Alternative Dawn

Chapter 4

Decisions

"I think we should hold of on any decisions until this oncoming confrontation is over don't you?" said Harry honestly, there was a chance - every chance that they could die. He'd do everything in his power to see them survive, knowing what it would do to Carlisle if they didn't. Carlisle loved so fiercely at times that it was odd especially to the other vampires, except Harry of course. If there was anyone who loved as deeply as Carlisle it were Harry and Esme. Then there was the fact Harry didn't know if he wanted to stay, Carlisle had his family now, could he truly become part of it? Well perhaps the next few days would clue him into the answer.

"Always thinking ahead," said Carlisle smiling in the way only he did, "You are correct of course."

"Aren't I always?" said Harry smirking in amusement. It felt good talking to Carlisle again; he'd spent so long on his own he was actually beginning to feel uncomfortable around everyone. He could sense the others returning from their hunt, they weren't hunting in the immediate area. Carlisle had asked them to refrain from it, feeling guilty that they were all here in the first place.

"Walk with me," said Carlisle, his amber eyes still filled with curiosity despite the fact Harry had already told him near enough everything. "We will stay nearby; I have my phone with me if you need anything."

"Of course," said Esme smiling gently, knowing the men needed some time to themselves.

"I'm taking Renesmee and Bella back to the cottage, I'll see you tomorrow," said Edward, lifting his sleeping little miracle up. "It's nice to meet you." he added to Harry before the little family disappeared from the main house as others came through the door, their eyes brighter than ever.

"Come," said Carlisle, walking to the door, Harry came without a word, throwing Esme a small grin as he did.

Harry said nothing as he was led through the forest and jumping over the sea to the other side. He'd never been to Forks before, not even when the others had moved there along time ago. He'd known Carlisle was there of course, but never visited during the times here. It was beautiful, reminded him of the United Kingdom, the dampness, the trees, just everything. He was hungry, he hadn't hunted before coming, only had a bag of blood in England two weeks ago.

"Is everything still hazy?" asked Carlisle as he slowed down to a 'human' pace. He couldn't deny he felt better than he had in a long time. He'd always felt like a failure because Harry had left. His abandonment had never truly stopped hurting, it didn't matter how many years went by and what family he acquired. "Your memories?" he added realizing his question didn't make much sense.

"They always are, even in a pensive, but I remember them that's the main thing." said Harry.

"Tell me," said Carlisle.

"What?" enquired Harry staring at his father blankly, although he had a very good idea what he was talking about.

"Your life, you spoke but you didn't really say anything." said Carlisle knowingly. Harry obviously didn't want to talk about it, but Carlisle wanted to know. He would get all the information he wanted, one way or another.

Harry stiffened, inhaling deeply, smelling the animals; he normally didn't drink from Deer's, male or female. He couldn't help but think of his parents when he did, which severely diminished his appetite ever since he had remembered everything. Grinning cheekily at Carlisle, before he took off, running wildly through the forest hunting his prey. Nothing could compare to this, not even flying the adrenaline, even drinking made him feel so alive. Harry slowed down as he neared it, crouching low, watching it unconsciously licking his lips. The only thing within distant was an Elk, he was out of luck and too hungry to care right now.

As if the animal could sense it being watched by a larger prey, it looked around, and took off listening to its senses. Unfortunately it would never understand that a vampire could outrun it, he bolted down eagerly.

Carlisle watched Harry hunt; there was something about Harry, different even from his family. He killed them before he drank from them, refusing to play with his food or hurt them unnecessarily. He had a conscience even as a vampire, which was admittedly rare. Then there was the fact for a vampire he was extremely graceful, more so than anyone he knew. Perhaps it was his age or the height of his body, but either way he was indeed, very graceful. Once Harry was done, having consumed two Elk's his burnt ember eyes found his. The red was already fading, that happened through, they stayed red longer in a newborn only because of their own blood.

"That's better," said Harry jumping back towards Carlisle, from tree to tree sighing in exasperation, "Oh alright, what do you want to know?" he asked remaining up the tree next to where Carlisle had been watching him hunt.

Carlisle looked up at Harry, before making his own way up a tree, god it had been years since he had gone up a tree. He was beginning to feel like a newborn himself, shaking of those thoughts he settled himself down. Knowing it would be best to ask here, where nobody else was listening.

"What were you doing when you ended up in the past?" asked Carlisle, still trying to get his mind around the fact Harry was a time traveller.

"Fighting in the war," said Harry sighing sadly.

"War?" asked Carlisle his voice demanding, what had his chide been through? Why on earth was a boy fighting in a war? It had to be a magical one, because he didn't remember hearing about one in the United Kingdom around the time Harry suggested he was in one. Harry had said his parents died for him…did that mean he'd lived through war his entire life?

