Rosalie POV
Have I mentioned that I just downright hate stereotypes? As if you could categorise someone by looking at them, making a single moment snap decision on who they were, how they acted, what they were doing and how to treat them. I had been judged by people using stereotypes my whole life – stupid blonde, obnoxious and stuck up because I was beautiful – the list was endless. I had learnt over the years to hate them with a much keener intensity then most others.
Which was exactly why I was using all my willpower to stop from turning into the stereotypical tourist: photo snapping, squealing and rushing about, pointing and gaping. It was a lot harder than I expected it to be.
Alice obviously had no such aversion to stereotypes or embracing them. She danced around, dragging a dazed Jasper after her as Bella pointed out various things within Diagon Alley. The wand shop, the shop where she had purchased her school books every year, the pet store, the Leaky Cauldron, the ice-cream pallor, Gringott's, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Bella was the happy, helpful tour guide; Alice was the typical bubbly, awe-struck tourist. The others weren't much better. Emmett, who I knew very well had an inner ten year old, was embracing the tourist act with everything in him. I tried my best not to get frustrated with them as everyone stared at us like we belonged in a circus.
Another thing I noticed was that people avoided us. The others did notice too but they were too caught up in this new amazing world to think too much on it. It was natural, anyway. Humans always avoided us. It was a fact of life. But these humans knew. And they were afraid of us – scared and wary and giving us more than a wide berth. They knew of us and weren't accepting us. I felt foolish and stupid to even have hoped in the slightest way that these too would accept us like Bella's family had. It made me angry at myself, them, and more than a little bitter at the whole situation to realise that I had been hoping and it hadn't turned out that way.
Another stereotype: vampire, killer, blood sucker, dangerous, mindless murderer. These things were all true – but they weren't for us at the same time. We were vegetarian. But most didn't seem to realise that or stick around long enough to find out. They didn't realise we were humane. They were too busy crossing to the other side of road to get their children away from the coven of big bad vampires or whispering as they banded together, searching for a humans idea of safety and reassurance in numbers, pointing fingers at us and exclaiming quietly. This stereotype had been as long as vampires had. That was a long time. It had always affected me –I wasn't exactly thrilled for my species to be named as disgusting savages– but never before to this level. Stupidly, this almost felt personal. It hurt to be snubbed by these people more than it ever had before.
But that just fuelled my determination to not let it bother me, to not give them the satisfaction of seeing me affected at all by them, so I masked all my feelings and trailed after my family as we went sightseeing. I ignored how other shoppers and employees who gulped and started sweating bullets whenever we walked past. It wasn't too hard to find a happier, more excited expression. This trip was intriguing and full of a lot of new things and opportunities. I just struggled to contain what was underneath the surface.
It didn't take long for Emmett to convince Bella to go and have a little look in Quality Quidditch Supplies. Naturally, everyone else trailed after them. Jasper flipped through some books that gave advice on how to being a good flyer, Edward and Esme browsed the broomstick repair section, while the rest of us checked out the latest broomsticks.
A lot of the customers who had been in the shop before us left when we walked in. My jaw clenched.
Finally Jasper got bored in this shop and started to head over to one just across the road. Edward, Alice and I went with him after briefly telling Bella and the others where we would be. The shop sold a variety of telescopes in all shapes and sizes. It also had a lot of models of our solar system for sale. All of them were more detailed and precise then I had ever seen before – undoubtedly because of the wizards extra resources over that of human muggles. Not only that, though, but they moved and hovered around, obviously having some form of magic bewitched on them. Jasper was amazed with them and pulled out some of the gold coins of wizarding money Bella had given us to buy one.
"The silver or the gold one, Rose?" Alice asked me. She held a telescope in each hand, the left gold and the right a pearly silver. She shifted her arms up and down, like she was a human scale and was weighing them. "They're the same version –the best– but I just don't know what colour . . ."
"I can't remember the last time Alice had trouble shopping," Edward teased, walking over to us and chuckling. My own lips twitched with a smile, too. It was true. Alice was never indecisive when it came to shopping for anything, This was very rare and sort of unnerving, like it wasn't exactly natural or something.
