A/N: Okay, plz forgive me and don't sue. I forgot about the disclaimer on Chap. 1.

Disclaimer: Though I wish these two beautiful stories were mine, they're not. And so we are clear: this is gonna be the only disclaimer. I doubt much will change between here and the end.

CHAPTER 2-

Hazel POV-

That guy, Edward, wasn't there for the rest of the week and half of the next. I was able to breathe easy knowing that I wouldn't be accosted with the face of Cedric everywhere I looked. I had my Occlumency shields firmly locked in place, I did not want a repeat of last Tuesday.

The third day of my second week at Forks High School rolled around and I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach. My peace was at an end, I was sure. He would be back today.

I dressed grumpily that morning and stomped downstairs to see Sirius and Remus at the table eating breakfast.

"Morning, Pup!" Sirius greeted cheerfully. Way too cheerfully for eight o' clock. Remus just grunted in agreement.

"Morning, Siri," I said around a yawn. "Morning, Moony."

I collected eggs and a couple rashers of bacon and made quick work of breakfast. Setting plates in the middle of the table, I served the Animagi and got myself a banana and a brown pop. We ate in silence for a few minutes until it was broken by the sound of flapping wings.

I gave Hedwig a rasher of bacon off Padfoot's plate ("hey!") and took Hermione's letter. A few moments later I let out a very high-pitched shriek and shot up to write a reply. I used Muggle pen and paper, so much better than parchment and quills, and sent it off with Moony's owl Majestique so that Hedwig could rest her wings.

"Hey, Pup. What's going on?" Sirius asked bemusedly.

I could barely stay still and they were watching me, confused and entertained at the same time. "Hermione's coming for a visit this weekend. Dumbledore is arranging a Portkey. She says she'll stay two weeks and that Fred and George are coming with her. Ron's still miffed because I gave the money to them, but I can't bring myself to care very much. I think he's still mad that I didn't got to the Yule Ball with him. And Hermione said her parents told her that if she liked it enough here that we could talk to you guys about her staying with us for the school year because they think it's safer than Hogwarts right now. She said that Fred and George are bringing a bunch of their joke products with them so they could, and I quote, "make sure the bloody yanks know to keep their hands off their beautiful little sister." I don't see a problem 'cause I'm nothing grand to look at, but it should be funny to see these Muggles with rainbow hair and furry ears. Do you think we could go shopping in Port Angeles?"

Sirius and Remus were looking at me like I had just taken a potion and grown three heads. "What?" I asked innocently.

"I didn't even know it was humanly possible to talk that fast, never mind that long without taking a breath," Sirius joked.

I glared at him, flicking my wand into my hand. His eyes widened comically and he backpedaled quickly.

"It's r-really cute. T-totally adorable," he stuttered. "I-I'm just gonna g-go hide now. Bye!"

Remus and I cracked up as he fled the room. "So? Port Angeles?"

"Please?" I begged. "Just for one day. We'll have Fred and George with us if anything happens. You know how protective they are of me! Please?"

He mulled it over. Hesitating slightly, he finally nodded.

"YAY!" I cried as I launched myself at him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

I turned to leave the house, car keys in hand, and still bouncing all over the place.

"Hey, wait!" Remus called as I was about to step outside.

"Yeah?"

"Don't forget to turn back to Hazel," he said.

"Oh. Yeah, I should do that now. Thanks, Remy!" I called over my shoulder.

I arrived at school, once again a green-eyed brunette (thank you Metamorphmagus powers), and set about navigating my way through the day. Excited about the prospect of my friends visiting, I didn't really pay all that much attention. By the time fourth period rolled around I was starved. Who knew bouncing could be so taxing?

I absently tossed my burger into the waste bin and made my way to my favorite lunch spot under the old tree. I was finishing my brown pop and the last of my grapes and carrots, no dip, when a shadow fell over me.

My body stiffened involuntarily as I looked up into the face of Edward, though I made sure I kept a tight clamp on my mental shields. My eyes narrowed as I spied the other Cullens standing just behind him. There was Emmett, the tall hulk of a guy, Jasper, the one I thought of as emo, Alice, the pixie, and Rosalie, who would have rivaled even Daphne Greengrass for position as Ice Queen.

"Yes?" I said hesitantly.

"Hello," Edward spoke. Gods, he sounded so much like him. "I-"

"I'm sorry," I interrupted. I knew I was being rude, but I just couldn't look at him. It was painful. "Is this important? I just…really don't want to talk to you."

I fidgeted and started collecting the remains of my lunch, appetite now non-existent. His eyes were wide and he seemed a little surprised.

