Chapter Thirty-Five
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does and unfortunately I am not her. However, I do own the OCs and the Guardian Program and the other things that being a Guardian entails.
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.
Warning: This chapter contains death, torture and suicide
Enjoy!
HARRY POTTER
The next morning
Freya and James were back in the Room of Requirements. This time, the room looked exactly like James' bedroom back home with his parents. They had decided to sleep in the ROR that night so they could spend some time with each other and not have to worry about anyone discovering them. Freya and James were lying together in the bed, snuggled up to one another. They were both facing each other and Freya's head was tucked into James' neck and his arms were wrapped around her. His head was resting on top of hers and by far, this was the best thing ever to him and Freya was thinking the same thing. Originally, Freya had been sceptical about sharing a bed because she wasn't used to it, but she found that she didn't mind it.
James groaned as he woke up, snuggling into Freya's hair more. This immediately woke Freya up as she was still a light sleeper.
"Morning," Freya whispered softly, her voice still hoarse from sleep.
James opened his hazel eyes and looked down, "Morning, wifey." James said with a wide grin.
Freya flushed red slightly, still not used to the nickname he had given her ever since finding out their souls were bound. "Stop that."
"Never." James fired back with a smirk.
Freya groaned loudly and tried to roll away from James, but he wouldn't let her as he just tightened his grip around her waist. Freya turned her head and glared at him and James just replied back with a cheeky grin. Eventually, Freya rolled her eyes and relaxed back into James' arms. He would just annoy her more if she got out of bed now. James happily snuggled back into bed with her and let out a content sigh.
They laid there for a few moments in silence.
"We're going to have to stop this soon," Freya sighed with a sigh in her tone.
James frowned and looked down, "What do you mean?"
Freya looked up at him so she was looking at him. "Easter Break is nearly over. Once everyone comes back, you're going to have to pretend that you don't see me." She answered back with a heavy heart. Freya had really enjoyed the past two weeks but it was nearly over. Tomorrow, everyone would be coming back from Easter Break and they couldn't risk getting caught. But the time they had spent together was something Freya would always treasure. It was nice that they didn't have to sneak around so much.
James' frowned deepened. "But, what is this?" James asked, pointing to both himself and Freya. They hadn't said exactly what they were to each other. In James' head, they were together but he just wanted to see if Freya thought the same thing.
Freya was silent for a moment. "What would you like us to be?" She asked quietly.
Smiling, James pulled her closer. "I would like us to be together. You know, boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Freya arched a brow and pulled away for a moment, "I thought you didn't do relationships?"
"When have I ever said that?" James asked, looking curious.
"Elizabeth Nene in the second year. Ria Parveen and Tia McMullan in the third year. Yasmin Brady in the fourth year. I could go on." Freya answered him back with ease. Usually, after James had spent with time with the girls, he would always cut them off before they wanted anything serious. However, there had been a few occasions were his flings would catch feelings for him. When that did happen, James would always just say that he didn't do relationships. That had been his moto for years.
James flushed red in embarrassment. "Y-you know of them?"
"All of them," Freya smirked.
Mentally, James cursed himself in his head. No one had called him out on his flings and it was actually rather embarrassing. James took a moment to compose himself and allowed him to think before he spoke. "You're different Freya. I don't want to have a fling. I want more than that. I want a relationship with you." James said back honestly. The thought of having to ignore Freya and pretend that she didn't exist was going to be hard and it made his heart hurt.
Freya's eyes widened as her own heart fluttered. She had never heard him say anything as softly and sincerely as that. It made her feel happy – she felt like a child in a Honey Ducks.
"James… I want that too." Freya admitted slowly.
James looked down at her and smiled.
"But it's not going to be easy," Freya warned him with a severe look. "If we do this, we're going to have to sneak around and make sure no one sees us."
James' eyes lit up at the challenge.
"And you can't tell anyone about us." Freya finished, very serious about the last rule. The last thing she needed was a rumour about James seeing someone. It was would make all the other Guardians curious and she didn't want any curious eyes on herself or James.
Nodding his head, James replied. "Your wish is my command." James grinned down at Freya cheekily. Everything she had said didn't both him in the slightest. He had known getting with Freya wasn't going to be easy but Freya was worth it in his eyes.
