So this is a cop out of a chapter and an ending. I feel like I could have done so much better, but I'm just ten kinds of tapped out. This went on a lot longer that I had expected and by the time this fight came up I was just dried up with ideas. It's no excuse for a weak ending, but there you have it. It's finally over.

Pairings:

Harry/Edward (duh!), Alice/Jasper, Esme/Carlisle, Rosalie/Emmett, Draco/Jacob, Paul/Luna/Seth, Bella/Blaise

Disclaimer:

This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, MT Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, Little, Brown and Company, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter 18

"Harry?"

"Hmm."

Harry floated gently into semi-consciousness. There as something pleasantly cool running up and down his arm and it was serving to lull him right back to sleep. The sound of a child's giggle followed by a small hand smacking at his cheek however pulled him fully from sleep.

Harry groaned as he cracked his eyes open one by one. Teddy was leaned over him, a toothy grin on his chubby face and his fingers stuck in his mouth.

"Good morning Ted," Harry greeted wryly.

"Da! Mor'ng," the toddler squealed.

Harry sighed and rolled onto his back. It was only then that he noticed Edward seated comfortably next to him and smiling down at him fondly.

Harry's face went red as he tried to remember what he had done last night that had lead him to have a vampire in his bed. After a moment he figured it couldn't have been much of anything seeing as he was still dressed and the only pain he felt was that same bone deep pain he's been feeling since he was "resurrected" so to speak.

Harry sucked in a deep breath which surprisingly eased some of the ache in his bones, before tilting his head up to offer Edward a soft smile.

"How long have you been here?"

"I never left," Edward told him lowly with a shrug. Harry's brow furrowed thoughtfully. He closed his eyes and reached out tentatively to get a feel of the house. Bright white spots told him where all his pack members were but a bunch of pulsating blue and green spots hinted at others.

"Did everyone stay," Harry asked whirly, opening his eyes slowly.

"Pretty much," Edward murmured as he absently dragged a finger down Harry's jaw. It left an icy after touch and Harry blinked up at him slowly.

"Da!"

Teddy chose that very moment to bash Harry in the face with one of his drool soaked fists. Edward snickered when Harry turned to look at his godson with a startled expression.

"Alright then. Food it is."

Reluctantly, Harry left the warm comfort of his bed and trailed out of the room with Teddy hitched on his hip.

He found Draco and Jacob in the kitchen, rustling around most likely looking for food.

"There you are," Draco exclaimed, shutting the cabinet door with more force than was really necessary. "What took you so long? What's for breakfast?"

The scowl was instant on Harry's face. Sure by now he had pretty much gotten used to Draco's overly pompous personality, but damn it! He had just died! He was entitled to having a lie in instead of cooking up breakfast as if he were a house elf.

"I'm so sorry to keep you waiting Malfoy," Harry drawled sarcastically, adjusting Teddy on his hip as he moved around the island to take a look in the cupboards. "How could I be so insensitive?"

Draco was smart enough not to make a snarky comment this time. But it didn't stop him from turning his nose up at Harry before strutting from the room.

"Bloody hell," Harry murmured lowly, letting out a huff of air. He turned to look into Teddy's golden eyes as he said, "Your cousin is a right git."

Teddy's peel of laughter was enough to raise his mood for the moment.

"So now what?"

Ron's innocent enough questioned earned him several sharp glares.

"What," he asked, looking around the room cluelessly. "We're not just gonna just sit here and wait for them to come to us are we? Shouldn't we go out and look for them."

"No," Harry said on a sigh.

"Why not?" And there was a distinct whine in Ron's voice now. "This is boring," he then murmured and had the room not been full of beings that had accelerated hearing, it probably would have gone unnoticed.

"You know Weasley, you really are thick," Blaise commented blandly, not even dignifying to look in Ron's direction. The red-head predictably bristled and he shared a look with Harry but got no help from his former best friend.

"You'd think that someone in his position would have caught on to how unwanted he is here," Blaise was still saying, now directing his words towards Bella who was looking suitably nervous.

"Err . . . I guess," the human murmured with a shaky shrug.

