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Bella's POV.
Saturday rolled around the corner like time had found the speed up button. I was slightly nervous about the meetings that I would have that day. I slowly packed up all the paperwork I had while silently cursing the lack of muggle gadgets like a laptop in the magical world.
'Perhaps I should hint the idea of making computers work in a magical environment to the twins. That would keep them busy and they are smart enough to manage it if it is possible.' I thought as I placed the last of my plans in my organizer.
I dared a glance in the mirror and nodded as I was wearing muggle suitable clothes. I quickly apparated to a safe apparition spot in Oxford close to the Holiday Inn. It took a few minutes of walking from there before I reached the hotel.
"Hello, can I help you?" the lady behind the desk asked.
"Yes, I'm Lady Potter. I have book a meeting room for the day."
"Ah, yes. Welcome to the Holiday Inn, Lady Potter. Would you please follow me?"
She led me to a medium sized meeting room with a white board, a fridge and a coffee machine.
"The drinks are included so feel free to take what you want. As agreed we will serve snacks at half past ten and at two in the afternoon. Lunch will be served at noon."
"That's okay." I nodded.
"Could you tell me the names of your guests so that I can bring them here when they arrive."
"I'm hoping that Rosalie McCarthy Cullen will be here around ten this morning. Madam Longbottom, Mrs Granger and Mrs Weasley will be arriving before lunch."
She made a few notes and nodded.
"If you need anything, just dial triple one for the front desk."
"Thank you." I nodded.
I waited until the woman left before taking out my wand and casting silencing shields and protection wards for eavesdropping. I took the time I had left to prepare for the things I wanted to discus with Rosalie. I wasn't sure if she would accept the invitation but I couldn't help to feel hopeful.
Shortly before ten there was a knock on the door and I got up to open it.
"Miss Cullen is here." I nodded and opened the door completely.
Seeing Rosalie after three years wasn't as hard as I imagined it to be. I was torn between running towards her and hugging her and being slightly pissed off at her for not being very kind to me in the past. Rosalie however seemed to think differently and swept me up in a hug.
"Oh, Bella, I have missed you. I'm so happy to see you." She said happily.
"Air, Rosalie." I gasped.
"Oops." She said and stepped back.
"I'm happy to see you too, Rosalie." I said with a smile. "Though you do have some explaining to do."
"We have missed you greatly. The family hasn't been the same since. Emmett was so happy with that shouting letter you send him."
"Yeah, I thought he would be. The damn guy made me cry with his letter, he deserved to be yelled at. Too bad the letter couldn't smack him around the ears." I huffed.
"And about that explanation…" Rosalie sighed. "I was deliberately being mean to you for two reasons. Firstly, for the safety of my family. You know our law and I feared what might happen if the Volturi found out a human knew about us."
"That, I understand. Perhaps if I had been able to tell the truth it would have been different."
"I'm not sure about that." Rosalie sighed. ""It wasn't only that. I just saw you were falling so hard for Edward and to be with him would mean becoming a vampire eventually. And I don't wish this life on anyone. You deserve so much more."."
I sighed and nodded.
"I understand, Rosalie. I truly do and I have already forgiven you for it."
I did understand where she came from. After Harry brought me home I had spent many nights going over everything that had happened and what could have happened. After long consideration I started to doubt my wishes for being changed. After the things I had seen and done in the war I started to doubt if I could live with myself forever.
"Come sit with me." I said as I shook the morbid thoughts out of my mind. "I brought a bottle of Dragon blood for you so you can eat with me."
"That's very thoughtful of you."
I shrugged and opened the bottle.
"I know it must be strange for you to hear but I have been around vampires since I was eleven. My second class at Hogwarts was about how to recognize werewolves and vampires, as they do look like humans most of the time. During the summer after that school year I stayed with a friend and bumped into a vampire who was turned when she was only thirteen. She was a human drinker but on a criminal only diet. We became good friends. That's why I was never uncomfortable around you all." I explained.
"Yes, it's very weird to know that besides vampires there is a whole group of humans who know about us. It makes the rules of not exposing ourselves seem so weird." Rosalie sighed. "But I read in that book you send me that the rules for the wizarding world are even more strict."
"That's because there are so many more of us who live amongst humans, Muggles. Also the fact that children with magic are born to muggle parents brings great risk of exposure." I explained.
"Yes, I read about that. It seems so weird that as somebody who doesn't know anything about magic gives birth to a child with magic and then your ministry just let those parents sort it out for eleven years with no support what so ever." Rosalie commented. I smiled as we automatically dived into the work that needed to be done. Rosalie just nodded at me. She knew that she had just agreed to help me out.
"It is. My best friend is a muggle born witch. One of the most powerful witches in our world. Her parents had been in quite a panic when ever their daughter did something logic couldn't explain."
"How did they deal with it?"
"Send her to a psychiatrist to talk through the weird things she would speak about. Punishing her for the weird things that would happen like she had control over it. Luckily it stayed with house arrest and simple things like chores and stuff but there are muggles who try to beat it out of the child."
