*J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter.

*SORRY for not updating for like 2 months. I had a death in my family, and it hit extremely hard. It was difficult trying to get everything together, and to find the time and energy to write this. Again, I'm sorry.

*Leave a review.

*Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate, Happy Holidays to everyone regardless!

SCORPIUS

I've come to the conclusion that my sister is a terrible human being. She can't even find it in her schedule to spend a bit of time with Elle. Rather, she'd more enjoy doing anything else, and I say that quite loosely. Sadly for me, Mum insists upon Isobelle and I having a 'good' relationship, whatever that means. Somehow, she's talked me into visiting Isobelle yet again to invite her and Simon to dinner before all my siblings and I return to school. I would rather she not be there.

"Uncle Scorpius," Elle says quietly. She scares the living hell out of me, so badly that I can't help cursing.

"Where the hell did you come from?" I ask, frowning. I could have sworn she wasn't at home.

"My room," Elle says nonchalantly, shrugging. Her blonde curls bounce up and down. "Mummy said to stay in there."

"Why?"

Elle shrugs. "She said it's a secret."

I pinch the bridge of my nose for a count of three. Some people should not be allowed to procreate. "Just… wait in your room a little longer," I tell Elle with an exasperated tone.

"Kay." Elle doesn't even argue before going back in her room and shutting the door. She's a trained animal.

Trying to contain my anger, I march down the hallway until I reach the door to Isobelle's room. There isn't any question whatsoever as to what she's doing. I can hear her voice and Teddy's quite clearly. It seems they were far too careless to use a silencing charm, and Isobelle is ridiculously loud. They should be lucky it's me who's caught them and not Simon. He would have killed the both of them. I pound on the door with my fist, just to give the both of them a good scare.

"Shit," Teddy curses under his breath, and I hear very frantic movements. Isobelle giggles, seemingly unperturbed that I could very well be Simon. As far as she thinks, I can't hear either of them. "Merlin, Belle, quit it-"

"I thought you enjoyed it…" Isobelle mutters. I try to keep my vomit down.

"Get out and take care of your daughter!" I shout from the other side of the door, seething.

"It's Scorpius," Isobelle sighs, her voice full of disappointment. "Honestly, I don't know why he's here. All he ever does is speak badly to me." As if I don't have good reason.

I don't hear a reply for a long while. "I should go," Teddy says finally. I can hear him moving.

"Scorpius knows about us, love. You can stay," Isobelle pleads. "Please."

"I really think I should go," Teddy sighs.

"When will you come back?" Isobelle whines. "We have to plan. And besides, you know I can't go so long without-"

"Soon," Teddy promises. "Then we can talk. I swear." I hear them kiss, and Teddy disapparates.

Minutes later, Isobelle opens the bedroom door. She stops in her tracks and looks up at me as if she'd expected me to be gone. Her hair is brushed a little too perfectly, and her face has the remnants of a smile.

"You needed me?" Isobelle questions, her wide, childish, brown eyes staring into mine. Her skin is grossly pale, and she has dark circles under her eyes. She looks sick again, but like she's trying very hard to cover it up.

"I'm sure Delphine does," I retort.

Isobelle steps around me dismissively. "I hate your attitude."

"The feeling's mutual."

Isobelle rolls her eyes. "Teddy says hello," she mentions with a small smile.

I follow Isobelle down the hallway. She isn't going to walk away from me, whether or not I want to speak to her. "Is it not disgusting to you that you're sleeping with our cousin?" I question. Honestly, it's as if the thought's never occurred to her. It's one thing for Isobelle to cheat on Simon, but another thing to do it with a family member.

"I'm deeply in love with him," Isobelle says wistfully. Something's bothering her, but she won't say so. Isobelle's far too transparent to hide anything. "Where is my daughter?"

"Still locked up in her room where you put her," I respond bitingly.

Isobelle purses her lips and continues down the hallway, as if my words are unimportant to her. "When you have children, you'll understand."

"I hope I don't understand. You wouldn't either if Simon hadn't fed you with all that shit that you don't have to treat her like a human because you'd rather she'd been a son. That's your own fault you don't have one."

Isobelle turns around with this disgustingly offended look on her face. Even though I'm more than a head taller than her, she steps dangerously close to me. I'm not fazed in the slightest.

