J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter

Lyrics from 'Born to Die' by LDR (fits Isimon perfectly!)

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Teddy puts his arms around me, and I hate it for some reason. I hate thinking of what I could have had had I not been so stupid and so excited to get away from him. I really am stupid.

"I'm scared," I whisper to Teddy, trying to hold back tears.

"Why?" He asks quietly.

"What if now that I'm married to Simon he wants to find someone different? What if he wants to be with someone else?" I ask. What if Simon enjoyed the idea of me, and not actually being with me? That's how I'm beginning to feel.

Teddy purses his lips a moment. "Don't worry about that before it happens. And besides, marriages don't have to last forever. Just promise me if he does cheat on you, you won't stay with him. Don't do that to yourself," Teddy tells me.

I know I don't have a choice. "Simon and I are going to be married forever," I tell Teddy dismally. "He's not going to get an annulment a second time, and he's getting his inheritance, and he's married to me-"

"He doesn't seem to care," Teddy interjects.

I shake my head. "I mean he's married to a Malfoy. He wouldn't give that up," I say. I rest my head on Teddy's shoulder. "What if I can't give him a son?"

"That shouldn't matter," Teddy answers without missing a beat.

But it does matter. "What if he finds someone who can?" I ask, suddenly overcome with fear again.

Teddy rests his forehead against mine. "Stop it," he whispers. "Stop working yourself up about everything. Just… try to be positive, if you can."

"How can I?" I ask.

"Simon loves you, and everything you're worrying about is just made up," Teddy says. I can tell he's just saying things so I feel better about myself.

"It's not made up that I want to be with you," I tell Teddy desperately. "Please, I need to know that someone is still willing to make me happy. I know it's you."

I kiss Teddy again. I've never seen him have more conflicted look on his face.

"We have to go back," he says flatly.

Only then do I realize how long I've been gone. People are going to start look, and when they realize Teddy's gone too… what will people tell Simon?

"Teddy…" I say. "You have to say yes. Say you'll still see me."

"Belle, I mean… I don't know-"

"You know what you want. Don't act like you don't," I say shortly. "We love each other, Teddy."

Teddy's facial expression goes slack. "You didn't marry me," He reminds me.

"I was being stupid and childish. But I do love you. You're the closest person to me in the entire world, and if you were to leave me I wouldn't have anything left. Teddy, you know what you mean to me." I twine my fingers with Teddy's.

Teddy doesn't look happy. He looks conflicted. "But if Simon treated you better today, do you even think you would have come to talk to me?" He asks.

"Of course, I would have," I say, nodding frantically. "You don't think I'm playing with you, do you?"

"You've done it before."

I don't know why Teddy's choosing now to act like he doesn't love me. For months, he's been attached to me like a little puppy, and he's acting like none of that ever happened.

"I'm not!" I say harshly. "If I didn't care about you, do you think I'd risk coming out here on my wedding night to tell you how much I love you?"

Teddy seems to consider things. He rubs my cheek lightly with his fingertips. "I don't want anything to happen to you," he says quietly, his voice meaningful. "You're married now. I can't always be there to protect you anymore."

"But you can be there to love me," I remind Teddy. "I'd much rather have that."

Teddy gives me a small smile. "This is wrong."

"It's not like that's stopped you before," I remind him. "When it came to relationships, I didn't even know you had a concept of right and wrong."

Teddy knows I'm joking when he sees my sarcastic grin. For the first time tonight, I'm actually allowing myself to be happy. It feels wonderful.

"Trust me, it's difficult when you're in the equation," Teddy assures me.

I laugh quietly. "Sometimes I feel like if you had to, you'd tear up England just to be with me."

Teddy nods. "I would. I really would."

"I raise my eyebrows. "Because I'm really worth an entire country…"

Teddy tilts my chin up and gives me a slow kiss. The kind Simon should have given me. "More like a whole planet," he says.

Teddy and I stand in comfortable silence, smiling at each other like two children. Like everything is so simple, when really it couldn't be more complicated. "I'll owl you tonight," I promise Teddy. " I have to go back."

Teddy nods quickly. "Okay."

"Just… um, go to the restrooms for a couple minutes so no one's suspicious," I tell Teddy.

"Good idea," He says.

I give Teddy one last kiss before hurrying back down the hallway. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Teddy calls quietly, turning to go in the opposite direction.

As soon as I open the ballroom door, I feel as if I've entered a completely different world. I've gone from hope to pure loathing.

It doesn't take Simon more than five seconds to spot me from a few feet away. He immediately comes over to me and grabs my hand. It feels weird to me to think that Teddy was the one holding my hand just a couple minutes ago. Simon takes me to a darker area of the ballroom. I'm not sure anyone can see us, if they even think to look.

"Where have you been?" Simon questions in an accusing voice.

"The restroom," I answer.

"You were gone awfully long."

