*Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling!

*Rather surprised at how quickly I got this chapter up!

*Title comes from 'Morning Song' by the Lumineers.

*Leave a review!

Ever since I've come home from Simon's, there's been this idiotic smile on my face that I can't seem to get rid of. Simon really is opening up more, and he isn't as rough as his exterior's made him seem. Better yet, being with him hasn't only made me happy, but it could possibly help my family as well. Astoria's going to be out of our lives for good. Life couldn't get any better, and I can't wait to tell my family the great news.

I turn the page of my book. I'm not exactly positive what I'm reading, because my thoughts are so thrilling that I can't entirely focus on the words. The warmth of the sun makes me want to discard my robes for a lighter set, but I can't be bothered to go back inside. I'm comfortable sitting on a stone bench in the front lawn, shaded by a tree and surrounded by the summery smell of flowers. Seeing the garden at Simon's house has encouraged me to spend time in my own. I do love my siblings, but I'm enjoying the quiet.

Slowly, I look up as I hear the tell-tale sound of apparition. My book falls from my hands. Holden is going up the walkway to the Manor. His lips are moving slightly, like he's rehearsing something. I'm frozen for a moment, in complete shock. I never thought I'd see Holden again, at least not at my home. This moment doesn't even seem real. I don't know what I should say to him, but I'd rather speak to Holden than have him run into Dad. I'm not exactly positive how that would go.

I clear my throat. "Holden," I call. My voice comes out as a hoarse whisper. He doesn't hear me. I try again. "Holden."

Hearing his name, Holden turns his head slightly. When he catches sight of me, he nearly does a double-take. His eyes widen. I don't know why he looks so surprised, because he apparently came to see me. Trembling, I beckon him over. Holden walks slowly, his back rod-straight. When he's close enough to me, I stand up.

"Wh-what are you doing here?" I ask, frowning. I'm not angry. I don't know how to feel.

Holden gives me that puppy-face he used to always give me when I was angry at him. This time, it seems more sincere. "I wanted to apologize," he tells me.

Funny, whenever I apologized to Holden, it wasn't acceptable. And now he comes to do the same thing to me?

I have no idea what to say. I don't even know if I want to accept Holden's apology. I just stare at him, my mouth gaping open. "I was an ass," Holden admits. "I shouldn't have blamed everything on you. I was- I was having a lot of problems with my parents, and I took it out on you."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I question, my face still blank of emotion. I feel as if I'm only engaging Holden so that I can keep him here a moment longer.

"I don't know. We only ever talked about your problems, it was like mine weren't even important."

"That wasn't true. You could have said anything to me, and I would have listened," I tell Holden. I don't know where he ever got it in his head that he couldn't confide in me. "You didn't even try."

Holden seems to realize that for the first time. He gives a small nod of recognition. "I know. And I was wrong to be angry at you for something you didn't even know. I just wish you hadn't gone about it the way you did."

"I wish I hadn't either," I agree. Whether or not the relationship between Holden and I continued, I still regret cheating on him. "I was wrong, too. I take back what I did, but not my reasons for doing it."

"That's understandable," Holden says quietly. "Have you and Teddy talked?"

I shake my head. He doesn't need to know everything. "Not really. Have the two of you?"

"We're done for now," Holden informs me. Honestly, I didn't expect their friendship to last much longer. It's sad it was ruined, but we were all equally guilty.

An uncomfortable silence falls between Holden and I. He looks down at his shoes. "I was lying."

I glance up at him. "About what?"

"When I kept telling you I didn't love you anymore. I did- I do. I just- you made me so angry when I found out, and I wanted to hurt you as much as you hurt me. It was stupid, I know-"

"Y-You still love me?" I stammer, baffled. How could Holden act like he hated me so much, and really not? Who is that fair to?

Holden nods. "Yeah, I do. I love you, Belle. And I really want to start over. From the beginning."

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear like he did the first time he kissed me. He hasn't touched me with any sort of affection for weeks. Holden's hand rests on my face as he moves in closer to me. Almost automatically, I turn my head to the side, not allowing his lips to touch mine. Afterward, I feel a terrible pulling in my stomach as if I've let go of something permanently.

I take a tentative step away from Holden and gently move his hand from my face. When I am finally able to bring myself to look at him again, I want to cry. Holden's eyes look like shattered glass.

"Belle…" his voice is full of hurt, and I'm amazed that it was my doing. Holden's hurt me many times, but I never knew I had the capability to do the same to him.

"I'm sorry," I apologize. "But I couldn't, I can't… we agreed it was over. Both of us, together. And I- I moved on, and I've been trying so hard not to think about you and everything there was between us, because it just makes things harder. Please… don't make things difficult." With each word, I feel as if I'm ripping out Holden's heart. Pieces of my heart seem to be leaving my chest as well.

