*Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling!

**So sorry I haven't updated in like two weeks! I've been having some really big problems with my spine lately, and after I came home from the orthopedists' and everything, I haven't been able to do much until they can find out what's wrong with it. But I am okay for the time being!**

*** Title of this chapter comes from "Apologize" by One Republic. Oldie but Goodie! Happy reading! :)

"Belle," A soft voice says, making me stir. I open my eyes sleepily, eager to apologize to Holden over the absolutely terrible argument we had yesterday. When I'm accustomed to the bright light in the bedroom, I realize that is isn't Holden's room. Nor is it mine. I don't have blue curtains. I sit up and look around frantically. Where the hell am I?

"Easy there," Teddy says calmly, resting a hand on my shoulder. . There are a lot of pictures on his night stand. There's even one of Teddy, Holden and I on my seventeenth birthday. I was so excited to become an adult, I didn't think it would be anything like this.

I look at him for a while, until I realize that I'm in his room and in his bed "Teddy, you didn't... did you?" I ask, frowning.

Teddy looks at me as if I'm mad, then he shakes his head. "No, I slept on the couch," he answers. "You seemed tired after yesterday. I didn't mind it."

Still, I feel terrible for forcing Teddy onto his sofa. "Oh, I'm sorry," I apologize.

Teddy shrugs. "No big deal. How're you feeling?"

"Better, I suppose. I don't think Holden's going to speak to me though, no matter how much I want him to," I answer, my eyes downcast. I still feel incredibly guilty for saying what I said to Holden. "I guess I really am alone now."

"What do you mean?" Teddy frowns, sitting down on the bed beside me.

"Mum and Dad are too busy trying to raise four children, and now they're dealing with Astoria and whatnot. They don't have time for me. And now I'm sure I've completely burned a bridge with Holden..." I answer.

Teddy puts his arm around me. "You have me," He reminds me.

I shake my head. "I know, but I can't always expect you to make time for me. You've got to spend time with Victoire, and I wouldn't want her to hate me more than she already does. And look, I've already overstayed my welcome. I've kicked you out of your bed. I couldn't possibly expect you to-"

"You're family," Teddy reminds me. "I'll always have time for you. Especially when you need me."

"I don't always want to need you. I don't want to have to depend on anyone. That's why Holden doesn't really want me anymore. He feels like I need him too much," I explain. Even though it's the last thing I want, I do feel like I am hopelessly clingy. Not just with Holden, but with everyone. I can't bear the thought of not having someone else with me to depend on. It scares me that I feel as if I'd do nearly anything to keep Holden from leaving me. I don't always want to be like that.

"You guys just had one argument. Holden still loves you," Teddy assures me for the fiftieth time. "Maybe he shouldn't have said some of those things, but I don't doubt he cares about you."

"Holden's your best friend. I don't want you to be in the middle," I tell Teddy. I won't let Teddy ruin his relationship with Holden because I've possibly ruined my relationship with Holden.

"I'm not in the middle. Isobelle, Holden knows everything that's happened to you. He can't use that against you, no matter what," Teddy tells me.

"I used the way Holden's father was against him," I point out guiltily.

"That's different," Teddy says. I don't know how, but I go along with it. "Why are you so afraid of committing to Holden anyway? If you don't want him to leave you, it seems like marriage would be the way to go."

Teddy's terribly wrong. "I just... I think that if I were to marry Holden, he would want a family and... I can't give him that," I admit sadly. The thought of it has bothered me a while, not that I've wanted to tell anyone.

Teddy looks at me alarmingly. "What do you mean?" he asks.

"Not that. What I mean is that I couldn't ever be somebody's mother," I cry. "Look at me. I'm a mess. I don't even have myself together, how could I ever raise a child?" Holden's mentioned having a family once or twice. Whether that ever included me or not, I wasn't sure. I just kept my mouth shut about my fears regarding that scenario, assuming it did. Considering that I never really had a mother growing up, I don't at all know how to be one.

