Sorry for the lack of updates, got no excuses but writer's block and business.

Oh yeah, and I just realized that was deleting the convenient little 'hey, this is a scene/time change' lines that I've been putting in. So if you see TJLTJLTJLTJL a bunch of times, yeah, scene and/or time change. You will probably be able to tell.

Enjoy

Chapter 8

(Harry's POV)

I sighed impatiently as I waited for our last morning class to finish. Draco glanced at me with a small smile on his face; clearly, he knew what I was frustrated about. Our classmates were shooting us, or more specifically me, looks all morning, well, ever since Jessica caught up to me in the hall and practically shouted at me for not telling her that I was with Edward. I still wasn't sure why it was any of her business. Then to shock the rest of the school to bits, I may or may not have told her, out loud, that it wasn't her business and I had bigger things to deal with than that petty conversation. People have been staring at me as if they can't believe that I can suddenly speak and dating Edward, and I just wanted to escape it.

Once the bell rang I was out of my desk and packing up my bag. Draco and I walked out that class and headed to the cafeteria, I glanced at him and he looked at me as if he was expecting something, what I wasn't sure. "Why are you so tense?" I asked him in a whisper.

He seemed to do a bit of a scan of the area before saying quietly so that only I'd hear, "I'm pretty sure Ms. Swan isn't too pleased with you right now. I'm just making sure nothing is going to happen to you, especially since... you know?"

I stopped walking at that and my eyes widened because it had just occurred to me. Without my magic I was completely defenceless, all that time and energy put into training and learning spells was for nothing right now. I had absolutely no way of protecting myself against anyone, especially because I wasn't any good with physical fighting. "Harry?" Draco's voice seemed sort of far away and I felt fear rising at a frightening degree. I looked up at him with wide eyes. I tried to move my mouth to tell him something, anything, but it wasn't working. I took a deep breath and tried again, but it wasn't working. I vaguely noticed people were staring at me weirdly and I felt a hand grip my arm and I panicked. For the first time since I was little I was completely defenceless against people, completely unable to stop them from hurting me.

I pulled away hard from the person who was gripping my arm and bolted down the hall. I heard someone call my name but I couldn't be sure who it was. I dropped my bag because it was weighing me down and head was spinning. I didn't know where I could go that was safe, there was nowhere.

That was when I almost ran straight into someone; I stopped though, my eyes wide with terror. Bella Swan was staring at me with eyes filled to the brim with loathing and I couldn't stop my breath from quickening and I realized yet again my voice wasn't functioning. There were a few people around that had stopped and were watching us but not a huge crowd and no one was close enough to stop her if she decided to attack me. "You," she spat out, visibly shaking with rage. "You, stupid little-" she seemed unable to find a word so demeaning for me, "You've ruined everything!" she shrieked at me and I felt like my stomach was trying to work its way up my oesophagus. "I hate you," she hissed at me and reached back a hand to slap me. Somewhere in my brain responded instantly and I turned my face away, cowering and squeezing my eyes shut. I felt her hand connect with my cheek and I took a stumbled step back.

I stared at her blatant hate for me and I felt myself begin to shake. I'd not see that much anger in someone's eyes since Voldemort and before that my Uncle. I couldn't handle it, I really couldn't. I looked around for an escape and I realized that the gossip hounds around us had slowly been closing in and now I felt certain that if I tried to make an escape that they'd merely push me back. I felt my breath quicken again and my head started to fill with a haze I couldn't think past.

"What is going on here?" Severus' deep voice penetrated the fog long enough for me to catch my breath. I hadn't realized I was still backing up until I hit a bunch of lockers and I felt my knees go weak but I tried my damnedest to not let them buckle. Bella shot me one more look of wanting my death before looking at Severus who was giving his own death glare to which I could tell shocked her. "Ms. Swan, care to explain why Mr. Potter here is against the lockers with a handprint on his face?"

