Using the prompt 'Inheritance'

Chapter Eighteen

It wasn't until a few weeks after Draco Malfoy's visit to Grimmauld Place that he returned again, this time bearing the will he had promised them. Hugo was still surprised that his parents had one in the first place. Wasn't that only for old people? People like his grandparents?

"Your parents weren't just going to leave you with nothing," Harry said when Hugo had voiced this opinion. "They made it not long after Rose was born. And they added you to it when you were born."

"But they weren't supposed to die now," Hugo said. "How did they know?"

"They didn't. They were just prepared," Harry said.

Hugo still wasn't convinced by this and he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear what was in the will. What had his mum and dad left them? They had never mentioned it, so he didn't know.

"Rose, Hugo, can you come into the living room, please?" Ginny asked when Draco Malfoy had arrived. Malfoy and Harry were standing behind her silently. Draco was once again dressed in Ministry robes determining his purpose there.

Of course he'd never actually come because he felt bad. From what he had heard, Scorpius' dad was probably pleased his parents were dead.

Hugo had been sitting with Rose in the kitchen when Ginny had called them. They had been eating lunch, but at the arrival of Malfoy, their lunches lay forgotten and they followed their aunt and uncle into the open living room. Hugo sat on one couch with his sister, while Draco sat on the other. Harry and Ginny stood to the side.

Draco coughed to get their attention. "So, as you are probably already aware, I am here about your parents' will," he said. "It has taken some time to get a hold of it, but they finally handed it to me just yesterday." He took out his wand and with one wave, a piece of parchment appeared in his hand.

He coughed again, seeming to feel as uncomfortable as Hugo felt. "Rose Nymphadora Weasley and Hugo Bilius Weasley, here I have the will of Ronald and Hermione Weasley." He glanced down at the parchment and then back to Rose and Hugo. "I could go through the list, but in the end, your parents have left you everything."

"What?" Rose sat up a little straighter. "What do you mean, everything?"

"Exactly what it sounds like," Draco answered. "The two of you have inherited everything. Your house, everything that is inside of it, and their money at Gringotts. It's all yours."

Hugo looked around the silent room at everyone's shocked faces. Why were they all so surprised? Who else would've his mum and dad left everything to? Were they expecting Harry and Ginny?

"And who do they want to care for Rose and Hugo?" Ginny asked uncomfortably.

Malfoy nodded. "The two of you."

"Not their grandparents?"

"No, it specifically states that in the event of their deaths they give custody of their children to Harry and Ginevra Potter until they turn seventeen." He cleared his throat, "In the event of our deaths, we entrust the care of our daughter and son with Harry James Potter and Ginevra Molly Weasley until their seventeenth birthdays."

Hugo wasn't sure, but Harry and Ginny both looked relatively relieved by this news. Had they been worried he and Rose would be sent back to Sunbury to live with their Muggle grandparents?

"Is that all?" Harry asked.

Malfoy hesitated. "Well, I do have some other news, but only if you want to hear it."

"If it's to do with what happened to Mum and Dad, then we want to hear it," Rose said before anyone else had the chance.

Malfoy nodded. "Okay then. I have been doing some research regarding your parents' case, and I came across some news that the Auror department kept quite secretive from the rest of the Ministry." He looked pointedly at Harry. "About eighteen months ago, there was this –"

"We know about that!" Rose interrupted. "My dad had a spell go wrong and it ended up killing a little boy. Dad was devastated and the mother of that kid was out to get them. Yes, we know. I thought you had something new to tell us. Besides, it was all over the papers days after they were killed. How could you not know?"

Malfoy looked down at the parchment in his hand again. "I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you were informed, but I suppose I should have guessed... and to answer your question, Rose, I didn't read the Prophet. I haven't for a very long time."

Hugo found that hard to imagine. Everyone read the Prophet. Everyone would assume his dad had killed a little boy on purpose, and killed his mum too. And surely Rose had told Scorpius what she knew.

"It's strange, though, don't you think, Malfoy," Harry said, "That even you, who was unaware of their situation, came to the same conclusion as us after reading into it. That woman sent them death threats, she threatened to harm their children, yet we've been unable to locate her."

