Chapter Four
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does and unfortunately I am not her.
Summary: After the Second Wizarding War, a Guardian was given to each child of the main families that helped in the war. They were all tasked with a simple job, protect their allocated person with their life. Somehow, Freya screwed it up in the biggest way. She fell in love.
There are going to be a lot of OCs, but the focus is going to be on Freya.
Hope everyone is having a great Christmas!
HARRY POTTER
The next day
It was early Friday morning and the sun was only just rising. However, Freya was up and she wasn't the only ones that were. Freya stood in the edge of the Quidditch arena, watching James as he trained his team. As the new Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain, James was pushing his team extra hard, and that meant early morning training sessions. He was making all his team members try out and training them down to the bone. Even though all Quidditch matches was cancelled this year due to the upcoming Triwizard Tournament, that didn't stop James from ensuring that they all stayed in shape. Freya watched at the side-lines where she couldn't be seen, but she watched every interaction and read all their minds. Most of it consisted of annoyance at getting up this early.
James cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Now, run a lap around the field!" James shouted his order.
A chorus of groans was his response.
"Mate, can't we take it easy?" Fred asked, looking tired. Like his father and his namesake, he too was a Beater on the team.
James arched a brow at him, "Want to make it five laps?" He asked, his tone still playful but serious at the same time.
Immediately, Fred shook his head, not wanting to run even more laps around the field.
"Now get to it!" James yelled out, also running the lap with his team.
Lily looked severely unhappy but didn't back down. She wanted to prove herself as one of the team and pushed herself to follow her brother.
As Freya watched him, she couldn't help but feel impressed. His training methods were actually effective and for once James seemed serious. In all the years Freya had watched him, she had only seen him get serious about a few things. Quidditch, his pranks and his family. No one could get in the way of his Quidditch or pranks, and Eric already learned what happens when you mess with the Potters. Freya also watched the team. James was the Keeper on the team, Fred and Roxanne were the Beaters, as no one else could seem to keep up with Fred. Lily was the Seeker of the team – something that James didn't want as he didn't want his sister getting hurt – but she was extremely talented at it. The Chasers were a mix, one was Oliver Wood's child and the other two didn't have war hero parents. However, Freya saw that as fair. Freya knew that James would be under scrutiny for choosing his family members as his team and that's why he treated his family members more harshly and pushed them even harder than everyone else. It was to show everyone that he doesn't pick favourites.
Scowling to herself, Freya didn't see the appeal to Quidditch. Of course, being a Guardian she wasn't allowed to play it or the join the team. It was expected of the war hero's children to nearly all be into Quidditch. At first, Freya had resented it that she couldn't play, but she soon grew to dislike the sport anyway when she found out that she did excel at flying very much. Now, Freya just saw it as a hassle because it required a lot of effort keeping James safe during games.
Looking up briefly, Freya could see the other Guardians posted around the place. All of them watching their charge intently.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Freya turned her head and saw Ryan.
"What do you need?" Freya bluntly asked, knowing that Ryan didn't need to be here. Scorpius wasn't anywhere in sight.
Ryan looked to the ground, "You told Katrina." He said, his voice low.
Freya nodded her head, then looking back to James. He was now making everyone fly around the court and shouting at them if they got something wrong. It seemed a few of them were going too slow for James' liking.
"Why?" Ryan asked, looking up at her.
"She was going to find out anyway," Freya answered with ease. "Might as well find it out from me than someone else." She knew that if Katrina found out that she knew and hadn't told her, it wouldn't have gone down well.
Ryan remained silent.
Freya turned her head, "How is she?"
Sighing deeply, Ryan closed his eyes. "She's still hurt, but she starting to come round. Just give her time."
Freya nodded her head, not saying anything. Katrina had been off with her since last night and wouldn't speak to her when walking to the Dining Hall. However, Freya had fully anticipated this behaviour, Katrina had just found out that the guy she viewed as a brother had died.
"I'm worried though," Ryan said suddenly.
Freya turned her body to face him, giving him her full attention. "Katina will be fine." She said calmly.
Ryan shook his head, "Not about that. It's about the review and the Triwizard Tournament."
