Happy Halloween weekend everyone! I didn't even mean to plan it out like this, but this is the Halloween chapter of the story! Thank you all for your continued support!

Longest chapter yet!

Don't forget to favorite/follow/review!

And enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of the Harry Potter or Twilight series.

Halloween came by the next week. While I didn't dress up or anything, I still wore an outfit sort of aligned with the holiday so hopefully people wouldn't notice.

I had on a black turtleneck with long sleeves which allowed my red gloves to pop. I had on a black widow spider necklace on, red jeans, black boots, and even a darker smoky eye look then I usually would. I let my hair down today, but thankfully it didn't look too wild on my head today.

As I had gotten into the Forks High parking lot, I saw an unusual site. Alice and Edward were already waiting by my parking spot.

"You guys alright?" I asked as I got out of the car with my bag and locked it.

"We're fine. We just have something to give you." Alice said, holding out a small box. It was plain so I couldn't tell what it might be from the outside. My raised eyebrow made Edward speak out.

"We know how important today is and we wanted to give you something-" "Something to hopefully bring you a little joy today." Alice finished Edward's thought.

It left me a little speechless. The two had remembered about today and wanted to do something for me, simply to make me feel better. It felt really nice.

"Thanks you guys.' I said, a little light because I was holding back a lot. It had only been last year when I found out the day my parents had died. This would be the first time I could actually mourn and remember them on the day. I took a calming draught this morning to hopefully keep me together.

Alice reached out with the box and I took it with a flimsy hand. Using my left as a plank, I put the box across my arm and used my right to actually open it. They both stepped in closer and when I finally opened the box I realized why. A loud gasp burst out of me and I nearly dropped the contents in my hand had it not been for Edward when I burst into tears.

Because it was my family. It was my mom and dad and Sirius and Remus and me. It was a hand drawn and colored picture in a simple brown frame. Sirius and Remus looked like they did in the photos, but my mom and dad were drawn older. It was what they might have looked like if they got to age like Sirius and Remus. Dad had these streaks of grey in his hair and large laugh lines on his face with some crows feet appearing. Mom was beautiful. She had laugh lines and her hair was pulled up with some greys just at the roots. She had the same smile from the actual photographs. I was in the center of them, smiling. I looked...my age. This haunted look I saw everytime in the mirror was suddenly gone and for just a moment I could see what life could have been.

Damn Tom Riddle.

It took me a few minutes to speak. Edward was helping me keep the contents in my hands. I went to rub my eye but Alice stopped me.

"Your makeup will smudge!" She exclaimed. It broke me out of the crying to laugh and finally start to calm down. I felt a soft wet cloth dab under my eyes and I knew it was Alice, helping to wipe tears and wipe any makeup runoff.

"This is...This is amazing." I finally said, taking the frame and holding it tightly to my chest. Edward stepped further, almost that he was looming over me. He looked like he was in pain.

"I wouldn't have done it if I had known you would cry." he said but I shook my head and leaned into him. My forehead was connected to his chest.

"No it's ok. This is...perhaps the best thing I have ever been given. I just never thought to do something like this." I explained, pulling away. The warning bell rang for five minutes before class.

"Your makeup is intact." Alice offered as I took the frame and put it back in the box and gently in my bag.

"I'll sit with you at lunch today. If it's alright. I can't thank you enough for this." I said, looking at them both, a grateful smile wide on my lips. They smiled and nodded before Alice and I raced off to get to class.

The next couple of periods went by with ease. Jessica gave me some condolences and a well meaning card which I thanked her for.

It was in History that it all went to shit.

"I want you all to sit with your partners for the project. We are going to go around, hear the proposals and they will be approved or disqualified today. If disqualified, you will need to give me a new topic by Monday. " Mr. Harrison started. Slowly everybody got into new seats. I elected to go to Jasper and sit next to him so he wouldn't have to move.

"I am very excited to hear about the fascinating research topics you all have prepared," Mr. Harrison said before motioning for the group closest to him to start.

We heard four different groups, all approved, before he got to ours.

"Ok! Jasper and Dahlia! What will your project be?" Mr. Harrison asked.

"Well Jasper and I decided that in Europe, there is thousands of years old architecture still standing to this very day. And in these structures, we find history in their very bones. History that leads to the legends and myths still talked about today. For England, one of our greatest legends is King Arthur of Camelot and his most trusted advisor, the sorcerer Merlin. So we want to dig deeper into the history of Tintagel Castle, which is suggested to have been Arthur's castle, and my old boarding school Avalon Hall, which was always rumoured to have first been a school of witches AND perhaps where Merlin went to school if he was real." I said, pretty proud I got through all that without stumbling. Old Hermione would have been proud.

Mr. Harrison was frowning though. Why was he frowning? I looked at Jasper and saw he was frowning too, but staring intently at the teacher. Did Jasper have some type of mind power too?

Merlin if he heard me ever daydream about his brother...I'd have to move.

"Is something wrong?" I asked as the teacher remained silent.

"No. It's a wonderful topic, Dahlia and Jasper. I just assumed you would go on a different route is all. Especially with Avalon, but again, wonderful topic." he acted as if it wasn't a big deal but you could tell for him it was. It set my nerves on edge.

Never underestimate the enemy Potter

"And what route were you expecting?" I asked, not picking up on his cues. How is he hard to read at this moment?

Stop losing focus Potter! Constant vigilance!

"I mean I told all of you guys! Every day up until today is our history! Even yesterday…" he started, sounding tired and even annoyed. But then he smoothed out his expression.

"You come from a very fascinating point of history yourself Dahlia." he said.

It made my heart almost stop. I felt myself tense and go numb all at the same time. He couldn't mean…

"You come from a time in England's history rocked by terrorism and classism that is shaping the world as we speak. " he continued.

Merlin...he meant Voldemort. He meant what the public had heard about that time. I could only tell the muggle school what I could up until a point. A man with a massive cult following and fanatical views on blood purity led several terrorism attacks across England, Scotland, and Wales. His final attack was at Avalon where he ended up dying in the explosions that his own people caused. Very edited. But safer to say than the truth.

I didn't realize my right hand was clenching and tensing into a fist. My anger and rage, the deep boiling kind I experienced in fifth year, was settling into me. I felt a wave of calm try to go through me, but it didn't help in the slightest.

"And what exact time do I come from?" I asked darkly. A few students were growing waried. Not Harrison though, the arsehole continued.

