A Pair Of Gryffindors
"So we're going to see my brother first." Samantha explained before they could step outside the enchantments. "There's only one piece to the puzzle I need and he's the only one I can ask."
"You need to know where Freya's European hideout is." Neville interjected. "She has one, it's just not known exactly where."
Samantha stopped. "How did you know that?"
"I looked through your notes this morning before you woke up." He smiled smartly.
"Hey, would you want to marry me sometime?" Samantha asked feeling impressed.
His ears turned pink and he chuckled, "Sure. August, Fifth maybe?"
"I might be busy that day."
"Story of my life." Neville exclaimed, shaking his head.
Samantha laughed but elbowed him before getting back on track, "So, I think I know where my brother is hiding."
She explained her theory before they stepped outside the barrier and Apparated to Hogsmead. Neville insisted she wear her cloak at least, in case Freya was still hanging around. She seemed to know it was where Samantha was the most, so it seemed highly possible that she could still be there.
It was currently pouring rain and thundering loudly. They used the umbrella spells, but the wind and rain whipped beneath the umbrella, rendering the spell useless.
Her theory about her brother's whereabouts were confirmed when she saw George inside of the joke shop, standing at the counter counting money. It was exceptionally past closing time. Also, George rarely visited the Hogsmead store.
Samantha quietly nodded towards the shop. Neville went up first and knocked on the window. George looked up, but instead of his normal greeting, he glared at them suspiciously.
"Bit of a wet night for a romantic date, isn't it?" George asked after opening the door for them. Samantha noticed he had a pencil stuck in the hole on the side of his head. "Also, a bit late for a date."
"Of course not. Aberforth always stays open till midnight." Samantha shrugged trying to get beneath the awning and out of the rain, "I thought you would be in Diagon Alley."
"I do happen to be one of the owners here. I should make annual checks." George argued out the door as lightning flashed. "I thought you were in hiding."
Neville looked soaked and coughed a little before responding, "She's under protection, not in hiding. There is actually a difference."
"How do I know it's you?" George asked trepidatiously, "I heard Hannah at the Leaky Cauldron was under the Imperious curse. How do I know that woman didn't do the same to you two?"
Samantha raised her eyebrows and tried talking over the wind. "Do you like Fish and Chips with a cucumber salad?" Samantha asked, remembering that only four people alive knew what was served the night of the battle.
"I'm never eating that again" George insisted looking despondent and reaching his hands into his pockets. "Get out of the rain you two. You might catch your death out here."
George locked the door behind them and hurried them to the back room. George looked distracted and Samantha watched his eyes dart upwards as a loud crashing sound was heard.
"So do you have an idea where my brother is?" Samantha asked also looking up.
"Haven't seen him."He said shaking his head and Samantha noticed he reached back into his pockets. He looked back up as the crashing sound began again.
Duke flew out of Neville's satchel and up to the ceiling where he started clawing at the boards. There was a deep sound coming from above Duke as he clawed, "COOO!"
"Damnit, Cherry Blossom! She is going to get him killed." George cursed.
"George, you're putting yourself and your family in danger." Samantha said as she used a spell to dry herself and Neville off.
"Well, Angelina and the kids are with my mum. They are safe there." He nodded, "I'm staying here with Jack until Freya is gone."
"Have I mentioned you are the handsomest Weasley?" Samantha joked.
"Well, the handsomest one alive obviously." George scratched his neck and finally smiled a little.
"Can I speak to Jack. It'll just be for a moment I promise. Trust me, he's got to stay here so I'm not exactly encouraging him to come along with what we're doing." Samantha begged.
George smirked, "Of course he has to stay here. That man is without a wand, he can't protect himself and that arse from the Ministry that Kingsley sent, he was no good."
"Which one?" Neville asked his eyes darting around the store.
"Articulous." George rolled his eyes, "What a ruddy twit?"
"Articulous Mavis?" Neville pulled a face before turning to Samantha. "He's horrible. In training he actually made me look good."
"I'm sure you did that on your own." Samantha reassured.
"You only destroyed a bloody Horcrux mate." George said looking over his nose before climbing up one of the ladders. "And you've got a bloody better disposition. Articulous was a total snob."
Neville only shrugged.
"Where is Articulous now?" Samantha asked. "Shouldn't he be here?"
"Oh, I slipped him a love potion. He's currently following Jasmine around town." George chuckled. "Had to get him out of here somehow, besides, I can watch out for Jack just fine."
George knocked on the ceiling above him three times. Three knocks followed in response and a swirling portal opened above the ladder.
Duke didn't hesitate, just flew up inside the portal. There were loud bangs and the crash of what sounded like glass.
George climbed back down the ladder, grumbling to himself, "Damnit Cherry Blossom."
Her brother peaked his head out, "Sammy!" He exclaimed upon seeing his sister. His hair framed his giddy face. "Longbottom!"
George offered Samantha a hand and helped her up the ladder.
She crawled in the attic space before being knocked over by Cherry Blossom who began bouncing on her chest in excitement.
"Hi Cherry Blossom." She said knowing there would be a bruise on her chest later. It rolled off of her and proceeded to knock Neville after he pulled himself up.
Her brother helped her to stand, she looked around the room. It was essentially a little apartment. A bed, a table and a little kitchen were all present. There was also a tiny window looking down to the streets of Hogsmead.
"Shouldn't you two be somewhere safe?" Jack asked crossing his arms looking between them.
"I am safe." Samantha shrugged looking back to Neville who was currently laughing as the Puff jumped on his chest. "Technically, I have an Auror with me."
