What If? Year 1

Chapter 25

"Marigold, are you alright?" Mum asks, quietly, "we didn't mean to upset you, flower." I take my ring off and put it back in the box. 
"It's fine," I say, "I'm just going to read for a while.. okay? Or does Ara want me to come back?" Mum chuckles. 
"Ara's alright, she's talking with Sirius," she says, "They're getting along wonderfully." I smile. 
"That's good," I whisper, "she's going to get along well around here then." Mum opens my door as I sit down on my bed. 
"Your father was just teasing, flower," she says, "he knows you aren't dating.. you would have said something." I nod, looking up at her. 
"Should I tell him no then?" I ask her, looking at my ring. She sits down next to me. 
"What do you mean?" she asks, smiling. 
"He asked me out," I tell her, "I said, sure.. He's really nice, and I like him.. but I don't know if I really want date yet." Mum rubs my back. 
"Tell him that," she says, "if he really like you he'll understand." I nod and get up. 
"I'll come back down," I whisper, "I've got to beat Uncle Sirius in Monopoly." Mum chuckles and we walk down the stairs to the sitting room.  Remus was sitting with Ara talking and Sirius was outside with Harry and Evie, flying on brooms.
"Did we upset you, Goldie?" Dad asks me, surprising me with a hug from a behind, "I'm sorry.. it was just the way he talked about you made me think you were dating." My face turns pink and I put my hands in my face. 
"He did ask me out," I mumble, "but I'm going to tell him that I want to focus on school work." Dad nods and pats my shoulder. 
"I'm sorry if I upset you," he mumbles, twirling my hair on his index finger. 
"It's fine," I mumble, "You obvious didn't mean it." He nods and goes to the kitchen. I go and sit next to Ara. 
"Hey!" she says, "I love your family! They are so much better than mine!" I laugh and Remus smiles sheepishly at me. 
"Ara said that you're running for the top of your year," he says, "I can't believe the child of James is at the top of their year." I laugh again and shrug my shoulder.
"I thought Dad had rather good grades," I laugh, "At least that was what he told me." Ara giggles. 
"You're father must like to LIE TO HIS CHILDREN!" Remus shouts and I hear Dad giggle in the kitchen. 
"IT'S NOT LYING! IT'S STRETCHING THE TRUTH!" 
"He did fine in school," Mum says, "There were just curtain classes that... he didn't quite like." 
"I enjoy all of my classes," I say, "I especially like Charms and Transfiguration." 
"Who's your favorite teacher?" Dad asks from the kitchen.
"McGonagall," Ara and I say together, "She's the best." 
"MINNIE!" he yells, running back over to us, "Minnie loved us, didn't she, Remus?" Remus shakes his head. 
"We were probably the most irritating students she's ever had," he mumbles, making Ara and I laugh. 
"Fred and George are giving you a run for you money, Dad," I tell him, "They're always doing pranks." Dad grumbles. 
"Poor Minerva," Mum says, sitting next to me, "always has the most irritating children in her house." She was teasing and Dad chuckles. 
"You should take Ara outside and you could fly around some," Dad says, "she can use my broom." Ara looks at me and we get up. We go to the backyard, where Sirius was talking with Harry and Evie. 
"Come to join the fun?" he asks as we make our way to the broom locker, "Can we play fetch, Goldie?" Ara looks at me confused. 
"Sure, Uncle Sirius," I say, handing Ara Dad's broom. I grab my broom and one of the bats. He already had the ball. 
"Give me a challenge!" he says, ruffling my hair as I take the ball from him. I nod and kick off into the air with Ara next to me. 
"Ready?" I shout and Sirius nods. I toss the ball and hit it as hard as I can. Sirius goes off running as he turns into his dog form. Ara looks at me and laughs. 
"I didn't realize he was an Animagus.." she says, "I was so confused of why he would want to play fetch." 
"He tried to get me to play with him, but I guess I didn't do it correctly," Harry says, "I guess you're just better."  Ara laughs and I smack her arm. Sirius comes barreling back to us in his black dog form. I fly down next to him and he gives me the ball. I fly back up in the air and I hit it again. 
"Oh, Merlin!" Ara says, "I didn't think you'd be able to hit that hard.. you seem like such a puff ball."  Harry and Evie laugh. 
"She's a scary puff ball," Harry says, "she wouldn't hurt a fly.. unless you hurt her friends. Then she'll kill you." I laugh at him as Sirius come running back towards us. He turns back into himself and he was breathing heavily. 
"That enough," he breathes, "You've gotten better... or I've gotten out of shape." Evie giggles and hangs upside down on her broom. 
"I think it a mixture of both," she laugh and Sirius glares, playfully at her. 
"Oh shove off, Evie!" he shouts at her. I laugh and Ara looks at me. Sirius crosses his arms and pouts. Remus and Dad come outside and wave us down. We all land before Dad yells at us. 
"What game are we going to play?" he asks, "There's Monopoly, Life, and Sorry." 
"Monopoly!" Evie and Harry shouts and Ara and I laugh. Sirius nods. 
"Yes!" he shouts," Yes! Imma kick your butts!" I laugh. 
"No, you're going to loose like you usually do, Padfoot," Remus mumbles, making me laugh again. 
"Shut up, Moony!" he growls, before tackling him. Ara laughs and her and I walk back into the house.