Using the prompt 'drawer'
Chapter Sixteen
Hugo did have something he wanted to tell Rose, but at the last minute, had decided against it. His birthday present wasn't the only thing he had found in his parents' bedroom, but he didn't know what to do with it. If Rose had seen it, she would have lost it. She would have snatched it from him and demanded they never look at it again. He knew her too well to know she wouldn't react any other way.
So, although he knew telling her would have been the right thing to do, he decided to keep the information to himself. At least for now.
"Thank you for taking us today, Uncle Harry," Hugo said after they had returned from Huddersfield later that evening. It had been a long way to drive in a day, but he appreciated it. He had wanted to see the house for some time now, but he had known it was also going to be hard. It was as if nothing had happened there. There was nothing that indicated his parents had been killed; no sign of a struggle. Nothing.
Whoever had killed them had fired two Killing Curses straight at them and after that, they were gone. It was hard to think about what had happened on that morning. He didn't want to think about it. Harry said they would find out eventually, but eventually could mean two years away. Hugo wasn't sure if he could wait that long.
"No problem, mate. I was actually starting to think it was time the two of you went back to see it. I just..." Harry didn't finish his sentence, but Hugo nodded to show he understood. It had been hard for Harry too, to have to go back and relive that morning. Hugo and Rose were lucky – they hadn't seen their parents' bodies lying there, lifeless. Harry had not only found them, but had then had to be the one to tell everyone else. That must have been a hard burden to carry.
Ginny appeared from one of the other levels in the house. "How did it go?" she asked, looking between the three of them. Arthur had returned straight home after leaving the house. Hugo wondered how hard it had been on his grandfather as well.
They all nodded.
"It went well," Harry said. "It was good to see it again."
Ginny smiled. "That's good. Well, I've just started making dinner, so it should be ready soon. It's your favourite, Hu," she then added, looking at him directly.
"Thanks," Hugo replied.
After seeing Rose's suitcase full of odds and ends, he had also decided to pack. He needed his things, but he obviously didn't have as much as his sister. She had come back loaded.
With another thank you to his aunt and uncle, he began climbing the stairs – dragging his suitcase behind him – to his room. Rose had chosen to stay downstairs, but he later heard her also walking up. He paid her no attention.
Once safely inside, with his door locked, he got out what had been annoying him from the moment he had found them. When he had gone into their room, something had prompted him to search the drawers. He had just wanted to find something that would make him feel close to them – something that belonged to them.
And he had. He had found letters from his mum to his dad. They were all banded together, tucked away under clothes and probably hadn't been looked at in years. But they were still there and he wanted to read them.
He had only looked over them briefly before stuffing them in his pocket to read them later, but he couldn't find any from his dad to his mum. Perhaps he hadn't replied? No, his dad always replied to letters. His mum probably kept them somewhere else – somewhere he hadn't looked.
If Rose saw them, he knew she wasn't going to like it, so he was glad to be alone as he unfolded the first one. It was dated September, 1998, which – if his math was correct – was the year the war had ended. Hugo wondered if there were any from their time at Hogwarts. His dad probably hadn't kept those ones.
Dear Ron,
It feels weird being back here without you or Harry. I'm not really sure what to do when I'm not studying. Ginny's here, of course, but it's just not the same. I'm still enjoying being back, though. I think I would have gone insane if I hadn't come back to finish my seventh year. It wouldn't feel right.
How are you? I know it's only been two weeks since we saw each other (or said goodbye), but things change in two weeks. We, of all people should know that (and I apologise for not replying sooner, but it's taken some time getting used to being back). How is the Auror training going? I can imagine it would be hard work, but I have complete faith in you to do well. I know you will.
To answer your question, I don't know when the first Hogsmeade trip will be, but I will be sure to let you know when I find out. Oh, I can't wait to see you again! As I said, it's different with you not being here.
And, no, Ron! How could you think that? Of course I'm pleased that you're doing what you want to do. What I meant was that jumping straight into work without finishing school wasn't for ME! I know you'll be fine.
