A/N: Lethe means oblivion in Greek. According to mythology, this was the name of one of the four rivers encircling Hades, its waters causing memory loss.
CHAPTER 2: Lethe.
When Claire did not return home that evening, her roommate Tina didn't think much of it. Assuming that she was out having fun and dinner with her colleagues, Tina emptied a can of cat food inside Lugh's dish, hoping that this would calm down the agitated cat. Sitting down before her computer to finish an assignment, she paid no more attention to the cat that was running through the house, sniffing every corner and mewing desperately, as if seeking something he could not find.
Sometime later, she sensed someone behind her, although she could not recall hearing the familiar jingle of keys turning and the front door opening. Tina didn't think much of it, absorbed as she had been in her work. Without raising her eyes from her screen, she addressed the person she believed to be Claire.
"It was about time, Claire," she teased the person behind her. "That cat of yours has been driving me nuts while you were out having fun."
But she heard no reply. Only then did she realize that something was terribly wrong. Spinning around on her chair, she found herself face to face with a stranger. Astounded, she sat motionless staring at the weird-looking man.
Tina had never saw anyone like him, save for people wearing costumes during parties or shows. He was wearing a long, heavy cloak and he had a strange hat on, reminding her of her childtime fairytales and old wizards in fancy robes. And although her instincts told her that he meant her no harm, her intellect protested.
Wizards do not exist. Right?
People dressing up like wizards, unless going to a costume party, have serious issues.
People with issues are not far from insanity.
People with issues are potentially dangerous.
Her eyes darted back and forth, seeking frantically for an escape route. Then the man reached inside the folds of his robes, Tina panicked. She sprung from her chair and ran to the door. Before she could take hold of the knob, something like a lightning strike flashed behind her and the door was sealed. She grabbed the handle with both hands, struggling to open her only way out, but in vain. And when she tried to scream, no sound came out of her throat.
In tears, her knees gave in and she sunk to the floor, her right hand still clutching the doorknob. The weird man was now towering over her, while she could do nothing but plead him in silence with her eyes. As if time had somehow slowed down, she watched in horror as he pointed what appeared to be a stick at her. It could have been a gun or a spoon; in her numb mind, it made little difference. Tina was certain that she would be dead in the coming moments.
He looked at her for one timeless moment. "I am sorry," he finally said. Then he uttered a strange word and the world became brighter for one glorious heartbeat.
And then came the darkness.
~*~
Having placed the unconscious woman on her bed, the wizard moved from room to room, going through closets and drawers, eliminating everything that could remind the world that Claire Jenkins had ever existed. It had been the Ministry's decision that this was best for everyone. Muggles would be spared the grief of mourning their loved ones and the events of the seemingly unexplained deaths would no longer pose a threat of exposure for the Wizarding world.
It was complicated, but essential. So the wizard carefully continued to remove all evidence; clothes, books, photographs, ever the scent of her perfume that still lingered on the bathroom. When he was certain that he had left nothing behind, he disapparated from this Muggle house to return to the Ministry. The Muggle woman would wake up the next morning having no memory of her late roommate or her encounter with the Obliviator.
However, there is no such thing as a perfect plan.
The wizard had paid little attention to the white cat that had been watching him suspiciously moving around, eradicating all traces of Claire's existence.
When the cat was certain that their visitor had left for good, he came out from under the bed and walked to the front door. Lugh jumped on a chair and stared at the darkness outside, waiting patiently for his human.
For Claire.