Disclaimer: If you haven't already guessed that I am JK Rowling in disguise, I am. Not. Therefore, it's all her's. Not mine. Minus the plot and the main character :)
AN: Here goes Chapter two!
Chapter 2: The Task
A man sits on a red-checkered picnic blanket,, stroking the golden hair of his lovely wife. She looks up at him and smiles, resting her head on his chest. The light breeze ruffles the light brown hair of the husband, and the wife, smiling, pats it back down gently.
A little girl laughs as she chases a small white butterfly. Her short, blonde hair bounces as her tiny feet toddle after the insect. I follow her, watching her every movement. She reaches up to grab the butterfly, but loses her balance and topples over. Her pretty, blue dress gets covered in dirt as she tries to get up, a small cry coming from her lips. Slowly, she turns her head to face me and...
I bolt upright, panting. Sweat covers my every surface as I try to get my bearings. I hear the chirping of crickets outside my small window; the first shafts of the morning light creeping their way into the small room. I take a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts. The dream again. The same dream, haunting my slumber. Each time, I get closer and closer to seeing the face of the child before I wake. I'm afraid of the little girl's face. How will she react when she sees me? Can she see me? What does it all mean?
I shake these thoughts from my head. I don't have time to waste time on the stupid dream. I walk to the window and look out at the meadow surrounding me. I can see the dew drops on every flower as the world awakens to the new day.
Judging be the sun, I figure it's about half five. Although I'm sure no one else is yet awake, I take out a new set of clothes and change, readying myself for the day to come. I try to stretch, but my muscles are tight and sore from last night's assignment. Though I shouldn't be, I feel physically drained.
I check the mirror, the only thing on the barren, faded walls of the room, to make sure I have everything. My blonde hair is braided back to stay out of the way, and my face is clear of all make up left over from the night before. As I turn, I catch a glimpse of my necklace around my neck, as well as a long scar, going from the lobe of my ear to my collar bone. I wince at the sight of it. Though it's been there for years, it still looks ugly.
As I walk down the old, creaky stairs, I find her already up and at the table, scowling over today's issue of the Daily Prophet.
"Get packed." she says, looking up at me, her dark eyes, checking over me, making sure I did everything to her liking. "We're leaving."
We travel all day, going by apparition, Floo, and flying. It's slow, but we must be careful. It would be tedious to fix the problem if anyone were to see us. Well, it would be bad for her, She not exactly well-liked by the majority of the Wizarding world. It wouldn't matter for me. Most people don't know I exist.
We finally reach our destination, the large manor rising ahead of us like a dark, ominous storm cloud. We walk straight through the gates, the decorative iron dissolving like smoke. My fingers tingle with nervousness as we head up the long, winding flight of stairs up to the meeting place. Will he be pleased? Will I finally get my big assignment?
"Ah, you're here. We were about to start without you," his smooth, terrifying voice fills the room, commanding silence and respect. He gestures to the two empty chairs at his left and we sit, our eyes down and our ears open.
"What news, little bird?" he asks me. I feel the hair on the back of my neck stick straight as I try to give him my answer without trembling. Normally, he doesn't frighten me in the slightest, but today is different.
"They will be set loose this evening, and will hopefully make it to Surrey by nightfall. The woman, Dolores Umbridge, will be responsible for the action, as well as getting them back to Azkaban when the task is done." My voice cracks slightly but gains confidence as I continue to speak.
"Good. And of the other?"
"As for now, he seems unable to find someone who will take the position. If he is still unable within a fortnight, the Minister will have to appoint someone. He is considering currently considering Albert Runcorn as the candidate."
"No, it must be the woman. It must be Dolores Umbridge."
"I can go and make him change his mind, Sir."
"No, not you this time, although you would do it best. I need you for something different. But, I do believe this would be a fine task for little Draco, don't you, Lucius?"
"But Sir, he is so young, he is not yet admitted...," Lucius stuttered.
"Then it shall be his first task, his initiation. Draco, you will go the the Ministry and inform the Minister of his candidate, Dolores Umbridge."
"Yes, Sir," Draco says, staring at the table. I smirk as I recognize fear in the young Malfoy's eyes. Oh, Draco, don't worry, I think. This is only the beginning. Only one easy trip to the Ministry. Simple.
"As for you," he says, once again turning his attention to me. "You have served me well. I now have a task for you bigger than any other. If you succeed, you will be rewarded beyond what you can think. But if you fail..." His demon-like eyes connect with my brown ones, and I feel him try to pry into my mind.
"I understand, Sir." I say without breaking his stare.
"You are to go to Hogwarts, Sparrow. There you will find a boy by the name of Harry Potter. I believe you've heard of him?"
Around me, several laugh or mutter curses at the boy under their breath. I remain stone faced.
"You will make friends with the boy, study him, make him trust you. Then, when the time is right, you will hand him over to me. You must not harm him in any way, for only I must kill Harry Potter. You have until the end of the school year to complete this task. Understood?"
I feel my heart races as I seal my fate with four words.
"It will be done."
AN: Please Review!