"The public is still so unaware of what really went on with the attacks all over Britain and its surrounding countries. But you! You were there, even on the final attack!" he was getting excited.

I was getting angrier. He wanted me to talk about Hogwarts.

"You don't have any idea what you are talking about." I said, my jaw tensing and the words hard to actually speak without shouting.

"I think you should stop." Jasper said from next to me, but Harrison ignored us both.

"You personally witnessed diplomacy at it's finest! You saw the side of good and justice overtaking evil in our modern day era's greatest battle-"

"It wasn't a battle!" I interrupted the man, quite loudly. I knew Jasper was uncomfortable beside me but I didn't give two shits. My anger was overtaking, the rage at this man's audacity of how he wanted to know what it was like to live and experience Hogwarts.

"Calling it a battle means somebody won. Nobody won! This wasn't attacks, or fights, or confrontations. And there certainly was no diplomacy! It was a genocide! Avalon's Fall was a slaughter." I hissed out. His face dropped along with everyone else.

"You want to know the gorey details the public doesn't know about, well let me give them to you" I said, standing up.

"Miss-Miss Black-"

"The Fall of Avalon. February 2, 2004." I began, ignoring the man and making people realize I was talking about a date 8 months ago.

"Grown men and women came into my school. They came in the middle of the night with one goal in mind, to kill every last one of us." I said, barely keeping it in and telling them the whole truth.

How they came looking for me. How I fought. How I died. How I killed.

You're joking Perce! I didn't think you had it in you to joke!

Look...at..me...

Dahlia Potter...come to die

What will happen to the rest of the Weasley clan once I've killed you? Just like little Freddie!

Let's finish this how it started Tom. Together!

Fred!

Avada Kedavra!

"Grown men and women came to kill children!" I shouted, my hand slamming his cup across the room in anger. It hit the wall and broke into pieces making one girl scream.

"And they did. Some of them killed their own children, killed countless children and teachers because they believed in the fanatical teachings of a man too absorbed in his own self worth." I choked out, the memories overtaking every thought I had.

It was getting hard to breathe. Was I crying again?

"I watched friends, I watched the people I was closest to, the only people I had left, get blown up into pieces! I watched 11 year olds get slaughtered on stairwells because they were running from their own parents! I watched 239 people die in a single day!"

Was I screaming?

"And you sit there like it's some fascinating part of a barbaric history to be studied. We haven't even been able to mourn all of our dead, it's not in a single history book, we are still grieving and trying to move on and you sit there like some fucking asshole who knows better than me? You don't! You don't know what happens every time I close my eyes. And you certainly don't want to know how hard it is to physically get out of bed every goddamn morning and not blow something up too!"

Someone please stop me.

All of a sudden, cold hands wrapped around my arms. Jasper.

Like a tidal wave, a rushing of calm went through me, normally could make a person numb but I was so angry. It simply brought me back to neutral.

Emotions. Jasper's thing is emotions.

I finally realized how much I was shaking. My body went limp and he had to keep me on my feet. And I was crying. I felt my face was wet and dripping. I felt raw. I felt like I was on the battlefield again, heart racing, blood pumping.

My arm? Where's my arm?

I grabbed onto my left arm and felt the prosthetic. It's gone. My arm's gone.

Without another word, I ran from the classroom and into the first bathroom I could. I slammed into a stall, locked the door, and fell to the ground crying once more.

I just wanted to be normal. I wanted to be normal. I didn't want to talk about Hogwarts ever again. I wanted to mourn and grieve and move on even just a little but it felt like I was barely keeping my head above the water.

I curled up in a ball in the corner, crying like I used to when I was younger. When I was with the Dursley's and before I realized crying made things worse.

My secrets were slowly getting out of hand. I knew I wouldn't be able to hide my arm for much longer now. Did I even want to? Not from the Cullen's. I needed to tell them everything and soon. My arm, my actual story, my knowledge of what they were and that I didn't care because they were my friends. And because I was in love with Edward.

But I felt so small. I felt like I was 11 again in my cupboard, with the doubts and fears overtaking my mind. I heard the door slowly open.

"Dahlia?" Jessica's voice called out in concern. It only made another sob come.

"She's in here." she whispered to someone.

"Well let's go." I heard Mike say. "Dude it's the girl's restroom." Eric replied.

"Stay right here. I'll be right back." Jessica ordered before coming in and closing the door.

"Hey D" she called out again. I sniffled, not ready to speak.

"I hope you know you are like my best friend and that is the only reason I would ever do this for anyone." she said, sounding very resolute. What was she talking about?

I had my answer when she got on the floor and crawled under the stall door to get to me. I started crying again when I felt her arms wrap around me. She took a few minutes, shushing me and murmuring words of comfort.

"Andrew texted me from your history class. Knew we were friends. He said Mr. Harrison made you explode and you ran off." she explained quietly, rocking us both back and forth. I relished in the comfort it gave me.

"Utter bastard." I murmured, trying to stop my chest from heaving so much as I cried.

"Made it seem like...everything...everything that happened at Avalon is simply 'a fascinating part of history.' I wanted to leave England the moment I got out of the hospital, but I wanted to be there for the funerals. Every last one, but even then it got too much. I couldn't take anymore crying, any more pain.. No matter how sorry I was. It took so long to not blame myself for even a fraction of it and he brought it all back up again." I rambled on, tears starting up again. Jessica shushed me and squeezed me tighter.

"You have been through so much. And sometimes I think we all forget because you are so strong. But today was already gonna be hard and he made it worse. I'm so sorry he doesn't understand Dahlia. I'm sorry we probably don't even come close to understanding what you have gone through, this year alone. But I'm here, ok. And we can sit here as long as you need" Jessica comforted. I could only nod and allow myself to continue to try and calm down.

I don't think I could ever let Jessica know how much this meant to me. Easily she's now one of my dearest friends.

"Jess...i have to tell you something...Something about Avalon's Fall." I muttered out quietly. In this moment I decided I wanted to tell her first.

"You don't have to tell me anything you aren't ready for." Jessica insisted but I shook my head.

"I want to tell you. At Avalon...it was more than losing my friends and any family I had left. Something...something else happened to me that day." I started, suddenly nervous. She stayed silent, waiting for me to be ready.

I died that day.

"I lost my arm Jess." I whispered out. I heard her gasp and tense next to me. Slowly with my right hand, I took one of hers and placed it where skin met prosthetic. She tensed even further when she realized what she was touching.

