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ISOBELLE

"We have an entire day to ourselves…" I tell Teddy as he rests his chin on my bare back. Gently, he kisses the bruises between my shoulders, and I wince.

"I wish I could make these go away," Teddy tells me distractedly. "I don't know why you-"

"Simon gets angry sometimes," I say quietly. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Not let him hit you," Teddy suggests blankly.

I sigh. "It isn't that simple. I have a daughter. I can't just leave." I can't uproot Delphine like that. She deserves to live a comfortable life. Unfortunately, it's at my expense.

"Yes you can," Teddy whispers, his warm breath on the back of my neck. His hand travels up my lower back, alerting every nerve.

"Where would I go? He… he would come after me," I saw slowly. It wouldn't be because Simon loves me, but because his pride is too large to account for his wife actually having the courage to leave him. I'm better off here.

"Belle," Teddy mutters, and I know that he doesn't have an answer. "If you could see how many bruises are on your back-"

"I own a mirror."

"I just… I just don't understand what you could do to make Simon so angry," Teddy says. I wish he would understand that not every man is like himself. Some men get angry, and they like to hit things when they get angry. And those things are generally their wives.

"Sometimes we argue, sometimes we don't, others it's just a bad day at work," I respond blankly. And sometimes, I do try to convince Simon that he should treat Delphine better, which really enrages him. He says that if he had a son, perhaps he would be able to treat our child better. He says it's the reason he isn't happy.

"You want Delphine around that?" Teddy asks. I can't see his face, and I'm glad for it. I don't need anyone else to make me feel like any more of a failure than I already am.

"She doesn't know… she thinks Mummy and Daddy get on great. That's what everyone thinks. Except for you and Scorpius… and Jane."

Teddy places a soft kiss behind my ear. "Maybe it's time that changed." I nod slowly. Teddy doesn't know how much thought I've given this. It's been nearly a year since I've made my decision. I've just wanted to be sure Teddy was truly invested me, and unwilling to back out.

I purse my lips. "You'd be a wonderful father," I tell Teddy quietly. He doesn't say anything. "And an even better step-father…"

"What?" Teddy questions. I rest my head on my pillow and look out of the window. It's a beautiful, perfect day out.

"If I ever did want to do something about my situation, would you help me?" I ask quietly.

"Of course," Teddy answers without missing a beat. "You know that."

I smile. "Wonderful, because I do."

Teddy sounds surprised to hear this. "What do you want to do, Belle?" He questions.

I turn over so that I can face Teddy. He needs to know that I'm serious. "I want to become a widow."

Teddy stares at me blankly, and then he frowns. "What?" He questions.

"I'm speaking plain English," I say bored in a bored tone, twisting my wedding ring on my finger. "Simon deserves a lesson in humility… one that should cost him his life."

Teddy searches my face for any hint that I'm joking. I'm not. "You can't kill Simon!" He says harshly.

I didn't plan on it. "I'm not…" I assure Teddy, staring at him deeply without blinking.

He doesn't seem to follow. He's frantic like a child. "Then what are you talking about?"

I move closer to Teddy so that there isn't any space separating us. My lips barely touch his neck. "I'm not going to kill Simon," I promise him. "Because you're going to."

Teddy tries to pull away from me, but I grab him quickly so that he can't. "I'm not killing anyone!" He snaps. "Belle, that's illegal, and it's mad, and-"

"Fair," I whisper. I twine my fingers in Teddy's, kissing his fingers gently. "You said you wanted my bruises to go away…"

"I do," Teddy assures me. "But you can't ask me to- I can't…"

I nod gently, burying my face in Teddy's neck. He's so warm, and so comforting. "Yes you can," I assure him. "I'm not asking you to murder him in cold blood. We'll plan, it'll be perfect. And then I'll mourn for a couple months. Then we can be married. Isn't that what you want?"

Teddy nods, then shakes his head like he isn't so sure anymore. "I can't kill anyone," he persists.

I place light kisses on Teddy's neck and press my body even closer to his. He's sweating. "If you don't love me or Delphine, then go. And don't over come back."

"It's not that simple," Teddy tells me firmly. "You can't say I don't love you because I don't want to commit a murder!"

"Yes, I can," I counter. "If you asked me to, I would kill someone. Teddy, you know I deserve better than this. Delphine deserves better. Simon doesn't love her. As long as she's not a boy, he isn't going to. I can't give Simon a son. He isn't going to love me either."

