Hello everyone, welcome to posting day! I hope everyone has had a good fortnight. Mine has been a little hectic, and I have no idea when it will settle down again. Maybe after I find a new house to move into!

Thanks go to Pienuniek and Sally for all their hard work. I really would be lost without them. They make my words so much better!

I don't own Twilight or Harry Potter, they belong to SM and JK Rowling, respectively. No copyright infringement in intended.

Things are coming for our favourite couple and I cannot wait to share it all with you!

Chapter Ten – Change is Coming

The first couple days back were quiet. We had to quickly get back into the routine of breakfast, classes, and homework.

With the promise of the kiss, it seemed that the presence of the dementors was at an all-time high; well, more so the fear of the dementors getting too close, which meant they seemed to loom larger than life every time we went outside. It didn't make for a very comfortable learning environment.

The first Friday after coming back, Isa and I asked Kreacher, Emmett, and Jasper to meet us out in the courtyard after dinner. We were the first to arrive; granted, we were about ten minutes early.

"Do you think they'll help us?" Isa asked, breaking the silence.

I snorted. "I think you could ask them to jump up and down on one leg with a pacifier in their mouths and they'd do it." Isa cracked up at my description. "Well, Emmett might do it anyway, but let's not ask."

Isa was still chuckling when Kreacher popped in, followed by Emmett and Jasper exiting the castle.

Emmett didn't even wait until he was near us before he blurted out his question. "So what's with the clandestine meeting?"

"It's not clandestine. We just didn't want to talk about it where the walls literally have ears," I argued.

"A perfect definition of clandestine." Jasper chuckled. To which Isa and I shrugged. "So what's up?"

"How would you like to see"—Isa dragged out her question, catching the attention of both Jasper and Emmett—"a basilisk?"

Both of them froze. They had been leaning in as if they would hear Isa faster if she were closer. I smirked at their blank faces and thoughts but pulled Isa out of the way when both of them started to spin around in circles looking in every direction.

Isa giggled quietly, causing them to stop. "It's not out here, sillies. It's inside the castle."

"What?" Emmett and Jasper snapped before Jasper continued. "There's another one?"

This time it was me who chuckled quietly. "No, no. There isn't another one. The one we want to take you to see isn't even alive. Did you bring those bags and other things I asked you to bring?"

"Yeah, we left them just inside the door." Emmett paused. "What do you mean the one we are going to see isn't alive?"

"We're taking you down into the Chamber of Secrets. Unless you're scared," Isa whispered.

I tried to hide my laughter at Isa's obvious command over her two brothers. I had to cover my mouth and turn my head to hold it in, and in the process, I saw that even Kreacher had a smile on his face.

"We're not scared," Emmett and Jasper blurted out together.

"Are you sure?" Isa whispered again, throwing in the wiggly fingers for emphasis. "Who knows what's living down there now?"

"We're sure." Emmett nodded. "What are we going down there for?"

"We need supplies. Isa needs more of the skin to make her gloves for our friends. I want some of the other ingredients for my potions. We're going to gather as much as we can fit into bags, jars, boxes, and wrap in paper. Is that good with you?"

Jasper nodded while Emmett answered. "Hell, yes! I want to see this chamber and the basilisk."

They followed us back through the main door, grabbing their bags on the way past, and down the corridor toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"I presume the skin is going to need to be treated and turned into leather?" Jasper asked, making note of where we were going.

"From what Isa has told me, some of it already is because of the condition it's been kept in, but yes, some will need to be treated."

"Ooooh, another building project for me. Yes!" Emmett fist pumped. "I needed something else to do. Thank you, lil sis." Emmett ruffled her hair when he walked up beside her.

"You're welcome, Emmett. Thank you for taking on the project. There will be a lot of skin to work on."

Emmett shrugged. "Eh, I enjoy doing all sorts of things. Besides, it'll keep me occupied while we wait for the valuation on the land to come back."

We turned the corner as we continued talking about the land and what kind of house Emmett and Rose planned on building. Half of it was going to be magical, and half of it was going to run on electricity—thoroughly muggle. It was going to take some clever spell skills to set it all up, and I couldn't wait to see it.

"We're going in the girls' bathroom?" Jasper asked when we stopped outside the door.

I laughed. "It's the only way in there. Isa, please check on Myrtle first."

"Yes, Teddy." The cheeky girl that she was saluted me before she walked through the door.

"Geez, she's growing up right before our eyes," Jasper sighed. "Do you think we could find a spell to slow it down?"

"As much as I'd like to agree with you, I can't. I love watching her grow but can't wait for her to grow up. Does that make sense?"

Emmett nodded as he leaned against the wall. "Yeah, it does. I love being here to be her big brother, seeing both her and Hermione go from sweet, innocent little girls to ones discovering the world around them. For you, it's different; Bella's your mate, and although that part of it isn't there yet, you want to get there too and have everything we've had for decades. But on the other hand, you're completely enjoying her just being whom and what she is right now."

"Yeah," I sighed, "that about covers it."

We were silent while we waited for Isa to finish talking to Myrtle. It was taking longer than I would have liked because Myrtle was talking her ear off, mostly because Isa and Hermione hadn't been down to see her in a while. The poor ghost was lonely and starved for affection. Finally, we heard Isa finish up the conversation.

"I'm sorry, Myrtle, we should have come down sometime to say hello, but we've been busy. What with the dementors and Rabastan Lestrange. Besides, I said hello to you before Christmas when I came …"

"Yes, yes. To go into the Chamber. Wait; is that why you're here this time? Not to see me?" Myrtle wailed. "Fine. Just go down there." We heard the splash of Myrtle flying into her toilet before Isa sighed, whispered the password, and opened the door while the Chamber was opening.

