A Little Bit Cunning
It was late morning when they left the INN and followed Duke over the hills to find the nursery.
Samantha's feet were exhausted when they finally reached it in the late afternoon. They were up to their ankles in mud but from the hill they stood on, they had a view of the castle. It was smaller than Samantha expected. There were two small towers flanking the main entrance and from a distance it didn't look like much. She was sure it might look different if they got closer.
Duke landed on her shoulder as they looked over the hills at the infamous Nursery. He began climbing up one of her two tailed braids. His claws dug into her neck slightly when he missed braids.
"Really Duke?" She side eyed the dragon as he pulled some of the hairs out.
Neville mentioned watching Duke climb. "You used to wear your hair like that when you were on Potterwatch."
Samantha exclaimed, a little taken back that he remembered her old hairstyles. "It was convenient, still is."
He mentioned as she pulled Duke off of her braid, "I like it."
Samantha laughed, "I'll remember that."
They both looked out over the castle and Samantha's heart was in her throat. She prayed this stupid plan was going to work. She knew if it didn't, she was probably going to die.
"I'll be here, waiting for Duke." Neville nodded as he put his bag down.
"Yeah, at dusk I'll send him." Samantha nodded as she fixed the braid Duke had messed up. "And then you will both meet me at the tower"
He nodded. "Got it."
"I kinda liked it when you called me your wife yesterday." She mentioned softly grabbing his hand. "I'd like to hear you call me that again, for real. So don't die."
He laughed before kissing her hand. "Don't worry about me."
Their hands released and she pulled her cloak over her head, tucking her braid inside. She took her long trek down to the nursery following Duke again. She expected enchantments, but she was taken aback when there were none.
She made it to the left tower and looked up. She pulled her rope out of her bag, "Wingardium Leviousa." She whispered.
The top of the rope flew to the top of the tower. Samantha climbed up carefully and quietly.
She made it to the top and laid down for a moment. Her arms were screaming in pain. She wasn't a young kid anymore, climbing wasn't as easy as it used to be. She found a somewhat bigger window and swung inside. It was just an empty stone tower now with hay lining the inside. She wondered what it had used to be. There was a window facing into the first courtyard and a window facing out onto the grounds.
She laid there, out of sight for a few moments, while Duke laid at her feet in the hay. She watched the sky through the window looking out from the castle. She hoped Freya hadn't suspected anything yet.
The sun began the annual descent and she whispered to Duke, "Go light them up."
He danced a little in a circle before flying off like he was excited for his next task. She recognized the crackle and the explosive noise. Duke was blowing fire.
The whistling followed and she smiled remembering how much she liked Weasley fireworks.
Between the explosions She heard a door slam and swearing from Freya.
Samantha kept her cloak over everything but her eyes and looked out the window. Freya and who Samantha assumed was Kent ran out into the first courtyard. He was a stocky man with no hair.
"What the hell is that?" Freya called out at Kent. Her hair that had been singed off was now to her shoulder. It was a bright blonde, different than the side with blue streaks which was black.
"Fireworks I assume mam." Kent responded dumbly.
"You are an idiot." Freya screeched.
Samantha reached out and dropped the darkness powder through the window. She watched as it engulfed the inside of the front courtyard.
"Kent!" Freya called out.
"Jade!" Kent called back.
Samantha could hear them yelling Lumos. She laughed knowing that spell wouldn't work. She stood and looked up to see Neville atop the tower. He was just as out of breathe.
"That was harder than I thought it would be." He gasped, his hands on his knees.
"We aren't kids anymore, are we?" Samantha chuckled before helping him down. "After this, let's retire from crazy adventures. Please, before my knees go out."
"We're only twenty-five. We could handle a few more adventures. I've blocked the main door." He nodded and breathlessly laughed. "They won't get out that way. They have no choice but to go back the other way."
"Show us where to go Duke." Samantha called at the little dragon.
They followed Duke out of the tower and began running along the battlements around the courtyard. It was like a giant cloud in the courtyard. Freya and Kent were still yelling in confusion, but Samantha could tell it was thinning. Kent's yelling was getting louder as they followed Duke down a set of stairs and through a door into a big stone hallway. There was a large wooden door and Duke was flying around it. They could see black smoke seeping through the cracks.
They stood ready and waiting for the door to open. The plan was to now stun them when they came through the door.
Kent came slamming through the door and Neville stunned him while Sam disarmed him. Duke caught his wand and dropped it into Neville's hand. They waited for the darkness to fully clear and to see Freya who hadn't come through.