Freya frowned but nodded her head in understanding. This year definitely wasn't going to be an easy one at all. The Guardians knew that they needed to be alert when Durmstrang came – they didn't have a very good reputation, particularly with dark magic. They were also arriving later that day, which made all the Guardians unnerved. Then there is the review and no one knew who was going to be the first one.
"There is nothing we can do about it. We just need to sit tight." Freya said, glancing back at James every now and again. She didn't need to have such a high guard as there were so many other Guardians present. But that didn't mean she was slacking off in the slightest.
Ryan bit his lip and started playing with his hands. "I just have a really bad feeling." He admitted softly with a frown on his face.
Freya nodded her head, agreeing with him. She too had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. The only difference between her and Ryan was that she could hide it better.
"What do you think he'll review?" Ryan asked suddenly.
Freya looked at Ryan, her brow arched.
Ryan flushed for a moment before regaining his composure. "Your family is quite close to Lance, I was just hoping you may know…" His voice trailed off, and his eyes averted to the ground. Ryan knew how much Freya disliked Lance and that's why he was reluctant to ask.
Freya sneered at the mention of Lance Johnson. Her family was close to Lance, extremely close. So close that Freya felt uncomfortable. Her mother was a very big fan of his and her father was Lance's friend during their Hogwarts days when they were young. Lance would often come to their house and have dinner with them, something Freya hated with a passion, but she was never allowed to say anything negative. If she did anything her mother disliked, she would be punished for it severely.
But Freya did give it some thought. "Lance could test us on anything. But his biggest thing would be loyalty." Freya said, remembering how Lance would always question her on who she was loyal too. Lance believed that the Guardians should follow his every word, he didn't like free will. Hence why he gave all the Guardians a mark on their necks.
Ryan frowned, and his eyes widened.
Freya looked around before getting her wand out. "Silencio," Freya whispered, allowing her and Ryan to speak while not being listened into.
"You're going to have to curb that hatred you have for him," Freya warned, but there was an understanding there.
Ryan sighed deeply, running his hands through his hair. "I know. But he killed Kyle. I can't just forget that." His voice became thick with emotion and his fists began to clench.
Freya observed Ryan for a while. She had known for a long time that Ryan was, in fact, gay and was in love with Kyle. However, Kyle was not gay. Ryan had kept his feelings a secret along with his sexuality. Freya knew his parents and they would not accept him if he came out to them. His mother would probably come to accept it, but his father definitely would not.
"You don't have to. You just need to use that as motivation to not end up like him." Freya replied back, a hollow look in her eyes. She knew that from experience. She couldn't hate Lance out in the open, but she could hate him from the inside. However, Lance was also a skilled Legilimency but what he didn't know what that Freya was skilled at Occlumency.
Ryan looked up at her, "…Have you lost someone too?" He asked, hesitation in his tone.
Freya said nothing.
However, Ryan seemed to understand. "Does it get easier?" He asked, willing himself not to cry. This was the first time he had lost someone to close to him and who he cared about.
"Eventually." Freya lied with ease. She had always been good at lying, it was as easy as breathing to her.
Ryan sighed in relief.
Freya looked up at the sky and saw that the sun rising even more. She looked over to James and his team and sees them packing away.
"Time to go," Freya said, cancelling the spell.
HARRY POTTER
Later that day
Everyone stood on the Great Hall, waiting for the boys of Durmstrang to make their entrance. They had been scheduled to arrive first while the Beauxbatons will be arriving moments later by being 'fashionably late'. McGonagall and all the other professors were making a fuss over all the students, making sure that they were presentable. Freya was watching James even closer than before. There was something about the large grin on his face that didn't settle well with Freya. Cordelia also seemed to be worried too, but that was because Fred also seemed to be looking very happy with himself. Freya knew that if both of them looked smug, then something was definitely about to go wrong.
Just then, the doors to the Main Hall slammed open with a huge force. In front was a man who looked rough. He was tall and intimidating, with dark bearded and dark eyes. He had no hair, but his head was covered by a furred hat. He wore a long black fur coat that reached the floor and black heavy boots. In his hand was a large staff, that he was using to hit the ground, making sparks fly as it met the ground. Behind the man came an army of Durmstrang boys. All of them were tall, large and bulky. They were all draped in long fur coats and hats. Each one of them also had a staff and were also using it to hit the ground with.
