Hello readers! So I have made a LOT of changes to this story because I felt it necessary. I am much more satisfied with this version and it seemed to just flow, hence it's actually COMPLETE. I apologize for those of you who liked the other one better. Anyway - let me know what you think!
Your friend,
PurpleFive
Chapter 1: Home Sweet Hurt
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
"Mom, why don't we go for a walk; it's beautiful outside today." Hazel asked her mother, pulling open the curtains to the large front window.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." Her mom slurred from the kitchen table, a bottle of whiskey held tight in her hand. Hazel had seen her open it that morning and it was already one-third empty. She sat at her usual spot at the table, drinking and staring at a bowl of cereal. She had been like this nearly every morning ever since Hazel's dad left nearly two years ago during Hazel's fourth year at Nathaniel School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Sorry for what mom?" Hazel asked casually, this was part of their daily routine.
"I'm sorry for all the Hell I've put you through these past two years. I didn't mean to break down like this, but I…I." Her mother let out a frustrated scream, waving her arm and knocking the full cereal bowl onto the kitchen floor.
"Oh great! Another mess in this trashy house!" She yelled, tears streaming down her pale face.
"It's okay mom, I got it." Hazel quickly grabbed a rag and started to mop up the milk and soggy cereal. When she finished, she threw the rag in the sink and headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Her mom asked and staggered towards her.
"Probably going to go to Tony's and play exploding snap or make-out; something like that." She pushed open the door and started down the narrow hallway to the building's steps.
"No. I think you should stay home with me today. We can have some quality mother-daughter time! You know that boyfriend of yours is nothing but trouble!" Her mom screamed, but Hazel was already down the stairs and away from the building.
She walked down the street, staring at the run-down buildings and people around her. She tried not to compare those to her mother but in all honesty, they were the same. The hardware store that had once been painted a bright red with a glowing neon 'Open' sign was now covered in a layer of grey with chipping paint and symbols sprayed across the walls and windows. She pulled her jacket tighter and tucked a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear. She turned the corner and walked a few more blocks into a residential area until she reached the first house on the street and walked in, as if it were her own.
"Tony! I'm here!" She chimed, talking off her jacket and walking straight into the room marked with a T.
"Hey babe! What took you so long?" Tony walked away from the TV and enveloped Hazel in a bone crushing hug. He was taller than her, which she preferred, but they had the same dirty-blonde hair, along with the same year-long tans due to their equally passionate involvement in Quidditch.
"So, what are we doing today?" Hazel asked into Tony's chest. She listened to his heart beat and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of his touch and the security of his arms.
"We are going to go for a walk." Tony grabbed her hand and led her out the door at a run.
"Wait! Wait, where are we walking to?" Hazel asked, laughing.
"Anywhere, let's just walk." Hazel shrugged, allowing Tony to lace his fingers with hers and pull her out the door. They started down the sidewalk, further into the neighborhood, arms wrapped around each other's waists.
"So…your mom was drinking again wasn't she?" Tony asked casually as they turned onto the path to the neighborhood park.
"Yeah, how do you know that every time?" Hazel smiled up at him.
"Because you usually hug me back but when you're upset about something you just want to be held." She squeezed his hand, grateful to have a person who really understood her.
"You can read me like a book." Tony stopped suddenly and turned to face her, wrapping his arms around her.
"You know, you can be one sad story sometimes. Why don't you move out of that apartment and live with me? My mom wouldn't mind; she'd be happy to have you."
"You've been asking me to live with you for the past year and I always say no. I'm sorry Tony, but if I leave my mom she'll—" Hazel stopped, pulling his arms tighter around her.
"Disappear, I know. Why do you put yourself through that? You'll see her all the time! You practically live at my house anyway! I mean, you're there from 9-7 every day, and on the weekends, you're there from 4 on Friday 'till 4 on Sunday! Come on! You know you want to." Tony put on the biggest puppy dog eyes he could muster and handed them to Hazel. She frowned at the reality of his words. She really was with him all the time anyway; it would just decrease her stress that much more.
"Fine, but you're coming with me to tell her." Tony grinned and twirled Hazel around again.
They talked about what she would bring, how it would be to live together, and how the new season of their favorite pastime was going to go as they walked back to her apartment. When they arrived at her door Hazel took a deep breath and let it out slowly, she was nervous. Tony squeezed her hand and nodded reassuringly. Hazel unlocked the door and walked in to pure darkness. She rolled her eyes and knew the blinds were down and lights were off because her mother had polished off the bottle from this morning.
"What the – ?" Tony started to asked, placing his hand protectively on Hazel's shoulder.
"She must be sleeping or something." Hazel cut him off and turned on the light and gasped. The apartment was in shreds. Broken glass was scattered everywhere, the furniture was clawed up, and all the pictures were smashed in. She looked at Tony with wide eyes. She frantically began calling for her mother and checking rooms. After a couple rooms Hazel stormed angrily down the hall to her bedroom and burst through the door, ready to rip into her mother for being so reckless. The door swung open and Hazel saw her mother kneeling in front of her bed, sobbing onto her comforter. She turned around to see the intruder and smiled weakly at Hazel.
"Hey honey." She said with a hoarse voice. Hazel assumed she must have been screaming while she wrecked their small home.
"What the Hell happened to the house, mom?" Hazel snapped.
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry!" Her mom bubbled, turning to sit on the floor against the bed. Hazel noted a half empty glass of wine in her one hand and sighed, kneeling next to her. She cooed comforting words, telling her mom it was alright and everything was okay, while she reached to take the glass from her.
"I'm really sorry Hazel." Her mom slurred again. Hazel stopped mid-reach and her eyes opened wide. The glass was not what she should be trying to take from her mother.