Life After Death And Betrayal

Chapter 25

Conversations & Visiting The Cullen's

Harry had taken a picture of them both, with his mobile phone, after belatedly remembering about it. If Harry lived another thousand years, he couldn't imagine the sight not being the best in his life. Teddy was given a few pieces of his candyfloss before having a bath then going to bed. For the first time the child didn't argue, accidental magic did take it out of you. Stretched your magical core, preparing it for when they began learning in earnest usually at the age of eleven. Some people did actually teach their children much sooner. It just depended on their magical core; some needed training early, as Harry should have been. It wasn't normal for children to accidentally Apparate. There was a reason the Ministry waited until they were seventeen and legally adults. Then it took Harry an hour to reverse the magic Teddy had done to Jasper.

"Why did it happen?" asked Jasper, once again relived to be able to sit down, the tail had been extremely uncomfortable. He could imagine how a human would have left, probably ten times worse. He didn't want it happening again that was for certain.

"It's hard to say, magic normally reacts to wizards or witches emotions, when he couldn't get his toy his anger spiked his magic causing it to lash out." said Harry sitting down, beside his now normal lover. He flicked the channels until something half way decent popped up. Not that he watched the TV a lot; in fact he rarely sat down and watched anything at all.

"Why me though?" asked Jasper.

"You were the closest, thank Merlin otherwise I would have had a hell of a mess to clean up." said Harry wryly, "It doesn't mean he doesn't like you Jasper, he's a lot like you, you cannot help but feel everyone's emotions, just like Teddy cannot help but do magic. Spending so much time in the Muggle world isn't helping. He needs to release magic, children get emotional, it's the way they are, but as we grow up we learn to control it along with it our magic."

"I understand, just one last question…why a tiger?" Jasper snorted at the look he'd supported just twenty minutes ago, sure it fit his personality, and at least it was more dignified, than ending up with say wings and an antenna. Looking like a butterfly. Jasper shuddered at the prospect; well it could have been worse.

Harry's lip quivered as if he was once again suppressing his amusement, "That's actually…err…quiet a feat, we don't learn that spell until we are seventeen." sniggered Harry, remembering Victor Krum turning into half man half shark. "I didn't do anything like that, I changed the colour of things, shrank them, Apparated things like that…I didn't manage to transfigure someone into something. Although Apparating falls into the same power category as what Teddy did to you." Merlin he wouldn't like to imagine Vernon's reaction if he'd actually transfigured any of them into animals. Not that it would have required much work. Vernon already looked like a walrus and Petunia did resemble a horse or giraffe…he wasn't even going to mention Dudley. Baby hippopotamus.

"What age were you?" enquired Jasper curiously.

"I must have been around five maybe six years old, I'm not actually one hundred percent certain. I don't like to remember my childhood, it's not something I dwell on." said Harry shrugging his shoulders, and he didn't dwell on it; there was more to life than the past. This was where it should be, in the past. "I know what my punishment was though."

"What did they do?" asked Jasper, his nostrils flaring at the thought of some disgusting human hurting his mate. He might have more respect for humans now, but he wouldn't for those people who'd hurt Harry. He would drain them, and then set fire to their remains while they were still alive and preferably conscious. Oh yes, the solider was still alive in there somewhere, and for once his vampire was in agreement with him.

"Locked me in my cupboard for a fortnight, wasn't allowed out unless it was to use the toilet got scraps to live on, when my Aunt took pity on me and threw it in. Vernon had always been determined to stamp the magic out of me, all he did was make my magic stronger, or at least the appearance of it being stronger." said Harry wryly.

"Appearance?" parroted Jasper not completely sure what Harry meant.

"Well I didn't have a normal childhood, I grew up thinking I was a freak, I tried not to use my magic because of that, not that I knew what it was at the time. I wasn't allowed to experience things others did either, basically when I got to fifteen years of age, all the anger and fear I had experienced my entire life began pouring out. It briefly came out when I was thirteen, I blew my uncles sister up, and she began blowing up like a balloon and floating up into the sky. She had been saying nasty things about my parents, but when I realized I'd done magic the fear overrode my anger." said Harry.