"She really is quite dramatic." Isa huffed.

I kissed Isa's head as I walked past. "Most teenage girls are, sweetheart. You, Hermione, and Luna might be the exception."

"And maybe Ginny," Jasper mentioned. "But considering she's got all brothers, maybe not."

We all chuckled at that, but then quieted so Emmett and Jasper could stare open-mouthed at the spectacle in front of us. It really was a spectacular sight, watching the Chamber opening again. But for someone seeing it for the first time, it had to be a sight.

When it was completely opened, we all stepped forward.

"We're going down there?" Emmett asked.

"Yup!" Isa chirped. "Why? Are you scared?"

Emmett scoffed. "No."

"Sure you're not. Ready, Kreacher?" Isa held out her hand to the house elf who had said nothing since meeting up with us. He might have been quiet, but he'd taken everything in.

"Kreacher is ready, Miss Bella." He held her hand and walked up to the edge of the pipe. One after the other, they jumped into the pipe, disappearing from sight. I knew they were okay because I could hear Isa squealing in fun all the way down.

Emmett beamed as he and Jasper stepped up to the edge. "Okay, now this I gotta try! Lil sis, are you out the way?"

"When you're ready, Emmett!" we heard float up. Instead of jumping in first, Emmett pushed Jasper into the hole.

Then Emmett jumped into the pipe with me right behind him. I heard the opening close behind us, even over the top of Isa and Jasper's yells of fun. They were both thoroughly enjoying their slide down into the belly of the castle. I had forgotten that the pipe not only changed angles but also narrowed. I didn't realize Emmett was quiet until I came around the corner into the narrow section of the pipe and crashed right into him where he'd gotten stuck. Well, he didn't stay stuck. The second I crashed into him, he became unstuck, and we both careened down the pipe in a tangled mess, only to crash together in a lump of arms and legs at the bottom.

Emmett was cursing up a storm while I managed to change my fuck to a fu … dge as we tried to untangle ourselves. Isa was scolding Emmett for his language while Jasper and Kreacher were cracking up laughing.

Phew, I was so glad I caught that in time, but Merlin, now my hands needed scouring because they had touched places on my brother they should never have touched. I flicked my arm out fast enough that my wand shot into my hand. "Evanesco." I pointed it to my opposite hand and then ran it over my arm and body, which caused the most beautiful sound to erupt from my girl: her giggles.

After Emmett and I had managed to untangle ourselves, we all walked out into the cave. Emmett and Jasper became quiet, just processing everything they were seeing, including the piles of rocks Isa had used to keep Lockhart from hurting himself. It really was a stunning cave. But their reactions to the Chamber itself were ones I'd never forget. I think if their mouths had dropped open any farther, they would have hit the ground.

Regardless of what the Chamber had been used for, Salazar Slytherin was the master of his domain. Then there was the almost perfectly preserved basilisk at the bottom. I couldn't believe what good condition it was still in considering it had to have been almost eight months since we were here last.

"You guys battled that?" Jasper whispered in shock, his thoughts completely baffled. Emmett's thoughts weren't much better.

I nodded while Isa answered with, "Yup."

"That's huge!" Emmett shouted. Making echoes careen around the room. "Wow, when you said it was big, I didn't realize it was like this!"

"Master Edward, what do you need?"

I bobbed down next to Kreacher as Emmett and Jasper walked around inspecting not only the basilisk but also the cave we were in. "Anything that can be salvaged for potions or for Isa's gloves. Any part of it, and I want its fangs too."

Kreacher nodded and got to work while Isa was doing the same. I thought she might have been squeamish about cutting into what was, essentially, a sentient being, but she got right to it like she'd done so many, many times before. I plucked one of the bags off the ground where Jasper and Emmett had dumped them and started to collect parts of the snake too. I was looking for the venom glands and the more obscure parts, things that you wouldn't necessarily think of. Once Jasper and Emmett had finished marveling over everything, they got to work.

Thanks to the magic between Isa, Kreacher, and myself, we were able to gather a lot more than what I had originally planned. Meat we deemed unspoiled was collected and shrunk to fit in the small cooler with never-melting ice Emmett brought. The skin was treated the same. Jasper had brought down many bottles and vials that I filled with venom, blood, and other secretions like bile. The large fangs were given special care because I knew those things were deadly to the objects I knew we'd one day be hunting. After all, one had already destroyed the diary. By the time we'd finished, there wasn't a whole lot of the basilisk left.

"Well," Jasper sighed, "if you haven't gotten enough from this thing, then we've been going about this all wrong. Ready to go?"

I looked around at not only the cavern but up the pathway we came in by. "In a minute. There's something else I want to grab before we leave."

The others all frowned but followed me up the stairs and onto the walkway. I stopped in front of one of the large snakes with their mouths open, only to see that the yellow stones were still lit within. "I want those. Every single pair." I pointed them out.

"Do you think we can get them without damaging them?" Jasper asked, looking at one a little farther down.

Emmett shrugged as he looked at the one in front of me. "Who knows? We have no idea what they're made of. They could be as soft as snow."

"Kreacher?" Isa whispered. "It seems they've forgotten we're here. Do you think you can do something?"

Kreacher snickered, causing the three of us to turn to where Isa and he stood. "Kreacher thinks that sometimes the vampires are stuck in the muggle world, even after three years at Swan Manor and Hogwarts. Kreacher knows that change can be hard." With a click of his fingers, a small pile of yellow stones, glowing from within, landed at my feet. "Maybe one day, Master Edward will remember that he's in the wizarding world, no matter what he's doing."

"Maybe one day I will." I laughed, bending down to inspect the stones. I was grateful we hadn't tried to dig them out. Because while they were solid, a good squeeze or scrape with something would have caused them to come apart. Jasper handed me a felt bag that he pulled from his pocket. "Thank you, Kreacher. I don't know what we'd do without you."

