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I have been sitting in my room doing absolutely nothing. I've read a few books, and brushed out my hair a couple hundred times, because there really isn't much else to do. I don't quite understand the point of being grounded, because I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to learn from it. So far, it's only making me more irritated with Mum. Really, she's barely been in my life, and now she's trying to punish me? And then side with Victoire over me? That isn't even fair. I'm her daughter! But I'm sure she's got a closer relationship with Victoire than she does with me. That's what annoys me so much. It seems like everyone knows Mum better than I do.
Someone knocks lightly on my door. "Come in." The door opens quietly, and Scorpius tiptoes in. He comes to lay down beside me on my bed.
"Hi, Ithbelle," He says quietly, snuggling up to my shoulder. At least someone's comforting me.
"Hi, Scorpius," I sigh.
"Are you mad with mad with Miss Haminey?" He asks, looking up at me in question. I shrug.
"Kind of. Why?"
"Because she was talking with Daddy, and she said you were. Ithbelle, don't be mad with her," he pleads, giving me a sad look. Of course, Mum knows I'm angry at her. Why shouldn't I be?
"Scorpius, I'm mad at Miss Hermione because she is being very unfair to me. Do you like it when people are unfair to you?" I question. Scorpius ponders it, then shakes his head slowly.
"No. But please, don't be mad with her. I don't want Miss Haminey to go away," he tells me dismally, pouting.
"Why would she go away?" I ask, looking down at Scorpius. He averts his eyes from my gaze and buries his face into my shoulder, shaking his head. "Scorpius? It's okay, you can tell me," I say softly, trying to coax him into answering me.
"Because Mummy went away when you were mad with her," he grumbles, poking his lower lip out. I know Scorpius doesn't understand the whole situation with Astoria very well, but I never knew that he thought it was my fault. That was the last thing that I wanted him to think, and it kind of hurts.
"Look at me, Scorp. Miss Hermione isn't going anywhere, alright? And it isn't my fault that your Mummy left, and it isn't yours either. It wasn't anyone's fault but hers. Do you understand that?" Scorpius gives a small nod.
"Yeah. But I really, really, like Miss Haminey," he tells me.
"I know you do."
"Daddy likes her a lot, too," Scorpius adds. "I saw them kiss this morning." I bet he did. Mum and Dad really have seemed very cozied up lately. They're always talking or laughing or going out somewhere. I suppose they decided to just forget the fact that they completely and wholeheartedly hated each other at one point. I suppose it's better that way.
"Did you?" I ask conversationally. Scorpius nods.
"But it's a secret, okay? You can't tell anybody!"
"I swear, I won't tell a soul," I promise him. Scorpius looks at me dubiously.
"Kay. You better not tell anyone. Wanna know what Daddy asked me?" he questions, looking as if he's about to burst if he doesn't tell someone soon.
"What did Dad ask you?"
"He asked me if I thought Miss Haminey would make a good new mummy! And I said yes!" He exclaims, grinning at me. His smile lessens when I don't seem as excited as he does. "What's wrong, Ithbelle? You don't think Miss Haminey is a good mummy?"
"No, it isn't that. I think Miss Hermione would be a wonderful mother for you. Me, I'm not so sure," I admit.
"Why not?" Scorpius asks, his little blonde eyebrows knitting together with confusion.
"It seems that Mum and I butt heads a lot. I mean, Rose and Hugo are about your age, so she's got practice with you. She doesn't really know how to get on with someone my age. You see, things like this are a lot more complicated the older you get," I explain.
"Everyone says that word all the time. I know it means you don't wanna tell me," Scorpius says dejectedly. That isn't true. It means so much more than that.
"No, Scorpius, that's not what it means. It means that things are hard to understand right now."
"Oh. I wish things were normal," he mutters.
"What do you mean normal?" I ask.
"I wish that we were a normal family and normal brother and sister with the same mummy," he tells me sadly. I know that Scorpius has always known that we don't have the same mother, but I don't think that he truly understood what that meant until now.
"Scorpius, you being my half-brother won't ever make me think any less of you. I love you just the same. Do you think of me any differently?" Scorpius shakes his head.
"No. I love you, too. And maybe it's a good thing," he says thoughtfully.
"Why is that?" I question.
