Disclaimer: I get tired of doing this so just look at the previous chapter, hmm?
A/N: I so want to thank all of you who like this story and who look forward to reading more. When I wrote this, I didn't think it would garner so many reactions and such. Thank you very much.
Twilight of Dawn Chapter 2
The first day of school (Monday, figures) was as it always is: gloomy. Harry wasn't too keen on going back to school but he never know when he might need a certificate of graduation. Besides, staying home would only spark more rumors from the residents of Forks and Port Angeles. Merlin, but what these Americans think of, Harry thought, amused. He was at a diner in Port Angeles with Teddy when he heard a middle-aged couple two booths over talking about him.
"I hear he kidnapped that poor baby and robbed a bank. How else can a teenage boy afford that fancy car? Nobody even knows where he lives except the realtor and she won't even disclose the address. Suppose he threatened her?"
Harry had to subtly cast a silencing charm around him so they won't hear him laughing. Even Teddy was laughing but Harry based that on the fact he looked pretty stupid laughing at nothing to his son. He wasn't insane yet, thank you very much. The ride home had consisted of Harry informing Teddy of the fickleness of the mind. (The couple had stopped Harry on his way out of the diner and embraced him and Teddy to their "lovely town.") Harry had had the pleasure of having the last word. He said, confused and puzzled, "But, I thought I was a bank robber and a kidnapper. Surely you don't welcome people such as myself to your lovely town." The couple had flushed a bright red and stammered out apologies. Harry just dismissed them and turned his back on them. He got no time for human stupidity.
That was yesterday and the Boy Who Lived wondered if it had spread to Forks by now. If it is in Forks, well, he's going to have a lot of fun with that. Getting himself ready and checking in on the sleeping Teddy, he was once again cursing his stupid self on the decision to go back to school. He was fixing his locket when he heard the tell tale sign of his fireplace being activated and a thump. That must be Hermione, he thought. Considering the fact that he didn't have anyone to sit with Teddy, he had recruited Hermione's help in looking after Teddy for the week.
Hermione Granger had stayed behind at Hogwarts after their graduation to temporarily fill the Defense Against the Dark Arts position while Headmistress McGonagall looks for someone. Being one of the smartest and best duelers, Hermione was the perfect candidate for the job but Harry didn't like it; he had wanted his friends to have a normal life now that the war was over but Hermione wanted it. Ron didn't like it either but he was one to talk: he became an Auror-in-training immediately after everything. Harry didn't like it, not one single bit. But he couldn't do anything about it. No matter what tactics he'd use, one thing is clear: They were young, yes, but they were too old for the simple things in life. Hermione and Ron knew what Harry wanted for them so they made it their life mission to see that Harry live as normal a life as can be and have the things that evaded him in his short life. Of course they wanted him to have that life in muggle London but hey, what Harry wants, he will get as long as it makes him happy.
He grabbed his book bag and headed downstairs to where sounds were coming from the kitchen. He walked in to find Hermione standing over the stove, cooking breakfast. Her hair had grown longer, almost reaching her backside. She had gained height and her posture screamed confidence and a warrior. Her skin was flawless to outsiders but Harry knew her scars, like he knew his and Ron's. The war might be over, he thought, but we have to live with what we did and what had been done upon us.
"Stop lurking at the doorway, Harry," Hermione's voice drifted over. "It's not very gentlemanly."
Harry grinned. Dumping his bag on a kitchen stool, he strode to his "sister's" side, hugging her to him. "Good morning, 'Mione," he said. "Thanks for coming. I swear I'll find someone I trust soon."
She shook her head, dishing scrambled eggs on to a platter. "Teddy's safety and your secrets come first. Beside, school doesn't start until next week so I have plenty of time to spend with my nephew."
Harry adopted a look of hurt, clutching his heart. "Only Teddy? Hermione, I'm hurt. Don't you love your poor brother anymore?"
Hermione smiled and whacked him on the head. "Very funny. Now sit down and eat your breakfast or you'll be late for school."
"Yes Mother."
Ducking another swing, he grabbed his plate and headed towards the kitchen table. It was only when Hermione joined him at the table, placing a glass of juice in front of him did he realize that she wasn't eating.
"'Mione?" he said.
"Hmm?" She was rubbing her face in a tired manner. Harry felt guilty; he hated doing this to her.
"Aren't you eating?"
"Harry, I just woke up in England. What makes you think I want to eat now? I will eat when Teddy has his lunch. Now hurry up. I packed your lunch so you won't eat what the school passes as food. You still need to go to the school office before going to your first class."