"Shall Kreacher return us all to the bathroom now?"

Isa reached out for one of his hands. "Yes, thank you. Everyone grab someone!"

I held Isa's hand, after picking up the bag of stones, while Emmett and Jasper placed a hand on each of Kreacher's shoulders. In a click of his fingers, we were back in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

"Tsk, tsk. Isabella Swan and Edward Masen, you're out past your bedtime." A voice giggled from behind us. "What shall I do with you?"

"Hi, Myrtle! Are you feeling better?" Isa moved over to the young ghost. "Have you met my brothers Emmett Cullen and Jasper Whitlock?" She tried to deflect Myrtle, knowing that if she told anyone, we could all be in trouble. Not just for being out of bed after hours—more so Isa than me—but because we were back in the Chamber, not that we'd agreed to never go down there again.

The look that came across Myrtle's face could only be described as coy as she looked over Jasper and Emmett. She sidled in between Jasper and Emmett, leaning more toward the former. "No. I can't say that I've had the pleasure. Where have you been hiding them?"

I snickered; I couldn't help it. I'm sure if they could, both Emmett and Jasper would be blushing. They both glared at me, causing Kreacher and Isa to snicker as well.

"We haven't been hiding them, Myrtle," Isa giggled, "but they don't have any reason to come visiting the girls' bathroom."

Myrtle giggled, real girlishly. It was the most girly I'd ever heard her. She pretended to lay her head on Jasper's shoulder. "Guess I may just have to venture out of my toilet once-in-a-while."

"Uh … I have to get going. Alice will be expecting me. I think I'm actually late. Here, Edward." Jasper shoved his bag at me and basically ran out of the door, causing all of us to crack up, even Emmett.

"What about you, big boy?" Myrtle giggled.

Emmett smiled, using all of his dimples. "As nice as that offer is, I think my mate would be a little upset. Edward, Bella, I'll see you guys later. I'll get started on preparing the skin for your gloves, sis."

"Thanks, Emmett." We both waved to him as he made his way out the door.

"Time for bed for us, baby girl. Kreacher, can you pop us into the Gryffindor Common Room please?" I asked as Isa let out a large yawn that made her eyes water.

"Certainly, Master Edward." Once we were in the common room, he bowed, clicked his fingers, and then left after a whispered, "Goodnight."

I pushed Isa to the stairs, sending her up to get ready for bed, then wrapped her up on my chair when she came back down.

"Don't want to sleep in your bed tonight?"

Isa shook her head and curled into a tight little ball. "That snoring you can hear? Coming from my dorm room. I'll never sleep with that."

I kissed her forehead. "You sleep, sweetheart. I'm gonna put this stuff away in my trunk. I'll see you in the morning."

"G'night." Isa let out a huge yawn, rolled over, and went to sleep.

I laughed as I climbed down into my trunk. It was going to be a pain trying to wake her in the morning.

~*~UHS~*~

I was right; the following morning, waking Isa was an effort in futility. She really didn't want to get up. If it wasn't for the fact that we had to have breakfast before a certain time—even on a Saturday—then I wouldn't have bothered. But it was also good practice for her for when we had to start saying the Animagus chant at sunrise and sunset. In fact, that was the only thing that woke her up enough to get started—that she was going to have to start doing it anyway.

In fact, she was still dragging when we made it down to the Great Hall.

Ugh, if this is what it's going to be like getting up at sunrise, I might have to start drinking coffee. I watched as she took a sip of the one she decided to try that morning, only to see her blanch and push it away. Nope, guess not. That's disgusting. How does anyone drink that stuff?

I chuckled, leaning over to kiss her head. "It's an acquired taste, sweet girl. Not everyone drinks it."

Isa shrugged but went back to eating her breakfast.

"What are you guys up to today?" Hermione asked as she plated up some pancakes.

"I'm just going to read," Isa yawned. "I have some books that Alice gave me at Christmas."

I chuckled. "And probably take a nap or two."

"What about you, Edward? What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to sit down and study sunrise and sunset times for the next few months. I want to be prepared, and we need to know."

What I said had caught the twins attention. "You guys have already started with your fudge?" Fred whispered.

Isa yawned again, but perked up a little. "We popped ours in before Christmas. We have until the twelfth of this month before we take it out. Oh, that reminds me; I'm not reading. I've got something else to do today."

Isa's mind was always stunning to me, but when she put her mind to something, she went with it full tilt. And what she had planned for her friends was nothing short of amazing. That was, of course, on top of making them the gauntlets when the leather was ready.

"When are you hoping to transform?" George asked the follow up question.

I looked over at them because they were the ones who had seemed to be the most interested. "Before the end of the school year. We just need the weather to co-operate, but we have Alice keeping an eye out for us, on top of everything. Hopefully, we'll get a storm that will cover home because that's where we're going to have to go. What have you guys decided to do?"

Fred and George looked at each other before George answered. "We haven't really decided yet, but soon. Is the twelfth the next full moon cycle?"

"It's part of it." I nodded. "While I'm researching sun-up and sunset times, I can write down the next few month's cycles, if you want?"

"Thanks, Edward, that will be good," they both replied.

I nodded, then finished my breakfast and the goblet of dragon blood that Kreacher had provided. It was my usual Saturday morning staple. I didn't want to become aggressive because I wasn't feeding that side of myself. Once we were finished, we all went our separate ways. Hermione and Luna followed Harry and Neville to the library, while the twins were going to catch up with some of their friends. Isa and I made our way back to Gryffindor Tower. I was going to work in my trunk while Isa sat and worked at my desk.

"Hey, Teddy?" Isa called just before I made my way into my trunk.

