"This," Charlie started, one hand gesturing to the teen beside him, "is Harry. Remember him?"
The girl in front of him stared, jaw hanging loose, before apparently regaining her composure and offering a half wave, the movement awkward. She looked disturbed, but not unfriendly. Apparently, she didn't know how to greet her cousin after seven years of absence. That, or the caged phoenix had been a slight shock. With his flames concealed Fawkes looked like a mix between a peacock and an eagle, with a bit of chicken thrown in perhaps.
Harry reciprocated the wave with a nod, not particularly bothered by the apprehension. It made him feel easier in a way. Uncle Charlie's tentative concern was an itch at his conscience. The man's every word and action had been delivered with concern and consideration, careful not to ask questions he deserved answers to.
"I do, a bit. I'm Bella," the girl offered belatedly, cheeks reddening at her own hesitation. Her eyes wandering more than once to Fawkes. "Sorry, it's been so long, Harry, and I didn't expect a bird, it's nice to see you though," she continued after a couple heartbeats. Fawkes trilled softly, greeting her in his own way.
He offered a tight smile back. "You as well."
A small silence ensued, broken by the rustle of Charlie picking his trunk off the floor. The man had insisted on carrying Harry's heavier luggage, a weak featherlight in place to save his back from the weight of school books. Books Harry wouldn't need again, but it had felt wrong to leave them behind. "Right, let's get you settled in," he grunted, moving out of the kitchen and across the hallway, a door on the right leading into a room with a window at the back looking into the front yard.
It was empty bar a bed, a closet and a desk, the latter noticeably older and more used. Charlie put the trunk down in the middle of the room, rubbing the back of his neck with the freed hand. "It used to be my office, so there isn't much and the desk is old but sturdy. It's small," he trailed off.
"Bigger than my old room," Harry offered, comforting others was never his specialty, especially when the distress was unfounded. His uncle seemed to think he expected something more from the man that had taken him in solely based upon the relation of their blood and the dependence of an orphan struck by tragedy twice with no home to return to. Not everyone would do so willingly, Merlin knew the Dursleys hadn't. Perhaps for good reason, considering their fate. "Thank you." Harry said.
The slightest mention of his previous living arrangement had made the man stiffen, clearly not eager to tackle anything to do with the deceased. However, the gratitude quickly turned his tension into sheepishness. "Nothing to thank for at all, least I could," his sentence broke off with a breath. He cleared his throat and made for the door. "Hope you settle in alright. I'll order some dinner for us." He froze slightly with one hand on the door handle. "I'm glad to see you again, kid, glad you're here," he said softly. The door closed behind him before Harry could say anything in response.
Harry was left to pick his wits up from the floor, not used to the feeling of being wanted as a part of his relatives' family. However, he remembered the summers spent here when the Dursleys had decided they needed their vacation for 'family only', Uncle Charlie had always been kind to him then. Even after seven years of no contact he took him in no questions asked. So, he shouldn't expect everyone related to him to act like the Dursleys.
Fawkes bristled in his cage, catching Harry's attention and derailing that thought. His friend was tired from the long flight and journey to the Swan residence spent locked in the cage and with his flames concealed. Harry put him down on the desk before unhooking the latch. Hopping out and onto his human's outstretched hand, Fawkes trilled happily as he could finally stretch his wings.
Harry thought he looked a bit indignant when the flex of his wings brought his current appearance to mind again. "Not happy looking like a grilled chicken without your flames?" Harry teased, stroking the feathers under his neck. Fawkes glared at him as much as his bird gaze would allow, which for a bird of fire was quite harsh.
He ventured off his hand, landing on the windowsill and peering out into the green, knowing not to flame through the window where muggles can spot his flashy magic tricks. Forks was a small town and they'd have to be careful not to expose themselves or magic as a whole. However, after being patient for the long trip so he could stay by Harry's side without suspicion, he needed a flight to properly work his wings. It would also be useful for him to get to know the area around him so he could transport himself somewhere secluded should he need to.
