Chapter Forty-Three
Disclaimer: 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.
Enjoy!
HARRY POTTER
Harry, Draco, and Freya soon arrived back in the Ministry and immediately headed to the medical ward. Harry burst into the room with Caitlin in his arms. "I need a Healer, now!" He shouted his order, darting into the room, and placing Caitlin on one of the spare beds. Draco quickly followed after Harry, also placing Gretchen on another spare bed. Both of them knew that they needed to be seen by medical professionals and Harry didn't like how shallowly Caitlin was breathing at the moment. Draco was just as worried about how light Gretchen felt in his arms and how cold she felt. It had been a tense journey, both Auror silently hoping that the two girls hung on enough for them to make it back to the Ministry. Freya had followed behind them silently, not saying anything.
Hermione rushed over concern in her eyes. Hermione opened her mouth to question what was going on, but then her eyes landed on the two girls. She gasped at their conditions, appalled by what she was seeing. "We need a Healer, now!" She screamed out. The sheer smell of the girls had sent Hermione's stomach reeling and she nearly retched at the stench.
Freya walked into the room quietly, watching as two Healers rushed over to examine both Caitlin and Gretchen. She watched as the Healers frantically examined them, horror washing over their features when they saw how bad their conditions were. Freya knew that she should have felt a shred of remorse for Caitlin and Gretchen, but she found that she didn't. Freya knew that she couldn't have revealed where Caitlin and Gretchen were sooner because if she had, Lance would have immediately suspected her. Freya looked around the room, trying to see if James was in the room – hoping he was still in the room. When she saw James, Freya felt herself relax and she quickly made her way over to him.
"Are you okay?" James asked the minute he saw Freya. It had been torture not knowing what was happening, but he felt much better now that Freya was in his sight – and no longer in Lance's mansion. He and his Aunt Hermione had mostly played Exploding Snaps to pass the time – but only after Hermione had managed to finish writing those letters, and then doing all the other tasks on her list that she never told him about.
Not saying anything, Freya wrapped her arms around James' side and hide her head away in his neck. Only when she was in his arms, did she fully relax. James wrapped his arms around her, also not saying anything. He knew that she needed some time to come down from her experience. James wasn't going to push Freya to speak when she wasn't ready, and Freya was thankful for this. Seeing that the room was getting crowded, James gently guided himself and Freya to a far corner of the room, away from the commotion. Once on the other side of the room, Freya and James stayed there.
Harry and Draco stepped back, allowing the Healers to take over. There was nothing more they could do as they weren't trained and they would only get in the Healers way. Hermione also stood beside them, silently watching in horror as the Healers attempted to bring up the two girl's temperature and checking them for any external and internal wounds. Hermione watched as they had to bring in more Healers, the job too much for only two of them.
"We just got to Caitlin in time," Harry said grimly, knowing that if Caitlin had been left any longer, she wouldn't have survived.
Draco nodded his head in silent agreement.
Hermione looked to them, "What happened?" She asked in a low voice, still in disbelief about their condition.
"They had been left to rot," Draco said bluntly, not able to hide his disgust.
Harry shook his head, "If Lance wasn't already going down hard, he would certainly be going down for this alone," He could feel his body shaking in anger and disgust. How had Lance managed to stay under the radar for this long? Was he that blind that he didn't notice what was going on under his nose?
Hermione swallowed thickly, "Who is going to tell Seamus and Dean?" She asked, her voice low in apprehension.
The group fell silent, the only sounds in the room were the Healers speaking with one another, coordinating their care in the best and most precise way possible. They all knew that Seamus and Dean needed to be told that they had found their children, but Harry knew that Seamus would blow a gasket when he saw the condition of his daughter – the same with Dean. Harry, Hermione, and Draco all looked at one another, wondering which one would have to send the message. This was always the horrible part of the job, informing the family members of any injuries because of how emotional it could get. However, it was made even worse because they all knew Seamus and Dean on a personal level.
Draco sighed, "I suppose I better do it. Expecto Patronus!" Draco pointed his wand as a misty blue Peacock appeared in the room. It soon ran out of the room, intending to pass on the message to Seamus and then Dean. For a long time, Draco hadn't managed to summon a Patronus, but now he could. Draco had made new, happier memories for himself. One powerful memory for him was the birth of his son and that memory had never failed him.
