House: Gryffindor

Category: Themed

Prompt: Bill Weasley

Words: 602

A Letter to the Dead

Dear Tonks and Lupin,

I know this letter is redundant considering that you won't actually read it. But it helps me to write these letters. I've written Fred a ton which I keep in a little box. Someday I plan to bury them next to his grave once I'm done. Although it's been twenty-three years give or take since the Battle of Hogwarts and I continue to write them.

I was told writing as if all of you could read it would help me in the grieving process. I'm not sure if that's true but it makes it seem like you're still here.

The whole point of this letter is to tell you that Teddy and Victoire are getting married. We've been discussing how to include the both of you. Luna says we should leave some empty chairs for you to sit at. I know Tonks would think that was dumb and a waste of space so I told her no. I think Teddy just wants everyone to acknowledge your passing and not make it a big deal. Victoire is planning on picking purple flowers to surprise him since that was Tonks' signature color.

I'm sure you already know this since you're up there watching everything. I just thought a way for me to include you both was to write this letter.

But the more I write this letter the more I'm reminded of the fact that I got to see Teddy grow up and you didn't. That I get to attend their wedding and you can't. That I get to watch my daughter walk down the aisle to marry your son and you aren't here to celebrate with me.

It also has widened my perspective of life. Tonks was two years behind me in school and our children are getting married. But then I see Harry at dinner and remember that he has to watch the son of his father's friend grow up the way he did.

Teddy does have a better family support, but it still breaks my heart that the last war with Voldemort was only a reflection of the previous war. And that we didn't have adequate time to say goodbye.

That's mostly why I wrote this. I've had this feeling of guilt and remorse shoved deep inside for so long. I couldn't mention your names when Teddy and Victoire started dating. I never came to the memorial. Well I did but I was inside with Percy trying to calm him down from an anxiety attack.

I guess another point of this letter is to official let you go. To let the guilt of not saying goodbye go. To finally accept that you're gone and can't come back.

Sincerely,

Bill Weasley

Bill signed and folded the letter into an envelope. He apparated to Tonks' and Lupin's graves and dug a small hole in between them. He placed the letter in the dirt and covered it back up.

When he got back home dinner was ready. Bill was spaced out the entire meal thinking about the dead couple. It was true that the letter was meant to be a formal goodbye but he didn't want to admit their passing. It seemed unfair that he lived to see the union of their children and the others hadn't.

He thought the letter would help him but it made things worse. A letter to the dead didn't solve any problems. It's not like his words could resurrect them or Fred. He decided that he would bury Fred's letters soon. To fully move on and let them go. He would finally say goodbye.