HARRY POTTER
Later that day
Freya had been summoned to Lance's mansion and to say she was looking forward to it would be a lie. Originally, she hadn't wanted to go but she knew she had to otherwise Lance wouldn't have been happy. It would have been possible for him to come looking for her and she didn't want that because it wouldn't end well. James hadn't wanted her to go either, he didn't like the thought of Freya being anywhere near the man – it made his blood boil. James had never hated anyone until he met and heard about Lance Johnson. It made Freya's heart flutter to see his protective side – she found it rather attractive and she had told him so and it made James a blushing mess.
Dressed in plain black robes, Freya travelled to Lance's mansion by Floo and she made her way to his office. Freya could feel his magical signature in his office so she followed that. Freya could also feel another magical signature in his office that belonged to Amy but she didn't question it. Within minutes she was outside his office and she knocked loudly.
"Enter!" Lance shouted.
Freya opened the door and stepped inside. When she did, her eyes nearly widened with the sight in front of her. Freya had been right when she recognised Amy's magical signature and Amy was present, but Amy was tied down in a chair and she looked downright terrified.
Lance turned to look at Freya and smiled. "Ah Freya, just in time."
Wordlessly, Freya closed the door behind her and walked further into the office. She looked at Amy and saw the terrified expression on her face – she was shaking and sweating. Freya's eyes zeroed in on Amy's stomach that was protruding and it made Freya nearly gasp. Amy was pregnant. Suddenly, it all clicked in her mind. Amy had been found out to be pregnant by Lance and now Amy was paying the consequences. But that didn't fully explain why Freya had to be present – maybe there was something else that Freya didn't know about. All Freya knew was that she was there was for an audience and Lance wanted to make a show of Amy.
"I'm so sorry…" Amy sobbed as the tears streamed down her face.
"Shut up!" Lance screamed at Amy. "Crucio!"
Amy shrieked in pain as she withered in her chair. The screams lasted for a few moments until Lance stopped his torture, letting the Guardian rest for a moment.
Freya watched this all. Behind her 'mask', Freya was feeling nervous for Amy – Lance finding out she was pregnant was not going to end well. Freya knew that Lance wouldn't take Amy's betrayal well as she had been one of his most loyal and longest Guardians Lance ever had. Herself, Amy and Logan were the longest lasting Guardians but it appeared they were going to lose Amy.
Lance turned to face Freya, "Did you know about this?" He demanded, but his voice softer than before.
Freya shook her head, "I did not." She answered honestly. Freya hadn't seen Amy in a while anyway as they were both busy. The last time that Freya had seen Amy was at Lance's Christmas Party and that was four months ago.
Lance nodded his head and turned back to face the older Guardian. "But that's not your only crime, is it?" Lance asked in a condescending tone.
Amy gulped as her eyes were glued to the ground.
It took everything inside Freya not to ask what was going on. For once in her life, Freya felt extremely confused on what was going on. Originally, Freya thought the only issue was that Amy was pregnant – and it made Freya curious to know who the father was. But now Amy was guilty of something else made Freya want to speak out and ask, but Freya wasn't going to risk getting reprimanded. Instead, she would wait for Lance to explain.
Lance walked closer to Amy and got in her face. "You think I wouldn't find out, you traitor?!" Lance yelled out, his spit flying onto Amy's face.
"I'm so sorry," Amy whispered again, not looking Lance or Freya in the eyes.
Lance moved away from Amy and began to pace around the room. He was extremely agitated and on edge. "You were one of my best Guardians and this is how you repay me?!" He yelled out, glaring at Amy in anger.
Amy recoiled back in her chair.
Freya watched this with a critical eye.
"How dare you join a group that is set out to destroy me?! You ungrateful little brat!" Lance yelled out once more. He lifted his wand again and pointed it at Amy, "Crucio!"
Amy screamed in pain, her head thrown back in agony.
Lance only stopped his torture after a minute this time and that's when Amy sagged in her chair, exhausted and tired from the torture.