"Don't even hint this was all my fault!" She shouts, breathing heavily. "Simon was just as guilty as I am!"

Although Isobelle only has Elle, she's been pregnant three times. For some reason, she and Simon have difficulty having children. It's probably the universe's attempt to set itself right. But everyone knows they're trying hard for a son, as if Isobelle needs two children to neglect.

After Delphine's birth, all hell broke loose. Isobelle spent days on end crying about what a mistake her daughter was, how she and Simon had been just positive they were having a son, and how all her hours of difficult labour had been a complete waste. She shut herself in her room, and had Delphine removed immediately. When Jane gave us the news, Simon stormed out and Isobelle didn't see him return for three days. It took them even longer to acknowledge Delphine's presence, nearly a month. Even after that, Mum and Rose did most of the caring for her, while Isobelle drank and wallowed in her self-pity. Not much has changed.

"The two of you are toxic," I say to Isobelle. She doesn't say anything in reply. She reaches out to knock on Elle's door. It doesn't take a second for the door to open. Elle opens the door and rushes excitedly to Isobelle with wide open arms.

"Mummy!" Elle grins happily, her robes swaying behind her as she runs.

Isobelle gets to her knees to accept Delphine's embrace. "How are you, Darling?" Isobelle questions quietly, giving her kisses. She wears the look of forced happiness she always wears around Elle. I think if Isobelle wasn't so worried about Simon, she really would care more for her daughter.

"Bored," Elle answers sadly, still holding onto Isobelle as if she might leave any second. She pokes out her lower lip. "I wanna do something with you, Mummy."

"What do you want to do?" Isobelle questions, a slightly worried look on her face.

"Can we visit Daddy?" Elle questions, giving Isobelle a puppy face. Even for an annoying snot, she is admittedly cute.

Isobelle shakes her head quickly. "Absolutely not. He's working very hard at the Ministry, and we aren't going to bother him." Isobelle's true fear is that she'll walk in on him shagging his intern. I'm sure she knows happening, since that's exactly how she met Simon. Simon doesn't care to deny her accusations, either.

Elle shakes her head. "Daddy's here, Mummy."

Well, things have certainly become interesting. Isobelle bites her lip, an exhausted look on her face. "Delphine, Daddy comes home late. You know that," she says in an even tone.

"No, Mummy," Elle protests. "He comed to my room before Uncle Scorpius. He said play in my room."

Isobelle looks to me. I shrug. I certainly didn't see Simon when I came in, but his office is all the way down the hall.

"I had no idea," Isobelle says quietly. "Then I suppose you can say a quick hello. Don't be too long." Isobelle lets go of a very excited Elle and stands.

Elle tugs Isobelle's hand and mine. "Come with me!" She orders, dragging us down the hallway, her long blonde curls bouncing behind her. It interests me that Isobelle seems even more reluctant than I am, and we're going to see her husband. Then again, the happiness of her marriage is one great illusion.

Elle gives the door a small knock. "Daddy," she calls in a small voice. After a few seconds, the door opens. Simon gives Elle a disapproving look.

"She insisted on visiting you," Isobelle explains in a quiet voice.

Simon ignores her and gives Elle a small smile. He gives me a nod. "Scorpius."

"Simon."

"Daddy!" Elle exclaims, looking up at Simon with her doe eyes. Much to Elle's delight, Simon picks her up and places her in the chair at his desk. She laughs excitedly, and it makes Isobelle smile faintly. She sits on her knees so that she can see over the desk. "Were you working, Daddy?" She questions.

Simon nods. His interaction with Elle is tight and uncomfortable. "Of course, I was. I work nearly every day."

Isobelle steps closer into Simon's office, a confused look on her face. "Why didn't you tell me you'd be at home today?" she asks, looking around his office as if he expects to find a woman.

"I wasn't aware you needed to know," Simon replies evenly, moving papers out of Elle's reach. She plays with his quill.

"It would have been nice to know," Isobelle argues, raising her eyebrows dismissively. It's a rare event to see a kind word pass between Isobelle and Simon.

"I needed the silence," Simon explains. "Which can't be had in this house." He gestures to Elle with his eyes as she pretends to tickle Simon's arm with his quill.