"Those things take time, Isobelle. Of course you aren't ready now, but given time, I think you'd make an amazing mother," Teddy tells me sincerely.

"But, I don't know the first thing about parenting," I protest.

"Look at Harry. He didn't know either, but he's brilliant with Lily, James, and Al. And me too at one point, I suppose," Teddy points out.

"I know, but Uncle Harry's a lot stronger than I am," I tell Teddy.

Teddy looks at me for a while. "You're very strong, Belle. Maybe you don't see it, but I do. Who else could go through all that rubbish you do and still be here today?"

"I almost wasn't," I mutter under my breath, thinking of a terrible time.

Teddy squeezes my shoulder. "Don't think about that. You're here now, that's all that matters. And I'm glad you are."

I smile at Teddy. It's the first time I've genuinely smiled since yesterday morning. "Thanks. I really needed that," I tell him.

"It's no problem."

I glance at the alarm clock on Teddy's nightstand. "I suppose I've got to be home soon. Mum and Dad will be wondering where I am, and I promised Rose I'd take her to Flourish and Blotts today. She only went a couple of days ago, and now she wants more books," I say to Teddy.

Teddy grins and shakes his head. "Gets it from Aunt Hermione, she does. I swear, she spent half her time in the library at school."

I frown, realizing that I haven't really thought much about Rose and Scorpius' first year at Hogwarts. I listened when they told me about it, but they didn't really say much. "How was she this year? Rose, I mean," I ask Teddy.

"Fine, she had some of the highest marks in her class," Teddy answers.

"Not her marks. How was she? I know some of her cousins are at Hogwarts, too, and I know how the other Weasleys feel about us," I explain. To put it kindly, they would like to avoid us at all costs, and they do a good job of it. I doesn't bother Scorpius, Nina, or I, but I know it must be a lot harder on Hugo and Rose. Especially Rose.

"None of them talked to Rose," Teddy answers finally. "Well, not once that I saw anyway."

It angers me to think that Rose's own cousins, her family that she knows personally, would choose to ignore her all based on who her mother married. It isn't Rose's fault that Mum married Dad, and she's the one being punished for it.

"That's absolutely terrible. As if it's Rose's fault! I'm sure the lot of them don't have any home-training anyway," I scoff. Why else would they behave that way? That's right, because their parents were apparently raised the same. People shouldn't ever be judged based on their parents' choices. I know how terrible that feels.

I know Teddy's trying to stay out of this, because he is very close to the Weasleys. But at the same time, I'm the one who's actually related to Teddy, not any of those Weasleys. "It is kind of sad," Teddy agrees finally. "At least Rose has Scorpius and Al." Scorpius, Rose, and Al are all best friends. Al's quite a frequent guest at the Manor, and Scorpius and Rose are over at Uncle Harry's just as often. I think their friendships have caused Dad and Uncle Harry to get along reasonably well. They aren't exactly friends, but they don't hate each other either.

"You would think if Scorpius hasn't turned Rose and Al into Death Eaters by now, that would be good enough for them," I mutter under my breath. "But, apparently not. I'm just glad to know that ours isn't the only screwed-up family."

Teddy laughs quietly. "Well, I'm sure every family's got their issues," he reasons. "Just some more than others..."

"Yes, and now I've made a problem in Holden's family," I realize, feeling a wave of guilt wash over me again. "I'm sorry, you must be tired of hearing about this."

Teddy shakes his head and moves closer to me. "No, I'm not. If you feel like you need to talk about it, then I'll listen," he tells me, his voice quiet and calm.

I lay my head on Teddy's shoulder. I feel exhausted, as if I didn't really get much sleep last night. "Hey, Belle?" Teddy asks hesitantly.

"Hmm?"

Teddy takes a deep breath. "Er, I never told you this, but your eyes..."

"What about them?" I question, looking at Teddy curiously. What could he possibly say about my eyes?

"They remind me a lot of my mum's," he admits. His voice is so quiet, I can barely hear him.

