GOLDEN BLOOD/ Harry Potter / Hogwarts

Chapter X. Milan soon necessary.

When they arrived home, the sun was already perking through the thick clouds, giving a little bit of heat to balance the freezing winter temperatures. Grampa Ed went to the kitchen to prepare some hot chocolate, followed by Beatrice.

"I'll make some hot chocolate." He said softly, worry in his voice. "I can help you, Grandpa." She said after looking at her sister who came right after.

Grandma and Benjamin came with Thea. The familiar warmth of the house surrounded them, but Thea barely felt it. Her legs were shaky, her body still cold despite the warmth around her. Benjamin stayed close beside her, as if afraid she might freeze again.

Thea's grandmother guided her and Benjamin gently into the living room. The soft light and familiar surroundings should have been comforting, but the coldness still clung to Thea's skin. She hadn't spoken much since leaving the station, and her mind kept flashing back to the icy air, the sinister voice that scared her so much.

Her grandmother helped her settle on the couch, wrapping a heavy knitted blanket around her shoulders. Thea was trembling, her hands still cold, her face pale. The warmth of the blanket didn't seem to reach her.

"It's alright, my love" her grandmother whispered, sitting down beside her and pulling her into a gentle embrace. Thea leaned into her, hugging her tightly, her body shaking with fear. "You're safe here. Nothing can hurt you."

But Thea's breath hitched, and her eyes welled up with tears. "It was so cold, Grandma... I couldn't move... and the voice...it was like it was inside my head.'

Her grandmother stroked her hair, her heart breaking. "I know, my love. I know," she murmured, though her expression darkened with worry, glancing at Benjamin. He stood right next to them, his arms crossed, worried.

"I should've noticed sooner," he muttered, guilt in his voice. "She just froze... I don't know what happened."

"It wasn't your fault," their grandmother reassured him, though her voice was strained. "This wasn't something you could have known."

Thea clung tighter to her grandmother, as if afraid she might slip away. Her body still felt as if the cold was inside her, seeping into her bones, and she couldn't shake the memory of the voice. "It's still there," she whispered. "I can still feel it..."

Her grandmother's hand rested gently on her cheek, her eyes filled with concern. "We'll figure this out. But for now, just rest. You're home, and nothing will harm you here."

Thea nodded weakly, though the fear in her chest refused to loosen its grip. Her grandmother's warmth was comforting, but it felt like the ice had settled deep inside her, and no amount of warmth could melt it away. She shivered again, despite the blanket, despite her grandmother's embrace.

In the kitchen, the soft sound of mugs and the low voices of her grandfather and sister could be heard through the house.

As her grandfather brought in the steaming mugs of hot chocolate, he placed one in Thea's trembling hands. She wrapped her fingers around it, but the warmth barely reached her. Still, she sipped it slowly, her eyes looking at the fire.

"Drink up," her grandfather said gently, his voice softer than usual, a mix of concern and hope. "You'll feel better soon, I promise."

But even as the warmth of the chocolate trickled down her throat, the chill of the encounter stayed with her, as if the voice had left a mark she couldn't shake.

Grandpa turned on the radio to some Muggle classic music and after a few hours Thea fell asleep on her Grandma's embrace.

.......

Thea lay curled up on the couch, the blanket tucked around her tightly, her grandmother's arm resting protectively around her shoulders. She sipped the hot chocolate in slow, small gulps, her mind still clouded by the chilling memory of the train. But as her grandmother's soothing voice hummed a lullaby she used to sing when Thea was younger, her eyelids grew heavier.

The warmth of the blanket, the soft crackling of the fireplace, and her grandmother's comforting presence finally began to break through the icy grip around her heart. With one last sip of her hot chocolate, her hand fell limp on her lap, and her breathing grew soft and steady.

"She's asleep," her grandmother whispered, gently brushing Thea's hair back. "Poor thing, she's exhausted."

Her grandfather nodded from his chair, worry still etched into his face. "She needs the rest after what she's been through."

In the doorway, Beatrice stood with her arms crossed, watching quietly as Thea's breathing slowed into a deep, peaceful rhythm. Benjamin stood beside her, his face a mixture of concern and lingering guilt.

"Alright, you two," their grandmother said softly, looking up at them. "Time for bed. It's been a long day for all of us."

Beatrice hesitated, her wide eyes still fixed on Thea. "Is she going to be okay?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"She'll be fine, sweetheart," their grandfather reassured her, getting up to walk them both to the stairs. "Your sister just needs some rest, that's all."

Beatrice nodded, though she didn't seem convinced. Benjamin gave one last glance at Thea before heading upstairs with his sister, both of them unusually quiet.

As the sound of their footsteps faded, the house fell still. The only sounds were the soft crackle of the fire and the rhythmic ticking of the old clock on the mantel.

Once the children were out of earshot, their grandmother let out a heavy sigh, her face tight with concern. She looked over at her husband, her voice low. "I think we need to leave for Milan earlier than we planned."

Her grandfather's brow furrowed. "I was thinking the same thing." He sat back down, his hands resting on his knees. "If my mother sees her, she might know what to do. This... this can't be normal."

His wife nodded, casting a glance at Thea, who had finally fallen into a restless sleep. "Whatever happened on that train—this wasn't just an ordinary fright. She's marked by something. And I fear it's something deep within your bloodline."

There was a long pause as they both looked at Thea, curled up so small under the blanket, her body twitching slightly in her sleep.

"You think she could be... the one?" his wife asked softly, as if speaking the words aloud might make them real.

Her husband's face grew grim. "It's possible. We've seen signs in the past, but nothing quite like this. If she is the family's chosen one, we need to act quickly before whatever happened gets worse. Before the tragedy happens again"

His wife's eyes filled with worry, her fingers gripping the edge of her apron. "We'll go to Milan," she said firmly, "and your mother will know what to do. She's the only one who can truly understand the power in Thea's blood."

Her grandfather stood, looking out the window into the quiet night beyond. "I'll make the arrangements tomorrow. We'll leave as soon as we can."

The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the room. Their granddaughter, Thea, lay sleeping, but even in sleep, her brow was furrowed, her hands clenched around the edges of the blanket as if she could still feel the cold lingering inside her.

And both grandparents knew, deep down, that whatever had happened on that train was only the beginning.