"I thought he was a Professor?"
"I quit the Auror department in two-thousand two. Too much pressure." Neville admitted finally getting Cherry Blossom into his arms and standing up with her.
"That makes a lot of sense. Personally, I couldn't do either of your intensely structured career choices." Jack nodded. "So what brings you here?"
Samantha explained her plan to her brother who furrowed his eyebrows and stared at her. His confusion turned into slightly maniacal laughter. It sounded like the cackle of a crow he was laughing so hard.
He spurted out while still laughing. "You are an idiot." He turned his attention to Neville, pointing at him with a bony finger, "And you are an idiot for being willing to do this with her."
Neville stopped petting Cherry Blossom, "I mean probably."
"You two sure are a pair of Gryffindors." Jack rolled his eyes and Samantha worried he was about to go into a rant as he continued the laughter.
"Thank you." They both responded simultaneously.
"That wasn't a compliment. Besides, like I told the Aurors today, I have very little idea where her hideout is." Jack admitted. "I never came with her to Europe. I was too well known here, because of your article. Instead, I stayed and watched over her American base."
"What idea do you have?" Samantha asked. "I'll take any leads honestly."
"Didn't you just hear me?" Jack asked putting both of his hands to his head. He ran his hands through his hair, pulling some of the curls straight. "It would be insane to go after her. A man died when we tried to simply extract a memory and now you want to bring her a peace offering? Freya is insane, she won't take your little gift of regret. She will kill you both where you stand."
"Jack, what idea do you have?" Samantha asked a second time crossing her arms.
Jack stopped laughing and grunted slightly before taking Cherry Blossom from Neville. "I digress, you two are idiots."
He put Cherry Blossom onto the little bed. Duke flew over to her and snuggled on her large head like a pillow.
"Freya always said it was where she was happiest." Jack admitted, "And that it was where she learned what true love was."
Samantha wracked her brain, going through everything she knew about Freya. There were two places she considered.
"Well, there's the The Romanian Dragon sanctuary where she and Kai had received their Dragonologist training." Neville suggested. "Isn't that where they got together?"
"I'm sure Charlie would know if she had a base there though." Samantha mentioned pulling Duke off of Cherry Blossom.
"But that's where the Aurors went to check." Jack mentioned sitting down.
Samantha shook her head, she had a deep gut wrenching feeling it wasn't there. She thought through everywhere Kai and Freya had even an inkling of romance. It wouldn't be Ilvermorny where they met, that was in America. It wouldn't be where they had their first kiss either, that was in South Africa.
"The nursery!" Samantha exclaimed looking at Duke. She picked him up and put him onto her shoulder.
"The what?" Jack asked looking confused.
"She and Kai planned to transform an old castle into a nursery for rejected dragons." Samantha revealed. "It was only in operation for six months."
Samantha reached deep into her bag and pulled out a picture that she'd stolen from Freya in America. It showed a younger Kai Jones, dipping Freya while dragons flew behind them. "It's where this was taken." Samantha handed Jack the picture.
"She does look pretty happy." Jack remarked looking at the picture.
"That's probably it then." Neville exclaimed.
Jack's eyes lowered from the picture, "I've often pondered what love like this picture feels like. I mean, I thought I did at one time. In my solidarity, I've realized one thing. Women are creatures beyond our understanding with insatiable power. When one gets the idea she can control a man, she will stand at nothing to manipulate that man's feelings into believing that's what he really feels. Kai was obviously in a similar state of obsession based on lust filled promises. Women love to lull men into a false sense of security to get exactly what they want."
"Sure." Samantha reacted taking the picture back and handing it to Neville. Neville's eyes were now rivaling Luna's in an expression of shock as he stared at Jack instead of the picture. He had one eyebrow raised in what seemed to be a permanent position.
After a few moments of recovery from Jack's rant, they took a few moments to prepare a true plan. Jack gave very reluctant and uninterested help. He kept grumbling that they were insane and to not bother.
About half an hour later, they began their descent from the portal.
"If you let my Sammy get killed, it won't just be Freya you will need to worry about." Jack called down at Neville. "I don't need magic to kill you or break your nose."
"Thanks Jack." Neville saluted looking up at him.
Jack saluted back before helping his sister Samantha carefully climb down. Duke was once again beside her feet the whole climb down.
"Love you Sammy." Jack called.
"Love you too Jack." Samantha smiled up at him as the portal closed.
"Maybe Jack is a little right. I mean this plan is insane." Neville insisted with an uncomfortable chuckle, "What if Freya takes the chance and tries to kill you?"
He took her waist as she reached the bottom.
"You will be there." She smiled before turning around to look at him. "And I trust you."
He released a deep sigh looking down at her. "Why do I feel like you are giving me a false sense of security? Or whatever the hell your brother was talking about."
Samantha laughed and batted her eyes in a flirtatious way, "Oh yeah, with all my lust filled promises." She kissed his nose.
"As exciting as that sounds to hear more about," George called from the doorway to the storage room.
Samantha felt every ounce of blood she had run to her face. She and Neville stepped apart and she noticed his face was just as red.
George was laughing heartily at their embarrassment, "No shame you two. I'm only interrupting to tell you both to take whatever you need for your little suicide adventure and to offer my services." George bowed a little.
"You are doing exactly what you should." Samantha insisted before pulling her cloak over her shoulders. "Just keep Jack safe."
George nodded. "Still, take anything you guys might need. On me."
"No, I'll pay you George." Samantha reached into her pocket and pulled out a couple Galleons.
She and Neville grabbed a few things before leaving to their next destination.