The world had stopped as I pulled back to look at Draco. His eyes were burning blue flames and it was all I could do not to burn up in them. The world came roaring back as he brought his lips to mine in a sweet kiss that made my heart beat a million miles a minute. Slytherin table was now positively deafening with its excitement. The other tables were whispering loudly and I'm sure were staring as well. I didn't care, there was nothing to care about except him. We broke apart smiling and took our seats. Everyone started asking us about our relationship as soon as possible I was barely able to eat with all the questions being thrown at me.

We escaped from the Great Hall and ran down to the dungeon just to be alone. We acted as if we were First Years again, with how much we giggled and seemed quite shy with one another suddenly. The door shut behind us and I fell on the bed looking at the stars. This seemed completely absurd, weeks ago we had hated each other. Now after a near tragedy, we finally admit to ourselves and each other how we felt. I felt like I was glowing with happiness. He laid down next to me and smiled I rolled over on to my side to look at him better. He was about to do the same when he suddenly got very pale and grabbed his arm in pain. The smile slid off my face.

"What is it? Are you okay?" I said panicking.

"It's h-him… He's calling a meeting."

"He can't expect you to show up can he? You're in school and can't Apperate."

"I have to find Snape." He said. He looked like he had just accepted that he was going to die.

"Ok…"

We both jumped up and ran out through the common room into the catacombs of the dungeon to Snape's office. When we arrived, he seemed to be waiting for us.

"Glad to see you understand how important time is in these situations. Let's go."

I nodded and was about to leave them when Snape called me back.

"He'll be wanting to see you too Callisandra. Remember you are in this together and he expects you to act accordingly."

"Yes sir." I said weakly looking at Draco who seemed to be made of stone.

He refused to look back at me. I felt my glow completely disappear now, I felt alone. I grabbed Snape's outstretched hand and I felt the ground vanish and the world squeeze in around me. However, I felt like this is what it would be like if I lived inside my brain. We landed outside of a mansion I'd never seen before. The giant C on the front gate didn't help me figure it out either. I glanced at Draco and he was already walking up the drive as if he owned it. I looked back at the C and back at Draco. This had to be Crabbe's place. I was terrified of what was about to happen. I wasn't ready to face the Dark Lord so soon with no good news to share.

Draco walked into the mansion and without stopping or looking back, he strode straight into the hall beyond the foyer. He threw open the door with more force that needed so it banged and echoed in the giant room. He continued up the long table not stopping at the empty seats obviously meant for us. Snape and I followed behind him but stop short at these chairs watching him as he approached the top of the table. I nearly fainted when he addressed the Dark Lord.

"My Lord, I'm very grateful for your invitation to the meeting tonight. However, I must ask you to send Callisandra back to the school. She isn't a Death Eater. While she is my fiancée and I don't doubt her trustworthiness, I also don't believe she should be party to any of the proceedings."

"Good evening Draco, good to see you. I understand your concerns but I must impress upon you the seriousness of the situation. Callisandra should be made aware of it as well."

Draco bowed his head and moved back to his seat again without looking at me. I didn't know how to feel about him not wanting me at this meeting. I had very little time to think about it because the Dark Lord had started the meeting and commanded our attention.

"Well we all, or almost all, know why we're here tonight. We have but a single goal at the moment and that goal hangs on Draco's success with his task at Hogwarts. So without further ado, Draco, how are we coming along?"

I glanced down the table at him but his face was still turned from me.

"The cabinet is proving to be quite the challenge but I am quite confident that it will be fixed soon."

"So it's not ready."

"Not at the moment My Lord."

"Disappointing Draco, disappointing. Maybe you need more motivation than your own life. How about that of a loved one?"

"No My Lord I swear it will be done before long. I am motivated."

"I am not convinced. Callisandra, please join me." He said extending his hand towards me.

I stood up and took a deep breath before I shakily walked down the table to where the Dark Lord was. I stopped in front of him trying to look as brave as possible. He looked at me appraisingly for awhile then before I had time to even register what was about to happen, he withdrew his wand and whispered 'Crucio'.

The pain was unlike anything I had ever felt. I was being stabbed with needles, burning, and being pulled apart all at once. I felt it lift after what felt like an eternity and I could hear a dying scream, I realized that it was me screaming. I closed my mouth and continued to take deep breaths to avoid screaming or sobbing. The room was deathly silent. I picked myself up off the floor and looked at the Dark Lord, but he was looking down the table and Draco.

"I hope this serves as a reminder that you are responsible for more than just your own life Draco. She will die if you fail, as will you and your family. Callisandra, you must help him and be rewarded or be punished for his shortcomings. You may go now, both of you. I hope the next time we meet you will bring me better news."

We both got up and moved back out of the room to the foyer, Snape accompanied us without speaking. Once we reached the drive, he grabbed our arms and turned on the spot. We Apperated back to his office and before we could even talk to him, he immediately Apperated back again leaving Draco and I alone together. I noticed then that I was shaking and felt chilled to the bone. I knew I was going through shock after being subject to the Cruciatus Curse. I started walking back to the common room without even thinking about it. I was almost halfway there before Draco caught up to me.

"Cal…I'm so sorry."

"So now I exist? Now you'll talk to me?"

"No please, please understand. When Snape told you that you had to come along, all I could think was that this is all my fault. I didn't want you dragged into this. I was hoping I could spare you from all that but he wants to have me cornered. He knew the best way to scare me was to hurt you. I don't know what I can do to make it up to you. I am so sorry. I wish you didn't have to marry me, then you wouldn't have to go through this." He looked so tortured in the moment that I finally saw the deep bruise like circles under his eyes that I hadn't noticed before. He'd been working on the cabinet more often than I thought. All my anger and hurt dissipated and my heart went out to the boy in front of me who was being forced to be a man.

"Draco, please don't blame yourself for all this. After these past few weeks, I wouldn't want to be engaged to anyone else but you. We're gone be fine. The cabinet will get fixed and then everything will be okay."

"Cal…Cal…" He broke down and started crying. I pulled him into my arms and tried to calm him down.

"I…I was so s-scared watching him do that to y-you. I n-never wanted to see you h-hurt and now I'm t-the one causing you the p-pain."

"Sweetie you didn't curse me. You didn't do anything. None of this is your fault."

"I'm so, so s-sorry."

"Stop Draco, this is not your fault and I won't allow you to blame yourself."

"I really don't deserve you."

"Oh knock it off. Let's go back to our room. I think we both really need a good night's sleep."

"Ok, I agree."

We walked along the dungeon in silence and walked straight through the common room to the stairs to our room. Once we got in, we fell on the bed in our robes and almost immediately fell asleep. Just as I was about to nod off I heard Draco whisper in the darkness 'I love you'.