Isabella sat in the Great Hall, no emotion left in her heart. She watched as students, one by one, piled into the room. She saw Luna sit next to Neville, and smile up at him. Isabella's heart ached just looking at them, wishing she could feel the same way they did at that moment. It was crazy how she knew, just by a shared look what those two were feeling. She knew because it was the same look she and him had shared...
She broke out of her chance when she saw Harry walk through, hugging Hagrid with a huge grin on his face. When Hagrid walked away, Harry looked over at her. He walked over, smiling.
"We did it, Isabella."
Isabella tried to force a smile. "Yeah, we did."
"Jasmine would be proud of you."
She nodded, feeling her eyes water. Then, slowly, her nod turned into a shaking of her head. "No, she wouldn't."
Harry looked up at her, a puzzled look on his face. He sat next to her, squeezing her hand as she tried not to cry. "Why would you say that? Of course she would."
Isabella shook her head, not able to stop the tears falling from her eyes. "I ran off in the middle of battle. I told myself that this night was dedicated just to her, no one else...and I ran off. I'm so stupid."
Harry stayed quiet, still clutching her hand. "We all make mistakes...the important thing is that Voldemort's dead. Don't beat yourself up, Izzy, I think you've gotten enough of that tonight." He smiled at her and she half-heartedly smiled back.
"Ron!" Anna squealed from the other side of the room, running toward the entrance and wrapping her arms around Ron's neck. Isabella's heart broke as she watched them cry into each other's shoulder. "I told you, I told you I could do it." She kept saying over and over. He kissed her head, holding her even tighter.
Isabella got up, breaking free from Harry's hand and storming out of the Great Hall. She was about to go outside, until she saw someone carrying a body covered by a sheet on a stretcher.
"Oi, we found this one in Slytherin's common room!" One boy carrying a side of the stretcher yelled.
Isabella's heart jumped to her throat. She pushed through the students, sprinting toward the body. "Move!" She yelled, waiting for them to place his body on the ground. She knelt beside it, slowly uncovering the sheet, and sure enough, there lied Jonathon. His face was pale and his lips looked like they were turning purple. His hair just came past his eyebrows, lightly touching his veiny eyelids. She could no longer see his chest moving lightly with each breath he took, nor could she see the way his mouth part slightly whenever he was sleeping...because he wasn't sleeping. He was dead. He was really dead. She placed both hands over her mouth, feeling tears pour out again as she looked at him.
She brushed his hair back, touching his cold face. Then she noticed something in his hand. She unclenched his fingers that wrapped around the fabric tightly, almost like he was trying to hold on to a part of his life. It was his denim jacket that he gave her and he found, leading him straight to where she and Scabior were when they...
She buried her face in it, continuing to cry softly. "All my fault."
A hand touched her back. She could feel the presence of the same person crouch down beside her, their breathing was deep. They were getting ready to say something. "Isabella...I'm sorry." Anna.
Isabella said nothing. She stood up slowly, walking past everyone that watched her cautiously, out into the courtyard. She continued down the large bridge filled with broken statues and giants' bodies, looking past the horizon. She fought for Jasmine and she failed. There was nothing left for her here. All she wanted to do was go home. She stopped at the top of the hill, turning back to look at Hogwarts one last time.
"It was great fighting alongside you guys." She whispered to herself. "I'll miss you, so much." She closed her eyes, apparating through the morning air. She opened her eyes, finding herself exactly where she started.
The dead end street, which looked like it'd just been glazed over with rain once again. She looked at all the little houses along the road, looking at the white and blue house Jasmine spent most of her life in. She wondered if her aunt and uncle had retreated as well, going back home because they knew Voldemort was going to die. As she looked into all the windows though, none of the lights seemed to be on and the house was dead quiet. Isabella swallowed hard, walking down the road, her shoes echoing off the wet pavement.
It felt weird, coming back after so long. She could still remember the night she ran away. If she went back, she'd probably go to jail for what she'd done to her mother. It was worth it though, she did what she needed to and she met the most amazing man in the universe. Unfortunately, he vanished without a trace and he was never coming back.
She unraveled Jonathon's jacket in her hand, putting it on and holding it over her body. She felt cold again, remembering all those nights she spent shivering in that lump Scabior called a bed. Everything seemed like it was so long ago, but it'd only been a couple of months. It didn't take that long before she finally started falling for Scabior, using Jonathon to get him upset. But she wondered if she actually did use Jonathon. Sometimes a part of her felt like she actually did like him. He'd been sweet and caring toward her, providing her with everything she needed. He definitely treated her nicer than anyone did...but she knew that her heart was sent on Scabior.
When she thought of Jonathon, the only thing that popped into her head was all the times he'd get jealous of Scabior. It was like he was trying to win a competition that Scabior already knew he'd won. When she thought of Scabior, she thought of the way he'd tease her and laugh at her. How his smirk could make any woman weak at the knees. How the way his stupid, girly hair fell around his dirty, sullen face. She loved every attribute about him. But she still couldn't figure out why...
It didn't matter anymore though. He was gone. They were done. She was right, he'd leave her after he had sex with her. What else should she expect from a man who was so cruel, and heartless, and—"
"Now, where the hell do you think you're goin', love?" Isabella stopped, her heart dropped to her stomach when she heard that voice. "Oh, come now, love, you goin' to show me your beautiful face?"
A smile stretched across her face and she slowly turned around. Sitting on the barricade where she fell months ago and met the man she never thought she'd fall in love with, was Scabior. A smirk twitched up on his face as he got up, walking over to her.