"This is different to normal shopping," Alice protested, narrowing her eyes at us dangerously. "This is telescope shopping."
"It's shopping all the same," I pointed out.
She just huffed and put the silver one back on the shelf. "I'll get the gold one because it's cooler. And more pirate like. It's awesome." And just like that her mood had done a one eighty turn from angry to beaming, proud for her reasoning. I rolled my eyes and walked away. Only Alice.
When we finally left the little telescope shop we walked out the door with a lot more stuff then we had walked in with. Jasper bought his model solar system, a book called Astronomy For Beginners and another one called The Stars: What They Really Tell Us. I didn't understand why he got the beginners book because he had always been interested in astronomy and its study over the years. When I asked he just told me it was because the wizarding world probably viewed it a lot differently. Alice carried a small bag with her golden telescope in it, as well as another bag with a kaleidoscope. Edward also had quite a few books. By this rate, we'd need to add wizarding library extensions to our house for all these books and odd things.
"Wow, you guys really like the astronomy shop," Bella laughed when she saw us walking their way with all our new possessions. She smiled at us happily. "Come on. If you guys are going to buy this much stuff I'm going to have to get some more money from my vault."
Carlisle frowned and hurried after her as she started leading the way down the street to where the big bank stood. It was very tall, easily the tallest building in all of Diagon Alley, and a pure snowy white. Looking closely, I think it might have been made out of marble but I couldn't be sure. "Can't we exchange our money for some wizarding money?" Carlisle asked Bella. "I don't want you to spend all of your money on us."
Bella snorted. "It's no problem, really. It's the least I can do seeming how you all have spent so much on me in the past."
"But Bella . . ." Edward trailed off.
She sighed. "I'm part of the family now, remember? I'm married to you Edward. What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine and all that. I don't mind, really. Stop making such a fuss. Besides," she grinned. "You buy me more than enough stuff in the muggle world. Just let me deal with it in the wizarding world."
Edward and Carlisle gave identical sighs of resignation, although Edward wore a happy smile. Bella turned to us since we were right outside the bank now. "Actually, I changed my mind," she announced, taking everyone by surprise. "One or two of you can go in and swap some of your money. I don't think it's a good idea if I make an appearance in there in the next hundred years or so after we robbed the place. Goblins carry hard feelings and I don't want to cause a scene . . ." She cast an anxious look at the two goblins who guarded the front door.
"I'll go," Alice volunteered.
"I will too," Carlisle agreed, nodding.
"Okay," Bella said. "Just go in and don't cause a scene, act human. Go over to the desk for exchanges and give them the amount of money you want to convert and then let them do their magic. Thank them and then come straight back here, okay? Please don't mention me."
Carlisle and Alice nodded before wandering inside the bank. I tried not to be too angry and jealous. I would have loved to have gone inside the famous wizarding bank. I sighed and leant against the big white building, my jealousy fading when Emmett came over and stood beside me, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "Pretty amazing, huh, baby?" he murmured quietly, giving my shoulder a squeeze. I smiled slightly. I knew what he was trying to do: cheer me up.
I nodded, playing along. "I love it."
"Bells said we could go to the twins joke shop next. I can't wait!" he grinned at me. And there it was – his inner kid, all dimples and smiles and innocence I gave him a smile back, tiny but true.
We waited in silence for the next ten minutes or so. My anger slowly started to rise again. What was taking them so long? It didn't seem like a hard task to complete. We were all waiting for them – they shouldn't be so rude. Edward heard my thoughts and shot me an exasperated look. "They were trying to exchange too much money – thousands. And the goblins wouldn't give it to them over the counter in one go. Carlisle is arranging to open a vault since it's too much to carry around at one time."
I huffed but was a distracted by a group of people timidly making their way over to us –or to Bella, to be more accurate– to think on it too much more. Honestly, they couldn't have been logical for once and tried to exchange a standard amount of money?
"Umm, miss . . . Miss Tonks? Are you Ynocencia?" an aged balding man hesitantly asked when he was finally standing in front of us.