McGonagall stepped down to the small stairs to greet them. "Vladimir Fisker. I hope the trip was eventful." She said, keeping her voice even.
If Freya hadn't of known McGonagall as well as she did, she wouldn't have seen anything wrong with this interaction. But Freya did know McGonagall well. She knew that McGonagall didn't like Vladimir, she was too tense around him. But that was understandable. Freya had heard how Vladimir had been under investigation for the use of dark magic on muggles, but nothing was ever proven.
Vladimir grunted while looking around the room. "It was boring." He replied in a rough, thick Russian voice.
McGonagall nodded her head and showed him his seat. Vladimir would be sitting with all the other professors, but on the end, near Hagrid. The Durmstrang students would be sitting with the Hufflepuffs – who looked very nervous, to say the least.
James leaned over and whispered in Fred's ear, which caught the attention of Freya. She turned her head and saw James with his wand out but discreetly hidden underneath the table.
Sighing silently, Freya concentrated and used her Legilimency.
'Let's give those them all something to remember Hogwarts by.' James thought to himself, looking very smug.
Freya instantly left James' head. She could never stay too long in his head. James was actually a lot smarter than people gave him credit. When Freya had been younger, she had made the mistake of staying in James' mind too long, and he had noticed. He had looked around the class, looking for the person who had tried to invade his mind. If Freya didn't have the necklace that helped to make her practically invisible or she would have been caught. But she had learned from her mistakes and knew never to overstay her welcome in his mind.
Taking her own wand out, Freya waited.
Feeling movement above her, Freya looked up and saw multiple dung bombs floating. There was an invisibility charm on them, but it had flickered briefly, giving Freya enough time to see. In an instant, Freya knew that Fred was behind the invisibility charm as that was his best charm.
Freya delicately moved her wand as she diffused each and every bomb. There weren't that many of them, only thirty – which was a small number when it came to James and Fred's pranks. Usually, Freya didn't get involved with their pranks, she usually let them be. But, she couldn't this time. If those two pranked the Durmstrang boys, they would be making enemies. That would be making more work for her and Cordelia later.
Only a few moments later – when Freya was done diffusing the bombs – the Beauxbatons arrived.
In all honesty, Freya smelt them before she saw them. A flowery scent invaded Freya's senses, almost making her sneeze.
A woman stood before the Beauxbatons students. She was tall and looked very beautiful. She had short blonde hair and blue eyes. Her skin was pale and there didn't seem to be any trace of imperfection about her. She was wearing white fur with sapphires decorating her neck and long bony fingers. Behind her stood the boys and girls from Beauxbatons. They were all dressed in beautifully made satin gowns and pants – all a delicate shade of blue. Each one of them had hats that covered half their faces from everyone. They all seemed to wear furs, ranging from a multitude of colours. But, from what Freya could see, they were all beautiful people.
However, Freya wasn't looking at their beauty, she was looking for Louis' Guardian – Noah Bernard. Fleur had wanted at least one of her children to go to Beauxbatons, and Louis wanted to go. His other two siblings only ever wanted to go to Hogwarts, but Louis wanted to be a little different.
McGonagall stepped down once more, this time a warmer look in her eyes. "Renée La Blanc, how lovely to see you again." She said a small smile on her face.
Madame Renée nodded her head, smiling. "Oui, it is lovely to see you too, McGonagall." She said, her thick French accent very noticeable.
McGonagall nodded and motions for Renée to sit at the professor's table at the front of the hall, on the opposite side from Vladimir. The Beauxbatons students were then motioned to sit at the Gryffindor table.
James' eyes lit up when the Beauxbatons girls sat down at his table.
Freya rolled her eyes, of course, he'd be happy.
Once all the students were seated, and the feast began, Fred and James waved their wands discreetly. However, nothing happened. No dung bombs falling or scream from anybody.
"Fred, what's happened?" James whispered lowly to his friend with frustration in his tone. Their pranks always went off flawlessly, so this was definitely something new.
Fred shook his head. "I've got no idea mate. It should have worked perfectly." He whispered back, looking just as frustrated.
Freya smirked to herself and puts her wand away.
McGonagall looked around the room, as she stood once more. The feast momentarily stopped, everyone attention was now on her.