"No need to be modest, Isabelle. He really is as idiotic as he sounds. Really makes me wonder what our fearless leader saw in him."

"Lay off Blaise," Harry finally said, but his words lacked the kind of heat one would assume when they defended a close friend.

Ron sank into his chair, his face red and looking like he had just gotten knocked over the head.

"But are we really going to wait for them to come to us," Emmett asked with a frown.

"There are ancient wards so archaic, the reversal spells have been lost in time surrounding the manor. This is the safest play we can be," Harry told him matter-of-factly.

"And with Ms. Sacrificial over there always trying to be helpful, its better that we don't go looking for trouble," Draco added with a roll of his eyes. Bella glared at him.

"We'll feel them coming anyways," Luna said with a shrug.

"So we sit here," Emmett concluded looking put out.

"Well you wanted to stay and help."

It wasn't until dinner time that anything happened.

Everyone was strewn about the house, mostly in the living room or kitchen. Harry was slaving away at the stove (okay, not really slaving), when he felt something hit the wards.

The force of the attack vibrated in his mind and the intent of it left a thick oily taste in his mouth. His entire body tense up, the spoon he was using to taste some of his gravy falling from his fingers to clatter against the floor.

"What happened," Edward demanded, already at his side. "What's wrong?"

"They're here," Harry murmured numbly. The after effects of the attack were finally leaving his mind and he shook his head to better clear it.

"Here where," Edward asked, his eyes darting around the kitchen.

"Not in here," Harry told him, shutting down the stove. He felt momentarily annoyed that the cooking was being delayed, but hopefully the fighting would end before the duck got too dry. With that absent thought in his head, the Savior left the kitchen and heading into the living room.

Luna was already up and coming to his side, her expression rather grim.

"They're outside the wards," she said without preamble. All talk in the room ceased.

"They won't be able to get in will they," Esme asked as Rosalie clutched Teddy close to her chest. The young boy hardly noticed.

"No they won't," Harry reassured, "but they're trying their damnedest."

"Well what are we waiting for," Emmett asked, jumping to his feet.

"This isn't a game," Rosalie hissed at him.

"She's right, this is a little more dangerous than your regular tussle with a vampire or shifter," Neville told him blandly.

"To be honest, it would probably be better if you guys stayed here," Harry added.

"No way," Edward told him firmly.

Harry sighed although really he had expected that response.

"Fine. But not all of you have to come."

"Well you're not leaving us out," Jacob protested, gesturing with his hand at his pack. Draco looked as exasperated as Harry felt. "Come on. The more the merrier. You guys don't even know how many of them are out there."

"He has a point," Luna told him as if they couldn't see that. "And we can't stop them even if we wanted to."

"Thank you Lovegood," Blaise muttered lowly.

"Alright, fine! Whatever! Come if you want, stay if you don't," Harry exploded. "Just . . . Bella watch over Teddy for me, will you?"

"Yeah, no problem," Bella answered, finally knowing when to not argue.

There were six wizards waiting for them on the outskirts of the ward. Harry immediately recognized Hermione at the lead of the pack, the rest of her group surrounding her. They were all people Harry knew from Hogwarts and it hurt him a little bit when he spotted the red of Ginny's hair and the childlike face of one Dennis Creevey.

"Well this is a surprise," Draco drawled in his most sarcastic tone.

"The Ministry will be pleased to note that I was right in how far you have fallen," Hermione said mildly, completely ignoring Draco as she focused in on Harry. "We had high hopes for you, Harry. It's disheartening to see that Voldemort had managed to influence you after all."

"It's funny how easy it is for you to twist truths," Harry said back in an equally mild tone. "I really should have seen this betrayal coming."

Hermione's face immediately soured.

"The ones who have been betrayed is the light of the Wizarding World."

"This coming from the person who's only doing this to accumulate power," Draco cut in, stepping in front of Harry so that Hermione would have to pay attention to him. "What? Being the best friend to the Savior wasn't enough attention for you?"

"We don't need to hear that coming from a filthy Death Eater," Ginny snarled, her face twisting in an ugly way that Harry had never seen before.

