Using the prompt 'coffee'

Chapter Thirty-One

Whenever she was at Hogwarts, four days went by incredibly slowly. The hours ticked by at half the speed when she was in History of Magic. But, this time, she could have sworn someone had enchanted the clock to make it go faster.

She was woken by the sound of shouting, and when she glanced at the clock by her bed, she swallowed an invisible lump inside her throat. It was the morning of the trial. It was the morning she was going to have to finally face the woman who killed her mum and dad.

In a little over four hours, she would be sitting in the same room as her and watching and listening as some stupid person tried to defend that woman for what she had done. Rose was thankful that they had Scorpius' dad on their side. She knew her aunt wasn't particularly fond of the idea, but Harry had assured her time and again that he was going to do his job correctly.

Scorpius would never forgive him if he didn't. Rose knew that.

The thought of being there terrified Rose. She didn't know how she was going to react, or what was going to happen. Even Harry couldn't help her, because he, too, had no idea. The trial could go either way. If Draco Malfoy did his job properly, then hopefully, Begonia Webb would be sitting inside an Azkaban cell within a week.

If something went wrong, then who knew what would happen. Perhaps she would try to kill Rose and Hugo next.

She shook her head. No, she wasn't going to think about that. She wasn't going to let something like that bother her. Whatever happened, happened.

That was what her parents tried to enforce, wasn't it? That she didn't have to get so worked up over everything?

Rose lay in her bed for who knew how long before she finally decided to get up. She was thinking of her mum and dad. She was imagining the times her mum would come into her room during the holidays, demanding that she get out of bed before lunch time. Rose had fond memories of those times. Her mum would sit on her bed, and they'd talk about things.

And with her dad, too. She was closer to her dad. He understood her better... except, of course, when it came to boys. That was when she would go to her mum. Her mum wouldn't tell her that she was too young to have a boyfriend, or that every boy only wanted one thing. No, her mum understood that side of things.

She smiled to herself. "I'll go for you," she said, staring up at her ceiling. "I'll go today for both of you."

"Rosie, are you up?" That was Harry. He sounded stressed, which wasn't a good sign. If Harry was stressed, it meant things were probably going to be difficult.

"I'm coming," Rose called back, finally lifting herself from the nice, warm covers and opening her door. Harry was still standing on the other side, his expression bleak.

"We were beginning to worry," he said.

Rose shook her head. "I'm going," she told him. "I wouldn't miss it."

Harry smiled at her, putting his arm across her shoulders as he led her down to the bottom landing, where the kitchen was. It was there that Rose realised why everybody was worried. Not only was she the last one living in Grimmauld Place out of bed, she was the last Weasley to wake.

Everybody was there. Her grandparents, Bill, Fleur, Victoire, Teddy, Dominique, Percy, Audrey... every single Weasley and Potter that she knew was standing or sitting in the kitchen. Her mouth fell open as realisation dawned on her.

"Are you all coming?" she asked them. It hadn't even occurred to her that everybody else would want to be there too. She had only thought about herself, Hugo and Harry and Ginny.

They all nodded.

"Most of us, dear," Molly said, engulfing Rose into a tight hug. "Not your cousins, though. They are staying to help look after Fred and Roxanne."

At her grandmother's words, a wave of guilt washed over Rose as she remembered not so long ago when she had endangered her younger cousin's life. She had not really seen Angelina or George since then, but as she glanced over to her aunt, all she received was a warm smile.

A sympathy smile.

"Thanks," she said to them all. "It means a lot to have you there for Mum and Dad."

"We wouldn't be anywhere else, Rosie," George replied. "We want to see that bitch go down."

"George!" Molly and Angelina scolded at the same time, but Rose couldn't help but laugh. Trust her Uncle George to try and make a joke at a time like this. He always seemed to know how to diffuse the tension.

"I could go for a coffee, I think." That was James who spoke. With the number of people there, Rose hadn't realised that he wasn't in the room. But as he stumbled into the kitchen, he was fully dressed with slicked back hair. He looked ready for a court room.

"You're not going, James," Ginny said bluntly. "I don't care whether you're dressed in your underwear or your finest robes. You're not going."

James looked highly affronted by his mother's bluntness. He glared at her. "But that's not fair! I'm older than Hugo and he still gets to go."

"Well, when your father and I are murdered in cold blood inside our own home, then you may attend a trial," Ginny said. "Until then, you're staying here."