Hermione looked at Harry and Draco, "How was she?" She asked, looking at James and Freya briefly. While they had been away, Hermione had been worried about Freya's emotional wellbeing. She knew that the journey back to Lance's mansion wasn't going to be easy on her.
"She was okay. Mostly guarded," Draco explained, also glancing at Freya.
Hermione nodded her head in understanding, knowing that this was Freya's way of coping with things. She would have been worried if Freya had done something differently, but she hadn't. Hermione knew that she and Harry had made the right decision in letting James stay, knowing that Freya would need him after going to Lance's mansion.
Just then, the doors to the medical bay swung open with force as two figures rushed into the room. There were two men, Seamus and Dean. Both of them looked rough, their clothes dishevelled as if they had been put on in a rush. Seamus looked worse than before. His hair wild and overgrown, his eyes sunken and gaunt and he appeared to be unhealthy thin for someone of his size. Dean was just as bad, his eyes bloodshot, his face aged with worry and his clothes massively unclean and too baggy on his build. They were the picture of worried parents of children who had been kidnapped.
"Where is Caitlin?!" Seamus shouted out, his gaunt eyes looking around the room.
"Gretchen?!" Dean shouted, worry in his dark eyes.
Harry and Draco walked over to the grieving parents so that they didn't interrupt the Healers. They both knew that the Healers needed to concentrate and were not above throwing them all out if they made too much noise.
When Seamus saw Harry, his form relaxed slightly. "Harry, what's going on?" He asked, looking desperate for answers. When he had received Draco's message, he had nearly been sick. It had been months since he had heard anything about his daughter's disappearance. He and his wife had been in bed, just lying there and not able to sleep. He hadn't been able to sleep properly since Caitlin's disappearance. His wife had wanted to come too, but she burst into tears and wanted to prepare the house for Caitlin's arrival, realising that they hadn't done any housework since her disappearance.
"We found her and Gretchen. They're not in a good state at the moment, and they're being treated." Harry explained as calmly as possible. He knew how stressful this situation was going to become when they heard the details, it wasn't nice for anyone to hear.
Dean looked horror-stricken by his words, "What's happened to them? Are they okay?" Dean asked, panic in his voice. Like Seamus, he had heard nothing about his daughter in months and it had been killing him not knowing. He had tried finding Gretchen himself but to no avail. It was like his daughter had just disappeared out of thin air. His wife had practically become a vegetable since Gretchen's disappearance, not even able to function without his support as the grief consumed her. Dean hoped that by his daughter coming back, his wife would also come back.
Harry opened his mouth to tell them exactly what happened, but Harry found that he couldn't do it. He didn't want to cause them any more pain than had already been caused.
Glancing at him, Draco stepped forward. "When we found them, they weren't in good condition, Caitlin more so. Caitlin and Gretchen are both malnourished and hypothermic." Draco said, his voice low and calm. He had to deliver a lot of bad news in the past, so much so that it didn't faze him as much anymore.
Seamus turned to Draco and lunged for him, grabbing the collar of his shirt roughly, "Who did this?! Give me a name!" Seamus yelled, his face flushed red in anger.
Harry went to help Draco, but Hermione stepped in. "They were found in Lance Johnson's dungeons under his mansion," Hermione said gently, slowing prying Seamus' hands-off Draco. She knew how fiery Seamus' temper was and didn't want anyone to become a victim to his short fuse. Hermione knew that Seamus would be escorted out if he attacked Draco and then he wouldn't get the chance to see his daughter.
Dean's eyes widened, "Lance Johnson? Like, the Lance Johnson in the Ministry?" Dean had worked with Lance in the past and he could have never guessed that Lance would have kidnapped his daughter. It felt like a low blow because Lance had comforted him when he confided in him about his daughter's disappearance. Lance had given Dean his condolences and offered to support him in any way. At first, Dean had thought he was being generous, but now he didn't know what to feel at that moment. He almost didn't believe what Hermione had told him, but he knew that Hermione would never lie to him.
"I'll kill him!" Seamus exploded in anger, his face the brightest shade of red possible. His whole body was shaking in rage and his knuckles white. He looked deadly, feral, and wild. For months, Seamus had felt nothing – like a void had consumed his life and snuffed out the light. Similarly to Dean, Lance had also offered his condolences and had even visited their house. Seamus felt like he had been stabbed in the back, repeatedly and he felt murderous.
