Briar POV

Previously…

His eyes snap up and meet mine through the branches. I know he can see me in my Animagus form as the weeping willow doesn't fully reach the ground and has gaps in its branches, but I just stand there in shock. It isn't long before he puts two and two together. He wasn't meant to find out who I was at all, let alone that I was the doe in the forest by Malfoy Manor.

Dumbledore is going to murder me.

Blue meets green and I know there isn't much time left before he figures out the truth…But at the same time I find myself asking myself a question.

Would it be so bad if he knew?

Draco POV

I, Draco Malfoy, am an absolute git. Here I am staring at a doe because my subconscious couldn't even conjure up a green-eyed girl properly.

Really? The doe is in front of me instead of Griffin. Do I have a bizarre crush on a bloody doe? Father would have a field day with this situation.

The doe stares back at me in confusion as I pull at my hair and pace back and forth while swearing.

"Bloody hell. I just conjured up the Room of Requirement for the first time and the first thing I conjure up is a bloody DOE? Fucking Griffin must have gone out another door I don't know about."

When I turn to start pacing in the other direction again, I turn and almost run right into the source of my restless nights.

Those damn eyes. How does a doe have bright green eyes?

"You enjoying the show, HUH? You're probably not even here, are you? You're just an image the Room of Requirement conjured up to fuck with me! Griffin must be a bloody ghost that I'm being haunted by." I continue to pull at my hair and notice the doe has started to back up slowly, but stops when I mention Griffin. With a huff, I let my weight pull me towards the floor and sit letting my head fall into my right hand.

"And here I am talking to a doe again who has no idea what I'm talking about. I must be going mad." I run my hands through my hair again before realizing there's something lying next to me. I turn my head to the right and snort when I realize the doe has laid down next to me and is staring into my soul with her unnaturally bright green eyes. She huffs out a short grunt at me and nudges my leg with her nose. Taking that as her way of saying she's real, I raise my right hand and slowly raise it towards her nose much like that day in the forest. Not too long after, she is nudging her nose into my hand and I can't help but reminisce about standing in the forest doing that same thing a few months ago.

"Where did you come from?"

And why are you the only one that sees me when I'm this vulnerable?

She lets out another grunt and almost seems to smirk at me. I pull my hand back and rest my head in my left hand so I can look at her.

"Right, keep your secrets then. It's not like you could tell me anyway. If you could talk, I'm sure all of Hogwarts would know the infamous Draco Malfoy has gone mad and confides in a doe." The doe lets out a snort causing me to stare at her.

She really seems to be trying to communicate with me like she understands me…

After staring at her for a few seconds more, I decide that she must think I'm mad anyway so what's the harm in just talking to myself to process my thoughts?

"This Griffin though, she's getting under my skin." The doe's ears perk up again causing me to let out a chuckle. "Every time I think I have her cornered, she disappears. She's a rather clever witch even though I hate to admit it. After that day in the forest, it makes sense why I was confused about you because who gets that close to a doe and actually has a conversation with them? But Griffin…Her eyes do the same thing yours does; they flash rainbow sometimes. If you could talk, I'm sure I'd be able to get some answers from you, but no matter how mad I am for talking to you, at least I know that a doe talking back is still impossible. Right?"

The doe just looks at him and part of him sighs in relief on the inside because stranger things have happened. At this point, a talking doe would just be icing on a butterbeer cake.

"Of course you don't talk." I hear voices outside the Room of Requirement and realize it must be time to get back to the Slytherin Common Room before the prefects start patrolling the hallways. I stand and start to walk towards the door that slowly appears in front of me. With my hand on the door, I pause and look back at the doe to notice she's now walking back towards the weeping willow I saw her under before. I whisper a quick thank you before raising my voice and putting on my Slytherin Prince act.

"You better not repeat what was said in this room, or else my father will turn you into a decoration in our Manor." The doe stops to look at me over her shoulder and I could have sworn she rolled her eyes at me when she let out a short grunt. I shake my head and quickly walk out of the room. Turning to watch the door slowly disappear, I wonder why I couldn't find Griffin again when I should have been right behind her. Discarding the thought from my head, I walk back to the Common Room keeping my signature smirk on my face for those that pass by me.

Can't have word getting back to father that the Slytherin Prince is acting anything, but a proper arse.

Giving the portrait the password, I glide into the Slytherin Common Room and make my way towards my room. Unfortunately, I don't make it past the main room.

"DRACKIE!" I stop walking and cringe before turning towards the source of the voice.

"What did I say about calling me that, Parkinson?"

This witch really couldn't take a hint that I wasn't interested.

She let out a pout and said, "But you love when I call you that, Drackie!"

Rolling my eyes, I sneer at her and respond with as much coldness as I can after noticing a crowd is starting to watch discreetly.

"Really? Is me constantly telling you not to call me that what gave you that idea? I'm never going to be interested Parkinson. Give it up." I turn and start to walk away before she says something that has my hair standing on end.

"This is because of that bitch Griffin, isn't it? Don't think I haven't noticed you asking around about her. She better watch her back if she thinks I'll give you up that easily." Turning my head one last time to look at her, I see a satisfied smirk on her face, but watch it fall instantly after my response.

"I was never yours Parkinson. You were just easy to get into bed and rather horrible too might I add. I'd suggest staying away from Griffin unless you want me to be your enemy," I say with malice and watch her face pale a little in fear. Everyone has seen what I do to those that are my enemies and are cautious to stay on my good side within Slytherin. I take one last glance around the room to see some chuckling at Parkinson's misfortune for getting on my bad side.

Finally making it up the stairs and getting to my private room, thanks to my father; I head towards the large king sized bed by the window. Loosening my tie and discarding my robes into my trunk at the end of my bed, I find a change of black and green flannel pants and a black t-shirt for bed. Ever since that day in the woods, the flannel has reminded me of the death of those two muggles, but I know they would have died no matter what they were wearing. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Settling into my bed, I look out the window at the grounds of Hogwarts. Somewhere out there, my father was pulling strings to get on the good side of the Dark Lord so he could convince him to summon me into his ranks. I sigh at what is quickly becoming my father's path for me and get under the covers. Closing my eyes, I know I'll see her green eyes in my dreams, but tonight? The dreams are welcomed now that I feel I have someone to confide in about my confusing admiration for Griffin even if that confidant is a doe. With one last deep breath, I succumb to sleep until the next day at Hogwarts.

I will corner you one day, Griffin. I will get answers.