"But Teddy-"

"I've seen pictures, Belle," Teddy reminds me, his voice a bit tighter than normal. I feel so terrible for him. "They just... make me think of you. I don't know why. Maybe it's the color...maybe it's what I see in them..."

"Teddy, what do you mean?"

"Your eyes always have this inherent sadness in them, as if it's always going to be there, but it doesn't want to be," Teddy explains quietly.

"No one wants to be sad," I point out.

"Well, of course not," Teddy nods. "But people show their emotions in different ways. Your eyes always say everything about you."

Teddy told me once that he never speaks with Victoire about either of his parents because he doesn't feel as if she would care too much about it. That makes me hate Victoire even more, to think that she wouldn't want to listen to Teddy when he's so caring and selfless, and all he ever does is listen to everyone else. But I'm also honored to think that Teddy trusts me to talk about his mother.

I look up at Teddy from my place on his shoulder. "What do my eyes say about me now?" Teddy studies my face for a long while. There isn't any other sound, except for our breathing. I fear for a second that Teddy can't come up with an answer, because he for once has no idea what I'm thinking.

"Do you really love Victoire?" I ask. I don't mean to be rude and question Teddy, but the more I think about it, the less compatible Victoire and Teddy really seem to be.

"I do love her. But sometimes, she frustrates the hell out of me. I just think that sometimes... I need..." Teddy's voice trails off as if he believes whatever he's thinking is stupid. I take his hand.

"You need what, Teddy?" I implore. He turns to me slowly, and his eyes lock with mine. I can't get another thought out of my head before Teddy leans forward and his lips touch mine. He cups my face with his hand, and he wipes one of my tears away. Teddy's kiss feels so different from Holden's. Immediately, I'm disgusted with myself that I'm able to compare the two. I shouldn't even know what Teddy's kiss feels like. Teddy's my cousin.

Teddy pulls away. His eyes are wide with horror. "Belle, I am so sorry..." He apologizes quickly. I'm not sure what to say so I just stare back at him, equally as shocked. "I'm such a fuck-up... What the hell did I just do?" he rambles, dragging his hand through his hair. His hands are trembling. I'm tremendously conflicted, but I don't want Teddy to take all the blame. I let him kiss me. I'm just as terrible.

"Teddy, it's all right. I won't say anything to anyone," I promise him. I know Teddy didn't mean to kiss me. I was just... there. Sometimes, that's all it takes.

Teddy won't look at me. "Belle, I think you should go," he mutters.

I stand there like an idiot until I realize he's kicking me out. "Oh... um, okay. Goodbye, Teddy..."

Teddy's completely silent, and I can tell he's waiting for me to leave. I disapparate, feeling worse than I did yesterday.

"Come in," I call, as someone knocks at my door. I'm sitting down at my mirror, my head in my hands, my hair half-done. I can't stop thinking about what happened between Teddy and I. It only dawned on me a couple of minutes ago that by kissing Teddy, I cheated on Holden. That was something that when I was just fourteen, I swore I would never do. The door opens, and in walks Rose. Just the sibling I wanted to see. "Rose," I say, forcing a smile at my little sister. Rose gives me a small smile back.

"Hey, Belle."

"You aren't waiting on me, are you?" I ask, just to make sure. I do have a terrible thing for taking forever to get ready.

Rose shakes her head. "Well, not really, no," she answers. "Belle?" Rose asks.

"Yes?" I ask quickly, feeling a bit panicked.

"Why don't you ever wear your hair down anymore? Doesn't it take forever to always put it up like that?"

I let out a sight of relief. "Not really, I'm used to it. Besides, I'm a woman, Rose. I've got to dress like it, don't I?" I question, sliding a silver barrette into my hair and finishing it. Something inside me says that a woman wouldn't go around cheating on her boyfriend, or kissing her own cousin at that.

Rose shrugs. "I guess so. But you're always so dressed up. It's kind of... weird," she tells me, gesturing to my robes. I've actually gone for a rather plain set today. "Must be an awful lot for Holden to take off."

