It hadn't been long since Hogwarts resumed for its second term, and Briar had been trying to throw herself back into quidditch practices to distract herself from the information about Draco that Harry had relayed to her at the Burrow
But one evening as she finished her dinner after practice, she was excited to get to bed, but unfortunately a note waiting on her bed told her that that wouldn't be possible
Ms Lupin,
Please come to my office at 9pm this evening. Do not tell anyone.
- Dumbledore
P.S. I like liquorice
So Briar reluctantly made her way to Dumbledore's office, spoke the password to the gargoyle, and then found herself in the office with him "You wanted to see me, sir?" she said
"Yes," he nodded "Harry has recently informed me of an...incident involving Mr Malfoy and Professor Snape after Horace's Christmas party, and he informed me that you are aware"
"I am," she said
"Good. Last year I asked you to get close to your Slytherin classmates to find any information of Voldemort or his followers you can and relay it to the Order, and now I must ask you again, Ms Lupin. In particular of Mr Malfoy" he explained "But once more you cannot tell anyone of your job"
"I can do it," she nodded
"Very well," he smiled faintly "Good luck, Ms Lupin"
"Thank you, sir," she said and turned to leave
"Ms Lupin," he called before she reached the door, so she faced him again "I must stress that as the darkness outside of Hogwarts grows, the danger of this job could be lethal. If there are already Death Eaters within the walls then you will be in danger just speaking to them. You are aware you are a target for Voldemort and if your job is discovered then you must leave as fast as possible." he said gravely "Bare my warning in mind, Ms Lupin"
"Yes, sir," she nodded, swallowing nervously before dashing out of the room
Briar didn't know where to go, but she knew she needed fresh air, so instead of returning to her dormitory she ran all the way up to the top of the Astronomy Tower
But she wasn't the only one up there, and when she came face-to-face with Draco Malfoy her heart dropped out of her chest. It appeared he didn't know what to do either as he stood there looking simultaneously surprised and worried
"Why are you here?" he asked her after a prolonged silence
"Needed to think," she answered stiffly "You?"
He didn't answer but nodded in understanding, so Briar forced her feet to move until she was stood next to him at the edge, resting her hands on the rail
"You've been ignoring me," he said suddenly "Since the night you beat Slytherin. Why?"
"Malfoy-"
"Why?" he asked, more forcefully this time
"Because..." Briar hesitated, not sure if she should say it "Because you annoyed me."
"How?"
"You said that...you said that you wouldn't want me," she admitted and avoided looking at him in case he read the hurt in her eyes. But to her surprise he started to laugh, which only annoyed her more, so she rounded on him angrily "What's so funny?"
"That's it?" he scoffed "You ignored me because of that? Lupin..." now he was the one hesitating "Lupin-"
"Let me talk," she interrupted "I may not remember much but I remember you telling me to break up with Cormac, which I've done by the way, and then I remember you saying you don't want me. But if you don't want me and you don't care about me then why did you want me to break up with him?"
"He's a git," Draco shrugged
"That's not enough of a reason" she said firmly
"I don't have another-"
"Yes you do now what is it?"
"Why do you care?" he snapped
"I'm standing here, giving you a chance to be honest. This is your only chance, Malfoy" When Draco looked at her, he could see her eyes were pleading, almost sad
He swallowed down the tightness suddenly in his throat and tore his gaze away from her "Lupin..." he sighed "I can't"
"Why?" she asked "What is so secretive that you can't just say it?"
"You wouldn't get it-"
"Try me"
"I can't"
"Can't or won't?"
"Lupin"
"Malfoy"
The two were caught in a stand off and both of them too stubborn to back down, but also too stubborn to make the first move
But then suddenly something completely unexpected happened, when a tear rolled down Draco's pale cheek
"I can't," he whispered "He'll kill you"
"Who?" Briar asked, but she had a feeling she already knew the answer
"He'll kill you!" Draco exclaimed, another tear falling down his cheek "Please, Lupin, please stay out of this-"
"No!" she said firmly "Tell me what's going on"
"He'll kill us," Draco whimpered, shaking his head "He'll kill me if I fail and if I tell you...he'll kill you"
Briar cautiously took a step forward "Draco," she whispered and raised her hand, placing it in one of his "Talk to me" His eyes met hers and she could see that they were glossy with tears. "Please"
"I can't," he whispered "I need you...I need you to be safe"
"I am," Briar said "What does this even have to do with me? First it's the letter on Christmas, then it's the letter on my birthday, then it's all the times you've saved me from Nott and McLaggen, and now it's you trying to protect me. What is going on? You've hated me since my first year-"
"No," he interrupted, his eyes fixed on the floor "I never hated you," he whispered and finally looked up at her "Why do you think I did all those things? I wish I could hate you, Lupin. It would make my life so much easier, but I can't and I don't know what to do about it. All I do know is that I have to keep you safe from him, which means you can't be involved with me. I won't let you" He tore away from her to leave, but Briar was faster than him and she grabbed his left forearm, making him hiss "What-"
She twisted him around to face her and quickly rolled up the sleeve she was holding, and when she saw the familiar dark snake and skull tattoo on his pale skin, her worst fear was confirmed
They locked eyes again. Hers were full of shock and worry, while his were full of shame and fear
"Malfoy-"
"Now you know why" he said quietly, but his tone was cold and angry, which was more scary than when he was shouting. He pulled his arm out of her grasp and rolled his sleeve back down. "I'm dangerous, Lupin"
"No you're not," she replied "You're scared"
"I'm a Death Eater-"
"You're not!" she cried "You're a kid! Death Eaters kill anyone who they believe is inferior to them and if that was you then you would have killed over half this school but you haven't! And you know why? It's because you're a better person than everyone thinks and I won't let you think otherwise. I can help you, Draco-"
"No you can't!" he shouted "No one can help me! I have to do this!"
"Do what?!" she asked
"Stay out of it, Lupin!" he barked
"No!"
"Yes!"
"You're so stubborn!"
"I'm trying to help you!"
"I don't want your help!" he shouted "I want you to stay away from me! I need you to! So for once in your life just listen to someone else instead of doing what you always do and being stupid and throwing yourself in danger for a pathetic reason! This isn't some game, Lupin! Grow up and see that!"
Briar had been trying to keep her temper under control and she could feel her fists growing hot as he spoke, but she couldn't hurt him, so instead she fixed her cold, angry glare on him
"Fine," she huffed "Good luck" And with that she stormed away and it was only when Draco could no longer hear her footsteps running down the wooden steps that he allowed himself to sink to the floor and put his head in his hands, allowing the tears he had kept back to fall freely
Where had once been a cocky, arrogant, loud-mouthed child was now a scared, lonely boy, and he dreaded spending the rest of his life this way. But he couldn't escape. Not when Briar's life had been dangled in front him as a threat to keep him in line.
Unfortunately some things were stronger than occlumency and in this case it was the love he held for this one girl. This one girl he needed to keep safe, even if that meant giving her up forever.