Double digits, woo hoo! Uber...*cringes*....sor I took awhile....Lucius and Edward were a bit difficult to deal with (that's why Lucius is getting his own story, the brat). Here is my response to some reviewers that didn't leave me a reply back and for you case u overlooked these good points (initials for privacy even though you could figure it out if you were that nosy):
SM: I am glad that it was believable before, and I hope you still continue to read this, but my reasoning is that Lucius never wanted to be a DE so he was grateful that Harry rid that evil from him. He extended the Malfoy name in case Dumbledore was planning something against him because he wanted to save him from more evil after all that he had done. Remember, he originally wanted to have his son friends with him from the start to open his eyes to those kinds of things while still looking like a loyal DE by 'getting him on his side'.
GG: I believe that Dumbledore already knew about them, he pretty much knows everything, he just hadn't told Harry yet. And Harry knew because 1, he knew he had some kind of connection with Voldemort and 2 because I hadn't thought that through very well and so he magically knows about horcruxes. I guess it's because he researched a ritual in order to kill Voldemort the best way possible (preventing from ever coming alive again) and learned that way since one would need to kill off horcruxes to do so.
The Strength of Blood
10: Explaining Blood
Harry's POV
Of course, everybody wanted to know exactly what happened. I didn't grant any answers, nor did Draco, until Edward was given the 'ok' by the school nurse and we were all washed up. Then the Chief of Police, his badge said Charlie, lead us all together into an empty classroom. I obviously sat next to Edward and Draco settled into a seat on my free side. I saw him throw some pretty mean glances Edward's way, and I think Edward saw too since he stiffened a bit.
"What are you doing?" I hiss under my breath, leaning towards him.
Draco started to answer when the Muggle cleared his throat. "Let's skip the pleasantries. All of this business is rather suspicious and if I don't get a good answer out of you guys, I'll get sacked," I think that was supposed to be a joke but the tension in the room, between Draco and Edward at least, only heightened. He quickly sent his chuckle into a cough.
"In that case," He began.
"It's all my doing, sir," Edward blurted, though without the sense of guilt most people do when they blurt things. Charlie peered expectantly at him, as if he wanted to blame it on Edward. What was with this town and pointing fingers at the Cullens?
"You see, I've done my best to stop it, but every once in a while I need to have a smoke," I had to forcibly restrain myself from turning to look at him; that was the most blatant lie I had ever heard and I've uttered some pretty transparent ones. Plus, he definitely didn't look like a smoker to me or the less Muggle-like Draco. "I skipped my 6th period class, Spanish with Ms. Barrows (1), today because I had the urge to you know..." He gestured with his hands, playing his part of the embarrassed instigator well.
"Smoke?" Charlie inserted for him, barely able to contain his joy at being the one to know what 'dirty secrets' the family had. I was disgusted with him, and Draco too for that matter. He gave me the feeling that another Malfoy was going to be privvy to this.
"Yeah," Edward gave him a grateful smile, teeth blemish and yellow free. I smirked to myself; I suppose it was our advantage that the Chief was willing to believe anything to get dirt on the Cullens. "And, I always go into the boy's locker room through the window because it's easy to remove the evidence and smell there,"
"What about the smoke setting off the alarm in there?" Charlie frowned. Damn, despite his eagerness, he was good at his job.
"Oh, I do my best to stay away from it and I don't think it's very good," Edward amended.
"That's for sure, it fell right out of the ceiling the cheap thing," He muttered to himself although I'm pretty sure we all heard him. "So why did the fire start?"
"Well, I got hot in there so I took my shirt off, and in the process, my lighter fell out and kind of set it on fire," Edward murmured so low that I had difficulty hearing it. Charlie nodded and wrote down his statement though.
"I see," He spoke and then turned to Draco and I. "Now, what is your side of the story?"
I looked at Draco, he was always the better one at lying and/or coming up with stories on the spot that match, but he acted like he didn't want anthing to do with helping out Edward. "Well, we just moved here and today was our first day of school. So naturally, I was exhausted by lunch and when I get exhausted, I'm very irritable. A few snooty comments and I blew up, heading straight for my next class which was Gym," Charlie hadn't questioned me or made any noises so I just continued.
