What If? Year 2

Chapter 52

My door quietly creaks open as I peak down the hallway. A deep breath raddles my rib cage as I shuffle my feet towards the stairs. I hear the clattering of pans and dishes in the kitchen, which thankful hides my anxious footsteps. My lips are pinched between my teeth as I walk into the kitchen, waiting for my mom to see me. She finally does, as tears are just starting to lace my eyes.
"Goldie? Are you alright?"
"I'm so s-sorry," I cry, throwing my arms out to her, "I should have never said that... I'm so sorry, all I've been able to think about for the last two weeks is how much I let you down. I shouldn't have wandered... I deserved everything that happened to me because of it. I-..." She drops everything and leans down to me.
"Don't say that," she whispers, pulling me up into her arms, "you didn't deserve any of that. You made what to any normal person would have been a simple mistake. But you aren't exactly normal, you have to remember that. Your father loves you, but with who he is, it puts you in danger. I'm also at fault here, Golds. I should have thought about how my letter would have made you feel. I shouldn't have said some of the things I did. I love you so much, Goldie. I cannot image what I would do if..." She sniffs and pulls me closer to her.
"You've already scared me nearly to death twice already this year. You have to understand how terrifying it is to hear that your daughter is unresponsive after a dementor attack or is currently bleeding out after being attacked by a mass murderer. I can't just keep hearing about you when you're dying. I need to know you're safe." I feel her try to set me down, but I tighten my hold around her.
"I know. I'm sorry. I love you. Please don't be mad. I can't have you being mad at me. I can't stand it. Please... please... please.."
"I'm not mad at you, flower. I love you."
"I love you too." She tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear and softly touches my face.
"Now, how'd you manage to floor burn your face?" I smile and giggle.
"Being to lazy to get up and just scooting myself across my carpet."
"That has to hurt."
"I deserve it for being lazy and stupid."
"Let me fix it, my love. It'll take two seconds." She lets me down and I follow her out to the living room. She takes out her wand and carefully fixes up my face.
"Thank you." I look at Mum and see my splotchy face in hers.
"I'm sorry I made you cry."
"Don't be darling, it's good to cry sometimes."

An owl lands on my shoulder as I walk down to the pond. It brushes up to my cheek, dropping a letter into my hands. Cedric's handwriting messily scrawled my name and my heart warms some. I tuck it into my pocket and continue to the pond. All the figures on the frozen pond stop as I walk up.
"Hey, Mum's made hot chocolate for all of you," I tell them, "She thought I should come tell you. Come in whenever you'd like, it'll still be warm when you get there." I turn quickly, but hear someone call out my name.
"Goldie, wait up!" Ara calls, as she sits on the dock to untie her skates. I slow my walking and wait for her. She runs up to me and puts an arm around my shoulders.
"Wanna talk?"
"I'm alright," I tell her, "Just needed a moment." She smiles at me and pulls the parchment from my pocket.
"Lover boy already missing you?"
"I don't know, actually," I whisper, "Haven't read it yet." She giggles, and hands it back to me.
"You'll have to tell me all about it once you do," she replies, pulling my close again, "it's the only way that I'll ever get to hear romance."
"Oh, whatever," I tell her. She giggles and runs the rest of the way to the house. I unfold the letter and start to read the anxiously scribbled letter.

My love, are you alright?  My necklace was almost pure purple and it startled me. Is something wrong or was it just the talk? I'm in your corner if you need me. I'll see you after Christmas. I love you.

I smile and fold it back into my pocket. I walk back up to my room and pull out a small chunk of parchment and my quill with ink.

Cedric,
Everything is okay, love. Just the stupid talk, but I'm okay now. Can't wait to see you again.

I give it to the owl waiting for me and it flies off. I start to unpack my stuff, as Midnight whines between my legs. I hear yelling downstairs as I put my deer on my bed.
"Flower! I'm home!" I giggle at my Dad's antics as I run down the stairs to him.
"Dad!" I say, standing on the last step. He runs to me and picks me up over his shoulder.
"My little flower, you look so much better than I last saw you." I giggle as he spins me around.
"Dad, put me down!"
"Why aren't you and Ara down at the pond?"
"I was!" Ara cuts in.
"I was having a panic," I whisper to him, "and wanted alone time." He stops spinning me, and sets me down on the couch.
"Okay now?" I nod, as he sits besides me.
"Are you sure?"
"Y-yeah... It was just a lot all at once," I tell him, as he puts an arm around me.
"Okay? Talk later."
"Sure."
"Love you, flower."
"Love you too, Dad." He lets me cuddle up to him, and presses a kiss to my forehead. He slowly scratches my back and I slowly fall to lay down in his lap.
"I heard your boy is coming over after Christmas?"
"Yep."
"He's staying in one of the offices... not yours." I giggle and shake my head at him.
"I got it, dad."