Forgotten One: Love

Chapter 3

My smirk vanished as I stared at him, eyes wide. This couldn't seriously be my mission. He had to be joking. He knew who I was. He knew who my brother was. How could he expect me to go back to Azkaban and see my enemies again? The people who killed my family and friends. He knew I couldn't do this. As forgiving as I was, I still couldn't do that. Forgiving Draco was one matter; he never killed anyone. He just opposed us. But these people, the people in Azkaban. They were the reasons my friends and family were dead. "N...No." I managed to choke out as my eyes filled with tears.

"What do you mean 'no'?" Alastair's voice was firm and strict. A voice he didn't normally use with me.

"I... I can't." I muttered. The faces of the dead filled my mind. Cedric, Dumbledore, Dobby, Hedwig, Moody, Colin, Fred, Tonks, Lupin, Snape, my parents, Sirius. People I knew and loved and countless others. So many people had died at their hands. And many more had been injured both physically and mentally and emotionally. Teddy, the Longbottoms, the Weasleys, the Diggorys, the Creeveys. And thousands of others. Families. Friends. Children. Harry and I were just among the victims. We weren't the only ones. The only thing that made us different- made Harry different- is that he survived. We were victims. Just like everyone else. How could Alastair think that I could do that? He knew my past.

"This isn't an option, Vivian. This is an assignment, and I expect you to fulfill it." His voice was harsh, firm, authoritative. The voice of a commander who would not be disobeyed. It was a command. And I knew better than to disobey. Or else I would leave without a job.

"Yes, sir." I nodded, trying to hold back the tears. I turned on my heel and walked quickly out of the office and to my car before breaking down in tears. I tried to turn on the car to get the air conditioner going, but my hand was shaking too much to put the key in. I yelled in frustration and chucked the keys onto the passenger seat. That brought on a new round of tears, and I sat there for another thirty minutes crying.

As the sobbing subsided, replaced with the last of my tears dripping from my eyes, down my cheeks, and off my chin, my phone rang. I pulled it out with shaky hands, hoping it was Alastair calling to apologize. It wasn't.It was Draco.

"Hello?" I managed to mutter through the tears.

"Vivian? Are you okay?" I had never heard this much sympathy in Draco's voice.

"No. But thanks for asking. Did you need something?" I wished I could brush away the raggedness of my voice as easily as I brushed away the tears.

"Bloody hell! What's wrong, Vivian?" Draco sounded truly alarmed.

"It doesn't matter, Draco. Don't worry about it." I tried to brush it off.

"It doesn't matter?! Don't worry about it?! On of the strongest girls I know has been crying and it doesn't matter?!" he sounded truly concerned. While his words and voice were harsh, the meaning behind them was caring. Yet, for once, I wished that he hadn't noticed.

"Stop it, Draco. Please." I begged through the tears, my voice cracking on please.

"Vivian." His voice was gentler now, soft, caring. "What's wrong?"

"I...I...I c...can't." I managed to stutter.

"Is it for your job?" Draco asked gently. He knew about my job?

"Yes." I choked out. No point in lying.

"What did they do to you?" He sounded furious, like he could come and murder Alastair.

"Nothing." My voice was soft, timid.

"Vivian, don't lie to me. What did they do?" His voice was reprimanding but gentle.

"It's my assignment." I took a gulp of air before rushing through the next sentence. "I have to go check in on Azkaban."

Draco gasped. "They didn't."

"They did." I reaffirmed weakly.

"I'm coming with you." Draco said firmly.

It wasn't up for question, but I tried protest anyways. "No. Draco-"

The line went dead. I took a shaky breath and let it out slowly. I heard a whoosh and a figure started to take shape outside of my window. Draco, the idiot. He smiled at me, walked around the front of the car, and got in on the passenger side. The first thing he said was, "You said you're here for me, well, I'm here for you too."