"Draco followed me; he knows I get violent when I get angry sometimes. I jammed the door to the locker room pretty much which is why no one could get in," I thought he would have wondered how I managed to jam a door so badly that even the Coach couldn't break in, but he merely seemed more interested if the glow in his eye was anything to go by.
I shrugged to myself. "While we were talking we heard glass break and smelled smoke. I suppose the heat must have caused it to burst and then he," I pointed to Edward, not sure if I should mention that I know his name. I have a feeling that it would only cause more harm. "came towards us and helped us out,"
"So he did, did he?" Charlie spoke. "If that is that," He paused, looking at Draco in the eye for a long time as if asking him to 'remember' something that I omitted that could get Edward into more trouble. He sighed when Draco, thankfully, decided to stay silent.
"Then all I can do, since you are still a minor," He paused again to look at Edward. "Is assign you 24 hours of community service of reconstructing what you destroyed,"
Edward stood up, mumbled his thanks to the Chief, and left after giving me a long gaze that took my breath. Draco quickly followed him, if only to separate me from him since I'm sure the school already called Lucius to pick us up. I sighed dramatically and made my way out as well, stopped only by Charlie's voice.
"You know, I think you'd be the perfect man for my daughter, Bella," I inwardly cringed at the thought of being with someone other than my lion. "She's about your age,"
"Yeah?" I mustered the ability to say. "I haven't seen her,"
He chuckled, though it was dark. "No, she's not in school anymore,"
"Why not?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
"She made off with this one guy one day, claiming to be in love. I have good suspicion that he abused her; she came home near-death after a rendevouz with him somewhere. She left for a month, came back all bruised and pregnant," He looked down and I almost left him alone, but at the last second his raised his head and looked right at me. "That guy that you sat next to, Edward Cullen, he gives me the same feeling that that one kid gave me the day I met him,"
I sucked in my breath. If Edward truly was my lion, was that the danger I felt from him? Charlie seemed expectant for an answer. "I'll think about that, sir," I finally gave him, going off to meet my no doubt frantic parents.
*
Edward's POV
"What in the name of all that is good were you thinking?! I can't believe you, you nearly gave us away! And what was all that crap about smoking, huh?" Was screamed at me the moment we got home after our very silent ride there. I couldn't help smiling, especially because of who it was berating me.
"Rosalie, that's enough," Carlisle said softly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. He, too, was smiling softly.
"Is he okay? Are they both going to live?" Alice nearly throttled me with her shaking as she shook very rushed, surprising me with her level of worry.
"Yes, they are both fine. Shaken up, mostly," I remembered that the only thing that woke me was Harry's blood and my smile dissipated. Everyone descended into silence again at my brooding.
"Why don't we all sit down and talk about this?" Carlisle suggested. Of course, no one can argue with his suggestions so we all gathered in the living room to interrogate me. I suppose I should have been at the very least intimidated, but I couldn't help but find myself in an inappropriately somewhat cheery mood.
"Now, who would like to start?" I calmly fold my hands and place them over my lap as I wait.
"How about you start by explaining?" Carlisle countered with a gleam in his eye I could not identify. I sighed inwardly, not how I wanted this to go.
"Alright, so I know the new kids..."
"But they're from Australia, I thought," Esme interrupted. I smiled wide and toothy, probably somewhat vicious looking though not intentionally.
"No, they are not. I know quite well that they live and breath the same air I did and I knew the black-haired kid, Harry, rather well. He has an knack for attracting trouble so I pestered Alice into making sure if he was okay or not,"
"That's for sure," She grumbled playfully.
I smiled at her less predatory. "Turns out, there were these two, from the sounds of it, Native Americans out for his blood. And not only did they want revenge for their would-be mate, but those damn hybrids wanted to suck him dry of all his fluids!" I clenched my fists in anger of their disgusting thoughts. He was mine, Harry's blood was mineto drink from if I so chose. Not anyone else's.
"Edward, calm down," I heard Carlisle soothe and motion for Jasper to help him.