"Blew her up?" said Jasper apprehensively, they could blow people up? Did that include vampires? He made a mental note to never get on Harry's bad side, not that he planned on it.

"Well she didn't exactly blow up; the wizards found her…somehow and returned her to normal. She was regretfully Obliviated; she never remembered what happened to her. Oh how I wish that hadn't happened might have taught her to keep her mouth shut." said Harry smugly; nobody said anything about his mother without consequence. Somewhere in her subconscious she must have remembered though, he had never seen her again. "I believed my parents were drunks, who died in a car crash, nearly killing me in the process for ten years. Then I learned when I entered the wizarding world that they'd died for me. Even thinking what I did as a child makes me cringe but I had no reason to think otherwise. It's probably why when anyone brings up my parents I get so angry."

Jasper clenched his jaw tightly, feeling not only Harry's anger and injustice but also his own. He couldn't believe it, and they were supposed to be family? Families in his time cherished one another, would die for one another. What had become of the world? But then he knew he was being disingenuous. People disowned family members for 'shaming' the family name, if you did anything then you were basically an outcast from society and your family. No, people weren't prefect, families weren't perfect. He just liked to think that family should come first; he had unfortunately spent too much time with the Cullen's. It was a very 'Cullen' outlook to have, and he never thought he'd be like that. What kind of person tells a child that their parents were drunks and almost killed him in a car crash? He'd never met any human more inhumane and so utterly disgusting. He was almost sure he wouldn't touch their blood; they were just too twisted and foul to contemplate. He had seen a lot, he was a vampire, yet he'd never come across such a tale as this. He almost wanted to demand Edward to get a private jet so he, Emmett and Edward could go to England and teach those foul creatures a lesson they'd never forgot, the last lesson they'd ever have.

"I was definitely five or older, it happened while I was at primary school, running away from my cousin and his gang." explained Harry, trying to remember, but as he'd said he didn't remember much of his childhood. He didn't want to; unfortunately a lot of it remained. All good memories he'd had from the age of eleven to seventeen were tarnished, all he felt was betrayal at those memories. Like when Ron, Fred and George picked him up near the end of the summer before second year. Now that had always made him smile, and realize how good friends he had…not anymore. Harry had been determined to forget everything, just live by the day and make some new memories, with Teddy. Now he had Jasper to add to his good memories, hopefully he wouldn't suffer more betrayal.

"Have you ever wanted revenge on them?" asked Jasper, his amber eyes boring into Harry's wondering how he'd grown up so…forgiving and willing to take chances. He hadn't been though half of what Harry had, yet he wasn't exactly the most forgiving soul out there.

"No," said Harry shaking his head, "I've only ever just wanted away from them, ever since I could remember." and it was true, Harry knew there were people a lot worse of then him. To say he was abused, was exaggerating slightly, if social services had gotten involved the Dursley's would have been warned, he wouldn't have been removed. Merlin children died though abuse, by their own parents or their parent's boyfriends. It made him sick to his stomach, yet he was powerless to do anything about it. It's not as if he could help them, he didn't know who was being hurt after all. He may have magic but it didn't mean he could just magically appear at their side and help. Although it would be a whole different thing if he did suspect anyone of it, child abuse got under his skin quicker than anything else did.

Jasper was in silent awe of Harry, he'd never met anyone quite like him, and he wasn't speaking about magic. Just the way he was, thank god he hadn't forgiven his best friends for killing him. That he would never understand, at least Harry had some conviction in there somewhere. Harry wasn't as forgiving as he used to be, evidently, but he did forgive still. He also didn't forget. "Do you want me to go and get the car? I'll be back in a few hours?" he knew Harry was tired and would probably fall asleep soon.

"Would you?" asked Harry stifling a yawn. "Want me to Apparate you there? So you only need to make your way back?" he couldn't Apparate big metal cars, it was impossible.