"Because I love your mummy more than I love my mummy," Scorpius answers. I'm glad that he cares so much about Mum, I'm even happier though that he's getting over Astoria.
"See? That does make it a good thing. Other kids are just stuck with the mummy they have, they can't choose their favorite like you can." Scorpius nods in agreement.
"I know. Miss Haminey is my favorite! Because she's nice and she smiles all the time which makes her really really pretty, and she makes Daddy smile, too! And she reads bedtime stories with me and Daddy!" Well, it sounds like Mum's just the best thing since sliced bread, isn't she? I mean honestly, how did our family even function without her? It's a wonder we even made it without running ourselves off a cliff.
Another knock turns my attention away from the window. Mum is standing there, her fist rested against my open door. I don't really want to speak with her right now.
"The door is open," I point out bitterly, avoiding her gaze. Mum sighs.
"Scorpius, do you mind if I speak to Isobelle in private a moment?" she questions. Scorpius shakes his head.
"Nope, Miss Haminey." Scorpius turns to me. "Be good, Ithbelle" he whispers before climbing off my bed and scurrying out of the room. I feel Mum sit down on the edge of the bed.
"I know you're upset with me," Mum says slowly.
"What gave it away?" I ask sarcastically. I look at Mum, expecting her to reprimand me for making a smart comment. Instead, she's focusing on something behind me. "What?"
"Is that a Picasso?" Mum asks incredulously, pointing to the painting hanging above my bed.
"Yeah, he's some squib artist I studied last year. I really liked that one, so Dad got it for me for Christmas."
"Draco bought that for you?" Mum questions. I nod. What's the big deal?
"Is that bad or something?"
"No, it's just... they- that one in particular, I'm sure- would go for tens of millions of pounds, if not more" Mum explains. "It's amazing that something worth that much is sitting in your bedroom."
"Well, I wanted it," I say simply. Mum furrows her eyebrows.
"And so Draco bought it for you? It must have at least cost half of what he's made in his entire career." I shake my head.
"Probably more," I correct her.
"What do you mean?" Mum asks. I sigh. For Mum to be as involved as she is with Dad, she sure doesn't know anything about his money.
"Dad's already gone over this, but I'll tell you again. No one in this family's worked for financial reasons since the Middle Ages. We inherit all of our assets. What Dad earns from his job is merely pocket change," I explain. Mum shakes her head.
"It's quite sad how little you value money," she sighs, giving me a disappointed look. Really, I think Mum should have her nose out of my business. Whatever Dad buys for me is up to him, not her. I'm not any less of a person because of it.
"Well, you obviously value money a lot. More than me, actually," I point out, setting Mum with a steely gaze. When I say this, she frowns at me.
"I don't understand you," Mum says suddenly.
"Maybe that's because you don't know me as well as you think you do. Actually, you don't know me at all," I point out.
"When I first met you, you seemed so sweet, and it absolutely broke my heart to think that I could ever do something so horrid to a child as endearing as yourself. But the more I get to know you, Isobelle, I pity the fact that someone so young can be so bitter and resentful," Mum tells me, completely ignoring everything I just said to her.
"Yes, well, that's what happens when you don't have a mother in your life," I mutter. "I mean honestly, would you have even cared about me if your parents were still alive? Or would you have just kept pretending that I didn't exist, like you've so expertly been doing these past years?" Mum frowns at me.
"Of course, not. I eventually would have-"
"Eventually? When would that have been? Five years from now? Ten? Fifteen, when I've already forgotten about you and have got a family of my own? Does Dad even know?" I ask.
"Know what?" Mum questions apprehensively.
"Does he even know why you took him to court in the first place? As far as he knows, you wanted to see me because you finally realized what a mistake you made, not because you got lonely and decided it was time you get yourself together."
"Don't speak to me like that," Mum admonishes. Is she joking right now? "I'm still not rushing into anything," I raise my eyebrows in argument.
"No? You sure aren't hesitating to try and parent me after all this time," I point out.
"That's completely different, Isobelle. No matter what happens between Draco and I, I'm still your mother," Mum reminds me, as if I didn't already know.
"You've really only known me for two months now, do you honestly think you have the right to go around saying that?" I question. If I were in Mum's spot, I think I'd just be concerned with trying to get me to like her still.