She looked livid and refused to answer. Finally Severus directed her to go to the principal's office and wait for him there and pretty much demanded everyone else to get lost. He approached me slowly as I was still shaking and taking huge breathes that never seemed enough. He lowered his face so we were at the same level and looked into my eyes, "Harry," he said softly, "We're in America Harry, and Voldemort is dead, remember?" he asked like he knew exactly why I was so frightened.

I nodded, still unable to catch my breath. I tried to get my mouth to tell him I needed to sit down, but it still wasn't working. I grew frustrated, but Severus seemed to know what I wanted because he put an arm around my shoulder and lead me towards his classroom which was just a little down the hall. Once we entered I saw that Luna was already there, and her eyes were red. She hopped off the table she was sitting on and came over to envelope me in a hug. I held on, trying to slow my breaths to match hers, it was working, very slowly.

Once the two of them got me seated, Luna hugged me while I told them what happened and used Luna's presence to ground me. Once I was finished explaining I let myself be comforted by Luna's presence and Severus left to deal with Bella.

(Luna's POV) (A few minutes previous)

Fate was truly heartless, cruel. I sat in Severus' classroom tears running down my face and I did nothing to stop them. There was nothing for it, and Severus knew I needed to do this in the presence of no one else. Severus sat across from me in silence, waiting for me to speak. He had our lunches spread out in front of us, a silent reminder of our lives were continuing on, time was passing around us. I sighed and closed my eyes, wiping the remains of tears away. "I'm sorry," I whispered touching my sandwich but not picking it up. "I just- the thought of him- this isn't how-" I felt that the world was falling apart, "I know how it ends, but... oh God, is there no way for me to change what I've seen it? Is there no way that what I've seen is mere trickery, an illusion meant to confuse me from the path fate wishes to take me?" I asked him tears falling down my cheeks again.

Severus' eyebrows pulled together in confusion, "Luna, how does it end?" he asked as softly as possible for Severus.

I swallowed and looked up at him, "He tells me he loves me as he dies in my arms, but..."
I trailed off, shaking my head, "We're older, much older, this isn't supposed to happen now, but how can he survive this for so long when I know he's going to be too sick in a few days? I can't stand it, his impending doom; it looms closer every day, the images of his death dwindling down by years every minute."

Severus seemed to ponder this and remained silent as I shook with renewed sobs. I stopped crying suddenly, seeing the future take shape in my mind, two outcomes presented itself and I observed them both as I opened my mouth to alert Severus. I closed my mouth and thought about it for a moment. "Severus, Harry is about to be attacked by Bella Swan in the hallway, but if you interrupt her before she lets out her anger at him, the consequences will be much worse than if she is unable to get whatever she is looking for out of the confrontation."

Severus looked weary at this, "Luna Lovegood, you are speaking in tongues again." He teased me in his dour way. "What will she do if I interrupt their fight right out that is so much worse that her attacking Harry right now in this moment?"

I debated telling him for only a moment before I decided it was okay because even if he decided to go against my judgement, I was sure Severus would do everything in his power to help Harry. I pulled out my phone fast when I saw several outcomes and texted Alice to ask her not to reveal the upcoming fight to the others until we had Harry safe and calmed somewhat before bringing the others and to let Severus deal with it and to make sure Draco doesn't interact with Bella as he will do serious damage to her, incurring more of her wrath.

I told Severus as I did this that Bella would do far more public and visible humiliation to Harry, whereas she would merely strike him once if Severus interrupted it at the right moment. She would harm his slowly growing confidence in himself and make him curl back into himself when this confrontation would merely make him do that until we calmed him down again.

"You'll want to leave now," I told him softy and he was up out of his chair in an instant and was heading out the door and down the hall. He returned shortly after with a shaking and gasping Harry and I hopped off my chair, feeling immensely guilty that I was unable to save him from both interactions with the Swan and pulled him into a hug, wishing fiercely that I hadn't condoned this by his shaking and sobs.

He slowly calmed down and repeated the events, some of which Severus already knew from me but he didn't say that, I assume because he knew I felt guilty for allowing Harry to be hurt like this. When he left I stayed hugging him and waiting for the others to arrive as they would soon.