"That's awful." Rosalie sighed. "Why isn't the magical world doing something about that? I have read about the differences between blood classes but surely they do something for those kids."
I sighed sadly and shook my head.
"It's only because of our story that people are willing to look into it at the moment. Before the last war muggles were considered far below the magical community and left to deal with issues theirselves. Only after a child gets their Hogwarts letter do they become a part of the magical world and before the war their part wasn't even all that recognized."
"That's barbaric." Rosalie gasped.
"It is and the new ministry recognizes this, that's why we work to set up my department. My department will form legislations and rules to ensure the safety of all magical children, including muggle-born children. I know very little about proper childcare in the muggle world. I need to know what happens to a non-magical child when they grow up. I need to know about shots, diet, education and more to form these legislations that are also applicable to the muggle world. That is why I need your help. You know and care a lot about children. Together with you, another muggle parent and two witches who have raised children before I want to create a plan that can hold up to the scrutiny of the wizarding world but would ensure the safety of all magical children."
"That will be a great idea." Rosalie said. "I can make a summary of all the important steps a child goes through like vaccinations, check ups, development, schooling and all those things and we can compare it to what happens in the magical world."
I smiled and nodded.
"Yes, that would be a good start. Though any change in law that we introduce have to be carefully done. The whole wizengamot is filled with old bats who still cling to their old ways. While after the war quite a few young lord and ladies have taken up their seats they still don't have the majority. Better we take baby steps with anything related to muggles."
Rosalie nodded and started writing notes.
"Even after reading that one book I can already think up so many ideas. I would love to learn more about the magical world." She said.
"You know what. I still have to make it up to Emmett about that howler. Why don't I take you and Emmett shopping in the magical world somewhere next week, we can pick up some books for you to read and I'll make sure to have a bottle of dragon blood ready at home for dinner."
"That would be lovely, Bella." Rosalie smiled. "You know, I'm really sorry for how I treated you. You have always been insanely kind to us and I just behaved like a bitch."
"There is no need to be sorry, Rosalie. You were protecting your family. Having a human know about vampires could cause you major issues. You didn't know about my secret so you acted like you should."
"Still, had you been a vampire I wouldn't have been bothered with Edward dating you. I would have liked you a lot. He should have just changed you."
I flinched when I heard that name but pushed aside the lingering hurt and focused on the anger.
"Well, we don't have to worry about that anymore. I think he made himself pretty clear about his feelings for me. So becoming a vampire now isn't an option anymore." I stated. "I'd love to stay in contact with the whole family but I don't think you should ever worry about me becoming an active part again. Though I do find your sentiment very kind."
Rosalie looked quite shocked and it made me wonder what the prick had told them about why he was leaving me. Harry had told me the reason why Carlisle and Esmee had agreed to leave me but I was sure Edward had told them something very different than he told me.
"Anyway." Rosalie continued. "While reading your book I noticed that almost all magical children are home-schooled. Those born to one magical parent either go to a primary school or are home-school as well."
"Yes, pure-blood witches and wizards are trained in etiquettes and politics from a very young age. They are also taught in arts or music, writing and reading and most of the time ancient family magic as well. Kids from very rich parents will also learn to manage the assets." I explained.
"What about social skills?" Rosalie asked.
"Well, most are taken along to social events where they have to behave as good little adults. They are taught how to have proper conversations."
"I mean with kids their age. In the human world young children go to day-care, so they can learn how to interact with other kids. It's an important step in a child's development. They also learn to become independent of their parents."
I nodded and wrote down what she told me. For Harry and me primary school and day-care had been a complete nightmare thanks to the Dursley's so I would never seen it as an institute that helped a child's development.
"I think you have a valid point here, we will have to discus this with Madam Longbottom and Molly. They have been raising kids in the magical world alone. They should give us some insights into this from that perspective."
Rosalie nodded and flipped through the book and started to point out other things that she found weird or confusing. We worked slowly through the list of things she pointed out and by lunchtime we had quite the list and already some simple plans in place that I could easily push for in a Wizengamot meeting.
A knock on the door announced the arrival of Molly and Madam Longbottom.
"Welcome ladies. Let me introduce you to a good friend of mine, Rosalie McCarthy Cullen." I held my breath as I awaited their reaction to Rosalie being a vampire. I was slightly worried because if they couldn't see past that minor thing the rest of the magical world would be so much harder to convince.
Molly looked at her for a second and smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Rosalie." Molly said and held out her hand. Rosalie looked shocked for a second before taking the offer.
"The pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Weasley. Bella has told me quite a bit about you and your family and I must admit that I'm very impressed with you."
"Our Isabella has always been too kind but I do have a score to settle with your brother. Vampire or not, nobody harms my second-hand daughter and gets away scotch free." Molly bristled.
I chuckled at the look on Rosalie's face she was torn between protecting her brother and laughing at the idea of a human besting a vampire. She settled on shaking her head and smile friendly.