"Yes?"

"Do you have the Floo-2-U catalogue in there?"

I frowned but started climbing down the ladder. "Yeah, do you want it?"

"Please?"

"I'll find it and place it on the table down here. Why don't you practice the summoning charm to get it?"

"Oh! That's a good idea." Isa leaned down and kissed my head before it disappeared from view. "Just let me know when you've found it!"

"I will." I climbed the rest of the way down and looked around my portable lab, I guess you'd call it. It's funny; I'd gone through medical school a few times during my time in the muggle world, but I'd never, ever thought about heading into the lab after I'd finished. But being here in my own made me realize that I loved the thought of creating, researching, and finding ways to help. Maybe I could also teach one day. There were so many opportunities open to me now.

I found the catalogue and placed it on the table near the ladder, calling up to Isa that it was ready for her. I heard the release of her wand then her call out, "Accio Floo-2-U catalogue."

It looked like the perfect spell because the book immediately flew up and out through the opening in my trunk. With a "Thank you, Teddy," Isa sat down at my desk and started flipping through pages.

I shook my head, chuckled, and then walked to where I had my paperwork strewn out. Figuring out sunrise and sunset was a lot harder when I couldn't turn to Google to get the information I needed. I had to turn to what I had learned so far in my astronomy classes to work it all out.

Isa and I were both quiet as people came and went all morning long. Not many of them paid attention to us; they'd gotten used to the lid of my trunk being up and Isa sitting at my table. Although, many of them wondered where I had gotten to, they didn't realize that I was right there, listening to what was going on. As such, I was listening to everything going on when Crookshanks barreled into the common room fast on the tail of Scabbers.

Gotta get rat … rat not rat … rat dangerous … protect, protect, protect …

"Whoa, Crookshanks!" Isa scrambled after the fluffy cat. "What are you doing? Ron will have kittens if he finds you chasing his rat!"

"Wait, Isa!" I pretty much flew out of my trunk. That wasn't the first time I'd heard Crookshanks say something like that. "Don't let Crookshanks go!"

"What's going on?" Isa spun around with Hermione's cat in her arms.

"What do you mean, Crookshanks? How is that rat not a rat?"

Isa gasped, but it was Crookshanks thoughts I tuned into. Rat not rat … feel aura … it not good … must protect family.

Crookshanks thoughts didn't seem to be as fully developed as say Athan's, probably because he hadn't had to think outside his instincts before.

Doesn't smell rat … behaves wrong … rat not rat … protect, protect, protect.

"Okay, Crookshanks, okay," I crooned, reaching over and scratching him under the chin. "Calm down. I need you to do something for me. Stop trying to eat Scabbers." Isa snorted. "Try, I said. But keep an eye on him for me; let me know what he gets up to. Can you do that?"

Crookshanks help … follow rat. Crookshanks purred at Isa's scratch behind his ears.

"Thank you, Crookshanks. Let me know what he gets up to." I gave him one last scratch before Isa popped him back on the floor. We both watched as he sauntered over to where Scabbers had run and begin sniffing around. It didn't take long before he was off on his mission.

"What was that about?" Isa asked when Crookshanks was out of sight.

"Crookshanks doesn't think Scabbers is Scabbers," I whispered in her ear. Like I told Emmett and Jasper last night, the walls in this place had ears, and they listened carefully. "And I'm beginning to wonder as well."

Who? I looked pointedly at Isa; surely she could figure this out. You think he's Pettigrew, don't you? That's why you think we can't find him in the tower or anywhere else when we go chasing him, isn't it?

"I do think so. But only time will tell."

Then I guess we have some work to get done. I want to be an Animagus before we have to confront that weasel.

"Uh, a rat, Isa, but that sounds like a plan."

~*~UHS~*~

It took the better part of a week for Isa and me to get our respective things together. By Wednesday, mine was pretty much done, and Isa was waiting on a few deliveries to come through so she could put hers together. One of the items she needed was a little harder to source than the others.

Thursday afternoon, we were working, again, in the Common Room. Isa at my desk and me inside my trunk. "Teddy!" Isa called from the Common Room. "Everything's finally here. Come look!"

"How did you get it this afternoon? Through the fireplace?"

Isa giggled. "No. According to the owls that Mrs. Paula and Lulu sent, the floo network is shut down for cleaning and repairs, so they sent them with some owls they own. They just flew through the window."

I climbed out of my trunk and found that we were the only ones there. Everyone else was out studying in the library and other various places. The other thing I found was Isa sitting next to a pile of black boxes wrapped with white twine.

"What's all this? Are you finally going to explain what your idea was about? All I saw was a box filled with bottles and jars."

"There are so many students out there who have been discouraged from following their dreams of becoming an Animagus because we are only taught the theory behind it. Not many of them take it further than that and learn all that's involved or source ways to do it. Not like we did." She looked at me, and I nodded to show that I was following along. "For now, what I've done is created Animagus kits for our friends. But I was thinking long term, like when we open the newspaper, we could, possibly, sell them through the store."

I looked around at everything. "Show me what you've got and how we'd go about this for the greater population."

I stood behind Isa as she grabbed one of the boxes from the pile. "If I were putting this together for the 'greater population,' as you call it, I would start with this box. As you can see, it's lined with foam sections, and it has a rubber seal around the top, so when closed, it's completely black inside."

"Which is needed as part of the potion progress."

"Exactly!" Isa exclaimed. "This box, though, would essentially be sold with all the things needed to become an Animagus. On the top part of the box, kept in this protective sleeve, is the parchment with all the instructions on it. Including a 'Before you begin' section telling them to research the full Moon cycles and sunup and sunset times for the time frame they plan to try." Isa pointed to a parchment she had off to the side, which she had written in her beautiful script and decorated with a Snow Leopard silhouette. "In this part here," she pointed to a small square, "is where the fudge would be kept, wrapped in some other decorated paper. This next small spot is for this bottle."