Bella blinked at him and didn't bother correcting him that her name was Mrs. Cullen now. "Yes?"
"My wife and I," the man said, waving a hand at the woman who had her arm linked through his. "We would just like to say thank you. For everything you did to help the Potter boy take down You-Know-Who. We are in debt to you."
I looked at Bella, wondering how she was going to reply to this. So far we had heard a lot of the whisperings going on between people in Diagon Alley about Bella and the rest of us: that was Harry Potters friend – I had heard she was a vampire now but I didn't believe it when Ben told me – maybe she was turned by one of You-Know-Who's followers – but then why is she with that lot? – I heard she helped take He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named down – bloody vampire scum – I should go thank her, but maybe she's thirsty? – I had heard she'd been turned by her own free will – look she's married one of them! – she was so young though, I hope she's okay, she was such a kind girl – I heard her sister is with that god awful werewolf – why are their eyes golden? – I never believed in vegetarian vampires when Horus told me about them – just think her mother was a Black once . . . It was continuous, all the rumours and musings. This was the first time anyone had approached her though – and to thank her. It was unexpected to say the least.
"Thank you," Bella said, sounding surprised. "It was the least I could do. A lot more people who helped in the war were much braver and played a bigger part then I did though."
"You are in the Order of the Phoenix, are you not?" the old lady asked kindly.
Bella nodded.
"Then you are a hero," she concluded, smiling kindly.
Bella started to turn red, her inner metamorphmagus coming out. I hissed a warning at her, "Watch the blush, Bella," before the humans could notice. She jumped, startled, before repressing the pink. She was meant to be looking definitely vampire for this trip – no other metamorphmagus or magic traits showing. It was safer and wiser to not advertise the fact she was still magical, especially with Caius already reacting so badly to the news, until we found some answers and had seen the Volturi. I briefly wondered when, or if, she would go "public" about it.
"I, umm . . ." Bella stuttered in response to the woman's statement. Finally she settled on a weak, quietly murmured, "Thank you?"
"No need to thank me dear," the woman said. "We just wanted to thank you."
Seeing this old couple's boldness, a lot of the other witches and wizards in Diagon Alley had started to make their way over to us. A small crowd was clustered around our huddle of family members, whispering to each other like they didn't know we could hear every word they were saying. I scowled at them, especially the few who were just being downright nasty. Humans, no matter wizard or muggle, obviously would never change.
"Are you really a bloodsucker now?" someone from within the crowd asked. They probably thought they were safe and we wouldn't be able to tell who asked since they were in such a rapidly growing group. They were wrong. All of our eyes snapped to the speaker, a young man of around twenty with thick glasses, and he flamed red and stumbled backwards in surprise. Idiotic human.
"Yeah," Bella answered him, sounding kind and not offended by his forwardness at all. I would have been if it was me. As it were, I fixed the boy with a hard stare anyway. He shifted uneasily and looked to his group of friends for help that wasn't going to come. They were edging away from him, obviously trying to distance themselves from him so we wouldn't think he was part of their little group. Cowards. Bella waved a hand at us all who stood next to her, minus Alice and Carlisle who were still in Gringott's, and ignored their theatrics. "This is my family, the Cullen's. We're vegetarian vampires."
"Vegetarian?" the crowd echoed, glancing at each other. "I thought they were just myths! Vegetarian vampires aren't real. They're just trying to scam us so they can get us later." The murmuring and whispering escalated in volume so quickly that the last sentence was practically a shout.
That did it. My patience had been tested ever since we had gotten here with the way these people had been acting towards us, their assumptions and stereotypes. Let's see what they think of this. I pushed myself up from the wall and stepped out from under Emmett's arm. I advanced towards the crowd, fixing the speakers with a hard eye. Clearly, it seemed that it was time to set some things straight. The cluster of witches and wizards backed up a bit, wary of my approach, obviously thinking I was coming to eat them. I snorted. Typical. Yet more stereotypes.
"Careful Rose," Edward warned lowly, too quiet for a human to hear. I flipped my hair over my shoulder and ignored him.
