A/N: Hey guys, I'm back! It hasn't been as long as before, so I'm proud of myself for that (haha). Anywho, you guys rock, and I love all of the feedback I'm getting, and I hope I keep getting more. I love, love, love hearing from you guys, and I think you guys are all amazing. I am excited about the character development I'm getting to do, and I hope you all are loving the characters and the story and everything. By the by, I've created an instagram so I can keep you guys up to date on what's going on. So that you all know that I'm actually writing and stuff, rather than just waiting. The handle is on my bio if you want to follow. Nothing is posted yet, but I don't have any followers so I figured it would be pointless to post. Also if you guys want me to add anything to my bio, then just let me know :). Anyway, enjoy my chapter! Love y'all ~ Pipes

Disclaimer: I don't own any of J.K. Rowling's books, concepts, or characters, but I do own mine so I would appreciate it if the remained mine. Thanks!

And so, we were off! We walked a little less than a half mile to the main road, where Hermione held up her wand to signal the Knight Bus. Within a flash a triple-decker, purple bus pulled up to a wheel-screeching halt landing the door in front of us. When the door opened a scraggly looking teenage boy stepped out to greet us.

"'Ello, my name is Robbie Shunpike," he said, reading off some note cards and motioning to his name badge, "I will be your conductor fer this morning, and I will gladly answer any questions you may 'ave today."

The boy was pausing in weird places as he tried to find his place on the cards, and Rose and I had to stop making eye contact with each other so we could keep from laughing.

"Do you 'ave any baggage to stow under the bus t'day?"

We all shook our heads no as we waited for him to continue. We were all hoping that he would be done soon so that we could sit down and have a laugh.

"You may climb aboard the bus, and take a seat wherever ya like," he said, moving to the side so we could climb aboard, "Now where might some fine ladies like yerselves be headed?"

Robbie looked us in the eyes for the first time as he asked this question.

"The Natural History Museum, in London," Hermione said smiling.

"Alrighty then, if you'll just take yer seats, we'll be off," Robbie said, turning to the driver, "Take it away, Ernie."

Just as the phrase left the boy's mouth, the bus shot forward going at speeds that I would have never thought possible. I felt like I would have fallen forward and hit my head on something Hermione hadn't been holding onto me. I was still tired, so I laid my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes. I knew that I wouldn't fall asleep, but I figured giving my eyes a little bit longer to rest would help me later. I felt it as Hermione began to rub my back and it reminded me of how my mother used to rub my back when I was sad. My mum had long since stopped doing that, but now I felt like I had another mum who was there for me. It was scary, though, because it was almost like she could tell that I was or had been upset about something, and I didn't like having the feeling that she knew I was going through something. I didn't like people knowing that I felt alone in groups of people, or that I had trouble opening up. I didn't like for the people I was hiding my true feelings from to know how I felt without me telling them. In all honesty it scared me. I felt like they would make me talk about things I wasn't ready to talk about.

I felt the bus screech to a halt, and opened my eyes, sitting up to get ready to get off.

"Alrighty then, ma'am, and lasses, the Natural History Museum of London. Happy Learning!" Robbie wished as he waved us off the bus.

"Hey Robbie," Hermione said, pulling him close, "Lose the note cards, you know the lines, and they'll sound smoother."

"Thanks for the tip, ma'am."

Hermione grabbed me and Rose each by the hand, and turned us away from the started walking in the opposite direction, and when we realized we weren't stopping Rose and I looked at each other with worried faces.

"Uh Mum?"

"Yes, Rosie?"

"The museum is the other way," Rose replied cautiously.

"I know."

"Then why are we walking this way?" I asked her.

"Coffee," Hermione stated, as she opened the door to a busy coffee joint on the street corner.

