A Not-So-Muggle Life

Dad

2. Dad

I was right about dad wanting to put me in high school. He had already registered me as a junior. Session was starting in two days.

I had cooked dinner for him and he seemed to be liking it. We were having a casual conversation about.... Nothing in particular, really. Then suddenly his tone changed. It was serious.

"Flora, I know I haven't been a good father to you. I really don't blame you for not coming back all those years. We don't have the best father-daughter dynamics, do we? I know I am to blame. But today in the office, after seeing you again, I was thinking we could change that. I want you to give me a chance. You are all that I have left in this world." He looked at me desperately, looking sincere...and sad. I wanted to get up and give him a hug, telling him I loved him.

But I didn't. My feet wouldn't move. I just kept staring at him. He wanted a good father daughter relationship and that wouldn't happen unless he solved our past issues.

"Why did you leave mom?" I asked him bluntly, surprised at myself. I always wanted to ask him that but never had the courage.

"I wasn't ready, Flora. I had never known that things like magic existed in our world and my wife tells me on our wedding night that she is a witch. I felt betrayed.... And afraid. I loved her. Later......when she was gone...... I always wanted to go back and......" His voice broke.

I looked at him as he tried to compose himself. I felt guilty for judging him all these years. I had never even tried to look at things from his perspective. He had obviously loved mom a lot. I never even married again.

I became aware of the wetness on my cheeks. Both of us were crying. Well, maybe this was a good way to start the father-daughter bonding.

I walked up to him, awkwardly putting my arms around him. "I love you, dad." I told him in between the sobs.

I went to bed emotionally drained and physically exhausted from the jetlag. To my surprise, instead of thinking about my life at Hogwarts, I started thinking about the guy from the plane. I wondered why his behavior bothered me so much. Perhaps I had got so used to admiration that I could not handle the opposite. Did I want him to admire me? Of course not, he was nothing but a stranger to me.

Thinking about him, I remembered my older days in Forks, when I had been the freak in the school. Nobody cared to talk to me, let alone be friends. It was due to my uncontrolled magic during those days. Whenever anything unusual happened, my classmates had learnt to expect me being the reason behind it. They couldn't get any proof, though they tried hard.

But things had changed in the past 5 years. I had learnt to control my magic. Even puberty had worked like magic on me. Nobody hated me anymore. Then, why did he?

I sighed.

At least things were getting better with dad. But I knew this was only the beginning, we both had to try hard.

With this happy thought, I finally fell asleep.

.......................................................................................................................................................................................

Today is another day, I told myself as I woke up with heavy eyes. I showered and went down to find dad at the breakfast table. It was unusually late for him. I figured he was waiting for me.

"Good morning, dad." I said as cheerfully as I could.

He smiled back at me.

I racked my brains to find a topic for conversation as I buttered my toast. Something personal, definitely not the weather, and something not as traumatizing as last night.

"So, I'm thinking of getting a job." I said. "If that's okay with you." I quickly added.

He looked confused. "Why do you need a job?"

"I don't know. I...um... a lot of kids my age have jobs and I'll be having free time, so.... I might also join a vocational course."

"Like what?" he asked, glancing at his. He was obviously late for office.

"Some musical instrument I guess. Cello or something." I said, off-handedly. I hadn't really thought about that.

He picked up on that. "There is a really good ex-cello concertist who moved to Forks recently. I can get him to give you private lessons.

"That would be great." I said enthusiastically.

"I wasn't really interested in cello, but then I wasn't really interested in anything. I just wanted to kill time. He seemed pleased at my response.

"And about the job. I could get you an internship at the forest department."

This, I was really interested in. As a kid I was always fascinated by Fork's forests. Before I could reply, dad pulled a car key from his pocket and put it in front of me.

"I suppose you'll need a car to get to your new job."

At this I actually squealed in delight. I loved driving, be it cars or brooms.

"Oh my God! Which car is it?"

"A Mercedes Vanquish."

I did not let this revelation alter the smile on my face. Vanquish was an expensive car, lavish and perfect. But it had a surprisingly low speed limit of 50 miles per hour.

"Thanks, dad. It's perfect."

He smiled and got up to leave for work.

"The car's in the garage. You'll be all right today?"

"Yeah. See you in the evening." I walked him to the door.

Will I be all right today? I asked myself.