"Surely you're not that narrow minded, sweetie," I called to the one who had spoken, a black haired woman who was hanging on the arm of an older looking man. She stared at me, startled, eyes wide and trembling. "We have golden eyes. Animal blood makes them that way. It's a simple fact – one it seems you're too stupid to understand." I fixed her with a condensing stare, guiltily satisfied at embarrassing her. Serves her right. "Go have a look at any other vampire. Their eyes will be red from human blood." I was about to make another comment, one Edward obviously read in my mind, because he stepped forward and took hold of my arm and stopped me. I wasn't sure if I was angered or grateful.
"Rose, it's just a girl," he said barely loud enough for them to hear. "Let it go. It's not worth it." Lower, so they couldn't hear, he said, "And what you were thinking of saying would not help – at all."
I gave him a look before making my way back to Emmett. Whatever. I'd made my point anyway.
Some of crowd disappeared after that, obviously backing off after my little message, but a few hung around to ask Bella more questions. She answered them dutifully and truthfully, having more patience then I ever would. Why was she turned? She gave a short answer about wanting to be with her vampire husband. That's your husband? She nodded at that one, smirking slightly. Edward just looked uncomfortable. Was being a vegetarian vampire a rare thing among vampire kind? She gave a brief answer about how we had met a few others and were hoping to meet more. No need to tell them that we knew of thirteen out of the hundreds, if not thousands, of vampires out there. That wouldn't help our case at all.
Alice and Carlisle finally emerged from the bank carrying a few purses filled with various wizarding coins. Alice skipped through the crowd, handing each and every one of us Cullen's a purse filled with money. Our allowances for the day. I snorted. Carlisle came and stood with Esme and I. He murmured, too low for anyone to hear, "What is with all the humans? They were avoiding us so much before, and all the gossiping . . ." he frowned, concerned, at Bella as she talked to the elderly couple who had originally made their way over.
"Those two over there –" I nodded at the pair Bella was talking to "– they came over first to thank Bella for her part in taking down Voldemort. Then the rest got bold and approached and before we know it it's like we're all in an interview where the interviewers can be rude, obnoxious little pricks."
Carlisle glanced at me from the corner of his eye while Esme shot me a disapproving look. I just gave them a one shouldered shrug, not really sorry at all. Some of those people had been downright rude. "I take it some parts didn't go well?" Carlisle asked Esme. She quickly explained what had happened.
Bella had managed to get the crowd to disperse and we were all finally alone. "Edward and I need to go to the bookshop," she said, turning and giving him a secret smile. He beamed at her in return. It was obvious they were up to something – something they didn't want the rest of us to know yet. I huffed and looked away, angry at not being the loop even though I know it was immature to feel this way. "Are you lot able to take care of yourselves while I'm not here?"
Who does she think we are? Three year olds? We didn't need her supervision. I glowered. Edward shot me a sharp look that I had no trouble interpreting after being on the receiving end of it so much. It said that Bella was only trying to help us and be thoughtful, that we were in a whole new world after all. I sighed, some of my anger draining away. I could see her point. But still. I was capable of taking care of myself around these pesky little witches and wizards.
Edward and Bella wandered off towards a bookshop which was very close to being empty, holding hands and whispering to each other. Esme, Carlisle, Alice and Jasper decided they wanted to go and have a look at the magical pet shop, Magical Menagerie, and ask if they sold any pets that were happy to be around vampires. I doubted they would find anything but I had to admit that it would be nice if there was some sort of pet that was suitable to be around us.
Emmett slung his arm around my shoulders as we started to walk idly down Diagon Alley. I cuddled against him, receiving a happy smile in return. Sometimes I was happy to be sheltered and protected and loved in his arms – sometimes I felt it was confining, or I just didn't want to cuddle. Emmett always seemed to understand, though, and never took offence if I shrugged him off. For that I was grateful. Nonetheless, that didn't mean he loved it when I was in a snugly mood.
"Hey, look, baby. There are those wizarding cameras!" Emmett exclaimed, pointing to where a stall was set up opposite what looked like a post office filled with an assortment of owls. I felt a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth, happy at seeing him so happy. Emmett led us over to the stall. "What's the best camera you have?" he asked the girl behind the stall eagerly.