I sighed, I knew as soon as Edward was here he would calm down completely and I wish I had that with Draco, but it seemed be our fate to never reveal our love to one another. Edward burst through the door exactly then startling us both and causing Harry to squeak with fear and burrow his face in my shoulder, whimpering unintelligibly.

"Harry," Edward whispered like Harry was the most beautiful, treasured artefact he'd ever found and although he found him broken, he was still the greater treasure to walk the earth. I looked over at Draco who looked like he was restraining himself from getting angry, but not anyone but himself. I let go of Harry as Edward came and enveloped him in a hug, letting him deal with his distressed mate. I went over to Draco and took his hand in mine as I pulled him into the hall.

Draco looked down at me in confusion when we were outside with the door closed. "Do not be angry at yourself," I told him, "I asked Alice to intercept you and make sure you didn't go after Harry."

Draco stared at me with an expression so filled with hurt I had to look away from him, "I understand if you are angry at me, but you must understand, if Bella had not gotten to give Harry a taste of her angry then she would have been much worse later." I took a shuddering breath, "and if you had interrupted her she would have claimed Harry was playing around with both Edward and you. It would have destroyed Harry that he couldn't control the rumours about him even here and I couldn't let all his hard work be undone... Severus stopped her, he will be okay."

"Are you sure about that?" he asked, his voice filled with such venom it made me wince. "Harry is in pieces," he hissed at me and I cringed, tears bubbling up and I closed my eyes in attempt to reign in my emotions.

"I know," I said my voice full of emotion and regret, "But I didn't know what to do. It's such a burden, to know much I let him be hurt and yet I know I saved him from greater pain. How can I ever atone for this sin? There is nothing. I have hurt my best friend." I felt tears on my cheeks again and I couldn't look at Draco. I rubbed my eyes vehemently, "I am no better than Dumbledore," I whispered feeling broken by Draco's silent anger.

"No," Draco sighed softly and I felt surprise for the first time in a long time, "No, you're not as bad as him. He didn't regret putting Harry in the positions he set him in." Draco watched me for a moment, "I know you do, you wouldn't do this unless you knew it was better for him."

I hiccupped, my chest hurting at the thought of Harry in pain because I let him be so. "I hate this, I hate my life, I hate my seeing." I had not felt so much despair over my own life in a long time. I pressed my hands to my face in attempt to hide my misery.

I felt arms around me and I shook as I rested my head on his shoulder, "Do not say such things," he whispered in my ear. "You may hate this situation, and you may dislike your seeing, but do not hate your life. It is a gift to us," I clung to him, not truly believing him, and yet feeling comforted. I would still need to do much work to atone for the pain I'd caused Harry, but Draco was not mad at me, and Draco was not mad at himself. I supposed for now that would have to do. I myself I would make it up to him, if it was the last thing I did.

(Edward's POV)

I gathered the small quivering bundle into my arms and held his shaking form to me. I gently shushed him, rocking back and forth, "It's going to be alright Harry, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. No one will hurt you," I assured him, lulling him into security. He very slowly calmed down and I gently look his face into my hands and frowned when I saw the still bright red handprint on his face. The sight made the vampire in me weep for the pain of my mate and furious at whomever dared to harm him at the same time. It was an intense pull of the two emotions and I had to acknowledge the anger in me but at the same time, push it down and let the angst of seeing him hurt rest at the forefront of my mind as Harry needed comfort right now, not a promise of revenge.

He looked away, obviously feeling some form of shame as he placed a hand there, the vampire in me gnashed his teeth at the thought of tearing apart the one who did this, but again I had to let that side rest for now in acknowledgement that now was not the time.

Harry seemed lost for words for a moment, looking to Hermione and Ron for answers. Hermione came forwards after a few seconds and took his other hand into hers, "Harry, it's okay, this wasn't your fault. You're good Harry, you're good." She reassured him and I felt ice drop into my stomach. It was such a strange way to comfort someone; it was the way someone would comfort the abused.