"If you had seen and heard what they were planning to do...it's sick, I tell you, sick! I had to stop them, and I did, I shredded those bastards to pieces and then burnt them to hell. They deserved so much more worse.." I uttered darkly.
"I'd do it again in a heartbeat, even if it cost me my identity and yours by default," I looked at Carlisle as I spoke and realization seemed to dawn on him of some kind.
"It practically did, you brute!" Rosalie hollered. "You soiled our reputation as a nice little family that means no harm and they will watch all of us so very closely. Not to mention, you injured yourself pretty bad," I turned to her in shock, my mouth dropping a bit. She took this as a sign of me trying to deny it.
"Don't go and tell me you didn't, I saw how you limped into here. And look at your eyes! They're the darkest color possible without reaching black; you're exhausted. Almost dead on your feet, no pun intended," She raged on. "And that school nurse is horrible at her job, can't even wash properly..." My face broke into a surprised smile and I hugged her very tight. "Edward?"
"Sometimes, Rosalie, under all those layers of snottiness and contempt for everything alive, you show through the mother in you," I kissed her on the forehead. "And I'm glad you finally allow me to see it," Carlisle coughed and I released her, still speechless with her fish impression.
"Edward," He spoke in his soft, I'm-going-to-ask-you-nicely-but-you-have-to-do-what-I-say tone of voice and I immediately thought the worse. Especially when he recited diseases and known medical procedures to preform on the inside his head so that was all I could hear. "I believe it's time I speak with you on a private matter,"
"I don't really have a choice, do I?" I muttered sulkily, somewhat like a child that wasn't allowed a toy.
"No, I guess not," His eyes softened though, a sparkle to them similar to Dumbledore's but seemed older, and rose, guiding me into his study. The rest of the group just mulled around, their thoughts closed off from me as well. Most especially the females. It made me wonder if everybody was in on this.
"You're a vampire," He stated rather plainly once we entered there. "And no doubt you've noticed that we tend to move in groups of two even amongst our own covens. This is because we vampires have a mate that we all must seek out in our point of maturity, which differs for each. Usually this doesn't occur until much later on, especially for us because of our chosen food supply verses those who do not seek this path, but I have reason to believe that you are another exception,"
"Another exception?" I asked, turning to look at him and not his collection of literature and gadgets.
"Yes, you see, Alice too met her mate Jasper and established their ritual rather quickly. In fact, it was before she even came to us. I believe that vampires with an affinity towards the mind's vast amount of abilities, like you and mind-reading, mature quicker than the others. However, you must wait until your mate is turned before completing the ritual," Carlisle continued.
I gulped. Just the idea of biting my dark-haired beauty, claiming him as my own while transforming him into a creature like me, sent a shiver of thrill down my spine. My mouth started to water at the image; I would finally be able to taste... "What exactly is this 'ritual'?"
"It is pretty much like a marriage ceremony with three basic principles: you find your vampiric mate or turn your mate, consummate the bond and then wait for 24 hours to see if your body accepts it,"
"And if your body doesn't accept it?" That thought filled me with dread. I knew my heart was set on Harry and no one else could ever take his place, but what if we didn't match right or something?
"One of two things can happen. You could burst into flames, which tends to only happen with beings that have more than one creature in them, or find that the attraction between you two disappear and continue on with your search which is what usually happens," Carlisle gave a small smile. "I don't think you have anything to worry about, Edward. From the sounds of it, you and Harry would be perfect mates,"
"Oh, thanks," I say before I realise what he said, which caused him to grin wider as I widen my eyes. "Wait, how did you know?"
"I'm an old vampire, I can detect the signs quite easily now that I've had practice with all of my children,"
"And you, you don't care?" I stutter. "About that we're both guys?"
"I don't care at all, as long as you're happy. Though I can't say the same for everyone else here," He smirked.
"Well, that's better than my father, at least," I spoke quietly and low.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked softly, making his way to his chair behind his desk. I hesitate. Of course, with my secret out now to at least two of the Cullens that don't mind, I really wanted to be able to discuss my woes freely. Especially the ones about my father. And Carlisle was like a rock that was the foundation of this family, I'm quite certain that he would more than be willing to help me with anything. He would be the best person to open up to if I ever did since he would be able to sympathize. Plus everyone knows what happens when you lock things up for too long.
