Hey! Sorry I was so excited to post the last chapter I forgot to add an A/N
Basically, my life was extremely hectic with student teaching and working a part-time job and doing online classes so my passion for writing has been nil. But I have rediscovered it, so here we go!
Note: Once we're at Hogwarts, it'll have less of a recappy-feel. I will be making a one-shot series with stories of Harry growing up with the Cullens!
Also: I have never had a Beta but it has been pointed out I need one because I never read over my chapters because I am too excited to post them….oops. So….
BETA NEEDED PLEASE HELP ME 3
CHAPTER TEN
Harry Potter woke up on July 31st to Uncle Vernon's harsh slap against his door. "Time to get up boy. I want breakfast made before you go." Harry rolled his eyes as he sat up, placing his glasses on his face. After his big sister, Leah, had a talk with the Dursley's, his treatment had been much better. They still loaded him up with chores and tried to ignore his existence, as though a ghost had come through and done all the gardening and the cooking and cleaning. But the chores were manageable, and it wasn't like Harry was going to complain. If all he had to do to stay with his family was fry up some eggs and pull some weeds, it was definitely worth the trade off. Plus, he loved cooking with his mom and while the Dursley's weren't his favorite people, it wasn't going to put him off from making an amazing breakfast for his birthday.
He usually spent his entire birthday with the Cullens, but this year was special. He was turning eleven, and would soon receive his Hogwarts letter. He had actually been with the Dursley's for about a month this time, as his family had wanted to make sure he was visibly living with the Dursley's in case anyone came by to see him. Once he got his letter, Jacob and Renesmee would be picking him up and taking him to his birthday party.
His stuff was already packed and his clothes were laid out from the night before. He threw them on and spared a glance in the mirror at his appearance. He was still thin, he had more of a lean body than a skinny one. His dad had made sure he ate properly and encouraged Harry's natural athleticism. He was on the soccer team and he did martial arts, which one of the Pack generally took him to when he was living with the Dursley's. His hair had repelled Aunt Alice's best efforts to tame it, and still remained a messy black mop on his head. His eyes, always a striking green, reflected confidence and intelligence back at him. His scar stood out on his forehead, an eternal reminder of his first mother's sacrifice for him and her love. He wore clothes that actually fit him, a nice pair of light brown trousers and a dark green t-shirt with circling designs.
"Boy!" He heard shouted from downstairs, and he left the smaller bedroom and practically ran down the stairs to begin cooking. No one looked up when he entered the room or said thank you when he served a load of bacon, sausage and eggs for everyone. He served himself last, but he did get a proper portion and it was quite delicious, if he said so himself.
"Are you packed?" Uncle Vernon asked gruffly. Harry nodded. "Yes Uncle."
"Good, you can wait at the door." Translation: I don't want to see you anymore than I have to. Me either, Uncle. Harry thought back, shoveling the last of his eggs into his mouth. He went upstairs and got his things before heading back down. He saw Dudley snatching the mail as he walked down the steps, yanking his trunk behind him, and heading back into the kitchen. A few moments later, an envelope from the kitchen was thrown at his head, which he snatched with the cat-like reflexes he had developed. For a vampire, he was still pathetically slow, but living withg them as long as he had, he learned to move fast for a human (AKA Emmett throwing tennis balls at his head and then trying to convince Esme they were "playing catch").
Harry turned it over and read:
Mr. H Potter
Second Bedroom
4, Privet Drive
Little Whinging,
SURREY
Harry felt a grin split his face. Their plan worked! His letter did come to the Dursley address, which means the people in the wizarding world were none the wiser that he spent most of his time with the Cullens. And, he was going to Hogwarts!
He decided to wait to open his letter with his family, as he was sure they would be eager to see it. He knew Hermione would be eager to see him open it, as she had received her letter almost a year ago on her birthday. After much discussion, it had been agreed that since the Cullens didn't want to break any laws, they would not tell Hermione she was magical. Instead, with Hermione being such a brilliant young girl, they left clues and hints to her discovering the Leaky Cauldron itself.
After that, the Grangers and the Cullens became much closer in their combined eagerness to learn about the magical world and prepare their little girl for the world she would be entering.