"Be careful out there," Harry urged him, opening the window. Watching his form glide between the trees before disappearing, he locked the window in place so it remained open, securing Fawkes' access back into the room should he need to enter by normal means.
With his friend's needs sorted, Harry sat down on the edge of his new bed. Although incomparable to the ones in his dorm, it was surprisingly soft. His trunk stood in the centre of the room, waiting to be unpacked. He didn't want to settle in too comfortably straight away, although he knew he'd probably be stuck there at least a year until he turned legal in the muggle world, or until his safety in the Wizarding World was without a doubt assured.
He sighed and lay down, legs dangling over the edge of the bed. You'd think with how little the Ministry had attempted to intervene in the threats posed to Harry's life year after year when Voldemort was alive, they'd be happy to let him be when he finally got rid of the tosser for them. Unfortunately, it was only now they suddenly decided underaged national heroes, read: child soldiers, were to be protected from threats to their life. Harry would have appreciated the sentiment had it been there when he actually needed it.
He hoped Hermione and Ron were doing alright at least. They'd been split up and sent off. He could imagine Hermione's agony at her hair puffing up again from the Australian heat. Maybe Ron would be able to meet Norberta in Romania again if Charlie was still her handler.
Fawkes could have helped them exchange letters incognito, but even with his ability to teleport by flame, world wide trips would be exhausting without letter port channels*. And Harry knew if his friend tried to fly through the ports, he'd be recognized and his movements would be marked, putting his friends in danger once again. After all, there wasn't exactly a plethora of wizards with phoenix friends.
Harry frowned in thought, staring up at the ceiling. Could he send his Patronus across continents? Probably not. Was it worth a try? He imagined his huge stag of happiness and light racing across land and water, through forests and towns. Past muggles and wizards. Aurors and dark wizards who'd know exactly who that Patronus belonged to. Definitely not worth it.
At least Ron and Hermione could communicate between themselves somewhat easier. When they'd been informed of their impending involuntary split up, he'd gifted them the remains of the two-way mirrors. It wasn't much, but at least they could see each other and talk to each other. Harry figured their communication as a couple was more important than his own, although he missed them dearly.
The rumbling of a car rolling up the driveway broke him out of his thoughts. His open window let him hear the opening and closing slam of a car door and the subsequent trailing up the stairs to the front of the house. Harry belatedly realized it was probably the food Charlie had mentioned he'd order. The door bell rang. He wondered if he should open it. It wasn't his house, and he should probably stay away from as many strangers as possible, you never know who might end up recognizing him.
He could hear Charlie thank the driver before the car rumbled off once more. A moment later a knock sounded on his bedroom door. Harry got up quickly to open it.
His uncle stood there, a big unfamiliar flat square carton in hand. Whatever was in it smelled delicious. "Ordered some pizza for us," he explained. Harry had never had pizza, he supposed the confusion must have reached his expression. "It's pepperoni," Charlie quickly assuaged, as if that would clear it up to Harry.
"Sounds good," Harry stated uncertain, but added on with more assurance, "smells good too."
Bella was still in the kitchen, this time she smiled at him when he came into the room. She'd picked out three plates from the cupboard. Harry smiled back at the thoughtfulness. Charlie set the box down on the table and opened it. Bella quickly extracted two slices of some big cheese covered disk of bread, littered with some kind of meat. Charlie didn't waste time doing the same, so Harry followed their example and loosened one of the slices for himself.
It was greasy and cheesy, but quite good. They ate together in silence. Harry was never a food shuffler like Ron, so he was still working on his slice when Charlie reached for seconds. "Didn't like it?" he asked, not unkindly.
Harry looked up, startled, and shook his head. He swallowed the bite he was chewing before answering, "I'm just a slow eater, it's very good. I never had eh-" he'd forgotten the name, "this, before."
