Using the prompt 'focus'

Chapter Twenty-Five

Another week went by without much happening. There were only a few days left before the others came back for summer, and after that, Rose expected chaos. She had been to enough family gatherings in the past to know that when lots of Weasleys and Potters came together, things got hectic. Part of her was looking forward to it, another was dreading it. How would she feel once her lively, bubbly cousins came home with stories of the rest of the school year? Would she miss it? Would she find herself wishing she was back? Or would she hate them when she realised they were well and truly over what had happened? Rose honestly didn't know. She supposed only time would tell.

Two days before the expected arrival of the Hogwarts Express, there was a knock at the door. Up until a month ago, this had been highly unusual for Grimmauld Place. Normally only family came by and they generally ignored the courtesy of knocking. This was serious again and as she watched Harry open the front door to Draco Malfoy, she found herself holding her breath. What had he come here to tell them? Was it good news or bad news?

"Would you like to come into the kitchen?" Harry offered, his apparent dislike for Scorpius' dad fading each time he came by. Rose had no doubt the two men still disliked each other, but she suspected Harry was appreciative of Draco's involvement in her parents' murder case (even if it was by demand of his son).

Draco shrugged. "Anywhere is fine," he said. "I just need to speak to Rose and Hugo." His eyes met Rose's for a moment before she turned away. They were so much like Scorpius' and it made her feel a sudden sadness for her friend. She hadn't even spoken to him since the funeral.

"Hugo!" Harry still didn't seem to trust leaving either of them alone with Draco yet, but Hugo appeared moments later, his eyes finding Draco straight away. The colour drained from his face.

"This will only take a few moments," Draco promised, being the first to enter the kitchen. Everyone else followed, taking seats around the large table. He was here on business again, because he pulled out some pieces of parchment. "I have some news for the both of you that you may find positive," he then said, shuffling through the parchment to find what he was looking for. "As you are well aware of the threat on your lives a week ago, we have arrested Begonia Webb again. There was enough evidence to match her to the letter and there has been a trial organised for four weeks from today."

Rose's eyes widened in surprise. A trial? Something was finally happening?

Harry, on the other hand, didn't look at all surprised. He either already knew about it or had heard enough talk at the Ministry to suspect that this news was coming soon. Both seemed like plausible answers.

Draco continued. "Now, of course, it is not essential that the two of you are there, but I believe it will look good on your parents' behalf if you were..."

"We'll be there," Rose promised. She wanted to see their murderer sent to Azkaban.

Draco nodded. "Alright. However, I will warn you that in a trial like this, her defender will try to do just that; defend her. This will more than likely result in resurrecting past discrepancies of your parents you may not want to hear."

"Discrepancies? What discrepancies?"

Draco Malfoy shook his head. "That, I can't tell you," he said. "They will dig deeply into your parents' histories to try and find every ounce of evidence to keep her out of Azkaban. Now, many of these may be exaggerations of the truth, but I thought I should warn you to expect this."

Rose and Hugo both nodded. They'd be prepared.

"Is that all?" Harry asked.

Draco nodded. "That's all for now," he said. "I will be in contact again closer to the date of the hearing." He got to his feet and everyone else followed suit.

He was halfway out the door when Rose stopped him. "Mr Malfoy," she began nervously. "How... how's Scorpius?"

He gave a short nod. "Scorpius is well," he said. "He's looking forward to the end of term."

Rose smiled. "Okay," she said. "Thank you."

Draco barely acknowledged her as he let himself out the door. Finally, something was happening. After months and months of doing nothing, the woman who had killed her mum and dad was finally being punished.

It felt like a rather heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders with this news. Things were changing and it was about time she made some changes herself. The first step would be to right all her wrongs.

And there were plenty of them.

OOO

The first was really apologising to her aunt and uncle for the way she had treated them. Part of her had always known what she was doing was wrong, but she had been too upset and angry to care. Her parents were gone and all she had were two people who were trying to replace them. It didn't seem fair.

But it wasn't their fault her mum and dad had been killed. They were just trying their best to make sure Rose and Hugo were looked after. Why should she be angry with that?

She found Harry in his study, peering over a lengthy piece of parchment. She knocked quietly on the door. The moment Harry saw her, he set the document aside and gave her a warm smile.

"Come in," he said a little too enthusiastically for Rose's liking, but she obeyed anyway. There was an empty chair in the corner of the room and she had to step over many books and documents to reach it. Her mum always said Harry couldn't keep a room tidy even if he tried. Rose was beginning to understand what that meant.

