Chapter Two

Not What it Seems

"How are you feeling?" Asked the Minister although, his lack of care was more than evident in his emotionless tone.

They had just finished the full debrief from Victoria's point of view. She recalled honestly and the Minister jotted it all down. The witch was perfectly capable of handing in a report like the others would have done, but everyone in the Ministry despised her scruffy handwriting, telling her it was impossible to read. How the Minister ended up being her scribe she would never know.

"Spectacular." Victoria grabbed the copy of the daily prophet from his desk and flicked through it. Every now and then she would snort or tut at the ridiculous statements the reporter made. Despite the silliness of the article it got her thinking. She wondered what this reporter would make of her. What she would say about the Ministry hiring an ex-Death Eater. "Are you ever going to legitimise my employment?"

The Minister looked up from the report, his face contorted into a heavy frown. "Why do you ask?"

"That's a no then." Victoria was not surprised in the slightest, but a small part of her hoped that one day she would be treated as equal employee rather than a loyal dog.

"The public rely on and trust the Ministry. Our reputation must be preserved."

"Can I quit my job?"

"To do what?"

"Get another job."

"You don't have qualifications."

"Then I'll go to school."

The Minister laughed under his breath and shook his head at the witch. "Do you really think any work place or school is going to accept you with a mark like that on your arm?"

Victoria instinctively covered her left forearm. "People change," she argued.

"No they don't."

He was right in some sense. Her history was something she would never escape. It lingered like a bad taste in the mouth. It haunted her through lucid memories, frenzied panics and the ugly black mark. She could cover it all up, like the sleeve over her arm, but it would not change a thing.

"So you think I'm still the erratic unstable teenage girl that walked through your doors two years ago?"

"Yes, but your talents have grown more useful." He fixed her with a stern look. His eyes narrowed slightly and pulled out a small folder, "Speaking of which, these are for you. Your next assignment."

When Victoria made no move to take the papers he dropped it in front of her. The witch kept her scowling gaze on the Minister. His words hurt, she had tried to reform herself, to become something better.

"The documents will tell you everything in detail," he continued unconcerned by her expression, "In short you are to provide support for the Triwizard Tournament that will be held at Hogwarts after the summer. Questions?"

"Is that really what you think of me?" Her voice was quiet with a touch of anger bleeding through.

"If I had it my way you would be in Azkaban. However, the Wizengamot thought differently and here you are." The Minister leant back and folded his hands together, "Now off you go, and make sure you read the file, Nightingale."

Victoria slid the folder off the desk, letting a few loose papers float to the ground. She fled his office before he could call her back to pick them up.

His words were the clarification of the invisible collar around her neck. The tether that bound her to the Ministry for the rest of her life. A tight coil of fear and fury wrapped around her chest forcing heaved breaths through clenched teeth.

"That's not a good look," said Kingsley. Victoria barely noticed where she had gone or where she was. The wizard's voice anchored her, she could feel her aggravation diminish ever so slightly. "You need tea, come on."

Victoria did not say a word as Kingsley lead her to one of the small tea rooms. She held on tight to the paper file. The sweat from her hands softend it and the strength in her grip begun to tear the fragile material beneath her fingers. The wizard sat her down in the corner and swiftly made off to collect the warm beverage.

Victoria's gazed was unfocused as she clung desperately onto her control. Kingsley took his place opposite her. "That temper is going to get you into trouble one day," he muttered more to himself. He pushed on cup towards her and continued, "what is in the file?"

"Some bullshit that I don't care about."

"Victoria."

"I don't get paid to be here." She thew the folder onto the table just dodging the mug of tea. "What would happen if I died on one of these "assignments"? Would anyone actually care? Or would they just be disappointed that they lost one of their favourite toys?"

"Is that what you're upset about? Because the Ministry won't pay you?"

"I was raised to fight. I was forced to fight, and now I fight for the Ministry. But what if I don't want to?" Her voice had lost its bitterness. She stared at the cup of slowly cooling tea. "What if I want to just sit in a garden and watch the birds...? I'm tried of having no choice in my life... I'm tired of fighting for people who don't care about me."

He wore a look of sympathy. "We have to work for what we want. Nothing in this world is free. You want to leave this place, then show them you are just as good as any auror. Show them you can be trusted," said Kingsley.

"Haven't I?"

"He gave you your wand back didn't he?" The wizard saw no change in her expression, he sighed, "Finish this assignment and if the Minister won't let you go, then I will help you leave." Kingsley placed his hand over hers, "I promise."

Victoria eyes flicked to meet his, "You'd do that?"

"Of course, you're my friend." Kingsley watched has she fought a smile of her own. It was in rare moments that the girl before him would open up about how she truly felt and Kingsley was grateful that she trusted him enough to talk openly, he only wished she would do it more. He does not know the extent of what she survived but her fears of a stranger's touch, of small places, of the dark and her unmatched skills told him enough. He knew Victoria had suffered unimaginable things at the hands of the Death Eaters, but she would never talk about it. She would never complain. She just suffered in silence behind a steel mask and high walls, with only the smallest and rarest outbursts of tears and frustration.

"Thank you," she muttered weakly. She feared showing even the smallest amounts of vulnerability, but sometimes she could not help it. Victoria shifted in her seat, uncomfortable in the somber atmosphere she change the subject, "I'm supposed to help with a tournament at Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts is a school," informed Kingsley, happy that the mood had changed. "And I believe you're talking about the Triwizard Tournament. I hear its going to be quite something."

"Lucky me," Victoria spoke into her tea as she took a sip.

"Maybe going to a school will be good for you. You'll be around people who are closer to your own age." The wizard picked up the folder and read the first page. "Says here you're going to be providing assistance to the contestants if they find themselves in mortal danger."

"I would have thought schools would have policies against putting their students in harms way."

"They do, but this is an exception. Besides they have the best witch in the business protecting them."

"Fantastic. How many am I babysitting?"

"Three. One from each school and only when they are in the arenas. You're not supposed to give them help before hand, that is down to them..."

Victoria drank her tea and listened to Kingsley as he read out everything that would be expected of her. She thought about the school and imagined what it would look like. Would it be small or large? Maybe it would be like the Ministry, all prim and proper with black titles and golden patterns. She wondered what the students and teachers would be like. Would they look down on her, fear her? Suddenly the prospect of going to this school did not sound so great after all - but only time could tell.