Isa reached over the box and grabbed a small black bottle with a cork. "Thanks to Alice, we have a meadow that's not been touched by humans now, if ever, so I thought we could add the spoonful of dew to a small bottle like this and place it in the box." She demonstrated by placing the bottle in the box. "The medium-sized place is for a small block of never melting ice and the Death's-Head Moth chrysalis and then the largest one is for the crystal vial needed to pull the potion all together." Isa looked up at me to get my reaction.

"This is a brilliant idea." I tapped the box sitting on the table. "If this was to become something we decided to sell, how would you keep in stock of everything needed?"

"I thought of that. I was thinking that if we made deals with the suppliers, say Mr. Wiseacre, Mrs. Lulu, Paula, and of course Mr. Drenior, everyone would get a percentage from the sales so we are always in stock. Although, if we only make so many per year, then it might be a better option. Kinda like Molly's jumpers."

I nodded along with her thoughts before voicing my own. "The other option is to have them as mail order." At Isa's confused look, I explained. "Like Lulu and Paula, we would sell them via order. An advertisement in the paper is a good way to do that. They write to us, and we send them out. That way, we could keep so many on hand and make more when needed. It's not like we need the money; we could sell them at cost so they aren't out of the realm of possibility for the average witch or wizard."

"Or for a student saving up to buy them. Although …" She sighed

"Exactly. But having a deal in place with suppliers isn't a bad idea either. Say if Mr. Wiseacre came into a large shipment of either the black bottles or the crystal vials, he'd come to us first before selling them in his store. Or if Mrs. Lulu and Paula …"

"Got more of the boxes, they'd seek us out first," Isa finished. "It's not something we need to do right now, but definitely a thought for later."

"Now, why the sigh?"

"I would love a wooden box, completely lockable, and all decorated with animals burned into it. But I think that would be too expensive for the average witch or wizard."

"It's something we think about and figure out as we go along. Now, much like your gloves, it's not something we need to worry about. Our friends need those gauntlets, yes, but others might want some after the war too. The leather is something we'll have to think about too because the basilisk skin isn't going to last forever. Something else to worry about later. We could advertise the gauntlets through the newspaper. But those would be made only after they've been ordered, like Molly's jumpers."

Isa leaned up and kissed my cheek. "I'm so glad you're supportive of my ideas."

"They are brilliant idea's, sweetheart. You're going to make this world a better place." I kiss the top of her head before standing straight.

"You are too, Teddy. Did you get yours done?"

"Yup. We're all set for the next few months of early mornings."

Isa fist pumped limply. "Yay. Because I love early mornings."

I snickered. "I know you do. Here, let me help you put these together for everyone. I've got some time."

"Thanks, Teddy."

~*~UHS~*~

Monday morning came around with an air of excitement, or maybe that was just how Isa and I were feeling. It was the twelfth of January, and we'd had our Mandrake Chocolate Fudge in our mouths for a month. It was the full moon, and tonight, we were sneaking out of Hogwarts—with Kreacher's help—to go home and start our potion. We'd had more confirmation from Alice in the form of a letter arriving the day before at breakfast that it would be a clear night.

If it wasn't for our ever-expansive brains being able to keep track of what was going on around us, we would have been absolutely useless in every single one of our lessons.

By the time dinner rolled around, we were both jittery with anticipation. We almost couldn't sit still.

"So, tonight's the night?" Hermione whispered, leaning over to Isa when we sat down at the long dinner tables.

"Yup!" Isa nodded while she bounced.

Harry chuckled. "If you keep it up, the teachers will know you're up to something. You've only got a few more hours to get through."

I snorted. "Oh, they already suspect something but don't know what it is. Because I haven't been able to focus much either."

Fred was next. "I'm sure we won't be much better when the time comes."

"So you're planning on doing it then?" Neville asked from the other side of George.

"We are." George faced him. "In fact, thanks to Edward, we're going to pop ours in tonight."

"Don't forget Isa," Fred continued. "She gave us everything else we needed with the kits."

"Good luck!" Isa bounced again, trying to grab some of the food on the table but making a mess because she was bouncing so hard.

"You really need to settle, my sweet girl. Otherwise, none of this delicious food is going to make it anywhere near your mouth; it'll end up in your lap." I chuckled, making up a plate for her.

Isa laughed at herself. "I know. I'm just so excited!"

We laughed but tucked into our food, with Isa only spilling minimal food on her clothes because she just couldn't sit still no matter how hard she tried. I must admit, it was one of those times I was glad for being a vampire because it afforded me the ability to be able to sit still and enjoy my dinner. Our conversation didn't stray back to becoming an Animagus in case someone overheard more than they should have.

With that thought, my head shot up to look at the teachers' table. Our family would have been able to hear all that we had been discussing. They knew it was our desire to become them but not quite so soon. The one I worried about was Esme; she was a stickler for the rules, and she'd want us to report our transformation to the Ministry. But what I found was only one vampire sitting at the table—Jasper.

Esme left after lessons. She's trying to talk through things with Carlisle. I won't say anything. Advantages are always a good thing. Jasper winked my way all while maintaining his conversation with Hagrid.

I nodded before looking back around at our table. Nobody had seen my interaction with Jasper, not even Isa; she was still vibrating next to me. I decided it was time to get us out of the Great Hall before she became too much more noticeable.

I stood before holding my hand out to her. "C'mon, my sweet girl, let's just get lost in the castle for a while. You're far too happy about dinner, and people are starting to notice."