I nodded and sat in a chair across from him. "Yeah, I'd like that,"
*
Harry's POV
Lucius dragged me into my room, just me and him, after a very silent and awkward ride home and slammed the door shut while placing a heavy layer of silencing spells around us. "You better explain yourself very well, Harold James Potter-Malfoy, and I won't tolerate any nonsense,"
"I don't know what you are talking about, I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't start a fight at all or anything," I mutter, glaring at a corner and crossing my arms. "All I did was cuss that girl out,"
His hand snaked out and turned my face a bit harshly so he was in full view of the slash that Great Big Bear gave me. "Yet you managed to get hurt," This time he spoke with worry lacing his delicate words. I pushed his hand away and glared at him.
"Father, I can take care of myself," I began.
"Obviously you can't," He nearly howled, giving myself a brief moment for a flash back as well as an amusing image of Lucius frothing at the mouth while he spoke from the typical male teenage attention span, and I was glad for his forethought on those silencing spells. "You could have both easily died!"
"Well it's not like I asked for it!" I shouted back, standing with him instead of sitting on a chair like I was previously. "I didn't know there were hybrids of that kind and I don't know why they were after me; can't you just be happy Draco and I are alive thanks to Edward?"
"I am happy," Lucius yells some more, not sounding the least bit as if that statement were true. But I knew he was just really scared right now, and like his son, he had to take out those such emotions on me in this way. "And what about this Edward kid?" He growled.
My heart pounded painfully. Charlie's warning was still fresh in my head, coupled with the exciting danger I felt when I first saw my lion. I was pretty sure by now that Edward and my lion were one the same, though I'd rather not admit that to anyone until I was absolutely certain. Especially my father, he'd probably flip out on me again. I was the baby of the family after all, it was to be expected. I mean, this was a very private matter and one that I'd rather not mess up in since my heart would be on the line.
"What do you mean?" I asked weakly.
"Draco said he was suspicious. That he was more than just human and certainly as interested in you as those hybrids were, not to mention as deadly," Sometimes, Draco saw too much for his own good and my own.
"So what? He saved us so that obviously means he doesn't want a meal out of me or anyone else," I sneer, not surprised that I got a slap in retailiation though I rubbed it kind of sulkily. Almost like a child.
"Don't talk to your father that way," He said in his deep voice. Usually I hung my head and apologized at this point, but I had to defend Edward especially since no one else was and he possibly was my lion that I had been waiting for for a long time.
"Don't talk about Edward that way," I spoke, trying to imitate him. I managed to shock him which gave me a few moments of silence to nurse my red cheek some more.
I heard Lucius sigh, which was a good sign. That meant his anger and fear was subsiding. "Does this mean that you like this kid?" He asked softly, catching me off guard.
"I don't know, I might," I sigh, moving towards him and he engulfs me into a hug.
"Luna keeps talking about a lion that is supposed to love me for me and he matches pretty good," I surprised myself into saying; Lucius has that kind of charisma sometimes. "You aren't mad at me?"
"No, I could never be; I never was. I was just upset that I couldn't protect you and Draco, that I could have lost you two,"
"It's a scary thought to not have me in the world, I know," I attempted a joke to lighten the mood and it worked since Lucius chuckled at me very faintly. "Does this mean I have your permission to check?" I ventured boldly.
He pulls out of his own hug. "No, not at all," He snarls, though not as bad as before. "At least, not until I properly meet him," He adds once I give him a dose of my pout and puppy eyes. It always works.
"Thank you, Daddy," I say intentionally too sweetly and much like a girl. Lucius chuckled.
"Yes, well, make sure you do your homework," He tried to sound forceful as he left, taking down all his erected charms. Not to spoil his now good mood, I refused to tell him that none of us would probably do it and we had no intention of doing it whatsoever. Besides, today was a long and rather exciting day, and I figured I deserved at least a long cat nap.
I yawned as I took my shirt off and stepped out of my slip-on shoes, I like them that way since they are much easier to deal with, almost falling asleep as soon as my head hit my pillow. Of course I had another good reason to be anxious for the dream world, and luckily it didn't take much longer for the blackness of sleep.
