Summer Break
Summer break. One of the few times Freya and James can spend together. It’s summer 1976. James and Freya are home spending some quality sibling time.
It’s been hard for the two to be apart for such a long periods of times but they have been managing. They value the time they get during their breaks. They spend time doing what they used to do as kids and even bring some of their plans for Hogwart to life in their home instead, it’s the closest they can come to it now.
“You know even if I wished we could do this at Hogwarts I really like that we at least get to do it at all.” James gives his sister one of his famous smiles. He misses her during school but coming home and doing stuff like this makes everything worth it.
Freya turned her gaze to her brother. “Agreed.” She returns the smile.
Right now they are in Freya's bedroom in a makeshift blanket fort around midnight. They have snuck up some snacks and drinks from the kitchen. Even though they know their parents wouldn’t technically have anything against it. But this is how they had planned to do it in Hogwarts so this is how they wanted to do it here.
They are currently playing one of the muggle board games they got during the summer efter James' first year. One of his new friends had recommended it and they just needed to try it and then immediately loved it.
James was currently winning much to Freya's dismay. They were having a good time even if she was claiming that James was cheating to which he denied. In the middle of the game they heard something from downstairs. They looked at each other confused.
“What was that?” Freys questioned. Their parents were in bed and no one else was at home. It didn’t make sense that there were sounds from downstairs.
“How am I supposed to know?” James shot back at her.
They didn’t want to wake up their parents, but they also didn’t really want to go down and check.
“Not it!” Freya suddenly exclaimed and touched her nose.
James looked back at her like she was crazy. “What do you mean ‘not it’?”
“I mean that I am not going to go down there alone to see what it is.” She answered a bit harshly.
“Well neither am I.” James hissed.
“Why not?”
“Well first of you’re probably gonna cheat while I’m gone.” He laid his first weak defence to which Freya shrugged knowing he had a point. “Secondly, what if it’s something bad, I don’t want to get kidnaped or killed alone.”
“Fine you wuss. I will come with you.” They got out of the makeshift fort making their way to the door.
They creeped down stairs making sure to not make noise in case they needed to retreat and hide or get their parents. But as they got downstairs it was quiet. They couldn’t see or hear a thing that could have been making the noises they heard. Or at least not until they got to the living room. The room that also had their fireplace that was connected to the floo system. And in front of said fireplace are two guys covered in blood laying on the floor.
That’s strange.
While Freya stands looking confused at the two guys James gets a shocked look on his face and soon jumps into action. It scared Freya at first for a second. They didn’t know who these two people were or why they were here or how they got through the floo system. But then she heard James say two names, one of them familiar to her.
“Freya go get mom and dad! Fast!” James ordered her. She didn't think, she couldn’t think. She did as her brother told her.
“Mom! Dad! Wake up!” She threw herself into the room without knocking, not caring about that at the moment. “Mom! Dad!” She shook her parents awake, almost yelling at them to come down to the living room. She didn’t know how to explain to them what was happening. She was overwhelmed herself and couldn’t exactly control what was coming out of her mouth. She was rambling. Rambling like she always does when she gets stressed or overwhelmed. Effie and Monty, being used to this, didn't question her and only did what she asked and went downstairs.
Getting down stairs they sprung into action helping the two still unconscious boys. James and their dad got the two on to a couch each and Effie and Monty began helping a boy each immediately.
James was standing in the middle of the two couches looking worried and like he didnt know which one to go and check on. All while Freya was standing in the doorway just looking. She didn’t know what she should do. Should she do or say something? Should she go into the room? Or should she just leave the room all together? She had a hard time making up her mind until she looked eyes with her brother, then she knew exactly what to do.
She walked over to her brother and embraced him in the biggest hug she had ever given and he melted right into her.
Freya had heard the two names he had said as he had rushed over to the two.
Sirius and Regulus.