My jaw clenches momentarily, but I don't mention anything to Rose. "I am not dressed up!" I snap. "I only seem dressed up because you're so used to running around in those dreadful trousers! I still can't believe Mum lets you wear them." I roll my eyes at the thought. Mum doesn't even know she's encouraging Rose to dress like a boy, especially with those horrible muggle jeans she lets her wear.

"It's called being comfortable, not that you would know anything about that," Rose explains sarcastically, huffing. "If you don't want to take me to Flourish and Blotts, just say so."

"I'm plenty comfortable, thank you. And of course, I want to take you. I'm just... a bit tired. You could at least put on a muggle dress if you don't want to wear robes," I try to compromise.

Rose looks at me in disgust. "No way I'm putting on a dress," she assures me. "How about you wear one?"

"Muggle dresses made for people my age barely cover anything," I tell Rose. "I do have some self resp- never mind it. How about you brush your hair at least?" I gesture to Rose's messy braid. It looks as if she slept in it.

"Belle, I look fine. We're just going to Flourish and Blotts, it's not like we're meeting anyone special," Rose protests, crossing her arms.

I sigh. "Rose, you're growing up now, and you can't dress the same way you did when you were younger. You'd look so much better if you only did something with your hair and clothes," I tell her. "You're going to be thirteen soon."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rose questions defensively.

Must I explain everything to her? "Thirteen year old girls do not dress like little boys, and my sister certainly won't."

"I'm not dressed like a boy. They're called muggle clothes," Rose informs me bitterly.

"I know what muggle clothes are. I happen to own some."

"You wouldn't know it," Rose mutters. "I don't see why you would like to wear robes all the time."

"Because they're far better than dresses or those stupid jeans you have on. Perhaps if I were in the muggle world I would wear muggle clothes, but that's not the case," I point out. "At least let me do something with your hair."

Rose groans. "Just because you've learned how to manage your hair..." she grumbles.

"Means I'm at perfect liberty to help you manage yours," I finish. "I don't understand it."

"Understand what?" Rose questions.

"How you can want absolutely nothing to do with anything so feminine, yet you don't enjoy quidditch," I say.

Rose looks at me as if I'm stupid. "Quidditch isn't the only sport, you know," she informs me.

"The only sport that girls can play," I remind her.

"That isn't true!" Rose says fiercely. "I play football with Al, Scor, James, and Lily all the time! That's so sexist!" Rose protests. I wasn't trying to be sexist, I just didn't know. I feel like I don't know much of anything.

"Do girls play football, then?" I ask. Honestly, I've never heard of it. I didn't even know anything about the sport until Rose and Al explained it to me. It seems pointless.

"Of course, they do! They have their own league in the muggle world!" Rose tells me.

"Fine, you don't have to get so worked up about it. At least let me do your hair," I plead.

Rose groans and rolls her eyes. "If you'll shut up about it," she concedes.

"I most definitely will," I agree. "Oh, what has Dom taught you?" I ask, brushing Rose's tangled hair. Other than the Potters, we do see the Delacour-Weasleys quite often. I swear, Dom is Rose's idol, her and her feminism. I don't have a problem with it though, because Dominique really is a great friend of mine.

"Dom's taught me that anything a bloke can do, I can do at least ten times better. And that Victoire really should cover up her boobs more often," Rose answers, smirking.

From now on, I probably won't even be able to look Victoire in the eye. Still, I can't help but laugh at this. Even though Victoire and Dom are sisters, they're complete opposites, and they don't get along at all. "Dom's taught you well, I see."

Rose nods excitedly. "Yeah. She said if Mum lets me, she'll let me dye part of my hair purple like hers!" she exclaims. Purple hair? Rose won't be able to dye anything if she doesn't get all these knots out.

"Why would you want to do that?" I question, frowning.

"Because it would be awesome! Dom says that it's 'daring and unique'," Rose quotes, exaggerating Dom's animated voice quite a bit.

"And what does Aunt Fleur say?"