A calm feeling started to come over me and I panicked. I whirled around to find the source, Jasper, and mentally sent the energy back at him. Only, I was freaking out so as soon as my magic touched him he jumped as if shocked. Where he had been projecting warmth, I had projected burning hot anger. I stomped off, not noticing my eyes had reverted to gold. Thankfully, my hair stayed the same and I quickly caught on before anybody could see. I never noticed the shocked looks and gasps left behind me.

Edward POV-

The girl, Hazel, stomped off. Her eyes were back to that topaz color from before. They shifted back to green, but I knew what I had seen. And felt. Whatever she had done to Jasper, he had projected it loud and clear to us. That wasn't what hurt the most. For some reason, her saying she had no wish to speak to me cut me deeply.

I pondered the situation and paid my classes no attention. I was both dreading and anticipating my final class of the day, Biology. It was the only class I had with her. At first, I thought she wouldn't show. Then the door opened and she was in her seat seconds before the bell, looking absolutely windswept and completely gorgeous.

From my seat next to her, I could see that she had been crying. I could even detect the faint scent of tears under that delectable scent that was all Hazel. I was dying to hear her speak, even if it was filled with contempt. I wanted to introduce myself, to give her something else to associate my face with besides pain.

At the end of class, I stepped in front of her, blocking her exit. She glared up at me for a moment before averting her eyes. "I'm…," she paused and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry about earlier. You just…look and sound like a very dear friend of mine. H-he's gone now," she finished sadly.

"I'm sorry. I just wanted to introduce myself to you and apologize for last week during class," I said. "I wasn't exactly the friendliest person."

She smiled shakily. "It's okay. Let's just…start over?"

"I'd like that," I said offering my hand. "Edward Cullen, pleasure to meet you."

She laughed a little and I decided right then that was my favorite sound. "Azalea Black, the pleasure is all mine."

She grasped my hand and shook it with a tiny shiver. I started and before I could stop my mouth… "Not Hazel?"

The affect was instantaneous. Her spine straightened and her eyes turned cold. "Where did you hear that name? Who sent you?"

I looked at her confusedly. I couldn't get a read on her, not surprising anymore, and she was like a caged animal. I could feel power rolling off her and it made me slightly afraid.

Her eyes widened as some sort of revelation came over her. She looked back up at me. Her eyes were topaz and her hair was that deep auburn color. She locked eyes with me and for once my mind was the one being invaded.

All of a sudden she stepped back. "I have to go now," she said. Her voice was chilly and she was back to being the brunette.

It was all very confusing. I stood stock-still as she pushed past me. I caught her muttering as she was exiting the door. "My scar doesn't hurt and there's no pressure on my shields. Oh, blast it! Merlin, I wish you were here Cedric. I could always tell you anything. You were my very best friend."

I could hear her crying. My heart, had it still been beating, would have clenched at the heartbrokenness in her voice. I was very confused. I wanted to hurt whoever had caused her pain, but therein lay the rub. It wasn't exactly like I could hurt myself. Whoever this Cedric was, he meant a lot to her.

I spent the rest of the week in a daze. I kept hoping Hazel, Azalea I corrected myself, would show. She wasn't at lunch, nor was she in Biology. According to Alice she didn't attend any of her other classes either. I was grasping at straws and they were slipping through my fingers. My last hope was Port Angeles.

Port Angeles was very near Forks and a popular place to hang out. I don't know what I hoped to gain by going there, but I was desperate for even a chance to take in the sight of her. She had to be there.

As if by magic, her brunette self was walking on the street right in front of me. She was with a girl about her age who had even wilder hair than she did. Slightly behind them were two guys, twins by the look of them. They seemed to be the designated mules for the trip as they were weighed down with packages from various stores. They were both redheads, though their hair was a brighter shade than Hazel's. Azalea, I corrected myself.

Azalea was talking animatedly with the bushy-haired girl, radiant smile gracing her face. I couldn't help but feel a bit envious that I wasn't the one who put it there. Before I could stop myself, I had stepped out of the car and was following a discreet distance behind them. They stopped at a store window and seemed to be debating upon entering.

I stepped just a little closer so that my sensitive hearing could pick up their words over the few people passing nearby.

"Come on, Hazel. That top," she said and pointed, "would look absolutely great on you."

Catching sight of it, I couldn't help but to agree.

"Hermione, no," Azalea replied. "It's too low cut. My scar would show."

"So?" she asked. "It's not like anyone here would know the significance."

The twins shared a look.

"Oi!" began 1. "Hazel's right."

"Way too low cut-"continued 2.

1: "-for our dear little sis."

2: "We are here to-"

1: "-ensure virtue."

2: "Not to encourage-"

1&2: "-its being tossed away."

