Six Feet Under ✓ || D.M

|three - david benson|

Y/N

~~~

I SOMEHOW found myself in the middle of the woods.

After Draco got away, I used the tracking spell once again, leading me into the woods. It got dark quick, and I decided it was better to camp out rather than die out in the woods. Funny how I'm the best Auror of my age, yet I'm still scared of what I might find in the woods.

The sun came up an hour ago, but I haven't moved from my spot, looking up at the roof of my tent. Yesterday, when we met eyes, it was like everything came back to me. His sweet smiles, only reserved for me, his dazzling silver eyes that used to look at me as if I was greater than any diamond out there.

My stomach turned. Either they were butterflies, or I was hungry. I like to think it was the latter.

I sat up from my sleeping bag, grabbing a sandwich I packed, I munched on it, telling myself to move as soon as I finished eating.

As I did, however, my attention was brought from my food to the radio standing in the corner of the room, "Reporting from Hogsmeade, a man was found dead on his bed in Hog's Head Inn," I glanced at my watch, it was ten in the morning, "It is rumoured that this man was murdered. And I think we all know who everyone's suspecting- A Dark Wizard on the lose. When will the Ministry ever move?"

My breath hitched. Hearing that made me realize how slow I've been. If I want to catch him, I need to move now.

I know you don't want to catch him.

The reflection of myself seemed to talk to me through the glass of my lamp, but I ignored it, standing up and keeping my sandwich for later.

I put my scarf on, quickly packing my tent away in a swish of my wand.

He's moving fast.

I already know I have to move faster.

• • •

It was weird going to Hogsmeade at this age, hunting for a Dark Wizard, considering I never went much back when I was a student.

My housemates always asked me to join them, but I'd always kindly decline, and stick my nose in a book. They however, never came back without a chocolate frog for me.

I've always been thankful for them. Even now they're buried deep under the ground, their sacrifices for the late war. Never forgotten.

When I arrived the little town full of shops, I noticed many people trying to get into Hog's Head Inn, but a woman told them that they should just mind their own businesses.

The people left with a tiny frown, some mumbling about how this was all bloody ridiculous. I stopped my tongue from telling her that her gossiping was ridiculous.

I walked forward towards the woman, "Hi-"

"Ma'am I'm sorry, but you're going to have to find other gossip to spread. Besides, they've taken the body hours ago," the woman said, and was supposed to head inside.

"Wait, no!" I exclaimed. The woman turned back around with a raised eyebrow, clearly uninterested, "Uh, I'm not here for gossip. I'm an Auror, you see, and I was hoping you could tell me anything? Anything at all?"

The woman's face sighed in relief, "Oh," she smiled lightly. She seemed kind, "Well, come on in, we'll tell you what we can tell you."

She ushered me inside the pub, and I sort of awkwardly followed her, my eyes lighting up to see Aberforth Dumbledore behind the counter, "Mr. Dumbledore! How long it's been!"

The old man glanced up, smiling lightly, "My favourite Hufflepuff! How are you doing, Y/N?" He asked me, walking forward, and ushering the woman to do something else.

"I'm great, Mr. Dumbledore. How are you?" I asked.

"Well, you know, people mostly coming in to drink and such," Aberforth let out a small sigh, "And now I've got a dead man in my walls!"

With a small nod, I finally went to work, "So I've heard- that's actually why I'm here, sir, I was hoping to gather up information.. about Draco Malfoy."

Aberforth's face fell at his name, "I pity that young man so much. Left broken after his mother died, and his father locked up in Azkaban," he shook his head, clicking his tongue, "However, I don't know if I can give you much information. Renee saw the body this morning to ask if house keeping was needed, but instead of an answer, she saw the body instead," he told me, gesturing towards the woman I was talking to earlier.

"Did you know the man's name?" I asked, hoping to get more information.

The old man furrowed his eyebrows, as if trying to remember, "Dave? David, was it? Oh, yes! David Benson was his name, checked in yesterday afternoon."

I took note of the name in my head, highlighting it with a vibrant yellow color. Letting out a sigh, I asked, "Did you ever see.. him?"

Even without the name, Aberforth knew exactly who I was talking about, "We still aren't sure if it really was him that murdered this man, but to answer your question, no, I never saw even a shadow-!"

I sort of jumped at his sudden stop and realization, "Is there something wrong, sir..?" I asked him, worried he might be having a heart attack- he is over a hundred years old.

"I remember seeing someone sneak into the secret passage in the middle of the night," said Aberforth, nodding to himself, as if the memory was becoming clearer, "He was sneaky, but I know I saw Ariana's painting close shut for a second. I know it!"

For a moment, I was silent, thinking. If he used the secret passage, which was only known by a few, he was on his way to..

"To the castle?" I asked Aberforth, hoping it wasn't true.

But to my disappointment, the old man nodded, "Yes," he told me, "He might've been in the castle."

I couldn't help but curse in my head, knowing how bad it'll get if he ever touched any one of the students in Hogwarts. But I wanted to believe that he won't do that. That he won't ever hurt kids like how he once was.

A deep breath slipped from my lips as I faced Aberforth Dumbledore once again, a small smile on my face.

"Is there any possible way for you to let me use your secret passage?"

~~~