Samantha looked out once it cleared and only saw a lawn. She saw large unused dragon cages and realized the courtyard had an extension charm. She couldn't see Freya.
Samantha could hear her unmistakable laughter. She turned around to see her face sticking out above them from a window in the hallway. She had her wand raised.
"You think I can't Apparate in my own castle?" She cackled and pointed to herself. "I mean you can't. But I can."
Samantha fired a stunning spell, making Freya duck down.
She popped her head back up and laughed. She leaned on her elbows and propped up her head. "I didn't plan on you being stupid enough to show up here, but just remember, you are on my territory."
"I'm not here to fight Freya, I just want to talk." Samantha yelled back.
She raised her eyebrow and a door down the hallway opened on it's own.
"Meet me in the middle, and we will have plenty of conversations." She batted her long eyelashes before running away.
"That's a trap if I've ever heard one." Samantha said as they looked at the door down the hallway.
Neville rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand, "Yeah, you are right, we're retiring from adventures after this."
They walked down the hallway. Duke flew through the door first. Neville went in the door next. Samantha followed last.
It was like the room had no floor, just a slide into black nothingness. She tried to grip the walls with her hands and feet.
She reached the bottom, another stone hallway, but neither Duke or Neville could be seen. She looked in both directions.
"How about we up the stakes?" Freya's voice cackled but she was nowhere to be seen. "I'll duel whoever gets here first. I wonder which one of you is better at mazes."
Samantha watched as before her eyes, the hallway shifted and new corners appeared.
Samantha swore under her breathe. Things couldn't ever go to plan could they? Her knees were already screaming at her from the climb.
Samantha gripped her wand tightly before running down the hallway. She tried to keep track of the patterns, but they kept changing at almost every turn. If Freya wasn't trying to kill her, she'd be impressed by her skills in transfiguration.
"Already taking so long." Freya's voice bounded.
Samantha continued, sweat dripping down her brow. She wasn't going to stop now, she could get there. She kept repeating affirmations to herself. She was going to get there and this would be over soon.
"Oh, so Lover boy get's here first?" Freya's voice cackled in Samantha's ears.
Samantha's heart dropped, Neville had gotten to her first.
Samantha continued to hear Freya taunting Neville as she tried to maneuver her way through the maze. The words they exchanged echoed like a taunt.
"Anything you'd like to tell Samantha before you die? I'll pass on the message before I kill her."
"Plenty, but she hates last minute confessions." Neville answered back sounding confident.
Freya cackled, "Really? I can't imagine anyone hating those."
"I'll tell her myself."
Samantha tried rounding the last corner, but it changed. She cursed to herself even louder. She kept running, her feet barely staying on the pavement. Everything smelled damp and cold.
"So confident you can out duel me?" Freya asked, again cackling and practically growling.
Her feet slipped out from beneath her. She fell forward, cracking her lip on the pavement. Her knees hit last, slamming with unrestrained force. She groaned as she tried to pull herself up.
"I mean probably."
Freya stopped cackling, "No offense, but you seem oddly unfazed.
Samantha stood as quickly as she could. She could see Duke, flying right ahead of her. She ran to him and he began flying again in the direction she needed to go again. He seemed to know every twist and turn.
She saw a glimpse of moonlight. She was almost there! She could taste the blood in her mouth from her fall. Her knees were sore and she assumed bruised. None of it mattered, she was going to get there.
She could hear the sound of a fall and see a flash of red as she kept her eyes on the mazes' exit.
Samantha's heart dropped as she ran into the courtyard and she screamed. His wand was still in his hand, but he wasn't moving. Neville was lying on his back.
"He isn't dead." Freya insisted as Samantha ran beside him. "I decided it wouldn't be much fun, if you couldn't watch him die."
Freya cackled and practically twirled like a ballerina where she stood.
Samantha thrust her head onto his chest and listened to Neville's heart, it was beating and there was no blood behind his head.
"I've got to admit, I thought dueling a war hero would be more difficult." Freya laughed, "Especially one who'd stood up to The Dark Lord. I guess he doesn't get much practice teaching all of those kiddies."
Freya was right. He was only stunned.
"I also have to say, he's better looking in person." Freya taunted and Samantha tried to block her words out. "I've seen some of those pictures in your apartment from when you were both children, he should certainly be thankful for puberty."
Samantha felt violated knowing she'd been in her apartment and through her personal things. Duke was on her shoulder but jumped down and laid on Neville's chest. Samantha's mind immediately flashed to Kai laying on the dirt ground, his beautiful eyes wide open, staring with no life left.