"Yeah, one in the magical world, it sort of started when I was eleven. When I first went to Hogwarts I ended up saving everyone by rescuing the Philosopher stone. Which would have turned Voldemort immortal, and given him all the money he would need to finance his war, it turned metal into pure gold." Harry explained. "Second year I found out he placed part of himself in a diary and I had to destroy that and a sixty foot basilisk while I was at it. He didn't come back fully until I was at the end of my fourth year, I was fourteen. After that the world became dark, the stars may have well went out."

Carlisle was aghast; he could barely believe what he was hearing. Jasper would love more information, the two soldiers would get on well, and he just knew it.

"I had just defeated the darkest wizard of the age, and went to the forest to find something, a stone when I was attacked and bitten. I just remember the excruciating pain, then whoever turning me cursing violently, having just realized who he'd bitten. I remember them grabbing my head, while I wished to be somewhere safe, somewhere nobody would be able to find me. I knew what was happening, we learned about vampires at school you see, and then I was in the past. Hogwarts was no longer there; at least I can't remember it being anyway. I walked for days, not able to remember who I was, my gifts, or understand what was wrong with me." said Harry his voice slightly hoarse, it was the first time he'd properly spoken about it. "It wasn't so bad after I met you, how could you miss what you didn't have or know? Then you had to go and bloody mention the Volturi." chuckled Harry bitterly.

"I'm sorry," sighed Carlisle sadly.

"What happens happened right? No point in dwelling on it, that's what you used to tell me." said Harry teasingly.

Carlisle smiled slightly, it had been what he used to tell Harry, but back then he thought Harry would never regain his memories. So he'd been determined to have Harry learn everything he knew to make up for it. "Why didn't you go home to them once time had reinserted itself?" asked Carlisle since wizards obviously knew about vampires. The thought of Harry going home caused him an unimaginable amount of pain, but like Harry he wasn't selfish.

"Vampires aren't welcomed in the magical community," confessed Harry warily, "A few stay of course, met with scorn and suspicion everywhere they go. As far as I know, the vampires I've met no longer have magic, or at least not much - they didn't have wands."

"You could change that Harry, you saved the world, you could shed a better light for vampires in your world." said Carlisle assuming he knew everything.

"It's not as simple as that, you've seen what I can do, I can do all that and more - without a wand." said Harry tiredly, "Normal vampires, magically changed vampires don't normally have magic. I was supposed to be their beacon, their saviour, they had probably already decided who my wife and children were supposed to be and what they'd do. They believed I was theirs to do as I pleased Carlisle, that I'd do what they wanted me to. They wanted me to settle down and marry, have kids so everyone else would follow their example."

"Surely they cannot expect that!" said Carlisle genuinely taken aback.

"You have become human," said Harry staring at Carlisle grimacing in what could only be pain.

Carlisle flinched as if he'd been stuck, to a normal observer it wasn't such a bad thing to say, to a vampire thought, even ones wanting to blend in with them - it was an insult. One of the worst insults that could ever be uttered between one vampire to another.

"Sorry," said Harry quietly, "You've lived so long, especially among humans; surely you know them better by now?"

Carlisle just nodded still feeling stung by Harry's words. Yet as he thought about it, he realized he had truly spoken to soon. Humans were extremely nosy, believed they had a right to know everything about everyone. It wasn't so hard to believe they had a right over one child now was it?

"They wouldn't accept me; I'm what they consider a dark creature. Add my magic to the mix they'd deem me a dangerous risk; if they knew I'm alive they would do their best to kill me. It's why I've never returned, when I went missing they assumed I'd been taken and killed by one of the remaining Death Eaters. They had a funeral for me, its better this way - my friends have moved on and made a life for themselves. Named one of their children after me, Harry Hugo Weasley." said Harry smirking wryly. He wasn't the only Harry in his generation; with Voldemort gone the increase of children had bloomed once more. Who better to name their son after than the one and only Harry James Potter? Hero of the wizarding world, the one who'd given up his life for their happiness. Or so they liked to tell themselves anyway.

He'd anonymously sent money to the Weasley's, they never knew it was him of course, he'd opened it in the past, telling the Goblin's to give it to them in a certain year. One vault went to Molly and Arthur Weasley and the other of course to Hermione and Ron to be gifted upon their wedding day. Having been accumulating over the years, needless to say they'd never have to worry about money again as long as they lived. If anyone deserved it, it had to be them; they'd risked everything for him.