Bella almost took a doubletake and Charlie also seemed quite surprised. Perhaps it was a commonplace meal among muggles, or perhaps just among Americans? He'd never seen the Dursleys eat anything similar to this either. Maybe Harry had it when visiting his uncle as a child, but in that case he couldn't remember. However, he'd have to watch his words, it wouldn't do to reveal how wholly unintegrated he was in muggle culture and society after seven years of living with magic, his isolated summers discounted.
"Well feel free to eat more," Charlie asserted. His brow was furrowed down in the same way Mrs Weasley had looked at Harry when she saw him after a summer at the Dursleys. With concern, Harry realized.
He peered down at his wrist. He supposed he was quite thin, he always had been as a child as well, but the hellish camping trip the past year hadn't helped much on that front. "Will do, thank you."
Harry felt Bella watching him and looked up in askance. Her cheeks tinted red at being caught staring, and with some stuttering and stammering she asked, "Are you going to school after summer?" She seemed almost surprised at her own question, making it rather obvious she had been trying to ask about something else. Harry could imagine there were many questions she would have regarding the family she hadn't seen or heard from in so many years.
Before Harry could answer, Charlie broke in, "He finished school already in England, so he doesn't have to if he doesn't want to," he stated gruffly.
Harry smiled, a bit wryly. "I hadn't thought about it," he began, "is it fun?" he teased, figuring studying for exams was equally stressful for any type of schooling, be it muggle or magical.
Bella peered at him a bit sheepishly, "Well it's a good way to make new friends," she offered.
"I'll think about it, see if I can't get a job meanwhile. Don't want to burden you too much," Harry smiled. He didn't need a job to have his own money, his parents' and godfather's inheritance had seen to his financial independence long before his vaults had additionally been filled with government money as rewards for his 'public service'. However, there would probably be questions if he kept pulling money out of nowhere, so the easiest way to negate that would be with a normal job.
Charlie cleared his throat. "You're not a burden. You're family," he asserted firmly. "You don't need to get a job if you need some time," a pause, "to settle in."
Harry smiled, "I'm alright, Uncle Charlie."
His uncle nodded and focused back on his food. However, Bella apparently still had a couple questions, she was still glancing at him between bites. He arched one brow, silently urging her to ask away.
She seemed to take the hint, this time not hesitating in her words. "Why didn't you come back before? I mean, you just didn't come one summer."
Harry had been booked for a trip to his cross-continent family the summer of his tenth birthday, when he started receiving letters to attend Hogwarts. After the first letter, the Dursleys had swiftly cancelled his trip. He had wondered at the time for what reason, especially when they started leaping all over the country to escape the owls. But Harry realized later that they most likely were terrified of the letter arriving on the Swans' doorstep with him there instead and his Uncle Charlie becoming aware of the world of Magic Harry was destined to join.
Harry wondered if it would be considered a breach for Charlie and Bella to know about magic. They were family, but Charlie had grown up in Forks with his, and Lily's, father, so he had never been told of his sister being a witch. He shook himself out of thought, finally answering Bella, who had started biting her lip a bit in discomfort at the long silence. "Aunt Petunia just cancelled it last minute, it was a school issue mostly. After that I wasn't allowed," he explained shortly, shrugging.
He had wanted to visit in the summers between his Hogwarts years, but even though they clearly wanted to be rid of him, they had kept him at Privet Drive. Harry wondered if they had been scared the Swans he'd show them his schoolbooks or Hedwig. His heart ached at the thought of his snowy feathered friend.
Thankfully, his cousin spoke just then. "I'm happy to see you again by the way. Summers here weren't the same without you."
"Jake will also be happy to see you again," Charlie added. "If you remember him."
Harry laughed, "I'd be more surprised if he remembers me. He must've been seven or eight when I last saw him."
"I told him you were coming back, and he called just this morning before I went to pick you up. If you'd like to go see him I can take you there later, or tomorrow," Charlie offered.
