Don't Ever Forget

XXXI.

"It's 5 p.m." Ron replies and I stare in horror. I almost slept through the whole day. Hermione catches my reaction and puts a comforting hand on my arm. 

"Y/N, the curse has a lot of bad effects on the body and mind. It's not bad you slept as much as you could, it's a good thing to get rest," she explains kindly. 

"Billingsgate wants to talk to you about details, too. He thinks you should take some time off," Harry adds.

"No!" I protest but the three already start filing out of the room. 

"We'll give you a minute to get ready. But come out soon, George and Ginny really want to see you," Hermione says and closes the door quietly behind her. I let out a long sigh, preparing myself for the interactions I was about to have outside my room. I get myself ready, or at least presentable, and walk through the door and into my living room. All eyes turn to me and I start to feel claustrophobic. I look around the room, searching for a lifeline. I find comfort when I meet George's eyes and walk straight to him and Ginny, straight into their arms. 

"We were really worried about you," Ginny says. 

"Yeah, we came here as soon as we could. Are you okay?" George asks, inspecting me as if I had been physically injured. 

"Thank you guys for coming, really. It's nice to see some familiar faces here," I start, glancing nervously at the strangers in my flat, "But really, I'm okay now." 

"Harry and I have been talking and if you need, Y/N, you can come to stay with us. I know you probably won't want to be left here alone," Ginny suggests but I flinch at the word 'alone'. It painfully reminded me of being abandoned by Draco just last night.

"I don't think that'll be necessary but thank you so much, Ginny. If I ever feel like it's too much to handle I'll let you know," I smile at her but, desperate to change the subject to something normal, I turn to George, "How's the joke shop?" He chuckles.

"A bit slow since all the kids are at Hogwarts around this time. It wouldn't be a problem if you wanted me to come and check up on you from time to time," He replies shyly and I smile. They were all so worried about me but I didn't feel unsafe at all. I worried about Draco mostly. He was the one they wanted to kill, why wasn't anyone with him? Where is he? 

"I appreciate that George, but I'll probably be at work most of the time anyway," I say but George and Ginny exchange knowing glances. 

"What was that?" I ask. 

"I think you should talk to Billingsgate," Ginny replies and I turn directly to Billingsgate. 

"Hello, Y/N, I'm so glad you're okay," he tells me as I approach him. 

"Thank you, sir. I'm sorry for missing work today-" I begin but he laughs.

"You don't have to worry about today. In fact, you don't have to worry about work for quite a while," he says.

"I can't miss any more work, Billingsgate. What about my plan? What will happen to it while I'm not at the Ministry?" I ask frantically. 

"Y/N, you have just been through a traumatic experience! The curse you endured does terrible things to mind, you'll have to be evaluated before you even return! Don't worry about your plan-" he says but I grab his hand reflexively to interrupt him. I'm not sure why I do but I needed his full attention, I needed him to listen to my words carefully. 

"You can't let my plan dissolve. Please, Billingsgate, try to keep it going," I beg. He smiles when he looks down at my hand and looks back into my eyes. 

"I promise I will protect your plan. But enough about that. You are to take two weeks rest and you will be accompanied by two Aurors at all times," he says but I raise my eyebrow in confusion.

"I'm being guarded? Why-" I begin but he shakes his head.

"You are a target to two separate groups now, you need the protection. A hard-working Ministry woman as yourself should be protected so you can come back to us safe," he smiles. I politely smile back at him.

"Who will be the Aurors assigned to me?" I ask and he chuckles. 

"I would assume Harry Potter and Ron Weasley would be more than happy to volunteer but there will be a cycle, nothing you have to concern yourself with," he says and I nod slowly in understanding. This all felt ridiculous. 

"Well, I have matters to attend to back at the Committee. I'll see you in two weeks," he says and disapparates. The rest of the Ministry disapparate with him and I'm left with Harry, Ron, Hermione, George, and Ginny. I let out a relieved sigh and we all, oddly, laugh. 

"Guess me and Harry take the first shift," Ron jokes, elbowing Harry playfully in the arm. 

"It'd be nice if you all could stay. I could use the company," I say, hoping the rest would stay too.

"Of course we'll stay!" George says excitedly and I smile gratefully. Grateful for the company and also the distraction from thinking about the one person I hoped to see. The one person who never showed up. Draco.