"That's why I wear gloves. I'm not ashamed of it. But...I hate staring. I always felt like a freak and I just wanted to be normal here. For however long I could. Guess that's out of the window." I explained, nervous she would take this bad.

She didn't. She held me tighter in her arms.

"You are...Dahlia Black...the strongest and most resilient person I know. You are the most kind and thoughtful human being I have ever met. If anyone dares think something like that, they'll be hearing from me." she said quite passionately. It made me smile.

"I want to go home" I muttered, leaning my head against the tile to cool down. Edward would be great right now.

Wait. Edward. Thoughts. Oh shit. He probably knows. Didn't think this all the way through. I didn't want to do it like this, but I guess this is how it will have to be.

"Well it's lunch now. How about we get your stuff and I'll walk you to your car. Will you be ok to drive?" Jessica asked. I nodded, finally in a clearer head space.

"Well first I'm wiping off your makeup. While usually pretty, you look like a raccoon." she teased to help me feel lighter. I didn't laugh. But I smiled to let her know I appreciated the effort.

We slowly got out of the stall and she spent a few minutes using a makeup wipe to fully remove everything off my face. We were about to leave when I grabbed her arm again.

"Jess...don't tell the others quite yet, ok? I'm definitely going to soon. Just...not today. I've cried enough." I said. She gave me an understanding smile and nodded.

"Of course." she promised before we walked out of the bathroom. Mike and Eric were waiting outside of the bathroom and hurried over to us as we came out.

Mike, unusually silent, just wrapped me in a big bear hug. It felt nice. His sport jacket's patches were pressing weird on the top of my head, but I didn't mind.

"Are you ok?" he asked quietly. I nodded.

"Or at least I will be." I said genuinely. He nodded as he pulled away. Eric gave me a very big crushing hug.

"Everyone's phones are blowing up. About all the stuff you said. We had no idea." Eric tried to say but I shook it off.

"Like I had said. Public didn't know. For a good reason. ``I said.

"I need to get my stuff" I remarked, about to head to the history room albeit grudgingly when Mike shook his head.

"I saw Jasper Hale walking with your bag to the cafeteria." Oh boy.

"Well let's go to the cafeteria then." I said. My friends walked with me the whole way. Jessica was holding very tightly to my left arm, even maneuvering her fingers to interlock with the ones on the prosthetic. Maybe trying to show that my disability didn't change how she thought of me. It worked. I was pretty calm and more me by the time we walked into the cafeteria.

Of course the whole place went silent and everyone was staring at me.

"Go about your business!" Jessica shouted, a glare that could probably scare Draco Malfoy into doing her bidding. It got the job done. People turned away and went back to their conversations although I got many glances.

The Cullen's hadn't taken their eyes off me. I knew they knew about my arm. Rosalie and Emmett were looking at me with respect. Alice looked like she might cry if she could. Jasper looked stony faced. Edward looked absolutely murderous.

"I'm going to get my bag on my own. You guys eat what you can. Enjoy your Halloween and your party. And I'll see you tomorrow ok?" I asked. They all nodded, hugged me once more, and said goodbye before going to their usual table.

Straightening my posture I walked over to the Cullen's table with my head held high.

"Are you ok?" Alice asked before I could say anything, concern clear on her face.

"Day by day I will be" I repeated from that time just a few weeks ago. I turned to Jasper.

"I'm sorry Jasper. That you had to see all that." I apologized before anyone else could speak. His eyes softened a tad.

"You don't need to do any apologizing Dahlia," he said, handing me my bag.

Well here goes. Might as well just do it now.

"I can bet my emotions were a little much to handle. Especially in a room full of humans"

They all looked gobsmacked. They all stopped pretending to breathe too.

I reached out to Edward's clenched fists and with my right hand, unclenched it and rubbed against his palm to calm him down.

"I'm feeling very raw right now. And I know how easy it would be for all of us to go to my place right now. But someone needs to keep up appearances. And it can't be me right now. After school you can all come to my house. Give me a little time and I will explain fully and truthfully about everything I can. Including that I have known about your secret since the moment I met you. Bring Carlisle and Esme." I explained. Edward grabbed my hand, not wanting me to go.

"I promise. I'll explain. Just let me go so I can not feel so exposed right now." I said. Finally he nodded and let me go.

"We will be there promptly at 3:15." Rosalie said. I nodded and walked off without another word.

I ran into Principal Figgins as I tried to leave. He was beside himself in worry.

"Miss Black, I am so glad I found you. I am...so absolutely sorry for the behavior and treatment you received from Mr. Harrison today. This was entirely inappropriate to bring up in school, especially in the middle of class. Rest assured he and I will be having a very stern discussion about appropriate treatment of students. I had no idea he would have the stupidity to try and provoke you like this but it will never happen again I swear to you." The man said, very genuinely and passionately.

I could only nod, holding onto my bag tighter.

"Is there anything I can do to help apologize further for being so singled out in the classroom over such a tender subject?" he asked.

I thought about changing classes if I was being honest. But I wasn't a quitter.

"I will be ok. I just want to leave now if that's ok." I said.

"Absolutely. In fact, it's Thursday. Take tomorrow off too, completely excused ok?" he offered. I easily took it and was well on my way home. The Cullen's would be here in about 3 hours so that gave me enough time to do what I needed.

Which was shower. I sat down fully in my shower and let the water run over me for a good 40 minutes while I just continued to further calm down.

When the water started to turn cold, I quickly cleaned myself and changed into a pair of black sweatpants, a soft blue cotton shirt, and my sparkly slippers. I didn't put on any gloves. Better to just get it out in the open when they come. I put my hair back in a braid to keep out of the way.

I also got out a second scrapbook. This one was full of old Daily Prophet or Quibbler articles about me from my time in the Wizarding World. An over eager fan had sent it to me, as a show of adoration but I kept it because it was a good docket of evidence if I ever tried to sue Rita.

Well she's dead now so maybe not. And the reminder of her death continued to send a shiver up my spine. But this scrapbook would hopefully help when I explained about magic. That and when I unfreeze all my pictures.

I also conjured up more comfortable chairs and a settee so everyone would be able to sit in the living room.

I wrote a quick letter to Ginny, thankful her owl hadn't left yet from this morning even though I had been unable to read her letter quite yet. I said as much and told her that I was coming clean to the Cullens. We will see how that turns out. I let the owl go and puttered back downstairs to make myself a cup of tea to calm my nerves.