"I'm surprised you even realized," I say bitterly.

Simon rolls his eyes at me. "Of course, I realized."

I try to pull my hand out of Simon's. He tightens the grip on my hand.

"Stop. That hurts," I tell him.

Simon ignores me. "You're making me look bad," he says in a harsh tone.

"I'm not doing anything to you. Perhaps if you treated me better, I'd just be in a better mood," I suggest. "You're making yourself look bad."

Simon takes a deep breath and closes his eyes for a count of three. "I'm going to do you a favor and let that comment go," he tells me.

I frown. "You aren't doing me a favor. You're ignoring me, like you've been doing all day," I remind him.

"For good reason. I'm not buying into your disgusting attitude," Simon says.

"I don't have an attitude. I'm simply refusing to be happy with you treating me so badly."

Simon shrugs. "I'm not asking you to be happy. I'm asking you to behave."

I almost want to laugh at how stupid Simon's being. He's speaking to me like I'm a three-year-old. "That's odd of you not to want your wife to be happy on her wedding day," I say sarcastically.

"Not when she's done what you have," Simon counters.

Simon still won't let my hand go. I'm starting to lose feeling. "How long is it going to take? A week? Two?" I ask.

Simon's eyebrows furrow. "What?"

"For you to decide you're tired of me and go off with some other women. Maybe your other wife was just like me. Maybe she wasn't as stupid and desperate as you made her out to be. Maybe she just expected you to love her," I tell Simon.

He tugs my hand hard, bringing me into his chest. "I do love you!" He says harshly. "Don't speak of things you know nothing about!"

"I'm… I'm sorry," I apologize dumbly. "But the way you've been treating me, it wouldn't be that much of a jump to conclude."

"That's what happens when you think," Simon tells me. "You come to the wrong conclusions."

"Not always. I'm not stupid," I say.

"I know how brilliant you are. But you aren't half as smart," Simon says to me. He places a kiss on my forehead. "You don't have to be."

I look away from Simon, and see Teddy entering the ballroom. We make brief eye contact, and then he looks away. I know he thinks I'm in trouble. I'm all right. At least I think I am.

"We're to be honest with each other," Simon tells me, following my gaze for a second.

"I know that."

Simon raises his eyebrows a t me. "I dearly hope so. I'd hate for some terrible misfortune to befall Lupin."

Is Simon threatening Teddy? "What are you talking about?" I ask, glaring at him.

Simon shrugs nonchalantly. "I don't think it's anything for you to worry about. It's just that, if I find that Lupin's having difficulty keeping his sights off you… well, I just wouldn't want any danger to come his way," he answers with a smirk.

I clench my jaw. "Leave him alone."

Simon looks amused. "Defending him, are you?"

"Why wouldn't I? He's my cousin."

"Nothing more than that?" Simon asks suspiciously.

I shake my head "No. You're paranoid," I scoff.

"I sure hope I am. I don't like to be lied to."

"Neither do I," I inform Simon. "If you say you're going to trust me and treat me well, then do so."

"And if you say you're going to give me a son, I'd like that to be done as well," Simon retorts.

Everything has to come back to this, doesn't it? I feel like Simon thinks he's the only one this happened to. "That's in the past, Simon. You know I can't do anything about that. I told you we could try again. You refused."

"Of course, I did. How am I even supposed to able to look at you that way, knowing what you did? I honestly don't understand how you aren't angry with yourself. You never cared, did you?"

I'm taken aback by Simon's accusation. Maybe I wasn't expecting to be pregnant, but I never wanted anything bad to happen.

"I did care!" I say angrily, feeling my face turn red.

"Don't ever raise your voice at me again!" Simon commands, his eyes boring into mine.

I yank my hand free. "Get off of me!" I turn and stomp away from Simon.

"You come back this instant!"

"Or what? I'm not a dog!"

Simon catches up to me and grabs my upper arm. He brings me close to him.

"I'd dearly appreciate if you didn't test my patience more than you already are," he whispers in an icy tone. "I swear to Merlin if you embarrass me tonight-"

"Your threats don't work. Honestly, Simon what can you do to me? I'm already-"

Simon pinches the bridge of his nose. "Just shut the hell up for one damned minute. Please," he says in a resigned voice. "We've wasted enough time arguing."

Simon leads me out of the dark part of the ballroom. I'm glad to actually see light again, but not so enthusiastic about having to fake happy again.

"Smile," Simon orderss out of the corner of his mouth. I don't have to be told twice. Finally, I see my parents, and that really does make me happy. I haven't had the opportunity to speak to them all night. I've never been so happy to see my parents, but it does make me wish I was younger again. I wish I was staying at the Manor tonight.

I barely take a step in their direction before I'm stopped by Simon. He grabs my wrist. "Don't wander off."

"I was going to speak to my parents," I tell Simon.

