AN: Have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, everyone! :D And if you've noticed, the word count on this story has gone down – that's because I'm editing earlier chapters and deleting stuff like responses to reviews! So, there is an important Author's Note at the end of this chappy. For now though, enjoy the LAST chapter, oh faithful readers of mine. It's a longer one :]

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Bella's POV

It was the last day of school and I'd been out of the Hospital Wing for a little while now. I would be spending my summer holidays with the Weasleys, my adopted family, as I usually did when Hogwarts was closed. Dad told me we could visit him all we wanted and I knew he'd sneak out to visit us too. Though his name hadn't been cleared yet, he wouldn't let that get in the way of seeing me—or Harry for that matter.

My mouth pursed as I thought back to what my father had told me. Whilst confined in the Hospital Wing, he'd been the only one allowed to see me, and even then his presence was kept completely secret for his safety. I was glad he'd been there, otherwise I would have been entirely alone, but our conversation had eventually led to foreign territories.

I watched him laugh at my joke, smiling at his happiness. He'd been so concerned when he first came here and I'd wanted to give him a huge hug. Madam Pomphrey hadn't let me. Something about needing rest… But as his laugh faded out and I gazed at the open window, the memory of that night came to me.

"Dad," I started cautiously.

"Yeah, love?"

"That night," my voice was hesitant and I needn't say anymore for him to understand which night I meant—his face became blank and I knew he was trying to block the events out—but I continued, "when we went down there to rescue you and the Death Eaters met us, Bellatrix said something to me…"

He didn't respond, simply stared with empty eyes. I swallowed hard.

"She said that she's my, uh, namesake. That I'm named after her. She wondered if I'd turn out like her… and I wondering if that was true." I scanned his features and found nothing. Quickly, I added, "I mean, we do have similar names. Isabella. Bellatrix. I just…"

Finally, he sighed and looked away, seeming more weary than I'd even known him to be. "It's true that you were named after her, yes."

My mouth gaped but he said nothing more.

"That's it?" I asked incredulously. "No explanation as to why I was named for some insane Death Eater?"

His mouth pinched and he avoided looking at me. "Your mother, she… was close to Lestrange. She wanted her to be your godmother but I… wouldn't let her." My eyes wide, I was speechless. "I never understood their relationship. Evangeline was so good—she fought for what was right because it was the moral thing to do. My cousin caused many spats between us. At one point, I almost left her. But your mother was adamant about your name. She originally wanted Bellatrix, and I managed to persuade her to change it a little. Not the same but close enough."

"Why…" I trailed off before clearing my throat. "You never told me." It wasn't a question.

"No," he replied, looking at me sadly. "I didn't want you to question yourself like I know you are now." My jaw clenched and he put his hand on mine. "Bella, you will not become like her. You are your own person. Names don't mean anything. If they did, I would not be who I am today."

He smiled and touched my cheek now. I glanced up at him and gave him a small smile. Normally he wasn't so physically affectionate; I liked this side of him though.

"You're my perfect little girl," he said fondly. I blushed, making him chuckle. "Now then, no more worries about it, all right?"

Though the matter had seemed settled then and I had been happy to forget all about it as he suggested, I couldn't help but brood over the thoughts. Why were my mother and Bellatrix close? What did that mean about my mum? Whilst Dad never had a bad thing to say about her, did that really mean she was flawless? I felt silly; hadn't I been trying to tell Harry all year that things like this were pointless—that it was what we did that was important?

Sighing, I put the memory away for another day. Just as I walked down the Grand Staircase, Hagrid wandered past me looking rather faint and pale.

"Hagrid?" I stopped beside the half-giant. He looked at me somewhat startled. "Are you okay?" I asked with concern.

"Course, Bells, I'm fine." He coughed into his large hand anxiously. "Just got back from the Forbidden Forest. A Boggart 'ad made 'imself welcome there; found 'im the other nigh' when I took some young lads out for detention. Scared the magic outta us. It's gone now; me and some other professors contained it."

I nodded slowly. "All right, I'm glad you're okay. Have a good holiday, Hagrid. I'll see you next year."

I didn't quite hear his reply—I was too busy thinking. A Boggart! Of course, why hadn't I thought about that? All this time of thinking someone had been trying to break up me and Harry, I never considered a Boggart! Should have known my worst fear was abandonment and rejection. Edward had truly scarred me in Forks, but he hadn't been the start of it all. When I was younger, I'd spent a lot of time thinking Dad had left me on his own free will. I'd constantly worried if I wasn't good enough. Mum's death didn't help either.

Aunt Molly was amazing at being a substitute mother, she was, but it wasn't quite the same. Draco's mother, Narcissa, was also kind to me as much as appearances would allow. No one knew of our relationship, much like with Draco. The only Malfoy I didn't speak to, who was in the dark about everything, was Draco's father. Lucius was not a man I looked on fondly. I had grown to dislike him further now; Draco had been pulling away from me again.

