*The beautifully talented Jo Rowling owns Harry Potter!
*Last week, I was encouraged to enter two short story writing competitions. I won't get the results back from either around fall, so hopefully I can let you guys know how I did. It's very nerve-wracking to have any of my actual writing out there, like, with my actual name attached to it! However, it is thrilling at the same time, and I wouldn't have been confident enough to do it without any of you!

-Speaking of which, if any of you know of any other places I could possibly get my writing out, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW! Thank you in advance!

*Recently, I made a Tumblr page that I'm thinking of sharing with you guys, maybe posting some writing on it and taking requests on what to write if you want. How does that sound?

****SORRY for all the rambly- rambles. I had a lot to say this time around. Title of the chapter comes from 'Beneath Your Beautiful' by Emeli Sande and Labyrinth. Lovesss it!

**Thanks for being awesome and reading! Leave a review!

The Falcons lost the quidditch match. For Scorpius, this was the worst news he could have possibly heard. For Hugo, it meant another amount of galleons he could add to his stash. For me, nothing could have compared to what happened between Simon and I. Just two days ago, everything was perfect and we were going to be married. I couldn't have been happier. As usual, I did something stupid to ruin that. I didn't even mean to say that I loved Teddy. It just came out. Simon had made me so angry, and Teddy and I were finally getting along and all of that confused me. I regretted it as soon as I said it. I just wished Simon would have listened to me instead of getting angry and practically ignoring me the rest of the afternoon. It was as if we didn't even know each other. I couldn't have been more hurt.

Why did I even say that I loved Teddy? Granted, Teddy and I were very close, and we did some things we shouldn't have, but that still shouldn't have warranted any sort of feelings between us, especially not from my end. But Teddy was right about what he said. I shouldn't marry anyone who doesn't understand me. But, Simon does understand me. He doesn't always have to say so, I just know it. I wouldn't have agreed to marry him if I didn't truly care for him. Despite what Teddy believes, I'm not interested in Simon for his money. I'm interested in his heart, which can be just as kind as Teddy's.

Maybe if Teddy really cared about how I felt, he wouldn't have said all those things to put Simon down. If I loved Simon, he should approve whether or not they got along. I'm not excusing Simon's behavior, because he was equally rude, but I just don't know what to say. Hopefully Teddy will know. I just need someone to speak to. I don't have anyone else.

"Teddy!" I call, desperately knocking on his door. "Are you there?" I should have apparated.

I hear Teddy's footsteps coming to the door. He answers the door with a confused expression as if he didn't expect to see me for a while. It's pretty late in the afternoon, and I've very rudely showed up unannounced. But this is Teddy. He won't refuse me, he can't.

Teddy bites his lower lip. "Belle, are you all right?" He asks carefully.

I open my mouth to say something, but I can't think of what. There's too much to say, too much that has to deal with him.

"Belle? Isobelle?"

"I messed up," I say quietly, so that Teddy can barely hear me.

"What do you mean?" Teddy asks. "Come in."

Teddy shuts the door softly behind him. He turns to look at me and her eyebrows knit together. "You look like you didn't sleep at all last night."

He's probably right. I couldn't be bothered to do my hair, or put on any robes. I'm sure that I look like any average muggle in my plain blue dress. Other than my engagement ring (wearing it has become wishful thinking on my part), I don't even have any jewelry.

"I didn't- I couldn't," I admit.

Teddy gestures for me to sit down beside him on his sofa. "Why not?"

How am I supposed to answer that question? Because I told Simon that I love you, and I'm not even sure whether or not that's true.

"Simon and I got into an argument," I start, twisting my engagement ring absentmindedly. "Things ended…badly."

An alarmed look passes Teddy's face. "What do you mean, badly?" I feel like Teddy wants me to say that Simon did something terrible to make him look bad, but he didn't. Things with Simon weren't like they were with Holden. It was all my fault.

"I don't know if we're still going to get married," I admit sadly.

It angers me that Teddy looks a bit hopeful to hear this. What should I have expected? "Why not?"

I sigh. "We...we got into an argument."

"Over what?"

I can't look at Teddy. "Over how I felt about you…." I confess.

Teddy's silent for a long while. I can't tell what he thinks. He runs a hand through his turquoise hair. "How do you feel?" He questions.

"I don't know," I admit. I know I told Simon that I loved Teddy. But I didn't do that consciously. Teddy is extremely important to me, but he isn't the man I want to marry. "Teddy, you have to understand this isn't easy."

"What isn't?" Teddy questions. He sounds childlike.

I don't want to hurt his feelings, but I have to be honest. "Teddy, I do love you, and I don't think that there can ever be a part of me that doesn't have feelings for you. But, I can't be with you forever. You and I both know that. We've hurt too many people, and ruined too much," I tell him seriously.