Just then, a Healer walked over to them and cleared her throat, getting their attention. "I take it you're the girl's fathers?" The Healer asked. She was a small frumpy woman with short dark hair and blue eyes. She was wearing the typical Healer's uniform, but hers looked slightly different, indicating that she was the Head Healer.
"Yes, how is Gretchen?" Dean said immediately, nearly running at the Healer, desperate to hear some news. Tears formed in his eyes, hoping that what the Healer was about to say was good news. Dean wasn't so sure that he couldn't handle any more bad news.
The Healer sent Dean a sympathetic look. "I am the Head Healer. I have checked over both girls personally. We have managed to get them out of the woods and they are no longer hypothermic. But I believe they need to be transferred to St Mungo's because they need to be under observation as the girl in the first bed needs more attention due to severe malnourishment. I am also concerned about their mental wellbeing, it seems as though they have been through a traumatic ordeal and St Mungo's would be able to provide that care." She turned her head slightly, gesturing to Caitlin's bed.
"Can they see their children?" Hermione asked, looking at Seamus and Dean in concern. She knew that this news would break them. But, she was happy to hear they were a little better than they arrived.
The Healer silently nodded her head.
Not needing to be told another time, Seamus dashed over to his daughter's side with Dean followed close behind to see his daughter. Harry, Draco, and Hermione watched in sadness as they saw Seamus burst into tears at the sight of his child, and as Dean silently wept by Gretchen.
Harry looked down at his watch, it was now four in the morning and there was still so much to do. "Has Kingsley been in touch?" Harry asked, looking to Hermione.
Hermione nodded her head, "He did. He said that the trial is set up for 11:30 am," As she spoke, she looked down at her watch and saw that they had seven and a half hours before the trial. She wasn't surprised that she wasn't tired either, she had taken a potion to keep her awake. She had tons of the potion hidden away in her office due to the long hours that she, Harry and Ron would work.
Draco arched a brow, "That was quick. Looks like he feels remorseful," He said, his tone scornful.
"Leave it, Draco." Harry sighed, feeling tired.
Rolling his eyes, Draco didn't say anything more on the matter. He too was tired, but he was hiding it much better than Harry was.
"What's the plan now?" Hermione asked. When Harry had left, he had asked her to gather more evidence, especially the documents that had been tampered with. Hermione had dug deep and now had a load of evidence just waiting to be presented to a jury. However, their key piece of evidence would be Freya's testimony as well as Caitlin and Gretchen.
Freya and James walked over, hand in hand. They had waited for the situation to calm down, only briefly glancing at the crying Seamus and Dean. Once closer, Freya looked to Harry. "What now?" She asked, her voice low and curious.
"Now we wait," Harry answered, looking to Freya with a slight smile. He knew that there was nothing that could be done now. It was just a waiting game, and being in the business for as long as he had, it had given him the time he needed to become patient. When Harry first became an Auror, he wanted the criminals to be sentenced straight away, he didn't truly realise how much evidence was needed to put someone behind bars and he had to learn how to be patient.
Freya nodded her head, knowing that there was nothing else that could be done. Now they just needed to wait until the trial. The thought of a trial happening caused butterflies to flutter in her chest. Anxiously, Freya's grip on James' hand tightened. James looked at Freya and frowned. Leaning over, he whispered that it would be okay, with his thumb caressing her hand to try and soothe her. He hated seeing Freya so distressed, even when she was trying to hide it.
"Well, I am heading home. The wife will be wondering where I am," Draco said, turning around to walk away. He knew this job was done and he was honestly tired. He had enough excitement for one day that he couldn't wait to tell Astoria.
James stared at his father, "I am not going back to Hogwarts. I want to be here," He said, determined not to leave Freya's side again.
Harry and Hermione shared a look, "Good news then, I got permission from McGonagall for you to come back home," Harry said, a smirk on his face.
Freya arched a brow, not expecting that answer.
James' eyes widened, "Really?" McGonagall never usually permitted students to leave in the middle of the school year. It had to be exceptional circumstances for her to even consider it.
Hermione nodded her head, "Of course. She understands what is going on and fully supports it,"
"What about me?" Freya asked, mentally hoping she wouldn't be sent back to her parent's house. She knew if her mother and father saw her, they would become suspicious. If they even learned about what she had done, her mother would kill her in an instant.
Harry turned to face Freya, confused that she would even need to ask, but he realised what he had said. He hadn't specified that Freya would be coming with them. "I meant both of you were staying," Harry said a smile on his face.