"Stay there Duke." Samantha whispered, hoping the dragon would listen, "Take care of him."
Duke stood up and tilted his head at her.
"I mean it Duke." She scolded the dragon who prepared to jump.
Duke bowed his head again, but growled in Freya's direction.
"I assume you two are childhood sweethearts." Freya cackled putting her finger to her chin. "Reminds me of a couple I once knew. Reminds me of my dear Kai and I. We met in school. He wasn't much to look at back then, but then again neither was I."
Samantha stood in front of them both and drew her wand.
"I'm hoping to really keep our similarities going. Once he wakes up, I'm going to kill him so you can see the life leave his eyes." Freya tilted her head and laughed.
Samantha insisted and threw her arms to the side, "You will have to kill me first."
Freya boisterously clapped her hands. "Oh, I've noticed you two are a sacrificial couple. How disgusting?"
"What if I had a way we could both get what we want?" Samantha put her arms down. "I'll let you kill me, you let him live."
Freya continued laughing, throwing her head backward and making the blue hair whip around.
"You think I'm joking?" Samantha asked laughing along.
"Well, of course, that's ridiculous. You wouldn't just let me kill you."
"I have a terrible poker face, I can't lie to save my life."
"Are you punking me?" Freya asked crossing her arms.
"I'm sure we can come to an agreement that benefits us both." Samantha said almost flirtatiously with a bat of her eyelashes. It might be her only chance to finish this without another casualty.
Freya exclaimed holding up her wand. "I should kill everyone you love."
"Yeah, but we all know it's me you really want. You want to kill me." Samantha nagged as she strode closer to her. She was sweating from the run, but the cool air had started to make her shiver. "I mean, it's my fault Kai is dead."
Freya fired a spell at her and Samantha put up a shield charm.
Duke growled behind her. Samantha turned to Duke to scold him. She turned her attention back to Freya. She wiped the blood leaving her lips off.
Freya looked her over. "I knew you wouldn't let me just kill you. Stop toying Fyre."
"I just want you to hear what I want to say first. I want to apologize." Samantha tilted her head looking her into Freya's dark eyes. "It is, partially, my fault that Kai is dead."
"What?" Freya yelped.
"It's, partially, my fault and I deserve to pay the price." Samantha shook her head dolefully, "It's my fault a lot of things happened that I'm not proud of."
Samantha had faced death enough times in her life that this moment wasn't as scary as she'd thought it would be. "It's my fault Kai died, he wouldn't have been there that night, if I hadn't wanted to get my brother home. Kai wouldn't have been there if I hadn't made a deal with the Minister of Magic eight years ago."
Freya didn't say anything, but her eyes scanned Samantha from head to toe.
"But my brother wouldn't have been missing, if I'd just been a good sister." Samantha admitted now looking to the ground, "I'd seen him with Hilda and I said nothing to my parents. I thought it was something I could hold over his head."
Freya lowered her wand.
"I mean, when you look at it, It's my own damn fault I was miserable for six years." Samantha grimaced stepping even closer to Freya. "I thought I could handle that life, that I could handle the pressure of a career far beyond my emotional range."
"I broke the heart of the person I love, for six long years." Samantha was close enough to Freya now that she could feel her breathe on her skin.
"Several people are dead because of me, and I don't just mean Hilda or Kai. I mean people I knew and cared for. A good man was permanently scarred barely months before his wedding day, because he saved my life. I could list more if you need."
Freya shook her head, her blue streaks falling in front of her face now.
"It's my fault a lot of things happened and every day I can't handle it." Samantha held up her shaking hands in front of Freya's face. For the first time in a long time though, Samantha was the one shaking them. It wasn't her nerves or her memories, it was her.
Samantha took her chosen shaking as a victory before continuing, "I can't go back and fix things. I have to live with what happened, what I did. So, if you want to kill me, I'm ready for you to put me out of my misery."
Freya grinned and lifted her wand in a combative way.
"But before you do," Samantha gritted her teeth and looked Freya in the eyes again, "remember that you are the one who sold out Kai's home to the Death Eaters. Remember, that you are the one who participated in the trafficking of my brother, who was a child when he was seduced and abused by a woman twice his age."
Samantha grabbed Freya's hand in which she held her wand. Samantha pulled Freya's wand to her own head.
"Remember that you are the one who has lived off of stealing from others. You have murdered and violated basic human rights." Samantha was now grinding her teeth and hoped it wasn't the last moment of her life.
Freya was shaking along with Samantha now.