The girls shared a look and rolled their eyes.

"Hermione, next time you come for a visit, make sure that you leave my big brothers at home!" Azalea said. Or was it Hazel? Hazalea? Argh, this was so confusing.

"I'll be sure of it," the other girl vowed.

"Oh, the horror!" 1 exclaimed.

"Too true, brother mine!" 2 reciprocated.

"Why must they wound us so tragically?" 1 exclaimed.

"Mayhaps we should just let them carry their own bags," 2 said slyly.

"NO!" both girls shouted.

"Jeez, we were just giving you a ribbing!" Hazel/Azalea protested.

"Lighten up, you two," Hermione said. This proved to be a mistake as the twins grinned and let their packages fall to the ground with a shout of, "Okay!"

"Hermione!" Hazel/Azalea was indignant. "Never tell them that when they have our things."

I decided to try for a reading of the group. Hazel/Azalea was as mysterious as ever. The twins were both amused and very alike in thinking. Hermione was very organized in her thoughts and hers proved to be the easiest to follow.

It's good to see Hazel having fun. She seems to have gotten past the guilt of Cedric's death, at least. Riddle, if I ever get my hands on you, You'll pay for taking away her closest friend.

So finally, I know her name. Hazel. She feels guilty for Cedric's death- murder?- at the hands of someone named Riddle? Oh, this was so confusing.

They were picking up all their things and piling the twins back up when I stepped forward to help. This was the perfect example of "one step forward, two steps back."

They stopped laughing immediately, eyes wide as saucers. The twins dropped everything again and stepped forward and wrapped me in a tight hug. Hermione was crying and Hazel was getting spitting mad.

"Fred. George," she said. Her voice was low and dangerous. "Step back from the crazy psychopath. Now."

For some reason they seemed afraid of her and immediately did what she said. They were all watching with shocked expressions as she came close to me and, before I could react, slapped me in the face. "Don't come near me again. Stay away from my family."

She gathered all their belongings which had somehow become neat and organized and started back in their original direction. "Come," she beckoned, her voice steely when they didn't immediately follow.

"But-"

"It's not him, Hermione. Cedric's dead," Hazel said.

Hazel POV-

I barely made it three steps before dropping everything, again, and clutching my chest. Just above my heart, a small lightning bolt scar began to burn. I could feel it start to bleed and hear distantly the sound of Hermione and the twins. My nerves were frayed and I had no hope of blocking this vision. In my head I was thousands of miles away, in Crawley.

There was an expansive house set before me with a wide front lawn. A group of black clad men and one woman apparated onto the neat grass. Only two dared not wear masks. One was a crazed woman with black hair and rotting teeth. The other was an ugly remnant of something that used to be human.

Bellatrix Lestrange and Lord Voldemort.

I watched in horror as Hermione's parents were tortured before my very eyes. I was thankful for the strong pair of arms that caught me as I slid to the ground in unconsciousness.

Edward POV-

I watched in horror as Hazel clutched her chest. Her mental barriers had come down enough that I could feel the immense pain she must be feeling. I'm sure it was much worse for her. Her only relief came when she passed out. I managed to catch her before she fell to the ground and turned to her companions.

"Where to?" I asked. My question seemed to spark them into action as they jumped up and led me to Hazel's little silver car. I slid into the back seat with her leaving barely enough room for twin 2 -or was it 1?- to squeeze in with us. Hermione and the other slid in front and sped us to a fairly large house not far from where I lived.

We clambered out the car and into the living room where I sat on the couch and held her close, not willing to let her go. She was beginning to stir.

"Ugh," she groaned, her eyes shut. "Fred?"

"Yup?" he asked.

"Can you go into the potions lab and get some pickled essence of murtlap?" That was officially the strangest thing I'd ever heard.

"George?"

"Right-o," he answered.

"Will you get Dumbledore on the floo and tell him it's urgent? Tell him two things. A) Occlumency doesn't work when you have to see the face of your dead best friend everyday," she paused. "And B) tell him no sparkly robes until we can be sure the vampire has time to let it all sink in." Nope. That would be the strangest.

"Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"You are gonna be so mad, but I can't bring myself to say it. So, instead, will you go to my room and get me a clean shirt and a wash cloth?" That was when her scent hit me.

I hadn't really been paying attention until now, but I couldn't help but notice it. It was as delicious as she looked. Her eyes, though closed, were surely topaz. Her hair was silky and soft and auburn.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone. Handing it to me, she said, "Call Emmett or Alice or one of your family to bring you a rabbit. I'm not up for being a chew toy."

It was at this point that I realized I should stop trying to keep track of strange things coming out of Hazel's mouth. Because surely, nothing she said was ever going to be mundane.