In The Shadows² ★ Draco Malfoy

*The boy who lived and the girl who was left

There had been another attack on the school. This time a boy in Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and most surprisingly the Hogwarts house ghost Nearly-Headless Nick. Luckily, Justin had been merely petrified, but Nick had apparently been killed by the monster he saw

And what shocked Briar the most, was the buzzing rumours that Harry was the heir of Slytherin, and that he had orchestrated the attacks. Fred and George had of course found the rumours hilarious and spent all their time walking Harry through the corridors and shouting "Make way for the Heir of Slytherin!" or "Seriously evil wizard coming through!" or loudly asking Harry who he would attack next

Harry himself seemed quite amused by their behaviour, Ginny and Percy however did not. The youngest Weasley looked ready to cry whenever they did it, and Percy constantly reprimanded the twins for joking about it. 

But during quidditch practice Briar could tell by the heavy sighs from Harry and unusual lack of jokes, that the stories about him weren't as amusing as they had been initially

So when Briar saw the messy-haired boy sitting by himself on the pitch after training she decided to join him

"Hi," she said as she took a seat next to him on the grass "I know this is a dumb question, but are you okay?"

"Well half the school's scared of me because they think I'm attacking muggle borns and the other half are convinced I'm a freak because I can speak to snakes," replied Harry, a smile playing on his lips 

"I'm sorry," she frowned "If it helps, I don't think you had anything to do with the attacks, and I also don't think you're a freak"

"Thanks," he chuckled. Harry had of course been friends with Briar since she arrived, but he had never really taken notice of her, other than her being a Gryffindor in the year below him who was friends with Ginny. But when they fell into a silence on the pitch, he suddenly realised something "You know, me and you aren't that different" Briar raised an eyebrow for him to elaborate "Neither of us have our parents, both of our parents went to Hogwarts, and we're both best friends with a Weasley,"

"True" Briar laughed "I think the parent part is more of a shock though. The Weasleys are just very social," This time it was Harry's turn to laugh "Do you think our parents knew each other?"

Little did either of them know that somewhere up above, James Potter barked a laugh at her question. Did they know each other? James Potter and Remus Lupin were never seen apart at Hogwarts

"Probably, they were Gryffindors" shrugged Harry

Again, they lapsed into a silence. But it was comfortable. As if they had each finally found someone who knew what it was like to hear their friends talk about going home to their parents for Christmas, and to want nothing more than just a piece of a life like that.

"Are you going home for the holidays?" asked Briar and Harry shook his head "Me neither. Ms Forrest wanted me to, but when I heard the Weasleys were staying I decided to too"

"I never go home" sighed Harry "Not unless I have to at the end of the year"

"Are you ever jealous of those kids that can't wait to go home to their mum and dad and family?" asked Briar, hoping he felt the same way he did. And the nod Harry gave brought a weird feeling of comfort to her 

"All the time" he said "I would do anything for that"

"Me too" Briar nodded "I feel ungrateful thinking it, because I know my dad's out there somewhere. But he left me. So, dead or alive, I feel like an orphan"

"And it makes you feel like you don't fit in" Harry added and she was surprised he knew that. But then again she guessed he must feel the same "I get it. I feel like everyone always watches me, either because they feel sorry that I lost my parents, or because I'm the boy who lived apparently"

"I'm sorry" said Briar "I wish I could help"

"It's fine" he shrugged "Do you think you'll ever meet your dad?" Briar merely shrugged "Do you want to?"

"I don't know," she sighed "On one hand, I want to meet my real family. I want to know who I am and where I came from. Maybe I've got other family members alive, but I have no idea. But then again, he left me. And Professor McGonagall said that he had a reason but that she couldn't tell me. But what if that reason was just that he didn't want me? I don't know if I could face the man who left me for 10 years"

"I hope you meet him eventually," said Harry "Because you could have a chance to have a real family and to know your dad. I know it might not be exactly what you dream of it being, but it's worth a try isn't it?"

"Thanks," smiled Briar "I'm really happy we're friends, Harry"

"I am too," he grinned "I've spoken to Ron and Hermione about what it's like to not have my parents before, but you're the first person I've spoken to about it and not had look at me like-"

"-you're a fragile doll who might break down and cry at any moment," Briar finished and they both laughed "I know the feeling"

It had been a long evening of quidditch training, and one glance at her watch told Briar they were out past curfew, so the pair quickly changed back into their robes before running up to the Hogwarts castle

Inside the castle, it was deserted but they knew there would be prefects or teachers or Filch on patrol so they quietly made their way through the stone halls. They had nearly made it up the last staircase before reaching the Gryffindor tower, but one of the portraits jumped at them, shouting 'Boo!' and Harry jumped backwards, losing his balance and tripping over the stairs before landing flat on his face

Briar couldn't keep back her laughter and although Harry was embarrassed, he too began to laugh. 

Professor McGonagall had been patrolling the halls, and from the hallway below she had heard childish laughter. So she picked up her pace and walked around the corner, prepared to scold and dock points from whichever students were out of bed, but when she saw Briar Lupin and Harry Potter doubled over with laughter at the top of a staircase she did a double take

For a moment she saw Remus and James.

"Shhhh! Come on, let's go before Filch comes after us and hangs us from our thumbs" giggled Briar. That nearly made McGonagall stumble backwards. She remembered those same words coming out of Remus Lupin's mouth around 15 years ago when they had set off dung bombs in his office. Except that time McGonagall hadn't let them off.

Harry threw his head back laughing, but got to his feet and they continued to run up the stairs, laughter echoing behind them as they did. McGonagall couldn't help the smile that had broken out on her face. It appeared history was repeating itself. And she immediately felt the headache the Marauders had caused her resurfacing