I felt very anxious and unsettled. My magic felt like it wanted to crawl out of my skin. So far this has been the worst Halloween since I discovered magic, and a lot of them were pretty terrible too. While I couldn't have a bonfire going in the middle of my living room I would use my fireplace and logs I had gotten from the forest. There was an offering of food and drink I had prepared for later tonight which I would leave outside as well. I would take the time to remember and celebrate the ones I had lost. Mom, Dad, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Snape, Moody, Fred, Cedric, and countless others.

I would still remember them later today if all went well now.

I was cradling my second cup of tea when the Cullen's came. it was 3:13 actually, but I would be early to something like this. I unlocked the door magically, not getting up from my chair.

"It's open." I said, taking a sip as everyone silently filed in. I saw Carlisle leading the coven and with the Matriarch next to him. Esme. Just as beautiful of course and truly did fit the look of a mother. She had such open and expressive emotion on her face. She looked worried.

When they all registered me sitting in my arm chair, they also registered the fact that my prosthetic was visible for the first time. Along with the burnt and scarred skin just resting above the prosthetic.

I felt uncomfortably tight as they all stared at me. My heart was probably thudding. Then Edward pushed through them all and got down, on his knees, next to me. It made my breath catch as he gently took my left arm, like it was glass, and pressed his forehead onto the back of my hand. I took that hand and lifted his chin with a gentle smile. Mostly because of the confusion on his face. Normal prosthetics couldn't move at the fingers.

"I have a lot to tell you and it's a very long story ahead. I ask that you be patient with me and know I kept this from you all because I don't trust very easily, especially with the secrets I have. But I don't want to hide from you anymore." I explained, focusing the last sentence on Edward.

"That sounds like a fine idea Dahlia. Thank you for allowing us into your home." Carlisle said politely before everyone made themselves situated. Emmett took my ottoman next to the couch and Rosalie took the side of the couch next to him while Edward took the spot closest to my chair so he wouldn't have to let go of my hand. I didn't want him to.

Jasper and Alice took two chairs I had conjured and sat in them. Carlisle and Esme chose the large settee to sit in.

I took a deep breath and one last sip of tea before beginning.

"I've known that you all are vampires from the very moment I laid eyes on you. Because I had learned about vampires in school. Both magical and non-magical vampires." I specified.

"Non-magical?" Esme asked. I nodded.

"I'm not entirely human myself. More accurately...I'm a witch." I dropped the first bomb shell. Everyone was wide-eyed but Carlisle.

"Of course. It all makes sense. My time in Volterra, our leaders spoke of a whole society hidden underground that was filled with magic. But they thought the society had been destroyed centuries ago." Carlisle said, fascinated. I nodded.

"That's what they made the world think. In actuality, they simply hid in plain sight and continued to grow. My parents had magic too. My dad came from an old line of powerful witches and wizards. My mom was a Muggleborn. It's what we call people with magic born into non-magical families. Muggle families." I explained.

"Do you have a broom? A wand?" Alice asked, suddenly so excited. It made me laugh and nod.

"In school. I was the captain of my house's sports team. But it was Quidditch. A flying sport." I clarified.

"That's so badass" Emmett said with a laugh but Rosalie hit him on the chest.

"There's so much I want to tell you all. I don't even know where to begin." I said after a moment, holding Edward's hand tighter, afraid he would let me go.

"How about the beginning dear?" Esme asked gently.

"Depends on who's beginning...When my parents were in school, a Dark Wizard started to emerge from the shadows. His name was Tom Marvelo Riddle. But he would soon be known and feared as Lord Voldemort. An evil man who thought that those with Muggle blood in them or Muggles in general didn't deserve the same kind of rights as those with...purer blood. A bloody hypocrite. His father was a muggle." I started to explain. Taking a sip of tea to drown out the image of the man in my head.

"He slaughtered whole families. Decimated magical lines. To kill someone with magic is...unbelievably easy...but impossibly dark. We have a curse. The Killing Curse. Undetectable and irreversible. Well...before." I explained, taking another sip.

"My God." Esme whispered. Carlisle took her hand.

"My mom and dad were outspoken on how they didn't approve of Voldemort's tactics. But then a prophecy was made by a barmy witch who never made another concrete one since ``I said, bitter at the memory of Trelawney.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark her as his equal, but she will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...I was born July 31st." I recited. Rosalie and Alice looked sick. Edward was still stoney faced.

"When they realized I might be the child of the prophecy, my parents went into hiding. We had old magic that allowed our location to remain hidden except from a Secret Keeper. It was made public that my godfather Sirius was their Secret Keeper. But it was a third friend...Peter Pettigrew. And he betrayed them...and framed Sirius for it all."

My voice sounded so thick and heavy. I didn't realize I was holding onto Edward's hand tight until he now was soothing me by taking my cup of tea from me and holding both of my hands.

"Voldemort came to our house. Killed my dad. Chased my mom up the stairs to my nursery. She begged him to spare my life but he killed her and turned his wand on me. And the Killing Curse...didn't work." I said hollowly.

"The only mark on my body was this scar on my forehead. It did more than we realized but it didn't kill me. It did destroyed his body. And suddenly I became the Girl-Who Lived." I continued, staring at the floor now.

"I didn't even know about magic until after I had turned 11, my relatives lying to me about what really happened to my parents that night. I had gotten my admission's letter to Hogwarts on my birthday. What I've been calling Avalon." I explained, glossing over my childhood and the Dursley's.

"The next seven years I spent virtually fighting for my life. Every year there was some type of danger and every year it ended up me that I was the only one who could fix it...somehow." I said bitterly.

"Seven. But you said 11 is when you found out about magic." Rosalie said, looking for the holes in my story.

"When I left England I didn't want anyone to follow me, a lot of good that did. Part of that was not only changing my name but my age as well. I came here as Dahlia Johanna Black. My real name is Dahlia Lily Potter. And I'm actually 18." I said.

Some of them looked taken aback, including Rosalie.

"I changed my name to not only protect my identity and location but to also honor Remus and Sirius. John was Remus' middle name which I converted into Johanna. Black was Sirius' last name." I further explained.