Madam Longbottom looked at me with question.
"You trust her?" She asked friendly.
"With my life."
"That's good enough for me." Augusta said and walked towards Rosalie. "I'm Augusta Longbottom. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Rosalie shook her hand as well.
"My family and I don't prey on humans. We drink from animals only. I'm very proud to admit that I have never tasted human blood, not even in my newborn years. You have nothing to fear from me."
"If Isabella trust you than so do I. I just wanted to confirm that with her. Our family has had bad encounters with the human killing variety."
Rosalie nodded but before she could say anything Mrs. Granger appeared in the doorway.
"Hello everybody!" She called.
"Emma, come in." I called happily. "You know Molly and Augusta already. Let me introduce you to my friend and advisor Rosalie McCarthy Cullen."
Emma looked up at Rosalie, temporary dazed by her allure but shook herself out of it quite quickly. It took Emma a minute to decided whether or not she trusted Rosalie but in the end she gave in.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Rosalie." Emma said. "I'm Emma Granger, one of Isabella's many surrogate mothers."
"It seems she collects those." Rosalie chuckled. "It's nice to meet you as well, Mrs Granger."
"It's Emma. It might be wise to inform your brother about all the angry mothers he has created. It might make him think. Not to mention all the fathers that come with the mothers." Emma said with a wink.
"Okay, that's enough." I called. "Rosalie is very protective of her family and you are all making her very uncomfortable. Let's have lunch and then get to work. Rosalie and I have been working for a few hours already."
The other nodded and moved to the table. I handed Rosalie the bottle of dragon blood and whispered to her.
"They were all very angry when I returned home in such a bad state. Harry told them what happened and ever since nobody with the name Cullen has been treated kindly. If they are rude to you in anyway I'll hex them into the next millennia."
"Don't worry about it, we do deserve some ribbing for leaving you like that." Rosalie shrugged.
"That's the past now. Let's focus on the future." I sighed.
We sat down and started to talk about ideas and differences between the muggle and magical world for children. Rosalie sat with Emma as they were both very well versed in the muggle world.
Lunch was served half an hour later with sandwiches and soup for everybody.
"Can you eat this?" Emma asked Rosalie.
"No, sadly not. I do miss the taste of food and cooking. For a vampire human food smells really bad." Rosalie answered. "My mother Esmee loves to cook. I don't know how she does it but ever Sunday she makes tons of human food and bring it to the homeless shelters."
"You know, I'll ask Esmee if she would like to do that for the orphanage Harry and I are starting this summer as well. Vampire or not, Esmee's food rivals that of Molly." I mused.
"I'm sure she would love to do that." Rosalie stated.
After lunch we worked on creating plans, solving issues and learning from each other. I found that when it comes to raising kids there was no one perfect way. For each child there was a different path and different needs.
The home-schooling in the magical world was brought up and both Molly and Augusta were surprised by the research and studies Emma had brought forth as to why pre-school and primary school were so important to a child's development.
Emma and Rosalie totally sold the idea when they mentioned the extra time a mother would have when not having to be with their kids for eleven years. Rosalie mentioned that it would give the mother a chance to pursue a job or hobbies. Emma explained to them how it had worked for Hermione as she was magical and we started to see new issues forming with muggle borns.
After just one afternoon I had tons of ideas and Emma had offered to print out and send me a ton of research into childcare. I knew from the healer I had consulted, that St. Mungo's would support the muggle research with their own findings. He had already brought me a lot of research results on how to raise a magical child.
It was almost six when we finished it up and set a new date for further meetings. Rosalie lingered with me while the other left with a friendly wave.
"What's on your mind, Rosalie?" I asked as I placed all the paper work in the right files.
"They accepted me so easily." She breathed. "After years of being around humans that were scared of me, they treated me like just any other good friend."
"Surprised?"
"Shocked rather. In a good way."
"I hate to inform you that not all in the magical world will be so accepting of your kind. They have good reason to fear a vampire. I'm hoping that ones these changes start to show their worth that I can use your involvement to have Hermione push for better laws for vampires and werewolves. There are a lot more like you who want to live in peace."
Rosalie nodded and looked thoughtful.
"So, what's next?" She asked.
"Well, I'm going to work out all these ideas and present them to my boss. Then I'm going to show him why I need lots of staff. In the next month I'm hoping to get at least five people to work for me to realize this all." I explained. "If you want it I'm willing to see if I can get you on the official payroll as my advisor. If you don't want that then we will keep to the arrangement I have made with the others."
"What would it mean to be on the payroll?"
"Well besides that you will be paid for your input, you will also become an official part of the ministry."
"I guess that's not the best way to go about it." Rosalie sighed.
"Not yet. I think there is still too much idiocy for you to be able to be happy there. However I would be perfectly happy if you were to drop by every now and then." I said. "I'll show you the entrance next week when we go shopping."
Rosalie nodded and left shortly after that. Knackered and tired I went home to get a long warm soaking bath.