"That's bloody ridiculous!"

"Mind your language, young man," Molly accused.

James left the room after that, mumbling something that resembled more cursing.

Rose turned back to Ginny, who looked completely flustered by what had just happened. It seemed that it wasn't just Rose who was feeling nervous about today – it was everyone. Hugo was one of the ones sitting at the table. He had a bowl of cereal in front of him, but it looked like it had barely been touched.

Rose swallowed. It was like the first few weeks all over again. Everyone was there, but they all felt alone.

She patted her brother's shoulder comfortingly. "Eat something," she said to him quietly. "It'll make you feel better."

He turned around in his chair to face her. "You eat something, too," he said.

Rose didn't feel like she could stomach anything right now, but for Hugo's sake, she nodded. Victoire vacated the seat beside him and Rose had barely had a chance to sit down, before her grandmother had placed a bowl of cereal in front of her.

"Eat up," she said to both of them. "It will be good for you."

I could go for a coffee right now, too, Rose found herself thinking. But she didn't say it out loud. No one would approve of someone so young drinking coffee.

The rest of the morning was very slow. After she had eaten half of her breakfast (the other half was discarded after she had sat there for ten minutes, not eating) she made her way back to her room. She really needed a shower right now, but both bathrooms were occupied.

So she waited.

Her heart was pounding against her chest at the anticipation of the day. Harry had said they needed to leave at least an hour before the trial started (preferably earlier) because of all the Ministry rules. Rose didn't like the sound of that at all. The times she had gone with her parents to their work, she had just gone with them.

"Yes, but you now have a wand and are of age to do magic – even if that is only at Hogwarts. You need to be officially allowed into the Ministry," Harry had told her when she had questioned it.

It sounded stupid, though. She was only going to the courtrooms to watch her parents' murderer be sentenced to Azkaban. She should have been the one going through checks, not them.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, signalling that Ginny had left the bathroom. Before anybody else could jump in before her, Rose grabbed her clothes and made her way down there.

James met her midway, changed back into something more comfortable than his robes.

"I'm glad you don't have to go," she told him when he tried to hide his disappointment that he wasn't going to the courtroom. "I wish I didn't have to go."

"Then why are you?" James questioned.

"Because it's my mum and dad, and if the same thing had happened to me, they'd be going even if they didn't want to."

He nodded, seeming to understand. "Okay," he said.

"I'll tell you what happens," Rose promised. "When we get back, I'll tell you everything."

He smiled. "Thanks," he said, "but I'm sure I'll hear about it anyway." He came towards her and before she knew it, he had pulled her into a tight hug. "I know you're mad with me about Jasmine," he continued.

Still staying firmly in her cousin's arms, Rose shook her head. "I'm not mad, I'm just worried," she said. "Do you have any idea what she does to guys when she gets bored of them?"

"I know," James replied. "But I'm old enough to make that decision for myself."

"Maybe you're perfect for each other," Rose then mused, "because you can be a complete arse to some girls, too."

James' body shook with laughter. "Yeah, I guess I can," he confessed. "But, what I wanted to say to you, anyway, is that whether or not I'm dating Jasmine, you and Hugo and everyone else come before her, okay? I'm here for you all."

Rose broke away and looked up at him. He had grown over his time at Hogwarts. Not seeing him for so long had made it more obvious. "Thanks," she said.

He smiled at her and patted her arm. "I hope everything goes well today," he said. "I hope she gets what she deserves and more."

Rose nodded. "Me too," she whispered. And she continued to the bathroom.

She had hoped a shower would calm her nerves, but it didn't. In fact, the alone time – the thinking time – probably made it even worse. Her mind just wouldn't shut down. She couldn't stop thinking about what would happen, what people would say, what she would see.

What if she was forced to sit there and watch her parents' bodies just after they were killed? She didn't want to have to see that. Who would want to see that?

The thought terrified her.

What terrified her even more, though (if that was even possible) was the knowledge that Begonia Webb might not even be convicted. If that woman was let loose on the streets, who knew what would happen? Who knew how many other people might turn up dead?

And then her parents would have died for nothing. Their deaths wouldn't be avenged, like she wanted them to be. That woman deserved to be punished for taking her mum and dad away. She just had to go to Azkaban. There was no other place.

"Stop it, Rose," she said to herself, as she shrugged into her jacket. It was getting close to summer, now, but outside was still very cold. Or maybe it was just her. Everything will be okay.