"In my first year at Hogwarts, the school was supposed to be housing the Philosopher's Stone, made by Nicholas Flammel, which granted one immortality. I was sorted into my Hogwarts house, Gryffindor, just like my parents. I even made Quidditch team that year which was unheard of for a first year. But things kept happening. A troll made its way into a school and I was nearly thrown off my broom my first game. It all came to a head when the stone was in danger. We went to go save it only to realize our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was behind all the trouble the year had brought. He was also possessed by Voldemort. I ended up killing him to save the stone…"I explained, that day in front of the mirror as crystal clear as it ever was. The smell of his burning skin almost entered my nose but I shook it away. I wouldn't get lost in my memories. I can't.

"Killed him?" Emmett asked.

"Whenever I touched him, his skin would burn. A product of what Voldemort had tried to do when I was a baby. I held on until he died. And then collapsed...I won the House Cup for it." I said, the bitterness that Dumbledore brought rising up in me.

"Second year a new teacher came. But Lockhart was no better than the other, a pompous book author who ended up being a charlatan anyway. What turned out to be a horrible magical item had infiltrated the school in the form of a diary. It possessed Ron's sister Ginny and the lost Chamber of Secrets opened again. The last time, a student had been killed. This time four students, a cat, and a ghost were petrified."

"You have ghosts!" Alice interrupted, wide-eyed.

"The planes between the living and dead are very thin in the Wizarding World. Hogwarts was filled with ghosts, our own history professor was a ghost and dreadfully boring." I said.

"Ron and I ended up going with Professor Lockhart into the chamber once we discovered it could only be opened with Parseltongue. The ability to talk to snakes which I, and still do, possess...unfortunately." I grimaced.

"That sounds so amazing though, that talent." Esme said.

"It is to you. To the Wizarding World only the darkest of witches and wizards possessed it. So I was not looked at favorably. But once I went into the chamber, after being seperated from the others, I came face to face with the spirit of a young Tom Marvolo Riddle. Voldemort. He summoned the beast of the chamber, a giant basilisk. With one look it could kill you. If you saw its reflection you would be petrified. Of course it's venom was deadly as well. When I was able to kill it, I had been bitten. It was only thanks to the healing properties of phoenix tears that I was able to survive." I explained.

Edward was quick to start scanning me with his gaze. I took his chin in hand and made him look at me.

"That scar, along with a fair few others, got blown to bits with my arm. You won't find it." I said. He looked like he swallowed an egg but nodded.

I sat back in my seat and looked at the coven, eager to hear more of my life, no matter where it may lead. I didn't blame them.

"Third year came my discovery of Sirius Black. So many things had been kept from me for so many years. So when Sirius Black escaped our wizarding prison, Azkaban, I just assumed like the rest. He was a crazed follower of Voldemort who wanted me dead. That year, Remus Lupin, another friend of father, was the defense teacher. Finally we had a competent teacher. Along with his arrival came the Dementors. The guards of Azkaban...the worst creatures imaginable." I said, the memory of my mother's screams entering my head. I closed my eyes and shook my head to ignore it.

"They're soul sucking leeches. They feast on every happy memory or feeling you've ever had until you're nothing but a husk trapped in the worst parts of yourself. They were sent to the school to "guard" it and find Sirius Black. All they did was cause fear and attack us, attack me...That year I eavesdropped on a conversation that rocked my world. I was told about the people I kept hearing about throughout the year. Sirius Black, my godfather, betrayed my parents and told Voldemort where they were hiding. And when their friend Peter Pettigrew confronted him, Sirius killed Peter and twelve other Muggles...and it was all a fucking lie." I snarled, my right hand clenching. I took a second to take deep breaths.

"At the end of the year, I was finally told the truth. Sirius Black was never the Secret Keeper. He loved my parents and he loved me. Peter Pettigrew betrayed us and publicly framed Sirius before blowing up the street and disguising himself as his animagus form, a rat."

"Animagus?" Carlisle asked after a moment of silence.

"Some witches and wizards can turn into animals. It's usually very monitored, but Sirius, my dad, and Peter had become animagus to help Remus during his monthly transitions in school. Remus was a werewolf...but one of the kindest and gentlest people you could ever know." I said, wiping the tears that Remus brought. He finally had found happiness and it was taken all away.

"A werewolf?" Rosalie said, tense. I sent a glare at her, probably the first.

"Remus was a saint. He dedicated his life to be better than the stigma of being a werewolf placed on him. He lived in poverty, in shame, because no one accepted him. And I will be damned if I let any negative connotations of any magical or non-magical creature infect my home." I warned. Everyone got the message though.

"In the end Peter got away. Sirius had to go on the run and Remus got fired because people found out he was a werewolf. But finally...finally I had some family of my own to look forward to one day. At least I thought so." I said.

"I am so sorry for the losses you have gone through Dahlia." Carlisle said sincerely. I nodded in thanks.

"There were happy times in between all of that. But that all got shrouded when Tom was resurrected using a dark ritual when I was 14. After a tournament was rigged at Hogwarts, I and another student got transported to the graveyard where he was resurrected...he killed that other student. I got away with his body but the war had become. Even if people didn't believe in me. It took Sirius' death the next year during a confrontation in the Ministry itself for people to believe me. After that I was essentially pulled from normal school and trained by any of Dumbledore's followers that had the time. During that time the headmaster finally revealed not only that little prophecy I said earlier but that Voldemort had created Horcruxes. Cursed objects containing parts of his soul that he had split from himself as he committed murder. He made seven. That diary from second year was one of them. After my headmaster had been killed at the end of my sixth year I went on the run with Ron and Hermione before our seventh year to hunt for the Horcruxes. And then the battle came…" I trailed off.

"We won't make you relive that." Alice said hastily but I shook my head.

"I'm not reliving. I don't think I can right now. Simply adding. I watched 239 people die that day. 46 of them, including Voldemort, died at my hand." I dropped the next bombshell before turning to Edward. His expression was horrifyingly neutral.

"I told you I wasn't all that good." I admitted but he shook his head.

"You were trying to survive," he repeated. "So were you." I repeated right back from that night on the couch before turning focus back to his coven.

"After I had killed Tom, a surviving follower of his cast a spell that blew up the wall I was next to. My body and my arm got caught in the blast. And I lost it." I said, shakily letting go of Edward's hand and curling more on the farther side of the chair.

"It's a magical prosthetic. It allows me to move like any other arm. I don't have much sensation or feeling in it, but I can even do some minor magic with it." I explained as Edward took my arm again and ran his fingers against the prosthetic.