Not only that, he'd saved Fred, Severus and Hedwig, along the way. Unfortunately the only way he'd been able to save Severus was to turn him. He'd given him a choice though; he would never force anything upon anyone, especially not vampire life. He'd seen him just a few weeks ago, he had enough magic in him to brew potions, and that's exactly what he was doing. He made a new life for himself away from the blackness that came with Severus Snape. Choosing instead to go by the name of Phoenix Neo Prince, ironically enough it meant rebirth, renew, new beginning, which was exactly what Severus wanted. It had been Harry who picked it, they got along better than when they'd been human. It helped by the fact that their human memories were murky. He hadn't asked Severus to help with this; he'd been through two wars he deserved better. Hedwig stayed with him, since Severus…no Phoenix was the one who did anything that required an owl order. It was still odd calling him that, in fact he mostly slipped up, and received hell for it.

"I'm so sorry Harry," said Carlisle compassionately. "You will always be welcome with us; in fact I'd love it if you stayed. I've missed you more than words could express, it hurt a great deal when you left without so much as a word."

"You hurt? Do you know what it's like seeing a man you love as a father missing you? Wanting nothing more than to go and explain everything? Then watching him have a family? A family I'd never get to be part of, watching it grow and expand like I knew it would. You deserved it, you really did. I was so bitter for a long time despite the fact it had been me who left. Especially at Edward, he took my place, and believed he was the first stupid isn't it? But unfortunately we both know one cannot help how they feel." said Harry wryly.

"Do you still feel that way?" asked Carlisle, his heart breaking for how lonely Harry must have been all those years, and how he had been in pain.

"No, I found someone of my own to help, and in doing so it helped me too." explained Harry wistfully. Fred he'd just blasted out of the way, and summoned Hedwig out of the sky and replaced it with a piece of debris. Severus hadn't been as easy to save, since it was vital for 'Harry' to see him before he died. As soon as younger self had left, he continuously cast a spell to keep his heart beating as he removed Nagini's venom and replaced it with his. It had almost failed three times, but with sheer will and desperation he'd succeeded. Thankfully Hermione had seen Severus 'die'; otherwise they might not have accepted Severus' death like they had his.

"You have a chide?" asked Carlisle surprised.

"If you can call it that," said Harry grinning in merriment, "In my human life he was older than me, my teacher in fact, a friend of my parents. He died in the original timeline for me, you see he had promised to help me, keep me alive all in honour of my mother. I didn't have long after my younger self left the scene, but I did ask him if that's what he wanted - he agreed so I turned him. He'd not dependant, he's fiercely independent, I didn't need to teach him anything - he knew it all. I still stuck around through, but he's happier than I've ever seen him."

"Is he in the United Kingdom?" asked Carlisle, curious about Harry's 'chide'.

"No, he didn't want to remain there; his life hasn't been an easy one. He removed all his money from Gringotts and sold his little house in Spinners end, before opening up an apothecary in America. The American's aren't so against vampires as the British are." said Harry.

"Was it a potion you were creating earlier?" enquired Carlisle.

"No I didn't create anything I brewed it, creating takes smarts that I don't have when it comes to Potions." Harry quickly explained.

"What did you brew?" asked Carlisle wanting to know everything about Harry's world.

"It helps the drinker enhance their gift, I'm going to offer it to the others, it will help them see what they are capable of." said Harry. "At least in theory it's what it does, it works for wizards not sure of the affects it will have on a vampire though."

"I see," replied Carlisle musing, it seems his status as the most compassionate vampire might be in danger of being lost to Harry. Yet Carlisle didn't mind, he'd loved Harry for so long, he was grateful for this oncoming war for one reason and that was for bringing Harry back into his life. He just prayed it was for good, he'd missed out on so much of Harry's life, seeing his gifts, everything. There was still so much he wanted to know.

"Come on then, best get back to the others before they think I've ripped you apart and burned the pieces." said Harry chuckling wryly as he jumped down from the tree, landing gracefully on his feet. Waiting on Carlisle before beginning to move, unaware that he was the first person or vampire to get Carlisle Cullen up a tree since he joined the human civilisation again.

"No doubt Alice would let everyone know if that were to happen," said Carlisle right back. His heart hurting when he remembered she was no longer with them, but liked to think she'd warn them if anything would happen. He had to believe they had something up their sleeves, it was the only way he could cope with their leaving.

"Ha!" chortled Harry going faster loving and living for the feel of adrenaline that coursed through him.

Harry knocked politely on the door, waiting on someone answering it; he wasn't impolite enough to just walk in. Plus he'd rather not see them in any state of undress thank you very much; he could smell what they'd been up to. It clung to the very air he had to breathe.

"Is everything alright?" asked Bella immediately, having to stop herself asking if Alice had seen anything, she was gone. She'd told her what to do, and she'd done it despite the pain it caused her to think she wasn't going to be around to see her child grow up.

"Its fine, do you have a minute?" asked Harry.

"Sure, come in," said Bella remembering her manners, she wasn't sure what to make of the newcomer, but Carlisle was a great judge of character. If Carlisle trusted him then she would to, after all he was fighting for her little girl.