Isa's beautiful peal of laughter paused the talking happening around us for a few seconds while she stood and laced her fingers with mine. "Lead the way, dashing knight. Let's get lost!"

For a while, that was exactly what we did. We wandered all over the castle, exploring all sorts of corridors and rooms. There was so much to this castle that we could discover; who wouldn't want to spend time doing just that. We talked, laughed, and just joked around because, for once, we weren't bogged down in homework. Sure, we had some to do, but we were ahead of the curve thanks to reading ahead a year, so we were just waiting on assignments to complete. If we kept out in front as much as we were, it might be best to talk to Professor Dumbledore about getting the assignments for next year as well.

I'd give Isa at least this year before we took that route. I wanted her to enjoy her schooling.

Eventually, though, night fell, and we had to return to the Common Room. It was just a waiting game after that. One that Isa was failing spectacularly at. I couldn't help but chuckle at her while she tried to read and sit still; it was an exercise in futility.

Once everyone had said their goodnights and made their way up to bed, Isa couldn't sit still any longer. She was up and pacing around the room while we waited for Kreacher. In fact, she almost crash-tackled him when he popped into the room.

"Kreacher! Thank, Merlin! What took you so long?" she asked after he'd helped to steady her.

Kreacher looked confused. "Kreacher is here at the time agreed upon."

"Don't worry about it, Kreacher. Isa's anxious to get started; she's been in a hurry all day." I smiled as I stood and made my way over to where they were both standing. "We're both ready to go, if you are."

Kreacher nodded and held out his hand to Isa, who grabbed it, then grabbed a hold of mine. We both braced ourselves when Kreacher held up his hand and clicked his fingers. One minute we were in the Gryffindor Common Room; the next, we were standing in the backyard of Swan Manor where Alice was waiting for us.

The boys are keeping Esme busy. They're hoping to be able to hide your trip here from her, but considering you're going to have to go inside shortly, I'm not entirely positive you will. I've seen both happening.

I looked over to Alice before whispering my question. "Who will she go to if she sees us?"

Professor McGonagall. Alice smirked. Minerva will tell her that, for now, it's imperative that she keeps it quiet. That regardless of the rules, your Animagus forms must be kept top secret because it will give us an advantage over what is coming.

I nodded before I pointed Alice out to Isa, who quietly ran over and gave her a hug hello. Once they pulled out of their hug, Alice led Isa to the table on the back deck where she had set out our crystal vials and other ingredients.

"Thank you, Alice," I whispered again.

You're welcome. I can't wait to see you guys when you change.

"We can't wait either."

Alice smiled, then made her way back indoors. She was going to try and help to distract Esme. Her visions still weren't a hundred percent either way, but she was going to stop watching them and just wait and see what would happen.

"Ready, beautiful?"

Isa smiled up at me. "Ready! You start since you have the extra ingredient."

"Okay." I pulled the bottle out of my pocket. It was the one ingredient I hadn't left at home, for no other reason than I didn't bring it with me. Inside was a teaspoon full of werewolf blood. If it wasn't for this, my whole potion would go "poof" the minute my fudge was introduced.

I poured the werewolf blood into my vial, looked at Isa, and then at the same time, we both pulled the fudge from the roof of our mouths. I looked at mine quickly before I put it inside my vial, looking up to see Isa doing the same. We then quickly added one of our own hairs—carefully removed at an earlier date—the silver teaspoon of dew, and the Death's-Head Moth. Once that was done, we both replaced the lids and let out a breath; we'd completed our potion. The only thing left to do was to place them into a dark, dry place.

"Time to head inside, Teddy."

"Let's go, sweet girl."

I looked around for Kreacher, only to realize he'd gone inside at some point because we were alone in the backyard. I held my hand out for Isa, then led her inside through the kitchen, down the hall, and then into the library. We managed to make it that far without running into anyone; it seemed the others had been able to keep Esme busy, at least for now.

Isa opened the bookcase that revealed the potions room before letting go of my hand and moving the table that covered the trapdoor. We both stood on the elevator, but I could tell the adrenaline from the day was starting to wear off as Isa leaned against me. But she stood upright once we reached the bottom.

"This way, Teddy," she murmured while leading me over to the opposite side of the room and pushing what seemed to be an innocuous piece of the wall, only for it to release a hiss as the door swung backward. Isa walked toward a cupboard that had been placed opposite the mirror and the mirrorsieve and opened the door. "When we decided to try this, and I read the instructions, I decided this might be the best option, at that time. This cupboard will be completely blacked out once the door is closed, plus we'll magically seal it. Not that I think anyone will try to open it."

The more Isa spoke the more slurred her words became; her adrenaline was draining fast. I walked up behind her and placed my bottle just as she had done. The minute she'd closed and locked the cupboard, Isa fainted dead away. She fell so fast I almost didn't catch her in time. Her sleeplessness and adrenaline crash had finally caught up with her, and she was asleep the minute her eyes had closed. I picked her up and made my way out of her laboratory after closing the hidden door, then the trap door, before making my way into the library where I finally ran into Esme.

"Oh, the poor dear. Guess she ran flat, huh?"

I snickered. "Yeah, she's been running on nothing but adrenaline all day. I need to get her back to Hogwarts."

"Are you sure you don't want to stay the night?"

Carlisle walked by the library door, peering in and not hiding the fact that he was curious about what was going on.

"I'm sorry, Mom, but I can't. Not yet. Thank you, though."

"You're welcome, Edward. This will always be your home no matter what happens. Take care." Esme reached up and placed a kiss on my cheek, then one on the top of Isa's head, running her hand over her hair. "I'll see you both tomorrow."

I nodded before making my way toward the kitchen to find Kreacher. He was just doing some general tidying up while he waited for us to be ready. As much as he loved working at Hogwarts with us, he also missed home and felt things were always rearranged while he was away. He hated it.