*
There was no nightmare waiting for me, if one went by the scenery. This was not a place I had ever seen before. Everything was green, and lush I discovered by sifting my hands over the soft grass. It looked like a rain forest, this place, it had so many plants that the wind had trouble blowing through it and even the sky seemed to be clogged by the tall trees. Except for the one, small but perfect opening that by around noon, a single shaft of light would expose all the hidden colours and light up the emerald, jade and other greens.
I wanted so much to find this place, wherever it was, and make a land angel in the grass. Or lounge for that one moment and bathe in the sun's light, especially if I could snuggle against my lion.
Red eyes peered at me through the shadow casted by some shrubbery, and I whimpered instinctively. Merlin, for someone like me who was sorted in Gryffindor, I am such a wussy sometimes. But then again, I had to plead with the Hat to put me in Gryffindor. It actually had wanted to place me in Ravenclaw or Slytherin, leaning more in the direction of Slytherin, and I had already learned that being placed in either would not help my chances of survival.
Nearby bushes danced in beat with an evil laughter and the image of Voldemort came before me like he was, I assume, if his ritual had gone the way he planned. I backed away, voicing my incoherent thoughts. "No, no, you're dead. These are only nightmares, but I..I've never been here before...what's going on?"
Voldemort swayed his finger from side to side, making a 'tsk-ing' noise. "Now, Harry, my boy, I thought you were smarter than that. Did you, perhaps, forget to read the fine print in Latin? Or were you, in fact, too busy looking up what horcruxes were? Either way, I'm sure you can figure it out. You are a fellow Slytherin,"
"Have you gone crazy since we last met?" I bare my teeth. "I am no fellow anything to you; I was never sorted with the snakes!"
"Have you forgotten that the blood of the Malfoys, the most noble and ancient house to continue heirs in Slytherin, flows through your veins? Of course, by ridding yourself of that filthy Evans and blood-traitor Potter's blood, you and I have much in common," He hissed back. "How proud your dear old 'mum' and 'dad' must be knowing that you call one of my most faithful Death Eaters your parents now," He laughed.
I shook my head. His bit about my mum and father was to painful to think about being even slightly true. That was what I always feared would happen when I preformed the blood-adoption ritual. "But Lucius helped me, he has been getting rid of all the other Death Eaters...don't you know that?"
"Foolish boy, do you think that I would allow such blasphemy among my ranks?" His eyes dilated in their slits. "Why else would he be getting rid of the weak others and get close to you if he was not on my orders to create a new army? A more powerful army that will allow me to take over the world, an army of hybrids."
"No, that's not true. You wouldn't tell me if it was true! Lucius would never...he wouldn't hurt me like that..." I hold my head as it pounded while screaming to drown out the sound of Voldemort's laughter.
The arms came around my stomach, pulling me tight against his own body, and it all faded away. The wondrous jungle of green colours and the hideous monster, Voldemort. Even my headache was gone, leaving me with a slightly sore throat. "Meet me here, tomorrow. It's in the mountains behind the school, you'll know the way," He spoke like it was a lullaby.
We let silence cloak over us, today was not a time for words, until the blackness led me to a dreamless slumber.
*
Edward's POV
"Yo, Edward. You've been staring off into space for so long that you even had me thinking you were dead," Emmett said, meaning the multitude of now calm deer before us on our emergency hunt for me.
"Oh, sorry," I mutter, still half-dazed about what I saw from Harry's nightmare.
"What were you thinking about?" He asked. Once I got to know him better, I realized Emmett wasn't the gorilla-like and strong but lacking in the brain skills dunder-head I took him to be. He was a rather funny, competitive, gorilla-like dunder-head.
"Just about how I can wrestle more deer than you in two minutes," I say off-handily, inwardly smirking.
"You're on!" He accepts, smiling while getting prepared. I chuckle faintly and prepare myself too, just not as intensely. I already know I'm going to lose.
(1) She was my favourite Spanish teacher (she let me get away with practically everything), but unfortunately has moved to another school...
Daily/Chaptery Q: What would you like to know more about/me explain more in-depth?