Disclaimer: I own neither Twilight nor Harry Potter.
An: Well, I am officially back. I got a good two and a half chapters done on this story while away (most of a chapter of CMBS and a written chapter and detailed plans for Surviving, for those of you interested) The 1/2 chapter may or may not actually ever be seen, as I'm not sure it's the direction I want to go.
I did realize, belatedly, that I left you a cliffie. I'm sorry. I hope the chapter lives up to your expectations.
If you have any questions about when you can see updates for any of my stories, (Including Lullabies) you can PM me, and I may put up a short blurb on my profile. May being the key word.
I would like to thank you all for your reviews and support, even while I was away. I had 326 new messages when I got back, most of them from you guys. It's nice to feel loved.
I loved hearing all of your theories. There were definitely some great ideas out there. Kudos to nuttymuffin and Yana5 for getting the closest- with identical guesses!
Also- I have a new X-OVER between HP and Twilight. It's very stupid and silly and is titled Unmentionable Bits. It's a one-shot. Please check it out!
Last time on Lullabies:
"Harry's had an episode-"...
…other boy, obviously a vampire, screaming and sobbing, curled into himself...
…Harry and Jasper were laughing. Laughing together as their hands touched each other's faces. They laughed as they embrace...
...Harry sighed. Jasper tightened his hold around Harry's shoulders. Remus smiled at them, noticing the bronze-haired Vampire's jealous gaze. He sighed. This was going to be difficult...
Chapter Eleven
After the Quileute Werewolves left, Remus introduced himself to the coven leader.
"I'm Remus Lupin." He said softly, giving a slow nod. Jasper may have accepted a werewolf, but that did not mean the rest of his coven would.
"Carlisle Cullen." The 'eldest' blond male greeted, reaching out a tentative, yet steady hand. Remus took it without hesitation. The war had taught him to work with vampires, and long years of hiding what he was had his instincts under tight wrap. He could comfortably and easily associate, which was definitely a good thing, seeing as he had just acquired a vampire for a cub. Really, Remus though with a mental snort, the amount of age old magical rules that Harry broke was quite impressive. And disrupting, at times.
Remus glanced back at his cubs, releasing Carlisle's hand. They stood slightly apart from the others, Jasper's arm around Harry's shoulder, and Harry's encircling Jasper's waist. Jasper had his head hidden in Harry's hair and was taking slow, even breaths. Harry's eyes were hard and protective, only the way he was leaning against Jasper for support showing his true state.
If Remus didn't know better, he would have named them lovers, which was going to start causing all sorts of problems just about now…
The pixie-like, Potter-haired vampires danced up to Jasper and Harry. She managed to get out a soft, questioning, "Jasper?" before a fierce growl rumbled from Harry's throat.
As Harry's hand strayed to his wand and his other arm tightened his hold on Jasper, Remus carefully interrupted. "Harry…"
Harry shot him a short scowl, and drew closer to Jasper, giving the other vampire a baleful glare.
"Miss," Remus said in his softest tone, "It would be best if you kept your distance for now. Neither of them will do well with 'foreign approaches'."
"What's going on?" She demanded.
"In time I will explain everything. I am sorry, I simply cannot explain where there is a possibility we could be overheard. For now, please respect that both boys' lives have been turned upside-down. For now, please do not try to approach them unless beckoned."
"You approached," The bronze-haired male whose scent suggested he was Harry's mate said fiercely and softly.
Remus nodded. "It is likely that Mr. Cullen- Sorry, Carlisle that is, could approach as well. Those with strictly familial relationships can sometimes approach."
Edward moved towards them. "There is also the fact that Harry does not do well with…your kind."
"You can't keep us from our brother, wolf!" The biggest vampire demanded.
Remus nodded again, a calm smile on his face. "No, of course not. I am merely suggesting it for the welfare of Jasper and Harry."
The big vampire grumbled and there were muttered growls, but the vampires backed off. For now.
"If we could proceed to your…" Remus hesitated on the word. Vampires differed on what they called their dwelling.
"Home." Growled the blond female.