Teddy still doesn't look convinced. "Belle, that's crazy-"

"I've been pregnant four times," I tell Teddy. "Excluding Delphine. Three of them have been sons, but I can't, I come so close-"

Teddy shakes his head. "Isobelle, you don't know how sorry I am, but I can't-"

"You sure enjoy sleeping with me, don't you," I say angrily. "But when Simon's being horrible, and hitting me, and shouting at me, you're nowhere to be found!"

"That doesn't make any-"

I turn away from Teddy. I take my bathrobe from the hook by my nightstand and put it on.

"Isobelle, I'm sorry-"

"Leave!"

"Where is Delphine?" Simon questions, taking a sip of wine. Sometimes he doesn't have to work the entire day. Whenever his mistress isn't there, or he doesn't feel like going to see her I suppose, he just comes home. I don't even think he cares whether or not I know anymore.

"With my family," I answer. "She went to Diagon Alley, don't you remember?"

Simon shrugs. "Vaguely." He continues eating as if we're discussing the weather, not the whereabouts of our daughter.

"She was excited to see you yesterday," I start uncomfortably. "But you didn't come home until after it was time for her to go to bed."

"My apologies for having a job," Simon says nonchalantly.

Whether or not Simon is employed isn't a reasonable explanation for him to be coming home at eleven o'clock. He's a lawyer, not an Auror.

"You could make time for her," I suggest quietly. "She's your daughter, you should care for her."

Simon stops and gives me a warning look. He downright ignores Delphine most of the time, yet it angers him to no end when I subtly point it out.

"I do care for Delphine," he assures me. "She's going to grow up to be very beautiful." And very sad.

"Yes, I know, but that's not what I'm saying. Isn't it at all possible for you to spend a bit more time with her? I'm not asking for hours, just speak to her, please," I say.

Simon frowns at me and sets his jaw hard. "You're in no way in the position to question my parenting abilities," he says harshly. "I at least have the ability to remain sober the entire day."

If anything, being married to an ass like Simon has made my drinking worse. "You don't have to attack me," I say quietly.

"That's exactly what you're doing to me," Simon says. "I'm being a productive member of this family. You aren't going to question me for it."

"Then I won't," I resolve. I'm not in the mood to provoke Simon. I cast my eyes downward, avoiding his gaze.

I feel Simon's hand on mine. "All of this is for me to handle," he tells me in a low voice. "Do you understand?"

"Yes," I mutter. I understand perfectly that Simon wants nothing to do with his child.

"Delphine is doing perfectly," he says. "I have good reports from all her tutors, and I am very proud of how smart she is."

I'm extremely proud of my daughter too, and I'm sure to tell her that. Simon, on the other hand usually only sees her at breakfast and dinner time, and then he only ever orders her around instead of speaking to her.

"I know," I assure Simon. "But-"

Simon squeezes my hand. "There isn't a 'but'," he informs me. "Don't overstep me with your opinions where they aren't necessary."

"I'm sorry."

Simon shakes his head at me. "Don't apologize. You care for Delphine, which is expected of you," Simon tells me understandingly. "But don't discredit me for it."

I'm not doing anything of the sort. Simon's only turning this around on me because he knows what a distant father he is. He's distant with Delphine, and he's the exact same way with me.

"I'm not discrediting you for anything. It's just that- do you want Delphine growing up without any sort of relationship with you?" I question, trying a different approach.

Simon doesn't answer. Instead, he lets go of my hand. "Don't make yourself out to be much better than me. At least I don't endanger her," Simon points out.

"Those were accidents," I protest.

"They could have been avoided had you been more responsible," Simon says. He waves his hand for one of the house-elves to clear his place. He stands up at leaves me at the table.

Not everything in my life is horrible. At least through my marriage to Simon, I've made friends with my sister-in-law, Jane. We bond over our hatred for our husbands.

"I think you're worrying too much over Delphine," Jane tells me. "She's pretty and she's learning, there isn't much else you can ask for."

I have grown to appreciate Jane, but she isn't very motherly. Perhaps I shouldn't judge her, since I don't feel that I'm exactly the most nurturing parent on the planet either. I'm also sure her parents weren't all too great either.

"That's what I've been told, but don't you think she needs a bit more than her looks?" I question.

Jane raises her eyebrows at me as if I'm being stupid. "What do you do on a daily basis other than present yourself?" she questions. "Isobelle, you're a vision, and so is your daughter. That's quite a blessing."

Jane does have a point. It seems like all my schooling's gone to waste. I didn't continue school after I turned seventeen, which angered Mum to no end, but it apparently wouldn't have been worth it anyway. That saddens me that the same is probably going to happen to Delphine.