Harry took a shuttering breath, "I-I'm good, not my fault, not my fault," he trailed off, whispering this mantra under his breath.

I pulled him to me and kissed his forehead, "Yes Harry, you're good, you're perfect. This was not your fault," I assured, rubbing his arms and he slowly began to relax, letting his ridged muscles slump into my hold.

Alice smiled at me, a sure sign that things would be okay and after a few seconds Harry gave a huge sigh and nodded, "It's okay, I'll be okay. I'm sorry, I just... I couldn't help remembering..." he trailed off again and Hermione nodded again and Ron smiled at him, trying to convey that it was going to be okay.

After a few minutes of silence and just being in each other's presence calmly, Harry said, "Okay, I'm good, do you mind if we go get lunch now?" he asked innocently smiling up at me.

I chuckled as Ron exclaimed his agreement and the two of us got off the stool and I placed an arm around his waist as just a bit of comfort to myself and to him. Ron opened the door to see Draco and Luna hugging, causing the two to jump apart, Luna blushing wildly, tear streaks on her face and Draco looking flustered.

Luna looked suddenly very embarrassed and practically pushed past Draco as she walked quickly down the hall. "Luna," Draco called but then grimaced and sighed.

"Is she okay?" Harry asked looking concerned over the welfare of his friend, "That was rather unlike her."

Draco look as if he were conflicted and sighed again, "No entirely, don't worry about it though Harry, I'll sort of out." Harry looked momentarily discontent with that before Draco shot him a glare clearly telling him to back of the situation. The vampire in me growled at that look, but I knew it was merely meant to ward Harry off of interfering in something Draco clearly wanted to handle on his own, so I let it do.

Harry scowled but nodded in acceptance and allowed me to steer him towards the Cafeteria, a glance at Draco proved that he was gazing down the hall with an expression that clearly said he wished to go after her but knew he shouldn't. In the end he followed us to the cafeteria, his hands shoved in his pockets and looking dejected, but thoughts were swarming in his head like angry bees. Although I couldn't hear what he was thinking, the thoughts were ringing with a loud urgent hum and I resolved upon hearing it that perhaps it might be in everyone's best interest if I got to know Draco Malfoy a little better.

TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL TJL

(Harry's POV)

Draco was acting strangely different after the incident in the hall but I was trying very hard not to get involved with it. He clearly didn't want me poking my nose in it, so I resolved to let him deal with it as he saw fit, a new thing for me.

School was finished for the day now and we all stood together outside in the parking lot, feeling ice crawl up our fingers and toes, well at least the fingers and toes of the mortals, and discussing what to do now that school was out. Draco looked exhausted and was opting to go home, to which Luna agreed that she too would like to go home, but the rest of us hadn't seen Forks all too much and admittedly were curious as to what people did around here.

Finally Draco and Luna agreed to apparate home while Alice and Edward would show Ron, Hermione and I around town. It felt sort of just like old times to just be with Ron, Hermione, Edward and Alice, which was strange I realized, because I hardly knew Alice and Edward. Still, it felt as if I had stepped back into my first years at Hogwarts and I let loose. I had never felt the weight lift off my shoulders so abruptly and completely, it made my heart sing.

They showed us the main shops in town; there really wasn't much to see, and the popular places to eat. They promised to show us all around Port Angeles sometime, but for now we stuck to Forks. We headed into a little cafe that Edward said was decently popular but we wouldn't be overrun by people we knew from school and sat around with hot chocolates that only Ron, Hermione and I were drinking. We talked about meaningless things for a while and I found it oddly relaxing to just discuss things which Hermione thought were juvenilely inconsequential and Ron thought were interesting, like how they get chocolate chips into their shape and how much better things smelled after it rained.

