"ARGHHHHH!"

I screamed in frustration, my gun shaking in my hand as I angrily kicked a brick wall.

Draco and I had been running up and down random alleyways for what seemed like hours, desperately trying to find the non-Muggle entrance to the London Dungeons.

"I keep telling you to put the fucking gun away!" Draco hissed violently, suddenly grabbing my arm to drag me behind a large, stinking dustbin just as a police car wailed past us at full speed.

I could feel his heart pounding furiously beneath his chest as he pressed up against me, shielding me from view.

Once the siren had faded away, I lifted my face, breathing heavily. The frisson of anger left him the second our eyes met.

"I'm sorry." He released an exasperated sigh, resting his forehead against mine. "I'm just so anxious this could all go horrifically wrong."

"I just want to find him, Drac." I said, my voice trembling in emotion. "I just want Jack back because if anything happens to him- if- if anything ha-happens..."

I could barely speak as my words began tripping over themselves in my fear of imagining the worst.

Firm hands were suddenly tenderly cupping my face, cool lips pressing ardently against my brow.

"We're going to find him," Draco's soothing voice spoke in my ear. "I promise you, Blaire-"

A loud bark made us both start. Draco and I both snapped our heads up to see a white ball of fur racing full pelt towards us down the alleyway.

"Orion!" I exclaimed as he began to bark crazily, his short stumpy legs carrying him as fast as they could go.

My heart thudded hopefully, because if Orion was here then so was-

"FUCK!" Draco bellowed as a giant snake came slithering into view, chasing Orion down the alleyway towards us, fangs snapping at his tail.

My mind couldn't register what was happening. Draco had whirled around, pressing his back up against me protectively.

"Draco, the sword!" I gasped, grappling for my gun in my jeans pocket but unable to reach it due to Draco pinning me hard against the dustbin.

Quick as a flash, Draco had pulled out the hat and reached a hand immediately inside. I sighed in relief as he managed to draw out the mighty glittering sword last held by Neville Longbottom, my dearest, bravest friend.

Draco had been right all along. It was meant to be him, he had been the one who had been tasked to kill the snake. And now here it was, his golden opportunity which had been originally snatched away by his father.

Just as Orion leapt over our heads onto the dustbin behind us, the snake rose, fangs bared, ready to strike. My heart in my throat, I closed my eyes and buried my face against Draco's shoulder blade, clinging onto him tight. I felt the muscles move in his back as he raised his arm, and I held my breath as the sound of the sword sliced cleanly through the air.

The snake's head landed with a loud thud at our feet.

Panting heavily, Draco turned round to face me, dropping the sword to wrap me up in a hug.

"It's okay, Blaire," he murmured in my ear, holding me tightly against him as I sobbed into his chest. "I did it. I killed it. We can go and find him now and finally end all of this. Be strong, be strong for Jack. He needs our strength, Blaire, and I know it's in there in you."

I nodded, lifting my head just as Orion started yapping excitedly and jumped down from the dustbin by our feet.

"Good boy, good fucking boy!" Draco almost laughed, letting go of me to crouch down and scoop him up in his arms, allowing Orion to slobber all over his face.

It would have been a cute moment if it wasn't for one urgent issue.

"Jack, where's Jack?" I pressed, my heart thudding maddeningly in my chest.

And, as though Orion could understand my question, he immediately leapt down from Draco's arms and started to race back in the direction he came, hopping over the dead snake with ease, barking back at us, eager for us to follow.

And, having no other leads, we shrugged and did exactly that.

Lassie, eat your fucking heart out.

****

"This is the child you've been banging on about?"

Voldemort shook his head, looking mightily unimpressed at the offerings at his feet.

Astoria shivered. It was horribly cold in these dungeons, and what with it being late spring, she hadn't thought to bring a cloak.

"But I assure you, my Lord," she implored. "He is the one you seek. Lieutenant Diggory and I will bring him up to be the heir you so desperately require. He is pure and comes from great wealth."

"He is covered in urine!"

"He holds the Malfoy fortune!"

Astoria felt panicked. This was not going the way she had anticipated. And where the fuck was Cedric? He was supposed to be standing by her side and supporting her in all of this.

Everything was spiralling out of control.

"And where's that blasted snake gone?" Voldemort sniffed, agitatedly glancing down at his watch, "she should be back by now, it doesn't take a Mudblood minute to swallow a dog."

"The boy was very fond of that dog," Astoria said, anxiously biting her lower lip, "he's not going to be happy when he comes back round to discover it's been eaten."

"Am I supposed to care?" Voldemort muttered, his voice a bored drawl. "What's he going to do? Faint again? Pee himself a little more? How old is this child, anyway? Three, four?"

"Six, actually. Seven at the end of the year."

"Ludicrous!" He scoffed, reaching out a foot to roll the boy over so that he could get a better look. "He's far too weedy and small."

"He has spent all his life underground, my Lord," Astoria hurriedly explained. Voldemort, it was starting to sound like she cared. "The lack of sunlight has stunted his growth. A few years of healthy fresh air and he could just be as strapping as yourself."

A strange, wheezy sort of noise passed Voldemort's lips, and it took Astoria a moment to realise he was laughing.

"My dear, your flattery is too much. Also, all lies. If it was not for the fact that I'm immortal, I'd be dead by now. My body is old and frail, which is why I would like a young one to help me do my bidding and fight my wars. Someone I can groom to trust and listen to no one else but me. And yet you bring me... this? A weakling who no doubt still needs to be pushed on the swings?!"

"Like I said, my- my Lord," Astoria said, faltering, "Lieutenant Diggory and I will raise him until he is old enough to-"

She was interrupted by a loud yapping sound. Astoria span around to see the dog racing back in, skidding across the floor to reach the boy where he stood protectively next to his body, growling and snarling up at Voldemort, whose face had become suddenly very pale.

"Nagini," he shuddered, his voice full of cold dread, "where's my Nagini?"

"Being feasted on by alley cats last time I checked."

Gasping at the familiar drawl, Astoria whirled around, her heart racing in disbelief.

Standing at the entrance to the dungeon stood her husband, sleeves rolled up and face full of shaking, pink fury as he held up a wand, pointing it right in Voldemort's direction.

"Now give me back my son before I fucking kill you."

*****