James mentally sighed in relief, squeezing Freya's hand slightly. Freya had told him all about her parents and he also feared what would happen to her if she went back.
Blinking slowly, Freya processed his words. Maybe it was how much had gone down that day, but it took her longer than usual for his words to sink in. "Okay," Freya eventually said, silently relieved that she wouldn't be going back to her house.
Suddenly, James paled, "Wait, which means…"
Harry looked to James and smirked, "Yes, your mother is going to want to speak with you." Harry had asked Hermione to send word back that he, James, and a guest would be coming over. Ginny had been quick to catch on that he was bringing Freya back and she seemed intrigued.
James and Freya look at one another, with James visibly gulping. Freya felt the nerves shoot up her spine, making her stand straight. Knowing that she was going to be meeting James' mother was terrifying and she mentally wondered if Harry would let her go back to her parents, at least she knew what was going to happen there.
HARRY POTTER
Moments later, Harry, James, and Freya arrived outside of the Potter House. Harry had made sure his property was secured and there was a very short list of how many people had permission to Apparate to his home. Harry knew that his home was one of the most secure places in Britain because there were so many protection spells and wards in place. No one was allowed onto the property without either his or Ginny's permission.
Freya looked around, slightly surprised. She had expected them to live in a Manor, but instead, she was greeted by a modest-looking detached house. It looked so stereotypically perfect and homely. Freya took everything in, to the freshly cut grass to the Quidditch brooms near the shed. Freya had never seen James' home as she had never been able to get past the wards around the house, none of the Potter's Guardians had been able to. It was only through the pendant that Freya knew that James was safe. To be in his home was kind of surreal to her.
"Do you reckon she's awake?" James asked nervously. It was quite early in the morning, the sun still wasn't up yet and he was mentally hoping his mother wasn't awake.
Harry opened his mouth to answer his son, but he was interrupted when the front door burst open and out stepped Ginny.
"Harry James Potter! James Sirius Potter! What do you call this time?!" Ginny yelled, stepping out with her arms on her hips. Her face was flushed red with anger and concern. She had received word from Hermione hours ago and when she hadn't heard anything, she couldn't help herself but worry that something had happened. She had half a mind to storm into the Ministry and force them home by their ears.
Harry smiled, amusement in his eyes. "Morning, love."
"Don't you 'love' me! Where the hell was you?!" Ginny shouted back, his nonchalance only angering her further.
James looked to Freya, "Sorry about her," He mumbled lowly under his breath, embarrassed that Freya was seeing his mother like this.
"Its fine," Freya whispered back, a slight smile on her face. She found it amusing how Harry didn't seem bothered by Ginny's anger in the slightest. Originally, she had been taken back by how explosive Ginny's outburst was and it seemed she was living up to all the rumours.
Ginny stopped yelling when saw this interaction. She looked to Freya, her bright brown eyes watching the new girl curiously, "Is this her?" Ginny asked, looking to Harry for confirmation. Harry had given her a quick overview of what had happened and Freya had come up a few times.
Harry nodded his head, "She is,"
Anger forgotten, Ginny nodded her head, "Come inside. It's been a long day." She said, turning around to walk into the house. Harry quickly followed behind his wife, catching up to her and placing a kiss on top of her head.
James went to follow but stopped when his arm tugged backward. Freya wasn't following him. James turned his head and looked to her, "Everything okay?" He asked, concerned.
"What if she doesn't like me?" Freya asked, not able to hide how she was feeling. It wasn't often that Freya felt apprehensive about anything but this was making her feel uneasy. Freya knew that not everyone was going to like her, and she had never cared before if anyone liked her or not, but now she cared.
Turning around to fully face her, James stepped closer to her. Placing one hand on Freya's cheek, he smiled. "She will like you because I care for you." James had never seen Freya this nervous before and he honestly found it adorable.
Taking a deep breath, Freya nodded her head. "Okay, let's head in." She said, tightening her hold on James' hand.
James nodded his head, gently guiding Freya into the house. His own heart was pounding in his chest because he was also worried about what his mum would say. He had never brought a girl home to either of his parents and he was anxious about what they would do. It didn't help that these weren't during normal circumstances either.
