Chapter 10
It had been a lovely week since the wedding and Louise was getting used to being called ‘Lady Gisborne’. At first, it had felt weird but now she was slowly getting used to the change in name. Glancing around, Louise noticed that Guy had already left to go to Nottingham Castle. She had been hoping to spend some quality time with him but after a few days the Sheriff had summoned Guy to the castle to resume his duties. When she had heard about it, she was disappointed that their time had been cut short but yet she was annoyed with the Sheriff. She was certain that it was payback for when she stood up to him at the wedding, when all she did was protect her family. Thinking back to the wedding, her thoughts wandered onto the unexpected guest, Elijah Mikaelson.
Since that day, Louise hadn’t been able to keep the Mikaelson’s out of her thoughts. Even though, they had brought her up, she knew that they were family, well kind of. In fact, they may have been family, if she trusted the story in which Freya had told her when she was younger. Yes, they would have been a family.
Hearing a knock on the door, she came out of her thoughts, a small frown appearing wondering who it could be.
“Come in,” She shouted.
Seeing a guard, she raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised to see him but what intrigued her, was that he was holding something.
“My lady, this has just come for you,” the guard said, handing the letter over.
“Thank you,” she said taking the letter and watching the guard leave the room. Looking down at the letter, a frown appeared with her eyes widening. Nobody knew he has Louise Mikaelson here, so how did the guard know it was for her. They knew where she was, and it would probably be a matter of time before they appeared. When Guy would come home for the evening, she had decided she would tell him about her past, especially when she lived with the Mikaelson’s and how she knew Elijah. In the meantime, Louise became restless as she hadn’t been the kind of person who could sit around and do nothing. She had to be kept busy and it was more evident during the pregnancy. Getting up, she wondered on what she could do, figuring out that she could continue doing the job she liked as an Auror. She was well aware that with the news of her pregnancy being out in the open, there would be restrictions on what she would be able to do. Getting dressed into a loose fitting pink top and black legging, she went searching for the bag in where her wand was kept.
Arriving at the Ministry of Magic, Louise swallowed hardly, remembering the battle in the department for Mysteries in where she had seen the death of her father. That was one of the reasons in why she wouldn’t work within the department as she didn’t want to be reminded of his death everyday. Walking through the reception and the various corridors, people was beginning to stare at her, much to her own annoyance. There was no getting away from it with her being known as the girl who lived and the sister to Harry Potter. Realising that she was entering the corridors of the department for Magical Law Enforcement, she sighed softly wondering what the workload on her desk would look like.
With the various officers in the corridor being empty, Louise wondered if something important was happening and if so, why hadn’t she been informed? Reaching the meeting room in where the auror’s went for briefings, Louise opened the door, entering silently. She was right, something major was happening. Hearing an unfamiliar voice, made her feel uneasy as she knew that the situation, they were discussing was a bad one. Quickly glancing around the room, she tried to see if she could spot Harry and if so, could she get to him easily. Seeing where he was, she knew that going to him was a bad idea but when Harry saw Louise, he was shocked to see her.
Why was Louise here? He had no idea apart from thinking that Louise hadn’t resigned or asked for any time of. She was foolish, Harry thought to himself. Standing up, he walked over to where Louise and pulled her to one side so that the pair were less visible.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Harry whispered, both of them looking to the front of the room, shocked at the events which were happening. It appeared that the gentleman who had most of the talking was called John, who claimed to be a prince, which Louise found it hard to believe. What made it harder to believe was that Sheriff and Guy of Gisborne had been introduced by Prince John. With the introduction of Guy, there seemed to be a few gasps and murmurs with people looking around the room to see if Louise was present.
“Why are they here?” Louise asked, glancing at Harry, hoping he knew the reason why.
“I don’t know,” Harry replied, “Although I think you should tell him,” He continued, wondering if Louise would listen to him.
“He knows,” She whispered, glancing at the front with her gaze on Guy.
He was unaware, she was present, but she could tell that he wasn’t happy about something. Why would he? She was going to introduce him to Ministry of Magic at some point- she hadn’t decided when. However now he seemed to stick out like a sur slug. He certainly felt uncomfortable.
With the briefing come to a close, Louise sneaked out so that any attention wasn’t on her. The last thing she needed was for Guy to know she was here without being able to limit the damage which may be caused. Running a hand through her hair, her eyes widened, seeing the amount of paperwork on her desk. She had been away for far too long, especially if there was anything which happened to be urgent. Seeing the name stand, Louise smiled slightly happy to see that it still read, ‘Louise Potter-Black.’ She had expected that it would have been changed. Sitting down in the seat, Louise drifted of into her own thoughts, wondering if today was going to be her last day for a while. She was hoping it wasn’t but in the back of her mind, she had a feeling that it was going to be her last day working.
“So, how’s married life?” A male voice asked, bringing Louise out of her thoughts. The male voice turned to be Neville.
“Oh, you know, exactly the same as before,” She replied.