"Of course I do. I'm sure Draco would do the same, and you aren't to see me any differently than you do him," she informs me.
"Yes, well that's kind of difficult when you're the only one who's made me spend twenty-four hours in solitary confinement."
"As a punishment that you deserved," Mum reminds me. Merlin, she doesn't understand anything.
"Well, Dad wouldn't do something like that. And I know that the only reason he agreed with you is so that you wouldn't be mad at him. Don't think that he actually believes you're right about this," I tell Mum. She crosses her arms and gives me that disapproving glare she normally uses to regard me.
"You know, Isobelle, I actually came up here to apologize for being so hard on you and allow you out of your room, but now I think that I just may take that back," she tells me. I know Mum's lying. She's only saying that so that I'll quit arguing with her.
"And I think I may just take you up on your offer," I say, standing up and calling her bluff.
"Isobelle, don't you dare leave this room!" Mum hisses in an 'I mean business' tone, getting up to follow me.
"Or what?" I challenge, staring her down. "What can you possibly do? If you step out of line, I'm sure Dad's going to choose me over you. He did it to Astoria, and he won't hesitate to do it to you, too."
"Is this how you plan to get ahead in life?" Mum questions, setting her jaw hard. "By threatening and manipulating people?"
"This isn't about getting ahead," I inform her.
"No? Then what is it about? Please tell me, Isobelle, because I obviously have no idea," Mum tells me acerbically.
"You don't get it, do you? You can't just walk in and act like nothing ever happened! You can't act like you know anything about me when you really don't! You can't just pretend that all of those birthdays and Christmases and Mother's Days that you missed just didn't happen! Because they did! And you weren't there!" I yell.
"I don't understand where any of this is coming from. I thought we were past that," Mum says, confused.
"You know, I thought we were, too. I trusted you. I came to you when I didn't even want to speak to Dad. I bet the only reason you're even here is so that you can feel better about yourself."
"Don't say that to me, Isobelle. I'm in a tough situation right now-"
"Haven't been in one of those before, have you?" I mutter.
"I'm not going to stand here and take this from you," Mum tells me, making to walk out of the door.
"Take what? The truth? I thought you'd be able to handle it. I thought you knew what you were walking into," I say, giving Mum a look. I can see her struggling not to show the fact that I'm getting a rise out of her. She makes it so easy to do.
"Isobelle, don't-"
"I mean, it must be nice. No matter what you do, things still work out to your advantage. I mean, who else could manage to get pregnant by a man that they hate, dump her daughter on him and just ignore her her entire life, and come out as good as you did. I'd look into playing the numbers if I were you," I say acerbically, leaning casually against the door frame.
"You aren't going to speak to me like that!" Mum orders. I shrug.
"Fine. I suppose I don't really have anything else to say, then."
"So, that's it? You don't want to speak to me anymore because I refuse to let you be rude?" She questions. I'm not being rude, she just doesn't want to hear the truth.
"You know, I'm really trying to keep myself from saying something to you. I just can't win with you," I sigh, shaking my head agitatedly.
"Isobelle, stop it."
"What are you going to do? Ground me? How well did that work out for you?" I ask sarcastically. Mum narrows her eyes at me.
"Why must everything be back and forth with you? When this entire thing began, I had no idea that you were going to be as difficult as you are! I honestly don't understand it! one minute, we're fine, and the next, you're behaving like...this!" Mum says, gesturing her hands in front of her.
"You don't understand why? Let me spell it out for you- no matter what, we're never going to be normal, so you don't get to act like it! I didn't mind it when I just went over to your house for the weekend, but now you're always here! Do you really think that's helping me? It isn't! All it does is remind me of all those other times that you could have been here, but you weren't! And that isn't anyone else's fault but yours, but you were the only one who didn't have to suffer! You moved on with your life, found yourself another family, and I got to wonder what was so wrong with me that my own mother didn't even want anything to do with me!"
"That isn't true at all, you know it-"
"I didn't know it then! Dad didn't know either! You had us going along for years thinking that you just skipped out on us and that was it. But now you're back and you're acting like you never left!" I rant.
"Isobelle, I thought that this was what you wanted! If not, then what do you want from me?" Mum questions, sounding very frustrated with me. This entire situation is frustrating, and I think she needs to be more patient considering this whole thing is her fault.