Walking into the house, they took off their shoes and then headed into the living room where Harry and Ginny sat. Harry and Ginny were sat on one couch, with Harry looking content but Ginny didn't look amused. Her arms were crossed over her chest and one leg over the other. James and Freya sat down on the other couch opposite Harry and Ginny, silently and feeling judged.
"So, you're Freya?" Ginny asked, her tone light.
Freya nodded her head, "I am,"
"And your parents are Death Eaters?" Ginny asked, her brow arched.
"Mum!" James hissed, his anger flaring.
Harry placed a hand on Ginny's leg as if to calm her. "Play nice," He said, a slight smile on his face. He knew what his wife was like and she also knew that she was going getting started in her interrogation.
Freya shook her head, also placing a hand over James' hand. "My parents were Death Eaters. But they are now under the allegiance of Lance," Freya answered honestly. This had been a question that she had expected and knew would come up eventually. She wasn't ashamed of it, it wasn't her past. She was never a Death Eater so it didn't apply to her.
Ginny didn't look impressed, her eyes zeroing in on James and Freya's intertwined hands. Her eyes narrowed, not liking what she was seeing. "Are you using James?" Ginny asked bluntly.
"No," Freya answered instantly.
"Mum!" James exclaimed incredulously.
Harry sighed slightly, losing the smile on his face. He didn't think this meeting was going to go this way. Ginny was protective over their son and he knew she wouldn't be happy with anyone coming into his life seriously. It also didn't help that Ginny knew about the Soul Bonding – something she had been furious about. It was going to be made even worse if James lost his temper, then it would be an all-out screaming match.
"Dear, maybe that's enough," Harry suggested, looking to Ginny.
Ginny glared at him. "You expect me to happy about this? Her parents are Death Eaters and she is dangerous. You said that she could take down an Auror and now she has suddenly attached herself to our son? And you expect me to be fine with all that?!" Ginny exclaimed, her face getting redder as her voice got louder. "She is using him and he's too dense to see it!"
James sat forward in his seat, his eyes darkened in anger. "She isn't her parents, she different! She is not using me! How dare you even accuse her of that?"
"Watch your tone young man!" Ginny yelled back, preparing to jump up, much like her son was. The only thing that was holding her back was Harry's hand on her leg.
Freya and Harry looked at one another. Harry was feeling guilty for bringing Freya into the house now, silently regretting his decision of not letting Freya stay with Hermione – even after she had offered. Freya was also regretting coming into the house, feeling very unwelcome and out of place.
"Then stop talking to her as though this is all her fault!" James yelled back, refusing to let his mother disrespect Freya when she didn't even know her.
Having enough, Ginny jumped up, prepared for a screaming match.
However, Freya's instincts kicked in. She jumped up, her wand in hand as she stood over James protectively. Her stormy grey eyes focused on Ginny intently, watching for slight movements. She had felt Ginny become a threat and she couldn't help herself.
Ginny stood frozen where she was, not able to comprehend what had just happened. Her bright brown eyes were watching Freya, shocked, and taken aback. Ginny thought back to what Harry had told her – Freya was there to protect James from all threats.
Did Freya see her as a threat?
Harry tensed in his seat, his hand on his wand in his pocket "Freya, put the wand down," He warned, not wanting to have to use force.
"Freya, it's okay," James said calmly, his hand grabbing Freya's left wrist.
Freya said nothing, silently assessing whether Ginny was still a threat to James or not.
"Did you think I would hurt my son?" Ginny asked lowly, her voice barely audible even though it was the only sound in the room.
Still, Freya said nothing, her wand still pointed at Ginny.
Ginny took a slow step forward and was shocked at what happened.
Freya visibly flinched.
Ginny stopped dead in her tracks, unable to hide the gasp that tore from her throat. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. This young girl thought that she was going to hurt not only her son but her as well. None of Ginny's children had ever flinched around her, not even when she was furious.
"James, go upstairs with Freya," Harry said, standing up. He had seen enough and he wasn't happy with what he had seen.
Nodding his head, James stood up and gently whispered reassuring things in Freya's ear. Slowly, Freya relaxed and allowed James to lead her away upstairs. James guided Freya to his room and shut the door, letting his parents have the privacy that they needed. Freya silently followed him, still feeling as though she needed to be on guard.
Ginny fell back into her seat, still in shock. "Harry, she thought I was going to hurt them." She said, her face paler than it had been moments ago.
