Disclaimer: Not mine
Chapter 18
Bella watched as Harry worked on the wards around their home, strengthening them further. He'd given her a necklace that morning, bearing the crests of her new Houses to ensure everyone would know she was protected, the necklace was charmed too with the strongest shield spell Harry knew as well as being a portkey. All she had to do was say the word and it would take her to the closest Gringotts stairs, once there she would go inside and be safe. Since Jake was her Imprint, he got to wear the crests too, smaller than hers, but they had the same safety features. Harry was taking no risks with his family.
Jasper had replaced the Cullen crest he used to wear with Harry's and his was also spell, to protect him from any kind of flame. The paperwork he'd signed at the bank had been the equivalent of saying they were in a de facto relationship, giving Jasper rights within the magical world. To marry they would have to register with the Ministry.
They didn't know when the Volturi would arrive, or who exactly would be coming. Would it be the guard sent to take them to Volterra, would the Brothers come themselves? It was impossible to know until they arrived.
Bella smiled as Jake wrapped his arms around her, leaning into him.
"We won't let them hurt you," he swore and she squeezed his hand.
"They'll want you dead too Jake, for being a wolf."
"They're not killing or taking anyone," Harry swore, looking over at them, and they believed him.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Jasper lay on the couch with his arms around Harry, trying to pay attention to the movie. They'd done everything they could to prepare for the arrival of the Volturi, now it was just a waiting game. He knew they were wary of his reputation but that they had never done anything because he had joined the Cullen's. Seeing him through Edward's memories would show him as he had been with Alice, tamed. He had loved Alice and he always would, but he knew he had let her decide so much for him. Harry was very different to her, he let him be himself and never pushed him to do things or worried over him slipping up.
He glanced over at Bella and Jake where they were lying on the other couch. Seeing her with Jake just felt far more natural than she had ever been with Edward. He wished he could have spared her the pain of that relationship but he had been fooled too by his 'brother'. He'd gotten used to the scent of dog and Jacob had gotten used to his scent, it felt normal now. There was only one downside to Bella being with Jacob, she would continue to age and eventually die when Jacob could theoretically live forever so long as he kept phasing. Jasper couldn't change her; they didn't know what that would do to the Imprint bond and there had never been a relationship between a vampire and shifter before.
He hadn't discussed changing him with Harry, in his case there was no rush due to the slowed aging of a powerful wizard but he really hoped Harry would agree to it, to staying with him forever.
He looked down as Harry stiffened in his arms and then a soft chiming ran through the house….the wards had been triggered.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Vampires," Harry announced and they were all moving. Harry quickly transfigured their casual clothing into something more formal, robes for himself and Bella. Jake found himself in nice trousers and a short-sleeved shirt while Jasper chuckled at finding himself in cowboy boots and jeans but with a robe over the top and Harry shrugged. "Shall we?"
They left the house to stand in the yard and await their 'guests' who emerged rather dramatically and Harry was glad the property was warded and not too close to the neighbours. Harry quickly spotted Edward with the group as well as two very physically young vampires who had to be the so-called 'witch twins', feeling utter disgust at anyone so young being turned. "You're trespassing," he pointed out coolly.
That seemed to bring them up short briefly, obviously not used to such things.
"We are the Volturi, we go where we please to enforce the law," an aristocratic blonde who reminded him a bit of Lucius Malfoy sneered.
"It's not nice to lie Master Vampire, there are many places you are not welcome," Harry shot back. "Or didn't you bother with even the slightest bit of research into whose home you planned to invade?"
"Come now Caius, let us be civilised," the vampire in the middle stated and Harry assumed it was Aro, the most dangerous of the brothers. I am Aro Volturi and these are my brother, Caius and Marcus along with several of our Guard. Also, I believe you already know young Edward Cullen, the witness against you and your breach of our laws."
"I am afraid you have been brought here under false pretences, there has been no breach Mr Volturi," Harry informed him. "Mr Jacob Black has been aware of those his people call Cold Ones since he was a young child as he is a wolf shapeshifter, not a werewolf. The two are quite different. Obviously Jasper Whitlock does not count as he is a vampire himself. As for my sister and myself, we cannot be judged under your laws."
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Jasper could tell Harry was having fun playing with Aro so he kept quiet. Harry had experience dealing with politicians after all, especially hostile ones, while he did not. He glanced at his one-time brother sadly, he knew what the Volturi did to those who offered false witness, though he doubted Aro would kill Edward, he wanted his gift too much and Alice was far beyond his grasp now. It was nice, being a Whitlock again. He would always be grateful to the Cullen's but he was no longer part of their clan or family, he had his own now, as mixed as it was.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"Sister? Is this not young Isabella Swan? Edward knows her as an only child," Aro commented and Harry smirked.