Isobelle shakes her head slowly, absentmindedly looking at the picture of herself with Elle on the corner of his desk. "Is that why you aren't ever at home?"

"I'm not at home because I have work to do. The nice things I provide you aren't free."

Isobelle raises her eyebrows sarcastically. "I hadn't any idea."

Simon's expression turns dark. He rolls his eyes. Elle watches her parents, but it's obvious she can't keep up with what's going on. Only I notice they don't have the decency enough to argue behind closed doors, or they've stopped caring for one another altogether.

"Leave," Simon says gruffly.

"Should I bring Delphine with me? I'm sure you've spent too much time with her already."

Simon runs his hand through his hair. "Woman, you irritate me like no other."

"Oh, I'm sure there are many others." Isobelle says under her breath. Simon turns around quickly, his hand raised. It takes him a second of realization to lower it. I'm no fool. I know that Simon hits Isobelle. But I'm sure, most of the time, she deserves it. Perhaps if Dad punished her more as a child, she wouldn't have turned out this way.

Isobelle curls her red lips in disgust. "Delphine, come." She calls her as if she's a dog.

"I don't wanna go, Mummy!" Elle pouts, frowning. Somehow, she's gotten ink smeared on her fingers. I notice it's on the edge of her blue robes too, but I decide not to give Isobelle or Simon another reason to go mental.

"I wasn't asking what you wanted to do," Isobelle says, frowning and gesturing for Elle to move. She stays put. "Come. Now."

"I never see Daddy!" Elle protests, crossing her arms.

"Neither do I," Isobelle says, shaking her head.

Simon scoffs. "I see you nearly every night. Don't act like I deny you."

"You know why!" Isobelle turns to Delphine again, her agitation apparent. "I'm going to count to three."

"You're mean!" Elle cries, looking to Simon for help he isn't going to give her.

Isobelle rolls her eyes. "You don't know what having a mean parent is. Now, Delphine."

Simon puts his fist under his chin and raises an eyebrow, allowing Isobelle to grow utterly annoyed with Elle, as if it's all right to use his daughter as a punishment.

"I wanna stay with Daddy!" Elle says again, climbing out of Simon's chair and clinging to his leg. Simon doesn't say a thing. He keeps his focus on Isobelle, who looks near tears.

Isobelle clenches her fist, and her pale face goes red. "Fine!" She snaps. "If you want to stay with Daddy, then go right ahead! Stay with him, since you obviously don't care about your mother!" I would be surprised if Elle really did care for Isobelle.

"Go with your mother," Simon says gently to Elle. His eyes stay on Isobelle. "We wouldn't want her to have a damn fit."

Elle shakes her head and buries her face in Simon's robes. The look of pain on Isobelle's face is indescribable.

"You need to take a nap. You're being a fright," Isobelle says rudely, tapping Elle's shoulder. She makes another muffled noise of protest, and Simon rolls his eyes.

"Never again will you bring her to me when I'm working," Simon says dismissively. He practically peels Elle off of him and turns her around. "Go to your room, Delphine. I'll see you for dinner."

Elle pouts, her dark eyes rimmed with tears. Isobelle beckons Elle to her, and reluctantly, she goes, dragging her feet. Isobelle ushers Elle out of the room, and shuts the door behind the two of them. Immediately, I can hear Isobelle raise her voice and begin yelling at Elle.

Uncomfortably for me, I'm stuck with Simon. I don't hate him as much as Isobelle seems to, but he isn't my favorite person.

"Your sister doesn't know her place," Simon informs me coolly, as if I care enough to do anything about it.

"It's my father's fault."

Simon glances wistfully at the door. I know that at some point Simon loved Isobelle, and maybe he does still. He used to spoil her and dote on her, and want to be with her every moment of the day. I supposed that in his mind, her failure to give him a son overrides his love for her. It's unfortunate for him.

Simon turns back to me with a look of interest in making conversation. It isn't often that we speak, and I'm sure he's about to bestow some of his pureblood knowledge upon me.

"You're marrying Zabini's daughter, aren't you?" He questions matter-of-factly.

"This coming summer." I suppose there isn't any point in waiting to marry Daisy. She's older than I am, so in technicality, she's waiting for me.