"News flash you ginger bint, the war is over and I was acquitted."

"That doesn't forgive you of your crimes," Hermione told him coolly. "Under the express order of the Ministry, we are to bring you and Harry Potter in for questioning."

"And what exactly is their crime," Neville asked, stepping forward.

"Oh Neville, have they corrupted you too," Hermione asked in an overly sympathetic voice.

"No they haven't," Neville told her tersely.

"Enough of this," Dennis suddenly cut in, stepping forward so that he was practically nose to nose with the wards. "Come out so that you may pay for your crimes."

Harry looked at the young boy sadly.

"For you I will."

"Harry," Edward hissed, reaching out for his mate, but Harry was already crossing the ward line. Edward muttered a lowly curse as Hermione raise her wand, and without thinking he jumped in front of Harry.

A bright red light splintered against his chest and for a moment he wondered if he was going to die. But after a few tense seconds, when nothing happened, he straightened up and glared at Harry.

"We'll talk about this latter," he warned before turning to face the group. Everyone had their wands trained on Harry, varying degrees of anger and confusion reflected on their faces.

"I don't need you to protect me." Harry pushed himself from behind Edward and stood beside the vampire, his wand at the ready.

From behind him a brilliant beam of light flashed over his shoulder and struck one of the wizards, Theo Nott if Harry remembered right, in the chest. Thick ropes sprung from thin air and wrapped around his entire body, binding him.

And just like that the battled started.

It took a little doing but Harry and his group had the upper hand. Even with just Emmett, Edward, Paul and Jacob helping them in numbers, Hermione's team was severely outmatched. When it came down to it only the best duelers were left, Hermione, Ginny, and Dennis.

Harry did not miss the irony that the people he taught put up the greatest fight. But it wasn't good enough.

Dennis was still young enough that his magic hadn't developed to its greatest potential. Luna took him out with a carefully aimed hex before disarming him.

Ginny put up and even greater fight, but Draco was just as fierce with his curses. Harry was pretty sure that the hex Draco used wasn't actually legal, but he couldn't really find it in him to care anymore.

Hermione was different. While Harry had the raw power, she had the vast knowledge and speed. Harry honestly couldn't name most of the spells she threw at him, and he was sure that if it wasn't for Edward, he would have lost to her.

It was hard, fighting Hermione this way despite knowing all the poison she had been spreading in the last year. Harry had trusted her, thought she would always be his friend no matter what.

Finally Harry managed to shoot off an Expelliarmus underneath a stunner that caught Hermione in the arm. Her wand flipped into the air, settling calmly in Harry's hand like a familiar stranger.

Hermione dropped to her knees, looking as distraught as if she had gotten a failing grade on a homework assignment.

Harry stared down at her, feeling like his heart was breaking all over again.

"You didn't think you could really win?" Draco looked way too smug as he stood over Hermione. It left a sour taste in Harry's mouth to know that the pureblood had always been right. Draco was a better friend to Harry than either Ron or Hermione.

"Well go on then. Kill me," Hermione spat, glaring heatedly up at them. "Isn't that what dark wizards do."

"You know better than anyone that Harry couldn't possibly be a dark wizard," Luna said smoothly from the other side of Harry.

"What you know about Potter suggests that," Hermione told her in a steely tone. "What I know about him suggests otherwise."

"I'm not an evil person," Harry told her sadly.

"Logic suggests otherwise."

Harry didn't know how to counteract that and he couldn't find the energy to try. He turned away from his once friend, dropping his head onto Luna's shoulder and hiding his face into her neck. He was bone tired and still achy all over from his 'resurrection'. He just wanted to sleep, preferably for the next couple of days.

"So what are we going to do with them," Neville asked softly, throwing a glance over his should at the group. They were all tied up in a circle a little bit away from the wards, Emmett and Paul standing guard over them. Harry had each of their wands and he was staring sadly down at Hermione's.

"We take them back to the Ministry to be dealt with," Harry said after a long moment of silence.

"Can you do that, though," Edwards asked, running his hand comfortingly down Harry's back. "Aren't you currently wanted by them?"