"I will never again question your walking choices, for I know they shall always lead me down the right path," Rose said, bowing, in mock praise, to her mother. Hermione and I laughed at her as we all got in line to wait to order our coffees. Hermione got a caramel macchiato, Rose got a mocha, and I got a white hot chocolate. To go along with our drinks we each got a treat to tide us over until lunch. I got a chocolate croissant, and Rose and Hermione got a cinnamon swirl and a chocolate cheesecake muffin, respectively. I was so happy to be hanging out with Rose in a relaxed setting, she had been so tense recently, mainly because of me I figure.

"So what are you guys looking forward to today?" Hermione asked.

"Definitely the shopping, because when I see my parents again I can ask them to buy me some new things from the muggle world," I responded, looking out the window.

"Just seeing everything. All of this is so new to me, and it's already fantastic!" Rose said, nodding to her mocha as an example.

"Isabella dear, Rose did tell you that we are treating you today right?" Hermione said, looking to Rose questioningly.

"Hmm?" I said, snapping back to reality, "Oh yeah, she did. I just feel bad ya know. You have all treated me so well, and spent so much money on me for the few days I've been here. I just don't want to be a burden on you all."

"Let me tell you a little secret Isabella," Hermione said lovingly, "No matter what the history books say, Rose's father and I did not grow up rich, and neither did her uncle, Harry. Yes, when he was eleven he inherited a fortune bigger than his wildest dreams, but he didn't know what to do with it because he had everything he needed, so he shared his money with his friends. Anytime he gained more money he gave it to us, especially when we didn't want it. The rest of us, and Harry, have worked hard and gained fame through our accomplishments. We all have more money than we know what to do with now, even though we have so many children to spend our money on. It's nice when we can help someone in need out because it makes us feel like we are giving back to people who need it, rather than spending it on things we don't need."

"I'm not in need though," I replied, "My parents just don't give me everything I ask for."

"No, sweetie," Hermione stated, "Your parents pick favorites and show it. Your parents make you feel in ways you shouldn't. Your parents treat you like you are a mistake, like everything you do is a mistake, and those are things parents should never do. I'm sorry to speak about your parents in such a manner, but it's how I feel."

"That's what I've been telling you Iz, it's not a mistake that you're alive in anyway," Rose said, looking at me with sad eyes.

"It just feels like that sometimes, okay?" I spat out at them, "A lot of the time. That's why I love your family so much more. That's why I feel like you're my family and they aren't. It doesn't matter though, because I'm not part of your family, and I will always feel the need to repay what you all have done for me."

They looked at me in silence. I was shocked at everything I had said. I had basically taken everything they had given me, and all they had done for me, and thrown it back into their faces ungratefully. I felt horrible. I didn't know how to fix it. I couldn't breathe… I couldn't think… It was all wrong, all of this was wrong. I was pushing them away, when I should be letting them in. I couldn't stop shutting people out, and it was crushing me inside.

"Iz, Iz please," Rose said, grabbing my hand, "Mum, let's head over to the museum now."

Rose grabbed her mocha in her other hand, and pulled me out of the coffee place behind her. Once we were out of the the coffee shop Rose pulled me into a hug.

"Iz you're okay, everything is okay."

"How often does this happen?" Hermione asked.

"Often enough that I know how to deal with it mum."

Rose was stroking my back trying to calm me down. I was just so upset with myself. I deserved these cuts I had given myself earlier. I needed them because they showed outwardly how flawed I was inwardly. I knew I would mess today up somehow. I was such an idiot.

"Why haven't you come to me Rose?"

"You know why mum. It was hard enough getting her to open up to me and Albus. She hasn't even opened up all the way. Whenever she gets to close, she pushes us away. There are just some things that kids have to hide from parents. You guys would make us face these things before we are ready. I'm just doing all I can to be a good friend Mum, and sometimes that means not telling you."

"Rosie, I don't expect you to tell us everything, Merlin knows there are things I never told my parents," Hermione trailed off, "I know that you have lives outside of us and our family, but when it concerns people's safety I want you to know you can come to me."