"No, stay with Teddy," said Jasper, he didn't care if Harry would only be gone a minute, it only took a second for anything to happen. Jasper learned over, and claimed his mates' lips, pouring all his feelings into the passionate, loving kiss he'd been dying to give him all day. "I'll see you later." with that, he grabbed the keys, a blur as he ran around before he left the flat altogether.

"Uncle Harry?" asked a sleepy five years old, rubbing his eyes as he exited his bedroom. His teddy bear, safely clutched in his hands, he didn't go anywhere without it.

"What's wrong bud?" asked Harry, he'd sat there longer than he'd intended. Jasper had left around half an hour ago, he was probably already in Seattle. Vampires were extremely fast, hell he could go all the way to Alaska in probably three or four hours. It was good thing, apparently since Teddy was up for some reason.

"Bad dreams," murmured the tired little boy as he climbed on the couch burrowing into his uncle Harry.

"What about?" asked Harry, automatically carding his hand soothingly through Teddy's hair. The little boy had been named after his grandfather, Theodore, who had been one of the first victims of the Snatchers. Oh how he wished he could kill them, Teddy had deserved a proper family. At least he had Andy, but nothing could replace his mum and dad.

Teddy just shook his head, obviously not remembering or not wanting to talk about it. "Uncle Harry…why can't you be my dad?" asked the child innocently, his amber eyes peeking up at Harry. All the innocence the child had was staring back at Harry, and Harry hoped to god it never left him. It meant the world to him to see one child undamaged by everything that had happened. His heart jerked hearing Teddy's innocent voice asking such a difficult question to answer.

"You already had a dad Ted, nobody else can take his place." said Harry softly, as he stared ahead blankly at the wall. Mentally shuddering, just remembering Remus' dead body. It was rather daunting, just how similar Teddy and his pasts were. Both their parents had died during the war, died to keep their child safe, so they could grow up in a world without fear. The only difference was Teddy had a good life, and he'd kill whoever tried to make it bad.

"But my friend at school has two dads," protested Teddy frowning.

"Does he? Did his mummy remarry?" asked Harry, as he tried to think up something to tell the child.

"I think so, he lives with his second daddy but sees his first daddy at the weekend." said Teddy, "So why can't you be my daddy?"

Harry just sat there silently, just wondering what the hell to say to the five year old. He had never expected these questions, he guessed he should have. All children want parents, whether it was their real ones or not.

"Uncle Harry?" said Teddy his eyes once again boring into Harry's, they were filled with longing and curiosity.

"Why do you feel you need a daddy?" asked Harry, his mind still working overdrive. For the life of him he could not think of what to say, he loved Teddy with all his heart but had never thought of being his father. Not because he didn't love him, but because he'd never do such a disservice to Remus.

"Because I don't have one, I want one." said Teddy simply as if he was describing the colour of a car. Not wanting a father out of the blue.

"Well it's not that simple Ted," said Harry, "Even if I did become your daddy, you would have to stay with your Gran, she'd be lost without you." he'd never take Teddy away from Andy, it was the only thing she had left of her husband and daughter.

"Granny's always sad," said Teddy sadly.

"What do you mean?" asked Harry sitting up paying more attention.

"She cries at night, she misses Granddad," said Teddy, very astute for a five year old.

"Yes, she probably does," said Harry in agreement, damn it, how had he not picked up on it? He had realized she hadn't sounded like herself, but he hadn't said anything…hadn't pushed further. He would need to talk to her, see how she was coping. It was obvious the depression was setting in now. She'd had a baby to look after when it all happened. Now Teddy didn't need looked after so much, she was sinking into depression.

"So will you be my daddy?" asked Teddy, his uncle Harry acted like one anyway, he'd wanted to ask for a long time. He'd asked his granny if Harry would be his daddy but she hadn't answered him.

"We'll see," said Harry, he couldn't promise him one way or another. He would need to speak to Andy, not just about Teddy but her as well. She was obviously having a difficult time. "I'll talk to your Granny."