"It's an incredible achievement medically. I wish we could have that in the human world." Carlisle said sadly. I nodded.

"Me too. I know there are others who have probably suffered far worse than me and get far less than I did." I said but it made Edward scoff.

"You haven't suffered enough? You didn't deserve this." he said passionately.

"I know Edward." I said.

"There's so much I haven't said. Simply because there is so much to say. But after that day, I couldn't get to mourn. Despite fulfilling that damn prophecy, everyone was still expecting so much from me. Along with that I was virtually trapped in a home that wasn't mine while I waited for the remainder of Tom's followers to be caught. My only freedom was going to funerals of the ones who didn't survive. So I had to get out. Ginny, as well as her and Ron's oldest brother Bill and wife Fleur and Sirius' cousin Andromeda know where I am. They were the only ones I had told where I was really going. My own bad luck that Ron found one of the letters I wrote to Ginny." I finished for now.

"I'm happy to answer questions. I'd have my own questions if I probably wasn't so drained. But I'm tired of hiding from you all...some of you are quite dear to me. And I don't want to lose you." I said, laying it out on the table.

"You won't lose me," Edward said.

"Thank you. For sharing your story with us Dahlia. I know it was hard. I am honored that you trust my family with this knowledge." Carlisle said.

"How long is your lifespan?" Rosalie asked; questions at the ready. Smart.

"Depends. A healthy witch or wizard with an average amount of magic might live up to 150-200 years old and look half that amount of years. I have a quite larger magical level in me. I was advised I might have a 300-350 year life span. Maybe even 400 if I'm careful." I explained. Edward practically melted from relief next to me.

"How come Edward can't read your mind?" Rosalie next asked, still defensive.

"Reading minds is quite possible as witches and wizards. I'm absolutely rubbish at it because I was trained too fast. They focused on blocking my mind as Voldemort was quite adept at invading your mind. I made an impenetrable defense in my mind, based off of a maze that was part of that sham of a tournament I was in during my 4th year. " I explained.

Edward was looking at me in awe.

"One day...i would very well let you in." I said quietly, suddenly shy.

I looked away, but it caused me to realize Alice looked very nervous and uncomfortable.

"Alice, are you ok?" I asked. She gave me a weak smile.

"My gift doesn't work on you either. And...I just don't want you to be wary about me." she explained. So she had a mind ability. Why would I be nervous?

Of course. The only mind magic I had said in distaste.

"It has something to do with the future doesn't it?" I asked calmly.

"Alice can see the future. It's subjective. It can change based on someone's decisions." Carlisle explained for her. I nodded.

"You have no reason to be afraid of my reaction to you Alice. You can't help it. And I had a friend before, who truly was a Seer like you. I know not all seers are like Trelawney." I explained. She nodded, looking relieved.

"I want to apologize again Jasper for the emotions you probably felt from me today. My anger has always been an issue. I don't get angry often, but when I do it's...explosive" I apologized.

"Like I said. You don't need to apologize. Although I'm not surprised you figured out my powers." he said amused.

"Why can't we smell you?" Rosalie asked, cutting into it again. Even an admonishment from Esme didn't sway her but I wasn't upset. I could tell Rosalie's family was important to her and she would do anything to protect it. It was admirable.

"When I realized you were vampires, I wanted to be able to help where I could. So I started using my magic to dampen my scent so it wouldn't be as strong." I said.

"Are you dampened now?" Carlisle asked. I nodded.

"I can lower it. If you want?" I offered but now Jasper looked uncomfortable at the thought.

I wonder…

"Hold on a second." I muttered, getting up and going over to my kitchen and looking for the secret stash of Wizarding candy Ginny had sent me last week.

"Got it!" I said triumphantly, holding up the bag of Blood Pops she had sent as a joke. But these might help them.

"We can't have candy, you know? Or did you skip that part in school?" Emmett teased. It made me smirk.

"This isn't ordinary candy." I said, coming over with the bag. I fished one out and held it out to Jasper. He looked at me confused.

"It's a Blood Pop. And unlike the non-magical equivalent, it is very literal." I said. Now Jasper was looking at it in awe.

"It's blood?" Esme asked, astonished. I nodded, still holding it out.

"Wizarding candy can get quite odd. But these were made with animal blood. So they are safe for you vegetarians." I said easily.

Jasper quickly took it and unwrapped it, sticking it in his mouth. The look of relief on his face had the other vampires taking one too.

"I can have Ginny send over more soon." I said as they enjoyed their treats.

"Can we see magic?" Emmett asked, very excited. I gave him a smirk, snapping my fingers. It took seconds for them to realize that my pictures started to move.

"They're moving!" Alice said, rushing over to my mantle to look at the photos there.

"We have a special way of developing film. Means pictures can move. Portraits can talk to you as well. At Hogwarts, all the dorms with students had a portrait to guard the rooms." I said, remembering the Fat Lady fondly.

"I thought you needed a wand to use magic?" Jasper asked, getting up to stand next to Alice.

"Usually yes. My wand is currently upstairs. My magical level is large enough that I can perform wandless and silent magic now, at least in it's more simpler states.

"Is there Magic fashion?" Alice turned to me excited.

"Yeah. We wear robes mostly. It's very much an older style than modern day. But there's a Wizarding settlement in Seattle that we can go to if you really want?" I offered, directing the question to everyone who looked eager at the prospect.

"I have books too. If you guys want." I said, directing more towards Carlilse and Jasper who felt like the most studious out of the bunch.

I picked up the scrapbook of old articles.

"Most of these paint me in a truly embarrassing light. But it's a lot of information to start with. It's every news article ever written with me in it...fan mail." I explained sheepishly, handing it to Carlisle who immediately started looking through it. He seemed fascinated that the pictures moved there too.

"Take off the dampening." Edward said from behind me. I turned to see him still looking at me intently.

"Edward I don't-" "Dahlia please." Edward cut off Carlisle.

I stared at him for a good few minutes. It looked like he was trying to answer something inside of himself. Something, I assumed, I desperately wanted the answer to myself.

And with absolute certainty, I knew Edward would never hurt me.

So I let my magic release. My scent was on full display and I knew it when Edward's eyes went black.

And then it happened.

He launched himself at me and before the others could stop him, he was wrapped around me as he pressed me against the wall. His face was buried in my neck but it was just there. Taking in my scent. It almost seemed like he was purring. One hand was against the wall and the other was touching my waist.

