Aster's POV

The next week went excruciating slow. I spent my nights breaking into my dad's study to collate any information I could about protective spells and any research he had collected himself. Notes were always sprawled on various parchments, most nights I had to sort through the rambles and note them all down into my own journal. It felt odd, being alone in the dark inside my dad's study writing down his research, theorising, concluding. I felt like I was thirteen again, nestled in my favourite armchair near his fireplace, debating various theories with my father to pass time.

I spent a few hours every night researching, and spent the early hours of the morning meeting up with Blaise down at the beach. My mother had no idea I was still seeing Blaise outside the house. My father however, caught on quite quickly about my frequent visits to his study. Luckily I had him wrapped around my little finger.

He caught me huddled in my armchair one night, scribbling in my journal with an open textbook to my side. It was an advanced charms textbook, so I quickly explained that I was studying for school, completing an assignment. After that night, he let me use his study in the day but I was limited to textbooks about charms and I couldn't shuffle through his own notes like I wanted to.

He looked slightly better lately, colour started to return to his face, my mother was able to cut his hair, so his curls were no longer in his eyes. I gathered that the information he was required to give the Death Eaters was sufficient and he was able to relax and enjoy his research a bit more now.

My mother seemed slightly more herself, she was still strict about my comings and goings but with being so stressed during the day, she ended up being knocked out late at night and I was able to sneak out. A small feat in this never ending task.

I hadn't heard from Draco since that morning. Blaise kept telling me that he probably couldn't risk sending me an owl. It was probably for the best, I knew that once I got to school I would be distracted with helping him as well as trying to keep on top of my coursework. So for now, I focused on the research, breaking the protecting spell around the cabinet. It was annoyingly complicated, with the dark magic involved, the balance of breaking the protective spells was finicky. I really needed to actually test my theories on the cabinet itself but obviously that would have to wait until the new year.

The new year came by in a depressing blink. We spent it huddled outside in our back garden, just the three of us, watching the fireworks the muggles had let off down at the beach. I had consistently begged my mother and father to let me go meet Blaise but my Mother was determined to keep my under lock and key.

They still hadn't a clue where I went the day I went to Malfoy Manor. I felt like I was treading on eggshells for the first few days after I returned. I was certain my Uncle had told my father that I went to see him, I was even worried my mother would ask Blaise's mother about my visit. But no, nothing happened. Luck was undeniably on my side.

Before I knew it, I was back on the Hogwarts express, confined in a small compartment with Blaise by my side. It was eerily odd to not have Harper sitting opposite, but I wasn't going to start mourning her betrayal now. I had successfully pushed every thought of her out of my head during the Christmas break, something I didn't realise I was capable of doing.

Maybe I wouldn't be so bad at Occlumency?

"Have you seen Malfoy yet?" Blaise interrupted.

I had been stuffing my face with cauldron cakes since the Honeydukes express trolley had done its round.

"Nup" I mumbled, enjoying the sweet stickiness coating my mouth from the chocolate. 

"Do you think he will stick by his promise? That he will let you help him?"

I looked over to find Blaise looking at me warily, his dark eyes narrowed in his thoughts.

"He won't have a choice, I'll follow him around until he lets me help him" I replied, instantly annoyed at the thought.

Blaise raised his eyebrows, a hint of amusement behind his dark brown eyes.

"What?" I pushed.

"You guys are perfect for each other" he said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes at him and popped the last of the cauldron cake into my mouth.

"Did you see Nott's back?"

"What?" I asked, surprised that Nott would come back after months of being away.

"Yeah, saw him on the platform earlier talking to Montague" he mumbled.

"Why would he come back? I figured his parents wanted him home because of the Death Eaters..." I pondered out loud.

"Yeah, but did you see him at Malfoy Manor?"

I thought back to that night, but only flashes on Draco and me in his bed flew by. I felt my cheeks go red instantly.

"Ummm...I don't think so. I mean I didn't really stay long in the hall...I got distracted..." I mumbled.

Blaise raised his eyebrows, a smirk growing on his lips.

"Are you guys even going to be able to fix this cabinet without ripping each other's clothes off first?" he teased.

I gave him a glare before I replied.

"I can multi-task" I said, giving him a smirk back.

His laugh filled the stuffy compartment and I couldn't help but join in. 

Draco's POV

It was odd now that I knew who were Death Eaters.  

Currently around 70% of the large carriage I was sitting in was filled with either Death Eaters or affiliates. Even the insufferable Harper Bainbridge was involved now. 

It seemed like Parkinson's blood prejudice had been thrown out the window when it came to Bainbridge. She was currently gossiping feverishly with the half-blood. 

It made me think of Aster. 

I shut that thought down quickly. 

Nott was back, thankfully. He was one of the few that was bearable to be around. From what I knew, he wasn't a Death Eater but they had pledged their allegiance to the Dark Lord ever since they returned from their 'travels'.  Montague, Crabbe and Goyle were Death Eaters. However, it looked like Goyle was just as miserable as me at the very thought. Parkinson and Bainbridge were also not graced with the dark mark. 

"Why the fuck is Bainbridge now all chummy with Parkinson?" Nott interrupted. 

He elbowed me in the side, but I pushed him away. 

"Dunno," I mumbled, returning my gaze to the book I was trying to read. 

"What happened to her and Flint? Thought they were besties" he asked. 

I exhaled loudly. 

"Fuck I dunno Nott, why do you care?" I pressed, slamming my book shut and leaning my head back on the headrest. 

"I don't," he replied crossly, "if anyone I would have thought Flint would have joined the dark side" he added with a chuckle. 

I looked up at him at that. Narrowing my eyes. 

"She hasn't" I confirmed possessively. 

He cocked an eyebrow at me.

I ignored him and returned to closing my eyes and resting my head back, desperate for some peace and quiet. 

"Yeah you're right, Flint's too good for that" he mumbled. 

I opened my eyes but kept my gaze on the dark ceiling of the carriage. 

"What do you mean, too good?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.  

"I could never see her following anyone's orders" he chuckled. 

I tried to stifle the knowing smile that was growing on my lips. 

He had no idea. 

A/N Sorry I know this is more of a filler chapter but I wanted to spend more time writing the next few chapters (more angst & spice coming dw) :)