Rose rolls her eyes. Like Dominique, she doesn't care for Aunt Fleur. I don't mind her so much. "She always says 'Dominique, why can't you be more like your sister? Why can't you be more like a girl?'" Rose answers, doing a bad job of mocking Aunt Fleur's thick French accent. Believe me, I'm asking the same question about Rose.

"And what does Dom say back?" I ask conversationally. From what Rose has told me, I'm sure she'd have some colorful response.

"Um... I'm not sure I should use those words," Rose answers hesitantly. "Watch it with that brush! You're going to rip my bloody head off!"

"Aren't you a little hypocrite?" I question. But then again, so am I. "But anyway, I don't want you to be disrespectful toward Aunt Fleur, no matter what she says to Dominique. understand?"

"Yes," Rose sighs. "But Aunt Fleur is just so terrible. I don't understand how Dom turned out so cool."

"I don't understand it either," I admit. Dominique definitely is the black sheep of her family. Uncle Bill's okay, but I know how he feels about Dad secretly. "You don't like Louis?"

Rose shrugs. "I mean, he's all right. He's kind of obsessed with himself, though. And Dom says it's even worse now that he's got himself a new girlfriend," Rose tells me.

"What does she look like this week?" I ask. Louis is known for having a lot of girlfriends. He changes his girlfriends like he changes his underwear.

"She's a muggle-born who models swimsuits in America," Rose says. I frown. I know exactly what American swimsuits look like. They're just undergarments that can get wet. Rose notices the look on my face. "I know, right? Dom says she only does it because her self-esteem is so low, she feels better knowing that there are randy teenage boys out there having a wank to her pictures, and Louis probably one of them."

"Don't say that," I chastise Rose. "I'm going to have to have a little talk with Dom, aren't I? If she's speaking that way around you."

Rose scoffs. "Oh, please. I'm not a baby! Besides, it's Scorpius with the foul mouth," she tattles.

"Just as well. As long as the two of you don't start speaking that way around Hugo. And Nina, Merlin forbid. Mum and Dad would have a right fit." My parents absolutely hate it when I even make the tiniest slip of a curse word in front of Nina. She doesn't even pick them up.

"Yeah, yeah. Are you almost done with my hair?" Rose asks impatiently.

"Almost. You should probably cut it if you aren't going to do anything with it. It would be easier to manage," I suggest. Rose's hair is nearly to her bum. I don't think she's had it cut properly in years.

Rose shakes her head. "I'm not cutting my hair. No way. Besides, if I don't, you can have fun making it look all old-timey like yours," she reasons.

"Old-timey? My hair doesn't look old just because I prefer to take it off my face. And besides, I'm done. Take a look, go on."

Rose cranes her neck to look in the mirror. I swept her curls back with my brush and pinned them just so, framing her face. As for the rest of Rose's hair, I put it in a tight braid going from one side of her head to the other so that it rests on her shoulder and tied it with a ribbon. When Rose does something with her hair, it really shows of her round brown eyes. I'm so glad that her eyes are only like mine in color. "It looks so... movie-like," is all Rose says. I know she won't say so, but I can tell she likes it.

"Thanks. See, that didn't take so long, did it?" I question.

"No..." Rose mutters. "Can we go now?"

"Sure. What kind of books are you looking for, anyway?" I ask.

Rose shrugs. "None in particular, I just need something to read while Scorpius is busy with quidditch. You know, he told me about the match with his mum," Rose mentions casually. She doesn't know about all the tension between my family and Astoria. She thinks Dad and Astoria just divorced and parted ways, the same way her parents did.

"Did he tell you anything about it?"

Rose gives me a look like, don't be stupid. "Course, he did," she responds. "Why? Are you being nosy again?"

"I'm not being nosy. I'm only curious. Scorpius happens to be my brother, and I'd only like to know how things went with his mother," I tell Rose.

"Oh, just admit you're nosy. I asked the minute he got home, too," Rose tells me, smirking.

"Fine, fine, I'm nosy. So how'd it go?" I question impatiently.