Freya was thankful that Lance wasn't facing her because this time she couldn't conceal her facial expressions. Freya's eyes widened and her jaw dropped a jar. This was news to her. Freya had no idea that was someone else trying to bring Lance down, let alone knowing that Amy was part of this group. Quickly, Freya schooled her facial expressions, not wanting Lance to see her caught off guard in the slightest.
Gasping for air, Amy looked up with a spark in her eyes, "You're a monster. Using children and killing them off like they don't matter! I am surprised one wasn't set up sooner!" Amy yelled back, her tears turning to angry tears as her magic pulsed in her eyes.
Lance's gaze turned icy as he raised his left hand and backhanded Amy with full force. Amy's head snapped to the right with so much force that she was nearly knocked down with the chair. Amy groaned as she felt the burning of her cheek but it was so satisfying to finally say what she thought about Lance to his face.
Freya silently cheered for Amy in her head, her own shields up in an instant. She didn't want Lance knowing what she truly thought.
"Who else has joined that group?" Lance asked after a few moments of silence. He needed a moment to himself to compose himself.
Amy smirked and held her head up high in defiance. "More than you know." She was only allowed to know a certain number of members as a precaution, but Amy knew that there were loads of them. Amy just didn't know the exact amount.
"Are there any other Guardians there?" Lance demanded with a dark expression.
Amy fell silent, her eyes darted down to her stomach for a split second but it wasn't even noticeable. Lance hadn't even picked up on this movement.
Freya's own eyes narrowed as she picked this up. Freya deduced that whoever the father of her baby was, was also part of this group. It did make Freya wonder who else was part of this group and she wondered if she would know any of them.
"Well?!" Lance demanded, raising his wand as a warning.
"No, there are no other Guardians in that group," Amy said with a sigh of her tone as she chewed on her bottom lip.
Freya narrowed her eyes. Freya had been around Amy enough to know her habits and biting her lip when she was lying was one of them. Amy was lying, there were other Guardians included in that group.
However, Lance appeared to believe her. "Where are you cockroaches based?" He demanded with a glare, his wand still in hand.
Amy gulped, fear in her eyes as she stared at his wand. "I don't know. Our location moves every time, we have to be invited to attend any meetings to meet others." Any meetings that took place needed an invitation that acted as the Portkey. Only the leader sent those out and not all the members got to attend every meeting, they were very secretive and off the radar as they could be. Amy hadn't even known about it until she was sent one herself and every time it was in a different location – never the same place twice.
Lance turned to face Freya, "Do you think she is telling the truth?"
Freya nodded her head, "Yes, I do." Freya knew that Amy wasn't lying about this, Amy was telling the truth this time. Lance didn't need to know about the other times Amy had lied.
Slowly, Lance nodded his head in agreement. "I believe so too. Now, what are you called?" Lance asked, looking back to Amy.
Amy gulped, "We don't have a name."
Lance scoffed, "How typical. Let me guess, couldn't think of a name?" Lance asked, his voice dripping in sarcasm.
Amy said nothing.
"The last question," Lance said, his voice lowering, "Who is the father?" He asked, looking down at Amy's growing stomach.
Freya looked at Amy, also wanting to know the answer.
Amy's lip quivered. "It's Logan's."
Freya nearly snarled at the answer. Of all the people for Amy to sleep with, she chose Logan of all people. Freya hated Logan with a passion and knowing that he had helped Amy get into this mess made her even angrier with him.
"Thank you." Lance said before raising his wand, "Avada Kedavra!" A green light shot out from his wand and hit Amy square in the chest.
Amy's head flopped forward, lifeless.
Freya watched Amy for a moment, feeling a moment of sadness. Amy had been there for Freya when Lydia had been killed. Freya had seen Amy has a sister but they had drifted apart as time went on because of how busy they were. Freya wished that she had spent more time with Amy now but it was too late.
"Freya," Lance said suddenly, his back still turned to her.
Freya stood up straight, "Yes?"
"Bring Logan up from the cells. He is in the east wing, first cell." Lance ordered, his tone made of steel.
Freya nodded her head, "Of course." Without another word, Freya turned around and left the office and ventured down to Lance's prison cells.
