Well, this is my new fanfic. Harry Potter and the Divine Venom. I quite liked that choice of title. So, on with the chapter. Please read the note at the end! Enjoy :)
Harry
The thought of going back to Hogwarts wasn't one that passed through Harry's head often these days. It was a cool summer's night in Little Whinging and Harry had managed to escape to the park. He came here a lot recently, to clear his mind of thoughts of his friends, Ron and Hermione; of seeing Cedric Diggory fall to the cold, hard ground, his eyes lifeless; of watching Lord Voldemort rise out of the smoke, powerful once more. It was all too much and he just wanted to be rid of those thoughts for only a few hours each day.
"What you doing here?" a very familiar voice grunted. Harry looked up to see his cousin Dudley towering over him. He stood up to his full height but still didn't come much past Dudley's shoulders. "Mummy told me to find you and say that it's dinnertime. And if you're not home in five minutes, then Mummy says she'll put your food in the bin." Dudley sniggered at that and his three cronies followed suit. Harry just shook it off. He was used to constant threats of no food or having to sleep outside, amongst other things. But none of them bothered him; not really.
Harry simply turned his back on Dudley and his cronies and started to walk home. He could hear Dudley's heavy footsteps behind him, so he started to walk faster. He barely noticed the sudden drop in temperature, or the dark clouds that swirled menacingly overhead.
The two teenaged boys reached a tunnel running under a railway when Harry suddenly stopped in his tracks. He could feel how dense the air was here, and how cold it was. Even Dudley felt something in the air but wasn't sure what exactly it was. He felt as though all the good was being drawn out of the world; he thought he would never be happy again. He could feel how awful he was; he was a bully, he was mean and brutal and a big bully.
Harry cursed under his breath. At the end of the tunnel were two large, shadowy figures. The reek of decay crept through the tunnel and Harry could feel the bile rising in his throat. He pulled his wand out of his back pocket and took two careful steps backwards to where Dudley was standing.
"Be very, very quiet Dudley. If they don't know you're there, then they can't hurt you. Think happy thoughts," Harry whispered to Dudley. He could see his breath in front of him.
"Wh-who's 'they'?" Dudley stuttered. Being a Muggle, Dudley couldn't see them.
"Dementors Dudley. Now stay there." Harry stepped forward, his wand at the ready, keeping his eyes fixed on the two looming figures in front of him.
Dudley was whimpering behind him, which was exactly what Harry didn't want. The second Dementor turned a cloaked head towards Dudley and began to draw a long, rattling breath. Harry didn't notice as the first Dementor silently glided over to him. He fell backwards and dropped his wand, just out of reach. He groped around for it but the Dementor had already begun sucking away his life force, his soul. He thought of seeing Ron and Hermione again; he pulled all the good thoughts to the front of his mind and that gave him just enough energy to reach out and grab his wand.
"Expecto Patronum!" the young, dark-haired boy shouted with all his might. A shining silver stag shot out of his wand and charged at the Dementors. They floated away into the night, leaving Harry and Dudley at peace.
He turned back to Dudley, who was now curled up on the floor in a pool of vomit. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see little old Mrs Figg, staring at the two boys.
"This is going to be a long night," Harry thought.
The Cullens
Three weeks and six days after Dementor attack
Moving to England had been a big leap for the Cullen family. The last time they had lived in England was when it was just Carlisle, Esme and Edward, in 1928. But people in Forks were beginning to question how they never looked a day older and moving out of the country meant they could start over, completely afresh.
Carlisle pulled the dustsheets off of the furniture, thankful he had sent someone to prepare the house before they arrived. The London town-house had belonged to his father back in the 1600s and it had taken some effort to convince the realtor that he was a 'descendant' of Benedict James Cullen. But here they were.
Edward and Bella came in, each carrying about five boxes.
"Where do you want these, Dad?" Edward asked.
