AN: Best read in the second font option (serif) under 1/2 page setting. Enjoy.
"What's this?"
Lily Potter had managed to yank up a floorboard in one of the top bedrooms in 12 Grimmauld Place. The disapproving look on her mother's face as she slipped into the room told her she she shouldn't even be in the room, let alone ripping the place apart.
"Lily, did I not tell you to stay in the drawing room?"
"I know, but look." Her mother dropped to the floor beside her, taking the papers from her daughter and setting them down in her lap. The handwriting was almost illegible, scrawled and smeared and scribbled out. The dates and names were perfectly readable, however. Ginevra had to bit down hard on her lip to keep the tears from flooding out. She didn't have a clue why all of these emotions were brewing inside of her, but what she could make of the rest of the letter was a good enough reason.
Ginny frowned at the sheets of parchment, shuffling through. There were almost thirty six in total. The twenty eighth was torn in most places, hard to read and very tattered. She shuffled back to the first letter and skimmed over it, her heart beating as if she was reading a text able to bring life to the dead. She knew that would never happen. She knew how much he would love that, but she knew. She knew it wasn't possible.
With trepidation, she parted her lips and drew the first words.
1981
Dear Marlene,
I miss you. I miss your hugs, your warm embrace. I miss the way your perfume lingered on my bed sheets after you'd left. I miss the way you'd kiss me hurriedly before you had to rush off to Divination. I miss the soft silk of your hair against my cheek. I miss holding you in my arms. I miss the way you'd sneak in and out of our dorm before the boys had woken up. I miss the way you'd hold my hand under the breakfast table. I miss the way you'd laugh about the silly little things with me. I miss our inside jokes, our private laughs. I miss stomping through the snow, hand in hand. I miss Hogsmeade weekends. I even miss the arguments. I miss everything.
But most of all, I miss you.
Just you.
Padfoot.