Harry reached over, kissing his sister on the forehead. What he would do without Hermione in his life he does not know. "Thank you, 'Mione. You didn't have to make lunch for me, you know."
She yawned, grinning sloppily at him. "I know but Ron made me promise to fix you a good feast for lunch. Besides, you need to fatten up, Harry James Potter."
The Savior groaned. It was Hermione's and Mrs. Weasley's mission to feed him as much as they can which annoy him to no end. Muttering darkly under his breath, he stabbed and poked at his food if only to piss Hermione off. It seems to work as she poked him rather hard in the ribs. Ten minutes later, he was on his way to school, leaving his heart behind with Teddy. This was the first time he had ever been away from his son for so long and he found he didn't like it one bit. If he wasn't so afraid of Hermione, he would have turned his Aston-Martin around and go back home.
The school wasn't that hard to find since it was the only high school in the small town. He made the familiar way towards the staff parking lot near the office. After receiving the slip from a nervous Ms. Trent, Harry was once again in his car, weaving his way to the student parking lot. As soon as his car was in sight, every eye was on it. He couldn't really blame them as it stood out magnificently in the crowd of beaten and dusty old cars except for a silver Volvo, a red convertible, and a jeep. He parked as far away as he could from the crowd. Sitting for a moment in the car, he checked his wand, making sure it was secure and safe from prying eyes. He reached in the back for his bag and caught sight of Teddy's car seat. His throat closed up; he wants to be home with his son. He composed himself, tying his magic to him so it won't erupt any time it likes. His magic was the bane of Hermione's existence, never giving her any peace as it was untrained. Oh well, he'll work on it someday.
He took a deep breath, said a little prayer, "God give me patience and the strength to get through today so Hermione won't kill me because then that would defeat the purpose of me being the Boy Who Lived and all," then he got out amidst gasps from the girls' and envious stares from the guys'. Who wouldn't stare? Harry was a masterpiece to behold. Dressed in a loose white long-sleeved dress shirt with black jeans and dragon skin boots (a gift from Charlie), Harry James Potter was the vision of every girl's dream. He looked positively beautiful. His physique wasn't like Viktor Krum's but he was built just right. His face was a sculpture artists want to get their hands on and his eyes, oh my, his eyes were a brilliant shade of emerald green, hiding behind his spectacles. Now the glasses would off-set the beauty of any person but not Harry. It seemed to make him more…more, if you know what I mean. Anyway, every eye was on our Lord Potter as he walked towards the school. This should be fun, he thought, chuckling at the reactions of these muggles.
Three classes later and Harry was ready to scream at the top of his lungs. Staring! Drooling! Flirting! Really, do these people do nothing except salivating after what they obviously can't have? And all of these before lunch. How he could ever have thought that this would be fun is beyond him. There was only so much a guy can take. He had endured whisperings, giggles, fluttering eyelashes, blushes, touching, staring; all during the course of the last three classes. He'd take Lavender Brown over any of these girls any day, thank you for asking.
He entered the cafeteria, his destination, and was once again assaulted with silence and stares. He had had enough. "For the love of Merlin, what is it?! Why do you keep staring at me?! It's freaking me out!" Every face flushed with shame and eyes darted anywhere to avoid the angry new kid. Harry sighed in relief. He was on his way to an empty table when Eric Yorkie waved him over to a table with his friends. He had Eric in his English class and decided the boy was good enough; reminded him of Seamus Finnegan, really, but without the Irish accent. Heeding one of Hermione's wise words-"You need to make friends outside of us, Harry"-he changed his direction, marching over to Eric and his groupies.
The Chinese kid stood when Harry reached them. "Hey man."
Harry nodded, keeping an eye on the blonde bimbo who was trying to catch his eye. "Hello."
"Well, let me introduce you to the gang. This is my boy Mike Newton," a nod, "Angela Weber," Asian girl, "Jessica Stanley," blond bimbo, "and Bella Swan," gothic girl. "Guys, this is Harry Potter. He just moved here from England."
They exchanged pleasantries; finally, Harry got to sit down and next to Jessica, much to his dismay. Harry didn't want to unload his food in front of these strangers; it would be hard to explain why his food was still hot when he had taken it out of his bag. Instead he just examined the canteen and the students within, ignoring Jessica's blatant flirting. He was about to give up on finding anything fun when five of the most beautiful beings he had ever seen (and that includes the Veelas) walked in.
He was surprised to see Alice with them but wasn't really. He had made friends with Alice and found her beautiful and odd. Her hands were inhumanly cold when they shook hands but one doesn't know Hermione Granger and not know some manners so he didn't remark on it. Afterwards, he had used Phoenix (his magic) to protect him from her cold hands just in case. He had also shielded Teddy from her cold touch too as he had seen how taken she was with his son.