Teddy grinned his face hidden from view, we'll see from his uncle Harry was always yes. All his friends had mummies and daddies, he wanted one as well. Nobody else in his class lived with their granny's, they just visited them. It was revered with him, he went to see his Uncle Harry and got lots of cookies, and his friends went to their Granny's and had lots of cookies there.

"Come on then bud, bed time." said Harry, throwing the child over his shoulder and standing up, causing Teddy to squeal in protest, and giggle when he was flung onto his bed. His uncle Harry then put him under the covers and lay down beside him.

"I love you Uncle Harry," said Teddy, as he was cuddled in even further.

"I love you to Teddy," said Harry feeling a little emotional, before long both of them ended up falling asleep.

Harry woke with a start, looking around surprised to find himself in Teddy's room. What had happened last night? Then he remembered, Teddy asking him if he'd be his dad and the conversation about Andy. Teddy wasn't in bed, but he could hear his voice, out in the main room. He was with Jasper obviously, looking at his watch; he realized it was well time for Teddy to be awake. Flicking his wand he did the time spell for both Washington and the UK. He realized he'd been wrong, it wasn't six or eight hours ahead, it was only five hours between both countries. It may be just noon here, but back home; it was seven o'clock in the morning. Home was a relative word, he was home here, and he didn't know why he kept thinking of the UK as 'home'.

Harry hoisted himself off Teddy's junior bed, managing to do it without falling over or slipping. Yawning, he opened the door and was greeted with Teddy and Jasper sitting watching the Simpson's. The Bart Jasper had won at the fair yesterday was sitting beside them. Teddy was eating breakfast; he smiled his thanks to Jasper, as he went through to his own room. He had to have a quick shower, and changed into different clothes.

"Hey guys," murmured Harry, putting his and Teddy's dirty laundry in the washing machine.

"You don't have anything to wash and dry clothes magically?" asked Jasper teasingly.

"Clean yes, just messes people make, but it doesn't clean them properly." grinned Harry, just remembering yesterday. He knew if he was ever in a bad mood, all he would have to do is think of that and he'd feel so much better. A Tiger Jasper, and what a sight he'd made, scowling and looking moody. Oh yes, what a great Tiger he'd made.

"Ah," said Jasper making a noncommittal noise. Seemed silly to him, with everything else magic could do.

"Have you told them we're coming?" asked Harry as he sat down on the arm of the chair next to Jasper.

"Yes, Esme is rather excited, she's heard of him of course but hasn't met him yet." explained Jasper. "Is everything okay?" he'd come back two and half hours later to find Harry sleeping in Teddy's bed. He hadn't disturbed them, instead choosing to get a book from Harry's collection and read.

"Yeah, I'll explain later." whispered Harry; he didn't want Teddy to hear what he was saying.

"Alright," said Jasper, holding Harry to that.

"Enjoying your breakfast Ted?" asked Harry grinning at the mess down Teddy's pyjamas.

"Uh-huh," was all the five year old said, his eyes clued to the TV, laughing in amusement when Homer did something stupid. Children were so easily amused, time and time again. Teddy had seen this episode like a hundred times, yet still laughed at the same scenes.

"Good, we are going to visit Jasper's…family after breakfast." explained Harry, before deciding to make a sandwich for himself, it was quick and easy. He couldn't be bothered cooking, he'd be baking again soon enough. He wondered as he chopped up some cucumber, how the wolves were getting on. Hopefully they wouldn't see Sam's leaving as abandonment. They were better off without someone who hated being what he was; it was affecting the pack on a whole. With Jacob leading the pack, things would be better. He wouldn't have done what he did if he didn't believe that.

Twenty minutes later, they finally packed into the Peugeot Jasper had returned last night. "Well it looked like the car survived." said Harry grinning, showing he was only teasing Jasper.

"I'll have you know I'm a great driver." said Jasper smirking wryly.

"This coming from a man who came from times where you got from one place to the other on horseback?" Harry shot back.