"You have a beautiful daughter, Isobelle," Jane says, giving me a smile. "Take advantage of it."

"Simon wants to marry her off, of course," I mention. "I'm not sure exactly what good he thinks will come out of it."

"None," Jane answers. "I don't say this to be rude, but hopefully it will be more difficult for her to be married because of… since you…"

Jane's voice trails off, and I know she's trying to be as tactful as she can. There really isn't a polite way to say it, but I know exactly what she's getting at. Since I'm a half-blood. Most purebloods don't agree that people of my kind should exist. They don't believe that crossing the 'species' of muggles and wizards is a good idea, or that it should be done. Delphine is very close to it, but she isn't a pureblood either. Hopefully that will save her.

"That may be the only time this has ever worked to my advantage," I say quietly. "What about your sons?" Jane has twin boys a year younger than Nina. I've met them on quite a few occasions, and they really are very well-mannered and sweet. But they don't ever spend time with Jane or Eric. It's lucky they have each other.

"We're in the process," Jane explains. "We'd like to get them both done at the same time."

I lower my eyes to the ground. It sounds like we're discussing business deals, rather than the futures of our children who are living, breathing human beings. I feel to the pureblood community, that fact is easily forgettable.

A knock on the library door surprises me. The door opens and Simon comes in. I don't know what he wants, nor do I care. I'm sure it will end badly.

I close my book and make to stand up. Simon puts his hand out to stop me. "You don't have to get up," he tells me in a slow voice.

"Did you want to speak to me?" I ask.

Simon nods. "I'm not upset with you," he informs me. "I just wanted you to know that."

"Okay," I mutter. If Simon's not upset with me now, he will be soon for something or other.

Simon doesn't leave. He seems bent on initiating a conversation with me. "What are you reading?" He questions.

"A book of sciences written by muggles," I answer. "It's rather interesting." Mum gave me the book a couple years ago, and they've always seemed like a collection of myths to me. Some of these theories are so stupid and abstract that they're almost entertaining. But one, however, has me absolutely enthralled. I hope it's true.

"Why waste your time with nonsense?" Simon questions. "Muggles don't know a thing about science."

"It isn't as if I have anything else to do," I remind Simon. "And maybe they do."

Simon crosses the room and holds his hand out to me. "Let me have the book," he says with a deep frown. I stare at him blankly. "Let me have it!" he orders.

I place the book in Simon's hand. He leafs through it, muttering about how stupid and nonsensical all of it is.

"Perhaps it doesn't make sense to you because you don't like to concern yourself with other's opinions," I suggest in a helpful tone.

Simon glowers at me. "Then explain me something," he says. "Perhaps it'll make more sense coming from you, since you understand so well."

"Well, I think the most interesting theory is that the father determines the sex of the child, not the mother," I say nonchalantly. "That would mean I didn't give you Delphine, you gave Delphine to yourself."

Simon slams the book shut and tosses it. It skids across the ground. "Shut up," Simon growls. "That's bullshit."

"How would you know?" I question. "Are you a scientist? And besides, we could have had loads of sons by now if you weren't so cruel to me! If you actually cared about me!"

"You're too dramatic for your own good," Simon says in an annoyed voice," shaking his head. "I'm not entertaining you."

"Of course, you aren't. That's what you enjoy, Simon. Angering me, upsetting me, and making me feel worthless. But I have feelings too! Not that that's important to you."

Simon agitatedly runs his hands through his hair. "Your feelings would matter to me if you didn't always make a point of throwing them around over the littlest of matters!" He shouts.

I shake my head. "There's nothing I can do to make you love me. You're too invested in yourself and those random women you sleep with to care about anyone else. Perhaps you should leave me for one of them. We'd both be better off."

I turn to leave the room. As I walk past Simon, he reaches out and jerks the sleeve of my robes. For a brief second, I feel like I'm going to choke. Simon presses my back into the stone wall.

"Would you care to repeat that?" Simon questions, his eyes staring into mine. "I didn't quite hear you."

I shake my head.

"To me, it sounded like you said you wanted to be separated from me," Simon drawls. He tightens the grip on my arm. I feel stupid for saying what I said, but then again I don't. I'll only have to put up with it for so much longer before I can be with Teddy.

"The only way you're leaving me is through death," Simon informs me coolly. "Do with that what you will."

Simon gives me another gruff shove before letting o and turning to walk away. "Simpleminded bitch," he mutters under his breath.

I watch Simon go. I don't love him, not any more than he loves me. I glance at my shoulder, at my ripped robes.

I want my husband dead.

(A/N: This isn't gonna end well! Leave a review! )