My magic was rushing and burning through my body. I had never felt so warm and so cold at the same time. We were having some kind of affect on each other, brought even more with the fact my scent was at its full strength. I was panting, high off of the feeling itself.

His body blocked me from seeing the others, but someone must have tried to come closer because he growled.

"Mine"

It made my breath hitch. He said mine.

"Yours" I whispered back, almost without thinking. I blushed hard, trying to suppress it when Edward slowly trailed his face to my cheek, just taking deep breaths and inhaling my scent around him. I was doing the same in a way. He smelt like the rain, and fresh pine, and...oddly cinnamon.

"Edward. Son. Can you take a step back from Dahlia?" Carlisle asked cautiously. Edward only growled in response.

"I knew it" I heard Alice whisper. She sounded excited.

"Now's not the time Alice." Rosalie said. She didn't sound mad at least. Just cautious like Carlisle.

I took a second to breathe before shakily placing my hands onto Edward's chest. My fingers, twisting and gripping onto his shirt tightly.

"Hey Edward." I whispered. He paused against me, but remained silent.

"Your family is freaking out a little. Can you step back for me? I promise...I won't go anywhere." I said, adding the promise when he looked like he might protest. He slowly took a step away from me, eyes still black and hungry but in a way that left me feeling really hot and achy. And embarrassed because I knew the other vampire's probably realized that too.

Before he could get too far, he took me by my hands and pulled me against his chest again. Only now I could be seen by everyone. I wrapped my arms around him in a hug like I always did and he didn't hesitate wrapping his arms around me.

"Your scent is strong, but I don't have any urge to attack you." Jasper answered. Huh, how odd.

"Edward son, what are you feeling right now? Talk to us." Carlisle asked gently, stepping closer to us. Edward pulled me away a little, not liking that.

"Edward sweetie." Esme prompted. It got Edward to soften a little. Enough to utter a word.

"Mate"

It made my breath hitch and my heart soar all at the same time. It wasn't just curiosity that had him interested in me. I was his mate. It explained why my magic was singing in me. He was my mate.

"Mate." I contently replied. I could tell it made him pleased. I knew he wasn't 100% clear headed, my scent suddenly so powerful around him.

"I'm gonna calm him down. We'll be back shortly. Feel free to look at these books." I said, waving my hand and conjuring some of my first year books onto the coffee table.

"Oh yeah calm him down." Emmett joked, rather crudely alluding to something that made me blush. Edward growled at him but I pulled him away. I kept making him maintain eye contact with me as I took him up the stairs and into my bedroom. I shut the door and put a silencing charm on the room so whatever we said would remain private.

Turning back to Edward he was almost pressed against me again.

"Edward you need to calm down ok? For me." I said, pushing him towards my bed and having him sit. He again pulled me by my arm so I basically fell on top of him before he rolled us over so I was on my bed and he over me.

"Am I selfish? Wanting you?" he suddenly asked, eyes still dark.

"No. I'd be selfish then too." I said. He just kept hovering over me and my body and magic just wanted something, anything. I never felt more my age at this moment.

"Edward. If you don't put your bloody lips on mine I swear-"

He cut me off. His lips pressed against mine, hard and needy. I couldn't stop the moan that left me if I tried and instantly my hands finally found themselves in his hair. I thought my first kiss would have been something gentle, laid-back, soft. But that was before the battle, before Voldemort. I was different now. And I had a steady grip in his hair as our lips moved against each other. My back arching as he ran his hands up and down my body, the cold feeling like nirvana against my skin. He pressed into my body, my legs subconsciously opening and wrapping around him. I felt his interest in me and it just made me more excited.

But just as easily as it had started, he was off of me and across the room in a flash.

I laid on the bed, panting and trying to cool myself down from the sudden heat that seemed to be engulfing my body.

"How could you allow that?" he demanded, almost ashamed of himself.

"Oh no. We aren't going into your self-hatred montage, that ends today." I said sitting up.

"Edward. Listen to me very carefully. I love you. I love you with everything I have in me. I'm your mate. And you are mine. Since the moment we have met, my magic has been reaching for you, grasping, and aching for you to be near. And I didn't know why and I was freaking out because of course, the moment I'm away from Hogwarts I take interest in someone, a vampire no less, but it's all the more perfect. We are mates. We are destined for eternity. I know you aren't perfect. You are a stubborn, self-hating man stuck in a teenage mindset and obviously feels like he knows better than me and tries to foolishly stay away from his mate. News flash Edward, I've known about vampires long before this and I know what is at stake. I know eventually I will need to be turned and guess what? I age so slowly, I could be 30 before we decide to turn me and probably still pass as a teenager. And if it takes till I'm 30 or 300 to make you want to be with me forever then I'll-"

He cut me off in the middle of my confession. Only this time it was gentle. Our lips pressed softly. His hands slowly reached out and held my face. I did the same to him, now aware and nervous about my arm but he didn't seem to care.

He took a step back after a moment and all the emotions he had been repressing seemed to burst through in the look he was giving me. It made me gasp at how much...adoration and love was there.

"There will never be a question of wanting to be with you forever. I'm all of those things and I can't tell you how grateful I am that you see past my faults and...and love me. You are the most beautiful astounding mind boggling woman I have ever met. You don't take any dangerous situations seriously and you are equally if not more stubborn than me. But I love you. I don't think I have ever felt this type of love for anyone, I didn't believe I had the capacity to love like this until I met you. But there's another part of me that fears that I will corrupt you, and no matter what you say right now, I feel like this is a curse. And I don't want to subject you to that. Every part of me wants to continue what we were doing before. But I do want to be careful at the very least. I want to go slow because you deserve the normalcy of a relationship. I want to give you everything and more. You are mine. And I am yours." he expressed.

My chest felt tight at just how much emotion was in my body. I felt raw again but in a good way. And overwhelmed. So much had happened today and it felt like it had been a week since this morning.

"You feel like all the way you again?" I asked awkwardly. It made him smile and pull me off the bed before hugging me. I held back just as tight.

"If you haven't guessed. I really really like hugs." I said with a laugh.

"I had guessed spider monkey," he joked. I pulled back to give him the look that nickname deserved.

"In the list of cute nicknames boyfriends and girlfriends give each other, I'm going to need you to take that one off the list." I remarked. He gave me that wicked smirk again. The one that warmed me from the inside out.