"And you love her?" Simon seats himself at his desk, resituating all of his paperwork. I prefer to remain on the wall.

I shrug. "I suppose." I don't know if I would say that I love Daisy. But she's good looking, and does whatever I tell her. I doubt a relationship could be better. We don't have to hang ourselves up on frivolous matters like emotions and feelings.

"That's dangerous," Simon says distractedly, scratching away on whatever he's writing. "Marry someone you don't love. That way it won't hurt you as much when they don't turn out to be what you thought."

I frown at Simon's sentimental words. "You don't love my sister."

Simon looks up at me, his nose wrinkled. "Of course, I do. Isn't it obvious?"

"Not at all. I'd assume you hated one another."

"Then you don't understand our relationship," Simon says simply. I'm not even positive Simon understands his relationship with Isobelle, or lack thereof. "I love your sister dearly, but she doesn't understand how lucky she is to have married me. I could have married a pureblooded woman and had a son, but I'm remaining with her instead." Simon looks satisfied with his response, and goes back to writing his papers.

"Then annul the marriage." All this bullshit with Simon is driving Isobelle crazy, and everyone's coming out worse for it.

Simon curses under his breath. "I can't get a second annulment. I could barely get my first." Simon waves his hand as if I'm just as stupid as Isobelle. "Perhaps if I could have an actual wife…"

"What do you want from her?" I ask, finally growing annoyed with Simon. Defending Isobelle is next to the last thing I want to do, but this man is an idiot. "If Isobelle giving you a son is all it takes for you to love her, then you don't love her at all."

"I beg to differ," Simon says with a small smirk, like I'm telling a joke.

"You don't know her. You don't even speak to her. You can't possibly expect much from marrying someone you'd only known a month. It's ridiculous," I tell Simon. He's truly an arrogant asshole. Perhaps if he didn't expect so much perfection out of someone like Isobelle, he wouldn't be so let down.

Simon shakes his head. "I can't win," he says, rolling his eyes. He isn't the only one. Simon glances down at his papers again. "Go check on your sister."

I don't regret not being in Simon's presence. I don't exactly enjoy his presence to begin with. I leave Simon's office and slam the door, annoyed that Mum sent me here in the first place. Perhaps we should just cut our losses and realize Isobelle isn't who she used to be.

"Scorpius, is that you?" Isobelle pokes her head out from Delphine's room. Who the hell else would it be? It isn't like Simon cares enough to come after her.

Isobelle turns away from me for a brief moment and wipes a few stray tears with her hand. I can tell that something terrible is bothering her, but I don't want to put myself in the position of asking. Isobelle says something quietly to Delphine, and then shuts the door.

"She's having a nap," she whispers. Isobelle looks at me for a long while, and I can notice how hurt she is.

"Do you want to say something?" I ask against my better judgment.

"I can't do this much longer," Isobelle admits, her lower lip trembling. Often, I forget that she's nearly ten years older than me. She's so short and innocent-looking, which I suppose works to her advantage. In my opinion, I look much older than Isobelle. Isobelle never really seems to age, which may possibly be why she acts as immaturely as she does.

"Do what?" I question.

Isobelle purses her lips, as if I'm stupid for asking. "Stay for lunch."

Isobelle dejectedly pushes her food around her plate, only barely making eye contact with me. I don't know why she seems so uncomfortable, considering it's just her and I. Elle's taking a nap and Simon's still in his office. Still, Isobelle looks ill, and as if she's going to break down at any moment.

"How is everyone?" Isobelle questions, taking a sip of wine. I'm trying to watch how much she has.

"Well, just preparing for school. Mum wants the three of you over for dinner on Sunday. She says you have to come."

Isobelle makes a slight noise in her throat. "All right…" she relents. Her face lights up, even if only a little. "Is Nina excited?"

"Too excited." Nina won't ever shut up about attending Hogwarts. Once she realizes how ridiculous and common that school is, she'll miss being at home. I wanted to attend Durmstrang.

"Mum and Dad aren't going to know what to do with themselves. Especially Dad, he's been at home with children more than half his life."

My father had Isobelle at a young age. It isn't very uncommon for purebloods to have children young, but usually they're married first. Dad wasn't anywhere close to marriage when Isobelle was young.

