Bella ran as fast as her legs could take her. She knew she was in deep trouble. Her mother was probably calling the police right now, or worse… her father.

But Bella couldn't stop.

As her legs took her farther and farther from home, her thoughts grew more clear. The cool London night air bit at her skin. It was 9 p.m. in October, and the streets were still busy with shoppers, diners, and people just out and about.

Running through the streets in her pajamas, Bella received a fair share of odd looks. She didn't care though. She only had one thing on her mind: him. She had to see him. She didn't care what her mother said. She didn't care if she was grounded for the rest of her life. She just didn't care.

Her legs carried her two blocks further and stopped. She stood outside an iron gate. The street lamp was out and the city block deserted. She was glad. She wanted to be alone. She wanted it to be as dark outside as she felt inside.

Reaching out a shaky hand, she pushed the iron-gate open and walked inside the grassy area. She tripped instantly on a knocked-over stone. Catching herself, she stood back up and squinted her eyes trying to pay closer attention to the ground.

Her legs took her directly where she wanted to go. They had memorized the path to him. Smiling, she kneeled down beside the headstone. Fresh flowers stood in front of his grave. Someone else must have been there to see him today too.

Bella traced the writing on the head stone.

Reece Olin Dorty

July 10, 1991 – July 15, 2007

Beloved Son, Friend, and Teammate

"It's always have and never hold
You've begun to feel like home
What's mine is yours to leave or take
What's mine is yours to make your own

I'll look after you…"

"Your team won today," She said softly, sitting all the way down and picking at the damp grass. "Rupert scored a goal at the very last minute. You wouldn't have believed it even if you had seen it!!" Bella looked up at the stars. She liked to think he was relaxing on a cloud listening to her. "They dedicated the win to you… Everyone was really sad you weren't there but Buddy said you'd want everyone to be happy and celebrate so we went to the pub."

Bella closed her eyes. It had been three months since her best friend had died. She missed him everyday. People told her the ache would dull but it didn't. She had been coming to his grave every chance she got. She skipped school, snuck out in the middle of the night, anything to be near him.

Bella never knew what to say first when she got here. She wanted to say so much. She always had the everyday things she wanted to share with him: funny things that happened, old friends she ran into, the latest gossip with his ex-girlfriend, his team's updates. Then she had things that weighed on her. Things she needed to say every time she came: that she was sorry, how she wouldn't forget him, and how she would always love him.

Tears welled in her eyes. She knew Reece was dead. She had seen his body in the hospital and she had seen it in the coffin. She felt like she needed to be near him though in case he was lonely. She wanted to ensure she would never forget him. Torturing herself by spending hours at his grave was her penance.

Bella laid down on the wet grace, silently crying. She didn't know how long she had been there when she felt a strong pair of hands wrap under her back and knees. She wasn't afraid. She knew that touch. Nuzzling her head into the strong arms, she relished in the familiar smell of herbs, peppermint, and chemicals.

Bella must have fallen asleep because the next thing she remembered was being laid in her warm bed and a gentle hand wiping her tears away.

"Sleep baby girl," the loving voice said, stroking her hair until she obeyed and fell into oblivion.

"I don't know what to do with her anymore," Melody said pacing the room. She had been a mess when Bella ran away. She knew exactly where Bella was but she didn't know what to do with her. She considered following her to make sure she was safe but she knew that would only make Bella run elsewhere. She was so tired of not knowing what to do.

Severus watched his best friend pace back and forth in her tiny London flat. He had known Melody since childhood. One night when they were 20 years old, they both had too much to drink and nine months later he was the father of a beautiful baby girl. He thought it would be difficult to have a Muggle daughter but it never mattered.

"Mel," he began, gently guiding her to the couch. "You're doing the best you can. Bella is so lucky to have you."

Melody rested her head on Severus's shoulder. "It's not enough Sev," she whispered. "She's getting worse. I took her to the pediatrician today and she's lost three more pounds."

Severus could hear the desperation in Melody's voice. After Reece had died, Bella stopped eating. At first they thought it was a phase. After it continued for two weeks, they grew concerned. They brought Bella to a therapist who said it was normal. After two more weeks passed and she still refused to eat, they brought her to another therapist who said she was developing Anorexia Nervosa.

They met with a nutritionist, psychologist, and doctor who all told them to stay out of it and let the professionals handle things. Severus and Bella complied because they didn't want to make things worse. But now, two months later, Bella was 5'5" and only weighed 102 pounds. The professionals had allowed Bella to lose 25 more pounds. Severus found it increasingly hard to stand by and watch his daughter starve herself to death.

"I can't do this anymore Sev," Melody whispered. Severus looked down at the woman in his arms. She had taken the brunt of this as Severus had to return to Hogwarts to teach a month and a half ago. He hated that he was away when his girls needed him. He saw Bella every weekend but it wasn't enough, especially because she was hurting so much.

Severus stood up and began to pace.

"There must be something we can do," he said, looking at Melody. She looked exhausted. "We're her parents for crying out loud! We gave her life! We take care of her! There must be someway we can make her better!"

"Sev, everyone told us that we'd make it worse by butting in…" Melody said, rubbing her temples. This was a conversation she'd had with every eating disorder specialist she'd ever met.

"Worse?" Sevreus said incredulously. "Worse than what?! She's already severely underweight! They have done nothing to help her. They've just stood by and let her wither away to nothing!"

Severus walked to the fire place mantle and looked at a photo of Bella taken last year around this time. She attended the London School of Arts. Oh my, was she a magnificent painter. In the photo, she was wearing a white smock and had red and blue paint all over her face. She was smiling broadly. He missed the sight.

"Mel," Severus said suddenly. "I can't stand by idly anymore. I have to do something to help her. Someone at Hogwarts was telling me about a family-based approach to treating Anorexia. I am going to go find out all I can. I'll be back tomorrow."

Severus grabbed his coat and stood in front of Melody. She was too tired to agree or disagree.

"I don't want her going to school tomorrow," He said as an afterthought. "There's no one around to keep an eye on her."

Melody simply nodded, her eyes closed.

"You should stay home too," he said as an after thought. "You look like shit."

A slight smile lined Melody's lips. Severus bent down and kissed her forehead. "I love you, and we'll figure this out. I promise."

Melody kissed Severus's cheek and watched him walk to Bella's room. Severus watched his daughter sleep for a moment. She was 16 and absolutely beautiful: she had long straight black hair, white creamy skin, and magnificent blue eyes.

Walking over to her bed, Severus pulled her duvet up to her chin and kissed her on her forehead. "I promise we'll make you better again," he whispered.

He refused to lose his baby. She meant everything to him. Everything.

Severus walked into the living room to say goodbye to Melody but she was fast asleep. Grabbing a blanket, Severus tucked Melody in, made sure all the doors and windows were locked, and with a pop disappeared.