"Why are you here?" She asked.
"I went back to the castle first...I searched everywhere for you. Then, I realized you probably left, goin' anywhere you could to forget I ever existed." He looked down at her. "But you see," he grabbed her wrists, pulling her closer to him. "I'm not about to let you forget."
Isabella bit her lip, resisting her urge to smile. "What are you gonna do about it?" He smirked, gently grabbing onto the back of her neck and pressing his lips to hers. The electric wave went through her again, making her not want to let go. She pulled on his jacket, trying to bring him closer. He let go and they both looked into each other's eyes, feeling those rush of emotions come back. He touched the side of her face, brushing his thumb against her cheekbone.
"Are you really goin' back to your dads?"
"As long as you promise not to run away again, no."
Scabior smiled. "I could be sent to Azkaban."
"I don't care." She said, smiling back.
"You may never see my again."
"I don't care."
"I might find another girl to fall in love with."
Her smile faded quickly and she punched his chest, causing him to laugh. "Still haven't changed much, have you?" She sneered.
He chuckled. "Why should I? You're the one who loves it so much."
She reluctantly smiled, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest. "Hey, do you hear that?"
"What?" Scabior asked confused.
She looked up at him. "A warm, beating heart."
A cheesy smile formed on his face as he tilted her chin up and kissed her softly. And then, just like that, they apparated back at the castle.
"Izzy!" Anna cried, running toward her and suddenly, backing away, getting her wand out. "What is he doing here?"
"Anna." She pushed Anna's hand away. "Just trust me, okay."
Anna looked at Scabior skeptically. "If I see anything suspicious, or you ever hurt this girl again, your head is mine, got that?"
"Loud and clear, Miss Bossy."
Anna rolled her eyes, walking away from the two of them.
"Isabella!" A woman's voice cried. She turned to see her aunt with soft black curls over her shoulder, come running toward her, embracing her in a hug. She smelled of peppermint and fresh air. Similar to Jasmine's scent. "Oh my goodness, I never thought I'd see you again! My child, are you hurt? Do you need something?"
"Aunt Rosie," Isabella cut her off. "This doesn't change anything...I still blame you for Jasmine's death."
Her aunt's eyes dropped. "Well, that was a long time ago...can't we forget the past?"
Isabella thought for a moment. Her mind raced with images of Jasmine, wondering what she was like in Hogwarts, how good of a witch she was, and how much she missed out on. "I'll keep in touch...that's all I'm giving you."
Her aunt smiled, kissing Isabella on the forehead. "You're a wonderful girl, Is." She dashed off in the other direction to meet with her husband, talking with a few members of the Order. As she scanned the room, she saw Jonathon's body still on the ground, motionless. She guessed that Scabior's eyes wandered to where hers were because she could feel him tense up.
"The git had it comin'." He said. She looked up at him as he stared, angered, at Jon's body.
"Scabior..." She said.
He looked at her, his eyes cold. "He took you from me." He snapped. "It should've been me that night. Not him."
"Don't worry about it now." She held onto his arm. "I'm not going anywhere."
"It's gonna stay that way." He said, looking back at Jonathon.
Isabella heard the movement of people behind her and saw Harry, Anna, Hermione and Ron leaving the Great Hall.
"Wait here." She ran after them, catching up with Anna, who looked over and smiled at her. They continued out to the same bridge, looking over all the debris that was left from the battle. Harry stood on a ledge, looking over the grounds. He held up Voldemort's wand, examining it.
"Why didn't it work for him?" Hermione asked. "The Elder Wand."
"It answered to somebody else." Harry said, turning to all of them. "When he killed Snape, he thought the wand would become his. But the thing is, the wand never belonged to Snape. It was Draco who disarmed Dumbledore that night in the astronomy tower. From that moment on, the wand answered to him." Harry looked back down at the wand again. "Until...the night when I disarmed Draco at Malfoy Manor."
"So that means..." Anna began.
Harry nodded, twirling the wand in his fingers. "It's mine."
"What should we do with it?" Ron asked.
"We?" Anna asked, angrily turning to Ron.
"I'm just saying, that's the Elder Wand, the most powerful wand in the world." Ron said. "With that, we'd be invincible."
Harry studied the wand carefully. Then, taking it in both hands with all his might, snapped it in two. Anna, Hermione and Ron seemed taken aback as Harry threw it away into the large pit below them. He stepped off the ledge as the other four looked over, not believing he just did that.
Hermione turned, smiling softly. Harry looked back at all of them. Then they came walking toward him, each grabbing each other's hands.
For once, Isabella realized it didn't matter what she did. She won the battle for good. She did fight for Jasmine, and she could've sworn she heard her soft, angelic voice whisper in her ear:
"You did it, Izzy."
Isabella closed her eyes, letting a single tear drop roll down her cheek. She squeezed Anna's hand in hers. For the first time in months, she actually felt happy.
A/N: Merry Christmas guys! This is my present to you :3. I'm really sad that this fic is almost over. I have one more chapter to upload and then it's over D': I really hope you guys enjoyed it though. I definitely had a lot of fun writing it, especially these last chapters. I have more stories in mind to write, but none involve Scabior. Yet. More or less, Draco ;D that's your guys' hint. In the last chapter, I'm gonna ask you guys a question, and I'd LOVE if you answered it. :3 okay! Don't forget to review! Until the next one!
Song inspiration for this chapter is "The No Seatbelt Song" by Brand New