"Don't let him fool you. He writes us just as much as Mum." Dad isn't the type of man who's so outwardly affectionate; he'd rather show it in the extensive letters he writes us while we're away at school. I'm sure the only one of us he ever gave hugs and kisses to was Isobelle.

"Mum's going to go mad. She won't have anyone to nag, or to pick up after," Isobelle says. It's the truth. Mum believes very much in hands-on parenting, even if that means aggravating us at times and overstepping the house-elves. They don't like her very much.

"I think she forgets being a mother isn't her only job." Mum also works for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Over the years, she's grown rather influential.

I nod my agreement. Isobelle goes silent, suddenly seeming uninterested in the conversation. "I don't hate Delphine," she informs me. "I… I love her more than anything."

"I don't doubt that," I assure Isobelle. "It's just that, you don't seem to know how to love her. Or care for her." Isobelle can barely get herself sorted. How can anyone expect her to look after another human being?

Isobelle nods solemnly, as if she knows what I'm saying is true. "I know," she admits. "I don't have any practice with this, or any help, especially from Simon. I just wish… that I hadn't…."

"Hadn't what?"

Isobelle glances at the garden in the backyard, anywhere but at me. The summer colors make a horrible contrast against her sickly look. "Well…" she says quietly.

"You mean you wish you hadn't had Delphine, don't you?" I can tell I'm correct when she flinches slightly.

"It isn't Delphine, I didn't want a child," Isobelle explains frantically. "And I can't… I can't do this. I want her to go away so badly, but I know that I can't send her away. It won't make me any better than Simon if I ignore her. But it's just… it's painful. She deserves none of this."

Isobelle is distraught and speaking even more nonsense than usual. "You can't send Delphine away. If she doesn't have you, she has no one else."

Isobelle nods solemnly. "I'm aware. But maybe… maybe she needs more than I can provide her. She's smart enough for a good education, and… and she needs to learn how to be confident in herself, to know that she's… that she's more than any other man can define her. I want people to speak well of her, not mutter under their breath as she passes."

I know Isobelle's alluding to herself. She's polarized by most of those in the pureblood circle polarize her as either an idiot, or Simon's Whore. According to them, Isobelle was seeing Simon even while he was still married, and she's the reason he left his wife. It's bullshit, but many people hate her for it. I know it makes Isobelle upset and embarrassed. I wouldn't say she's ever been too modest, but she definitely didn't break up Simon's marriage.

"You have to be the one to make that happen," I tell Isobelle. "Not some teacher at some boarding school. You. You're Delphine's mother. No one can replace you."

"I understand that!" Isobelle snaps, raising her voice. She buries her head in her hands, starting to cry. "And it isn't fair! "

I hate when people cry, but I try to find it in myself to tolerate Isobelle. I don't exactly know what to say to her to comfort her. I'm not sure anything can console her. "Isobelle-"

Isobelle's shoulders heave up and down. "I can't do this," she admits. "I can't stay in this marriage… someone has to do something about it! Or I will!" She says loudly. She removes her wedding ring and it rolls across the table. She puts her head in her hands once again.

Isobelle's officially lost it. I try to reach for her hands to calm her down, but she jerks away from me. "Isobelle, you've been drinking, you don't know-"

"Yes, I do!" Isobelle screams. "I don't want any of this! Not Simon, not Delphine, none of it! I want to be loved!"

Nothing I say is going to make any difference, especially to Isobelle. I'm not sure what to do.

"Isobelle, listen to me," I say quietly. I'm not exactly sure how to act like the older sibling- not that Isobelle particularly does either. But I'm positive at one point, even if only once, she cared for me when I needed. I don't know if I can do the same for her. "Look at me!"

Isobelle moves her hands from her face slowly. "Wh-what?" She demands, still choking on her tears.

"You chose to marry Simon," I remind her. I'm not trying to guilt her, but it's a fact she has to face.

"I didn't!" Isobelle sobs. "He wouldn't leave me alone! I only m-married him so soon b-because I was pregnant!"

I frown at Isobelle, wondering if she's gone absolutely mad, or if she's serious. "You were-"

"I lost it," Isobelle wails dejectedly. "And it was a son! I hate Simon!"

