Sugar : Fred Weasley

61: Not so Alone

[victoria's pov]

August 2nd, 1997

The atmosphere in Grimmauld Place felt heavier than usual today. When Harry handed me the Slytherin locket and the letter, I could feel the seriousness of the situation weighing down on us. The locket was cold and dark, a stark reminder of the evil we were dealing with. The letter was confusing, filled with warnings and fragmented thoughts. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I processed everything.

Harry and I wandered through the dimly lit corridors of Grimmauld Place and came across an old door slightly ajar. I pushed it open, revealing a room covered in dust and shadows. It was strange and out of place compared to the rest of the house.

"Harry, come look at this," I said, stepping inside. "This room... it's different."

Harry followed me in, his expression a mix of curiosity and recognition. "It looks like it hasn't been touched in years. Do you think—"

Before he could finish, Kreacher appeared in the doorway, his face serious. "Master Harry, Miss Victoria," he said quietly. "This room belonged to Regulus Black."

The name struck a chord. I exchanged a look with Harry, who seemed just as intrigued. Kreacher started explaining who Regulus Black was—a Death Eater who had tried to destroy the Horcrux but had been betrayed and met a grim fate. The details began to piece together.

"So Regulus Black was the one who tried to get rid of the locket?" I asked, trying to make sense of it all.

"Yes," Kreacher confirmed. "He was brave, but his attempt failed. The Horcrux was not destroyed."

Harry's face hardened with determination. "We need to find Mundungus. He's the key to locating the locket."

As Kreacher left to find Mundungus, Hermione and Ron arrived, looking concerned.

"What's going on?" Hermione asked, her gaze shifting between Harry and me.

"Regulus Black tried to destroy the locket," Harry explained. "And Mundungus might know where it is now."

Hermione's face fell as she took in the news. "So we need to find Mundungus before he disappears again. And we need to prepare for whatever comes next."

Ron nodded in agreement. "Let's hope he hasn't sold it to someone else. It'll be a nightmare trying to track it down if he has."

I found myself fiddling with the locket, the reality of our task sinking in. "I still can't believe this," I said. "Regulus Black, the locket... it's all so tangled."

Harry glanced at me, his expression softening. "It's a lot to process. But we're getting closer. We'll find the locket."

"I hope so," I replied, my voice tinged with worry. "Fred's been working so hard. I just hope he's safe."

Ron placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Fred's tough. He's good at handling tough situations. But I understand why you're worried. We all have someone we care about."

A few hours later, Kreacher returned, looking more agitated. "Mundungus Fletcher is here," he said curtly. Mundungus stumbled in, his face showing fear as he saw us waiting. "What's all this then?" he mumbled, trying to act casual, though his anxiety was clear.

My anger flared up. Thoughts of Mad-Eye Moody's death filled my mind, and I couldn't hold back any longer. "You're going to answer for what you've done," I said, my voice shaking with anger.

Mundungus tried to back away, his hands raised defensively. "Now, wait a minute—"

"No, you wait!" I snapped, advancing on him with my wand out. My frustration boiled over as I recalled the chaos and loss we had faced. "You have no idea what you've cost us!"