Another Beginning

Chapter 34

Not So White Christmas

Harry waited at the door; he wasn't just waiting on Edward but also his friends too. It was going to be his first Christmas as vampire, free of Voldemort and with his family. His friends were free of Azkaban, finally happy and moving on with life. There was a lot to celebrate this year he realized. His friends had long thought him dead, and he too had thought them gone. He had destroyed Voldemort in their name, and of course his parents names too. He wondered what they thought of him now, but Harry liked to think they were happy regardless. He had a lover, a family and he'd live forever, what more could you ask for as a mother of a child? They'd died for him they'd loved him more than his own life. Whether they would approve or not mattered little, since he wouldn't see them until someone ripped him apart and burned the pieces.

Harry smiled, his face going in the direction of the freeway, he knew the sound of Edward's car. Each had a distinctive purr to it, added with it going faster than even a human on a joy ride, chased by the police, was telling. Vampires and their need for speed, honestly. A few seconds later of course he was proven right, as Edward's Volvo was in front of him screeching to a halt smoothly.

"Remind me to take you for a ride on my broomstick," said Harry chuckling in amusement.

"Can't wait," said Edward smiling as he enveloped Harry in a hug, as if he hadn't seen him in months. Inhaling his mate's scent, smug in the knowledge that it had been him to turn Harry - grateful for that fact now. Harry's scent was mixed in with his venom and always would be. "Thank you." he said again, for urging him to go, so he could finally move on. Bella was now firmly planted in his past; all he could do was now hope that she moved on.

"Is everything sorted now?" asked Harry leaning into the comfort, he had never received much in his life, so every little hug, meant more than anything else in the world to someone like Harry. Every touch he'd received nearly all his life had been harsh, painful really. Only the few hugs from Hermione and Molly had sustained him over all the years.

"Yes," said Edward with conviction he'd previously lacked.

"I assume you were correct in the reason she wanted you to visit?" asked Harry his voice laced with sympathy. Nobody deserved to go through that, yet unfortunately it happened to many people. Life wasn't fair, and Bella it seemed was on the receiving end of learning that rather harsh lesson. When one is clumsy as her, it was inevitable she's really hurt herself sooner or later.

"Unfortunately, yes." said Edward his voice heavy with sadness. Not guilt though, he no longer felt guilty about it. There were medical miracles all the time, there might be hope for Bella yet that she may once again be able to walk. Becoming a vampire wasn't the solution; it wasn't as if she could still be part of the family. She'd just be reminded daily of what she'd lost.

"They will be here soon," said Harry, his excitement obvious, and his thoughts of Bella were once again forgotten.

"I never did ask…who exactly is coming?" asked Edward, they would need to make room for them all. The house was rather large, but it just depended on how many was actually coming. They could put a few beds in the attic, there were two spare bedrooms, and of course there was the basement. It was clean and painted, it had been his first choice of piano room but it was unable to fit through there. They hadn't been able to risk taking more of the wall away, so he had settled for the room it currently sat in. The piano could be moved to one side and a few beds situated there.

"Everyone's coming," said Harry smiling wistfully, it felt like such a long time ago. He may never have known Regulus before Azkaban. In that short time, they'd all bonded over what happened. Stuck in the same house getting better would do that to anyone. Plus he had saved them, which bonded them even closer.

"Everyone?" said Edward they really would need to use the rooms then.

"Yes," said Harry happily obvious to Edward's thoughts - probably too excited to think much.

"Then perhaps it would be best to set up some beds for them don't you think?" asked Edward wryly.

"Oh, yeah, I guess so." said Harry his voice a little sheepish, his face didn't change, and it took a lot to change their expressions. Nodding he went back into the house, wondering where he could possible set up rooms.

"Come on, I'll show you." said Edward grinning in amusement, he loved seeing Harry so happy; it meant the world to him. Especially knowing Harry's life and everything he had been though all these years. He showed Harry the two spare rooms, which he conjured up beds for; the bedding was actually from the house and not conjured. Then he showed Harry to Carlisle's 'hospital room', Edward moved everything to one side - it was only temporarily after all, and more beds were conjured. The same happened in his piano room and the basement.