I stare at my sister for a long while, unsure of what to say. I don't know when this happened, or why she didn't tell anyone. I'm certain no one else in my family is even halfway aware that Isobelle was pregnant before Delphine, or that she had another miscarriage.

"You need to rest," I say finally, standing up and coming over to her side of the table. I gesture for Isobelle to stand. "Come on." I see her wedding ring on the table, but decide not to mention it.

Isobelle clings to my shoulder, still crying quietly as I take her inside. "T-take me to bed."

"I intend to."

"Wh-why are you so n-nice to me?" She asks after a long silence.

Honestly, I have no idea myself. She hasn't quite given me any reasons to pity her, but I guess I just do for some unknown reason. "No matter how much I dislike you, you're still my sister."

Rose bumps my shoulder as she passes me in the hallway with a basket of laundry. "How'd it go?" She questions. "Did you manage to not kill Isobelle?"

I turn around and look at my sister. Rose looks different, and slightly more female than usual. Her long hair is out of its boring ponytail, and she looks slightly more confident. "What the hell are you wearing?"

"It's a blouse," Rose informs me, rolling her eyes. "Honestly-"

"I know what it is," I snap. "But why are you wearing it? It's rather low-cut."

Rose shrugs and gives me a triumphant smirk. "I went on a date today," she informs me nonchalantly. "Does that surprise you?"

Yes. "With who?" I question. I had no idea Rose had a boyfriend, and I have no idea what poor bloke would put himself through that sort of torture.

"Does it matter?" Rose questions. "I'm allowed out without your permission."

"Not looking like that, you aren't. Your trousers are too tight."

Rose snorts teasingly. "Oh, please. Your girlfriend doesn't even know how to buy clothes that halfway fit. I haven't seen you complain once."

"Daisy isn't my sister," I remind Rose. And besides, I don't think Rose is anywhere near experienced enough to put herself on the same level as Daisy.

"Neither am I, technically," Rose shrugs, balancing the laundry basket on her hip. I'm sure there's no proper way to say this, but I haven't until now noticed how womanly Rose has become. It scares me to think that blokes might start giving her that kind of attention. Rose isn't ready for that.

"You are my sister, and I don't think you should dress that way."

Rose puts her hand on her hip and bats her long eyelashes. "Why? I'm an adult. I'm pretty sure I can dress how I want. And besides, just because I'm dressed up a bit doesn't mean I'm going to attract the attention of some monster like Isobelle did.

I'm not exactly in the mood to hear Rose make fun of Isobelle. "Whatever." I say flatly.

Rose frowns at me. "So are they coming over for dinner or not? I've been practicing my Shield Charms for the occasion."

"That's not funny."

"Yeah, it is," Rose continues. "What's up your bum?"

"Nothing, just quit talking about Isobelle and go tell someone about your bloody date," I say. At the moment, I'm not sure how to feel about Isobelle, and I don't want Rose interfering with my opinion. I turn to walk the other way down the hallway, but Rose catches my arm. She raises her eyebrows at me.

"You pity Isobelle," she realizes. "She doesn't deserve it."

I free myself of Rose. "You don't know. You don't know what goes on in their household."

Rose sets down the laundry basket. "Then tell me," she implores. "What happens to Isobelle that's so terrible that it's making your heart of stone melt?" She looks at me with fiery eyes that are the same as Isobelle's. If only Rose knew.

"I think she's sick."

"Mental, more like it," Rose smirks.

I roll my eyes, annoyed at how unsympathetic Rose is being. "I meant physically. She looks terrible. And you look like a tart."

"Whatever. Feel bad for Isobelle if you want to. That's why she's so immature. Because she knows if she cried a little, everyone will feel bad for her. The only one I feel bad for is Elle. "

"Shut up." I clench my fists. "Just help Mum with the damn laundry and quit running your hellish mouth. Poor bloke who has to date you."

Rose hoists her laundry basket back on her hip. "Do you have any robes?" she asks finally, cocking her head.

"I'll bring them later."

Rose shrugs again. "Fine. Take your time." She turns and heads down the hallway. "Al sent you an owl while you were gone. I think he wants to hang out or something," she calls

I'm relieved to hear that. I need an escape from this family.

*Sorry Again! Leave a review please