Along Came Trouble | Book 2

Chapter 3: Why Did You Leave Me For So Long?

My mother has returned. But, she wasn't alone.

When she walked through the front door, standing behind her, was my dad. 

Ian Parker's face was the first I've recognized when he came into the house. His eyes matched mine, and the moment they landed on me, a warm smile spread across his face. "My little champ, at last. Although, you're not so little anymore, are you?"

I backed away as he tried to hug me, hugging Lauren closer to my body. 

He sighed, and ran his fingers through his hair. "You have every right to be upset with me. I left you in a horrible situation. I'm not so good of a father, am I?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked, ignoring his previous question.

"I've been looking for you and your mother for a very long time, Riley. I missed you so much, it was hard to handle. The years have been so lonely without my girl."

"I'm having a lot of trouble believing that story,"

"I'm sure you are, and frankly, I don't blame you at all. I wouldn't believe it either, if I were you. But, we have a lot of catching up to do, don't we?" He held up his car keys, and jingled them.

"What about Lauren and Amber?" I asked worriedly, not really wanting to go with him.

"Your mother will have to take care of them for a while. She promised she'd do better, so, let's see if she will."

"Pft, doubt it."

He chuckled, as I put Lauren into her swing.

As much as I didn't want to do it, I followed my dad to his car. It was a simple red convertible, with beige, leather seats. I liked it.

I climbed into the passenger's seat, and pulled my seatbelt over me. "Where exactly are we going?" I asked my dad when he got in.

"Nowhere in particular. It's always more peaceful to drive in my opinion." He replied, starting the car.

I shrugged, sort of agreeing, and listened to the hum of the engine. It was a lot smoother than my mother's old piece of junk.

"So, how was Hogwarts? Your mother said you had to leave early." He said when we pulled away.

"Way different from my other schools, but, I can't say I didn't like it." I answered, recalling my memories from my old school.

"Make any friends?"

"I thought I did. Turns out, I only made one."

"Lost a few, eh? Who thought my little champ wasn't good enough?"

"Harry Potter, and Ronald Weasley."

"Harry Potter, as in, the son of Lily and James Potter?" His voice sounded excited, yet, shocked.

"Yeah, he was so nice to me at first. He helped me through a lot of tough times, and even bought Amber and I breakfast when I didn't have the money to get any myself. Then, one day, he got all mad about something and...yeah."

"A lot like James, that boy is. I used to be very close with his dad, you know. We were nearly inseparable. What made him mad?"

"I don't exactly know. I mean, I got asked out by a really nice guy, who happened to be his arch-nemesis, and then, he started talking behind my back, and ignoring me. He said some pretty hurtful things to me, as well." I don't know what it was, but something was telling me that it was okay to be opening up to my dad, and it made me want to continue.

"Harry did that? Are you sure we're talking about the same kid here?"

I nodded. "I was just as shocked as you are."

"Who could you have chosen that made him so mad?"

"Draco Malfoy,"

"Woah, a Malfoy? He actually went out with a Halfblood? Wow, that's..."

"Well, let's just say that he didn't know he was going out with a Halfblood. I told him I was a Pureblood." I admitted.

"You don't know much of the Malfoy's backstory, do you? Let me tell you, all they are, are snobby Purebloods, who believe all Muggleborns should die. They're rich, and evil has been passed through their blood for generations. Every Malfoy I've ever heard of turned out to be a Death Eater, and so will he. Those Malfoy's are bad news, Riley. Draco probably only liked you for your looks, and your blood status, as much as I hate to say it."

I sighed. "Do you really think that?"

"I know that, Riley. Have you heard what his father just did? Tried to get an innocent creature executed because his idiot son didn't follow directions, and got a little scratch from it. I heard from Remus that Harry, and his two friends rescued the creature, and saved an innocent man from getting the Dementor's Kiss."

"I wasn't there when that happened. I didn't know you and Professor Lupin still talked."

He nodded, and smiled. "Remus and I are very good friends. I bet he was a really good teacher there at Hogwarts, wasn't he?"

I grinned. "He was my favorite, actually. His class was amazing."

"Too bad he doesn't teach there anymore."

"What?"

"Yeah, he resigned, little champ. He's got a lot on his plate right now. But, don't expect your Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers to stick around for over a year. That's the only class in that entire school that has a new teacher every single year."

"Well, I don't think I'm going back to Hogwarts anyway, so, I shouldn't have to worry about a new teacher anyway."

"Why aren't you going back?"

"We're probably moving soon, aren't we?"

"Pft, I'm not going anywhere, little champ. We're staying right where we are, and you're going back to Hogwarts."

"Really?"

"Yeah, of course. Remus said that you're a very intelligent girl. You need to put that great mind of yours to work."

I smiled, and looked out the window. For a moment, we were quiet.

"Dad?"

"Little champ?"

"Why did you leave me for so long?" 

He didn't answer right away. "I never was ready for a baby. Your mother promised me that she was on birth control, and she wasn't. When she had you, I was angry, stressed, but so happy at the same time. We couldn't provide for a baby in the first place, and the fact that your mother lied to me upset me a lot. But, the fact that I had such a beautiful little girl made me happy. I tried so hard to take good care of you, working two jobs, and doing as much as I could. Your mother took a lot of that money, and would leave in the middle of the night. Sometimes, she'd come back the next morning, and others, a few days later." He sighed, and paused for a moment. "It all became so stressful, that I began drinking, trying to reduce the pain. My problem got worse, until I became an alcoholic. Then, I found out, that all along, your mother had been cheating on me. I just got so mad that..."

"You left, and never came back." I finished for him. 

He nodded. "It wasn't your fault. I don't think your mother was meant to be a parent."

"Tell me about it."

That was when we pulled back into our driveway. 

"I liked that, little champ. You're definitely my girl." 

He smiled at me, and I smiled back. "I liked that too. We should do that more often."

"Indeed we should."