Unfortunately it seemed such conversations would come an abrupt end when the cafe door opened again with a small ring from the bell hung by the door. I could feel the blood under my skin ooze away to find some other place to reside as I looked upon the face of Isabella Swan. "Can we go?" I blurted instantly and then practically dove into Edward's side to hide. Some part of me knew I was being ridiculous, but the rest of me couldn't help it. She brought on all the horrible memories of my past, and she brought someone with her this time, someone who instantly brought thoughts of fear into my mind.

I clutched my hot chocolate cup in both my hands and held it near me as the others looked to see who it was. The two vampires scowled as if a foul odour had struck them, but quickly discarded the expressions. "Yes, of course Harry, but you must know you have nothing to fear," Alice reassured as Edward's arm around me tightened comfortably.

"Yeah, we'll hex her arse to pieces if she so much as thinks to do something out of line," Ron promised passionately as Hermione smiled at me kindly before she turned to him and rolled her eyes to show she was not a fan of his current maturity level and yet somewhat agreeing.

We stood from the booth heading towards the door and I hoped that she wouldn't cause a huge confrontation around right here, but sensed it was inevitable. "Well, if it isn't Harry Potter and his little gang of friends," Bella sneered, "Where's your little bodyguard, Draco? Is he upset you dumped him for Edward?" Bella practically spat at me and I resisted the urge to shrink back. The tall Native American boy next to her looked at her with an expression of intense surprise; clearly, he hadn't expected that reaction from her.

Hermione and Ron looked thoroughly pissed by this accusation but let me deal with it. "I assure you, Bella, Draco and I have never had that kind of relationship. We're just really close friend."

Bella snorted her hands on her hips, "Yeah, with benefits, clearly. Why else would he be all over you?" She glanced to the side a bit, clearly Edward wasn't too pleased with her as her face hardened slightly with more anger, "Don't you look at me like that Edward; it's not my fault you can't see that he's clearly cheating on you with that blonde faggot."

"Draco isn't gay, you twat," Ron exploded, causing that already quiet, as most had been clearly eavesdropping on the argument, to get eerily quiet, "And you're a bitch for saying such things about Harry, he's a perfectly good gentleman and you come around here sprouting this garbage that he's- he's what? Doing a bit on the side with Draco? Oh please, now you're just being purposefully daft. It's just plain barmy. It's barking mad, I tell you." I smiled slightly; leave it to Ron to sprout off in English slang when he's all riled up. He got right up in her face until she was leaning back to avoid him. Hermione placed a hand on his back and he settled back down with a clear of his throat, coming to stand next to her, giving me a slight nod as he did.

Bella's face was slightly red from Ron's little rant but she still kept her glare up. I noticed as she did that the boy slightly behind her, the Native, looked extremely awkward in this situation. "Look, Bella," she focused her attention back to me, "I'm sorry if you were hurt by Edward breaking up with you and all that. I went through a bad breakup myself a while back, but you got to just... move on. I'm sorry if you felt like I stole him from you, I promise it wasn't my intention."

She started at me for a second, completely blown away for a moment before she glared more fiercely, "You filthy liar, you won't trick me like you tricked them. You're evil, pure evil," she screeched at me.

I winced but before anything else happened the owner of the cafe came out and glared at us, "Excuse me, but I couldn't help overhear you all. If you don't mind, I need to ask that you leave on account that you're disturbing the customers." The woman said, she had long frizzy blond hair and stern blue eyes. She reminded me a little of Molly Weasley, and a glance at Ron prove that he thought so too if his heart-stricken expression was anything to go by.

Bella glared at her, but before she could say anything the Native put a hand on her shoulder, "No problem ma'am, we were just leaving," he said looking embarrassed. He then turned Bella like it was nothing and practically frog-marched her out the door.

"Come on guys," Hermione said quietly and we left too.

When we had gotten into the car I frowned, "Who was that guy anyways?"

Alice and Edward both glared at the same time, "Jacob Black," Edward hissed.

"He lives in La Push, the Indian reservation," Alice supplied.

"Oh," I said quietly, "he seems nice," I said trying to be a little optimistic about him.

"Yeah," Edward scoffed, "For a werewolf."