Hidden Secrets {Bill Weasley}

118

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Christmas was well and truly over once the adults had returned back from the station after dropping the kids off at the train. This meant that Harley was set to head back to Egypt very soon. This dampened the mood for everyone. It seemed as if Harley radiated a sense of joy and happiness whenever anyone was around her. However, this day was just for her, Remus and her uncle.

Lyall, Remus and Harley sat quietly in the kitchen in the Devon House, a cup of coffee in the palms of their hands and some photo albums strooned across the table in front of them. They were reminiscing on the past which led to many tears streaming down their faces from both laughter and sadness. It was lovely to see Hope beaming in their photographs but at the same time, it made them all yearn for her to be back with them.

Harley wished she could have spent more time than she initially did with her aunt, uncle and cousin because she missed out on so much all because of her parent's drunken thoughts. She wished she could have lived with them forever, spent more time with her aunt. Had a happy childhood.

This brought her thoughts to Orlando. What would have happened if her parents had kept him? Would they have been different? Would they have been worse? Would she ever know? No. That was one question she was certain of. She would never know if life would have been different if he was always there.

"Uncle Lyall?" She asked, breaking the silence. He hummed, drawing his eyes from the picture of his late wife laughing. "Was I their firstborn?"

Lyall furrowed his eyebrows, "of course you were? Why?"

"It's just a while ago, I met someone they claim to be my older brother. He is lovely and I got to know him quite a bit but I want to know why nobody told me?" The woman explained, shuffling around some pictures on the tabletop.

Remus sighed, "Harls, you are an only child. Trust me."

"But-"

"Harley, your parents struggled to get pregnant. You were a miracle baby which baffles me as to why they treated you the way you were, after all, they spent so long trying to have you. Whoever this man is, is not telling the truth. Trust me on that." Lyall cut her off, "Your father was almost infertile because he couldn't keep his legs shut as a teenager and got Chlamydia every two bloody weeks."

Remus snorted, nearly spitting his coffee out at his father's exclamation. Harley too found herself giggling but soon calmed herself as she came to realise that a man who she had let live with her for some short amount of time was a liar.

"I let him stay with me for a while. He knows where I live!"

"Then you can't stay there. In this day and age, anyone can be anyone and you cannot afford to have this man, whoever he may say he is, be able to get a hold of you. You need to ask for a new house or request a transfer. I will stay with you in Egypt until you get either of these to make sure you are safe but you cannot stay there any more." Lyall stated, Remus nodding in agreement beside him. "It is far too dangerous. As for him, we will research who he actually is. For all we know is that he most certainly is not your brother. You do not have one. You dad was stupid but not stupid enough to impregnate someone. Catch Chlamydia, yes, a child no."

Harley sighed, "yeah about that. I have been thinking about coming back to England. Being away from Bill is harder than I thought it would be. I just haven't decided fully because Egypt is a big part of my life now and has been for years, it is not something I can just give up lightly."

The men understood. After all, it seemed that Egypt has been one of the only parts of her life that have been constant for the past eight or nine years. To leave would be hard on her and would mean it would take her a lot of time to adjust to being back in her home country 24/7. She would be giving up her job, albeit she could get a transfer but she would not get a boss quite like Roger. She would be leaving Asa and Dylan her two best friends who never fail to cheer her up. She would be leaving a lot behind and keeping them as memories. Maybe this would be something she would have to deal with.

"I think finding out that Orlando is not who he says he is quite possibly is fate. It gives me another reason to leave Egypt and return full time to England. However, I don't know if Bill will have me. I know we're engaged but he seems to enjoy living on his own and I don't want to rustle in and intrude."

Lyall rolled his eyes, "Are you blind? That man is completely and utterly in love with you! He may seem as if he is enjoying living independently but he is depending on Molly to cook for him. He is always at home or with Sirius when he is off of work. He misses you like crazy and anyone can see it. Bill counted down the weeks and days until you were coming because he missed you so much. If you were to turn up at his flat today, bags in your hands he would welcome you with open arms and probably sigh in relief. He needs you. So don't be silly and stay bullocks like that again, sweetheart."

Remus smirked, "You better get started on that transfer request, Harley because the quicker that gets sent off the quicker you'll be here full time."

Harley smiled and let them help her write it and in no time she was handing it to Ginger to take to Gringotts. The three then relaxed in front of the muggle television where old tapes were playing of the family playing and messing around as children. Lyall had to get the bin and a tissue box for them all because the sight of Hope, James, Lily and all of Remus' childhood friends made them all tear up. Harley cuddled up into her cousins' side and a little while in she fell asleep much like a recording of her as a toddler which showed up on the screen only moments after.

"She never changes." Lyall smiled softly, pressing a kiss to his niece's forehead.

"She never will."