"Is Aunt Ginny here?" she questioned, looking around as if her aunt would jump out from the cupboard.

"Not here, but she's in the house. What can I do for you Rose?" Harry watched her expectantly – like he knew what she was there for.

"I'd like to talk to both of you at the same time," Rose replied. It was very rare both of them were around at the same time. She needed to speak to them.

Harry nodded. "You stay here. I'll be back with her." He left the study so quickly and returned moments later, dragging Ginny by the arm.

"Harry, what in the name of Merlin –" She stopped abruptly, taking note of Rose in the corner.

Harry summoned another chair and she sat down.

"What is it?" she asked worriedly.

Rose shook her head, assuring her aunt there was nothing to worry about. "I-I just wanted to say that I was... sorry for the way I've been treating you lately," she said.

Harry and Ginny shared a look. She wished they'd stop doing that.

"That's alright, Rose... but you have nothing to apologise for," Ginny replied.

"I do," Rose countered. "You were just trying to help and I wasn't very nice to either of you. And I ran away. I'm sorry about that, too. I know I'm not always the nicest person. Mum and Dad told me that all the time. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be."

A smile formed on Ginny's lips and perhaps even a few tears in her eyes. She got up from her seat and wrapped her arms firmly around Rose. No one had hugged Rose like that for years… because Rose hadn't wanted them to.

"You are a good person, Rose. A very good person and we love you very, very much."

But if that were true, fewer people would hate her. Why did it have to take her parents' deaths to make her realise that?

She smiled. "Thanks," she said.

Both Harry and Ginny returned her smile.

"Anytime, Rosie," Harry said. "And we know it's hard, but we will all move on eventually. Whether that be now or in a few months or a few years. It doesn't matter."

Rose nodded. Deep down, she realised a small part of her was already moving on. It had happened a few months ago now and everyone was slowly getting on with their lives. Her parents' murderer was going to be prosecuted and she wished the Dementors still guarded Azkaban. Not many people deserved such a fate, but Begonia Webb did. She deserved worse than that for taking away her mum and dad.

Soon, everything was going to work out. She knew it would. It just had to.

"I have some more apologising to do," she said after a long moment's silence.

"To who, Rosie?" Ginny wondered out loud.

"To everyone," Rose replied. "Thanks for being so understanding. I'll be down for dinner."

Ginny and Harry had learnt long ago not to argue with Rose when she had made up her mind. They both nodded.

"See you then," Harry said. "Ginny and I are both home tonight, so it will be us and Hugo for once."

Joy overwhelmed Rose in that moment. A family dinner. It was rare Harry was around for dinner lately. He'd been working tiresomely on her parents' case even though he had been told not to.

She left the office and made her way to her room, where she dug out two pieces of scrunched up parchment from inside one of her textbooks. She laid them out on the desk in the corner and retrieved her quill and ink.

Her parents mightn't have been alive anymore, but it didn't mean she couldn't apologise to them, too. They deserved it more than anyone. They had put up with fifteen years of her crap and not complained once. It was about time she told them how much she appreciated that.

Dear Mum and Dad,

Well, I hope you're happy wherever you are. I wonder where witches and wizards go once they die and don't become ghosts. The same place as Muggles? I guess I'll find out one day (and I can hear both of you saying 'I hope it's not for a very long time').

Don't worry, I hope so too. I want to live a life like you guys had (minus all the wars and people dying). I want to get married, have kids and get a good job and be happy like you guys were.

You mightn't have ever known it, but I did admire you both. I was really proud to call you my parents. Who wouldn't be? Not many people did what you did. All the stories I was told as a kid really impressed me. You were both so strong and brave and I really wished I could be as brave as you were. I'm not sure I ever would be, though. I think the Sorting Hat made a mistake putting me in Gryffindor. I would have been better off in Ravenclaw, I think.

But, I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to say how sorry I am for being such a bitch and such a terrible daughter. You were always just trying to look out for me, but I always thought I knew best. I always wanted to be independent and strong like you, but then you went away and I realised how much I actually needed you there.

If I could turn back time, I would be more appreciative of everything you did. Dad, I would have let you carry my trunk onto the station after Easter like you wanted to. Mum, I would never have pushed you away when you wanted to say goodbye. I would have hugged you tight and told you both how much I loved you because I do. I know I would sometimes (okay, a lot of the time) tell you I hated you, but I didn't really.

At Hogwarts, not everyone there had a family like ours. I shared classes with others whose parents barely acknowledged them, let alone cared enough to write to them once a week. I guess I just assumed that was normal and you were different. And you were different, but in a good way. Until now, I never felt afraid, or scared, because I knew you would always be there to keep me safe.