While she was sitting there, Louise had a feeling that someone was watching her. Wanting to see if her suspicions were right, she turned her head to the direction where she thought they were. To her horror, she was right, but it was her husband who was watching her. Now, this definitely needed some damage control.
Looking back at the paperwork, she had decided that she would focus on her work until she had the courage to explain everything. Seeing Cyrus, the head of the Auror’s department, coming towards her, Louise wondered if she had done anything wrong.
“Nice to see you, Louise,” Cyrus said, glancing at her, “Light duties only. No arguments.” He ordered, walking away.
Light duties! Was there any point in her being here if she was only able to carry out the easy duties as she called it. She was about to complain with what Cyrus has said, but before she could, he had already started to walk away and was talking to other Aurors in the office. Sighing in annoyance, Louise rested her head on the desk, annoyed that she couldn’t do the full duties, she had been doing. In a way, they were trying to take care of her, especially with her pregnancy, even though they knew she could face anything.
“Could today get any worse?” She asked, whispering to herself. Lifting her head up, her gaze fell in her husband and yes today could get worse.
“What are you doing here?” Louise asked keeping her gaze on Guy. Was that the right question to ask? She wasn’t sure but seeing Guy’s expression, Louise wondered if she had asked the wrong question and whether he would do anything.
“What am I doing here?” Guy replied, surprised with what Louise had said, “I should be asking you the same thing,” he said walking round to the side of the desk in where Louise were.
Hearing the reply, Louise bit on her lip, realising he was right, but she wasn’t going to admit it especially with being around friends. She had a reputation to uphold, and she wasn’t going to risk it for anyone, even her husband. Trying to form a reply, she wondered if he would believe her. Seeing Neville stand up, her attention was drawn elsewhere but hearing one of the auror’s asking for backup, Louise stood up.
“I’ve got to go,” she said, glancing at Guy, wondering if he would let her go.
Feeling someone’s hand on her arm, Louise was about to object but when she saw how Guy was looking at her, she swallowed hardly. She knew in that instant that she somehow had to allow him to understand this crazy world she in and that it was her life.
“Be safe,” He whispered, letting her go, not knowing what she was heading into.
Arriving at the location, Louise looked round, listening to what Stuart was saying, who was one of the more senior Auror’s within the department. When he had finished talking, he noticed that Louise was there.
“Louise,” Stuart called after her, “Go back. It’s not…”
“No,” Louise interrupted, “This may be my last one I catch. I’m not going back,” she said sternly, making her way through the forest. When it came to Louise doing her job, she was stubborn and also difficult when she stood up for herself when it came to dangerous tasks.
Coming to a stop, Louise tried to listen out for any sounds but there was none. It was quiet. Too quiet for Louise. Something wasn’t right and she was afraid. If anything happened, she knew that she should have stayed at the Ministry where she was safe. This was no job for an expectant mother.
Not realising that someone was sneaking up on her, she was alarmed when someone had placed their arms around her. Knowing that she was in trouble, she tried to get free or even scream out for someone to come and help her. It seemed like the person knew what her plan was as they covered her mouth with an old rag. Realising she couldn’t get out of the situation, her thoughts drifted to Guy. Guy of Gisborne. I love you. This was her last thought before she lost consciousness.
The search had been going on for just short of an hour with no success. With most of the auror’s back together, Stuart realised that there was someone missing.
“Harry,” he called, trying to find him in the crowd.
“Stuart,” Harry called wondering if anything was troubling him.
“Have you seen Louise?” he asked, hoping he had seen her and persuaded her to go back to the ministry.
“Before we came here?” he replied, wondering why he was being asked that, but it soon occurred to Harry, that Louise was one of the aurors who had come, “Please tell me, you sent her back,” Harry commented, knowing how stubborn Louise could be.
“I tried but you know how she can be,” Stuart replied, frantically looking round, hoping he could see her.
“I do,” Harry said quietly, “Go, I’ll look for her, leave me Neville,” He instructed.
“I can’t,” He said, “She’s disappeared on my watch,” Stuart explained, knowing that it would be his fault if anything had happened to her. Looking around the group of auror’s, Stuart began to wonder on which one he could trust the most and was capable of having a poker face.
“Cleo,” he called out, waiting for Cleo to be close to him. Once Cleo was in front of him, he began telling her his orders, “Take everyone back but tell Cyrus mission failed and auror missing in action.”
“Who’s missing?” Cleo asked, wondering on who it could be.
“Louise,” Stuart replied, seeing the expression on Cleo’s face, “Don’t let onto Guy that it’s Louise who’s missing,” Stuart ordered with Cleo nodding her head to say she understood the orders, “Harry and Neville will be staying behind.”
While Stuart was giving Cleo the orders, Harry was busy talking to Neville about what was happening and what they were going to do.
When all of the auror’s had left and there was only the three of them left, they looked at each other knowing exactly what they were going to do. In the present situation, it was Harry who had the most to lose by losing his sister and his unborn niece or nephew. If anything happened, he could imagine how Guy was going to react and for Harry that was scary.