I chuckled as I walked through the door. "Ready, Kreacher?"

He huffed but turned to face me. "Kreacher is ready, Master Edward. Are you?"

I nodded, then walked around to his side. "I'm afraid Isa's fallen asleep on me. That won't be a problem, will it?"

"No. Kreacher will still be able to get you to Hogwarts." With that, he reached up, placed his hand on my arm, and clicked the fingers on his other hand. Traveling by house elf was really fast; one minute, I'm looking at the kitchen in Swan Manor, and with a blink, we were back in the Common Room of Gryffindor Tower.

"Thank you, Kreacher. Your help was invaluable, as always."

Kreacher bowed. "It's an honor to serve the house of Swan and Masen." With another click of his fingers, he was gone.

I looked down at the sleeping girl in my arms and couldn't help chuckling as I placed her onto my recliner and covered her up with my blankets while laying the chair into the sleeping position. She really was dead to the world. It made me wonder just what I was going to face come morning. I had the alarm on my pocket watch set for half an hour before the sun was set to rise. I had a feeling I was going to need it.

For the rest of the night, I studied my Arithmancy textbook. The subject was truly fascinating, and thanks to it, I had been able to make further work with my potions. Thanks to being able to study it myself, I would be ready to take my final for it sooner rather than later. I was so into my studying that my watch scared the living daylights out of me when it started shouting at me.

"You're late, slacker! Get off that lazy arse because you're late, you're late, you're very, very late!"

"Ugh, really, Edward?" Isa mumbled before rolling over, causing me to snicker.

"Hey, it worked! It woke you and scared me."

"Mmhmm."

I laughed out loud this time. It seemed my sweet girl was trying to go back to sleep. "No, no, Isa! You need to wake up!"

"Five more minutes."

"You can't have five more minutes. Because if I give in, then you'll ask for five more, then five more after that. And if I do that, we'll miss the sunrise. You have to wake up!"

"What for?" she growled, rolling back over and glaring at me with one eye in her kitten anger. Tired, angry Isa was so cute. Although, if she ever really released it at me, I probably wouldn't think so.

"For our first incantation, remember? It needs to be said at sunup and sundown every day until the lightning storm."

Isa's eyes had closed while I was talking, and as such, when I mentioned sunup and sundown, they sprung back open before she sat up. "Wait, what? That really happened yesterday?" She looked around, a little disorientated, which caused a chuckle to slip through my lips.

I watched as she looked around to get her bearings. "The last thing I remember was … um … oh! The backyard. We made the potion in the backyard at home! It did happen."

I squatted down in front of her in my chair and reached out for one of her hands. "It did, sweetheart. We went home and made the potions, your adrenaline started to wane once we were done, and you completely passed out on me once we'd placed the vials in the cupboard in your laboratory. Kreacher brought us back afterward."

She flopped back against the chair. "Wow. How long until sunup?" She peered over my shoulder to look out at the lightening sky. I followed her gaze before pulling out my watch and flipping open the lid.

"About fifteen minutes. So if you need to go to the bathroom, or what have you, you should do it now."

"No," Isa whispered. "I'm fine, but I want to watch the sun come up. Either inside or out, it doesn't bother me."

I thought about it quickly. Watching the sunrise from inside would be beautiful, but watching it from the grounds would be even prettier. I spun back to face her. "Run upstairs, change, and clean up as fast as you can. I'll meet you at the bottom of the stairs."

"Got it!" Isa smiled, kissed my cheek, then stood and bolted for the stairs. I did the same things that I told her. Quickly changed my clothes, straightened up, and grabbed a couple spare blankets from my trunk, as well as an extra warm jacket in case Isa got cold. Then I walked to the bottom of the stairs when she started back down.

"Ready, monkey?"

"Ready!"

I bobbed down in front of her, letting her climb up onto my back. "Hold on tight!"

Isa giggled as I took off. Sir Cadogan had obviously been listening, and he had swung open the minute I told Isa to hold on.

"Run steady, stead! She needs to have a bump-free ride!" he shouted as we ran past.

"He's always a good horsey!" Isa replied on another giggle, making me laugh.

We flew out the door and down the moving staircases. I made Isa squeal with scared excitement when I had to make a leap from one set of staircases to another because they moved at the wrong time. We made it down and out the large doors in the foyer with several minutes to spare. I was even able to set up the blankets, sit us down on them, and wrap Isa in the jacket, all before the sun started to peak above the horizon.

Once it started that trek, Isa and I released our wands and held the tips over our hearts. Together, we recited our individual incantations.

Isa with: "Amato Animo Animato Animagus."

And mine: "Amato Animo Animato Animagus, Animagus Vitea."

I had read the instructions, and knew, eventually, there might come a time I would feel a phantom heartbeat inside my chest. But what surprised me was the fact that I felt a faint th-thump. It was tiny, and if Isa and I hadn't been completely quiet and not doing anything, I might have brushed it off; but as it was, I couldn't do that.

"Whoa," I mumbled, placing my hand over where my heart lay.

Isa spun to look at me. "What?" she asked. "What happened?"

"Remember the heartbeat they said we might feel later?" She nodded to my question. "I'm pretty sure I just felt the faintest of one. I didn't know I'd feel that so soon."

Isa laid her hand over my heart, looking up at me with a stunningly beautiful expression. "Maybe it's because you don't have one normally," she whispered. "Maybe one day, I'll even get to hear it beat." She finished almost wistfully.

I placed my hand over hers before pulling it to my lips for a quick kiss. "Beating or not, my heart is yours."

"And mine is yours." Isa sat up, reached her face up, and planted a soft kiss right on the corner of my mouth. "I'll always be yours."

