sad blues eyes up at him, making his heart twist in pain.

"I can't bear it either, Draco; to do this without you by my side. To have to pretend to be on different sides of the war."

He leant down, catching her lips fiercely in his, cupping the back of her head and letting her hair cascade through his fingers. A low growl escaped from the back of his throat as their tongues started to dance hungrily, causing them to deepen the kiss with a sense of urgency.

Without thinking, he lifted her up and as she wrapped her legs around his waist, he slammed her back against the closed door behind her causing them both to moan deeply into each other's mouths.

One hand was clawing at his back, her fingers digging through the fabric of his shirt whilst her other hand ran feverishly through his hair, fingernails gently scraping his scalp.

His stomach knotted in longing, and if it wasn't for the fact that they had to say goodbye in now less than half an hour, Draco would have made love to her right there up against his bedroom door.

His heart racing, he reluctantly broke the kiss, panting breathlessly as he rested his forehead against hers. It took them both a moment to gather their heated, jagged breaths and he could feel her heart pounding beneath her chest, just as furiously as his.

"I don't want to say goodbye," she cried softly, and Draco's heart tore at how sad and vulnerable she sounded.

He cupped a hand to her cheek, staring earnestly into her doleful blue eyes. "Then we don't," he growled, "we don't say goodbye, because saying goodbye means we are giving up on each other and I'll never give up on you."

"Oh Draco," she wept, and Draco wiped the tears from her face as they rolled down her cheeks.

"Don't cry," he murmured softly, "we'll be together again soon. I promise."

"What if I can't find my way back to you?"

"Then I'll come and find you myself."

...

I stepped onto the gravel drive of Malfoy Manor and took a deep breath.

I pulled my wand from my trouser pocket, ready to use at a moments notice.

The one good thing about this mission - literally the only good thing - was that I finally got to scrap living in those black gothic dresses. As beautiful as they were, they weren't exactly ideal for doing wild, physical activity in.

I was still in black - yes. But now dressed stealthily and a lot more practical for going on a Harry hunt.

"Damn," Draco had breathed when I had changed into my new, close fitting attire; his grey eyes roaming my body appreciatively, "I'm not sure how I feel about sending you off to Potter looking like that."

"Remember everything I have taught you, child," my uncle said, placing a tentative hand on my shoulder, as he stood facing me outside the Manor, "and you will do well."

I noticed his eyes glance down to where my locket lay around my neck and I saw the bob of his throat as he swallowed. "Your mother would have been proud," he whispered.

Feeling suddenly heavy with emotion, I could only nod, smiling gratefully at my uncle for everything he had done for me since we had found one another.

I felt a hand slip in mine and I looked up startled to see Draco standing next to me.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, "I know I said I wouldn't say goodbye but I just wanted to do this one last time,"

"Do wha-"

But I was cut off by Draco's lips pressing firmly against mine, as he clasped the back of my head in his hand, pulling me fiercely to him.

"I love you," he growled hoarsely, the second he broke the kiss, his hand still clasping the back of my head.

"I love you too, Draco," I breathed, as I closed my eyes; trying to memorise his touch, his scent - his everything.

"It is time now, child." My uncle's voice rang in the air, signalling the heart wrenching moment when Draco and I had to pull apart.

The Patronus was cast.

With one last longing look at Draco, I turned away, towards the newly cast green glow, and without looking back, I followed the doe down the Manor's long windy driveway and began my journey away from Draco, in search of Harry Potter.