Harry didn't have a driver's licence, and he couldn't exactly apparate wherever he wanted without arousing suspicion. "Thank you, but I don't want to inconvenience you," Harry said, "are there any busses I can take?"
Charlie hesitated, tied between insisting to help and trying not to disregard any independence Harry was used to. "There are busses, but it's really no trouble. Besides, Billy and I are meeting tomorrow for the big game, so I'll be driving there then either way."
Harry nodded, "Alright, tomorrow sounds good."
Resuming dinner in silence, Bella finished eating after two slices before Harry, who was nibbling down his second slice, and Charlie who was on his fourth. She pushed herself away from the table, clumsily attempting to get up with her plate in hand. Harry heard a loud clack from something hitting the floor. Startled, he looked down to see a cast on Bella's leg. Ah, that explained the noise.
"I'll take that," Charlie quickly intervened before she could get too far, grabbing the plate and putting it in the sink.
"Broken leg?" Harry enquired, gesturing to the heavy looking leg brace.
Charlie sighed and got back to his food, dipping his head to remain out of the conversation. Bella rolled her eyes, but didn't meet Harry's eyes when she answered. "Yeah, I," she paused, "I fell down two stairs and through a window, typical me," she smiled awkwardly, glancing up at the end.
Whilst it had been a while, Harry did remember Bella's extreme ability to fall over, trip and otherwise hurt herself accidentally. However, something about the way she explained her broken leg seemed rehearsed.
He peered at her, brow furrowed slightly in confusion at her hesitation. Her eyes flashed down again, avoiding his look. "It was a really just a stupid accident," she continued. She cleared her throat, "But I'm fine. And it was several weeks ago. Almost healed," she assured him rapidly.
Harry smiled at her, unconvinced, but unwilling to dig into her personal matters.
The doorbell rang and Charlie glanced up in annoyance. "Speaking of," he muttered.
Bella threw him a glare and seemed to be getting ready to stumble her way up and over to the door. Harry got up before she could do more than place her hands on the table. "I'll get it," he offered, already on his way to the door.
Exiting the kitchen, he tensed but kept walking, a bit slower than before. Harry trusted his instincts; it had saved him more times than he could count. But this wasn't instinct, any wizard's magic was tuned into the environment, making it hard to sneak up on a trained magic user without cloaking your presence. There was a dark creature on the other side of the door, of that Harry was sure, but whatever it was had no magic.
Harry knew there were supernatural beings out there with or without magic who did not know of the Wizarding world, or the existence of other magical creatures. Considering this, it was likely the magicless creature outside would not recognize him. Well, Harry was a Gryffindor, and it seemed Charlie and Bella expected whoever it was. He opened the door.
Harry didn't need a second look. Vampires weren't exactly uncommon, but he hadn't expected one in Forks, nor near his family, but taking the creature out wouldn't be much trouble should he prove a danger to Harry's relatives.
"Hello," Harry greeted, a placid smile on his face.
The vampire froze, caught off guard apparently. Harry felt a small push at his mind. Interesting, his smile widened.
The years spent with a Horcrux in his head had left his mind open and vulnerable to Voldemort, but impenetrable to any other person attempting to breach his mind. With that tosser dead, he didn't need occlumency to repel visitors from his mind. But learning it had helped him detect attempted breaches. Besides, Hermione and Ron had also needed protection, so the three of them had studied the mind arts together.
The vampire frowned at Harry, before quickly regaining his composure. "You must be Harry, Bella's cousin," he assumed, his tone polite and calm, although Harry didn't need to use legilimency to see he was shaken.
The creature may not be magical, but even normal animals can feel a thunderstorm approaching.
"I am," Harry affirmed shortly.
"I'm Edward," he elaborated, "her boyfriend."
"I see." Harry wondered if Bella knew about her boyfriend's mortality, or lack thereof, but he stepped away from the door, gesturing for him to come in. "We were just eating dinner."
