So I know it has been far too long since I have posted a chapter, but I intend to get back on track and finish the story within the next couple of weeks. This chapter was a (insert swear word here). It just felt like pouring ketchup from a new bottle without a knife or anything to get it started. So this chapter is a litter shorter, because I wanted it done and out of my hair. I hope to start posting new chapters every Saturday from now on.
Thanks for waiting, and enjoy!
Harry
Harry nervously wiped his hands on his pants, getting rid of the sweat that had accumulated on them. The elevator dinged, and Freya grabbed his newly dried hand and pulled him forward. He followed with a bit of reluctance. He found himself walking a bit faster as he noticed the stares they were receiving. Freya squeezed his hand, but he didn't need that reminder of her nervousness. He could feel his own nerves jumping around. .
He tried to catch the eyes of those watching them, trying to find anyone who seemed to look at Freya in a way that would implicate them in her kidnapping. Of course he saw nothing. But his right pointer finger sat precariously on the trigger that would release his wand. He knew that Freya was doing the same. But they reached the Minister's door without a single interruption.
Harry caught the glance that Freya shot his way and squeezed her hand once more before releasing it. Taking the initiative, he knocked.
"Enter."
Harry hesitated, and Freya smiled knowingly at him before pushing the doors open. Harry followed a few paces behind her. The office was light and airy, but the air was soon charged when the Minister caught sight of Freya. The man stood and approached the two of them menacingly. Harry couldn't help standing in front of her, in the way of the man.
The Minister narrowed his eyes at Harry. "Who are you?"
"Harry Potter sir." Harry replied a bit sharply. Years of Auror training and work had made his response to questions automatic.
"Potter? You aren't a Potter. I should know." The Minister pulled his wand and pointed it at Harry. This time, years of experience with wands in his face had Harry pushing the trigger for his own wand and had it pointed at the Minister less than a second later.
"Stop!" Freya pushed them apart. Harry hastily dropped his wand from where Freya stood, not daring even the slightest accident to harm her, the Minister's lowering moment' later. "Minster, This is my twin, Harry."
"Twin? But that's..." The Minister turned a hard eye to Harry, examining him, looking for any little flaw. "If that is the case, I don't suppose you would submit to a blood test?"
"Minister!" Freya turned to look at the man.
But Harry could not blame him. It did sound outlandish, a sudden twin appearing. Despite their similar appearances, Freya was in the public's eye so much, that having a 'lost' twin appear after Freya had been kidnapped sounded like an elaborate ruse. But despite the fact that Harry wasn't Freya's biological twin, he knew he would pass the test. "It's fine Freya." Freya turned to face him. She must have seen his determination because she merely nodded and stepped aside.
"Follow me." The Minister walked back to his desk with Harry behind him. While the Minister pulled out a parchment and spell it, Harry turned to look at Freya who stood by the door with her arms crossed. Harry knew where her frustration stemmed from so he caught her eye and smiled encouragingly. She glared slightly before sighing and walking to his side. Once there she took his left hand and didn't let go even when the Minister turned to look at them.
The Minister paused for only a moment at the sight, but he cleared a space on the desk and laid the parchment out. "In the circle if you would." He gestured to the small circle that was on the parchment while handing Harry a small knife. Harry had no doubts that the Minister was holding his wand in case Harry decided to attack him. Snorting, Harry sliced the tip of his pointer finger, wincing only slightly at the pain, before pressing the bloody finger into the circle. The blood was absorbed and Harry pulled his finger back to see it healed. Harry handed the knife to the Minister.
Freya squeezed Harry's hand as they watched a family tree appear in red. First Harry's full name appeared, than simultaneously two lines led off his name. One was solid red and split before James' and Lily's names appeared. The other line was a dotted red one which ended with Freya's name.
Harry stopped watching, choosing to hug his twin instead. Freya hugged him just as tight. They let go only when the MInister cleared his throat. Harry turned to find the Minister holding out his hand. Harry took it without hesitation. "I am sorry Mr. Potter. I am sure you can understand my concern."