"Boyfriends and girlfriends?" he teased, causing me to smack his chest. This time with magic behind it so he did feel the light slap making him shocked before laughing.

"I am yours. And you're mine. So yes. Boyfriend and girlfriend." I stated. He turned into that soft, gentle smiling look again.

"Works for me," he said. I nodded triumphant before unlocking the door and pulling him back towards his family.

"I always knew he would finish fast." Emmett teased before yelling after I sent a stinging hex his way causing everyone to laugh good heartedly including Emmett.

"So?" Carlisle prompted, looking hopeful.

"Edward clearly isn't on board with the changing me part yet, but I have plenty of time to convince him and still pass as a teenager. Right now we are boyfriend and girlfriend. He wants to continue this normalcy thing I'm trying to do and normalcy means boyfriend." I said with a smile. Alice cheered and ran over to me excited.

"I am so happy! You like shopping just as much as I do and we have all these same interests and you have magic!" She gushed, jumping up and down.

Rosalie looked a little upset, but only when I had mentioned the changing me part. So there must be some unresolved issues there. But overall she still looked happy for us, or Edward at least. Probably because she knew I wouldn't reveal their secret.

Everyone looked happy for us regardless.

I released Edward's hand and walked over to my backpack to take out the framed drawing. Pleased at the faces staring back at me I went to the mantle and placed the picture next to my frozen Golden Snitch. A wicked idea went through my head.

In seconds I grabbed the Snitch, activating its magic and turned, "Emmett catch!"

He did indeed try to catch the ball but it was already whizzing around by the time it shot out of my hand.

"Wow!" he said, getting up and following it around as it buzzed through the house.

"What is that?" Esme asked.

"It's called a Golden Snitch. Remember when I talked about Quidditch? The only way for it to end is for the Seeker position to catch that in the air. That's the very first Snitch I caught." I explained, proud of my Quidditch history. Edward looked equally as proud.

Emmett caught it quick enough but that's why vampires aren't allowed to professionally play the sport anyway, albeit sadly.

"How soon can we go to Seattle?" Alice asked, excitement making her almost vibrate.

"Well as an apology the principal gave me tomorrow off so I have the whole weekend now. Up to you." I said throwing the ball into the vampire's court.

"Sunday." Edward said before anyone could speak. Alice pouted but nodded.

"I wonder what Edward wants to do until Sunday?" Emmett said teasingly from the kitchen.

"Emmett knock it off!" Rosalie said goodnaturedly.

I noticed the time and realized I would need to start setting up the fire soon.

"As much as I would love to continue telling more about magic, reveling in the fact I'm not alone here in Forks, I planned on remembering my family today. If it isn't rude, I would like to be alone for it. I only found out last year my parents had died on Halloween which is a whole other painful story I'll tell soon." I explained.

The vampires took it very well and each gave me a goodbye as they walked out the door. Edward was last and reluctant to leave. Good thing he wasn't going to.

I reached out and tugged on his sleeve making him look down at me.

"You know...I wouldn't mind my boyfriend's company," I said lightly. He smiled and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"I'd be honored," he said. I heard the other Cullen's start driving away in their cars as he closed the door.

"How does this work?" he asked, a little lost as he watched me walk to the kitchen. I picked up the food and wine I had provided for tonight and walked back to the front door to open it and put it out by the porch. I cast a protection charm and notice-me-not charm over it so trick or treaters wouldn't go for it. I summoned the bowl of candy and set it out on the front stoop as well. I cast a compulsion charm on it so anyone going for candy wouldn't go for the whole bowl.

"This kind of remembrance is for people who practice the old ways. Yule and Samahan and all that. It's something I'm still learning but I got drawn to this and its simplicity. You leave offerings for those you have lost, usually food. Most have a bonfire but I don't have a set up for that so I'll be using my fireplace. You just...let the magic and energy flow through you and take the time to honor their memory. You don't have to be magical to remember those you have lost either so you can join me if you want." I offered

He looked a little conflicted before nodding.

"I would like to remember my mother," he requested. I gave him a small smile and kiss, relishing that I could do that now. and hopefully whenever i wanted.

With a wave of my hand the fireplace roared to life. Edward's eyes were wide.

"What was your mother's name? Can you remember?" I asked, unsure if he did. Sometimes memories in vampires weren't the best from when they were human.

"Elizabeth Masen. My father was Edward Sr. And my name was Edward Anthony Masen...Junior." he explained, a soft smile on his lips. I couldn't help but smile back.

"Can you remember your mother's favorite color?" I asked. He took a moment.

"Green. My eyes used to be green before I was changed." he said softly, sitting down next to me on the floor. Just like me. It gave an even deeper meaning to his answer from our conversation in the car last week.

I used my magic to put another log in the fireplace so it could burn brighter.

"Do you not ever use your wand?" he asked, curious.

"I did. Before. It's currently locked in a drawer. Wands chose the witch. And when I beat Tom at the battle, his wand became my own.`` I said, not wanting to go quite into the intricacies of the Elder Wand today.

"Ever since that day my magic comes to me so easily without one I just never bother to take it with me. Probably a poor decision ``I surmised at his look.

"Who are you remembering today?" he asked.

I settled down on the couch and he followed me, practically pressing up next to me.

"Mom. Dad. Sirius. Remus. Tonks. Snape. Moody. Fred. Cedric."

"Cedric?"

"He was a 7th year student. He was the one who had been brought to the ritual with me. Wrong place and wrong time...all that. He was a spare...so they killed him. He was the first death to mark Voldemort's second reign of tyranny." I said softly.

Edward slowly pulled me closer to him and wrapped his arms around me, holding me close.

"I didn't have a lot of contact like this growing up. Or with my friends. So this is nice." I said, cuddling closer to him. We stayed in relative silence until it became darker.

"Sirius once said to me, the ones who love us never truly leave us. They are always near." I said, pressing my hand against Edward's chest. He took it and placed a gentle kiss on it, continuing to hold it in his hand.

"My mother...from what I remember...she had those same types of sentiments too." Edward said, making me smile.

We spent the time the fire burned relaying stories. Stories of what he could remember of his mother and the stories I had of the people I was remembering tonight.

By the time the fire had died down I was far too comfortable to move.

"I'm afraid you might have to sleep with me again tonight." I joked. Edward smiled down at me.

"There's nothing I would want more."