"Adopted sister, but sister all the same. Her name is Miss Isabella Marie Potter-Black officially, heiress of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black and Potter," Harry explained, pausing to see if the penny would drop. He saw the older of the three frown slightly, crimson eyes widening as he glanced down at Harry's hand. Harry knew what he was looking for and allowed the Ring to flash. He knew the name Potter was only well known because of him, the goblins had advised him to retake the Peverell name as the sole remaining heir but he had declined, he would keep his parents name. Besides, the Potter link to the Peverell's was not well remembered and he preferred it that way, he didn't need to be linked to the tale of the Three Brothers. The Ring he wore was kept under a concealment charm as he didn't need people asking questions about it.
"Do you not recognise the names and titles Brother?" Marcus intoned slowly, Aro turning to him. "Lord Harry James Potter-Black, I believe?" he asked respectfully and Harry offered him the short bow of a Lord to another out of respect for his position. He'd done his homework on the three and Marcus was the only one who he could respect in any way. "Then he is correct, no laws have been broken. Unless you wish us to wage war against the Magical world?" His question had Aro's eyes widening slightly, though most would have missed it.
"As your brother has stated, no law has been broken. I have known of vampires since I was eleven, you were covered in our third year Defence Against the Dark Arts Classes as well. Edward Cullen is a jealous child who thinks if he can't have my sister then no one can. As she is happily bond to Mr Jacob Black, of an unrelated Black family, he is wrong. We tried to the peaceful method of dealing with him by returning him to Dr Carlisle Cullen. Do I need to deal with him less peacefully this time?"
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Aro stared at the young human before him, wanting to drain him dry for daring to speak to him in such a way, but…now that Marcus had spoken his name, he recognised it. How could he not? Only one person had ever survived the Wizard's Killing Curse (though rumour now said he had survived a second hit). To even think of touching him or any he claimed as family would bring about a war he knew deep down they could not win. The wizards could simply ward their city and then burn it down until all within were dead. Hunting down the rest would not be that difficult. A look over the group showed they were all wearing two crests, as part of a magicals family they were considered as untouchable as he was.
He had seen the girl in Edward's memories and had decided to take her for the guard as it appeared she was a shield strong enough to stop Edward's gift while still human. Whitlock was too dangerous, unless Chelsea was used to keep him under control. His power as an Empath wasn't all that interesting so he had been prepared to order his destruction. The wolf he had planned to leave to Caius. The then unknown human he would have killed or changed depending on how useful he thought he could be. Now it seemed those plans were for nothing.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Harry scanned the group for those vampires Jasper had described, based on what he knew from Carlisle and an ex-Guard member named Eleazar who the Cullen's considered a 'cousin'. The twins were easy to see, as was Renata who remained very close to Aro in order to protect him. He was searching for a very particular member though, Chelsea. If Aro tried anything then he was taking her out first. It would be hard to attack if the bonds that held the group together were falling apart. Although, it was tempting to do something about her anyway, no one should be manipulated in such a manner. It was as bad as the Imperious.
Based off physical description he spotted who he thought was Chelsea and noticed the look of concentration. The wards had been going nuts since the group had arrived…did that include the one he had included to stop vampiric powers from anyone not added to the wards? If it did, then all the more reason to act. Bella may be immune as it seemed to be a mental power and his own Occlumency shields should protect him, but that left Jasper and Jake vulnerable as that was not something the shield charms on them could protect from. He saw Aro glance at her, it had to be Chelsea.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Marcus stared at the four before them, unsurprised that the young Lord was the leader among them. He called young Isabella his sister and that bond was clear and strong between them. The bond between her and the shapeshifter was also strong, though that of mates. The most surprising bond was between the wizard and vampire, they had all believed he and Alice Cullen were mates but it appeared they were not, or somehow young Whitlock had been given a second chance with a new mate.
The four were bound together far too tightly, there would be no betrayal among them. There was also no bond between any of them and Edward. They had cut all ties to him. He had warned Aro that there was something wrong with the situation but he had been ignored.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Jasper caught Aro's glance at the female vampire and felt a flicker of concern, they had to trust the wards Harry had up to protect them from the various powers of the Volturi. He could feel Jake's desire to attack and sent him an emotional boost to help him restrain it, they didn't want to fight. They were vastly outnumbered, though they hadn't brought the whole guard or even extra witnesses. Between the wards and Harry's ability to take out multiple targets at once numbers wouldn't mean as much as normal but it was still risky. He could feel the greed from Aro, his desire to claim at least Bella for her shield.
He was surprised to feel the muted emotions from Marcus, he at least wanted things to end peacefully. Caius wanted at least Jacob dead, you didn't need to be an empath to sense that, but he was also wary of the threat of war with the magical population. They were far more of a threat to their kind than non-magical humans after all. That left Aro as the deciding 'vote' behind what would happen next.
TBC…