Grimly, Harry nodded his head. "She did,"
Still in shock, Ginny leaned back in her seat. The memory was going around in her head, replaying the moment, wondering what had happened. She had been angry at James for being too trusting, and next thing she knew, a wand was pointed at her. Ginny could easily remember the burning intensity in Freya's eyes as she stood in front of James – protecting him. Ginny could see how serious Freya was when it came to protecting James. It reminded her of herself over Harry when everyone was spreading rumours about him in his fifth year.
Turning to his wife, Harry took her hand in his. "Ginny, she didn't grow up like you or like James, Albus, and Lily. Her situation is… unique." Harry said, trying to find the words to properly describe Freya's childhood.
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked, feeling apprehensive. She didn't like Harry's tone and knew that she wasn't going to like the answer.
Harry's eyes darkened as a grim frown set onto his face. "Freya grew up in isolation and constant fear. There is no love between her parents and herself and her sister was murdered. She had to be perfect at everything otherwise her parents would… punish her."
Ginny gasped, a hand covering her mouth, "Physically?" She asked, dreading the anger.
Harry silently nodded his head.
Ginny bit her lip and looked to the ceiling, the tears burning her eyes. Now, Freya's reaction made sense because she had seen it before. Back in Hogwarts, many years ago, Ginny had seen Harry flinch on occasion – usually after the summer holidays. Harry had told her about his Aunt and Uncle and how Harry used to be hit. It was for that reason that Harry had no relationship with his estranged Aunt and Uncle, or Dudley. Harry's side of the family was never mentioned in their household and their children knew to never mention it either.
"James makes her feel better. He drags her out of the dark places in her mind. James is good for Freya and Freya is good for James. I have never seen James so protective and calm at the same time. James makes Freya fell safe, which is what she needs." Harry explained further, his eyes lighter and he smiled slightly. Seeing the connection between James and Freya was sweet and heart-warming. It reminded him of his relationship with Ginny, especially in their early years of marriage and when the press was hounding Ginny.
"I didn't know," Ginny muttered lowly.
"I know," Harry said, tightening his grip on Ginny's hand for a moment.
Turning to face her husband, Ginny wet her lips. "What else has she seen through? I want to understand."
"It's not a pretty story," Harry warned, arching a brow.
Ginny shook her head, "I don't care," She wanted to understand Freya, and away by doing that was by knowing what she had been through. Ginny didn't want another incident like that happening again.
Sighing for a moment, Harry leaned back into his seat. This was going to be a long story to tell so he was getting comfortable.
HARRY POTTER
James shut his door softly, turning to face Freya who was sat on his bed.
Freya was looking around the room. It was a modest-sized room, with a double bed, wardrobe, and chest of drawers. The colour scheme of the room was red – which had been expected. There were also loads of posters on the walls of Quidditch Players. What did surprise Freya, was how clean the room was. She had been expecting clothes to be thrown around the room and it was a pleasant surprise that there was no mess.
"How are you feeling?" James asked, sitting down beside Freya.
Sighing, Freya looked at the ground. "Embarrassed. I can't believe I did that," She said, placing her head in her hands.
"Hey, it's okay," James said, turning to face Freya and took one her hands on his. "I know why you did it. I kind of thought it was hot." He said, a grin on his face, suggestively wiggling his eyebrows.
Freya rolled her eyes, smiling slightly. Of course, that's what James would say in the situation and it made her feel slightly better. However, she quickly frowned, "Your mother is going to hate me," This realisation hit her hard, now there was no way that Ginny was going to like her. Freya wished she could go back and stop it from happening, stop herself from pointing her wand at Ginny. Another thing she regretted was flinching around Ginny. She didn't mean to do it, but in at that moment, Ginny reminded Freya of Vivienne before she would hit her.
"I don't care," James said, shaking his head.
Freya turned to James. "Family is everything to you. I feel like I am getting in the way," She said, her eyes dimming as her thoughts began to get darker.
James placed a hand on Freya's face, happy when she didn't flinch. "Freya, you could never get in the way. I love you," He said, his voice soft and barely above a whisper.
Freya's eyes widened, her heart thumped loudly in her chest. "You love me?" She asked delicately. James had never told any girl he loved them and to now hear him say it to her almost felt unreal. No one had ever told her they loved her – other than her sister – and it made her feel warm inside. She also believed him, she fully believed that he loved her. He had shown her on more than one occasion that he loved her, but he had never verbalised it.