With the three going in their own directions, they were well aware of what the protocol was if they found Louise or suspected foul play.
Walking for what seemed forever, Harry came across a clearing which had two sets of footprints entering with only one exiting. This was the place; he was sure of it. Noticing a piece of fabric, which seemed out of place, Harry picked it up, lifting it to his nose. With the smell of the fabric, a frown appeared on his face. This was a trick; a trap and Louise was the victim.
Sending a flare up in the air, Neville and Stuart were stood by Harry’s side.
“Harry,” Stuart said, hoping he would have good news for him. Not seeing Louise, but seeing the cloth, his whole body filled with guilt. He had unknowingly led Louise into the situation she was now in. If only he had been a bit pushier in sending her back to the ministry.
“We need to go back,” Neville said, knowing that whatever happened to Louise, wasn’t going to be solved by standing there.
With the three apparting back to the ministry, Harry knew he couldn’t go back to the department if Guy was there. How could he explain about what had happened. He couldn’t.
“If Guy is still there, don’t tell him. I should be the one to tell him,” Harry said sternly, with the trio walking towards the Magical Law Enforcement department.
Arriving at the entrance of the department, they were met by Cyrus. With the way he was standing, Harry knew it wasn’t good especially with them not returning with Louise present.
“I specifically told Louise light duties,” Cyrus started, “Who authorised her involvement in the mission,” Cyrus asked.
“I tried to send her back, but you know how stubborn she can be,” Stuart replied, knowing full well it wasn’t a good enough answer.
“Well I hope for all of our sakes, you find her or at least know what went wrong,” Cyrus said angrily before turning his attention to Harry, “You can tell Guy what happened.”
When Harry heard Cyrus’ words, he glanced down at the floor he was prepared to do it anyway. “Is he still here?” Harry asked, wondering where the best place was to tell him.
“No, he went home when everyone came back,” He replied, “But don’t worry he is only aware that the mission failed. Lucky for you Stuart that Cleo came straight to me upon her arrival.”
“We will keep looking for Louise?” Harry asked.
“We will,” Cyrus replied, “Only because she went missing, while she was working,” Cyrus explained, entering the department.
Being a few hours since he had seen Louise, Guy was becoming worried about her and especially with what was holding her up considering that most of the Aurors had arrived back with the exception of Harry, Neville, Stuart and Louise. Had Louise been injured? He needed to know where she was to stop him from thinking about the worst-case scenario.
“Sir Guy,” A guard spoke, “Harry is here, and he wished to see you.”
Hearing Harry’s name, Guy looked up and came out of his thoughts. Seeing a pained look on Harry’s face, panic spread through him, but he wasn’t going to show it. Dismissing the guard, Guy kept his gaze on Harry, standing up, “I’m guessing, Louise is hurt.”
“I was hoping she had come back home,” Harry said, glancing down to the floor, “It was a trap. When we were back together, Louise wasn’t there.” Harry said allowing his gaze to fall on his brother-in-law.
Guy on the other hand couldn’t quite help to worry even more with panic creeping in. Where was she? Was she safe? Was anyone holding her captive? These were all questions which was coming into his mind. Making his way to the bedroom, he was hoping to see Louise laid in bed either asleep or awake. Seeing the bed empty and an unopened letter. Glancing at the envelope, he saw that the name on the letter was a name in which he had only heard once and that was Hope Mikaelson in who Louise had introduced as a very close friend. Could Hope know Louise more than what was mentioned. Picking the letter up, he realised that it hadn’t been opened. Did Louise know it was here or was it sent to the wrong person. In his mind, Louise wasn’t and had never been a Mikaelson, but now he was beginning to wonder, if she was one.
Walking downstairs, Guy glanced at Harry, wondering if he could answer the questions regarding the surname and the letter.
“Was Louise a Mikaelson?” He asked, glancing at Harry, wondering if he would give him a straight answer.
Harry was surprised to hear the question, let alone the surname. He had assumed that Louise would have told him about her family past. If she had mentioned the Mikaelson’s to Guy, he wouldn’t be asking such a weird question.
“Yes. She was brought up with the Mikaelson family.” Harry replied, “She was known as Louise Mikaelson up to a few years ago. Why?” He asked with his eyes glancing down to the letter in which Guy was holding.
“This is addressed to her using the surname,” Guy replied.
Hearing the reply, Harry’s eyes widened in surprise. The Mikaelsons wasn’t capable of abduction and he very much doubted that they would hurt Louise. She was family to him.
“I don’t think they will hurt her,” Harry said, hoping it would reassure Guy, “They love her. She’s a part of their family,” He continued, “But we do need to find her,” He finished, heading towards the door.
Harry’s words about the Mikaelson’s did nothing to ease his mind, they just brought more questions. So, Louise and Hope was related but how? If she was a valued member of the Mikaelson’s, why wasn’t they in attendance at their wedding.
“And how are you going to find her?” Guy asked coldly, “You don’t know where Louise is.” He stated in a matter-of-fact way.
“We have our ways. Louise will be found,” Harry said simply, “You have my word on that.”