"Edward," Bella called from her seat at the table, "we're in the kitchen."
Edward slipped past Harry, throwing another unnerved glance at the boy before hurrying to his human girlfriend. Harry chuckled and closed the door behind him before meandering over to the others. He leaned on the kitchen doorsill.
The vampire was carefully helping Bella up from her chair, supporting her so she could stand easier. She smiled at him, her eyes soft.
"Heading out?" Charlie asked, his nose in a newspaper now, but clearly not reading anything. Harry smiled at the grouchiness. Bella might find her father overbearing, but Harry thought it was sweet. "Remember curfew," he grunted.
Harry wondered if he expected him to follow curfew too. Better not to ask, Harry thought. Getting forgiveness is easier than getting permission, and he had no intention on getting caught either way.
"We're just going to visit his family, Dad," Bella sighed, "Alice has been nagging me to come over," she explained.
His uncle's attitude seemed to lighten with the mention of 'Alice'. His grumbling turned into nodding agreement, "If Alice is waiting for you, you should go," he urged.
"My sister wants you to pick a dress," Edward explained, amused.
Bella grimaced, "For what? Prom?" she laughed.
The vampire remained quiet but guided her toward the hall, freezing a bit when he spotted Harry in the door. Harry moved out of the way once again. Edward quickly but carefully steered Bella past her cousin, his presence making the vampire obviously uncomfortable.
When they were out of the house, Charlie spoke up again, grumbling a little still, "I didn't think that boy had any sense of danger. I've never seen him that apprehensive for anything."
"Danger?" Harry chuckled.
"Well, you'd think Bell's boyfriend would be nervous to meet her dad, the sheriff, but that boy has nerves of steel. Except today, you seem to put him on edge." He looked a little annoyed, but also approving and satisfied.
Harry was slightly surprised at his uncle's perception. "I didn't notice," he lied.
He picked their plates up from the table and rinsed them both, before reaching for the soap.
"You don't have to clean up after me," Charlie quickly asserted.
"I don't mind at all, thank you for getting dinner. It was delicious," Harry stated before Charlie could attempt to get up from his seat.
Charlie grumbled a bit but didn't argue, and got back to his newspaper after a bit. It didn't take Harry long to finish the dishes.
He walked out to the hall, putting his shoes on. "I'll go for a walk I think, haven't been here in so long."
"Careful of the forest," Charlie called from the kitchen. "There's been bear sightings and there were some animal attacks not too long ago," he warned.
"Understood," Harry called back, already one foot out the front door.
…
*Letter port channels. Made up concept that seemed like a plausible explanation for how owls can deliver letters long distance over short time. They are spread throughout the world/inside countries so letters can be delivered with more haste.
Notes: Let's make it clear; when putting the Twilight universe into the Harry Potter universe, I had to either undercut the vampires or buff the hell out of magic users. Of course, I chose the latter. Basically: wizards and witches only use wands for intricate or extremely powerful and focused needs, for example Bill would use his wand a lot in his work, and if you were conducting a ritual you'd probably use a wand too. However, for charms, transfigurations, etc, most things really, wizards don't need wands, wizards are slightly tougher than muggles, and their magic will basically reach out to defend them. Ye ye, I know people gonna be upset, whatever, deal with it, I was not about to put poor Harry into a world with diamond skinned, lightning fast killing machines with only a stick to guard him, ok? Not fair.
Besides, considering the Wizarding World's general haughty attitude in regards to creatures, they should have some reason to back up their arrogance.
This story is being written because I enjoy writing and because I wanted to. Feel free to dislike it or not care at all, tell me where my grammar sucks or where something doesn't make sense and I might feel like changing it. I make up whatever I want along the way, but I try, heavy emphasis on the word try, to make sure it makes somewhat sense. This means I may end up going back to tweak chapters at some point.
Thas all, peace.