Safe and Sound (Final in 'He's a Keeper' series)

Normally when you come back to a school like Hogwarts, you'd be ecstatic. Everyone would be so happy to see what the year has in store for you. This year, I didn't feel that way. I was terrified. I'm not cut out for this kind of stuff. I am the shyest person I've ever seen. There was no way that some little thing running through my veins could destroy the world I know and love. It was completely insane. "You excited to be back?"

"Sure." He stopped dead in his tracks. He pulled us over to the side of the hallway. "Vi, it's okay. It's okay to be scared and admit it. I'm terrified. I am so scared of letting everyone down, losing the ones I love. But I have to do it. The only way I'll get to save them is by doing it. I'm doing this for my family. I'm doing this for you. I know you're scared, but will you try? For me?"

Oliver was always very persuasive. He always knew what to say to twist up your thoughts. "Okay. I'll try." He pulled me into his arms. He gave me a quick kiss and we headed to class.

"Psst. Psst. Violet!" I whipped my head around to see Stephen behind the bookshelf. "What?" He motioned me to come over. "What's wrong?"

"I have an idea on how to find your father." This was the part of our mission that I wasn't too happy about. My father walked out on us 17 years ago. I didn't want to look for him. I always had this feeling that my father left because of me. He stuck around when Brandon was born. But I come into the world, and he's gone. And there's me thinking like that again. I always end up thinking negative. I blame depression for my emotions.

"I have been sending him letters. I told him that I have found these 'chosen ones' and he wants to see both of you."

"Does he know about..."

"Never asked. You should tell him when we get to him." Wouldn't that be a nice bomb to drop on him? He finally sees his daughter after 17 years, only to find out the only child he ever knew dead. He deserved the pain. I knew that was selfish of me, but I couldn't help it.

"Stephen, have you seen Oliver?"

"I think I saw him outside."

"Okay, thanks."

I saw Oliver out by the pond. He was throwing stones in, harshly. I was always a bit nervous when Oliver was around water. I've seen what it has done to him and I can't bare to see him like that again. I rushed over to his side before he could do more. "Oliver, what's wrong?" He threw another stone. "That bastard!"

"Oliver, who are you talking about?"

"I got a letter from your dad."

"What did it say?" He let out a frustrated groan. "I sent him a letter a while ago. I asked him about some things going on and I asked about his daughter. I wanted to see if he knew anything about you. He said that his daughter was a disgrace and that if I ever met her, kill her when I had the chance."

I can't believe my father would say something like that. I felt like a hole was ripped in my chest. "He told me that I should be dead if I ever found an interest in her. And you know what made it worse? He said that my last name sounded familiar. He said that he knew a Arthur Wood himself. He remembered him as a guy he fought and killed for 2 years. The only Arthur Wood in my family is my dad. He fucking killed my dad."

Oliver collapsed to his knees, sobbing. I ran over and gave him the biggest hug I could. "Oliver, I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

"It's not your fault Vi."

"But it hurts to know that our fathers hated each other's guts. It hurts more knowing that my father killed yours." Oliver picked his head up a bit.

"My father went on a trip when I was eight. He would write to me occasionally. Then, he just stopped. It was terrible when the ministry came and told us that my father had been killed."

I brought Oliver back up to the common room later. He needed time to calm down and think, so I started to walk away. "Violet, wait. Don't go. I need you here." I went back to his side and laid down next to him. He started to sob again. I felt terrible. He was then gasping for air. His face was going slightly red. "Oliver? Oh no." I sat him up. He was having trouble breathing again.

"Oliver, calm down. Can you calm down for me? Try and take deep breaths. Deep breaths. It's gonna be okay."

His breathing was going back to normal. Situations like this scared me. It was worse that it was common for this to happen. I have had to do this plenty of times before. I hated that he had to go through this. It was unfair. It should've been me. "I'm good. I'm good." He looked in my eyes. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize."

"Yes, I do. I know that you get scared when this happens, I see the fear in your eyes. I'm sorry I put you through this."

I hate that he blames himself for this. I'm the one that caused him to go over the edge. I always hurt him. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

"I live with the pain. If you think you cause pain, I love every little bit of pain you cause." He was always so swift with his words. "I say we ignore whatever just happened and go hang out with the others. Sound good?"

"That sounds great." He took my hand and we ran off. I just needed to do something to get my mind off of all this.

Yay, first chapter! Okay, time to explain myself. I had already finished 2 books in this series. I wanted to give the others a chance to finish up, so I took a break from this one. There will be more frequent updates, I promise. With that said, thanks for reading and I'll see ya in the next chapter. All the love, Abby<3