Er... so, guys? I only got one review last chapter (thanks, by the way) - where were you? Did I do something wrong? Because it was a little disappointing...
Anyway. Let's get on with it.

"We're ready, milord," Yaxley said, bowing slightly.

Tom nodded and Yaxley, after hesitating, backed out of the room again. Personally, I stared at my hand clutching the armrest so hard that my knuckles turned white.

"Relax, Lorraine," Tom said softly.

"You know whenever you leave, something bad happens," I told him quietly.

"That's not true. I can promise you everything will be fine."

I huffed but released the armrest and attempted a small smile. "Just be careful."

He rolled his eyes at me. "We're taking over the Ministry, love. You'll never be in danger again."

"Big words," I muttered.

"In the meantime," he said, smirking at me. "You can think about what you want to do now that we're in power."

I frowned at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you'll be free," he said. "You don't have to worry about getting stuck into Azkaban again. I'll let you have a job in the Ministry. You can pick."

I stared at him, taken aback by this news. "I-"

"Well think about it," he said. "We'll talk when I'm back."

With that, Tom swept out of the room, leaving me behind. I took a deep breath. I had thought that I would never be able to return to the real life. Never return to my job.
I bit my lip. Could it be, that after all, something good might come of this war?

It was Thorfinn Rowle and Antonin Dolohov who returned first. Rowle was a hulk, and also one of the thickest people I had ever met.

I got up and walked around the coffee table to meet them. "You're really early."

"He said to bring you the good news," Dolohov told me with a slight smirk. "Scrimgeour's dead."

"Great," I said dryly. "I still don't know why he had two of his men bringing me this easily anticipated news."

Rowle frowned and Dolohov sneered. "Said you would worry."

"Well, I still worry," I bit back. "I'll worry until he's home. But he knew that... so – what is the real reason?"

Dolohov did not answer me, so I turned to Rowle, putting on my most charming smile.

"He sure told you," I said. "He trusted you with this. Now that the Ministry has fallen – where is he?"

"Rowle," Dolohov warned.

"I don't see why she shouldn't-"

"He said-"

"Never mind what he said," I smiled. "I can handle it. Tell me where he went."

"Rowle-"

"Antonin, please," I said softly. "I just wonder. I can't help but be curious. If you don't tell me, I will have to go and look myself. And he wouldn't be very happy with you."

"They're searching for Potter," Rowle blurted and Dolohov hit the wall in frustration.

I stared at him, eyebrows rising. "What? But-"

"The Ministry was in on the plan to save Potter," Dolohov said lowly. "They knew where he was hiding. We got all the possible spots and we'll go look everywhere."

"We?" I repeated hollowly. "You don't look like you're searching."

"We're the protection squad."

I scoffed and shook my head. "I don't need protection. You can go."

I don't know which had the upper hand inside me: the worry, because every time he went after Potter, something bad happened and it felt like he was just digging himself even deeper – or, maybe it was the anger that he thought I would fall for the lie told by these silly blokes...

"He said-"

"I don't care," I snapped. "Don't you see, I don't bloody care?"

None of them answered because they both instead suddenly clutched their arm.

"Did you practice that move?" I sneered.

The two of them glanced at each other and I gestured for Dolohov to explain.

"It's the Taboo," Dolohov explained. "Someone spoke the name."

"Taboo? The- He put a Taboo on his name?" I asked incredulously. "Sweet Merlin-"

"What if it's Potter?" Rowle suggested.

"Could be, he uses the name," Dolohov said, his eyes suddenly glimmering with excitement

"Well, then go," I said.

The two of them exchanged another glance and then Dolohov nodded. "Yeah. We'll go. C'mon."

They looked at me again as though they expected me to wish them good luck or something, but I did not. After a beat, they turned on the spot and were gone, leaving me behind completely confused.
Tom was lying. He was having me watched – what for? – and he was taking risks again. The boy, on the other hand, I had to give him credit for his courage. Not many dared to speak the name at all and especially not in dangerous circumstances such as these. Sometimes, I was not quite sure if I really wanted him dead as much as I should have.

I opened my eyes, blinking confusedly as his voice echoed throughout the house. As the night wore on, I had laid down on the couch and thought to just close my eyes quickly. I must have fallen asleep right then and there.

"Tom?" I asked, attempting to sit up, only to find myself unable to.

I tried again and found myself tied down. I strained against the bonds and called out again, decidedly more panicked.

