The Scars We Leave Behind

Chapter 13: Augusta

Samantha felt her hands shake as she sat within the Minister of Magic's office. Duke was under her hat and she could feel his claws dug into her braid.

It had been confirmed, Freya Jade was after her and everyone she cared for.

With Atticus being released from his curse, he revealed that Hermione's suspicions were true. Freya Jade had attacked him, and sent him to plant the evidence before finding a way to kill Samantha. Hermione and Rose were both perfectly safe and headed home with a very concerned Ron.

Her brother would thankfully be released. With the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the memory, it was being more closely investigated and it had a few distinctions of being a fake memory. His charges weren't being dropped quite yet, but since Jack's life was now in danger he was being sent into hiding under the protection of the Ministry. They had been allowed to hug briefly. He was promised he could pick up Cherry Blossom and take her along in his hiding.

Samantha was now waiting inside of Kingsley's office to discuss the potential security measures she would need for the Prophet. Her staff didn't need to be in danger because of her. She had asked him to at least check on Neville, but not to tell him what had happened. It was exams and he didn't need the extra stress. She also figured he was safe at Hogwarts, and she wanted him to stay there, where he was safe.

As she waited she wondered if maybe she'd be allowed to help find Freya, she did know a lot about her after all. A large part of Kai's story was his love for Freya. They were unconventional, but they did at one point, by all accounts, love each other deeply. Samantha couldn't understand how she could have killed him after sharing a love like that.

Kingsley returned to his office with Harry in tow. She shoved her shaking hands into her pockets, hoping they wouldn't see them.

"Hi Harry."

He smiled and stood by the door, "Hi Sam."

"We have the Prophet taken care of." Kingsley insisted as he sat down, "Business will resume as normal tomorrow, with a small security detail and a different headline."

Samantha insisted a different article to be published in place of the one about her brother since it was now being more thoroughly investigated. Thankfully, because she had shut down the office, it hadn't been allowed to run. 

"You may give Mr. Weaving whatever you'd like published about the attack, can't look like we are hiding anything." Kingsley nodded noticing the ink on Samantha's fingers. She admittedly had taken a few moments and written down her experience.

"Have all the Aurors been questioned, no one else is under a curse right?" Samantha asked with a quick gulp, trying to hide her genuine fear.

"Of course, and a thorough investigation is being conducted as to how she was able to infiltrate our security." Kingsley handed her a paper. "Here is every precaution we will set up for the Prophet and it's staff."

"We also have Aurors with your parents. We are taking them to a safe location." Kingsley stated before Samantha could ask. "And Mr. Longbottom is in fact perfectly safe."

"Alright, how are we catching Freya then?" Samantha smiled, breathing a long sigh of relief. 

"We, the Ministry, will handle Freya, she is under our jurisdiction," Kingsley grumbled. 

"Great, then I should just go ahead and go home then." She was disappointed they didn't want her help. However, she was more than ready to go home for a long bath and a bit of fire whiskey to calm her headache.

"We haven't discussed your personal security." Kingsley said motioning for her to sit back down. 

"I don't need security." Samantha insisted before rubbing her head, the headache had now spread from just above her nose to her temples. "I'm pretty capable on my own. I've done more research on Freya than maybe anyone alive, for my book."