Golden Hair || A Rapunzel and Harry Potter Crossover

one

Zinnia Flynn had everything. Or that's what her mother told her. She has a nice house. It's in the middle of the woods. She has a loving mother. She is gone for days at a time. She has enough to eat if her mother gets home in time to restock the cabinets. 

Zinnia, at 6:30 am, wakes up and gets dressed in a purple flowy tank top and white shorts. Her mother, Garnet, has gone to another market, this time trading furs and carpets. Nia (Zinnia's nickname,) brushes past the murals on the stairs and to the kitchen, where she finds her orange tabby cat, Pascal, trying to hide behind the fridge. 

"Pascal, you have orange fur. The kitchen is brown and white. The only place you can hide is among the oranges, which we are out of. Hopefully, Mom comes back and restocks today." Nia scoops up the cat, who meows pitifully. 

"I guess you're hungry, too. Let's clean the house first. We never know when Mom is coming back." Zinnia sang, glancing at the grandfather clock on the wall as she picks up a broom. 

Finally, after going through 12 things on her list of things she can do, Zinnia sat down with an apple pie, which she had baked during her list of chores. Finally, she heard a knock on the door. 

"Zinnia, unlock this door!" A sing-songy voice said. Nia got up and raced to the door, unlocking the many latches, keyholes, padlocks, chains, and many more that keep the house safe from outsiders. A woman with dark hair and grey eyes swept in, smiling brightly in her cherry-red lipstick. 

"Hello, Mother!"

"Oh, Zinnia, darling, could you please pull over a chair? I've had a hard time negotiating parsnip prices. That reminds me, I'm making your favorite, hazelnut soup for dinner!"

"Oh. Um, thanks, but there was something else I really want."

"Oh, of course, darling, some paint or pastels?"

"No, actually..."

"Well, spit it out."

"Mom, I'm almost eleven years old... and I thought since I'm almost old enough,  maybe you would let me try a spell? And also maybe I can  get my Hogwarts letter..." Nia's voice began to speed up and lower. She gripped a chunk of hair and begins stroking it, still rambling. "I know you hid it somewhere, and there are always owls around our house, but that doesn't matter. Anyway, that would be the best birthday ever..." Her mother cut her off.

"Zinnia, we have talked about this before. It's not safe out there!"

"But mother-"

"NO, Zinna. I've had a stressful day, and I'm going to bed. Goodbye." She briskly hung her trench coat up by the door and stormed upstairs, leaving Zinnia standing on the maroon and gold carpet, barefoot and dumbstruck. She felt the house's white walls closing in on her, and she needed to get outside. She threw open a window and gasped for air. She needed to escape. This is not where she belongs. Nia closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths, calming herself down. When she opens them again, she notices a boy of around her age, lurking near the clearing of trees with a black leather satchel over his shoulder. He notices her watching and vanishes.

Am I hallucinating?  Zinnia asked herself. Probably.  Nia decided to make hazelnut soup for her mom, to make her feel better. She mixes the ingredients and sets the table with some deep red flowers set in the middle. She waits for the clicking of heels on the staircase to pour the water, trying to make it seem like that was what she was doing this entire time. 

"Zinnia?"

"Yes, Mother?"

"Is this for me?"

"Of course, mother."

"Oh, thank you, dear. Does this mean that you don't care about Hogwash or whatever that place is called?"

"No, mother of course not." Zinnia knew she was lying through her teeth, but she couldn't help that. She needed to get her mother off her back. Garnet, which was her mother's name, sat down and took a sip of soup. 

"Mmmmm, delicious. Now, dear, seeing as we have crossed Hogwind of the list, what would you like for your birthday dear?"  

"Remember those paints you got for me when I was seven? The ones made out of white shells?"

"Well, that is a very long trip, Zinnia. Almost three days time." 

"I... just thought that it was a better idea than the school."

Garnet let out an exasperated sigh. 

"Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"I know that I'm safe as long as I'm here." 

Garnet packs up her things and pulls on her coat. 

"I love you, my sunshine." She said as she opens the door.

"I love you more." Zinnia replies, as they always have. 

"I love you most," Garnet says, and she closes the door behind her.