Upstairs please. Carlisle thought of the room and they both flitted up the stairs. He could hear the soft thud of boxes being set down on the wooden floorboards.
Several hours later, after unpacking all the boxes, Carlisle called for a family meeting.
"I know it has been a long trip for us all, so I thought we would go on a decent hunting trip. I will let Renesmee choose where we go, because she is the youngest." Renesmee's face lit up as her grandfather said this. She pondered for a few seconds and then announced her decision to the family.
"I would like to go to Scotland. It may be quite a trek from London, but I hear they have a wolf problem up there," she said. Jacob feigned hurt and nudged Renesmee playfully.
The family arrived in Edinburgh about six hours later and set off running straight away. They soon arrived in a forest they had thought suitable for hunting.
"Okay, we'll meet back here in three hours," Carlisle told everyone. As soon as he had said that they all shot off in one direction or another. Jacob and Renesmee went together; then Alice and Jasper; next was Emmett and Rosalie; then Bella and Edward and finally Esme and Carlisle.
"This is fun. I've never been to England," Bella giggled while Edward tickled her.
"We're in Scotland, not England. But yes, it is fun. This is the second time I've lived in London. Carlisle only found out recently that his father's house was still in the family," Edward explained to Bella.
"Come on, I'll race you!" Bella teased. She took off and Edward followed the sound of her giggles. He almost ran into her as she stopped.
"What's wro-" he started to say until he followed Bella's gaze. In front of them was the most amazing building he had ever seen. It was even more impressive than the Volturi's 'palace'.
"Well this certainly wasn't on the map," Emmett chuckled from behind them. The whole family had gathered in front of the magnificent castle.
"Hey, you guys! I found the entrance!" Alice called from somewhere in the distance. The family followed her, arriving at a monstrous iron gate.
"What the hell - may as well try it!" Alice trilled, already climbing up the gate. She hopped down at the top and landed gracefully on the flagstones underneath.
"Alice, maybe we shouldn't. Don't you think we're…you know, trespassing?" Jasper muttered. However, Emmett, Rosalie, Edward and Bella were already halfway up the gate, so the others had to follow.
They walked up to the massive wooden door and Alice skipped forward and knocked on the door.
"Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus," Edward read the inscription above the door, "Never Tickle A Sleeping Dragon. What a strange motto…"
A short balding man wearing incredibly scruffy clothes opened the door and a look of complete shock crossed his face. He composed himself quickly and was soon joined by a rather old man of considerable height, wearing velvety midnight blue robes. The man had silvery-white hair and a beard that almost reached the ground. He looked very powerful, despite his frail build and obvious time of life.
"Well, this is interesting…" the old man muttered to himself, "Why don't you come inside, and we can talk." The man seemed very welcoming, making the family want to follow him inside.
"Carlisle, I'm not sure about this. I'm not picking up any thoughts from him. At all," Edward whispered to his adoptive father.
"He doesn't feel hostile at all Edward. We'll be fine. Anyway, how can he hurt us?" Jasper replied in a low voice, picking up on their conversation.
"I suppose you're right."
Inside, the building was even more amazing. It didn't have the same flair as the Volturi buildings, but was magnificent nonetheless. Enormous stone archways could be seen down the extensive corridors. Intricately carved gargoyles stared down, watching your every move. They looked as though they could come alive if you just said the right words.
The Cullens followed the strange old man down one of the many corridors, up a flight of stairs, until finally they reached a massive stone gargoyle, shaped like an eagle.
The old man muttered something that sounded a lot like 'pepper imps' and suddenly the eagle gargoyle sprung to life. It began to turn, revealing a staircase, and the man walked up them. The Cullens followed.
At the top of the stairs was a large office, with floor to ceiling bookcases, all of them full. A wooden desk sat in the middle of the room, in front of a window that seemed to fill the back wall. Tables with spindly legs were dotted all around the room; each of them had some strange instrument on them. Many of the contraptions whirred or puffed smoke.