I used to resent that, but I now realise how lucky I was to have you. Imagine if I had been brought up in Scorpius' family (don't say anything, Dad!)? His dad is always working. It's rare Scorp actually sees his father more than once a week when he's at home. His mum's around, but his parents both have old fashioned ideals and Scorpius hates that, so he stays away as much as possible.

I'm glad I had both of you to teach me right from wrong (even if I did ignore it sometimes). You guys were great parents and all I really wanted to tell you was how sorry I am that I treated you so badly sometimes. I was wrong and I'm really, really sorry.

I just wish you were actually here so I could tell you that. I miss you both so, so much and I'm feeling kind of lost without you. I'm too afraid to go back to Hogwarts, but I don't want to stay at Grimmauld Place forever either. I just wish I had you back and none of this had happened. Dad, I wish your misfired spell had hit one of your own people, not a little kid. That way, none of this would have happened and Hugo and I would still have our mum and dad.

I hope you're happy wherever you are. You have each other, at least. It's hard without you, but I'll manage. I want to be strong like you guys. I'll go on and live a life like you had, because Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny seem to think that's what you would have wanted.

It's hard to imagine that you would have the patience to love someone like me, but I know you did (for some stupid reason) so I will make you both proud.

I hope you accept my apology and one day (in the far off future) I will be seeing you again (I hope).

I love you very, very much,

Rose

She looked over the letter, knowing there was still so much she had to say, but she just couldn't think of it right now. Maybe one day she would write them another letter, but for now, this would have to do.

She folded the parchment up and put it to the side. There was still one more letter she had to write today.

Taking the second piece of parchment, she picked up her quill and touched its tip to the blank page.

Dear Scorpius,

Now what was she supposed to do? What was she supposed to say to her friend? Thank you?

Write what's from your heart, she told herself, remembering her speech at her parents' funeral. But, with Scorpius, perhaps that was dangerous.

How have you been, Scorp? How's Hogwarts? Not the same without me? I bet you're missing me like crazy, huh?

I'm writing to you now to thank you for your help. Thank you for sending your dad to help us, even if it took my aunt and uncle a little while to warm up to the idea. We all know the history between our families.

But, your dad did it for you, Scorp. No one else, so keep that in mind. I think he cares for you a lot more than you think. He loves you.

I'm also terribly sorry for ignoring you these past months. I've been a bit of a mess (I hope you can understand). You may have heard, but for a week, I kind of ran away. I'm just so angry over what happened to Mum and Dad. It's just not fair! But now that your dad is helping and he's organised a trial for her, I think things might be settling down. I hope so, at least.

It's almost the end of the school year now, so I know you will be home soon. I'm returning to Hogwarts next year. I'm kind of worried about that, though. What if I'm sent back to fourth year again? Professor Longbottom told my aunt and uncle he would send the work over the holidays, but it's not that same as being in class. I'm afraid of falling behind. Our OWL year is coming up. What if I fail? I've worked really hard these past years. I can't afford to fail the important year.

Maybe I can get you and Al and Lucy to help me? Just catch me up to date?

I don't know... that's all I really wanted to say to you, to be honest. I feel like such a terrible friend, but I'm going through a lot right now. I hope we can catch up over summer. It would be great to see you again. Next time your dad visits Grimmauld Place, see if you can come. I want to see you again!

Love, Rose.

Did she reveal too much in that letter? Love, Rose. Did that mean she loved him? Would he think that?

Her head was spinning with questions over Scorpius. Her cousins seemed to think he had feelings for her. Rose hoped so, but she would never admit that to them. Maybe if things were different and her parents weren't dead, she'd want a relationship. But not in this moment. Even if there were times she would fantasise about holding hands with Scorpius in public, or being the first one to make a move.

She just couldn't deal with that right now. He'd make her happy and she wasn't quite ready to be happy yet. Maybe after summer...

She folded up the letter and wrote Scorpius' name neatly on the front. Quinn was out hunting right now, but as soon as he returned, she would give him the letter.

There was still so much more she had to do before she could be completely forgiven, but at least she had made a start. She hoped her parents would be proud of her. She'd done this all by herself.

I'm back! I successfully did another year of NaNo (it was torture) and now I am back. Prac is finishing up and then I will be free :D Thanks to Joey for beta-ing (I didn't even have to ask her this time) and I hope you liked. We are halfway through! Yay!

Your thoughts would be much appreciated! And I still have some months left for next year if you'd like me to write a fic for you. Simply PM me with pairings and prompts you would like and I will add you!