"This was what I wanted! But this is too much, too soon. I think I...just... need some space." I stammer. Mum's eyebrows furrow with confusion.
"'Some space'? What exactly does that mean?" She questions, arms crossed.
"Look, I think it's all well and good that you're trying, but I don't need you to fix me. I don't need you to smother me, or tell me what to do and how too act every moment of the day. That isn't your job," I tell her.
"No? And what exactly is my job, then?" Mum asks, tilting her head to the side.
"I don't know, but it certainly isn't being up my ass all the time. You can't stand the fact that you can't control me! Honestly, you're giving me a headache," I inform Mum.
Isobelle, watch your mouth!" Mum chastises angrily.
"See? That's exactly what I mean," I sneer, rolling my eyes. "You're always telling me what to do."
"Well, I'm sorry that I'm not allowing you to curse in front of me! I'm sure Draco wouldn't allow it either!"
"You aren't Dad! You aren't even on the same level as him! Stop bloody comparing yourself to him!" I scream. I'm tired of Mum trying to make me treat her like I treat Dad. I don't think it's fair for her to require that from me, because I just can't do it.
"Why're you yelling?" Scorpius asks quietly, peering around the corner with a sad look in those round eyes of his.
"Isobelle and I are just talking, dear," Mum answers, turning around to give Scorpius a soft look.
"No, you're not. You're yelling at each other, Miss Haminey," Scorpius whimpers, his face setting in a pout. He moves forward until he's clinging to her leg, giving me a forlorn look. "Ithbelle, you weren't supposed to be mad with Miss Haminey," he reminds me. Mum gives me a questioning look, but I don't return her gaze, agitated with her.
"I know, Scorpius. I'm sorry, okay?" I kneel down so that I'm eye-level with him.
"No, you're not," he mumbles, turning away from me and burying his face in Mum's robes. I look up at Mum, thoroughly annoyed with how Scorpius is clinging to her desperately, as if she'll disappear if he lets go.
"Scorpius," I say again, touching his back gently. He shrugs me off.
"Go away, Ithbelle!" He says angrily, half-pushing me away with one of his hands.
"That isn't nice, Scorpius," Mum says, looking down at him. "I think you should accept Isobelle's apology."
"I don't!" Scorpius protests, shaking his head. "I don't never want to accept her apology!"
"Why are you upset with Isobelle? Do you want to tell me?" Scorpius pulls his face away from Mum's robes enough to look at her. Mum looks down at Scorpius with such an earnest tenderness on her face. She combs her fingers gently through his hair, coaxing him to open up to her. I'm sure that Scorpius has never had someone so gentle and loving in his life, and I feel a bit bad for trying to mess that up for him.
"Don't leave, Miss Haminey!" He begs. "I don't want you to leave because you're mad with Ithbelle! If you leave us, me and Daddy will be sad! I won't have a mummy no more if you go!" Tears pool in Scorpius' eyes, and one slides down his cheek. He gives Mum a pleading look.
"I'm not a lot of trouble, Miss Haminey! I promise!"
"Of course, you aren't, Scorpius. You are one of the sweetest, most intelligent little boys I have ever met," Mum tells him. Scorpius sniffles a bit, still looking up at Mum with uncertainty.
"Really?" Mum nods.
"Really."
"You're not gonna leave?"
"Of course not, Scorpius. I already promised you that, remember?"
"Yeah, I remember. Miss Haminey, do you want to play a game with me?" Scorpius questions, giving her his best puppy face. He must be where Hugo learned it from.
"I'll play any game that you like," Mum agrees. Scorpius slips his hand into hers. "But only under one condition.
"What?" Scorpius asks, his eyebrows wrinkling.
"You have to show me a smile," Mum informs him. Scorpius purses his lips.
"Miss Haminey! I don't wanna smile!" he protests, but even I can see the corners of his lips pulling upward.
"No? What is that, then?" Mum questions, pointing to Scorpius' face.
"What's what? Scorpius asks.
"This. It looks like a... a smile." Mum tickles Scorpius under his chin with her finger, and he starts laughing, breaking out into a toothy grin.
"Kay, Miss Haminey! Miss Haminey, stop!" He giggles.
"That's more like it," Mum says smiling also. It's as if they're laughing and joking around like I don't exist. Like I'm not right here watching them. Like I don't even matter.