Remus gave another polite nod, "Your home, then I can explain what had happened."
There was reluctant agreement.
"Edward can take my children, and I can give you and Harry—"
Jasper and Harry growled simultaneously. They clutched to each other and sent death glares at Carlisle.
"Boys, enough." Remus chided lightly and then explained, "Separation at this point is not suggested. They need close contact for the next twenty-four hours to settle."
"Jasper can come with us." Carlisle said wisely.
The 'children' were obviously displeased with this decision, but they headed to a shiny car that looked a lot newer than the other ones in the lot. Carlisle led the way to a sleek car, not that Remus had seen many cars in his lifetime being magic-raised, with tinted windows.
Jasper and Harry slid into the back seat, clasping hands and sitting so their knees bumped together at the slightest movement. Remus climbed into the passenger seat. Harry and he buckled up, Jasper and Carlisle didn't bother.
The car ride was mostly silent. However as they reached the town limits, Jasper's voice could be heard under the soft thrum of the engine.
"Harry, I'm scared."
"I know," Harry's voice said very softly. "But a family's love isn't conditional, not a true one anyway."
"Promise?"
"Of course. I learned that the hard way."
Remus smiled softly, drifting to many incidents over the years when Harry had purposefully tested their love for him. Oh, Harry, you have come so far, Remus thought lovingly.
Remus glanced over at Carlisle. The blonde-vampire was clenching the steering wheel so hard the material was giving way under his fingers. He loosened his grip a moment later, but the pain, regret and tender love didn't leave his face. Jasper glanced up at Carlisle with worried anxious eyes, and seemed to grow embarrassed. Harry gripped the vampire's hand and murmured something Remus could not quite make out.
Later, as the trees grew thicker around them, Harry whispered to Jasper, "I'm scared."
"I know, they won't hurt you, though. I wouldn't let them even if they wanted to."
Remus' jaw tightened. His poor, poor, frightened cubs.
They turned onto an unpaved road which they followed for a quarter of an hour before the trees thinned out, opening to a meadow shaded by huge cedars.
A timeless and beautiful ghost of a house rose out of the shadowed ground. It was stunning and welcoming. Carlisle pulled up right in front, where the shiny car the others had left in already stood.
The four of them stepped out of the car and into the deep shade. Carlisle led the way up to the porch and through the door.
The first floor was open, one room blending seamlessly into the next and the whole back wall a large window. The other vampires were gathered in the entrance room, around a new unfamiliar vampire. Remus glanced back quickly to check on Harry. His cub was tense, but Jasper's presence seemed to keep the worst of the panic at bay.
The new vampire swept forward gracefully to peck Carlisle on the cheek. Warily she stepped up to Remus.
"Mr. Lupin-"
"Remus, please." Remus interrupted. "It is best for Harry and Jasper if we grow comfortable with one other quickly."
"Remus, then. Please call me Carlisle. This is my wife Esme."
"A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cullen." Remus greeted respectfully. She gave a kind if worried smiled.
"Esme, if that is what is best for Jasper. It's very nice to know you, Remus."
Remus nodded.
"I don't think you've been properly introduced to my children…" She trailed off. She was playing the perfect hostess, reminding Remus of Mrs. Granger's attitude when they had met her at Hermione's funeral. Remus tensed at the memory, and forcibly relaxed.
"No, I haven't." He answered softly. Once again, he glanced back at Harry. Esme's attitude had obviously stuck a nerve in Harry too, as he was clenching Jasper's hand and glancing away from Esme.
"This is Emmett," She motioned to the large, muscled vampire, "And his wife Rosalie," The stunning blonde female, "Alice, Jasper's wife." There was a hint of edged steel in Esme's voice now. A warning? "And Edward." Turned out to be the name of Harry's mate- well, chosen in this case.
Esme stepped a bit closer to Jasper and Harry. Remus watched carefully. This seemed like it would be a safe interaction…
"And you must be Harry." She took a final step. Harry leaped back while Jasper propelled himself in front of Harry growling.
"Jasper, please." Remus scolded firmly, if softly.