Professor Minerva McGonagall, who had come to visit the Grangers when Hermione received her letter, had been quite surprised that they already knew about magic. After some careful questioning by William and Jean, it was discovered that they only visited houses who knew nothing about magic, so the Cullens wouldn't have to worry about anyone visiting Harry because Petunia knew about magic.
The Cullens had taken great care to not reveal their true nature to the Grangers. Edward kept them informed that the Grangers knew something was different about them, but William and Jean Granger had leaned more towards "if they don't want to talk about it, we won't ask". They also knew about the arrangement with the Dursley's, after years of seeing Harry being delivered to relatives he obviously didn't want to visit, and bringing their concerns to Carlisle and Esme. Hermione, on the other hand, had pursued the Cullen's secret with a vengeance, until Harry finally "caved" and admitted they were a type of magical creature, but she had to keep it secret otherwise they would have to leave as she would be putting them in great danger. Harry had felt bad lying to his friend, even if it had been a sort of half-truth, but it had been enough to get Hermione to stop her quest of knowledge. It wasn't perfect, but with the crazy situation they were all in it was the best they could do.
The Grangers had even transferred Hermione to be at the same school that Harry attended. All of the bullying stopped once the popular, kind-hearted and athletic Harry Potter stood up for the bookish, know-it-all Hermione Granger. Harry had even encouraged her to join the chess club and the debate club, and she had a small circle of friends outside of Harry. The Grangers were thrilled, and after doing all of that for their daughter they probably wouldn't have cared at all that the Cullens were vampires (but of course they weren't going to test that theory).
A knock at the door brought Harry out of his musings of how much life had changed. He eagerly opened the door to meet his brother. Tall and muscular, Jacob Black stood grinning at the door of Number 4, Privet Drive. His wild hair, dark skin, and the black tank top that prominently showed a La Push tattoo was very out of place in this neighborhood, but that didn't stop Harry from going "JAKE!" And launching himself into his arms.
Jacob caught him easily and spun him in a circle, setting him down on his feet and grabbing him by the shoulders.
"Sup, pup?" He greeted, his casual tone countered by the concern in his eyes as he quickly scanned Harry's form for any signs he had been mistreated in the week he had seen him.
"Hey Jake!" Harry said, wriggling in his grip until Jacob let go.
Renesmee stepped from behind Jacob, her petite form having been completely hidden by her boyfriend. She gently placed a hand on Harry's face and he saw the Cullen home and felt her excitement course through him. "I'm excited to go home too," He responded. He turned to get his things but Jacob was already there, lifting the trunk that Harry had struggled with with ridiculous ease.
Renesmee skipped down the steps as Harry closed the door behind them and rushed to the car. Jacob threw his trunk in the boot and got into the driver's seat, and they were on their way.
-ACE-
Arabella Figg watched Harry leave with the tall Native-American looking man and the gorgeous brunette from her window. She saw them, and a few others that looked more like the Native American, come around Privet Drive to take Harry to some kind of sport lesson every once in a while. Harry had been going to that private school the Dursley's sent him off to for a few years now. Dumbledore assured her as long as Harry lived with the Dursley's and kept going back to visit them, the wards would hold. The owl had dropped off Harry's letter this morning, so it had been received. That's all she could report to Dumbledore for now.
-ACE-
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore sat in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, reading the latest update from Arabella Figg about Harry Potter.
Soon Harry...too soon, you will have to fulfill the prophecy. Albus sighed as he rolled up the paper. When Arabella had first informed him of the private school, he had been a bit worried. He knew it was cruel to make Harry live with relatives that didn't want him, but as long as Harry was safe, that was all that mattered. Lily Potter's blood wards were the safest wards Harry could live under, so that is where he needed to be. That being established, Albus could see even more benefits from Harry living with the Dursley's. With no knowledge of magic, or very little if Petunia ever told him anything, and a craving for attention along with a strong desire to form positive relationships and a strong work ethic, Harry would become the perfect molded warrior for the Light. So when the Dursley's sent him off to a private school, he had been worried about Harry branching out and forming close relationships with people outside of the magical world.
Luckily, the only people who ever seem to visit Harry are what Arabella thinks are instructors from the school to take him to lessons. Some sort of athletics program, which Albus was fine with. After all, most Quidditch players at Hogwarts are very popular, and Harry needed to be popular and well-known to be a figurehead of the Light when the time came.