"Thank you," said Harry, "It's a nice place you have here."

"Thanks," said Edward coming through to the sitting room where Harry and Bella were.

"I'd like to speak to your wife, if that's alright with you. Alone." said Harry.

Edward's immediate reaction was to say no, but she wasn't human anymore, she could fight for herself. Instead he looked at her, she nodded. "Very well, I'll go speak to Carlisle; I'll be back in ten minutes." Edward said with a note of finality in his voice.

Harry nodded curtly.

"What's wrong?" asked Bella as soon as Edward left.

"You know despite how young you are…you've been a good mother. My own was only a year or so older than you when she had me. She died when she was twenty one years old, a few years out of school and never got to accomplish anything she dreamed of. It must be difficult; when I see you I can't help but think…is this how she was her last year of life? Terrified, trying to stop the inevitable, and praying for some sort of divine interference. Yet knowing nothing would come. Telling yourself you have to find something, some way of saving the very thing you'd die for - your only child."

Bella swallowed thickly, it was as if this vampire could do what even her husband could not - see into the very heart of her. Yet she felt sorrow for him, something only a mother could really feel for a motherless child or man. It chilled her to the bone that this could be what happens to her little girl, her miracle, and one she'd fought for from the moment of conception until right now. She'd fought Edward all the way, determined to have her baby, she never imagined it would bring the Volturi down upon them. Yet if she could go back and do it all over again, she'd make the same decisions, the sort only a mother who loved their child could.

"I see you struggling to try and protect everyone, it's not your job to do it, but you're trying I'll give you that. I know that feeling all to well, it happened to me once." said Harry his amber-ish eyes looking distant. "The fear of failure, that you'd let everyone you love down and it would be the cause of their death. The determination and desperation to be useful for once in your life. To do something that matters, to defeat your opponent. The question is how far would you go to do it?" his eyes snapped back to her and to the present.

"As far as it takes." said Bella adamantly, shivering at the intensity of the vampire, he was a bit like Jasper but more vocal and powerful.

"I have a potion here," said Harry removing it from his pocket, twirling it around in his long white fingers effortlessly. Bella's eyes followed it cautiously and curiously, Harry could almost see each question forming behind those amber eyes of hers. "It should enhance your gift; give you easier access to it for at least a month."

"Should?" echoed Bella bluntly, drawn to the potion despite the question.

"It's supposed to be for Wizards and witches, since you had your gift before you became one…it might enhance it even more." explained Harry.

"Why don't you test it yourself?" said Bella, or take it for that matter she added to herself silently.

"It doubles your gift, not just enhances it, if I took this…I would be no use to anyone. You have no idea how hard it's been to control my magic. My magic is tied to my emotions and they can become slightly …chaotic causing my magic to spike. I imagine your gift is the same, but your desperation and fear is hindering your process, you have to let it come naturally and this will help you see your gift more clearly. If that's the chance you want to take, potions taste awful to humans - they are ten times worse to a vampire…and you have to keep it down." Harry told her bluntly.

"Why did you want Edward to leave? Do you think he wouldn't approve?" asked Bella curiously.

"It's not his choice to make, it's yours. I had no reason for him to leave I wanted to speak to you and you alone." said Harry. "Know this, whether you take the potion or not, I will do everything in my power to see you and your daughter safe. No child deserves to lose their parents at such a young age."

Bella stared at the potion, and then her eyes roamed to her daughter's open door and to where she was tucked up in bed. If there was a slightest chance this thing could work…she had to take it. It could protect everyone she loved and those who were helping her. Her husband didn't know the extent of her shield, when it worked it protected more than just a few people it expanded over a lot of them. Neither she nor Kate wanted him to know the extent of it, not with the knowledge that Aro would get all the information.

"I'll take it." said Bella determination radiating from her thin frame.

"Very well," said Harry, his burnt ember eyes regarding her with pride.

Bella took it from his grasp, opened it and swallowed it in one single second. Refusing to taste it, when the smell was enough to make her vomit. She groaned when it hit her mostly empty stomach, but as quickly as it was uncomfortable it was gone. "How long does it take to work?"

"Feel it, it will be like a tingling, running from your feet to the tips of your fingers…feel the elastic stretching spread it…close your eyes, can you see it?" asked Harry, when Bella nodded he continued, "Good its working, and I think that's your husband returning. I shall take my leave; I'll no doubt see you tomorrow. I'm going to find Kate and see if she'd like it as well."

Bella opened her eyes long enough to see Harry literally disappear on the spot, he didn't move of that she was certain.

"What did he want?" asked Edward staring at where Harry had been moments ago.

"He was just helping me," said Bella.

"How?" asked Edward curiously.

Bella shook her head, not wanting to tell him too much, he seemed to get it since he didn't ask again but she could tell he was curious.

R&R