Teddy looks confused. He glances at the television, then back at me. "Belle, I told you that it didn't matter to me-"

"That's selfish, Teddy!" I snap. "I can't be with you, don't you get that? It wasn't fair to Holden, or Victoire, and it isn't fair to Simon. It's not fair to me, either!"

"How is that not fair to you, Belle? At least I actually care about you!" Teddy argues.

"And because you do, you're set on believing everyone else doesn't! Teddy, if you cared for me as much as you say you do, you'd want me to be happy no matter whom I chose to be with. Whether it was you or not."

Teddy shakes his head. "It's not that easy. You don't know what it's like," he assures me dejectedly.

He's right. I don't know what it's like to be hopelessly in love with someone who cares for someone else, but I can imagine it's a terrible feeling.

"I know that you deserve better," I tell Teddy comfortingly, looking him in the eye.

"So do you."

"Don't tell me that. Teddy, I love Simon. I need Simon. You don't understand. Simon treats me as an equal. I need someone like that, to challenge me, to see through me when necessary. You and I don't have that."

Teddy looks like he wants to argue, but he knows that he can't. Simon doesn't patronize me. Ever.

"I don't want you to turn into one of them," Teddy admits quietly, looking down.

"Teddy, what do you- oh," I realize in a small voice. "You know me better than that. I won't ever be like that. If anything, I felt I was rubbing off on Simon, if only a little bit. I had plans for our relationship, some things in his family needed to be different," I admit.

I don't know how Teddy is going to take this. Saying it even surprises me. When I was with Holden, I was afraid of the future. With Simon, everything felt tangible and real.

"Plans?" Teddy half croaks.

I nod. "Yes, plans. I wanted to help him remodel his house- he says it reminds him too much of his wife. And I wanted to spend time with his nephews; Simon's brother and his wife seem to not care for them at all. It's very sad."

"You're too good for him," Teddy mutters. I wish he would stop saying things like that.

"No, I'm not. I just care about him is all. And if I could find a way to apologize to Simon and have him actually listen to me, I know things would get better."

Teddy and I fall silent for an uncomfortable while. I know he's secretly hoping that things don't get better between Simon and me. Why won't he just come outright and say so?

"I thought we had a chance," Teddy tells me all of the sudden. "The other day at the quidditch match, when we were talking, I felt like you and I had something again."

Why can't Teddy let me go? "I told you I had feelings, too. I'm admitting that. But, I'd think I'd rather wonder what could have been than to actually find out. I just don't want that again."

I don't mean to hurt Teddy, but the look of absolute pain on his face makes me feel like a monster.

"Belle…" Teddy reaches out to caress my cheek. I nearly recoil at his touch.

"I mean it, Teddy. This-this isn't what I want," I stammer. Still, I can't find it in myself to move away.

"I know, Belle. But I just have to kiss you one more time, okay?" Teddy pleads.

It seems like such an inappropriate thing to ask, but is it really? Teddy only asked to kiss me again, and nothing more. I certainly won't let it evolve into anything more. After all we've been through together, maybe some sort of closure is a good thing.

"Okay," I agree quietly. "One kiss."

Just after I manage to get the words out, I find Teddy's lips on mine, slow and soft at first, but then as if he'd have died if her could never kiss me again. His fingers run through my hair, drawing me closer to him. I drape my arms over Teddy's shoulders, bringing him closer to me as if he himself were a lifeline. This is more than a kiss. This is me saying goodbye to any chance of forming a relationship with Teddy again. It's a door that I have to close. I have to end things with Teddy.

I hear a strangled sound, a mix between a scream and I gasp. I pull away from Teddy to see a completely horrified Victoire, holding a cardboard box filled with what seem to be Teddy's things. Mouth gaping open, Victoire drops the box, and items spill out of it. The fire place is still roaring with acid green flames.

"Wh-what the hell is this?" Victoire demands, shaking her head in disbelief.

I don't know what to say. I'm stuck, sitting beside Teddy on the sofa and looking at him like an idiot.

Teddy stands quickly, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. "Look, Victoire, I can explain-"

"There's nothing to explain, Teddy!" Victoire shrieks. "I come to bring you back the things you left at you flat and I see this? Isobelle is your cousin!"

Victoire glares daggers at me. Now, she has a legitimate reason to hate me.

Teddy sighs. "…'Toire-"

"Don't call me that!" Victoire snaps harshly. "I should have known, you two were always so close. You cheated on me, didn't you? Didn't you?" Victoire's hands are trembling with rage. I wish I could say something to fix things, but I can't.

Teddy not saying anything is answer enough for Victoire. Her eyes well up with tears and for the first time in my life, I pity her. "Why did you have to do that?" she questions. "I never gave you a reason to do this!"

"You didn't care about me!" Teddy says. "Everything was always about you!"