She could have said those words one hundred times over and she still wouldn't have believed it. Not until the prosecutors said the words that would guarantee she was safe. Until then, Rose had no choice but to think the worst.

You're worrying over nothing, Rosie. Her mother's voice echoed in her head. She didn't actually know if she had ever said that or not, but it sounded like something her mum would say. And her dad would just laugh at her, and tell her to stop stressing.

"Dad!" She hadn't realised she had spoken the word out loud until Hugo opened her door, half dressed.

"What?" he said.

Rose turned to her brother, eyes gleaming. "I completely forgot!" she exclaimed. "You said you talked to Dad at the Ministry, didn't you?"

"His portrait, yeah," Hugo answered, nodding. "Why?"

"Well, I want to speak to him, too." Rose couldn't believe she had forgotten about that. She had been in a rather dark place at the time, but she thought seeing her dad wouldn't have slipped her mind.

Hugo shrugged. "Okay," he said. "If we have time."

"Do you think his portrait will be allowed into the courtroom?" Rose then asked. Maybe he could tell them what happened.

Hugo shrugged again. "Well, if his portrait is anything like Dad – and it is – I doubt it. And," he looked at her, seeming to know what she was thinking, "portraits don't remember, Rosie."

Rose tried not to show that that was what had been on her mind. She nodded. "Yeah, I know," she said. "It would... it would just be good to have something of them in there with us, that's all."

"Well, I can ask Uncle Harry, I guess," Hugo said. "But I doubt it."

"Thanks, Hu." Rose smiled at him and he left her alone after that.

She wasn't sure what else to put on. Ginny had taken them to Diagon Alley two days ago to buy clothes fitting for the trial. Apparently, neither of them owned any beforehand. They had used some of their inheritance money (which was quite a bit, Rose had realised) and came back with two new sets of robes.

Rose, personally, wasn't a fan of wizarding robes. They reminded her of the Hogwarts dress code, so she only wore them when she had to. Other than that, Muggle attire was more comfortable.

She pulled back her hair into a ponytail and pinned it down so that it would behave properly. The courtroom wasn't a runway, obviously, but she had to look presentable anyway. She had to show the Ministry that her parents were decent parents and they hadn't let their children run wild. If they thought that, then who knew what else they'd believe. They might even believe what the Prophet was saying; that her dad did kill her mum.

Once she was completely dressed, she made her way back to the kitchen, where Harry was waiting. He was dressed in the official Ministry robes, but he didn't look as calm as she had seen him before. When he saw her enter, he gave her a smile, but Rose could tell it was a nervous smile.

"We must stay calm," she said to both her uncle and herself.

Harry laughed. "It's harder than it sounds," he said.

Rose nodded. "A lot harder."

"But it will be okay," Harry continued. "I know it will. The people in the courtroom today know your parents very well. They'll know what the evidence will suggest."

"Today?"

Harry hesitated, then shook his head. "No, probably not today," he admitted. "But hopefully soon." He paused for a moment, and then something dawned on him. He scratched his neck nervously. "There's something I should tell you," he began.

Rose watched him and waited.

"Do you remember what I mentioned a few days ago, about the memory projection?"

"Yes," Rose answered, nodding.

"Well, I'm not sure if I mentioned I have given one of my memories of your parents."

Rose's eyes widened. "Really?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, and I just wanted to make sure you were okay with that?"

"Is it a good memory?"

"Rosie, every memory I have of your mum and dad is good."

Rose smiled. "Then, okay. What's it about?"

"It's of the time shortly after our mission, when your dad found out that it was his wand that killed that little boy. He was devastated, Rosie, and the Ministry need to see that."

"Okay," Rose said again. Anything to avenge her parents.

Harry smiled. "Good. Because I really think it will help."

"I believe you," Rose said. "I know my dad would be upset about that."

It looked like Harry was going to say something else, but that was the moment everyone else decided to join them. Ginny was dressed in traditional, professional-looking robes and Rose couldn't help but think how adorable Hugo looked. She didn't say that, though. He'd hate her for calling him adorable.

"Are we ready?" Harry asked after a while.

Everybody nodded. Rose felt a lump forming in her throat. She just wanted this day to be over, and it had barely started.

"Okay, Arthur and I will be going straight there," Harry explained. "Rosie and Hugo, you will be going with Aunt Ginny via the visitor's entrance. Everybody else will be following shortly after. Everyone okay with that?"