"Now you have to play whatever game with me I want!" Scorpius reminds Mum.
"Yes, I do believe we had an agreement."
"Okay, come on!" Scorpius tugs Mum away, all hints of anger and sadness gone from his face. He doesn't even look back at me. That hurts more than anything.
The next afternoon, I'm sitting on the sofa, reading a book and being completely bored out of my mind. Scorpius hasn't spoken to me since yesterday, and I haven't spoken to Mum either. I've been avoiding her. Lucky for me, I'm home by myself. Mum and Dad took Rose, Hugo, and Scorpius to a quidditch match. I didn't want to go, so I stayed behind.
The doorbell rings and, seeing no house-elves around, I reluctantly get up to answer it myself. When I open the door, I see someone that I never expected to see.
"Hello, Madeleine." I'm staring blankly into the face of that Pansy woman that Dad apparently knew from school. And who the hell is Madeleine?
"It's Isobelle, actually," I correct.
"Close enough," Pansy shrugs. "Is Draco here?" She questions, stepping right past me and inside the Manor.
"I don't... I don't think you should be here," I say hesitantly, avoiding her question.
"And why is that?" Pansy asks, frowning at me.
"Um, Pansy, I'll tell Dad you stopped by. It was er, nice of you to come over and all, but-"
"Rushing me out already? You're a rude little thing, aren't you?" She asks, rolling her eyes.
"Why are you here?" I demand. I'm honestly not afraid of Pansy, I'm sure I could take her. The unsettling thing is that I know her visit can't mean anything good.
"I was just in the mood to pay Draco a little visit," Pansy answers nonchalantly, examining her fingernails. "I haven't seen him in a few weeks," she whines in that nasal voice of hers.
"Seen him?" I repeat, an eyebrow raised in question. Pansy rolls her eyes.
"Come on, Gabrielle. You've got half Granger's brains. Think about it a moment," she says in an exasperated voice. No, Dad wouldn't... would he?
"You don't mean...?" I question.
"Bit slow on the uptake," Pansy smirks. "You know, I've got to give it to Granger. You really aren't that ugly. And your teeth are normal sized. After you do something with your hair of course, and maybe get a tan, and add a little..." Pansy trails off, gesturing to her chest. "You'd be halfway attractive. But those things can be fixed," she adds, glancing me over. What a tart.
"I'm sure they can," I say through clenched teeth.
"How old are you? Like twelve?" Pansy guesses, studying me. Gods, this woman is thicker than a concussed troll.
"I'm nearly fifteen, actually," I inform her. Pansy looks surprised to hear this.
"Well, you'll hit your growth spurt soon," She assures me.
"I'm sure I will. But, back to you and Dad?"
"What about it?" Pansy questions. "I can't believe Draco hasn't told you. I mean, if I were dating me, I'd want everyone to know." Dating? There's no way that Dad and Pansy are dating. There's no way Dad would touch this stupid bint with a ten-foot pole.
"You aren't dating," I tell Pansy. She's a liar. Dad's with Mum. I don't care how much I dislike Mum at the moment, but Pansy isn't going to get in her way.
"Oh, we aren't? And who told you that?"
"Dad doesn't like you," I remind Pansy, referring back to our meeting at Flourish and Blotts.
"Please," Pansy scoffs. "He's only acting like that to keep up appearances. Draco's still the same man he was. He can't pass up a good shag when he sees it."
"My father isn't like that at all!" I drawl, clenching my fists. I seriously hate this woman. Pansy tsks and shakes her head at me.
"Poor thing. You're so naive. You can't change Draco anymore than anyone else can."
"That isn't true," I persist.
"Yeah? You said you were about fifteen?" Pansy questions.
"What's it to you?" I retort. Pansy taps her finger to her lips thoughtfully.
"All this time... it was you. You're the reason?" She questions accusingly.
"The reason for what?" I ask defensively.
"Draco broke up with me around that time. I didn't know it was because he had to go and play Daddy. I mean, if someone told me that he'd knocked up Granger of all people, I would have laughed. But, then that means...my Draco cheated on me." Pansy says angrily. It never occurred to me that Dad might have been with someone around the time that I was conceived. Either way, I never thought that it would be Pansy of all people.
