A/N I got two more reviews so double chapters again?! You guys are absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for the amazing reviews and continuing to read and support this story that I have come to love. It has been an absolute journey and it's one that has a very long way to go so continue reading, reviewing, and being absolutely amazing! Enjoy the first of the double chapters! The second chapter will be posting later in the evening today so keep an eye out for it XOXO
Draco POV
Snapping my head to the three standing in the doorway, I find them watching me carefully. My hands clutch Briar's hand like she'll disappear the second I let go.
"She's…" I start to say before I gasp for another breath as more tears fall down my face. I turn back to Briar and release one of my hands from hers and reach to cup her cheek. I rub my thumb over her smooth cheek before letting it wander towards her slightly parted lips. My thumb shakes as it hesitantly rests on her lower lip and I can feel the light, barely present puffs of hot air leaving her lips and caressing my finger.
"She's not dead. After studying Ms. Granger's memory, the only possible explanation is her necklace," Snape concludes. I turn my head to look at him as both hands clutch her hand again. "When Bellatrix's curse hit Ms. Griffin, there was an aura that came from her necklace and seemed to protect her from the full effect of the curse. I don't know what to make of it yet without researching more, but this is only the second time, that I know of, that someone has survived a killing curse. I doubt there will be many answers." I stare at Snape in wonder and shock for a few moments before breaking the silence again.
"Do you…Do you think she will wake up?" I gaze at Snape and can barely contain the hope I feel bubbling up in my chest, but I push it down in fear of his answer not being what I want.
"I believe so, Draco. However, like I said, we won't have many answers until I am able to research," he states cautiously and I can feel anger stir inside of me.
"Then what are you doing standing there?! Go research! I need to know if she will be alright!" I feel some remorse for snapping at him, but all I can think about is watching Briar "die" in Hermione's memories and her now pale face sleeping on the bed. I rub my thumb on her skin and almost shudder at the coldness. She feels like a corpse.
"You watch yourself, son! You're lucky we even told you she was here," Mad Eye growls in my direction. I feel my skin prickle and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I stand and let one hand release Briar's as the other holds onto her hand like a life line.
"Lucky?! I watched her die and you have the audacity to imply you were going to let me continue thinking she was dead?!" At the end of my sentence, I'm screaming so loud that my voice seems to bounce from wall to wall around us violently. Mrs. Weasley takes a step forward and glares at Mad Eye on her side.
"Alastor, leave," she states in a tone that leaves no room for argument. He storms out muttering under his breath and Snape takes that as his cue to leave to start his research. Mrs. Weasley turns to me and I see her eyes soften a little. My anger leaves my body and I feel drained after using so much energy after not using my body or voice in three days. I turn my head to admire Briar's face as my knees force me to sink to the floor once again. All I want is to crawl into bed and hold her so I can protect her from whatever she's facing behind those restless eyelids of hers. A hand on my shoulder pulls my focus from her beautiful face. I look to see Mrs. Weasley kneeling next to me.
"I just need her to wake up," I whisper. My own mother has never seen me this vulnerable and I can almost hear my father sneering at me to stop crying because Malfoy men don't show weakness, but Briar changed me. I have never agreed with my father on much, but seeing how threatened he was by me wanting to be with Briar made me feel almost free in a way. I felt free to choose my own path even if I knew I would face punishment from him. I remember that day in the Room of Requirement when I told Briar that I would protect her until my last dying breath if I had been in that muggle's place in the forest and I meant it. My father can do whatever he wants to me if he ever gets out of Azkaban. I'm keeping my promise to Briar to choose who I want to be and not following in my father's example. I'm choosing to be with her.
"Our girl is strong, Draco," Mrs. Weasley whispers breaking me out of my thoughts. She sends me a small smile and wipes a tear from my face. "Did you know Briar and I spoke about you after she spoke with Sirius for the first time at Christmas?"
I remember back to our first Christmas together and how she practically begged me to come here with her to see the Weasleys and Potter. Of course, I refused, but she never did tell me much about that holiday. I shake my head no and stay silent, waiting for her to continue.
"Well, after she spoke with Sirius, I stopped her before she could use the Floo network and we had a nice little chat about life. This girl is in love with you and I hope you know that?" I send her a small smile and nod my head. "Good because she would not stop blushing when I confronted her about a certain Malfoy heir that seemed to be all Ginny could tease her about," she says teasingly. I let out a light chuckle before looking at Briar's face. My smile slips a little and I stroke a piece of hair away from her face.
"Do you really think she'll wake up?" My voice cracks and I can feel my throat getting more irritated by the second from screaming after misuse for the few days I was unconscious.
"I do," Mrs. Weasley whispers reassuringly. "She's not done here yet, Draco. She'll come back to us. We just need to be patient, learn as much as we can about rare magical outcomes like her and Harry, and wait for her to get strong again. Her body has to heal itself from the trauma it went through when she was hit with that curse." Thinking about how it's my Aunt Bellatrix fault that my doe is laying in this bed has my anger starting to rise, but that anger quickly melts away when I look at Briar. She wouldn't want me to get revenge. She would want me to do everything I can to help Snape get more information so she has answers when she wakes up. My little bookworm would bombard me with questions the second her eyes open and that thought has me releasing a little chuckle. I see Mrs. Weasley's eyebrow raise in question so I turn to look her in the eye.
"I was just thinking about how Briar will start asking questions the second she wakes up. She's always so curious about everything," I say hoarsely and Mrs. Weasley chuckles and nods in agreement.
"Oh, yes she is. That's part of the reason her and my daughter became friends I think. Those two can talk for hours and still find more questions to ask each other which leads to endless more hours of research. Don't even get me started on when Hermione is added to that mix." She rolls her eyes playfully before studying me for a moment as I smile and let out a hesitant chuckle. Laughing while Briar is laying her helplessly doesn't sit right with me.
After a few more moments of silence and me watching Mrs. Weasley, she nods her head as if coming to a conclusion of some sorts before she starts speaking again.
"Right, well, you are welcome to stay in here with her, of course. I highly doubt I can convince you to leave now that you know she's here?" She leaves the sentence as a question, but she already knows the answer before I shake my head. She smiles at me warmly. "I will send a floo message to your mother at the Manor and just inform her you had to stay at school for another day or two before returning home for the summer break. If you need anything, I will be downstairs. Okay?"
I send her a small smile in response and nod my head. She must think I'm a bobble head at this point, but I can't find anything to say until she is almost out the door.
"Mrs. Weasley?" She turns and looks at me in concern for a moment.
"Yes, sweetheart?" I feel my lips curve upward at the motherly term of endearment.
"Thank you. For telling me she's here. For being a mother to her on Christmas when she didn't have one. Just…Thank you," I say sincerely. I can count on one hand the amount of times I have thanked someone sincerely so I'm not shocked to see her looking at me in awe.
"You have nothing to thank me for, sweetheart. It was and ismy pleasure," she says before turning towards the door again. After a few moments, I find myself staring at Briar's face when I hear her call to me. "Draco?"
"Yes?" I turn my head to look at her.
"You can call me Molly," she says before finally exciting the room. I feel my face break into a small smile before I turn to face Briar's sleeping form again.
Please wake up, my doe. I miss you.