It wouldn't have mattered if they weren't. It seemed the decision was already made.

Rose watched as her uncle and grandfather used the fireplace. Once they were gone, Ginny came in between her and Hugo and put an arm across each of their shoulders. "Ready?" she asked them.

"As ready as we can be," Rose replied, sucking in a deep breath. Great, Apparating was going to make her feel even sicker than she already did. It wasn't going to look good on her part if she vomited all over the prosecutor.

OOO

There were multiple visitor's entrances into the Ministry, but Ginny took them through the most common one – the phone booth.

It was strange walking through Muggle London like that, everybody thinking they were just normal people taking advantage of the summer holidays. Nobody even gave them a second glance, which was odd, considering the clothes they were wearing. They all seemed busy with their own lives, blissfully unaware that there was another world, where two highly respected people had been murdered. Nobody knew that they had left behind two children who missed them more than anything and that a woman was about to go on trial for it.

No, the worst thing that had probably happened to them was that they found a grey hair that morning.

Rose sighed as Ginny opened the phone booth.

"It's been a long time," she said quietly as they all piled in.

Rose and Hugo looked at each other. Rose remembered using it once in her whole life, and she had been eight years old back then. If Ginny was asking for their help, then they couldn't give it to her.

But she seemed okay. The woman's voice echoed around the cramped booth, and as Ginny gave them their names, three badges appeared. Rose took the one that read Rose Weasley and pinned it to her chest.

Weasley. She was proud of that name; even if there had been times when she had denied it. She sighed.

"You okay?" Ginny questioned.

"Yes," she answered weakly as the booth began its slow descent into the underground.

Ginny put an arm across her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. "It's okay to say no, okay?"

Rose nodded and then fell into the comfort of her aunt. She liked the closeness; she needed the closeness right now. She hoped Ginny was going to stay with them the whole way through. If she didn't, Rose would be lost.

The phone booth touched the ground and the doors opened. Rose used to love coming here. It was always a proud moment for her to go to her parents' work. It made her feel big; grown up. Now it just made her feel sad.

Terribly, terribly sad.

She knew exactly where to go if she wanted to go to her dad's office. She'd only have to go in the opposite direction to reach her mum's. She wondered if anybody ever walked past and remembered them.

No, probably not. There were so many people who worked there. It probably meant nothing to most. They were probably more upset over the fact that one less person meant more work for them.

They moved forward. Rose wasn't exactly sure where the courtrooms were, but Ginny seemed to know where she was going, so she followed.

They darted through people, barely stopping to say hello. People recognised them, though, and as they walked past, they called out words of sympathy. Rose even stopped to smile at one of them. She knew him. His name was Dean Thomas. He was her parents' friend.

"I wish I could be there today," he said, his voice sad.

Rose nodded and smiled at him. "Thank you," she said.

He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and it appeared he wanted to say something more, but didn't. Instead, he turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

Rose knew they must have reached the right place when Harry met them. It was dark and cold down there, and Rose couldn't help but shiver. Why did the courtrooms have to be so terrifying? Wouldn't it have been better to place them somewhere where people felt more comfortable?

"Everything went smoothly?" Harry asked, looking between the three of them.

Ginny nodded. "We had no trouble," she assured him. "I remembered how to use the visitor's entrance, too."

Harry laughed. "That's good, at least."

Arthur joined them. "I've just spoken to one of the prosecutors," he said. "They're expecting a large turnout."

"What does that mean?" Rose questioned nervously.

Harry looked down at her. "It means, Rosie, that there will be plenty of people here today who want the same outcome as we do."

A sense of warmth came over Rose at her uncle's words. "Th-that's good," she said.

Harry nodded. "That's very good," he answered.

They waited out the front for what seemed like forever. People walked in and out of the rooms, barely uttering a word to Rose and Hugo. Her family showed up a short while later, looking as nervous and as frightened as Rose felt.

Draco Malfoy then appeared, looking more respectable than all of them put together. Harry had a quick word to him that Rose couldn't hear, and he then approached everyone else.

"Are you all aware that there is a high chance there will be things said today that may be upsetting to you?"

They all nodded.

Malfoy nodded. "Okay, well, we will commence in five minutes." He opened the door of the room they had been standing out the front of. "Let us begin."

Next chapter the trial commences! I'd love to hear your thoughts :)