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that," I say with fake sympathy, trying to move this conversation along. I just want to be rid of Pansy.
"Why would he cheat on me? I'm not anything to stray away from. Besides, I did everything a woman should have..."
"Did everything?" I question, unable to help myself. I'm really not trying to make this conversation last any more than it has to.
Pansy sighs. "You don't even know how things work, do you? Well, let me make it plain and simple for you. I'm sure you've heard about how important feelings are in a relationship and all of that shit, but really, all that only gets you so far. Do you think a man gives a damn about your feelings unless you're putting out for him? No. May as well learn it now, so you don't waste your time." That can't be true. Pansy must just be messing with me. But then again, that could have been the reason Dad and Astoria were married so long, and the only reason Dad put up with Pansy. Maybe that's why Mum won't move in with us, because their relationship isn't official yet.
"You and Dad...?" I can't even finish that sentence without nearly vomiting. Pansy nods.
"Of course, we have. Quite a lot recently, I might add. And a lot more around when you were born. Enough that he didn't have to run off and have a baby with Granger." Pansy says Mum's last name in that same venemous way that Dad says Uncle Harry's. It's disgusting to think of what Pansy's telling me. How could Dad go for someone like her? And recently? He can't be cheating on Mum, can he?
"You don't have to worry yourself, it's not like he wanted to," I promise Pansy. I can see the gears in her head working behind her eyes. Her lips are forming small words, and she looks like she's thinking really hard.
"When is your birthday?" She questions.
"Why?"
"When the hell is it?" Pansy snaps impatiently.
"November, why does it matter?" Pansy's lips form a wicked smile. Oh, this can't be good.
"Has Draco ever mentioned the annual Ministry Valentine's Day party to you?" She asks. I don't answer, I won't give her the satisfaction.
"You have, haven't you? I've got to say, without that party, you might not even be standing here," Pansy informs me.
"That's quite a big conclusion to jump to," I inform Pansy, trying to sound as unperturbed as I can. It sounds like she's really on to something.
"Oh, please. As if Draco would be caught dead anywhere else with Granger," she reasons. She has a point, but I'm not about to admit it. "We all got a bit pissed that night, and well, I suppose you'll shag anything if you're drunk enough."
"Look, Dad isn't here. You need to leave," I say firmly, reaching to open the door. Before I can get my hand on the knob, Pansy sidesteps in front of it, trapping me into listening to her.
"Fine, I will. But you know the most entertaining part of that night was?" she questions, her eyes glittering with malice.
"What?" I ask cautiously.
"Watching Granger trying to have a glass of Firewhiskey. She choked before she could even get it all down. Granger was one of the only sober ones there. Well, sober enough to know what she was doing, anyway." I can tell by the smug look on Pansy's face that she's not lying. I'm completely dumbfounded, I feel like I've just been slapped in the face. Pansy turns to open the door herself. "I'll see you soon, Giselle. Give Draco some love for me." With another smirk, Pansy shuts the door behind her. I can't even move. I just stand there numbly, and I'm surprised my legs didn't give way or anything. Dad can't have seriously dated Pansy. And by the sound of it, it's been pretty recent, recent enough for her to think that something's still going on. What bothers me more than that is what Pansy said about Mum that night. Does she mean what I think she does?
(A/N: First things first, let me apologize deeply for not updating in over a week, but I've been so busy with school and swamped with homework already, so I'm going the best I can. So, let me explain this a bit: It isn't that Isobelle's a crazy psycho or anything, and she really doesn't hate Hermione at all, it just feels to her as if Hermione's taking too strong of a role in her life so soon. She just wishes Hermione would tone it down a bit, especially due to their circumstance. Scorpius is really starting to see Hermione as his mum now, and him being five, he doesn't really know the real reason Astoria left. He thinks it's only because of Isobelle's anger towards her, because let's be honest: Isobelle's very upfront about her anger. She doesn't try to even show it in an underhanded way. If she's angry, it's obvious! And Scorpius doesn't want her to ruin that. As for Pansy, I always planned for her to have a bigger role in this story, which is why she's had a subtle appearance or a few references here and there. It'll really start to make sense next chapter. So, I hope no one died from my painfully long hiatus! Thanks for reading, everyone! PLEASE leave a review my lovelies! :)