"Can't we have this conversation later Mum! My friend is having a panic attack and I need to focus on her. I'll talk to you about all this later, but right now Isabella is more important," Rose exploded.

Hermione was speechless. I had never seen any of my friends yell at their parents. I hadn't ever seen any of them fight with each other. Now it was my fault. I was bringing strife into their family, and they were fighting because of me. I was becoming more upset the more I knew what was going on.

"Please just go get some water real quick Mum, please."

"I'll be right back Rosie," Hermione said, heading off to grab something for me to drink.

"Iz, c'mon Iz, please look at me."

I looked at her.

"Today was about escape, so I'm sorry that we started talking about everything. Don't worry about money just have fun. I'm going to have my parents treat you like one of us, if they'll go for it, that would mean that they give you spending money, and things like they do for us. Since there are technically only two of us rather than the whole rest of the family it might work because Hugo and I aren't that expensive."

"No Rose, it's okay. I won't complain about the things you guys do for me. I just, you know how I feel, I've said it all before. I just don't want to be a burden. I want to feel wanted, but I don't want to make you guys fight like you just did. I want to be your friend, but I don't want you to think of me as a burden," I said quietly.

"Oh Iz," Rose replied, "If I knew… You aren't a burden. Why do you think that? Your brother doesn't have anything to do with this does he?"

"N-No. He doesn't Rose. I haven't even seen him since we talked so he can't have gotten in my head."

"You stuttered. Iz… Isabella please. Please talk to me."

"Alright, fine, so I had a couple bad dreams, and I saw him at the match. No big deal."

"No big deal? Iz, he gets in your head any time you look at him, and now you're dreaming about him hurting you. This isn't good. I just want to help you."

"I'll be fine Rose really. Let's have a good rest of our day, and forget I said anything in the coffee shop. Please."

"I'm not gonna drop this. We need to talk through a plan before classes start next week. I'll still talk to my Mum about treating you like part of the family."

"You really don't have to, but I appreciate the offer," I replied.

Then Hermione came up and hugged me. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to. As she turned away I saw a small tear in her eye.

"Let's go through the museum girls," Hermione said, leading the way into the museum ahead of us.

"Learning about the Greek gods was so interesting!" I exclaimed as we walked out of the museum.

"I liked the Egyptian gods better," Rose stated.

"Well I like the Roman gods. So there, we all like different people groups that are all now considered ancient," Hermione said to settle the rivalry.

"This isn't over," I joked with Rose.

"Ah yes, we shall rival again my friend," Rose said, squaring off with me like in an old western.

"Come along girls, it's time to meet up with Lily and Ginny for lunch," Hermione said.

"Alright," We chorused to her.

We walked down a couple of blocks from the museum to a McDonalds. We walked inside and found Ginny and Lily standing behind the line, trying to figure out what they wanted.

"What is this place?" Rose asked, looking around wide-eyed.

"McDonalds," Hermione replied.

"Started in the states, and from what I hear they have one on every corner," I stated, stringing out the word every.

"Seriously?" Lily asked in awe.

"No, she's exaggerating darling," Ginny replied, running her hand through her daughter's hair.

"Oh," Lily said.

"This place seems really cool," Rose said.

"Yup, fast food, the worst food out there for ya, but oh does it taste so good," I replied, "Nice and cheap too."

"Well, girls, let's order so we can get started on our shopping, shall we?" Hermione interjected.

We all agreed with a chorus of 'yes' and 'mmhmm.' After we ordered we found a table and waited for our number to be called. Rose and I talked to Lily about the museum the entire time we were in the restaurant. She oohed and ahhed as we told her about all the different places we traveled to while we had been wandering around the museum earlier that morning. We had so much fun talking and eating that we didn't even realize when we were all done with our food.

"That was so good. I'm so glad that we came here. I can't wait to see what's next," Rose said excitedly.

"Well shopping is always one of the best parts of the day, no matter what world you're in," I said.

"I wholeheartedly agree," Hermione said, nodding in agreement with me.