Holden looks as if he's just been hit by a ton of bricks. He's stunned. "You've moved on?" he repeats. "You mean… there's someone else?"

I nod. "I don't expect you to be happy about it, but I'm happy, Holden. And if you love me, then you'd want that for me," I say calmly.

"You don't love him. Not like you love me," Holden says firmly.

"That isn't for you to decide." I know I'm not in love with Simon yet, but that's only because we haven't been together long enough.

Holden frowns. "Then you lied to me, too," he says flatly. I can't tell if he's upset or not.

"How did I lie to you?"

"You told me that you weren't going to stop loving me."

I cross my arms. "And you used it as an excuse for being so terrible to me. You told me you were always going to love me, too."

Holden shakes his head. "No, I didn't."

"Even if you did love me, it's not like I can read your mind." I purse my lips. "I'm happy you apologized, but I just don't want to get hurt by you again."

Holden looks appalled that I would say such a thing, as if it's coming from nowhere. "You weren't the only one that got hurt," he reminds me.

"I know that, but you can't guilt me into anything. You don't know how much hell you put me through, Holden. You really don't know. I'm not blaming you for anything I did, but you could have supported me more. I feel that you know that just as well as I do."

"I do," Holden admits, "and now you won't give me the chance."

I don't know what to say to Holden to make him understand. Is this how he felt speaking to me? "Why? So that things can go badly again? I know that you could be telling the complete and honest truth, but I just can't put myself in the situation to find out."

I move my hand to run it through my hair. Holden's hand closes tight around my wrist. He isn't being forceful, but it still catches me by surprise.

"H-Holden…" I say quietly. "I'm serious."

Holden pulls me closer to him, his hands around both my wrists now. I can't get away from him. "I love you, Belle. You love me, too. I know you do."

"Stop," I say breathlessly. "I don't… want anyone to see us. My dad- he's already upset with you," I tell Holden.

"What did you tell him?" Holden demands.

"I told him what you did," I whisper.

Holden's eyebrows furrow, and he looks angry. "Why did you say anything?"

"I didn't mean to," I assure him. "I tried to lie, but he knew. I really didn't want to say anything-"

Holden looks away for a moment, and throws a dirty glance at the Manor. "Great, give your Dad one more reason to hate me than he already has."

How can Holden possibly put this on me? "You would be upset too if something like that happened to your sister, wouldn't you?"

"Yeah, but this is different. Belle, I only did that stuff to you because I love you. You don't understand-"

"Am I supposed to?" I question. "You left bruises on me because you love me?"

I hope this sounds as stupid to Holden as it really is. "I didn't want to," Holden protests. "Belle, you made me."

What the hell? "I didn't make you do anything! There shouldn't be anything that I can say or do to make you angry enough to want to physically hurt me! What's worse, you think it's my fault, and you had me believing it, too! You don't love me, you just want to control me!"

"Don't say that!" Holden snaps harshly, shaking my wrists hard enough to make my shoulders jerk. My eyes widen. I don't want to go through this again. "God, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"Holden, let me go," I plead. "I'm not kidding. I'll- I'll scream…"

"Don't," Holden tells me, shaking his head quickly. "Just hear me out."

"I already have. And I've made up my mind. No matter how much you say you love me, I can't be with you. I can't be with someone I'm afraid of. I gave you the chance to have me back, and you didn't take it. I'm not giving up what I have for another chance with you. I'm sorry."

Holden doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying. "What?" He asks. "You're not…"

I shake my head and feel tears coming down my face. "I c-can't. I'm so sorry… I'm sorry, Holden, I'm-" I can't stop apologizing to Holden and I don't know why.

He lets my wrists go. My hands are trembling. Holden sighs. "I just don't know where things went wrong," he says quietly. To be honest, I'm not exactly positive either. "I hope you're happy."

I can't tell whether or not he's being sarcastic. "I-I will be."

Holden gives me a half-hearted look before turning around and disapparating.

For at least five minutes, I can't move. I just stand there with my head in my hands and cry.

Once I've finally got myself halfway together, I take off inside and slam the door. How could Holden have done that to me? How could he have just shown up without notice and expected me to take him back after her made it abundantly clear things couldn't be the other way around? How else was I supposed to answer?

Mum sticks her head out of the dining room door. She sees me before I can turn around and retreat to my room.

"Isobelle, you're just in time to join us for lunch," she calls.

"I'm not hungry," I mutter back, facing away.

"I'm not forcing you to eat. You've been on your own all day, you should at least sit with us for a short while," Mum replies.

Why can't she leave me be? "I seriously don't want-"

"I'm not asking you, Isobelle. We haven't seen you all morning."