"And I, yours."

~*~UHS~*~

The next few weeks were quiet around the castle. There were no out of place thoughts, no sightings, and even Crookshanks had nothing new to report. Scabbers had been quiet. He'd been in hiding in Ron's dorm room.

Students were studying, cramming, and cringing away from the dementors that loomed over the castle grounds like waifs—scary waifs, but waifs none-the-less.

Even with Sirius, James, and Emmett patrolling the grounds as often as they could, there was still no sight of Lestrange. It was frustrating, to say the least, and not only to me. It was a bone of contention among our friends.

So much so we were thrown out of the library when one our discussions had become too loud. It was still happening as we walked out onto the grounds.

"Considering how long it's been since there was a sighting, who's to say he's even coming here to Hogwarts anymore?" Fred growled out.

George continued. "He might have seen the dementors and decided to quit before he could be recaptured."

"But considering he's already escaped them before, why would that deter him?" Neville argued. "He's a huge Voldemort supporter; I don't think he's going to give up whatever his goal is!"

"And what do you think that goal is, Neville?" Isa piped up. She was in agreement with Neville but wanted everyone to have a clear understanding.

"He thinks Lestrange's goal is to come after him and me, and I happen to agree with him," Harry whispered, bringing the conversation to a quiet halt. Hermione and Luna—who had been with us at the time—gasped quietly.

Luna asked the follow up question. "Why do you think that?"

"That's obvious. Well, it should be," I began. "Both Neville and Harry were attacked on the night Voldemort disappeared." Our casual use of Tom Riddle's preferred name still had an effect on the Weasley twins. I really wished they would get over it; fear of his name would only lead to fearing the person himself. "One survived while the other did not. Or so they thought. With Harry's reappearing act, and Neville still alive, it means there's revenge to be had. The death eaters that are still out there, that were never caught …"

"Are cowards," Isa piped in.

"Have been in hiding," I continued. "And in all this time have never done a damn thing to rid the world of 'The Chosen One.' Or who the death eaters thought was the chosen one. And with Harry's reappearance, it gives new hope that Voldemort isn't dead."

"So, by your definition, they think by ridding the world of Harry and/or Neville, it could bring back their dark lord and return the wizarding world to their idea of glory?" Hermione surmised.

"Or," Isa held up a finger, "they might think they need Harry and/or Neville to bring back Voldemort. And by capturing them, they can do just that."

Fred argued his point once again. "But that still doesn't answer the question of 'Why hasn't he made a move since he was spotted in Dufftown?' There's been ample opportunity. Every time we go to Hogsmeade or walking too close to the Forbidden Forest. Why? I don't think he's coming here. So why are the dementors still around?"

"Because it's better to have them here and not need them than to need them and not have them," I answered. "But it doesn't matter. Because Neville is right. He's made it past them once before. Who's to say he can't do it again?"

Everyone fell quiet after that, thinking about what could happen. They were all wondering where Rabastan Lestrange had gotten to, where he was hiding, and more importantly, what he was after. I didn't doubt for one moment that if he could get his hands on either Neville or Harry, that he would hesitate. It's what I would have done had I been a death eater.

From the research I'd been able to do into Voldemort and his followers, they were very much like the cults I'd seen in the muggle world. They all followed the leader's word, almost blindly sometimes, without question. They would do unspeakable things to their fellow witch or wizard on his whim, sometimes even without a word from him. It made me wonder why? Was it the promise of riches that made them follow? Or power?

Cults were never something I understood. Or the hunt for power over everyone else in the world? Why would you want that responsibility?

I was wrenched from my thoughts by a rather loud animalistic screech, a growl, and Ron yelling at Crookshanks.

"You stupid cat! Stay away from my rat!" The three of them barreled out of the castle, one after the other.

Isa and I watched with rapt attention as Scabbers launched himself out the doors and started to run in our direction before he seemed to notice our group. He slowed, and almost stopped, before remembering he was being chased and ran around us instead.

That was interesting, Isa thought, watching the rat, who was looking worse for wear these days. It was almost as if he didn't want to come anywhere near us.

Crookshanks didn't bother to take the longer path and went to propel himself between all of us, but Hermione reached out to grab the fluffy, wayward animal. Once Scabbers realized he was no longer being chased, he slowed to a stop and almost collapsed because of how fatigued he was.

"You keep that bloody, great big furball away from my rat, Hermione!" Ron bellowed as he walked over to where Scabbers had fallen.

"He's only doing what cats are supposed to do, Ronald. Chase rodents!"

"I don't care. He's my pet and allowed at this school. Put a leash on it, or I will."

I held Hermione's shoulder when she went to grab onto her wand, shaking my head when she looked at me. "Not worth it," I whispered. "Besides, he's doing what I asked of him."

Ron was still ranting, not noticing that he had drawn a crowd, but it gave me an opportunity to read what was going on.

"Crookshanks, anything new?"

Not rat … smell like mama … not like you … bad rat.

I reached over and scratched behind his ears in thanks. "You've done good. Thank you." The purr Crookshanks let loose would have been comical if anyone else had heard it besides Isa, Hermione, and me.

By this time, Ron had finished his rant. He was breathing heavily but soothing Scabbers with soft touches. I had to give him credit; as much as he hated hand-me-downs, he loved that rat. If it was a rat.

And I was really starting to believe he wasn't. Especially considering the parting thoughts I heard as Ron walked away. Because it definitely was not Ron's "voice" that thought it.

That was too close. Can't let the mind reader get close. He'll learn too much because I'm tired. Too tired to keep this up for too much longer.

~*~UHS~*~

Hmm so the rat is not a rat? Is Edward right, is it Peter Pettigrew? Or is it someone else?

See you all in a fortnight!