"Well, Scorpius said it was the best match he's ever been to, and that his mum's really great. She does see nice, though. I don't understand why Mum and Dad don't seem to like her," Rose explains. Did she just put the words 'nice' and 'Astoria' in the same sentence? Rose and Scorpius, those poor things. The only thing Astoria's great at is manipulating people.

"When did he come home?" I ask. It's the afternoon now, and I only came home from Teddy's about an hour ago.

"Maybe around eleven. Astoria brought him back. She said she wanted one of us to tell you she said 'hello' and that it seems you're doing better these days," Rose relays.

I have to take a deep breath to calm myself. "I'm sure she did," I deadpan. I hate Astoria for still being able to get to me. I'm not doing any better, and it's all my fault.

Rose wrinkles her eyebrows. "What's that even mean? 'Doing better'? Did you go to the Healers' then, too?" Rose asks curiously.

I decide that it can't really hurt anything to be honest with her. "Not when Astoria lived here, no. I did go when I was a lot younger, though."

"How young?" Rose wonders.

"About five," I answer. "Up until I was seven."

Rose purses her lips for a while. "Why did you stop going?" She asks.

"Astoria convinced Dad that it wasn't a good idea to keep me going. That it was only insane children who went to speak to Healers," I answer.

Rose gives me an apologetic look. "Maybe she just didn't want you to feel out of place?" She suggests helpfully.

I shake my head. As if Astoria would have ever cared how I felt. "That wasn't it. She didn't want to feel out of place among her elitist friends," I mutter. I'm not in the mood to talk about it anymore. I point to Rose's foot. "Tie your shoe, we're going to Floo."

Rose grins. "Hey, that rhymes." She bends down to tie the lace on her trainer.

"Mum! Dad! Rose and I are leaving," I call, unsure of where they are.

"Where are you going?" Scorpius asks, coming into the living room with a handful of licorice wands. His face is covered in Falcons face paint, and he has a grin on his face. It's obvious he enjoyed himself this morning. I'll let him tell me all about it later. Hugo trails in behind him, his hands full of sweets as well. There's no way Mum's at home.

"To Flourish and Blotts," I answer. "Where are Mum and Dad?"

"Dad's in the library doing work," Hugo answers. "Said he was too busy to pass the quaffle with us. And Mum's not home." I knew it.

Scorpius waves a licorice wand in Rose's direction. "Nice hair. I think it compliments the torn jeans nicely."

Rose narrows her eyes at Scorpius. "Oh, shove it," she retorts.

"I think it looks nice," Hugo adds helpfully. He's the sweet one. "Did you do it, Belle?"

"Yeah," I nod. "Really, Rose and I need to be going if we're ever going to get back."

"Get back from where? Where are you going?" Nina stomps into the living room, sticking her fists on her hips. "I want to come!" She isn't even dressed. She's got on another one of her blasted tutus and fairy wings. Oh, the imagination on that one.

"You don't even know where we're going," Rose sighs, exasperated.

"But I don't wanna be left at home with Scorpius and Hugo. They're boys!" Nina complains.

"I'm sure they'll let you fly brooms with them," I say, looking between my brothers. Scorpius looks at me as if I'm mad. No one's allowed to touch his broom but him, or there will be consequences..

"Mummy said I can't ride brooms by myself," Nina points out, crossing her arms. Really, she must she be so worried about what Mum said?

"Nina, you can fly on my broom with me," Hugo offers. "I'll go really fast if you want. And you know that since Mum's not home, we can have as much sweets as we want."

This seems to sell it for Nina. "Okay! Bye Belly, bye Rose!"

I thank my lucky stars that we weren't held up by Nina too long. "Are you ready to go?" I ask Rose. She nods. "Will one of you tell Dad we've left?" After Hugo nods, Rose in I are finally able to step into the fireplace and leave.

"We've been here an hour, Rose. There can't possibly be any more books that you haven't looked at," I groan. Admitted, I really do love Flourish and Blotts, but I can't say that I've ever spent an entire hour in the bookstore.

Rose throws me a dirty look. "I'm almost done, just calm down. Hey, can I get this one, too?" She questions, pulling a thick book off the shelf.

