You guys are really enjoying this story! Wow! At this rate, you're going to be getting double chapters until I start brainstorming for a sequel ;) We're back to EIGHT reviews omg! Thank you so much for your amazing responses and I hope I answered some of the reviews some people sent in about why Bellatrix was at the Manor in the first place, how Draco feels about Briar's protector (that will be answered in the next chapter), and how Briar was dealing with the vision of her parent's death. Not to mention the infamous Unbreakable Vow!

Briar POV

Narcissa starts asking questions as she glances at Draco again who is just sitting next to her in silence. Once I informed him we wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts together, he shut down and hasn't said anything since. Giving him time to process, I began answering Narcissa's questions to the best of my ability.

"Now that I understand your background and the task, I have to ask. How many people know you're alive and who can we trust?"

"You, Draco, Snape, Dumbledore, Sirius, Molly, and Alastor are the only ones that know. Well, Bellatrix did, but you took care of her. Thank you for that again," I thank her genuinely. "As for who to trust, I would just trust each other for now. Obviously, you can trust Snape since he'll come and go for meetings, but the only other two I trust with my life are Sirius and Molly except I don't see any reason for them to be here." Narcissa nods her head in understanding before glancing at Draco again. Seeing how worried she is about his silence has slowly been putting me on edge for the past few minutes. Something else that has put me on edge was Bellatrix.

"How are you, sweetheart?" I open my mouth to answer, but stop when I realize it's not another question about my task, death, or abilities. I look at her and sit on the couch behind me to face her. Looking down at my hands, I start to clasp and unclasp them in an attempt to distract myself from the thought of my parents' death.

"I don't know, to be honest. Yesterday when it happened, I was…broken," my voice breaks as I say that word. Hearing some shuffling and look up to see Draco has focused back into the conversation after hearing the distress in my voice. Glancing at Narcissa, I continue my thoughts. "I knew their death was horrible from what Lucius would taunt me with, but I never imagined they forced them to…" I trail off and find myself heavily swallowing to offset the tightness in my throat. Looking down to hide the tears quickly building up, I unintentionally sniffle.

"I'm so sorry that you had to watch that. I'm sorry my hus…Lucius had a part in that. I don't even know who he is anymore. You have to know, he wasn't always this cruel. He used to be a loving husband and father, but when his father died, something changed in him. I don't excuse any of his behavior in anyway, but I wish I could give you some answers to his actions." I can hear the remorse in her voice and I nod my head. I know she isn't to blame for Lucius' actions.

"I don't blame you at all, Narcissa. I know he acted on his own with the help of Bellatrix that day," I glance up and am met with Narcissa's sad eyes. "Why was she here yesterday, by the way?"

"She was summoned to be a witness for Draco's first task. Once she got here, she was adamant that we speak with Snape to get him to agree to an unbreakable vow which is why she was here well into the morning. We will be meeting with him later today to discuss it since she doesn't remember anything other than Draco getting the task." I can feel myself shudder at the thought of Draco's task and that's when I notice Draco's hand in mine. Sometime during me trying not to cry while reliving the thoughts of my parent's death, he had moved across the room to sit beside me. Looking up at him, I can see him looking down at me with softened eyes when he notices the tears are having a hard time not spilling over. Seeing the concern on his face has the first tear run down my face. He wipes it away with his thumb and sends me a small smile. Turning to look at Narcissa again, I see how happily she is looking between me and Draco.

"Thank you for interrupting in the office, Narcissa. I know that's your sister and it must have been hard to…" She raises her hand and I stop talking.

"She is not my sister. A sister of mine would not hurt someone I have come to love as a daughter and my sister certainly would never do anything to someone who means as much to Draco as you do. I will be around her to keep up appearances, but whenever this war is over, she's dead to me." I look at Narcissa in shock and find more tears are running down my face as a grateful smile stretches across my face. Standing, I walk over to Narcissa and find her standing up with her arms out to me. Wrapping me into a hug, I take a deep breath and melt into her embrace as I try to stop my tears from running down my face.

"Thank you," I whisper in awe and feel her squeeze me to her tighter before placing a light kiss on the top of my hair. Pulling back, she clasps her hands in mine and looks me in the eyes.

"You don't have anything to thank me for. I should be thanking you actually. I've always loved my family, but we've never been close until you came into the picture. Don't get me wrong, me and Draco were always close, but he seems more open and happy than I've ever seen him. I know I have you to thank for that so thank you for loving my son and helping him choose to be a better man," she breathes out and I can see tears gathering in her eyes. Smiling at her in response, I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to look over said shoulder and see Draco standing there with a smile on his face. Letting go of Narcissa's hands, I spin and throw myself into his chest and wind my arms around his waist.

Catching my body against his in a surprised oof, his arms wrap around me with a chuckle. I can feel him looking down at me as his breath washes over the hairs on the top of my head where his lips rest.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you my whole task earlier, but I was waiting for the right time and then I was in a coma and then we were fighting and I didn't want you to be mad, but I…" My rambling trails off when I hear him let out a loud laugh as his arms squeeze me closer. Turning my head up to look at his face in curiosity, I see his eyes gazing down at me adoring as a huge smile lights up his handsome face.

"Breathe, love. I didn't think you could say so much in one breath," he teases. I roll my eyes and mumble under my breath as I hug him tighter. I'm sure all he could hear was "stupid, Malfoy" and "making fun of me" because he chuckles again before kissing the top of my head affectionately as his mother laughs heartily behind me as well.

"I do have one more question before you get some rest as I'm sure you're exhausted," Narcissa says. As she says that, I realize how my eyes are stinging from fatigue. Going to pull out of Draco's arms, I feel his arms tighten around me so I turn so my back is flush to his chest; his arms resting around my chest as my hands rest lightly on top of his. I nod at Narcissa to go ahead with her question and I can feel Draco's arms squeeze me possessively at her question.

"Who is your protector?"