"Not at all Minister. And please, call me Harry."
"Of course, please sit."
Freya
Freya let out a breath of relief. She really shouldn't have because the Minister turned to look at her. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you." Freya gulped at the angry glare. "But first." The Minister pulled her into a hug and she froze for a moment before hugging the man who was like a father to her, back. "I am glad that you are safe." He released her. "I want to know what happened!" Freya sank into the chair next to where Harry was now seated. He smirked at her and she found herself sticking her tongue out at him in a childish manner. He smiled a little wider.
One again, it took the Minister clearing his throat for Freya to pay attention to him. "Sorry Minister."
"It's fine. Now what happened?"
"Well, I assume someone..." Suddenly, Freya realized what the nagging feeling had been ever since they had arrived at the Ministry. "What happened to Lyra!"
The Minister's eyes darkened. "She disappeared when you did. At first we thought she was kidnapped as well, but we now think that she was the one that kidnapped you."
"Lyra? But..." Freya let out a breath of frustration. Something was tickling her memory, but she couldn't put her finger on what. "Well there was the explosion and I lost consciousness. When I woke up I was... chained to the wall. Until Harry saved me they kept me there. They cut me in multiple places and cast some sort of spell on them because they never scabbed over, but continued to bleed. They also kept me from losing consciousness." Frey nodded that Harry pick up from there.
"I knew about Freya, who she was, and I heard that she was in trouble. So I went to a friend of mine. Without my consent, she used experimental magic on me. Luckily it worked and I found myself in Freya's cell."
"Who was your friend? She can..." The Minister trailed off as Harry shook his head slowly.
"She tried to replicate the attempt, but failed. She passed away a few days ago."
"I am sorry for your loss."
"It's alright." Harry took a deep breath, Freya knew it was because he was grateful to say only truth from now on. They both hated lying. "After I arrived in the cell, I released Freya from the bonds and dispelled the spells on her. She fell unconscious after. I took her to Healer Malfoy, unsure of the safety of St. Mungos." The Minister looked like he wanted to complain but eventually shut his mouth and gestured that Harry should continue. "At first she was really weak, but after a few day's rest she has recovered."
Silence fell over the group. The Minister seemed to be eyeing Freya as though trying to find a fault in the story. Or he had sensed that she hadn't included an important bit in the story. She just... couldn't. She knew that her face had remained neutral, but she felt Harry reach out and take her hand out of sight of the Minister. Comforting her. Not wanting the man to ask more questions, she kept her face still but squeezed Harry's hand back in thanks.
The Minister sighed. "Well I am sorry to you Freya. Had I known... no... our security should have been firm enough not to let that happen. We cannot let the Ministry grow weak, Voldemort showed us what a weak Ministry can lead to." Freya turned to look at Harry and saw that his mouth was slightly ajar. Freya quickly thought back, and realized Harry's version of the man still couldn't say Voldemort's name. Freya turned back to the Minister, and she hoped the man thought that Harry's shock only stemmed from normal surprise at hearing the name. "So what do you do Mr. Potter?" The Minister asked breaking the moment of silence.
"Um... nothing." Freya could hear the surprise that still laced Harry's voice, and his automatic response made her chuckle. The Minister shot a small glare at her interruption.
"Surely you must do something!" The man insisted.
Freya once again looked at Harry, and saw Harry staring down at him hands for a moment. Than Harry looked up and caught the Minister's eye. "I don't do anything Minister. I have a good grasp on Defense Against the Dark Arts and a fair grasp with Potions. Due to some circumstances, I was never able to take the O.W.L.s or the N.E.W.T.s. This has made finding a job difficult."
Freya watched the Minister and was surprised to find the man believing Harry. Freya wanted to shake her head in relief, but held still, too wary of the Minister's gaze. "That is a shame... well I will see what I might be able to do."
Freya was surprised at the gesture, but pleased none-the-less. "Thank you Minister!"