"I'm having some of my own people in my department look into it too," Malfoy said, "And I've spoken to some of the Aurors on the case. We'll find her eventually. I can assure you."

"Why do you care so much anyway, Malfoy? I'm still confused about that." Ginny was looking at him with great curiosity – as if she truly couldn't believe he had no alternative motive.

"Like I said, they didn't deserve to die like they did."

Ginny shook her head.

"And, as I also said, my son insisted that I do something to help."

Ginny still didn't seem convinced, but Hugo was. He knew Scorpius better than his aunt and uncle. Scorpius could be very persuading when he wanted to be, especially when Rose was involved. Hugo had no doubt he was telling the truth.

"Listen, Potter, I don't know what kind of explanation you're looking for, but that is the truth. I am not here to argue with you, I am simply here to do my job..." Malfoy waved the parchment at them, which even Hugo thought might have been a little unprofessional. "Which I have done," he then continued. "Ron and Hermione Weasley's children have inherited everything they ever owned and they have granted you custody of them. What else are you looking for?"

"An explanation as to who killed Mum and Dad!" Rose cried. "You're a useless lawyer."

"Rose..." Harry warned.

Malfoy got to his feet and Hugo could see he was doing everything he could to stop himself from saying something to Rose. "I have told you all I know," he said after taking in a deep, calming breath. "When I hear more, I will let you know. In the meantime, I suggest the four of you decide what you want to do with your house. My suggestion would be to sell it, but if that's the case, I will have to put you in contact with somebody else to help you as I have little knowledge in dealing with Muggles and their businesses."

"Sell our house?" Hugo had never even considered that, but he supposed it made sense. What use was their house going to be if they couldn't live there? But who would want to live there after people had been murdered?

"But... we just saw it for the first time like a month ago." Rose's voice was quiet, sad.

"No decisions will be made today," Harry assured them. Malfoy nodded in agreement.

"Absolutely not," he agreed. "That is something you can ponder over for some time. It is yours now, meaning you can decide what you do with it."

"What else exactly did Mum and Dad leave us?" Hugo wondered. He didn't realise he had spoken his question out loud until Malfoy responded.

"All the gold they ever had saved in their vault at Gringotts," he said.

"Which was how much?"

"Enough that will get you by for some time."

"We never had that much," Rose interrupted. "How much?"

"I don't know the exact amount. You are welcome to go and see for yourselves."

"They're really gone, aren't they?"

Rose's arm found Hugo's shoulder and she squeezed it tightly. "Only in body, Hu," she said.

"That's right, Hugo," Ginny added softly. "You still have the memories."

Hugo nodded. Strangely, he was okay with that. Or, he had accepted it. It felt strange.

"Okay, well, I suppose I'll leave it at that now." Malfoy got to his feet, looking intently at Rose. There was something in his expression that resembled affection. Or perhaps it was pity. Hugo didn't know the difference.

Harry got to his feet too and shook hands with Scorpius' dad. "Er, thanks," he said. "We'll be in touch?"

Malfoy nodded. "When I hear something." He hesitated, and then said, "Listen, you may not believe me when I tell you this, but I really am sorry about your loss and what is being said about your family."

Harry nodded. "Thank you."

From where he still sat on the couch, Hugo saw the tension between his uncle and Scorpius' dad. Would they ever like each other? Probably not. There was too much history between them.

"I'll be in touch," Malfoy promised. "In the meantime, if you come to any decisions at all, let me know." He left the living room and Hugo could hear his feet echoing down the hallway to the door. It seemed he was still unwelcome to use the Floo Network.

Harry returned after Malfoy had left and took his seat on the couch. "Are you two okay?" he asked.

Hugo nodded. Rose shook her head.

"I know it's a lot to take in."

"It kind of makes it all final, doesn't it?" Rose asked softly. "We have the house, the car, their money, because they won't need it anymore." She paused, seeming to think. "And why would they leave us everything anyway? Why would they leave us with such a burden?"