"There, that's enough." said Harry smugly, he loved that he still had his magic.

"They're here!" said Edward and Harry together as soon as they heard the whirling of feet. They were at the door before the humans could regain their bearings after being Portkey'd around the world.

"Harry!" shrieked Hermione, barrelling into him and hugging him; there would have been a time when Harry struggled to breath through her rib cracking hugs. Not anymore, Harry was the one having to make sure he didn't suffocate her now! Harry grinned as he delicately hugging her back.

"Hey, Mione," said Harry still grinning at them, Ron patted him on the back, admittedly not as hard as he used too much to the vampires' amusement.

"Hey mate," said Ron, as he stood beside his girlfriend, and his best mate.

"Where's Severus, Draco and Regulus?" asked Harry confused.

"It's not good Harry," said Ginny quietly, even Fred and George were being quiet and solemn. Harry naturally became alarmed, what on earth is going on? What had happened? Why hadn't they told him sooner?

"What's going on?" asked Harry taking a step back his eyes roaming over them, his green eyes were just as probing as they had been as a human. They weren't normal green either; they glowed with power and fervour whenever he was emotional. Right now he was, he wanted answers and they weren't saying anything. Severus had become like a father to him during training, nobody else had understood Harry's fear and sadness. He felt as if someone had punched him in the gut.

"He's…dying," said Ron solemnly, "All the Cruciatus curses thrown at him during both wars have finally started to take their toll."

"He doesn't deserve it," sniffed Hermione sadly, she didn't like seeing people who'd survived the war dying just months after. It was extremely unfair to them, and even more so for a hero like Severus Snape. He'd given up more than anyone else, family, respect, happiness, freedom and now his life.

"Where is he?" asked Harry, his non-beating heart feeling as though it was being broken into two.

"Staying in Grimmauld Place with Regulus and Draco," said Fred quietly.

"Hermione go and get my parents portrait, I'm going to get the others…" he said with determination.

Everyone knew better than to argue with him. He would do it with or without them.

"Alright," said Hermione smiling sadly, she knew what Harry was doing, and she rather liked the idea.

Ron and Hermione linked hands before they disappeared to Potter Manor.

"Esme is inside," said Edward, he didn't need to be able to read Harry's mind to know what he was planning. He then placed his hand in Harry's he wasn't letting him go alone. Seeing how bad Severus is would be painful for Harry.

The others went inside, smiling sadly at Harry, all eager to see the others again. Fred and George were more eager to see Emmett again. Ginny was all too eager to see Alice again, they got on rather well. Neville and Luna were just glad to get away from the Wizarding world again. It just wasn't the same there anymore, too much bad had happened.

Hermione was looking forward to seeing Jasper and have a good debate with him. Ron wanted to beat Jasper and Emmett at Chess; he'd even brought his Wizarding chess set with them and one he had even bought as a present for them. They didn't need to have magic to make the pieces move.

Once they were inside Harry took a deep breath, bracing himself for the worst as he Apparated them to outside Grimmauld Place. It still had protection spells on it, but it no longer had the Secret Keeper spell attached. Evidently because both Edward and Harry could see it.

"Are you sure about this?" asked Edward, just when they thought it would be a Christmas to remember.

"I have to, he doesn't deserve to die in a place like this." said Harry grimly.

"Let's go then," said Edward running a soothing hand around his back, letting him know he wasn't alone. They stepped with trepidation into the gloomy townhouse that belonged to the Black's. Harry was so worried about Severus, he never once stopped to dwell on the fact this was where his godfather had spent his final year.

Poor severus...so will he die marginally happy surrounded by people who love him? or will Harry want to turn him? will lily be able to convice severus to as well? do you want to see severus become a vampire or will harry have to realize he will be watching those he loves die and he never ageing so soon into becming a vampire? R&R PLEASE!