"More than anything in the world," James answered back without hesitation. James knew that he loved Freya and he wasn't afraid to admit it. He knew he loved her after their date, even after Freya ran away from him. He had wanted to tell her before the last challenge of the Tournament, but he never got the chance.
Slowly, Freya smiled, her eyes bright. "I love you too," She whispered, meaning what she said. Freya had realised that she fully loved James after he came charging into the Medical Bay in the Ministry. Seeing him after being there made her realise how much she couldn't live without him and how much she needed him by her side. For a long time, Freya got used to being on her own and knowing that she would never be loved. It hadn't been easy accepting that someone could love her, but once she did, it felt amazing.
Not needing to say anything more, James leaned in and captured Freya's lips with his own. Upon contact, Freya sighed in relief, relishing the feel of his slightly chapped lips on hers. Twisting her body, Freya wrapped her arms around James' shoulders, leaning further into the kiss. Feeling playful, James pushed them both back so now Freya was laying on her back and James was hovering above her. Pulling away, James rested his forehead on Freya's, their breathing mingling with one another as they got back the much-needed air. James watched Freya for a moment, loving the way her eyes sparkled, the flushness of her cheeks, and the way she was looking at him – like he was her whole world. It made his chest swell in pride knowing that he had made her feel like this.
James ducked his head so it was resting against the crook of her neck. "You drive me crazy," James whispered in her ear.
Freya shivered, electricity running down her spine. She didn't realise how sensitive her ears were, but she loved the feeling.
James smirked, he felt the shiver and he silently cursed under his breath. If he didn't stop now, he wouldn't be able to himself. Inhaling deeply, James pushed himself off Freya and laid down beside her.
"What's wrong?" Freya asked, turning to face James, feeling confused.
Placing a hand on her face, James smiled softly. "When we do explore, I want to take my time." Usually, James was always down for a bit of fun, but this felt different. With the other girls, he never truly cared about them – but he deeply cared about Freya. James was aware that he was the first person Freya had done anything with and he wanted to make it special – not rushed. It was also a total mood killer that his parents were downstairs and could walk in a moment. His mother was already upset and he didn't need to set her off again.
Freya blushed red but nodded her head nonetheless. Moving closer to James, Freya placed her head on his chest while James wrapped his arms around her. Tugging the duvet from under him, James placed it over them as they snuggled under the warmth. The long day had taken a toll on both of them and more was to come. Soon, both James and Freya fell asleep, content in each other's arms, there was even a small smile on Freya's face.
HARRY POTTER
At the same time
Lance sat in his cell, his face blank and void of anything. He had been watching and listening to everything that was happening outside his cell. The cell was small, very small. It could barely fit a small bed and a toilet inside. There was a small slot in the door where food would be slide in, and that was the only thing providing light. It was dark, dirty and demeaning of someone of his standing to even be in that kind of cell. Lance sneered at the condition of his prison. Taking this time, Lance had plenty of time to think and go over recent events. Lance now knew what he needed to do, but he had to wait for the right moment before he could strike.
Ron had been stood guard for hours, but now it was handover time. Ron had left no more than ten minutes ago and now the new guard was stood outside. Lance had attempted to make small talk with Ron, but the ginger man wasn't having it and refused to speak to Lance.
"May I ask the name of my guard for tonight?" Lance asked, his voice calm.
There was silence for a moment before someone answered. "Frank Fernsby, sir," The man answered, his voice low.
Slowly, Lance smirked. "Does anyone suspect you?"
"No, sir," Frank answered back easily.
Lance nodded his head, pleased with that answer. "Have you set everything up?" Lance asked, wanting to make sure everything was in place.
"Yes, sir," Frank answered.
For a moment, Lance didn't say anything. However, he was reassured that everything was going to plan now. If he didn't plan things right, it could be a disaster and he could lose everything. Now, he was going to have to call in a few favours that people owed him.
"I need you to send a message for me," Lance said, his voice commanding.
"Anything," Frank said.
Lance looked around his dinky cell once more before answering. "Tell Rupert and Vivienne Williams of their daughter's betrayal," Lance said, his voice low and steady.
"Of course, sir," Frank answered back again.
Slowly, Lance's icy blue eyes glowed in mischief. Lance knew that he was in a tight spot at the moment, but it would soon be rectified. Lance began to laugh. At first, it was low and soft but it soon built up until it sounded insane and maniacal.