"I didn't ask Kai to come with me that night, but he did. You may have just wanted him to stay, but he didn't want to stay. You were going to keep him there, beyond his free will."
"Wouldn't you?" Freya asked nodding towards Neville. "If you knew you'd never see him again? If you knew you ruined every chance."
"I did ruin every chance I had with him." Samantha shook her head, "I loved him enough to let him go. It hurt, a lot. I'm lucky he's willing to still love me now."
Freya's eyes softened, Samantha worried she was preparing for the kill.
"You killed Kai because you couldn't accept his choice." Samantha closed her eyes and let her hand off of Freya's. She didn't want her dark eyes to be the last thing she saw.
"If you think killing me, will make it all better, go for it."Samantha put her arms out again and took a step back, her eyes still closed. "But I will die, knowing where I screwed up, knowing what I did and knowing I atoned for everything I screwed up. I will die knowing my love lives."
"You however, I want you to relish my death, I want you to remember that along with your other mistakes, you killed me and your love is dead." Samantha finished her words, and knew deep down they were her last.
There was silence.
Samantha opened her eyes after a moment, when she realized she still hadn't died.
Freya had dropped her wand and had fallen to her knees. "I can't have him back." She sobbed rapaciously, holding herself with her arms.
Samantha knelt down and grabbed Freya's wand off the ground, "If you aren't going to kill me, I'd like you to help me make amends. I have something I want you to see."
Freya didn't move for her wand, just stared up at her, "What could we possibly do?"
Samantha reached into her bag and pulled out the draft of her book. She handed it to Freya "Read it, please. I'd like you to give me your notes."
Freya said nothing, but looked at the book. She opened it after a moment of staring at the title. She began to read.
"Sam?"
Samantha heard Neville's voice who had begun to stir and was now sitting up. Duke had jumped off of his chest and was flying around his head.
"Are you ok?" She asked running over to him and kneeling beside him. She grabbed his face and kissed his cheeks. She wiped a bit of blood off of his face, her lips were apparently still bleeding.
He looked a little out of it. "I think so. I haven't been stunned in a while."
Samantha breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you still alive?" He asked looking her over.
She nodded, crying slightly. He grabbed her into a tight hug.
"Did it work?" He whispered into her shoulder.
She whispered back, "She's reading it."
They let go and sat together, wands at the ready, if she became hostile. They watched Freya read the book Samantha had spent nearly two years writing.
It was a long two hours as they sat there in the base of the castle, waiting for Freya to finish.
They didn't dare to move. The sun was just beginning to rise when Freya finally finished reading. Samantha had her head on Neville's shoulder. She wasn't seventeen anymore, it was harder than it used to be to stay awake like this.
Freya stood above them, handing Samantha the book back, "You can't tell me this won't come without some sort of monetary reward?"
"Most of the proceeds are going to his dragon ranch, the rest is just to pay back the publisher. I'm not making a cent off of this." Samantha said before standing and taking the book back.
"Besides, she doesn't need it." Neville exclaimed exhaustedly. "She's been making a small fortune for nearly a decade."
"Yes, but she gets the notoriety." Freya's eyebrow furrowed.
"I don't need notoriety." Samantha laughed, "I mean, even you called me famous the last time we met. So no offense, but I'm personally not going to let some talentless dragon slag tell me I'm doing something purely for fame."
"Touché." Freya admitted and rolled her eyes. She looked back to the book in Samantha's hands, "You are a hell of a writer."
"Thank you." Samantha nodded.
"And you are a little bit more cunning than I expected Fyre." Freya continued looking her over. "You are missing a few things about Kai though."
"Am I?"
"Important things, that he told no one else. Not even Queenie knows." Freya shook her head, "Which is hard to do."
"I know." Samantha laughed remembering Queenie being in her mind. "I'll make you a deal, or two, if you want."
"Dangerous proposition for you."
Samantha chuckled, "I will let you fill in the gaps and make sure everyone knows his name."
"If?" Freya asked raising an eyebrow.
"If, you don't kill me or anyone else I know." Samantha laughed, "Also maybe let us bring you in, then you can confirm truth about the tampered memory so my brother doesn't go to Askaban."
"But then I go to Askaban?" Freya assumed.
Samantha shrugged. "That's up to you. You seem pretty good at escaping things."
Freya flashed a fantastical smile. "That is pretty true."
Samantha reached into her bag and pulled out her notebook and pen. "I'm ready if you are."
Freya nodded and Samantha began doing what she knew best, writing. Duke sat on her shoulder the whole time, while Neville ended up falling asleep against a wall.