Lance turned back to the lifeless body of Amy. Now he had to get rid of the body. Using his magic, he lifted the body and levitated it over to him. Walking over to the wall, he pulled on a metal bar and opened it. It revealed a metal vent that led down to his incinerator. Using magic, he levitated Amy's body into the shoot and watched it slide down with a blank expression. When he couldn't see the body anymore, he closed the vent.
HARRY POTTER
The prison cells in Lance's mansion were far beneath the ground. There was magic in the walls so no magic could be used unless Lance allowed it and no one could Apparate in or out. It was cold, damp and pitch black if it wasn't for the lanterns that hung on the walls. The hallways were completely quiet if it wasn't for the sound of Freya walking. There were four rows of cells underneath Lance's mansion – the north, east, south and west wing. Each wing contained around ten cells and most of them weren't used – only when Lance was feeling particularly sadistic.
Freya had been down in the cells before. Lance had proudly shown them off to herself and her parents. Vivienne had been ecstatic about them and had raved that she wanted some of her own, but Rupert wouldn't let her. Freya hated the cells in Lance's mansion, they were creepy and they unnerved her. Freya didn't know if there were actually anyone else in the cells – usually, people never lived long enough for them to be put into cells as Lance tended to just kill people immediately.
It didn't take long before Freya made it to Logan's cell. The east wing doors were completely covered and the only way to look into the cell was the small glass window. Freya walked over to the door and peered into the cell.
Freya's eyes widened at what she saw.
Logan was hanging from the ceiling with a piece of rope wrapped around his neck. He had wrapped it around his neck and attached the other end to the metal bar in the room. His face was paper white, his eyes were closed and the head was hanging. His chest wasn't moving, indicating that he wasn't breathing. From where Freya was standing, Logan looked dead but she needed to confirm this. Freya opened the door and stepped in. She listened in for a moment and couldn't hear any breathing either. She stepped closer and grabbed his wrist, noting that his skin felt icy to the touch. Freya began trying to feel for a pulse but found none. She checked the other wrist but was met with the same result.
Logan was dead and he had been dead for some time now.
Letting go of his wrist, Freya walked out of the cell without a word. She was going to have to report this to Lance and inform him of what she saw.
When Freya had seen him dead, she was shocked. But after that, Freya didn't feel anything. If anything, she felt annoyed that Lance hadn't got to him first. Freya would have liked to see him suffer just like Amy had.
Just as she was about to pass the north wing, she heard a wheezy snoring sound and it made Freya stop walking. She turned her head down the north wing and waited for the sound to again. Within seconds, more wheezy snores were heard but they sounded pained. Slowly, Freya began walking towards the sounds, a bubble of nerves appeared in her chest. If Lance caught her going anywhere other than the east wing then she would be punished but she was far too curious. She probably wouldn't get this chance again in a long time. Freya stopped when she came to a corner and two more cells were around the corner. The moans of pain were coming from around the corner, very close to it. Freya pressed her back to the wall and peaked over the slightest amount. In the north wing, the doors were more exposed and looked like normal metal bars. However, if anyone touched the bars then it would drain the person of their magic. Due to the doors exposing more, Freya was easily able to see inside all of the cells.
There were two cells that were being occupied by two girls that were younger than Freya. They were both on the ground and appeared to be sleeping. When Freya saw them, her eyes widened as she recognised them.
They were Caitlin Finnegan and Gretchen Thomas.
Freya knew that she had to get out before she was seen by them or Lance. She had already been down there for too long now. Turning around, Freya sped walked back to Lance's office in hopes of him not noticing she had been gone too long.
Within minutes, Freya was back outside Lance office. She took a moment to herself to compose herself before knocking on the door.
"Enter!" Lance shouted.
Freya opened the door and stepped inside. Lance was behind his desk once more and there was no sign of Amy's body around. It was like she was never there, even the chair that Lance had used to hold Amy wasn't there anymore.
Lance looked up. "Where is Logan?" He asked, frowning when he didn't see the other traitor.
"Logan is dead," Freya answered him, "He hung himself with a piece of rope. I wanted to get further instructions before doing anything." Freya said robotically. Lance didn't like any sign of free will so she knew this would please him.
It worked.