She blinked at him, eyes flashing between the both of us. Yes, sweetie, we're vampires – get over it, I felt like saying to her. I bit my tongue and held it in. "Umm, this one is the top of the line at the moment – very popular," she stuttered, bending down behind her stall before popping back up again with an ancient looking camera in her hands. I frowned at her. Didn't they have anything like a normal camera? Digital and so small it fits in the palm of your hand? Obviously not.
Emmett took the camera out of her hands, turning it over and over and examining it. "Wicked. Is this the best? You're sure?" She nodded, biting her lip and shifting from foot to foot anxiously. "There's nothing a bit, I dunno, modern?"
"Umm, I don't know what you're talking about. This is modern – It's the SnapShot Version 4.6. It's only been out in shops for a few months . . ."
"What he's trying to ask," I interrupted her, "Is whether you have anything that resembles a muggle camera."
"Umm, I don't think so. I, umm, have never seen a muggle camera," she admitted sheepishly, blushing so bright it could almost rival a human Bella's. I resisted rolling my eyes. She'd never seen a muggle camera. I should have known.
"Well, in that case, I'll take it!" Emmett exclaimed. I finally did roll my eyes. He handed the camera back to her, telling her to box and wrap it with 'extra special care' before paying for it. It was expensive, even I knew that and I had no clue when it came to wizarding currency. The girl stared wide eyed at Emmett when he tipped the contents of his allowance purse on the counter, telling her to take however much she needed for us to pay for it. She didn't even take a third of it – proving that Alice and Carlisle really had gone overboard before.
Emmett left the stall beaming, carrying his prized wizarding camera in both hands carefully. "It's so cool, Rosie. It doesn't even need to be taken somewhere to be developed – it does it from the actual camera, spitting photos out like the old muggle cameras used to. Only these pictures will move . . . I can't wait to test it out!" He paused. "We can use it when we go to Hogwarts – wait!" With that he spun on his heel and practically flew back to the girls stall, and bought another three cameras. When I asked why, he just said, "The others are going to want some. This way we can all share a camera with our mates – and take that much more photos!"
I couldn't help but smile. He might act like a doofus, he might have 'blonde moments' but he really was the kindest, most thoughtful person I had ever met.
We bumped into Bella and Edward shortly after leaving the camera stall for the second time. I narrowed my eyes at them, remembering how secretive and rude they'd been before. What were they up to? Honestly, if they didn't want us to know, they shouldn't have mentioned it in front of us.
"Calm down, Rose," Edward sighed, rolling his eyes. "You're blowing this out of proportion. We were just getting books on Legilimency."
"Mind reader books?" Emmett asked, eyebrows rising. "Why would you need that? You've already got the skill, man."
Bella raised her hand, grinning timidly. "They're not for Edward. They're for me. I'm going to learn." She leant over and kissed Edward quickly. They beamed at each other, and when they started leaning in for another kiss I decided it was time to intervene.
"Just stop it for five minutes," I snapped at them. "One, we're in public. Two, we're trying to have a conversation here. The least you can do is pay attention."
Edward rolled his eyes and gave Bella a quick peck, just trying to piss me off I'm sure, before turning back to us. "Whatever, Rose."
"I don't get it," Emmett grumbled. "Why does Bella need to be a mind reader if Edward's already one?" He groaned. "Damn, we're going to have two mind readers! One's enough."
I couldn't help but agree with him. I turned to the newlyweds, waiting for a logical reason. Bella spoke up. "I think it would be a useful skill and I want to learn as much as I can, starting now, if I'm going to be around forever. And besides, I'll be nothing like Edward. I'll be able to control it and I will need to be close to anyone to read their minds. And," she added, her voice dropping, "there's also another reason. The main reason."
Edward spun to her, frowning. "What? You never told me another reason."
Bella shrugged. "I don't know if it will work but I want to try. I didn't want to get your hopes up, if it wasn't going to work. Besides, I really did want to learn," she defended, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
"You still haven't told us this main reason," I reminded her.
