Using the prompt 'rubbish'

Chapter Thirty

They waited and waited. No one could do anything but sit and wait to find out what Harry had been so urgently called away for. Ginny suggested they go for a walk outside, but no one was up for that. Despite what Harry said, everyone knew it had to be something to do with the case. What other reason was there? If Kingsley had known Harry was taking a holiday, he wouldn't have called him in unless it was very important.

And the only thing important enough to get Harry there was Hugo's parents' murder case.

Lily sat beside him on the couch, fidgeting. He resisted the urge to yell at her to stop. Everybody else sat unmoving, bleak expressions on their faces. Even Ginny looked concerned. It appeared even she didn't believe it was something completely unrelated.

Hugo didn't know how long they sat and waited until the familiar popping sound announced Harry's return, but as soon as he arrived, everyone was on their feet, all talking at once, demanding to know what happened.

Instead of telling them all to be quiet, Harry waited – looking slightly irritated – until they all stopped. Once all was quiet again, he spoke with an even voice, refusing to give anything away.

"I want all five of you to go upstairs and pack your bags," he said. "We're leaving in an hour."

The questions started again, but Harry just shook his head. "Go upstairs and pack," he said again, this time a little more forcefully.

"Why won't you tell us?" Hugo questioned.

"Hugo, please!"

Hugo retreated a little and made his way for the stairs, Rose pulling on his sleeve. As soon as they thought they were gone, Hugo noticed Harry and Ginny pull together. He was going to tell her, no doubt. Ginny always knew before them and they hadn't even been her parents. Her parents were still very much alive.

At the foot of the stairs, Rose stopped. His cousins were halfway up and they had also stopped.

"See if you can listen in, Hu," she whispered.

"I-I don't know," Hugo replied uncertainly. He'd done it as a child, but this seemed more important than eavesdropping on what Christmas presents they were getting that year.

"Come on, Hu," James encouraged. "You're the best at it. You don't even need Uncle George's Extendable Ears to hear."

Hugo didn't answer, but with a rough shove from his sister, he supposed he had no choice. He crept back towards the living room and peered around the corner. Harry and Ginny were still standing where Hugo had left them, their voices hushed to being almost inaudible.

He strained his ears, but they were speaking too quietly to hear what they were saying completely. There were words he picked up here and there, "can't go... dangerous... can't do this..." but that was all.

He went back to the others.

"So, what did you find out?" Rose asked him straight away.

Hugo shook his head. "I couldn't hear," he confessed.

Rose sighed. "Why are we always the last to know?"

"Hey, maybe Dad was right," James said. "Maybe it has nothing to do with you guys."

"If that were true, he wouldn't have asked us to go upstairs and pack straight away," Hugo replied. "Something's happened, something that's worrying him. He'll tell us eventually."

"You hope."

"They will, Rosie. If it's got anything to do with the case, he'll tell us when he needs to." Hugo didn't know what he was saying – after all, he was also furious he didn't know anything – but part of him also understood that Harry did always tell them what they needed the know. Just never when they wanted to hear it.

OOO

They were Apparated home quickly. Harry and Ginny both looked distressed, but neither of them said a word. They Apparated Rose and Hugo first and then went back for their three children.

The few moments they were gone, Hugo and Rose stood in the kitchen, confused and concerned.

"It has to be something," Rose said. "It just has to be."

Hugo nodded. He had no doubt now that it was something to do with the case. Any other reason and Harry would have done what he had to do by himself and allowed the others to enjoy their holiday.

"Maybe she's escaped Ministry custody?" Rose suggested.

That thought had crossed Hugo's mind, but he didn't dare think about the possibility. He had felt safe these past weeks since he knew Begonia Webb was safely locked inside the Ministry, awaiting her trial. If she was out and about again, who knew what she would do?

Hugo didn't even want to think about it.

"She can't have gotten away," he said to his sister. "She just can't."

Harry and Ginny returned after that and the kitchen was then filled with more questions. This time, however, Harry held up his hand to silence them.

"You better tell us," Rose demanded. "We have a right to know. It's obvious it has something to do with Mum and Dad and if you're going to keep it from us again..."

Harry shook his head. "I will tell you," he said calmly. "But I don't want any of you to interrupt me while I do so."

"That depends," Hugo interjected. "It depends on whether or not you tell us the whole truth."

Harry nodded. "I will tell you everything that I know," he promised. "Just sit down and listen... please."

They all obliged, each taking a chair at the large kitchen table. Hugo didn't know how long they sat in silence until Harry seemed to finally find himself. He sucked in a deep breath.

"You are right to think that the reason I was called into the Ministry was to do with your parents' murder." He looked directly at Hugo as he said this.

"She's escaped, hasn't she?" Rose asked.

"Rose, what did I say about interrupting?"

Rose leaned back in her chair and remained silent.

Harry shook his head. "No, she hasn't escaped," he said. "She is still under Ministry watch, but, the news I received today was to inform me that the trial has been put forward... instead of four weeks, it's now four days away."

"No!" Three people spoke at once, but Hugo had no idea which three.

"It's beyond my control," Harry continued. "I have no control over what happens. It is not my department. But Ms Webb's lawyer has insisted the trial be moved forward and she must have given a good enough reason to do so, because the Ministry listened."

"But... we're not ready," Hugo answered quietly. He wasn't ready to face her again yet. Seeing her once was enough. He knew that, eventually, he would have to come face-to-face with his parents' murderer again, but he had been prepared for a few more weeks. Not a few more days.