"Who are you?" Bella asked the old man, already thinking he was slightly crazy.
"My name is Albus Dumbledore. I am the headmaster at this school and…may I ask how you got past the gate?"
"We…climbed over it..." Edward replied, thinking that honesty would be best in this situation, "But we didn't know there was a school here. There was nothing on the map, and there was nothing saying there was a school in the area."
"You climbed over it, did you say?" Dumbledore asked, ignoring Edward's statement about the school. He didn't seem angry, merely inquisitive, "Well, we find ourselves in a rather odd predicament. Now, you see, this school is no ordinary school. This is a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry." There was a long pause while everyone took in this information.
"You're kidding, aren't you? I mean, that stuff doesn't exist." Jacob scoffed, sounding less certain with each word.
"I think you of all people should know the answer to that, Jacob. After all, you're tribe's legends are based around 'that stuff'," Jasper retorted.
"But what's that got to do with how we got in? I don't mean to sound rude, I'm simply curious," Carlisle enquired. It seemed the same question, more or less, was going round everyone's heads.
"That gate is no normal gate. And this building is no normal building. Muggles, as if to say 'non-magic people', should not be able to see this building as it is. And they should certainly not be able to get past the gate. The gate blocks witches, wizards and Muggles alike. The only way you get past it is with my permission." Dumbledore's startlingly blue eyes seemed to be searching through each of the Cullen's souls, trying to find some hidden answer. "But you are not ordinary people are you? I notice how similar you all look," he looked at Renesmee and Jacob, "With the exception of the young lady and the rather tall boy."
He knows what we are. What do we do? We'll have to kill him; to cover up our tracks, Jasper thought to Edward. Edward shook his head a fraction, so only Jasper could see.
"That wouldn't be wise, if I were you. Yes, I know what you are, but you need not worry. You can trust me with your secret. After all, we are from the same world," Dumbledore chuckled, spreading his arms, as if welcoming the vampires into a family.
Edward suddenly burst out. "Wha-! How did you do that?... You- "
"Read young Jasper's mind. You have much to learn about the magical world Edward. Which is why I suggest you and your family join our school this year. Term starts tomorrow. I will make sure all will be sorted, do not worry." The family was rather taken aback by this stranger's proposal.
"Well, I suppose it means we won't have to worry about our not aging. I say we go to this school; try something new! Who's with me!" Alice chirped, ever the optimist.
"I," Jasper said.
"I," Carlisle offered.
"I", Esme said.
"I," Renesmee trilled.
"I," Jacob said, a bit more hesitant.
"I," Edward and Bella said at the same time, wanting to keep an eye on their daughter.
"I don't like this idea. It sounds dangerous," Rosalie huffed. Everyone stared at her as if she had some sort of slug growing out of her brain.
"Come on Rose. It'll be fun. Would you rather go to a school where you can do everything completely new, or a school where you already know half the stuff on the curriculum? And you said yourself you don't like having to move schools all the time. That wouldn't happen here. We'll finally fit in," Emmett persuaded, rubbing Rosalie's back.
Her dead heart softened, as usual, at Emmett's words and she knew she had made her mind up. "Okay, I'll go."
"Well, you know my answer already," Emmett boomed.
"We accept your offer Mr. Dumbledore," Carlisle informed. A small round of applause went round the room.
"Professor. Professor Dumbledore. As you are now members of the school, you shall call me Professor Dumbledore, or sir."
"Yes Professor," Emmett chuckled, causing Rosalie to hit him, at which point he shut up. A knock on the door brought everyone out of his or her thoughts.
"Come in, Minerva," Professor Dumbledore called out. The door opened and in came a tall woman in emerald green robes, with her hair pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head.
"Albus," she said in a strong Scottish accent, "I hear someone managed to break into Hogwarts."
She hadn't noticed the Cullens and Jacob yet but they were brought to her attention when Dumbledore said, "Yes, they did, but they meant no harm. I would like you to meet the Cullens." He gestured to the family, and they all smiled politely at the new lady.