He assessed them: The first guy looked like Viktor Krum's twin, holding hands with a beautiful blonde. There was Alice with a blonde boy who defines constipation and the last boy…his heart gave a jolt. No, he shook his head, this can't happen now. He tore his eyes away from them but they seem to have a mind of its own as it kept darting towards the lone boy in the group.
Bella Swan noted with amusement that the new kid, Harry, wasn't even paying attention to the oblivious Jessica. She turned to see what had caught Harry's fancy and immediately wished she hadn't: it was the Cullens'. All of them were looking directly at her with Rosalie and Alice glaring at her. She rolled her eyes. She didn't care much for them when she dated Edward and she doesn't care much for them now either; the only one who she cared, cares, for is Edward. It was a stupid mistake on her part when she slept with Jacob Black. Sure she was lonely when Edward went out of town but hello! That does not mean a girl need to be deprived of…certain…pleasures. She glanced at Edward, who was ignoring her. She huffed. Fine, if that's how he wants it, then fine. But she will get him back.
She turned to Harry whose attention was still focused entirely at the group of vampires. His face held a look of pain and longing and some other emotions she wasn't too familiar with. "They're the Cullens'," she said. Jessica immediately stopped talking. Angela was having the strange sense of déjà vu when the blonde started in on her favorite topic. She groaned.
"Yeah. They're unnaturally beautiful, aren't they?" Jessica asked with a hint of envy. She brooded for a second before her face lit up with a happy look as she remembered her task. "Anyway, the bulk guy is Emmett Cullen and the blonde next to him is Rosalie Cullen. That's Alice Cullen, blond guy is Jasper Cullen and the last one is Edward Cullen. He was with Bella here last year but they didn't last, obviously." Bella poked her.
"But they're like together, you know? Like together together," Jessica continued in a low voice. "Like, Alice is with Jasper and Rosalie is with Emmett. Isn't that like, illegal? But anyway, Dr. and Mrs. Cullen took them in so now they all live together. Isn't that nice of them? I heard that Mrs. Cullen couldn't have kids so that's why they adopt them."
Harry could barely control his anger. How dare this chit talk about others like that? Really, does this town do nothing but gossip? They would do well with a couple of Death Eaters in their midst, at least that would stop their talk. But then again, it would only encourage them. Hmm, he'd have to remedy that. But back to the point of glaring one Jessica Stanley to death.
Soon-to-be-dead Jessica Stanley didn't seem to notice the dark look in Harry's eyes and went on, oblivious. "Bella said Rosalie is a real bitch, you know? Like always trying to be better and everything and only wants the best for herself."
Harry, of course, had had enough. He tried to control himself but Phoenix was itching to get out and wreak havoc. He stood up, voice heard clearly throughout the cafeteria. "If anyone here is a bitch, Ms. Stanley, it is yourself and Ms. Swan. One who talks less of others only justifies that label." Half of Forks High School student population sat stunned including the five Cullen siblings. Bella stood up in anger. How dare this boy stand in front of her and call her as such? If anything, Rosalie deserved to be called a bitch. Before she could argue her case, however, Harry spoke. He had probed Bella's mind and found her as deceiving and no good as Peter Pettigrew, always willing to ruin others for their own comfort. "You, Bella Swan, are a woman scorned of her own doing and is seeking to find ways to destroy one whom you once held close and his family. You would do well to remember, Ms. Swan, that you won't get everything you want in this life because you will it so. Keep in mind that not only you would get affected but others as well." He turned to a shocked Jessica. Eric, Angela, and Mike were too dumbfounded to do or say anything on their friends' behalf. "Jessica Stanley, there are two things I hate more than anything in my life: death and people like you who gossip about other people because they are insecure of themselves. The Cullens' business is just that: their business. No one in this town or anywhere has the right to talk so blatantly about them. I'm sure you won't like it either if I were to talk so morbidly about your family. Do well to remember that hatred and discord are borne from lies and rumors."
Harry grabbed his bag, spun around, and leaves. Behind him was a room of silence. One day, just one day, and the new kid had managed to knock down the arrogant Bella Swan and nosey Jessica Stanley. Wow.
In the corner of the cafeteria, Alice was smirking. Oh yeah. Harry has a lot of fire and this time, she would have her best friend. And Edward would have his mate. He just had to figure that out himself.
So ya'll like it? Edward and Harry will meet one on one in the next chapter so stay tuned! Thank you once again to all those who reviewed and favorited this story. Mahalo.