Chapter 4: Where is He?

Her tears were threatening but she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. They had just left her. They had been gone for so long. She hadn't even seen Edward lately, not that she had done anything stupid since the jump off the cliff just before Dumbledore had picked her up.

"Please welcome Dr and Mrs Cullen. Dr. Cullen has been practicing in the muggle world for many years. He hasn't used magic in awhile because of natural gifts given to him, he hasn't needed to. Mrs Cullen will be helping in Muggle Studies with Professor Burbage." A tear lost her hold in her eye and traced down her cheek as Esme and Carlisle walked to their spots at the Professors' table. She looked away because she didn't want them to see her emotion at seeing them.

"There are five…"

"Excuse me Professor Dumbledore but sadly one has not been able to join us due to a muggle law, we are trying to get him back," Carlisle spoke up quietly and Bella looked up sharply. Looking as Esme squeezed Carlisle's arm in comfort.

Dumbledore looked at the Cullens and then quickly glanced her way, she caught his eye. But following his usual impenetrable self, he pressed on. "I am sorry to hear that, I hope things work out soon. These students have been studying in our sister American institution, Salem Witches Academy. Though their age is higher, as other students have had issues in the past, so have they, so they are entering into the sixth year. I hope you welcome them. We have used their classification at Salem to place them into their schools here at Hogwarts. They will all be placed into Gryffindor. I am sure that the House of Gryffindor will welcome the four, and hopefully soon five, students that will be studying here with us this year. Welcome Alice and Emmett Cullen and Rosalie and Jasper Hale."

The Gryffindor table erupted in a bunch of cheers mostly because they were a curious bunch and figured if the newbies felt welcome they would find out about them more. Four pale people walked into the hall, their dark robes flowing around them. They looked just as beautiful as they had when they left. With their flowing robes and their natural vampire flowing walk, they seemed to float above the ground. However she noticed they seemed nervous and quiet. Alice actually looked like she had been crying recently and Bella had the urge to run up and give her a large hug. Bella had never seen the young woman so upset, well at least not when Bella was in great pain herself. Was it Edward? What was wrong?

The questions erupted inside her and it took all her strength to not run up to those she had called her family. Even more so as they took their seats near her. As soon as Jasper sat down, he glanced up sharply at her. At first she thought it was her scent he recognized. Considering how he had been the last time she had seen him. But his eyes were that wonderful golden color they held and she noticed he didn't look like he was in pain…at least not as he had been. Instead he looked concerned at her and she remembered he could sense her emotions. Suddenly she felt a wave of kind emotions that settled her heart a bit and she had to turn away because she was sure he would guess that she knew what he had just done.

"Bells?" Harry murmured, his eyes catching hers, worried filled them.

She shook her head barely. Just because her vampire family was also witches and wizards didn't mean their exceptional hearing didn't exist anymore. The fact they were Gryffindors meant it might be difficult to keep her secret for long. With how upset they all looked she wasn't sure if she would be able to keep the secret any longer but now wasn't the time to reveal herself. Through the rest of the dinner, she barely was able to eat a thing. She used her new DA coin to send a message to her fellow DA members. The Room of Requirement would hopefully be able to conceal their voices…even from the vampires.

She had heard about Dumbledore's Army from Harry through Owls sent last year and other correspondence during the summer and from their talks at the Weasleys. She'd been given the coin through an Owl when it first started so she knew when meetings had been held. She felt awkward now, standing there…in front of everyone as she was the one who had called the DA meeting.

"I believe you all know why we called you here today. As most of the DA knows already, I will fill those that don't know in," Hermione started, Bella looked on gratefully. She truly did hate to be the center of attention. "We know why Bella went away last year and most of us know where she calls home away from Hogwarts. If you are not caught up with that part, please ask someone later. We have a short while for this meeting because it is so late. Well while in Forks this past year she met some people…very important to her. Those people happen to also be vampires." The few that didn't know the story murmured with their neighbors, but most just listened intently, wondering why the Cullens were here and what this year's DA was going to be all about. "Apparently they also happen to be witches and wizards." A few more murmurs interrupted, some apparently hadn't known that the Cullens were the family she had met.

"Please remember that vampires have excellent hearing…as noted in many books found in the library." Ron groaned and Hermione shot him a look. Bella almost giggled, amazed the two still hadn't hooked up. "So please watch what you say around them. Bella lost a lot when they left and she is unsure if she wants them to know she is here."

"But how could they not know?" Neville asked

"Neville she's like Tonks, she can transform her hair and eye color. She can also transform her face slightly…enough to have them not immediately placing her as the Bella they know."

Neville and several others nodded in understanding.

"Is the one who can read thoughts here?" Someone asked.

"No," Bella murmured and the room grew quiet as they turned to her. "He isn't. But according to Dumbledore he can't read any of our thoughts because of the wizarding powers within us. That is probably one of the reasons he didn't know that he could before he turned into a vampire. Not only does the vampire within him strengthen the power…allowing him to do so without a wand…but also because he would have been around other wizards and witches growing up…at least from the age of eleven, so he wouldn't have gotten a chance to use it as much. Apparently though not all of the Cullens' powers are affected the same. Jasper's affect on emotions still works on me and Alice can see into my future…though I have this feeling its blocked by the fact I changed back from my morphed form otherwise she might have seen my future and the fact I was here. The Cullens, unless really good actors, did not seem to realize that it was me when they were sitting near us at the table today. Jasper looked kind of curious and calmed me at my inner turn of emotions but other than that they didn't seem to have a clue. I have to figure out what is going on before I figure out what I'm going to say to them. So please keep my secret and keep there's…Dumbledore asked us to in his letter…." Ron, Hermione and Harry nodded in agreement.

Harry then stood up, squeezing her hand. "He also asked us to continue the Dumbledore's Army. Though we now have capable professors back, he feels its still important for us to do the extra studying. But as Hermione mentioned…we can't blatantly break the rules as we did last year. Since he is allowing us to we will meet during free times and not usually as late as this. I think he wanted us to have this late night meeting to get you guys up to date. Everybody, the Cullens have excellent hearing. Please be careful what you say. And all I have left to say is welcome back. I hope everyone has a good year…" It grew quiet for a moment but Harry wasn't done and they could all tell he had something more to say. "Thank you…for last year. For the support you showed Dumbledore, I, and everyone involved. Because of you we were able to survive one of the worst battles in recent times. Please be careful. If you have any questions or need of help for anything, don't be afraid to ask any of us."