"Least we don't go from place to place through the fire." said Jasper snorting in amusement.

Harry just laughed as he made his way to the Cullen's; he no longer had to ask Jasper the way. He'd finally memorized it; he hoped that Rosalie wouldn't give Teddy the same reception he'd received. He didn't care if they were Jasper's family he'd go nuts. It didn't matter what Jasper said, Rosalie didn't like outsiders, and he understood that, all too well. Yet if she started on Teddy, well he wouldn't be so understanding.

"What are they like?" asked Teddy from his seat in the back, watching the scenery going by.

"They are very nice," said Harry firmly, he crossed his fingers they were anyway.

"Do they have cookies?" asked Teddy.

Harry laughed, "Actually no, they don't. They don't like cookies Teddy."

"They don't?" gaped Teddy looking incredibly shocked, not understanding how someone couldn't like cookies. They were the best things in the world, and he loved cooking them with his uncle Harry.

"No, but they love blood pops," said Harry, as he took the turn that would lead him to the Cullen's residence.

"Eeew!" exclaimed Teddy his little button nose scrunching up in distaste. He didn't like them, they were horrible.

Jasper laughed, he actually really did like the blood pops.

"Can I use magic?" enquired Teddy, he could do it with Jasper…but could he do it in front of the others? His Uncle Harry usually told him whether it was okay or not. He'd said no magic before going to the fair; he'd did it by accident though. He hadn't meant to get angry at the man, but he hadn't given him his Bart. He'd gone from being angry to excited in a nanosecond when Jasper got it for him. Which caused his magic to react; he'd really liked Jasper as a Tiger, so much so he'd had to copy him. He wanted to look like a Tiger again, it was so much fun.

"Yes you can change," said Harry, grinning in amusement, Jasper didn't even need to ask what he was thinking about.

"YES!" crowed Teddy excitedly.

"Only once we get inside," said Harry, as he parked the car and turned off the engine. Jasper was already out, opening Teddy and Harry's door. Teddy was staring at Jasper in awed confusion, not really understanding how he'd moved so fast. He'd seen Jasper doing it a few times, and the confusion hadn't cleared up. He was getting used to it, but he so wanted to be able to move that fast too.

"Let's go then," said Harry as if shoring himself up for an argument.

Jasper rolled his eyes a smirk gracing his features. Harry liked the Cullen's, he just didn't approve of some of the things they did. They hadn't really spoken about it so he didn't know fully why he didn't approve. Although it didn't take a genius to figure it out, it was dangerous letting vampires into a Muggle school. Oh he had been spending too much time immersed in the magical world…he was calling Humans Muggles now. He tried to think as a normal person, a normal parent, and how he'd feel at the thought of vampires attending school where his kid was. Looking at Teddy, the thought of any vampire, not his family near him made his insides cold (figurative speaking of course, since he actually already was cold inside…dead as a matter of fact). He wouldn't have been happy at all. Then there was the fact that both Harry and Carlisle were what you could call 'leader' material, their different ways of approaching situations and doing things…just made them unable to see eye to eye on certain things. He had been a leader, both as a human then as a vampire for Maria, when they'd finally got to the Cullen's he was half glad not to have to make all the decisions. Part of him had been suppressed to survive life with them. Yet Harry had brought it all back out.

"He's here!" Jasper heard Esme exclaiming from where she was now at the widow to get a glimpse of Teddy.

"Well they know we are here," said Harry waving at Esme, as he held onto Teddy, leading him into the vampire den…err house.

Harry laughed "Evidently."

Don't worry there will be action coming you wont even SEE coming :P lmao ive got a good idea just how to get some real action in this story and I think It will be fun and a little different :) but that's up to you to decide! so will the cullens fall in love with little Teddy? will harry adopt him? will Andy confide in Harry? will Teddy live with Harry (same house) or will Andy still have proper custody of him? and teddy living with her (when) she comes to forks? but be warned she will never be central figure to the story R&R PLEASE!