Lance smiled at her, "Diligent as always. That's fine, I will deal with the body." Lance said in a dismissive manner.
Freya nodded her head in understanding.
Suddenly, Lance chuckled. "So the coward did it then," Lance said, leaning back in his chair.
Freya said nothing, but she was feeling confused. She didn't know what Lance was referring too, all she knew was that he was talking about Logan.
Lance smiled, "I already knew that Logan was the father. One of the neonatal nurses saw them together and reported it to me after she eavesdropped in on their conversation. Before speaking with Amy, I gave Logan a choice – either I killed him and I might spare Amy or he killed himself and I would kill Amy. I just gave him the rope. He made the decision all on his own. I also had no intentions of sparing Amy, but I wanted to see who was more important to him." He said while laughing some more.
Freya made no indication that this affected her, but it did. Hearing this made Freya feel even more annoyed with Logan and her hatred for him burned brightly. Logan had been willing to risk Amy's life for his own – he had cared more about himself than Amy or his unborn baby.
"Freya, come here," Lance said, motioning her forward.
Walking forward, Freya stopped when she came to his desk. Once she was close enough, Lance grabbed her hands and pulled her closer, so close that his desk was digging into her hips.
"You would never betray me, would you Freya?" Lance asked, a sliver of vulnerability in his icy blue eyes.
Freya shook her head, "I would never." Her shields were up to the highest they had ever been. He could never know that she would throw him to the fire if the chance ever arose. Lance could never know how much she hated him with a passion and hoped that he would die a painful death.
Lance smiled. "Who are you loyal to?" He asked once more.
"You and only you," Freya answered back immediately. If she wanted to stay alive then this was her only option, even if the words did burn on her tongue. Just saying those words make her want to vomit. However, Freya thought of James. Knowing that she could go back to him at the end of this was her motivation for staying alive.
Sighing in relief, Lance let go of her hands.
For a moment, no one said a thing. Freya kept her gaze trained on the wall behind Lance and he appeared to be in his own little world.
After a few more moments of awkward silence, Lance spoke up. "I have done so much for the Guardians. I have sacrificed so much and done terrible things. Terrible things that I am not proud of." Lance began to speak, bringing his hand up to caress his beard.
Freya said nothing.
Lance chuckled hollowly, "You know, Kingsley wanted to shut the Guardian Program down around nine months ago and I had to argue with him. I pleaded with him and begged him." Lance hissed out, anger in his tone. One thing Lance hated the most was begging – it was beneath him.
Hearing this made Freya's stomach flutter with nerves.
"He said that we haven't found any leads for Voldemort's spawn in years and he said we were wasting resources," Lance said, a vicious gleam in his eyes.
Mentally, Freya agreed with Kingsley. They didn't have any solid leads because Voldemort didn't have a spawn – her sister had told her so. But if Kingsley knew the truth then he would have shut this down ages ago.
Lance continued, "If anyone found out what I had done, I would be killed immediately." Lance laughed humourlessly.
Freya said nothing but she silently agreed with his statement.
Looking up, Lance appeared to snap out of the daze he was in. "Leave." He said in a dismissive manner.
Without another word, Freya gladly left Lance's mansion.
HARRY POTTER
James was sitting on the ROR, waiting for Freya come back. Ever since she had left, he had been extremely worried. He hated it whenever Freya would have to go and see Lance because it never ended well and it always made him feel like his heart was going to give out from anxiety and stress. He was sitting on the bed, reading through Lydia's diary once more because he wanted to make sure that he remembered this information for when the time comes for him to speak with his dad. James has torn away from his thoughts when he heard the door open and Freya stood there.
"Hey Freya," James said with a smile.
Freya stared at him for a moment before diving into the room. She jumped into the bed and immediately latched herself onto the James, wrapping her arms around him and hiding her head in his chest.
James frowned, feeling very worried as Freya had never done this before – though their relationship was still very new. "Freya, what's wrong."
"Can you just hold me for a moment?" Freya asked quietly.
James' heart clenched at this and he nodded his head, "Of course." He said, dropping the diary to wrap his arms around Freya. He held her close to him, turning his body so that they were cuddling while laying down on the bed.