As I wandered out of the castle, I kept an eye open for my blond cousin, but he was nowhere to be found. I hoped he wasn't avoiding me. In moments of quiet when my mind wasn't busy, it would slip to Draco and whether he would be forced into joining Voldemort's followers. I knew it was very likely, and that thought worried me all the more.

"Bella!"

I turned absently, seeing a flash of white. Alice, Emmett and Jasper appeared in front of me. Suddenly I recalled seeing them in the Forbidden Forest when I told them not to get involved and grew frustrated with them.

"Why did you follow us into the forest?" I asked without greeting.

Alice's cheery face fell and Jasper put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Emmett shrugged uncaringly and grinned. "We weren't gonna let you go without seeing some of the action!"

Jasper shot him a look before telling me, "We only followed you until you and your friends flew away on those skeletal creatures."

"Thestrals," I corrected instantly. Alice stared at me with big sad eyes.

"You're not mad, are you?" she frowned. "We were so worried! Carlisle wouldn't tell us how hurt you were!"

I sighed. "No, it's all right. But why didn't Edward just read his thoughts?"

Alice shifted needlessly and Emmett looked at his feet, but Jasper's gaze hardened and he said stiffly, "Edward is no longer at Hogwarts."

"What?" I gaped. His tone sounded so final; I faintly mused at how dramatic this all was. "Where's he gone?"

"He left shortly before you and your friends did." Jasper's jaw clenched. "He informed us that seeing you with your boyfriend was too painful and that he was leaving to be alone for a while."

"So he just up and left," I summed up, my brows raised. "How like him. Are Carlisle and Esme taking it well?"

I knew they had been distraught when their darling boy had left to live as a human-drinker for years on end. My face creased in concern for them.

"Carlisle's mad," Alice pursed her lips and glanced away. "Esme's pretty distraught though."

"Give them my condolences," I said softly.

She nodded and retreated into Jasper's side. His gold eyes flicked behind me for a second. "Your friends are on their way," he commented.

I smiled slightly. "Will you guys be back for next year?"

"We wouldn't miss your next adventure!" Emmett boomed. I rolled my eyes at him and he chuckled, ruffling my hair. As I batted his hands away and smoothed it back down, the three waved and were gone in a flash. I laughed a little to myself. They never changed.

Another voice made me smile and turn again.

"Come on, Bells," Hermione sighed with exasperation, "we're going to miss the train if you don't hurry."

I laughed and flicked her shoulder. "I am terribly sorry, Miss Punctual. I'm hurrying."

Green eyes met mine, my breath leaving me, a grin tugging at my lips. He held out his hand for mine and I consented without thought. Like puzzle pieces, we fell together easily. It was now Ron who ruffled my hair and I sent him a playful scowl. Hermione joined his other side with a wistful smile back at Hogwarts Castle.

As we walked, Harry looked at us all. "I've been thinking about something Dumbledore said to me."

"What's that?" Hermione asked, all of us watching him curiously. His face was carefree for maybe the first time this year. My heart ached pleasantly inside my chest at the sight.

"That even though we have a fight on our hands, we've got one thing that Voldemort doesn't have."

"Yeah?" Ron raised a brow.

Harry glanced down at me and we exchanged a tender smile. I leaned my head against his arm, my hand tightening on his as he said, "Something worth fighting for."

AN: So, now we all know that it was a Boggart who was responsible for the whole 'Harry breaking up with Bella' fiasco – this little plot bunny is all thanks to ImmortalDarkPassion! I didn't realise it would take this long (the last chappy even!) to reveal that it was a Boggart, but well… it never seemed to fit in anywhere else. Some of you guessed it already, but hopefully it was still a surprise for the rest of ya ;]

NOW THEN! Here's the deal, everyone! I'm gonna put this story as 'Complete' BUT I may write an epilogue of sorts at some point down the line IF I decide to do a sequel. I won't guarantee anything, so no nagging about "Why haven't you posted an epilogue? You said you would and it's been months!" Honestly, with my track record, even if I had a sequel idea (which I don't), the epilogue wouldn't be posted until probably next year… I'm bad at updating, okay?

If you want to interact with me more and have input on future decisions regarding my stories (including this one potentially!) then head over to www. fanpirex. tumblr. com – without the spaces obviously.

Plot ideas for the sequel are welcome! If I do a sequel then it will most likely follow HBP, but I'm more worried about side-plots, you know? Past suggestions for this story were taken on board and even used heavily (thank you again to ImmortalDarkPassion!), so don't be shy! The Cullens would likely feature too, though I'm not sure how much. Either way, let me know what you think and thank you so much for all of the support I've been given since day 1 of writing this fic. It's my baby and I'm damn proud of it :D