"I'll see you in the morning, love," Cedric says, as he leans against the door of his room, "I love you." I tighten my hold on him and he chuckles.
"Why can't I just stay with you," I whine, as he kisses my forehead.
"That's the rule, love. I can't change your father's rules... and I don't want to die." I sniffle, but he just rubs my back.
"But what if we don't get caught?" He chuckles again and kisses my neck softly.
"You're very tired... this isn't you, love. Do I need to walk you up to your room?" I finally let him go and pop my bottom lip out.
"I love you," I tell him, "good night." He goes into his room and I go upstairs. Ara is waiting, a huge smile on her face.
"How was your day?" she sings, "you look sad."
"He has to sleep all the way downstairs." She laughs.
"Your dad would kill you."
"I know... that's why I'm up here." She smiles and hugs me.
"Go to sleep... and you'll see him in the morning."
"But I'm not sleepy," I whine, "I just wanna do something!" Ara chuckles and pats my back.
"Well, the two of us could watch a movie."
"Sure!" She puts in a random movie, and cuddles up next to me in my bed. She leans into me and yawns.
"I'm gonna fall asleep," she whispers, "how are you not tired?" I simply shrug and wrap my arms around her. She is quickly asleep in my arms and I quickly follow.
I wake up to screaming that quickly turns to sobbing. I sit straight up and find Ara curled up and rocking in the middle of the floor. I rush to her and wrap my arms around her.
"Ara," I whisper, "Ara, hey... I'm right here."
"G-goldie?"
"Yep, it's me. What's wrong?" She stares at me for a moment before crumbling into me.
"Oh, Merlin... it was horrible, Goldie," she whispers, "everyone was... oh merlin." She squeezes me tighter and sobs into my shoulder.
"Do you want me to get my Mum? or Dad?"
"NO!" she shouts, "no... please. They were so upset with me. I can't bother them."
"They aren't upset with you," I tell her, "why would you think that?" She sniffles and locks eyes with me.
"They kicked me out," she whispers, "they made me go back to my family..." I pause and wipe a tear from her cheek.
"They would never do that. They love you... there is nothing you could do to make them kick you out." I rub her back and kiss her hair.
"I don't know..."
"I'll go get Mum." She grabs my leg as I try to leave.
"She's gonna be upset. Please, you can't get me kicked out." I kneel back down to her.
"I promise, Ara. They aren't upset with you, but if you don't want me to get them I won't."
"N-no, please don't."
"Alright," I reassure her, "come on, let's get back to sleep." She gets back up onto my bed and I lay down beside her.
"I'm sorry, Goldie."
"Nothing to be sorry for, Ara. I love you... just wake me up if you need anything else."
I wake up at to a knock on my door.
"Goldie, darling, time for breakfast," Dad says, "and if Ara's in there bring her with you." I roll over and nearly fall out of at the bed.
"Goldie? Is it morning?"
"Apparently," I grumble, "Come on, he'll break the door down if he has to." She giggles and sits up. I run to get the door and Dad is leaning against the doorframe.
"Goldie, I need to speak to you before you go down for breakfast."
"Okay?" Ara smiles and walks down the stairs to leave them alone. Dad takes me by the hands and smiles sadly.
"I am being called away. Peter was seen just outside of Hogsmeade... and Sirius and I must check it out. I am sorry that I must leave earlier... than expected." Goldie sighs, but nods anyway.
"Of course, I get it. The faster you find him the better."
"Cedric will be kept in the downstairs, even when I am gone, correct?"
"Of course... Where else would he be?" Dad chuckles and kiss my forehead.
"I love you, flower... so much." Goldie hugs him tightly and he pats her back.
"He's a good kid." My head snaps up to look at him, and he will not meet my gaze.
"You did not hear that from me, flower. As far as he knows... I still hate him"
"Hate is a strong word."
"Which is why I am telling you that I do not... hate him. I just hate that you have found some that I cannot hate."
"Thank you, Dad. Please be safe and be back quick. I love you."
"I love you too, Goldie."
Cedric is waiting for me at the breakfast table. He smiles and pats the chair beside him. Harry slides into with irritating ease.
"Harry," I grumble, "why?"
"You can sit on his other side... without him, I am to be outnumbered... again."
"Get your broom out of your arse," Everlyn snarks sliding onto Cedric's other side.
"Dad put you two up to this, didn't he?" Cedric chuckles at the antics.
"Just sit across from me... quickly before Ara can take it from you." I take my seat across the table from him and my siblings.
"What should we do today?"
"We were going to take a walk to the little town close by here. If it is not too cold," Mum states, as her and Ara bring out plates of food.
"That sounds wonderful," Cedric says, "and I brought myself some warm clothes, so I am sure we will be just fine." I smile and brush my foot down Cedric's leg to get him to look at me.
"We can look at the bookshop.. the one you took me to last time you were here." Cedric smiles.
"Of course we will. It should be the first stop."
YOU ARE READING
What If? Year 2
FanfictionMarigold Potter is back for her 2nd year at Hogwarts. She technically a third year, after passing all of her exams, but it still feels weird for her to say her third year. With Tom Riddle 'out of the way', she is free to have a normal schooling expe...
