The Brightest Witch
Samantha and Jack destroyed the memory directly after laying Kai to rest. It was bittersweet. Jack was coming home, but it had cost so much. Samantha didn't regret her choices, but her heart ached all the same. Her hands still hadn't ceased shaking, no matter what she or anyone else did.
The flight home was clouded in thick worry. Samantha knew when they landed they would need to wait for Kingsley and the Aurors. They would take Jack to be questioned about his whereabouts and actions. Harry informed them that he and Ron would have taken Jack themselves, but Kingsley had insisted he would meet them.
Samantha would pay for whatever he needed, legal fees, bail and anything he needed. She had been saving off a little part of her pay as an emergency homecoming fund. It was really the pile in her vault at Gringotts after six years of a hearty salary.
When she mentioned she needed to get Jack representation, Ron told her to stop worrying, that they already had someone working on the case.Samantha had a slight suspicion who it could be, and realized by the pink in Ron's cheeks, that her suspicion was probably right.
It was a dark and windy evening as they landed on the coast. Duke did not take kindly to the change in weather and dug himself deep into the pocket of her coat.
The Potters, the Fyres and Ron planned to wait, but George and Lee decided it was better to go ahead and head out before Kingsley and the Aurors arrived.
"Tell Angelina and little Fred that I said hi." Samantha said giving George a grateful hug. He had a sweet three year old son named for his twin brother. He looked a bit like Fred in his smile and that seemed enough for George to regard his son as the best child in the world.
"Of course." George laughed hugging her back.
"I'd better get back as well." Lee smiled before giving Samantha a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you Tuesday, hopefully Genevieve, Colin and little Rebel can join us."
"I'd like that." Samantha nodded and wrapped her arms around herself as the wind whipped.
"Good to see you again mate." Lee held out a hand for Jack who took it.
"Likewise." Jack said before reaching out and shaking George's hand.
George reached into his coat jacket and handed Jack a card. "If you need anything. Job, place to stay, anything, I mean it, send me an owl."
Jack nodded in shock, "Why would you help me like that?"
"You seem a bright young fellow, someone I could use on my staff." George nodded and smirked impishly. Samantha was grateful for the gesture, she planned to do what she could, but once things were settled Jack could need a job.
Just as George and Lee Disapparated, Kingsley and his crew appeared. Samantha recognized one Auror, Hestia from the Battle of Hogwarts. She didn't know a few of the younger looking ones though. Kingsley waved as he saw Samantha and everyone waiting, he was wearing long deep blue robes and he had a large smile across his face.
Beside Kingsley was a woman in brown heels and a very simple matching suit. Her bushy hair was pulled back into a tight bun and she had a very strong expression. It was Hermione Granger, one of Samantha's oldest friends. She had her shoulders back and walked with an heir of purpose that only the brightest witch of their age could possess.
"Miss Fyre." Kingsley greeted Samantha with a nod. He turned to Jack. "And Mr. Fyre."
"I'm here to surrender myself Minister." Jack had his hands in his pockets but looked Kingsley in the eyes.
"Your surrender is appreciated Mr. Fyre." Kingsley smiled and patted him on the back, "We will do what we can to make this an easy transition for you."
"Thank you sir." Jack's eyes now darted back to Samantha as Hestia came up behind him
"Is that necessary?" Samantha asked as Hestia put her brother in handcuffs and took his wand.
"It's merely precautionary." Kingsley nodded but looked at Hermione beside him, "Mr. Fyre has the best Magical Law representation I know. She has already given myself and the Aurors a very thorough rundown so I assume we have little to worry about."
"I am Mr. Fyre's legal representation." Hermione held out her hand to Samantha with a wink.
Samantha shook her old friend's hand and smirked at her. "Always a pleasure Granger."
"As there is no evidence of Mr. Fyre committing any truly abominable acts, just association, the Aurors have agreed to simple detain him for questioning. Taking his age during the association into account, Mr. Fyre should be able to slide out with minor charges." Hermione smirked. "He may be without a wand for a while, pending a probationary period, but I don't suspect he will spend any time in Askaban. Correct Kingsley?"
Kingsley bowed his head. "Correct Ms. Granger."
"I'm hoping we can have these incidentals patched up quickly. I expect he has a very important reunion to get to tomorrow" Hermione was shorter than Kingsley, but her stateliness almost made her seem taller.
"I'm sure we can manage that Ms. Granger." Kingsley bowed his head to them both before leaving with the Aurors and Jack.
Samantha nodded back.
Hermione wrapped her arms around Samantha's neck into a big hug.
"Thank you." Samantha whispered into her friend's ear.
"No trouble at all." Hermione chuckled, "Gives me a good break to represent humans for a change."
"How much are your services?" Samantha asked still in her friend's embrace, "I'll pay you."
"We can discuss my fees another time, but a good downpayment would be an examination piece into the mistreatment of thestrals."
"Oh we're also running that piece about the misrepresentation of Centaurs in modern times, would you want to contribute?" Samantha asked as they let go.
"Of course, have your assistant get with mine." Hermione turned and noticed the Aurors were preparing to Apparate. "Now, I will accompany your brother to the Ministry. I'll personally bring him to your apartment once questioning is over."
Ron ran up and planted a quick kiss on his wife before Hermione walked over to accompany her client.
"Isn't my wife is just amazing?" Ron asked first smiling admiringly at Hermione as she walked away. His face shifted and he leaned to Harry and they both looked at the Aurors, "We're going to hear it from the department on Monday aren't we?"
"Yes, we are." Harry grumbled but nodded at Samantha and Ginny, "Worth it."