"Tom? Tom? Is that you-?"

"Oh, but yes."

I had known him for years and years and still I thought I had never heard his voice sound so cold.

"What – what is happening?" I asked.

"You told them to go... you made them disobey me-"

"Tom-"

"You disobeyed me," he hissed and then he appeared above me, red eyes blazing as he looked down on me.

"Tom, stop it, please, this is-"

But in front of my eyes, he transformed; and when he leant forward, it was a giant snake darting towards me, enormous fangs bared for attack.
I screamed.

I sat up as soon as I awoke, panting heavily. I was in fact sitting on the couch. I reached up and ran a hand through my hair. My heart was pounding so hard I could literally hear it. I leant my head against the back rest and tried to steady myself. I would ask Severus for a Sleeping Potion, I decided. I needed to sleep peacefully for once.
Finally, I managed to get up and look at the clock. It was already three o'clock in the morning. I clutched the edge of cupboard at the sudden panic welling up. It was three o'clock in the morning. He was not here yet. What had happened?
I walked over to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water. As I sipped, the door barged open. I flinched violently and the water spilled all over the counter.

Tom walked inside, red eyes blazing. I put the glass away and squared my shoulders as he stopped and his eyes found me.
For a quick second, I thought this was another nightmare; he looked as cold as he had in it.
But it was a foolish notion and I knew it the moment he spoke. For his voice was almost concerned.

"What are you doing up?"

"What are you doing here if you think I'd be asleep?"

"Waking you."

I let out a shaky laugh. "Three o'clock in the morning? Why would you?"

"I thought you might be worried."

"You send your minions to reassure me," I said.

"They didn't do a good job," he growled. "They left you."

"The Taboo went off. Taboo on... on your name. I told them to go and check that."

"It was the boy," Tom said lowly. "And his friends. They petrified Rowle and Dolohov and then they wiped their memory."

"If the wiped their-"

"Who else would it have been?" he inquired tiredly. "It's just Potter's luck to escape them, escape me again."

I sighed heavily and stepped around the counter to join him. "I'm just glad you're fine. I was starting to get worried."

He gave a short, dry laugh. "Have you been up all night?"

"No, I-"

I contemplated telling him about the new nightmare but I quickly abandoned the idea. There was no need to bring him into this. It was just the exhaustion and the never ending worry that strained my nerves and triggered these dreams.

"I drifted in and out of sleep... maybe... maybe we should just go to sleep, yes?"

"Yes, love. Of course."

I stepped out of the fire and into the marvellous Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. It had been so many years since I had set foot inside here and my last memories were not happy ones. Nonetheless, I could not help but smile. I could stand here, in the middle of the Ministry with dozens of people potentially seeing me and I had not to be worried. I would never have to worry again about getting caught and stuck into Azkaban. I was free.

"Miss Riley," a thin voice said and I turned my attention to an equally thin man with long black hair and an overhanging forehead that made him seem like a crab.

"Pius Thicknesse," he supplied as I did not offer any form of recognition. "A pleasure."

"Minister," I said, planting a smile on my face. "The pleasure is all mine."

"Yaxley informed me you were coming," he said hurriedly. "It was ever such a great surprise, I-"

"Yes, yes," I said with a quick wave. "See, I'm searching for a job."

"Oh," he said, blinking a few times in confusion. "Well, I'm sure-"

"A very specific job," I continued. "I was a journalist once. I'd so like to get back to the Daily Prophet."

"But of course, Miss, I will talk to Mr Cuffe immediately-"

"About him," I said, holding up a hand to stop his blabbering. "I don't think the Prophet requires Mr Cuffe's services any longer. I wish to take his place as Editor-in-Chief."

"Oh," he breathed again. "Yes, but – see, I don't know if-"

My eyebrows rose. "You don't know? I thought you were the Minister."

"Well, I-"

"Problem?" Yaxley joined us, his smile nothing but smug. "Lorraine, how nice to see you here on this fabulous day."

I rolled my eyes. "Mr Thicknesse seems to have a problem with the new arrangements. I told him I wanted to be editor for the Daily Prophet."

Our eyes met and Yaxley nodded at once. "Well, that shouldn't be a problem. Am I right, Pius?"

"Yes, yes, of course. Congratulations on the new post, Miss Riley."

Yaxley patted the man on the shoulder and the two moved off towards the elevators.
I looked around and could not help the smile spreading on my face. For once, I was right where I wanted to be.