Victoire scoffs. "So, to get away from that, you decide to snog some idiotic, self-important, spoiled alcoholic? Don't act so surprised, Teddy, that's what you called her! Don't you remember?"

I look up at Teddy. Even in his anger, that doesn't sound like something he would say.

"I never said that," Teddy says, his jaw clenched.

Victoire laughs, but there isn't any happiness behind it. "Fine, lie to dear little Isobelle like you lied to me! I honestly don't care. I just hope you're happy together."

"We-we aren't together," I say in a small voice. I'm not sure whether or not this will help things. "Victoire, I'm sorry."

Victoire doesn't want to hear it. "Save it. Just because Holden dumped your pathetic ass doesn't give you the right to go snogging whoever the hell you please!" she shouts, jabbing a threatening finger at me.

"It didn't happen that way," Teddy says, coming to my defense. "And you and I aren't together anymore. Whatever I do isn't your problem."

Victoire narrows her eyes at Teddy. "You're a disgusting piece of shit."

I can see the well-masked look of anger in Teddy's eyes. "You know, you're not really in the position to name-call."

Victoire silently glares at Teddy. Then, she rears her hand back and gives him a hard slap across the face. "Don't speak to me or my family again," she says before disapparating.

I feel terrible for Teddy, but part of me wants to tell him he brought this on himself. I told him that he needed to break up with Victoire sooner. He should have listened.

I knock on the door to Scorpius' room. "Come in," he calls from the other side. I open the door to see him and Rose sitting cross-legged on his bed, playing a game of wizard's chess. It's been a while since I've seen them getting along this way. Scorpius has a small smile on his face.

"Hey, Isobelle," Scorpius says distractedly, moving a chess piece. It smashes Rose's castle to bits.

"Bollocks," she curses. "Every time."

"Hey, you two."

"Do you need one of us?" Scorpius questions expectantly. I actually wanted to ask him about Astoria's funeral. I know Dad probably hasn't cared to say anything to him, and if Scorpius feels the need to talk, I want to let him know that I'm here for him.

"No, I was just coming to say hello," I lie.

"Where did you go earlier?" Rose asks curiously. I'd rather not be reminded.

"Out."

Scorpius waggles his eyebrows. "To see Simon?" he asks. Neither of them knows the truth yet. No one in my family does. I don't want to hear any I-told-you-so's from Mum.

"Then where did you go?" Rose questions again. Why is it so important?

"I told you, I went out."

" 'Out' can be a lot of places," Scorpius points out accusingly.

"Oh, won't you two come off it already?"

Scorpius shrugs. "Fine, fine. No more questions. Rose, you suck."

Rose punches our brother in the arm. "Shut up. We're pretty neck-and-neck."

I decide to leave them be for the time being. "Where's everyone else?"

"Dad's in his study working," Rose answers. "Mum is upstairs getting the laundry, and Hugo and Nina are somewhere playing."

"Oh, well, I suppose I'll say hello to them. I think dinner's going to be ready soon, so be sure to finish up your game. We don't need a repeat of what happened last time the two of you left the chest pieces out."

Both Rose and Scorpius smile sheepishly. "We caught them all before they destroyed anything," Scorpius argues lightly.

"Still, just put them away, all right?"

"Fine," Rose complies.

I shut the door after them and turn to go down the hallway. A little giggling body flies past me, nearly knocking me off my feet.

"Nina!" I call, just before Hugo dashes past me. "Quit running up here, both of you, before you slip and break your necks."

"That's not gonna happen," Hugo assures me.

"Yeah, we're just playing tag," Nina adds.

"I understand that, but Dad doesn't want the two of you running up here for good reason. You could seriously hurt yourselves, especially so close to the stairs."

Nina sticks her fists on her hips, making her look exactly like Rose. "We're not going to get hurt!" She protests. "And Daddy said we could play whatever game we wanted as long as we were quiet."

Hugo nods beside Nina, and I can't help but smile at my younger siblings. "Nina, I could hear you laughing from a mile away," I assure her. "Just be careful, all right?"

"Okay!" Nina and Hugo say in unison. Not a second later, she turns and runs off, followed by Hugo. It's as if I said nothing.

Mum pokes her head out of the door of Hugo's room, frowning. "Georgina Alexandra Malfoy, are you running in this house?" She questions dissaprovingly.

Nina cringes at hearing her full name. She stops in her tracks and shakes her head vehemently. "No, Mummy," she answers.

"I think your father and I have told you numerous times not to run in this house. You could get hurt," Mum reminds her. "And Hugo, stop chasing your sister. Don't think I didn't see you, either."

"Sorry Mum," Hugo apologizes guiltily.

"I told the two of you," I say triumphantly. "You especially, Georgina."

Nina frowns at me and takes Hugo's hand. "We're gonna go play a different game," she decides.

