The constellation of Auriga lies near the celestial equator. Meaning 'charioteer' in Latin, it is often associated with Erichthonius, who was the lame son of Hephaestus, god of blacksmiths and metalwork. It was said Erichthonius invented the four-horse chariot, which allowed him to travel anywhere he wanted without difficulty.

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Draco grieved the loss of Blackbeard, his only remaining friend. Narcissa had been adamant about stopping his communications to and from the manor. She had learned her lesson, taking the bird to the forest where she set it free, unbinding it from any loyalty and obligations to its master. He had no way of telling anyone of Angel and Luna's whereabouts now. In fact, he had no one to talk to at all.

He visited them when he could, which wasn't often. It was hard to sneak food and drink when Death Eaters were wandering about your house like it was theirs.

Opportunity only presented itself in the wee hours of the mornings. He would stalk the hallways, making sure everyone was asleep. Nights spent creeping about Hogwarts had trained his feet to know uneven floorboards, and his eyes to search for the slightest movements in shadow.

It was a dangerous game he played, but rewarding, for Angel got better as the days passed. The shine returned to her eyes, and she began to smile again.

He would spend about twenty to thirty minutes in the cellar with them, where they each took turns to tell stories. Luna, of the curious, invisible creatures only she could see; Angel, of constellations and myths; Ollivander, the intricacies of wandmaking; and Griphook, the odd things he'd seen being put into Gringotts. He took extra care never to ask about the Sword or the Cup, feeling he had to prove himself some sort of way.

But like all the fleeting moments of goodness in his life, this quickly came to an end - when Harry, Ron, and Hermione were brought back to the manor.

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The day began like any other. Spring rained down from the low-hanging clouds. He lay on his bed, listening on the sound of the patter, counting down the hours to when he can see Angel and his - dare he call them - new friends again.

Someone knocked on his door, and he knew it was his mother, with her usual drivel: come down to eat. Are you joining the meeting? Stop sulking and be thankful she's alive at least.

"Draco," her voice was urgent. "They think they've got him."

"What?"

"Potter. They think they've got Potter."

He walked down the stairs slowly, his mind working for a plan in case it really was Harry.

His heart sank as the familiar faces of Ron and Hermoine came into view, their hands slung behind their backs by the Snatchers. Idiots! Hermione, of all people, should have been smarter than this.

Lucius stood by them, eyeing him and Narcissa as they entered the room.

Bellatrix came, dragging a boy by the tufts of his hair. "Well?" she panted, seeming hopeful. The search for missing Potter had left them all exhausted, and they were growing desperate. He looked.

The boy's eyelids bulged, and his lips were lopsided. It was as if he had been stung by a dozen bees, but Draco would have known that face anywhere. It was Harry Potter.

"I can't be sure," he said, trying to keep his voice even.

"Draco," his father hissed, squeezing his neck. "Look closely, son. If we are the ones who hand Potter over to the Dark Lord, everything will be... forgiven. All will be as it was, understand?"

All will be as it was. If he gave Potter up now, he would have freedom for himself and his family. Perhaps he would be in a better position to negotiate Angel and Luna's release.

"Now, we won't be forgetting who actually caught him, I hope, Mr Malfoy," Scabior butted in. This angered his father, and he began to throw a fit. Narcissa wasted no time in silencing him. "Control yourself, Lucius!" she warned.

Ignoring them, Bellatrix took his hand and pulled him closer to Harry. "Don't be shy, sweetie. Come over. Now, if this isn't who we think it is, Draco, and we call him, he'll kill us all. We need to be absolutely sure!"

"What's wrong with his face?" He needed to buy time. "Yes," agreed Bellatrix. "What is wrong with his face?"

Scabior began to explain, but Draco did not hear it over the sound of his drumming heart. Harry looked at him through his good eye, silently begging. He could feel Ron and Hermione's stares on his back as they held their breaths. Would the Slytherin prince turn them in?

He knew what they were expecting, and part of him wanted to prove them right out of spite.

But he thought of Angel downstairs, trapped in the underworld when she belonged in the heavens. He had betrayed her twice now, once by letting the Death Eaters into Hogwarts, and the second time by bringing her here. He would not do it again. And so, with his silence, he secretly swore his allegiance to Harry.

A commotion started behind him. Bellatrix had gotten distracted by The Sword of Gryffindor in one of the snatchers' hands, flying into a rage and throwing jinxes at them. He had only seconds.

"Angel," he whispered to Harry through gritted teeth. "Take her with you when you go. Don't let her stay." Harry did not know what he was talking about yet, but they exchanged a glance of understanding. An eye for an eye, a favour for a favour.

Within seconds, the snatchers lay incapacitated on the floor, and Peter Pettigrew was summoned to bring Harry and Ron to the dungeon.

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"You like him a lot, don't you? I can tell." Luna sat across Angel, their legs pulled up close to their bodies for warmth. Angel blushed, smiling down to herself.

"I think it's beautiful, what you two have. Bit like Romeo and Juliet, though."

"Luna," Angel chuckled. "Have you actually read the ending of Romeo and Juliet?"

"Of course!" Luna's voice was light and airy. "But we shouldn't be afraid of death. Besides, death isn't so lonely when you've got love with you, don't you think?" Angel could only agree with a laugh and shake of her head. Ollivander was about to interject when the gates clanged loudly.

"What are we going to do? We can't leave Hermione alone with her!" It was Ron's voice.

Luna shared a look of surprise with her, and they scrambled to their feet.

"Ron? Harry?" Luna ventured. A ball of light flew from Ron to the lamp nearby, casting a yellow light on the dingy walls.

"Luna?" Harry sounded equally surprised. "Angel?"

"Harry!" Relief flooded Angel. "What are you doing here? I thought you were-"

A loud scream, one she recognised as Hermione's, punctuated the air. "We have to do something!" Ron protested, but Ollivander was quick to fill them in on the enchantments put on the cellar.

Harry lifted the leg of his pants and pulled something from his sock - a shard of what looked like a mirror. "Help us," he said to it. "Help us!"

Pettigrew reappeared to take Griphook away. They had just disappeared up the stairs when there was a rush of wind, and house elf appeared with a soft crack. "Dobby? What are you doing here?" Angel had never seen Dobby before, but she remembered Draco's stories of lemon sherbets and Thestrals.

"Dobby's come to rescue Harry Potter, of course!" squeaked the elf.

"Are you saying you can Apparate in and out of this room?" Dobby looked at Harry strangely. "Of course, sir. I'm an elf."

"Right, Dobby, I want you to take Angel, Luna, and Mister Ollivander," instructed Harry. Angel's mind raced as Dobby took her hand. "Wait!" she cried, dropping it at the last second. "I want to stay."

"For Malfoy?" Ron's face twisted. "Why would you want to stay with that- that traitor?"

"Please," she persisted. "Luna, Ollivander, you go on, I'll stay."

"No," Harry shook his head definitively, and a wave of frustration washed over her. "I'm not leaving Draco alone in this place a minute longer!" she declared in defiance. But Harry only nodded to Dobby, and before she knew it, the house elf had snatched her hand and the world started to shrink.

"Don't hurt him!" She just had time to say it before the cellar disappeared with a 'pop' and they Disapparated.