"Now with every present, I can now formally announce that we will be hosting the Triwizard Tournament. I, Madame Renée and Professor Vladimir will be the judges of this tournament, along with two others from the Ministry." McGonagall explained, her voice echoing through the entire all.
There were cheers, mainly from Durmstrang.
McGonagall cleared her throat, commanding attention. "There will be four challenges that will be spread throughout the year. These challenges are meant to test you on your magical prowess and how to cope with danger. However, this tournament will be different." She stopped, leaving a very ominous pause.
This got every Guardian's attention.
"This tournament will be different for one reason. The reason is that there will be two people from every school entering. That means each school has two chances to win the cup. One is called a Champion and the other is a Shield." McGonagall said, her old eyes sweeping the room, looking at each and every one of the Guardians.
Freya's eyes widened as she felt her insides freeze. That would mean the chances of a Guardian's charge entering the tournament had just doubled.
There was a low murmur in the hall, everyone was abuzz over this news.
"The Champion entering must be of age. No one under seventeen years old may enter this tournament. The Champion will be chosen by an impartial selector, which is the Goblet of Fire. That is not the case for the Shield, they have to volunteer. More information will be given as the time draws closer." McGonagall said with an unhappy expression.
McGonagall turned around and tapped her wand three times on the casket that was close to the podium. The lid creaked open slowly and McGonagall reached inside it. She pulled out a large wooden cup that was engulfed in blue flames. Carefully, McGonagall closes the casket and places the cup on top of it so everyone in the Hall could see it.
"If anyone wishes to enter, write your name on a piece of parchment and drop it into the fire. In one week, we will find out who the Champions and Shields will be. However, an age line will be placed around the Goblet." McGonagall explained, looking out at everyone as she spoke.
"A word of caution. Once your name is placed into the Goblet, you cannot back out if your name is called. If selected, you will be bound by a magical contract, so be certain." McGonagall explained, her Scottish voice sounding grim.
Cordelia turned to Freya. "This means none of them could end up competing." She said with a sigh of relief in her tone.
Freya looked at her. "Don't be so sure about that." Turning her head, Freya gouges James' reaction. But she was surprised at what she was seeing.
James looked afraid. He looked genuinely afraid along with the rest of his family.
Freya had watched James for years – five years to be exact – and she had never once seen him afraid of anything. James was brave, he always faced every challenge with a smirk, even when he had his first game of Quidditch when he was eleven years old – much like his father. However, even when James was afraid, he never showed it.
A sharp tug snapped Freya out of her thoughts. Turning her head back to Cordelia, she saw a large owl flying into Hogwarts, one that Freya recognised instantly. No other student would recognise it because this owl always slipped in with all the other owls delivering mail at this time, but every Guardian is taught to recognise this bird on sight. That was because that owl belonged to Lance Johnson. It was a great horned owl called Atlas, it was very vicious and snapped at anyone that came near it – all but Lance.
If any Guardian was talking, it immediately ceased when this bird flew into Hogwarts. Even McGonagall had stopped talking. She was glaring at the bird – she hated anything relating to Lance Johnson coming into this castle and that included his bird.
Atlas landed in front of Freya, a pristine white letter in its mouth. It seemed to be glaring at Freya with its large eyes.
Freya sneered at the bird and snatched the letter from its beak before it could snap at her fingers. She had made that mistake in her first year by trying to pet it. She had nearly lost a finger that day, but an older Guardian had snatched her hand away just in time.
Atlas glared at Freya once more before flying away along with all of the other owls.
Looking at the letter, Freya could see it had the Guardian's symbol on it and it was addressed to her. Wordlessly, Freya opens the letter.
Dear Miss Freya Louise Williams,
By order of Lance Johnson, you must attend a meeting in the Ministry of Guardians. There, your status as a Guardian will be discussed and reviewed.
You are to arrive at 11:00 am tomorrow. Tardiness will not be accepted and will be punished in late.
Burn this letter after reading it.
Yours sincerely,
Eva Lamb.
HARRY POTTER
Hello everyone!
Just a heads up, I cannot right accents. I absolutely stink at them. So just for the sake of my sanity I will be writing them as I did in this chapter. That includes Hagrid too by the way.
I also want to thank pullynnhah and TheLadyMuse for leaving me reviews!