Anyway, I'm writing this over breakfast and class starts soon, so I have to go. I can't wait to see you again.
Love, Hermione.
The next one was dated a few years later, which made Hugo wonder if his dad had only kept the ones that meant something to him. His mum wouldn't wait four years to reply.
Dear Ron,
Harry told me. Well, no, he didn't TELL me, I kind of got it out of him. You know what he's like. Anyway, I thought it was very sweet that you had it all planned out like that, even if it didn't go as you planned.
When it happened, I thought it was because you wanted to keep up with Harry or something. I mean, we were at HIS wedding so I just assumed that was what inspired you. But then Harry said you had been planning on proposing for months before that and that you kept putting it off because you were worried I would say no...?
Why would you think that? Anyway, all that fuss over proposing wasn't you. When have we ever done anything like that? No, I'm actually pleased you kind of came out with it in one muddled sentence at Harry and Ginny's reception (I really am!). It was more you.
I can't wait for you to come home, though. I miss you. I hope your Auror test is going well and I am sending my best wishes and all my love to you. I'm certain that when you get back, I'll be engaged to a fully-fledged Auror (but, it won't matter one bit if I'm not!).
Please reply soon this time! I love you.
Love, Hermione.
Hugo spent the next forty minutes reading through each letter. Some were pages long, while others were only a few sentences – each during a different time. Some were about Hugo and Rose, while they weren't even mentioned in others. But the very last one was what caught his attention. It was dated only two weeks before their deaths. It was relatively short, but as he read over it, he couldn't help but get a feeling they knew something was going to happen. Perhaps they didn't know they were going to die, but his mum seemed to think someone was after them.
Or maybe she was just being paranoid.
Dear Ron,
I'm slightly worried. Well, not worried, just concerned that Begonia Webb may have found us. You know me, I'm not one to get worried about this kind of thing, but the last few days, I've felt as if someone has been watching the house. Ever since you left.
I don't really know how to describe the feeling. Something just doesn't feel right. Maybe I just miss you and want you home? I forgot how lonely it is when you're away and the kids are at school. But, you'll be experiencing that on the weekend (for once!) when I go to Spain to meet with the Spanish Minister.
Anyway, don't panic, it's probably nothing; I just thought I would let you know and find out if you're okay. I don't really want to think about it if she's finally tracked us down. I'm also worried she knows what the kids look like too. If that's the case... do you think I should inform the Headmaster? Just in case?
No, probably not. I think I'm just thinking of excuses for you to come home. I miss you, you know. Anyway, stay safe and I'll see you in three days.
I love you.
Hermione.
P.S. Oh, and don't mention it to Harry, please. He'll just think the worst.
Hugo stared at his mum's handwriting, reading the letter over and over again. She had been worried someone was watching them... had they been watching the house when he and Rose had been there?
And did Harry know about it? She had said not to tell him, so perhaps her uncle was not aware. Would it make it easier for him to find whoever had killed them if Hugo showed him the letter?
He hadn't planned on showing anyone them. It was his secret – something that made him feel close to them – and he didn't want to share it. But, if it helped find who had done it...
"Hugo? Are you in there? Do you want any dinner?"
Hugo stuffed the letters inside his pillow case and opened the door to Ginny. "Yeah, I'm starving," he replied cheerfully, walking past her and down the stairs before she could ask him what he had been doing.
OOO
Later that evening, Hugo took his mother's last letter out from the pillowcase and took it to Harry's office. His uncle was at his desk, bent over some paperwork that he didn't look too pleased about doing. Hugo remembered his dad had the same expression whenever he brought home a pile of parchment that was bigger than his Potions class' essays combined.
But Harry was probably also annoyed because he wasn't allowed to work on the case he wanted to.
Hugo knocked on the door and Harry glanced up, peering at him over his glasses. He set aside the quill he was using and leaned back in his chair. "This is a nice surprise," he said. "You were once terrified to come to this part of the house."
Hugo smiled faintly. He remembered that. When he was seven and was playing a big game of hide-and-seek with his cousins, he had hidden in Harry's office. Staying true to form, he had been the last one to be found, but he wasn't aware everyone had given up looking for him after almost an hour of searching.