Reluctantly, I turn around and walk slowly in the direction of the dining room. Mum gives me an uneasy smile. "Are you all right?" She questions in a low voice, looking me up and down.

I shake my head. "No."

"Has something happened?"

"No."

Mum decides not to press matters, and I'm thankful. I follow her into the dining room and sit at the far end of the table, next to Scorpius and Rose.

"Good afternoon," Dad greets me.

"Afternoon," I mumble back.

Nina smiles at me. "Did you just come from outside, Belly?" she questions. I nod. "You look sad."

"Nina, not right now," I say in much harsher a tone than I mean to. I feel terrible that I can't be bothered to apologize. My head is pounding and my encounter with Holden left me distressed and with the feeling that I need to vomit. I just want to forget it ever happened.

To make myself feel a bit better, I pour myself a glass of champagne to loosen me up. I intend for it to last much longer than it actually does. For once, I can rightfully blame something on Holden. Still feeling immensely upset, I pour myself another glass and down it. I'm not sure how long this continues, but by the time anyone notices anything, the bottle is empty and I'm reaching for another.

"Isobelle," Scorpius whispers. "You should stop."

Mum and Dad stop talking to Rose and Hugo and finally turn to look and me. "Isobelle! What has gotten into you?" Mum demands, frowning at me.

I can hardly register the fact that she's speaking to me. I raise my eyebrows, or at least I think I do. "Huh?"

"Just what do you think you're doing?" I'm positive that was a different question from last time.

"Forgetting," I answer simply, putting my elbow on the table to prop my head up. It feels rather heavy.

"Forgetting what, may I ask?" That's Dad. He doesn't sound all too happy.

"Doesn't matter," I respond. Has it always been so bright in here?

"It absolutely does matter, and you'll tell me this instant before I have a mind to-"

"Draco!" Mum hisses. She turns back to me with an uncomfortable look. "Isobelle, what's the matter?"

I'm surprised Mum hasn't yelled at me yet. Hugo smartly asks to be excused, and Nina gets up to follow him. Mum looks back at me. "Isobelle."

"I can't say," I answer, looking in the other direction.

"You'd better," Dad warns. "I don't have the patience for this sort of behavior today."

"Holden said I can't tell you anything else!" I say heatedly, slamming my glass on the table. "He's mad 'cause I told you anything at all!"

"Holden?" Mum repeats, frowning. "Isobelle, when did you speak to Holden?"

"Minutes ago. He still loves me, d'you know that? He didn't want to let me go! He came here to tell me that."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Dad demands. "I don't want him stepping foot on my property, and I don't want you seeing him either!"

"I wasn't!" I protest. "He just showed up and said sorry and that he loved me again then I told him I was with Simon and then he got really upset and he left."

Dad curses under his breath, and Rose gives me a disapproving look. "He didn't do anything to you, did he?" She asks.

I shake my head quickly, and it makes me terribly dizzy. "Why?"

Rose gestures her fork at me. "Well, you're sort of rubbing your wrists, and I was just wondering-"

"I'll kill him," Dad mutters, his jaw clenched tight.

"He didn't!" I snap. I know Dad knows I'm lying. My face probably doesn't look all that convincing.

"Holden has a habit for grabbing you. Well, you said he didn't want to let you go…" Scorpius adds with a smirk. I hate how funny he thinks he is.

I throw my younger brother a dirty look. "You don't know the sodding half of anything you think you do, so how about you finally shut the hell up for once and-"

"That's it, you need to go to your room," Mum decides, standing up. "Come on."

"Why?"

"Because you're drunk!" Scorpius responds, rolling his eyes.

"Am not. No one asked you!" When I stand up, I manage to push my chair out hard enough to knock it over, which doesn't much help my case. Rose jumps.

"We're going to speak in the morning," Dad assures me in a stiff tone. I don't think that will be a pleasant conversation.

Mum puts her hand on my shoulder to usher me out of the room. "Isobelle, leave the glass on the table," she orders.

"I don't want to go to my room anymore," I inform Mum. "When I wanted to, you told me no!"

"That's too bad," Dad answers for Mum. "Hermione."

"Why does everyone get to tell me what to do? You're making me go to my room; Holden says I can't not love him anymore-"

"Not another word about Holden!" Dad raises his voice. "I said I will see you in the morning!

I roll my eyes. "Fine. This isn't fair."

"Neither is life."

The dining room door closes behind us. "Isobelle," Mum says in a low voice. "I thought we were past this."

"I thought Holden was past me."

Mum looks at me for a long while, and I just stare back at her. Suddenly, I burst into tears and turn into a sobbing mess. Mum seems to be the only person in this family who remotely understands anything. She awkwardly pats my hair, my head resting on her shoulder.

