my inheritance (g.w x o.c)

chapter forty-two: a means of escape

I knew you loved me, Darling. Was it so hard to admit it?

I'm sorry I haven't been able to write. As I'm sure you know, the Ministry has been extremely nosey in everyone's mail. I finally got a little note out, but didn't hear back from you. For all I know, the owl never made it, so I decided to reach out with a bit of advertisement. Business is booming so it works out. I've seen you all over the Daily Prophet so at least I know you're alive, but I miss you terribly. You don't look like yourself. You're radiant, as always. I don't think anything could take that away, but your smile looks different. You're a splendid actress, truly. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're having the time of your life with the whole Commission and Ministry work.

However, I do know you, Larissa Prince, the real you.

I know the you who stares at stars in utter adoration, the you who laughs uncontrollably at the random fireworks we set off, the you who becomes so unbelievably undone when I'm around that I can't help but be in awe of you. I know you. That also means that I can tell your smile is fake. I can tell that your eyes aren't excited. You're not scared. I don't know if the word fear is even in your vocabulary, but you aren't happy. And I miss seeing you happy.

I feel like every time I've seen you lately, we've been on such different pages. I just need to see you. I need to hold you and just know that you're okay for a few minutes. I know what you've said about moving on and forgetting you, but you are quite possibly the most unforgettable person, Larissa Prince. Because I remember every detail about you. I remember how your eyes light up when I make you laugh, I remember the way your hands feel in my hair, the way your voice sounds when you've just woken up, how you crinkle your nose when you lie, and how you throw your head back when you laugh. I remember the way your kisses felt and how perfectly your hand fit in mine. I remember it all, Larissa, and sometimes I wish I didn't because I know it's hard. Our situation, it's not fair, but it's us. And if this is what it takes to have a spectacular, mind blowing, once in a lifetime kind of love, then I'll take it. And I'll push and push until you realize I'm not going anywhere. Ever.

I love you, darling. I love you in a way I never knew you could love someone. This might've started as something spontaneous and random, but what we have was in no way an accident. You are not an accident or a mistake. You are my everything. Please protect yourself so you can make it back to me one day.

Yours,

G. Weasley

Tears welled up in my eyes as I finished the letter. This boy truly was heaven on earth. I couldn't understand how I'd gotten so lucky to have him love me.

"Damn it, Weasley," I whispered, wiping away the tears that slid down my cheeks. I reread the letter before putting it in my bag. I had to go see him. As I closed the briefcase, Percy burst into my office. I sat up quickly. "Percy, I thought manners were followed around here."

"They are, I'm sorry, Minister," he panted as if he'd just ran a mile. "But, there's an issue."

"What kind of issue?" I asked.

"A breach," he gasped, still trying to catch his breath.

"A breach? In the Ministry?" I laughed, messing with some papers on my desk. "Who would break into the Ministry?"

"Harry Potter." I froze, looking over at him.

"Harry Potter? He's here?"

"He was here."

"Was?" I asked, standing up. "He got away?"

"I, there was a chase downstairs, and-"

"Lead me there, right now," I demanded, walking towards the door he held open.

"Yes, Minister." When I got downstairs, it was utter chaos. People screaming at each other, water everywhere, the fountain broken. I looked around.

"Quiet," I yelled. Everyone got silent, looking at me. I glared around the room, though inside I was insanely relieved that they got out. "I need someone to tell me exactly what happened. Now." Everyone looked at each other nervously. I crossed my arms. "Fine. Don't tell me. I'll just report that all you imbeciles let Harry Potter get in and out of one of the most heavily guarded areas of the magical world completely undetected." The lift opened, and Dolores and Yaxley got off. "You, what are you two doing up here when there are trials to be held? Of course, your presence might have been useful ten minutes ago." I hoped they would say they'd been freed.

"We were trying to have Mary Cattermole's trial when we were attacked by Runcorn," Dolores snapped.

"Runcorn?" I laughed. "Ridiculous. He would never do such a thing."

"It's because it wasn't Runcorn," someone spoke up.

I turned to face them. "Then who was it?"

"Harry Potter."

"Harry Potter? What are you..." I trailed off, acting as if the realization had just hit me. "Polyjuice potion." I turned to a security guard, pointing at him. He immediately backed up. "You let someone in here disguised with polyjuice potion? Have you not learned the very basics of wizarding security?"

"He was with two others too," another wizard added.

"Who?"

"They didn't transform before they left, but they were disguised as Cattermole and Mafalda."

"Three?" I gasped, looking back at security. "You let three fugitives into my Ministry undetected? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I, I, uh, we are working on, on increasing security."

I glared at him for a moment before bringing a hand up to the bridge of my nose and sighing. "You better have increased security by triple by the end of this week. I want detailed reports on my desk of what you plan to do. If they are not up to my standards..." I pointed up at him. "It'll be your job on the line if not more. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Minister."

I turned back to the crowd. "If you saw Runcorn, Cattermole, or Mafalda this morning and you have significant information on how they got in and what they did once they entered, I expect a letter sent to Percy by the end of the day. Do not send me useless information. Percy, walk with me." I started walking back to the lift. "Every note you get, I want you to read and create a timeline of what they did today. I want to know what each of them did from the moment they stepped foot on the property. Albert, Harry, whoever was in my office from 9:30 to roughly 9:45. Other than that, I'm at a loss. You got it?"

"Yes, Minister," he nodded, making a note on his notepad as we got on the lift. I crossed my arms as I faced the audience. Staring straight at me from the far edge was Arthur Weasley. I raised an eyebrow as the doors closed.

"Percy?"

"Yes, Minister?"

"When was the last time you spoke to your father?"

"Oh, it's been months. His views don't line up with ours, you know."

"Yes," I nodded. "Indeed I do know." This was going to be a lot of hassle, but they made it out. And they saved 20 muggleborns in the process.