He had waited hours and hours – his stomach growling for the dessert that had been promised – but no one came. He was only young and he had stayed there the whole night, until Harry found him hiding in the empty trunk just before he was going to go to bed.
It was a sleepover, so his parents weren't there, and none of his cousins had bothered to mention Hugo was missing, nor did anyone else really notice. There were a lot of Weasleys when they all came together; it wasn't hard to go unnoticed.
Ever since, Hugo hadn't set foot in Harry's office again. But he needed to show him the letter.
"I found something at the house..." He walked over to where Harry sat, and handed him the letter.
Harry took it, watching Hugo curiously, and then read over the letter. Once he was finished, he sat the parchment on the desk and ran his hand over his face, sighing heavily.
"Where in the house did you find this, Hu?" he asked.
"In a pile of heaps of other letters from Mum... But the rest have nothing in them," he added quickly, noticing the look Harry gave him. "They're just letters... they're kind of private."
Harry nodded, letting Hugo know he understood. "Thank you, mate," Harry said.
"Does it help?"
Harry hesitated for a moment, before nodding once. "It certainly brings new light to the matter," he said. "I'll take it to the Aurors first thing tomorrow morning."
"Is... Begonia Webb... is that her?"
Harry nodded again.
"So, it's definitely her, then?"
"Hugo..."
"Well, it makes sense now, doesn't it? Mum said she was watching them only a few weeks before..."
"According to this letter, she never saw who was watching them, if anyone was at all. Even if someone was, there is no proof it was her."
"You said the other day you thought it was her too!" Hugo argued, feeling his temper rise for the first time in ages. "You can't change your mind!"
Harry shook his head. "I'm not changing my mind," he promised. "I stand by what I said – I think it was her. But, the fact is, what I think doesn't matter. To arrest her, we need proof and in this moment we don't have it. If your mum had said she saw who was watching them, then it would be different, but..."
Hugo sighed. "This sucks," he said.
"I know it does, mate. I know. Despite what Rose thinks, I am doing everything in my power – as little as that is – to find out what happened. But..." He waved a hand over the paperwork. "They keep handing me all this so I have no reason to become involved."
"Aren't you the boss, though?" Hugo questioned.
"In the Auror Department, yes. In the Ministry, no. Kingsley is the Minister and he is the one making me do this. He doesn't want me involved."
"That's stupid. You'd be the best at finding her and giving her what she deserves."
"Which is exactly why I shouldn't be involved. What she did... if I saw her, I probably wouldn't act professionally."
"So, don't. I know I sound like Rose, but find her as you... not as an Auror."
"And lose my job in the process?"
Hugo opened his mouth to remind Harry what was more important, but closed it again quickly. He really was beginning to sound like Rose and that was something he didn't ever want to happen. He was the one who understood when something couldn't be done; Rose was the irrational one who didn't care about the rules.
"Thanks," was all he said, making his way over to the door again.
"And Hugo..."
Hugo turned back to his uncle.
"Those letters..."
"Can I keep them?" Hugo asked.
Harry nodded. "Of course."
"And don't tell Rose."
Harry nodded, seeming to understand why he didn't want his sister finding out about them yet. Hugo would deal with the consequences of not telling her later.
"Are you okay?" Harry then asked and Hugo nodded.
"Yes, I'm better." And that was the truth. "Going to the house today... it was the best thing I could have done. I still miss them, but seeing where it happened, it kind of helped me a lot."
Harry smiled. "I'm pleased, Hugo," he said. "You do seem a lot happier."
Hugo returned the smile. "It's Rose you need to watch out for."
Harry sighed, leaning further back in his chair. "I know; I just don't know what to do with her at the moment."
"Just be there for her," Hugo told him. "That's all she needs."
With that, he left his uncle to his paperwork.
So, I have another chapter. As I've finished all 50 chapters, I'll probably be updating more regularly. *Fingers crossed* I hope you all liked this chapter, and your reviews would be much appreciated.