Harry made a face at his words.

"If the Ministry was smart they wouldn't make an enemy of Harry," Draco said with a snort.

"But they aren't smart," Blaise added in.

"So they probably do have a warrant out for Harry's arrest," Neville finished with a sigh.

"Some people never learn from their predecessors' mistakes," Luna chimed in.

"But Kingsley was part of the Order," Harry told them with a shake of his head. "I would have thought he had more sense than that."

"He chose to follow Dumbledore, not you," Draco told him. "That right there shows his intelligence."

"So what are we gonna do with them," Jacob asked to bring the topic back around.

"I've called my brothers." Ron's voice floated over them as if to answer the question. "They're on their way."

"Can we really trust the Weasleys," Draco asked of his group. "I mean from what I've seen they aren't that strong against mind washing."

"Ron and Ginny aren't the poster children for the Weasley family," Harry said blandly and didn't feel an ounce of guilt when Ron's face fell.

Before anymore could be said on the subject two cracks sounded to their left.

Bill and Charlie Weasley stepped out of the trees, their expressions stony when their gazes fell on their sister.

"Harry," the oldest called out as he walked over to him. A smile stretched his face, pulling against the scars over his eye and mouth.

"Bill," Harry greeted back, accepting the hug and returning the smile. "It's good to see you."

"Yeah? Wish it was under better circumstances." Here he grimaced as he looked over at his sister before turning back to Harry with an easy grin. "It's been a while. Mum's been missing you. She wants me to tell you that you should come visit more."

"I will when I get the chance," Harry said but they both knew that that would probably never happen. "How are the dragons then Charlie," Harry asked of the other brother to redirect the attention.

"As good as they'll ever be. Got another Horntail in. Don't think you'd be up to seeing it?"

Harry laughed at the good natured ribbing.

"I'd rather not. I've had my fill of dragons to last me."

"If you're sure," Charlie said with a shrug. "But the reserves always opened to you and your lot." He nodded his head at the group surrounding Harry. "Even Malfoy there although one of the hatchlings might run off with him."

"Very funny," Draco drawled with a roll of his eyes.

"But anyways, we'd best be going," Bill cut in. "Got to get back to the wife. She's due to drop any day now."

"Fleur's pregnant," Harry asked with wide eyes.

"Yeah. It's an absolute terror it is."

"I'll said," Charlie agreed with a grimace. "Mum's been bugging me about when I'm going to settle and give her some grandkids."

"Tough luck mate." Charlie shrugged before he and Bill turned to do what they had come for. They created a not completely legal portkey before grabbing hold of a person. Harry noticed that no one wanted to be in contact with Ginny or Hermione.

With a somber fair well, the Weasleys left and Harry's was sad to note that he wasn't upset to see Ron leave with them.

Harry flopped face down on his bed, pressing his face into the mattress and hoping that he wouldn't have to move for the next twenty four hours. It was well after midnight and everyone had pretty much gone home – well everyone that wasn't mated to one of the house's residents. Edward himself was currently hovering around Harry, trying to find the best way to make the wizard feel better.

Harry could honestly say that he wasn't even sure if he ever would feel better. The last couple of days had served to age him in ways that the war simply hadn't.

"You should just go to sleep," Edward murmured lowly as he trailed his icy fingers down Harry's arm. "You'll feel a little better when you wake up."

"I doubt that," came Harry's muffled reply. He drew in a deep breath, letting it out slowly before wiggling his way up to his headboard. "I don't even think I can sleep now."

"Tell me what I can do," Edward practically begged, concern oozing out of his amber eyes.

Harry stared at him for a long moment, taking in his face, his hair, his eyes. Just taking him in.

He wasn't even aware of what he was doing until he suddenly found himself straddling Edward's lap, with his fingers in the thick bronze hair and his lips pressing into the vampire's.

Edward accepted the kiss although there was a confused tone coming from him. Harry sighed into his mate, breaking the kiss to press his face into Edward's neck. Edward's hand rubbed soothingly up and down his back.

"You are something else, you know that," Harry murmured.