Freya sighed in relief as she felt her body relax. This was exactly what she needed after the day she'd had. Usually, if something like this happened then she would isolate herself and think over everything that had happened but she didn't have to do that this time around.
They laid in silence for a while, both just really enjoying each other's company. Now that James had Freya back in his arms, James felt himself relax. He had been tense all day, worried for what Freya would have to endure and it appeared his gut was right. Unconsciously, James began to stroke Freya's dark hair. Freya sighed in content and let all the stress of the day leave her.
"He killed two more Guardians," Freya admitted quietly.
James' hand stopped for a moment before continuing. He was letting Freya decide when she wanted to talk and he would be there to listen when she was ready.
"I have known them for years. Logan was Teddy's Guardian and Amy was Victoire's Guardians. The oldest among us." Freya continued to speak quietly.
James pulled away for a moment and kissed Freya's head before going back to cuddling her.
"Amy was pregnant and he tortured her," Freya whispered softly.
James tensed at this. He had known that Lance killed children, but to realise that he would also kill a child that hadn't even been born yet made James see Lance in a worse light – if that was even possible.
"Logan was the father as well. Lance locked him away and gave him rope and Logan killed himself. I found the body." Freya explained.
"I'm so sorry you had to see that," James said, his grip around Freya tightening. If James had his way, he would hide Freya away from all of this. The fact that Freya had been exposed to all of this made James sick. But it also made him realise how strong Freya was because he knew that he could never deal with it.
Freya said nothing or a moment before she pulled away. She sat up in the bed and looked at James, noting the concerned look in his hazel eyes. "James, they're alive." She said quietly.
James sat up and looked confused, "Who?"
"Caitlin and Gretchen. They're being kept prisoner under Lance's mansion." Freya explained. She remembered it clearly. Both girls looked dirty – like they hadn't washed in months. They looked extremely pale and skinny like they weren't being fed properly. It was obvious that Lance wasn't taking care of them very well.
"What?" James' eyes widened at this. His family had grown up around the Finnegan's and Thomas' and when he heard they had gone missing, he and the rest of his family had been devastated. Lily had been especially worried about them.
Freya wet her lips before speaking. "Lance admitted he had done terrible things. He must have orchestrated the kidnappings and made them look like Death Eaters did them so his Department would stay open. He lied." Freya hissed out at the end, feeling angry. Kyle and Nina had died because of this because they didn't protect their charge – but it was all Lance's fault. Caitlin's disappearance had happened eight months ago, a month after Kingsley was wanting to shut down Lance's department. It was too much of a coincidence to not be true.
James held Freya's hand, "We need to tell my dad." James believed that this was the time that they told his dad. There was no way he could ignore this now.
Freya shook her head, "Not yet. He's already suspicious because Amy admitted to being part of a group focused on taking Lance down and Logan is now dead. If something happens, he'll know that it was me because I was the only one who has been there." She needed to make sure that Lance wouldn't suspect her and this would. Lance was on high alert mode because of two betrayals from Guardians he thought he could trust, another push so soon might be too much.
James sighed roughly as he flopped back down on the bed, frustrated.
"I know James, but we need to outsmart him," Freya said, laying back down with James. This time, she placed her head on his shoulder.
James frowned and looked up at the ceiling. "I just feel like he's been getting away with this for so long. We have all the information we need to take him down. Your friend's prophecy even saw it!"
"We'll figure it out," Freya reassured James, lacing her hand with his. Freya had told James about Ryan's vision one night. James convinced that the prophecy was talking about Freya, he knew that she was the only one who could bring Lance down.
James looked down at her and smiled. "Well if anyone can figure it out, it's definitely you," James said before kissing her forehead.
Freya smiled slightly before leaning up to kiss James on the lips – but only a quick peck.
James laughed and rolled himself round so now he was above Freya and was straddling her hips. "You call that a kiss?" He asked with an arched brow.
"Why don't you show me how it's done then?" Freya challenged him, mischief in her stormy grey eyes.
James smirked at the challenge – there was no way he was going pass this up. Eagerly, James pressed his lips onto hers. Freya sighed into the kiss as she ran her hands through James' wild hair, loving the feel of it.