"That's fine by me, as long as it doesn't involve running. Dinner's going to be ready soon. The house-elves are cooking tonight," Mum says resignedly.

"Kay, Mummy," Nina says, ushering Hugo off.

My eyebrows rise. "Not you?" Mum's usually so adamant about doing all the cooking herself. If she's allowing the house-elves to make dinner, then something must have happened.

Mum shakes her head bitterly. "I just don't have time for it today, Isobelle. Between talking with Scorpius and having to do so much laundry, the afternoon's really gotten away from me."

"Talking to Scorpius?" I question. "About what?"

Mum looks to make sure Hugo and Nina are out of earshot. "His mother," she tells me.

I can't help but frown. Since when has Scorpius talked to Mum about Astoria? "What about her?"

"It wasn't anything terribly particular. He told me a little bit about how the funeral service went," Mum says. "I think he just needed someone to talk to and get a bit off his chest."

It should have been me that Scorpius talked to. I was too busy caught up in Teddy.

"What did he say?" I ask.

Mum looks like she doesn't want to tell, and I briefly fear that she won't. I'm thankful she's being civil toward me again. "Scorpius apologized to me for behaving the way he did, and he'll begin treating me like his actual mother again. I think he's just lonely."

"Lonely?" I repeat. "But he's got-"

"Admitted none of us really understand what Scorpius is going through, not even Draco," Mum sighs. Of course, Dad doesn't understand. Until I came about, he didn't have any real conflicts with his family.

"I try my best," I inform Mum. There's just so much going on in my life at the moment that I feel my relationship with my family is beginning to suffer because of it.

"I know you do, Isobelle, and Scorpius knows, too. He really does look up to you."

I can't imagine why. I haven't done anything yet that Scorpius- or any of my siblings- should be proud of.

Subconsciously, I glance down the hall in the direction of Scorpius' room. "Thank you for talking to him," I say quietly.

Mum seems rather confused that I'm thanking her for this. She doesn't know how important Scorpius' well-being is to me. "Scorpius is my son," she reminds me, glancing at her watch. "You got home rather late this afternoon."

"I went to Flourish and Blotts," I lie quickly. Mum stares at me for a long while. If she doesn't believe me, she doesn't say so.

"You should have taken Rose, she's been begging Draco and I for days."

"I…" my voice trails off, grappling for a response. "I wanted to go by myself, to clear my head."

Mum gives me an understanding look, knowing I'm talking about the day of the quidditch match. Only she doesn't know how horribly it ended. "Are you all right, Isobelle?" she questions earnestly.

I nod. "I'm fine. I spoke to Teddy. He knows that things are over between us. He accepts that." I don't know how much of that statement, if any of it, is true.

"That's a good thing," Mum says in a forced tone, making a point to ignore the elephant in the room. I'm glad she doesn't want to talk about Simon either.

"Yes, it is."

Mum clears her throat. "I'm going downstairs to see about dinner."

"All right." Mum turns and goes downstairs, not saying another word. For a long while, I stand there with my hand rested on the banister and watch her go. I realize she didn't even make a point to question me in any detail, or argue with me. Does she know something I don't, or has she just decided to allow me to make my own choices?

A loud explosion sound jars me out of my thoughts, followed by heavy footfalls. "Mummy!" Nina shrieks. "Hugo burned me with the cards!"

"No, I didn't! It was an accident!" Hugo says, coming quickly after her. "Stop being a tattle-tale!"

"Mum said not to run!" I chastise them both, not bothering to turn around. Their footsteps come closer and heavier, and I know that they're ignoring me. They're wearing my nerves thin. Someone's going to get hurt.

"Did you not hear what I said?" Just as I turn, Nina sidesteps Hugo and runs around me down the stairs. Just before he's able to stop himself, Hugo's body slams full-force into mine, causing my hand to slip from the bannister. I stumble backwards, finding no place for my foot and no ground beneath me. I reach for anything to stabilize me but there's nothing but stone stairs beneath me as I fall. It seems to be almost endless.

"Belly!" Nina gasps, watching in horror. This is her fault.

This is it. This is where I die. I'm disturbingly reminded of the time I fell from the tree in the backyard and broke my arm. There's no way I'm surviving this with only a broken bone, if even at all.

I can only manage to scream, even though I know it won't help anything. I hit my head and everything goes black.

*(A/N: This is why your parents say not to run in the house! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Again, I'm going to briefly explain how Belle and Teddy are related, there seems to be confusion about that. They're second cousins, meaning two generations between them until they share common ancestors (Cygnus and Druella Black). And, personally, I do like Teddy and Isobelle as friends, really, I do, but I just don't find their personalities compatible. It's very interesting and great to see how all of you have your own opinions of that, it makes my character even feel more real to me! Anyway, thanks for reading! Leave a review!)