In The Shadows² ★ Draco Malfoy

*Lions vs Snakes

"My team and I do a training camp every summer and if you're interested, I think you could learn a lot from it" Gwenog explained and Briar had to stop herself from jumping up and down and squealing "I'll write to you with the details soon, but I'd love to see you there"

"Thank you so much," Briar smiled

And when Gwenog and Professor McGonagall walked off, Briar let out the jumping around and squealing

The atmosphere in the changing room was jubilant. 

"Party up in the common room, Seamus said!" yelled Deanexuberantly. "C'mon, Ginny, Briar!" So the three chasers hurried to change out of their sweaty uniforms and ran up to the common room, where the party was kicking in to full swing

These parties were a common occurrence in the Gryffindor common room, but what made this one different was the unexpected kiss between Ron and Lavender Brown. Briar poured herself a cup of firewhiskey and several more came, before Cormac pulled her out of the common room and through the empty corridors until they reached a secluded corner

Her back was immediately against the wall and as his lips made marks against her neck, her tipsy mind was barely aware of what was happening. She only became aware what was happening when his hand crept up her skirt

"Wait," she panted. Briar was attracted to Cormac of course, but she was still only 15, she was drunk, and they were in the middle of the school hallways "Wait," Either Cormac didn't hear her or chose to ignore her, but his hand continued to move higher "Stop, please," she said, louder and more forcefully this time

"I think she told you to stop, mate" A voice said and this time Cormac did step away from Briar, looking to his right and seeing Draco Malfoy stood there

"Piss off," Cormac snapped

"Actually I think you should piss off before I bring Professor Snape up here," Draco said 

Cormac rolled his eyes and grabbed Briar's hand "Come on, let's go,"

"I'll meet you at the party," Briar told him and he furrowed his eyebrows but left the pair alone "Why did you do that?"

"You said stop and he didn't. Any gentleman would have" Draco shrugged

"You seem to have made a habit of saving me from bad situations," Briar giggled in her tipsy state "Anyone would think you liked me,"

"As if," he scoffed "I could do better,"

"You couldn't even get me if you tried" Briar replied

"And you could get me?" he snorted

"Yes," she grinned "Because I think you like me. I think you won't admit it but you do and that's why you're always saving me"

"I'm always saving you because you're always getting yourself in trouble," he said "And you should get back to your party before McLaggen sends a search party for you"

"Let him," she shrugged and Draco's brows furrowed in confusion

"I thought you like him? Isn't that why you're going out with the git?"

"He's nice," she slurred "But I don't know" her balance was fading a lot and Briar could feel all her support being pushed onto the wall next to her "He wants sex more than me"

Draco truly felt bad for her. Briar was dating someone who obviously didn't appreciate her and she didn't deserve that

"Then break up with him," he suggested

"Why? So you can get me?" she teased and was intending to lean forward in a sort of suggestive way, but she stumbled over her feet and had to hold the wall to keep herself upright. Draco had taken a step forward in case she fell, but when he saw she was alright he stayed put

"I don't want you," that was a lie and Draco was pretty sure that Briar knew that too

Briar laughed and threw her head back, causing her to lose what little balance she had left, but before she could hit the stone ground an arm wrapped around her waist to keep her up. Briar found herself leaning on Draco and she caught the strong scent of apples coming from him

"You smell nice," she muttered

"Thanks," he laughed "Come on, you should get back," before she could protest Draco wrapped his other arm under her knees to hoist her up into his arms and he carried her back towards the Gryffindor tower. But he knew he couldn't get too close without some other drunkards from the party seeing them, so he set her down on her feet at the bottom of the stairs "Will you be okay?"

"Yes," she nodded tiredly "Thank you,"

Draco nodded stiffly and watched her slowly and cautiously make her way up the stairs until she was out of sight so he turned and made his way back to the dungeons

When Briar woke up the next morning she had a pounding headache and her memory of the last night was very vague. But one sentence that did pertain in her mind was Draco's voice saying the words "I don't want you" and it sent a stab to her heart

Draco glanced up briefly from his food when Briar walked into the Great Hall, and he was shocked to see the way she walked to her table without so much as a look in his or his table's direction, but he assumed she was just hungry. But in Potions class when she continued not to even glance at him, and actively looked anywhere else when passing his desk, he knew she was unhappy with him

He couldn't show he cared or was bothered, but inside he was worried deeply. So when class ended he tried to grab her before she could leave, but she was faster than him and scurried out of there before he could so much as touch her, leaving him confused and hurt.