Mum doesn't say anything for a while, and then finally, she opens her mouth. "You really need to go sleep. We'll settle all this in the morning."

The following morning, I feel extremely well-rested. I figure I must have gone to bed early, because I can't remember anything beyond late yesterday afternoon. However, I do remember speaking with Holden. I couldn't believe he had the audacity to want to work things out between us, after everything he put me through. I had no choice but to say refuse.

Mum's told me that dad wants to see me in his study. The way she said it made me feel as if I was in trouble for some reason. She's been acting rather strange around me all morning.

I reach out to knock on the door of Dad's study. "Come in," he calls.

I open the door and close it behind me. Dad glances at me briefly, then gestures for me to sit down. I take a seat in the chair on the far end of the room, near the book shelf. A sheet of parchment partly shields Dad's face, and he keeps frowning at it as if he is conflicted. Whatever it is, it can't be good.

"You wanted to speak to me?" I ask apprehensively.

Slowly, Dad nods. "I wanted to speak to you." He's sitting in front of me, but he doesn't seem here.

"Yes, I know that. What did you want to speak to me about? Did something happen yesterday that I don't know about?" Dad nods again, then he shakes his head. "What does that mean?"

"It means that isn't important right now," Dad answers shortly.

If what he wants to tell me isn't important, why has he still called me here? "Then why am I here? And what's that letter?"

Dad sets the sheet of parchment down for the first time and rubs his temples. He always does that when he has a lot on his mind. "It's about Astoria," Dad responds flatly.

What more can Astoria possibly do to this family? My heart sinks, until I remember my conversation with Simon. "Actually, I have some good news about Astoria."

Dad's eyebrows shoot up. "Good news?" he repeats, as if this is remotely impossible. I nod.

"The other day I spoke with Simon and asked him for a favor. He's had it arranged again that Astoria can't interfere with any of us again without getting in trouble. So you don't have to worry about her any longer."

I wait for Dad to smile and jump with joy. He doesn't. If anything, he seems more upset. That confuses me greatly. "What's wrong?" I ask. "Since when do you care that Astoria can't see us?"

Dad shakes his head at me. His eyes are dull. "It isn't that Astoria can't see us, it's that Scorpius can't see her."

Has Dad gone mad? "I thought that was what you wanted? Since when do you want Scorpius to see Astoria?"

Dad takes a deep breath and looks me straight in the eye. "Since this morning, when I found out that she may possibly die."

At first, I smile, thinking Dad's joking. My smiles fades when his expression remains grave. "Might die? What are you talking about?"

Dad taps the sheet of parchment absentmindedly with his finger. "Astoria's become terribly sick. I'm not certain what with yet, but I'm sure there are a few ideas," Dad tells me. "Mrs. Zabini found out yesterday when Daphne brought her to St. Mungo's, and Blaise apparently, thought it would be an act of kindness to tell me. From what he's described, things don't at all look positive."

I'm not sure what to say. Granted, I hated Astoria immensely for the better half of my childhood. She made my life miserable and turned my entire family against me. Still, for the simple fact that she's Scorpius' mother, I never wished death on her.

"Who all knows?" I ask uncomfortably.

"The Zabinis, her family, you, and I. Isobelle, I really need you to keep this a secret," Dad tells me.

"I will," I promise right away. My body feels cold.

Dad rubs his chin. "Between you and I, from what Blaise described, I don't think Astoria will survive it. It sounds like a sickness I've heard of before, and every case I was familiar with was fatal."

I understand how much Dad dislikes Astoria, but he and I are in the same position. No matter what, she's still the mother of his son.

"Scorpius is going to hate me," I realize, putting my head in my hands.

"It isn't completely your fault," Dad assures me. "I'm sure Scorpius will find a way to blame me as well."

Whether or not, I'll know in my heart that I was responsible for such a terrible thing. "Maybe I could talk to Simon…"

Dad shakes his head dismally. "It isn't any use. If Simon's already passed an order, then there absolutely won't be any undoing it. You know that."

I do know, but the hopeful part of me wishes that Simon may make an exception in my case. The realistic side of me knows that can't happen. Because of me, Scorpius won't be allowed to contact Astoria in any way. He can't see her in the hospital, and she may die without him ever having the opportunity to say goodbye. How can I live with that?

*(A/N: Plot twist! I hope you guys liked the chapter! You had to know Holden wasn't gone forever! Glad Belle can finally break ties, no matter how stressful it is. Throughout this story and TBAM, many of you were hoping for Astoria's death. But, when put into perspective, Scorpius is still a child, and that's still his mother, no matter how terrible she is. Had fun writing this chapter, PLEASE leave review! Thank you all my amazing readers!