"It's not an issue my dear. Now, I need a moment of your time to discuss this case." The Minister stood, obviously expecting Harry to leave the room. But Harry didn't budge. He crossed his arms and glanced at Freya, looking for her support in the matter. And he had it.
"Minister, whatever you tell me now, I will be telling to Harry later. You might as well tell us both right now." The Minister opened his mouth to argue, then glanced at Harry once more before letting out a sigh, and a returning to his seat.
"Very well. What we have uncovered about your kidnapping is not much, unfortunately. We don't have a motive, or any clear evidence on the group itself. We do know that they always appear in blood red robes, with their faces covered in white masks."
"The people who were my guards dresses like that." Freya confirmed.
"Good, than we know we are on the right track. At first we thought they might be connected to the case you were assigned on, the one involving rituals. And with the information you had already gathered before your kidnapping, we were able to find and capture the confirmed what he had brought him in for. But he seems to have lost his mind, and couldn't tell us more about the specifics. There is a certain amount of doubt whether the man was the ringleader. There is still the possibility that the two cases are related, but there is no evidence."
"And the people who captured Freya?" Harry prompted.
"Yes, well, like I said, we haven't found much. Do you happen to know where you were held. That couldn't help."
"I don't know..." Freya turned to Harry. She saw him with his eyes closed. Trying to remember. "Harry..."
"I... I'm not quite sure. When we were out of the dungeon, we were in a wooded area, but by the time I was out of the anti-apparition field, I was more worried about getting her away. But I would have to say we were more South than anything."
"How can you tell?"
"It was just a bit warmer. And just a general... feeling."
"Do you think you could apparate back there?" Freya watched as Harry shook his head slowly. The Minister sighed. "Very well." The Minister caught Freya's eyes. "Do you need more recovery time?"
"No." Freya said the same time that Harry insisted "Yes." Freya glared at him, and he glared right back. "I am fine Sir."
"Fine." Harry snorted. "She deserves at least another week of recouping."
"I do not!"
Harry imitated Malfoy with a single eyebrow lifting. Freya crossed her arms, she felt fine. "Why are you so pale right now then?"
Freya shook her head. "It's the lighting."
"And why are you sweating lightly?"
"It's warm in here."
"A week sounds perfectly acceptable." The Minister broke in. Freya turned her glare to the man. He merely shrugged. "I was going to suggest it in the first place."
"But I want to figure this out!" Freya growled, the need to find and punish her captors flooding her system. She was drawn out of her anger, by Harry's hand tightening around hers. Glancing at him, she felt her anger temporarily dissipate. "Fine. But I want the file for the week."
Freya watched at the Minister looked to Harry for his permission, and if it had been anyone other than Harry she would have been pissed. "I agree with her. We should look at the file over the week." Freya smiled at him, before turning to the Minister. The man looked frustrated, obviously having hoped Harry would side with him, before he grudgingly picked a file up from his desk and handed it over.
"Just do me a favor. If you make a breakthrough don't go charging off on your own. Come and tell me." Freya nodded her head, already knowing that she would break the rule at some point. Simply because with Harry at her side, she wasn't technically going off on her own. Harry and the MInister stood at the same time, and Freya stood up moments later. "Well Freya, Mr. Potter." The Minister shook their hands. "I will owl you if anything else come up."
Harry grabbed Freya's hand once more and pulled her through the door. Freya found all eyes on them as they began to walk back toward the main office. But the sound of someone calling Freya's name had them both turning. Freya felt a relieved smile fill her face as Ron walked close to them. The three of them traded pleasantries for a few minutes before Freya and Harry promised to have dinner with him and Hermione in a few days.
The two of them soon arrived in Freya's kitchen, and were immediately aware of the large owl sitting at the table. Freya recognized it as Malfoy's owl and went to retrieve the letter it held.
Dear Potter,
I need to have you come in for a check up. I know you don't
trust St. Mungos, so I will need you to come here to make sure that
all is well. Please respond with your availability for tomorrow so that
we may schedule appropriately.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
PS: You are welcome to bring your twin if you need to.