I shrug. "I don't care, as long as it gets us out of here sooner. My legs are going numb."

"No one told you to wear those shoes," Rose tells me. "I can't remember. Do I already have this one?"

"You've read it at least twenty times, I'm sure."

Rose takes another book off a shelf. "You should have a look at this one," she tells me with a smirk and a waggle of her eyebrows. I glance at the cover of the book. 'Ten signs he's going to propose'? "Scorpius, Al, and I think Holden's going to ask you soon. Just so you're sure."

I hand the book back to Rose. "I won't be needing this," I say hurriedly. I shot myself in the foot on that one.

Rose frowns. "No? Why not? Holden is going to ask you to marry him. It's obvious," she presses.

"Well, maybe I don't need to be married. What with all your stupid feminism, you should be proud of that." Rose gives me a strange look.

"I swear, it's like you and Holden got into a fight or something. Is that why you were acting all odd when you came home?"

I shake my head. I wish it was. That's a much better reason than having just kissed your sodding cousin. "No. Just leave it alone."

"It is, isn't it? What were you arguing about?" Rose asks.

"Nothing!" I hiss. "Just come off it!"

"Well, then. Someone's being a grumpy little troll this afternoon..." Rose mutters.

"Was that a short joke?" I demand.

"No. It was a 'my-older-sister's-got-an-attitude' joke," Rose informs me. "You see, Scorpius and I, we've got quite a few of them."

"I'm sure you do. Just hurry up, all right? I'd like to be back home before the sun goes down."

"You're so dramatic," Rose says, rolling her eyes. One day, they're going to get stuck that way. "I think I'm done. Fourteen books seems to be enough."

"You may read more than Mum does," I tell her.

Rose puts her free hand to her chest. "Isobelle, darling. You do flatter me so," she says in a grand voice. Merlin, Rose sure is a character. This is the Rose that I'm used to. Not the somber, quiet way she was acting when she first got home. It makes me feel better to see her happier.

"Come on, you. Let's go pay for these. What's your guess? Fifty galleons? Sixty?" I ask. Every time Rose and I go to buy books, we try to guess the amount. It's a little game we play.

"Seventy-five to eighty," Rose decides, setting the books on the counter.

"That much?" I question.

Rose nods. "Half of these are hard-cover," she reasons. I didn't even take that into account.

After we've- or I've, should I say- paid for all of Rose's books, we head for the door. All together, they amounted to seventy-eight galleons. Rose hit that nail on the head.

"Do you want some lunch?" I question as we exit Flourish and Blotts.

Rose nods. "Yeah, I'm starving. Leaky Cauldron?" I don't understand why, but Rose absolutely loves eating there. I'm not exactly sure what's so enticing about having meals at a pub, but if it makes Rose happy, I'm fine with it.

We walk down the street. It's a Saturday, so the Alley is quite busy. Rose and I hold a pretty meaningless conversation. Every so often, she mentions how excited she is to read one of the new books she got.

When we make it to the Leaky Cauldron, my stomach lurches, and I stop walking. "Belle, what are you looking at?" Rose asks, sounding confused. I look through the pub window again, just to be sure my eyes aren't playing any sort of trick on me.

"You said Mum was out today, right?" I question, just to double-check.

Rose nods. "She's out with Aunt Ginny," she confirms.

Well, Mum's certainly out, but she isn't with Aunt Ginny. I can see her clearly through the pub window. She's sitting with a man I certainly didn't expect to see, not for a long while anyway. I feel a bit sick, knowing what him being around could mean for us. I didn't know him too well, but I would recognize him anywhere. That red hair, those blue eyes. I see those eyes every time I look at Hugo. And Nina.

Mum's sitting with Ron.

*(A/N: I felt like you guys deserved a really actiony chapter! Like I said, I'm SO sorry I haven't updated in forever! Hope you guys liked the chap! PLEASE leave a review!

*For the Americans out there (Like myself) when Rose and Belle are talking about 'football', they mean 'soccer', not NFL football :)