"Right," she mumbled, glancing at me briefly before turning back to Edward. She took his hands in hers, putting the bag that held all of their books at their feet. "I wanted, I mean I have a theory . . . If I become a Legilimens, then I can read your mind." Edward nodded, his eyes searching hers. "You need to be a Legilimens to teach Occlumency . . ."
"What are you trying to say, Bella?" Edward finally prompted her when she didn't continue. He pulled her closer to him. I didn't even have it in me to be bothered by their overall sappiness – I was too curious to know what Bella was talking about.
"What I'm trying to say is that I think I might be able to teach you Occlumency. You will not only be able to fend off mental attacks –which is always a good thing– but you'll be able to control you mind. I think that, maybe, if we can do this you'll finally have control over your gift. Like a Legilimens does, sort of. You'll be able to gain control of your mindreading."
No one spoke. Emmett and I shared a glance with each other. We knew how much his gift pained Edward – the constant stream of voices, always there, unable to do anything about it, never any quiet or by himself. If what Bella was saying was true, he'd learn to control it, block it out and be silent to his own thoughts whenever he wished it. This was great. I was honestly, truly happy for him. For this opportunity. I might not get along with him the best, but he was my brother. I wanted him to be happy no matter what. And this – this . . .
I turned to Bella, looking at her in a new light, with a new appreciation. I knew they loved each other desperately, but for her to do this . . . We would all be thankful to her for the rest of eternity.
And, a voice in the back of my mind whispered, my selfish side coming out, you'll finally have your mind to yourself. It's about time.
"Bella . . ." Edward's voice cracked. He just crushed her to him in a tight hug, clinging to her desperately. I looked away. Give them their moment. Low, quiet whispered words passed between the pair. I didn't listen, giving them some time together. Instead Emmett picked up their abandoned bag of books and took my hand, and we wandered a little bit away to give them some more privacy.
Alice, Esme, Jasper and Carlisle found us looking in the window for the pet shop. "What's up?" Jasper asked, sounding sort of strangled, glancing over to where Edward and Bella were silently embracing. It was clear the emotional waves coming off them were stunning him. Emmett quickly explained Bella's plan.
"Oh, this is wonderful," Esme said quietly, clasping her hands together. "I'm so happy for Edward. He deserves this. And Bella . . ." she trailed off, smiling, all motherly kindness and pride. "They really are perfect for each other."
"What did you buy?" I asked Alice, gesturing to her bags of belongings.
"Jazz and I got this pair of mirrors, where you look into them and you can communicate with the person on the other end, no matter the distance. They're really rare, and were bloody expensive, but I can tell it's going to be worth it," Alice gushed, beaming at Jasper. He smiled back. "What did you two buy?" she asked, nodding at Emmett where he cradled his precious cameras to his chest.
"Wizarding cameras," he told them. "I bought one for you two, one for Esme and Carlisle, one for me and Rosie and another for Bella and Edward."
Alice clapped her hands and gave a squeal. "That's so cool." She bounded over to Emmett and gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, big brother."
Edward and Bella came over to us, still glued together. She was positively squished into his side, but the expression on her face told me that there was no other place on earth that she'd rather be. "Are you all ready to go?" she asked. She glanced at the sky, where it was starting to darken. Another bonus I had Bella to thank for – being out in the day in the sunlight without sparkling, courtesy to one of her potions.
"Yes," we all chimed. I walked over and took hold of her other hand, and she apparated Edward and I home without another word. She disappeared just as quickly off to get the others.
In the few minutes when it was just Edward and I alone, in private, I turned to him, and thought, I really hope this works for you, Edward. I really do. I don't think I've ever told you this since you met Bella, but I'm glad you found her. I'm glad you're happy. He gave me a nod and a smile. I nodded back before walking out of the room and into the garage before I could get even more emotional. It must be something about England, or the excitement of Diagon Alley, or something because today I really had been all over the place, my emotions going haywire. Hurt when the wizards snubbed us, all soft and mushy when Emmett and I got cuddly, and now . . . this with Edward.
I changed my course from the garage to the forest. I was thirsty, that must be it. I better go hunt and fix this before everyone started to get the wrong idea.