"You took Elydree?" Draco's voice rose and he stood, his fists clenched tightly together. "What did you do with her? Where is she buried? Did she even get that much?" He then launched an ill-timed punch at his godfather.

Snape caught the fist in his hand and pushed it away. "Sit down!" Draco slammed back down into his chair, but the look of anger and betrayal in his eyes did not fade. His hands remained tightly clenched. "Have I not explained to you Slytherins before the danger of jumping to conclusions?" Draco did not reply. He wanted answers. "Elydree is not dead, Mr. Malfoy. Do not make me say this again."

"You're lying!" Draco lunged again at Snape. Snape grabbed the boy by the shoulders then shoved him off balanced until he fell to the floor. Just as the boy came at him again, Snape's wand was out and he was caught in a binding spell.

"Merlin's Teeth, Mr. Malfoy!" Snape cursed. With a flourish, he released the boy and Draco fell forward. Snape drew him up to his feet by his collar. "Look at me, Mr. Malfoy! Look. At. Me." Snape's black eyes glittered and pierced the boy's own grey eyes. Draco ceased his struggles, almost going limp in Snape's hands. "Do you really believe me capable of killing an innocent child?" he spoke tightly, commanding Draco's entire attention.

"I would know... " he forced his eyes closed. He could not look into those deep, cold eyes any longer.

"You think you would know if she were alive? Mr. Mal... Draco," said Snape gently. "Listen carefully, but look at me first." He grasped the boy's chin and drew his head up. When he had captured Draco's attention once more, he spoke, very quietly. The dark honeyed tone of his voice wound its way deep into Draco's mind. "I have committed cruelties at the behest of the Dark Lord, but not even an Imperious Curse could force me to kill a child. Believe me, Draco. Elydree is alive."

Silent tears began to course down Draco's cheeks. Snape let the boy go and he curled himself up protectively in the chair. "Where is she, professor? Is she all right?"

Snape conjured a cup of hot chocolate and pressed it into the boy's shaking hands. "Drink." Snape waited while Draco took several sips of the chocolate before answering his questions. When the young Malfoy cast his gaze beseechingly toward his professor, Snape continued. "I cannot reveal where she is, Draco." He caught the imperceptible stiffening in the boy's posture. "I know you want to know, but think carefully. If we found our way back to our time, the first time your father uses the Imperious Curse or Veritaserum on you, you would reveal her secret and put her in grave danger. I can assure you that your sister is safe, she is happy, and more importantly, she is very far from the reach of your father and of Voldemort."

Draco nodded and drank a little more of the hot chocolate as he stared at the flickering flames. He whispered hoarsely, "Sir, we must discover a way back home."

Snape nodded and sighed. He dropped a hand on Draco's shoulder and squeezed. He harbored no hope that they would find the way back to their time. Despite this foreboding, he would not give up.