Emma Potter; Going to War

10: The Ministry Of Magic

I  awoke at half-past five the next morning as abruptly andcompletely as if somebody had yelled in my ear. For a fewmoments I lay immobile as the prospect of the hearing filled everytiny particle of my brain, then, unable to bear it, I leapt out of bed . Mrs. Weasley had laid out my freshly laundered clothes at the foot of my bed, It was a white T-shirt, black jeans and a jean-jacket. I scrambled into it. 

 Ginny and Hermione were still in bed, fast asleep. They did not stir as I crossed the room, stepped out ontothe landing, and closed the door softly behind me. Trying not tothink of the next time I would see them, when we might no longerbe fellow students at Hogwarts, I walked quietly down the stairs,past the heads of Kreacher's ancestors, and into the kitchen. 

I had expected it to be empty, but it was not. When I reachedthe door I heard the soft rumble of voices on the other side andwhen I pushed it open he saw Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, Lupin,and Tonks sitting there almost as though they were waiting for me. Harry was there too, he gave me a wary smile.  All were fully dressed except Mrs. Weasley, who was wearing a quilted,purple dressing gown. She leapt to her feet the moment I entered."Breakfast," she said as she pulled out her wand and hurried over tothe fire. 

"M-m-morning, Emma," yawned Tonks. Her hair was blonde andcurly this morning. "Sleep all right?"

 "Yeah,"I said. 

"I've b-b-been up all night," she said, with another shudderingyawn. "Come and sit down. . . ."She drew out a chair, knocking over the one beside it in the process. 

"What do you want, Emma, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley called. "Porridge?Muffins? Kippers? Bacon and eggs? Toast?" 

"Just — just toast, thanks," said Harry. 

"I'm not hungry" I mumbled.

Lupin glanced at Harry and me, then said to Tonks, "What were you sayingabout Scrimgeour?" 

"Oh . . . yeah . . . well, we need to be a bit more careful, he's beenasking Kingsley and me funny questions. . . ." 

I felt vaguely grateful that I was not required to join in theconversation. My insides were squirming. Mrs. Weasley placed a couple of pieces of toast and marmalade in front of Harry; he tried to eat. Mrs. Weasley sat down on my otherside and started fussing with his T-shirt, tucking in the label andsmoothing out creases across the shoulders. I wished she wouldn't.

 ". . . and I'll have to tell Dumbledore I can't do night duty tomorrow, I'm just t-t-too tired," Tonks finished, yawning hugely again.

 "I'll cover for you," said Mr. Weasley. "I'm okay, I've got a report tofinish anyway. . . ."

 Mr. Weasley was not wearing wizard's robes but a pair of pinstriped trousers and an old bomber jacket. He turned from Tonks toHarry and me."How are you feeling?" 

We shrugged. 

"It'll all be over soon," Mr. Weasley said bracingly. "In a few hours'time you'll be cleared."

 We said nothing. 

"The hearing's on my floor, in Amelia Bones's office. She's Head ofthe Department of Magical Law Enforcement and she's the one who'llbe questioning you."

 "Amelia Bones is okay, Harry,Emma" said Tonks earnestly. "She's fair,she'll hear you guys out." 

We nodded, still unable to think of anything to say. 

"Don't lose your temper," said Sirius abruptly. "Be polite and stickto the facts." 

We nodded again. 

"The law's on your side," said Lupin quietly. "Even underage wizards and witches are allowed to use magic in life-threatening situations." 

I realized that Mrs. Weasley was attacking Harry's hair with a wet comb. She pressed hard on the top of his head."Doesn't it ever lie flat?" she said desperately.Harry shook his head, I tightened my ponytail.