Samantha nodded back, "Thanks Potter."
"Can you take a real holiday now?" Ginny asked wrapping her arms around Samantha's shoulders.
"Merlin's pants, I can. I'm going to start now. I don't have to be back in the office for three weeks." Samantha felt a weight leave her chest and she took a deep breathe. The shaking in her hands began to cease. "I did it."
"You did it." Ginny hugged her around the neck. "Does this mean we can meet for lunch?"
"Hell yes it does." She started giggling profusely. "And I want to come see James, there's so many things I want to do that I can do now."
"Maybe finally meet up with someone." Ginny suggested.
Ron laughed, "Yeah, bloke wouldn't stop talking about it when we had met up with him for dinner at the Three Broomsticks the other day."
"Also, for the record, we didn't tell him anything about you being in danger." Ginny said softly, "We thought about it, in case we needed extra hands."
"But it's the first week back to Hogwarts, we didn't want him getting sacked." Harry scratched his neck.
"Yeah, let's not get anyone sacked." Samantha chuckled, "Although I have no idea who you are talking about." She lied.
It didn't feel real. The truth of it didn't really sink in as she stepped into her apartment, she had done what she'd set out to do and yet she felt the exact same. She decided she couldn't sleep while she waited for Jack's release, and instead settled back into her home. She introduced Duke to the apartment and to Whisp who seemed oddly excited by his presence.
She sent a letter to her parents, saying she was home early and she was bringing an old friend to their place for supper. She also asked if they minded she spend a little time with them over the next three weeks as she was taking a brief holiday.
As she went through a stack of her mail, she was happy to see there was a little letter with two sprigs of Moly inside. She had confirmation for a date for her last day off of work. Samantha decided it would be the perfect end to her first holiday in years.
She unpacked and looked over the notebook detailing her whole affair. She had an idea of what she wanted to do with it. She could start writing it, she could write something that was just something she wanted to write. It wouldn't be assigned or a duty to her job, it could just be simple writing.
She also began writing a few new policies for the office. She planned to begin some brand new policies now that she didn't feel so tied to being perfect. She could just have her position and enjoy it. She would still work hard, but she would ease up on her own perfectionism.
The next evening after Jack had been released, the two grown Fyre children began walking an old path to a familiar stone cottage in the woods. The sounds of Augury birds sounded through the trees and the smell of pine emanated. Her shakes were still present, but today her brother was the shaking one.
"You are sure about this?" Jack asked fixing his hair. "They aren't going to hate me?"
Samantha snickered happily. "You've faced dragons and demons Jack, I'm sure you can do this."
He nodded again, this time fixing his shirt. Samantha had bought him some new clothing and shoes. He hadn't brought much from his ordeal and he didn't have more than a few sickles to his name. "I've changed a lot, do you think they will recognize me?" Samantha helped him and wiped a some dirt off of his shoulders.
Samantha smiled as they began walking again. "They'd know you anywhere. They are even going to have dinner ready."
"All right." Jack nodded fixing his shirt. "Do they know I am coming?"
Samantha shook her head as they reached the familiar cottage, "Nope, it's a surprise. I may or may not have fibbed and said I was bringing an old friend."
Her brother nodded cautiously.
"Want me to go in and tell them first? Or do you want to just tell them yourself?" She inquired kindly.
"We could go together." He breathed out, "I'd feel better if you were with me Sammy."
"I'm right here." Samantha said before patting her brother on the back. Duke flew up and nudged Jack on the cheek. "Duke's here too."
Duke flew into her cloak's pocket and curled up inside.
They walked up to the door together and Samantha opened the door. It smelled wonderful, like rosemary and boiled potatoes. There was muggle music from the sixties playing and her parents voices were talking just a bit over the music. Her brother seemed to have noticed their voices, a tear began falling from his eye as he stood steadfast in the doorway. His hands had escaped their pockets and his face had morphed to a state of bliss.
"Mum, dad?" Samantha was shaking with joy as she called in to the empty sitting room. She could see her parents putting out plates for supper in the dining room. "I have a surprise."
Her brother came into their view, stepping in like a child nervous after breaking a window. Her mother, who had been smiling upon sight of her daughter, was now breathing heavily and an expression of perpetual shock took over her face. Her father shared a similar expression and stood up from his place at the table.
The crash of a plate was heard as it fell from her mother's arms. There was a mad dash as Jack ran into the arms of his parents.
Samantha found herself sobbing, her chest heaving as she watched them embrace. She would never again have to hear them cry for her brother in the middle of the night. She would never again have to see their expressions morph when someone asked where he was. She would never again have to feel like there was a piece missing from her family. Jack was finally home, safe and sound.
Her parents and Jack reached their arms our for her and she sank into their embrace.
After the little foursome had held each other a few moments, her mother took her son's face into her hands and looked him over.
"I'm sorry mum." Her brother began crying.
"Oh my boy." She kissed her son's cheeks. "It's in the past now. We never stopped loving you."
"We thought we lost you. How are you here?" Her father asked wrapping his arms around his daughter's shoulders.
"Sammy brought me home." Jack said proudly looking at his sister.
Her dad kissed her forehead. He was crying and she could feel the tears on her forehead. Her dad whispered, "Thank you little girl."
Samantha could answer, just cried with him.
"So that where you've been?" Her mother asked looking her daughter over with shock.
Samantha pleaded, "Don't be cross. You were right, AMPECC is in November."
"I won't be cross, but if you ever try that again, I will be." Tears began leaving her mother's eyes as she held Jack closely again. "Both of my babies are home."
There had never been a better dinner, one where no one ate a single bite.