Harry nodded, his expression soft. "I know that, Hu, but I have spoken to Draco Malfoy. He will do everything in his power to make sure he is ready by that time."

Hugo nodded, but it was only to stop Harry talking to him. He didn't actually understand. He didn't understand any of it. How could they do that to them? How could Kingsley – their parents' friend – let that happen? He was the Minister for Magic for Merlin's sake! Surely, he'd have the final say.

Harry seemed to read his expression. "Kingsley did the best he could," he said. "But he must abide by the rules of the Ministry."

"It's not fair!" Rose then said. "How do they expect us to be ready by then?"

Harry shook his head. "That was the lawyer's intention, Rosie. To throw us off. We have enough evidence to give Ms Webb a trial, but we do not have enough to definitely send her to Azkaban. They know there is a chance that she might not be sent there and naturally, they're doing all they can to make that happen."

"You sound like you're on her side," Rose accused.

"I'm simply stating fact," Harry answered evenly. "The law is not just black and white."

"Well, it should be when someone dies."

"I agree," Harry said. "But we have to be prepared for whatever they'll throw at us..." He paused, hesitating. "That reminds me... I never thought to warn the two of you before. This trial is going to be gruelling. Trials may last days, weeks, months, or sometimes even years. Things are going to be said and things will be seen that might be unnerving for the both of you."

"Like what?" Hugo asked.

Harry seemed hesitant to answer.

"You have to tell us!" Hugo continued. "To prepare us."

His uncle sighed. "Memories, photos, stories..."

"Memories?"

Harry nodded. "They've found a way in the past few years – your mum actually assisted with it – to forcefully extract memories from those who possess it. It has only just been made legal since... well since this trial."

Hugo swallowed. He thought he understood. "You mean... we'll get to see... her... killing them?"

Harry nodded, appearing distressed by the very thought. "Yes... if we can get her memory."

"But, I thought you just said – " Hugo was confused. Harry had just said extracting memories forcefully had been made legal. So what problem was there in retrieving Begonia Webb's memory?

"It seems that over the years, Ms Webb has become quite accomplished at Legilimens. On one who doesn't possess such a talent, it is a simple process. For one who does... it's not so easy."

"Well, why not use a truth potion, then?" Rose asked. "She'll confess everything, wouldn't she?"

Harry nodded again. "Of course. We've done that already."

"So, why the whole trial, then?" Hugo asked. "If she's confessed, you can just send her to Azkaban."

"Hugo." Harry looked him squarely in the eye. "There are ways to escape truth potions. There are ways to get around questions without lying. A truth potion is the first thing we did once we caught her. She confessed to sending those threats to you, but she did not directly confess to murder."

"How did she get around that?" Rose wanted to know. "Wouldn't you just ask her if she killed them or not? How can you get around that?"

"By saying she may or may not have killed them. That is still the truth, either way."

"She did it!"

"We all know that, Rosie. Of course we do. But we cannot prove it. For someone who seemed like a simple woman, she is very much a skilled witch. She knows what she's doing and she's dangerous. But Draco Malfoy is a skilled lawyer and I have faith that he will do the best he possibly can for you."

"I thought you hated him, Dad," Albus said.

Harry turned to his youngest son. "My feelings towards Mr Malfoy do not change my opinion on his ability to do his job correctly," he said sharply.

"And hate is a strong word, Albus," Ginny added.

"Anyway," Hugo interrupted, "he's doing it because Scorpius told him he had to. Because of Rosie." He turned to where Rose was sitting beside him. Her cheeks had turned a dark shade of red, but she didn't say anything.

"Whatever his reasons, Hugo, I know he has his best intentions in this case," Harry told him. "And I trust him to do a good job." His tone softened after that. "I'm sorry that our holiday was cut a few days short, but now that we're here, why don't you all go back to your rooms and unpack? I understand that you're all in shock now, but if you need anything, we're here." He indicated between himself and Ginny.

Lily was the first to leave. She got up from the table and picked up her trunk and disappeared from the room. The others followed half-heartedly.

"Are we going to the trial too?" Albus questioned, chucking his backpack over his shoulder.

Ginny shook her head. "No, just Rose and Hugo. And only because they have the right to be there, not because I want them to be."

"Don't we have the right?" James asked.

Ginny shook her head. "No, you don't," she said.

"When I turn seventeen, I will," James mumbled.

"Well, when you turn seventeen, James, this trial will well and truly be over," Ginny answered.

"You hope."

Hugo turned to his cousin. No wonder he and Rose always found themselves in arguments. She and James could be as bad as each other sometimes.

Rose didn't say anything. She simply picked up her own backpack and made her way for the stairs. The expression on her face was different to the last few days; it was how it was when they had first heard the news.

"You okay, Rosie?" Hugo asked her.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine, Hu," she said. Her smile was forced.

"It's okay to be upset, you know."

This time she laughed, but again, it was forced. She ruffled his hair. "Look at you, being all grown up," she teased.

"Well, somebody has to," was Hugo's response.

Rose sighed and then continued on up the stairs. Hugo watched her go, realising that what Harry and Ginny had told him a while ago was true. Rose's joy had just been a cover. She wasn't at all over what had happened – even if she thought she was. She'd just been blocking out the pain, waiting for another excuse to lose it again.

And this was the perfect opportunity.

As he followed her up the stairs, Hugo prepared himself for another outburst. It was bound to come eventually.

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