"I am sorry Esme. I explained to the others…only those with strictly familial relations will be able to approach. As there is no such bond between Harry and yourself…additionally, Harry is mortally frightened of vampires."
"I'm not." Harry protested quietly as surprise stole over the faces of the vampires. Esme withdrew immediately and all the others took several steps back, giving Harry room. "I mean, I'm trying not to be…you know, but…"
"Shush," Jasper soothed, replacing his arm around Harry's thin shoulders.
"Then how…?" Edward asked, glancing at the close contact between Jasper and Harry.
"Perhaps I should explain now?" Remus smiled. "Is there somewhere we can sit and talk?" Esme nodded. The mood in the room had sobered a little when Remus had told them Harry feared vampires. There was still and edge of tension, but it was dissipating quickly.
"Certainly, this way." Esme said. She led them to a slightly closed off area with several couches, a TV and a couple other muggle devices Remus didn't recognize.
Remus settled Harry and Jasper in a love chair, and took a seat next to Carlisle on one of the couches. Esme took Carlisle's other side, while Alice and Edward perched on another couch, eyes studying Jasper and Harry respectively. Rosalie and Emmett curled together in an overlarge armchair.
"Remy," Harry said in one of his most timid tones, "do we really have to explain…everything? Couldn't that, you know, get you in trouble?"
"I hardly think you'll let me 'get in trouble' cub, and yes, we really do have to explain as much as we can."
Harry rubbed his hands on his trousers, and tapped his feet anxiously.
"Yeah, yeah. Sure."
"Right." Remus began, "The very first thing I should say is the bond between Jasper and Harry is strictly platonic. Possessive platonic, but platonic none the less.
The edge of tension almost completely left the room.
"Next, I'd like to stress that for the next twenty-four hours Jasper and Harry will need to be in constant contact. They will also be extremely possessive of the other's touch and attention. Approaching either partner in the bond will probably be viewed as a threat. As I said before, those with strictly familial bonds may be able to approach, but slowly and only towards the child they are familiar with.
"Rejection of the bond before the six-month mark will in death or insanity for either partner."
The tension built up again, this time with a clear undercurrent of worry.
"You keep mentioning this bond," Alice interrupted. "What bond? How did it form? Why did it form? Don't they have any choice in the matter?"
"They did have a choice in the matter, though the preceding panic attack made them a little less stable to make that choice. As for why…the bond occurs when two souls recognize each other to the very depths of their being. This particular form of the bond is called The Wounded Victims bond."
"Wounded victims?" Several of the vampires repeated, worry, regret, love and despair easily read on their faces.
"Yes. It's defined by the bonding of two…" Remus glanced around the room, nibbled his lip, and continued boldly, summoning his Gryffindor courage, "deeply traumatized and broken people."
It was perfectly still, before Esme let out a broken, tearless sob. There were growls and sobs from all sides. Jasper pulled back from the overload of emotions, hiding his head in Harry's neck.
"How is that possible?" Emmett said in astonishment, and the others all turned to look at Jasper, whose nose was resting right along Harry's vein.
"The bond mates are physically incapable of causing each other harm. I would imagine that Jasper became immediately desensitized to the smell of Harry's blood at the bonding. I'm sure it smells perfectly tempting but Jasper could not imagine hurting Harry- it would be simply inconceivable. Is that right, Jasper?"
Jasper looked up and nodded. "Yes. It is like he smells delicious- I see what you mean now about his smell, Edward- but I know that if I, uh...indulged it would make me ill. Very ill."
Harry shivered. "Can we stop talking about eating me now?"
"Of course, cub." Remus said softly.
"But what of the how?" Carlisle continued, the vampires politely ignoring the interaction. "I've never heard of any such bond."
"You wouldn't have." Remus said softly. "This is where it gets difficult to explain. I suppose…do you believe in magic?"
This is actually the original chapter I wrote cut in two. It was taking too long to type and edit. But, hey, the means I have twice as many chapters written, hmmm?
I hope it lived up to everybody's expectations, and please, please, review!