This chapter starts with a dream so enjoy! I got done with editing early so enjoy the chapter earlier than tomorrow! (Even though tomorrow is in 15 minutes here lol) I know it's a little short, but trust me, the next chapter is a doozy and hella long.

One week later

Draco POV

Laying on my back, I gaze at the ceiling of the room. With a sigh, I go to close my eyes again when I hear a giggle from my right. It's then that I notice there's someone laying right next to me with a hand on my arm.

"What has you so frustrated, my dragon?" My eyes widen in shock and my head whips to the right to stare at the girl laying on her side. Her head is resting on her pillow that is entrapping her left-hand under it while her right-hand rests on my arm. I can feel the warmth radiating from her palm and seeping into my skin. A huge smile breaks across my face and I hurriedly turn to face her.

"BRIAR!" I quickly scoop her into my arms and start planting kisses all over her face wherever I can reach. Pulling back slightly, my hands frame her smiling face and gently kiss her nose causing her to giggle.

"Well then, that's got to be the most pleasant good morning I've ever gotten," she says teasingly. I chuckle and pull her face to me to plant a lingering kiss on her lips. With a soft groan, her hands fist in my shirt to pull me closer. I nip her bottom lip and pull it to me hungrily before continuing to claim her lips as my hand slides down to her clothed thigh. Pulling it over my legs, I drag her body impossibly closer before her hands place themselves on my chest in a gentle way. Giving her one, two, three more soft pecks on the lips, I pull back and slide my hand back up her body to grasp one of her hands in mine. Pulling it to my lips, I brush a lingering kiss on her knuckles and stare at into her beautiful emerald green eyes in fear.

"How are you here, my doe?" I whisper my question in fear of making her disappear. Her free hand caresses my cheek and I can feel a tear slide down my cheek to greet her hand. Her thumb quickly brushes it away before she leans in to kiss where my tear had just been.

"You need me so I'm here. I'll always be here when you need me, Dray," she whispers. I stare at her face lovingly and notice the aquamarine eyes on her dragon necklace are glowing against her neck.

"Briar, your necklace…" I trail off when she lets out a sad chuckle.

"Yes, I know. It's keeping me safe for now, but I just needed to see you. I'm so sorry for what I did, Draco. I never meant to leave you," she says sadly. I shake my head and cup her cheek.

"No, baby girl. You have nothing to apologize for. I know how stubborn and good you are. I know why you felt the need to save Sirius. I just wish you would wake up and I wish I had listened to you about those dreams. I miss you so much, my doe," I finish as my voice cracks.

"Hey, no tears, please? I miss you so much too, Draco. I hate seeing you so sad, but I don't want you to blame yourself, okay? We couldn't have known my dreams would come to a head that night. We both know I'm still figuring out my dreams and abilities. Besides, I'm here, aren't I?" I smile at her smiling face and push the sadness away.

"I'm so glad you're here. I've missed everything about you, Bry. I need you to wake up. Please come back to me," I say urgently. I really need her to understand how much I need her to wake up and how much I need her to be by my side.

"I will, Dray. When it's time and my body is healed, I will wake up. Your love is protecting and healing me as we speak, but I need to go now. I love you so much and I will see you soon, my dragon. Please stay safe," she whispers and I can see her starting to fade away.

"Briar, wait! Don't leave yet, please! BRIAR!" Her body evaporates into the air and I gasp in shock as I feel my necklace warm up against my chest.

"BRAIR!" I wake up with a jolt and find myself sitting up in bed panting with the sheets tangled around my waist. Taking deep breaths, I turn to see two letters next to my bed. One is clearly from my mother as I recognize her hand writing right away, but the other letter is in an envelope with just my name scrawled across it. I open my mother's letter first.

Draco, my love,

I have gone out to a meeting, but will be back soon. I love you.

Love,

Your mother

Placing the letter on the side table, I realize I will most likely have the house to myself all day since her "meetings" are normally code for shopping sprees with her friends. Pushing the thought from my head, I grab the other envelope and quickly open it to see it's from Molly.

Sweetheart,

I hope this letter finds you well. I apologize it isn't longer, but I just wanted to let you know there was a development last night. S thinks he has found something that might help with our girl's situation. There is rare magic coursing through her veins and her family's lineage has given us insight into just what her magic can do. S believes she is from one of the eldest families of wizards who worshipped nature. The wizards were said to have magic that either harms or heals based on emotion which would explain her incident in the common room months ago that we discussed. It would also explain her knowledge of rare enchantments like the ones on your necklaces. S thinks the necklace is the key to all of this.

She said your name last night, sweetheart. I have to go now and don't want too much written on paper, but I will write you next week with more information.

Stay safe,

MW

I read the letter a few more times and stare in shock. Briar said my name last night which meant that she was more aware mentally than we all thought. My doe might wake up soon! I think of the dream and find myself wondering if she was actually there in my mind. I make a mental note to ask Snape the next time I see him if it's possible for her to insert herself into my mind like that.

The next thought that makes me pause if Snape thinks the necklace I got for Briar might be the key to how she is still alive. I think back to the dream and recall what she said.

"Your love is protecting and healing me as we speak." Does that mean that my love for her had protected her like Potter's mother had all those years ago? Was that even possible? Rushing out of bed in only my green silk pajama bottoms, I find myself barging into my father's study to floo Snape to get some answers, but the sight I'm met with is not one I would've expected.

My mother is sitting with my Aunt Bellatrix. The woman who almost killed Briar.