"Professor McGonagall, I would like you to meet the Cullens. They will be attending Hogwarts this year, and if they consent, will hopefully be protecting Harry."
"Who's Harry?" Renesmee - who had been mostly quiet till now – asked.
"Harry is a fifteen year old boy who is very important to the wizarding world. He is the key to freeing us of Lord Voldemort, who I will tell you about later. But he is in more danger than ever right now, which is why he needs protecting. All you have to do is make sure he doesn't try and do anything reckless," – Bella and Edward flinched at this – "and that he stays safe. We would be forever grateful if you would do this," Dumbledore requested.
"If you agree, your nature will remain a secret, unless you wish to tell someone. I would advise, Carlisle, that you and your wife take up a teaching position."
The family thought about it for less than a second before they gave their answer.
"I don't see why not," Carlisle spoke for his family.
"But Albus, what makes this family any better than the Aurors, and the Order. He is already well protected. Any more protection and the Dark Lord would become suspicious," Professor McGonagall protested.
"Minerva, dear. This is no ordinary family. They are…vampires. Not the kind we have come across before. They are a whole different species. And they protect human life. They only drink animal blood," – McGonagall looked incredibly shocked at this information - "If anything, it would be a benefit having them on our side. They will be in the school. The Aurors can only do so much, and there are not enough members of the Order inside the school. No one will suspect anything." Minerva couldn't help but agree with this. Protection for Harry inside the school would be a lot more effective.
"You're not all related are you?" she said, turning to the Cullens, "After all, you're a rather large family."
"No. I adopted Jasper, Rosalie, Alice, Emmett and Edward. Esme is my wife. Bella came into the family when she married Edward, and Renesmee is their daughter. Jacob is Renesmee's partner. Bella, Renesmee and Edward are the only ones who are related," Carlisle explained, pointing to each member of the family as he went.
"I suppose you'll have to formulate different families if you want to be with your respective partners," Dumbledore mused. Everyone nodded in agreement and began to talk about it amongst themselves.
After several minutes of chatter, the Cullen family had come up with their plan.
Carlisle spoke. "Jacob, you will remain a Black. I haven't adopted you, but after your parents died you had nowhere else to go but your girlfriend's family. Rosalie and Jasper, you are still the Hale twins. Edward and Renesmee, you will be the Masens. You are brother and sister, due to your similar looks. Bella, Alice and Emmett, you are the Swans."
"Woo!" Emmett suddenly burst out, making most people jump, "Guess you're stuck with me, 'sis'," he said, nudging Bella.
"Oh, great," she replied, rolling her eyes. If Bella was stuck with him for a whole year, she might just die. "Why don't you annoy Alice for a change? She's your sister too."
Dumbledore showed them to their temporary rooms – not that most of them would be using them. "Supper will be at seven. I expect you all to be there," he informed them all, "First thing tomorrow we will be going to Diagon Alley to purchase your wands and other school supplies." He left the room, leaving everyone in silence.
"This is unbelievable. My whole view on things has changed after today. I mean, who knew, who knew, that magic really existed? It's amazing," Renesmee babbled, but nobody was really listening; they were all too busy trying to take it in themselves.
"Just try and get some sleep hun, we'll figure everything out tomorrow." This wouldn't be the first, or indeed last, time that Bella had said this to her daughter.
So how was that? I will be trying to follow the original story line quite closely, but obviously some things may or may not happen because of the Cullens. It will probably be a mixture of book and film, but will mainly follow the book. I would appreciate it if in reviews you say more than just 'love it' or 'amazing story' or stuff like that. You can still say that, but tell me what's good about it, what's bad about it etc. I will be suggesting a song for each chapter of this story. It may be one I was listening to while I was writing the chapter, or just a song I like at the time. The song for this chapter is Careful by Paramore. Five (ish) reviews for chapter 2! :)
