Chapter 2

Bella wavered between watching her Grandfather, brows knit in worry, and gazing furtively at the family as they made their way into the vast living room.

I don't know how I imagined this first encounter with magic would go, but this isn't it. Bella thought wryly, taking in her Grand-père glancing about the room with an impassive expression.

Gerard de Villiers was a stately man. Tall, broad-shouldered with finely chiselled features and impeccably styled ebony hair which belied his true age. With his distinctly regal bearing clad in exquisitely made robes, he cut an intimidating figure. Penetrating steely silver-gray eyes turned contemplatively towards the Cullens as they congregated around the room.

"Grand-père, I would like to introduce you to the Cullens; Carlisle, Esme, Emmet, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice… and Edward." Bella introduced, indicating each individual with a wave of her hand. "Everyone, this is-"

"I am sorry to eenterrupt mon cher, but should you choose to accompany me, it eez eemperative zat we leave soon. Also, eet would not do to further test your father." Gerard interrupts, reminding her subtly of her father's insistence on keeping her in the dark.

Thank Merlin Grand-père has much more faith in me. Bella thought ruefully. The thought of her father's distrust in her ability look after herself despite all evidence to the contrary rankled more than usual, most especially as she had been vehemently ordered on her father's part and reluctantly on her friends' part to hide herself in Forks this past year.

Suppressing a shiver at the thought of her friends in danger without herself present as reinforcement, Bella wasted no time and turned to the Cullens, hesitating but briefly before beginning. "I'm so sorry but there isn't enough time to explain much more right now. My friends and schoolmates need me and it sounds like I have to go."

Seeing Edward's jaw twitch, Bella pre-emptively tried to placate him, "Grand-père will be with me Edward."

" –And so will I." Edward abruptly, but firmly, stated. "I will go wherever you go Bella. It matters not that I don't know the destination or what we will do there, but you are mine and I am not letting you go so easily to a place unknown to me." Amidst her blushing at the force of emotions behind Edward's words, Bella noted his old-fashioned eloquence was more pronounced and wondered if it was in response to her Grand-père's own.

"I appreciate that Edward, but—"

"You're not leaving without me Bella." Alice interrupted, with an uncharacteristically stern and determined set to her pixie face, usually only present during attempts to coerce a shopping trip from her.

As if not wanting to be left out, Emmet also vehemently added his two cents, narrowing his eyes at Bella warningly while the rest of the Cullens –barring Rosalie- nodded in agreement.

As she was about to protest, part touched at the loyalty of her family-to-be and part frustrated at their stubbornness, she was interrupted yet again.

"Mon cher, let them come. We are wasting time."

"But Pépère, they are not… human… should blood be spilt—" Bella started tentatively, struggling to find the words to break it to her grandfather that her new friends were of the vampire variety.

"Then your… friends will 'ave to be selective in who they bare zose fangs at." Gerard interrupted unfazed, a smirk tugging at his lips at his Bella's faint expression of surprise. Raising a sardonic brow at the visibly gaping family, Gerard laid a hand across his Granddaughter's shoulder before gazing intently at each of the Cullens in turn.

"Mon Belle trusts you so I shall assume you have some measure of control, thus I will expect you to act according to Bella's expectations of each of you, no matter the situation. Should you fail to do so, I shall be severely… displeased." Gerard finished coolly, aiming a particularly heavy gaze at Edward.

Torn between shock at the audacity of the fragile human before them and part intimidated at the cool gaze, the Cullens agreed. "We will do our utmost to preserve Bella's trust in us sir." Edward returned, a sincere and serious set to his face.

"Very well. Ma bella? Do we need to go to Charlie'z to pick anything up?"

"Non granpapa, I carry my trunk everywhere and it has all I need." Bella returned, having done so her entire time at Forks in preparation for such a scenario as this one.

"Than let us depart." Pulling out a handkerchief, Gerard flicked his wand and spelled the object. "Ze wards are thankfully still in place mon Belle so ze closest we can get to Ogwarts is to Hogsmeade."

Bella nodded before turning to the Cullens.

"Everyone needs to have some sort of contact with this handkerchief. It will take us where we need to go."

"What? What's so good about a handkerchief? Is it really a magic carpet?" Emmet babbled excitedly.

Despite the situation, Bella decided to tease Emmet who fairly resembled an excitable puppy with his bouncing around, rolling on the balls of his feet and his ill-disguised attempt at hiding his fidgeting by crossing his arms. A giant excitable puppy, but a puppy nevertheless.

"Yes Emmet. We are going by way of magic carpet… unfortunately this one isn't that big and seeing as you take up a lot of space…" Bella intoned apologetically, then laughed as Emmet's face fell in disappointment, followed by a slightly manic expression at the prospect of being left behind.

"Just kidding Emmet. Magic carpets are a much too dangerous form of magical transportation. Given that we want trans-continental travel, a carpet would just be plain irresponsible." Bella explained matter-of-factly.

In large part, Bella was nervous that her secret was finally known to her vampire family. The circumstances didn't lend well to maintaining calmness. In the deep recesses of her mind she could acknowledge the feeling of excitement at finally revealing her true self to her love and their family. Though Bella wouldn't say that magic necessarily defined her, it was a large part of her that heavily influenced certain attributes and aspects of her personality. Being forced to hide, what were essentially large parts of herself from her second family was not only exhausting, but also left her with feelings of guilt. Seeing Emmet's enthusiastic and positive reaction to magic reassured her and gave her hope that the Cullen's would accept this part of her.

As the Cullens gathered around the handkerchief, Bella grinned as she took in Emmet's excited expression, Jasper, Edward and Alice's wary expressions and Carlisle and Esme's scepticism expertly hidden by placating expressions. At the very least she wouldn't have to put up with muggle high school anymore.

A/N: So the gorgeous French man is Bella's grandfather. What next? Please take the time to review.