"I don't think they thought it was a burden to you, Rose," Ginny said.

"Well, it is."

"No, it's not."

Everyone turned to Hugo, waiting for him to continue.

"It made me feel better... knowing they can never really come back," he confessed. "It makes it easier to accept."

Rose was looking at him as if he had contracted Spattergroit, but Harry and Ginny nodded, showing their understanding.

"That's a very mature thing to say, Hugo," Harry said. "And very meaningful. Your mum and dad will be pleased to know they raised two very mature and strong-willed children."

Hugo smiled.

"So, what should we do about the house?" Rose interrupted, making it clear she didn't want to talk about their parents.

"That is entirely your decision, Rosie," Harry said. "Yours and Hugo's. We will support your decision no matter what it is."

"I'm not sure if I'm ready to sell it yet; to say goodbye."

Harry nodded. "I understand. And as Draco said, there's no pressure to do it soon. The two of you talk about it and even if it takes you a year to decide, that's fine, okay?"

Hugo and Rose both nodded. It probably was going to take that long. How were they supposed to make such a tough decision? They were only teenagers.

"But, we're glad you're the ones looking after us," Hugo then said.

Rose nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I like it here."

Harry and Ginny both smiled. "Well, that's good at least. The two of you have seemed a lot happier the past week or so."

"That's because I'm accepting that they're gone," Hugo answered. He looked at Rose, but she purposely avoided making eye contact. She, too, had seemed a lot happier, but he knew it was only a front. Deep down, Rose had not come to terms with what had happened at all. They would have to look out for her. More so than Hugo. "I also think I want to go back to Hogwarts after summer," he added.

Harry nodded. "That sounds like a good plan, mate. Have a few more weeks to think about it, but once the others are back and settled, I'll inform Professor Gimp. He was probably expecting that to be the case anyway."

"Will I have to redo fourth year, though?" Rose questioned. "Seeing as I missed a lot?"

Hugo bit his lip. He hadn't actually thought about that, but now that Rose had mentioned it, it would make sense. For Rose, it would probably be okay. She knew more than sixth years did anyway, but he wasn't that smart. He had to practice a spell over and over again to get it even half right.

The thought of being in the same year as the Finnigan twins frustrated him. They were so irritating and he couldn't imagine sharing a dormitory with them. No one liked them, not even their sister, Jasmine.

"I'll see what I can do," Harry replied. "There may be a way for you to do your exams without having to repeat the year."

No one moved from their spots in the living room after that. They all watched Harry expectantly.

He laughed. "You can go," he said. "We're done here, now."

Hugo was the first to leave, heading back down the hall to finish his long forgotten lunch. Rose joined him just as he sat in the chair.

"Do you want to sell the house?" she questioned, retaking her own seat. "It seems strange that one day, someone else might be sleeping in my room... sleeping in their room."

"What else will we do with it?" Hugo asked. "We can't live there."

Rose's expression saddened. "I know," she said. "But I'll be seventeen in two and half years and I was thinking maybe..." She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I'll probably be over the idea then and want to get out of England or something."

"You want to live there?" Hugo questioned. "In the house?"

Rose shook her head again. "No, not really. I... I just don't want to sell, that's all. It'll mean we have nothing left of them."

Hugo subconsciously glanced down at his dad's watch on his wrist. He saw that his sister was wearing their rings. They were only little things, but they were still something and in his opinion, they were better than any house. They were more personal.

Neither of them had touched their sandwiches and Hugo felt strangely full despite his stomach growling. He pushed his plate away.

"Do you think it will ever get easier, Rosie?" he asked.

She turned to him. "I thought you were okay with it?" she said angrily.

"It doesn't mean it's easy."

"I think we'll never forget about them, Hu, nor do I want to forget. But I hope the pain goes away. I'm not sure how much more of this I could take."

Thanks for all your lovely reviews for this, and thank you Joanna for beta-ing this chapter. It resulted in a lot of yelling on her part, because uni has taken over my soul, and all characters of mine now write in some posh language that results in no contractions of you're, that's, etc.

Please review this chapter. I'd love to hear your opinions!