In The Shadows² ★ Draco Malfoy

*A better year

Briar's father hadn't allowed her to returned to Hogwarts for the final weeks of the year after what happened at the Ministry, nor did she want to go back

Remus had covered his daughter in a blanket after she transitioned back and when her eyes opened, they were bloodshot and full of fear. "It's okay," he immediately assured her "It's okay"

"H-how did I do that?" she whimpered

"I don't know," he admitted "Maybe the only reason you never transitioned before is because your body controlled it but last night you went through so much that maybe you couldn't stop it anymore"

"It hurts," she whispered. Every bone in her body felt stiff and unfamiliar to her

"I know," he said "But I can help you"

Since then Briar had been staying with her father at his cottage, since he would be able to help her through her transition each month. He had written to Dumbledore to inform him of Briar's situation, and the reinstated headmaster was more than sympathetic

Briar's talent for potions also came in handy since she was able to brew them both wolfsbane potion to help them stay in control during the full moon

It was only after a few months that she had gained control of herself and her transitions, so she was finally allowed to leave his house, which was just in time for her 15th birthday, and she was spending it at the Burrow

"Happy Birthday!" The Weasleys, Hermione, and Fleur cried as she, her dad, and Tonks walked into the Burrow

Tonks was regularly found at the Lupin household and at first it had been because she needed support after losing her cousin, but since then Briar knew it was because her dad had finally given into his crush on her

Briar hugged every member of the house, before they settled around the ready food Mrs Weasley had set out along the table. 

Truly, since losing Sirius this was the first time she had really felt happy

After Molly's delicious meal, everyone gathered in the living room to do presents

Bill gave her a new jumper, Hermione got her loads of sweets, Ron got her new quidditch gloves, Molly and Arthur gave her loads of homemade fudge and sweets, Charlie got her a new quidditch broom cleaning kit, Ginny got her a new Gryffindor scarf, Fleur gave her a new makeup set and some perfume, the twins gave her a book on pranks to pull at school, and Tonks gave her new quidditch boots

Remus saved his present for last and as everyone else began to disperse around the Burrow, he handed his daughter a framed photo of himself, Sirius, and her from the first Christmas they spent together

Sirius was wearing his usual grin when he looked back at her, and in the photo Briar was rolling around laughing at something he had said, while Remus watched them with a happy expression

"Wow," she breathed "I love this,"

"He also left you these," Remus pulled out a keychain, with two keys dangling from it "The keys to 12 Grimmauld Place. Sirius left it to you and Harry so what happens to it is up to you. His money in Gringotts has also been split between you two"

"Thank you," She smiled and took the keys before wrapping her arms around her dad

"Now go enjoy your party"

Briar planted a big kiss on her dad's cheek before running outside to join her friends for a quidditch match. They played Briar, Ginny, Ron, Bill versus Fred, George, Charlie, Bill, while Fleur and Hermione umpired 

Luckily Briar's team won, and as the day came to its end Briar found herself sitting on the porch steps with Bill, but as she told him about the chaos the school had caused for Umbridge last year, she could see his eyes were elsewhere

"What's up?" she asked him "You seem distracted"

"Sorry," he chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck nervously "Um...well me and Fleur have been dating for nearly two years and um...I'm...um...I want to ask her to m-marry me"

"Oh my gosh," Briar gasped "That's amazing! She'll be so happy!"

"Thanks," he blushed "I'm really nervous"

"She'll say yes," Briar assured him

"I hope," he nodded

"When are you going to do it?" she asked him

"Next week," he grinned "On our anniversary. I'm going to take her out for dinner and propose afterwards"

"That's so romantic" Briar gasped "Write to me after and tell me how it goes."

"I will," he smiled "What about you? Any boys in your life?"

"No," Briar laughed "I've been too busy winning the quidditch cup twice"

"Fair enough," he grinned "And hopefully next year will be a better year for you without Umbridge"

"School should be," she said "Out of school won't be as long as Voldemort is around"

"You shouldn't have to worry about this," he said "You're only 15"

"Unfortunately wars don't care how old the people involved are and neither does Voldemort," Briar said

"I know but you shouldn't have to be involved"

"I chose to" she said "I asked to help the Order and I agreed to do what Dumbledore asked of me."

"Has he asked you to do anything else?" Bill asked

"That's for me to know," she said with a playful grin

Truthfully Briar did have to continue on her job for Dumbledore next year, but she knew that if anyone else knew then it was more likely to be leaked and ruin everything. And now that the Ministry had to admit Voldemort was back, the possibility of students becoming Death Eaters was all too real

When Briar, Tonks, and her dad returned to the Lupin cottage, Briar went up to her room exhausted from the day's events, but she was very alarmed to see a sleek black owl perched outside her window. So she quickly opened it and took the letter clutched in its beak, and the bird flew off before she could write a reply, which told her the sender didn't want one

Lupin,

I'm sure you heard about my father's arrest after your stunt at the Department of Mysteries. And he also told me about your transition to a wolf. Who would have known you had it in you. I heard you also broke Filius Nott's nose, well done.

I should have written sooner but I kept thinking about how you told me to decide how I feel about your or leave you alone, and I guess this is my answer. I also wanted to say happy birthday.

See you in September,

Malfoy

Immediately Briar recognised the handwriting as being the same handwriting as the note she got last Christmas, which meant he also sent that to her. She was so confused. Was Malfoy saying he decided he wanted to continue annoying her, or was he saying he wanted to be nice to her? She couldn't tell

All she did know was that she needed to ask him about this in September when she saw him