Regulus she did not recognise the name of. Sirius however she recognised immediately. James' best friend. She didn’t know that much about him but one thing she did know was that he had a brother her age. She guessed that was who Regulus was. It was at least the most logical answer she could come up with right now without asking and she had a feeling it wasn't the time to ask.
Hours passed. Effie and Monty did what they could and said that the two boys should be fine, now they just have to wait for them to wake up. While the parents went back to bed and said to call for them if something changed Freya and James stayed in the living room. James for not wanting to leave them alone for when they wake up and Freya because she didn’t want to leave her brother alone.
“So wanna talk about it?” Freya asked keeping James in an embrace on the armchair they managed to shere.
James stayed silent. Freya assumed he didn’t want to talk about it or assume anything about what had happened so she stayed quiet, just letting him know she's here if needed by her presence and embrace. “I didn’t think they would actually leave.” He eventually said.
“What do you mean?” Freya asked, looking over at him confused.
“I haven’t really told you anything about them.”
“Actually I only knew the name of one of them. So no, not that much.” She sassed back. He looked at her with a ‘really, now?’ look. “Okay sorry. Wanna tell me something about them now?” She proposed.
“I should probably start with the basics and why they're here. Or I would only assume it’s the reason. Their names are Sirius and Regulus.” He started off.
“Yeah I kinda figured.” Freya interrupted.
“Black.” He added. Freya was stunned. She had never connected that. She didn’t know that much about Sirius so why would she assume and it’s not like she cares about all of James’ friends last names so she never asked. “Yeah I know, a bit of a shocker. But let's just say that the family isn't the nicest, not even to their family and children.”
“How can someone not even be nice to their own children?” Freya was appalled. She didn’t know what to say or do.
“Beats me. But either way. I told Sirius if they ever needed a way out that they always were welcomed here. I didn’t think he would actually take me up on the offer even less that he was gonna be able to convince Regulus to join. But, I guess I was wrong.” He looked over at the two sleeping brothers. They looked so calm like this, like nothing had ever happened and nothing could ever hurt them.
“I’m glad that you were wrong.” Freya gave him a soft smile. She couldn’t grasp her head around the fact that somebody could do something like this to their own children.
Freya and James fell asleep in the chair trying to wait for the brothers to wake up. When morning rolls around Freya was the first to wake up. Looking over she sees all three asleep. Wanting for her brother to get as much sleep as possible she went to the kitchen.
She didn’t know what to do. It felt wrong to do fun stuff when she knew people were down stairs not knowing if they were well. So she started cooking breakfast to take her mind off things, plus she got to make everyone feel good or somewhat better once they wake up.
She spent an hour making a bunch of different things. One, because she didn’t know what people wanted and if Sirius and Regulus woke up she didn’t know what they liked. And two, because she didn’t want to stop to think about things. When she was cooking she didn’t have to think about anything else.
The next ones to wake up were Effie and Monty. They went to check on everyone in the living room, finding the boys sleeping. They then went to the kitchen as they could hear somebody in there and could guess quickly who it would be.
“Morning sweetheart.” Effie went up to give Freya a hug to which she reciprocated. “What’s all this?”
“Breakfast.” She turned back to the pan.
“I can see that. But are you making breakfast? And why are you making so much?” She questioned.
“Because we need to eat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day after all you know.” She looked back at her mom who was giving her a knowing look. She knows her tells when she gets nervous, stressed or anxious. “Fine, I’m just nervous and I guess I wanted to make the time pass faster.” She admitted. No one can make her confess to her true feelings like her mom can, she just knows her in a different way than everyone else. Other people normally just believe her lies or at least they don’t point them out and make her talk.
“That’s okay. You got quite a scare yesterday. But everythings gonna be alright.” Effie reassured her.
“Promise?” She looks at her for comfort and the extra reassurance.
“I promise. Nothing can happen to any of you here. Me and your dad got you.” They hugged, Freya feeling her nervousness dripping off her by the second in her moms arms.
“Mom?! Dad?!” They heard James call out for them from the other room.