He nods. "I know, but Eric and Jane have seen us, and now I know they're going to feel obligated to speak to us," he says, rolling his eyes. "You can speak to them afterwards, I promise."

I don't miss that Simon says that I- by myself- can speak to Mum and Dad. I really would like my last conversation with my parents to be private.

"All right," I say quietly. "But you promised."

"Be kind," Simon says out of the corner of his mouth as Eric and Jason come nearer. Simon meets them with an extremely forced smile.

"Eric, Jane, I'm glad you made it," Simon says, barely moving to greet his brother. Eric doesn't seem to care. He focuses his gaze on me. I don't like how he looks at me, but Simon doesn't do anything about it.

"You're certainly a vision, Isobelle," Eric says to me. "Simon certainly is one lucky man to have you. I hope he doesn't ever forget it." Jane clings even tighter to his arm.

"I don't intent to," Simon says. I want to laugh. He already has.

Jane gives me a look like she wants to say something. I smile back politely, because I have no idea what she wants, nor do I think I'll like it.

"Sister," Jane smiles, looking down at me. I almost cringe. Her bracelets make an annoying sound when the beads slide together. "Where's a good place for a talk?"

I'm dumbfounded. Why would Jane want to speak to me in private?

Jane looks at me expectantly. Simon gestures for me to answer. "The balcony is through those doors," I answer, pointing to the far end of the room.

Jane frowns slightly. "Aren't you going to show me?" She asks.

"Oh… yes… We'll be back," I tell Simon. He nods curtly.

"Don't be long," Eric says, ignoring Jane and looking at me.

Jane doesn't say anything to me as we cross the room. When we get to the balcony doors, Jane stops and looks at me. I look back at her for a full ten seconds before I realize she's waiting for me to open the door for her. Who the hell does she think she is?

I follow Jane out onto the balcony, careful to shut the door behind us. She doesn't say anything for a while, preferring to look me up and down in an unsettling way.

"You wanted to talk?" I asked finally.

Jane nods slowly. "I did."

"What about?"

Jae purses her lips. "I honestly can't understand why you chose to marry Simon," she says quietly, giving me a serious look.

"I love him," I say, getting defensive.

Jane gives me a serious look. "Isobelle, it's just you and I," she tells me quietly. "You can speak freely with me. You're my sister-in-law-now."

"I am. I do love Simon," I repeat.

Jane glances over the balcony, and then back at me. For the first time, I see a genuine look on her face, not the fake, condescending expression she normally has. "You do now," she says quietly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I question.

Jane shakes her head at me like I'm a small child. It seems people find it so easy to treat me that way. "Simon and his brother are just the same," Jane tells me. "Both horrible."

"How?" I ask. Of course I know for myself, but I'm interested in what Jane will say.

"How are they not? I hate my parents for making me marry Eric," Jane says. "He's cruel and selfish, and not a day goes by that I think I'd feel bad if something terrible were to happen to him."

Jane's fingers grip the balcony tightly. "I'm sorry," I apologize.

Jane scoffs. "You may want to save your sympathy for yourself. Just do yourself a favor and don't have any children with Simon for as long as you can," she advises.

"Why?"

"Because that's when he's going to begin cheating on you," Jane answers, looking utterly disgusted. "And it's going to last for the rest of your life."

I can feel my stomach tying in knots. "But Simon said-"

Jane turns around so quickly it startles me. "It doesn't matter what he tells you! Don't you understand? You aren't anything more to Simon than a possession, and that's the choice you made! I don't understand why any woman would choose to marry a pureblooded man of her own free will. It's a slap in the face for women who don't have that choice!"

"I wouldn't have thought to marry Simon if I didn't think he loved me. My father didn't treat my step-mother this way," I explain. I can't remember an instance where Dad was ever condescending to Astoria for no reason, even when she deserved it.

"Then lucky her. But this is the real world, Isobelle, and you just signed yourself up for something I can guarantee you aren't ready for," Jane tells me. "I only hope you don't cut ties with your family like I did. You'll need them the most."

Even though she doesn't want it, I can't help but feel terrible for Jane. I do have to commend her, though, because I honestly thought this was the lifestyle she wanted. I'm surprised to know that isn't the truth.

"I wouldn't think of it," I assure Jane. As much as I didn't see it coming, my family appears to be the only normal one.

"I only hope Simon isn't as horrible to you as he was Catherine," Jane says. "You seem to be a sweet girl. Please, for your sake, don't provoke him. No matter what you think, you haven't seen him be nasty yet."

I nod stiffly. I'm not sure what else to do. My hands are trembling. "Thank you," I say quietly.

"Of course. Please, Isobelle, take me seriously when I say that you've put yourself fin quiet a position."

"I do. I'm grateful you said something."

I want to vomit. It does mean a lot that Jane thought to speak to me, but now, I'm more scared than ever.

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