He would have to send Hagrid to take Harry to get his school supplies. He would send him tomorrow, as Harry would surely be feeling left out on his birthday, and Hagrid would be eager to cheer him up. Hagrid had no idea how to do anything subtly, and his big heart and desire to befriend "poor Harry" would make him a perfect candidate to introduce Harry to the wizarding world. Hagrid would most likely let slip he was guiding Harry Potter around Diagon Alley, which would probably make the front page of the Daily Prophet. Then he would plant the seeds for Harry's first test against Voldemort….The Philosopher's Stone.
-ACE-
Jacob stopped about a half a mile from the Cullen house, which was still shrouded from view through the trees. He and Renesmee both got out of the car and Harry followed, somewhat confused.
Renesmee slipped into the driver's seat and pulled away, leaving both Jacob and Harry by themselves.
"What's going on?" Harry asked, confused. He heard heavy footsteps around him, and turned to see he was surrounded by four gigantic wolves of varying colors. Jacob smiled at him.
"Now, we know that eleven isn't a usual coming of age time." Jacob began. "But you're going to be leaving for that magic school of yours, and the Pack can't come and protect you." At these words he heard the unhappy growls of his brothers and sister. Harry opened his mouth to interrupt that he wouldn't need protecting, only to have his mouth covered by Jacob's giant hand. Harry tried to pull it from his face, making muffled unhappy noises as the wolves changed from growling to chuckling until Harry gave up, crossing his arms unhappily.
"As I was saying," Jacob continued, leaving his hand in place much to Harry's chagrin, "We won't be there. But the Pack is more than distance, or physical contact. And you may not be a descendant of crazy, shapeshifting spirit dudes, but you are Pack. So we made you this for your birthday." Harry's eyes widened in shock as Jacob produced a necklace from his pocket. Hanging from the chain was the Quileute family symbol, the same tattoo that Jacob had on his shoulder. It was painted with the colors of the wolves' fur that surrounded him, and the middle was an emerald green exactly the shade of Harry's eyes.
"Jake…" Harry whispered, his throat full of emotion. The Cullens were his family, with his aunts and uncles and mom and dad. But the Pack were his brothers and sisters, and while he had always seen them that way, they were truly acknowledging him as one of their own, despite not being related by blood. Jacob hung the necklace around his neck and pulled him in for a hug, his burning body making it a completely different experience from hugging the Cullens but filled with just as much love. His Pack circled around him, nuzzling him happily until Seth licked him from his neck all the way to his hair, causing Harry to yell "GROSS!" and try to wipe the wolf slime from his person and Seth, Embry and Quil to laugh wolf chuckles. Leah body checked Jacob and lowered herself to the ground next to Harry. Recognizing the position, Harry grabbed a fistful of fur and swung himself on top.
"RACE YOU THERE!" He hollered, and Leah took off running. He heard Jacob's shout of "HEY!" Turn into howl as he transformed mid-leap to try and catch up to Leah, the rest of the Pack scrambling to catch up. Harry laughed in delight and then did his best attempt to howl with the Pack as they raced all the way to the Cullen house. When it came into sight, he was caught off-guard as a white blur tackled him off of Leah's back as she skidded to a halt. The blur moved easily and Harry somehow managed to find himself standing upright and undamaged with cold hands covering his eyes despite the speed at which he had been tackled.
"You didn't see anything did you?" The clear, twinkling sound of his Aunt Alice demanded.
"Only my life flashing before my eyes." Harry complained, his heart still pounding from the wild ride.
"They say when that happens you see your favorite person. You saw me obviously, right?" Aunt Alice asked him as she began to guide him forward.
"No, I saw everyone that didn't tackle me off of a moving wolf. Who does that?!" Harry demanded, stumbling slightly over the ground. He could see once again as Alice's face was suddenly in front of him, her golden eyes looking hurt. "You don't really mean that, do you Harry?" Alice asked anxiously. Harry couldn't resist those eyes for a second and immediately replied, "No, Aunt Alice. You're my favorite aunt forever and ever." Just as she had taught him. Then he realized his Aunt Rosalie and Aunt Bella could probably hear him and winced. Oh well.
Aunt Alice laughed and then his eyes were covered again as he was led around the house.
He couldn't hear anything, so he wasn't sure how long they had to walk until his eyes were uncovered and he heard a bunch of people yell, "SURPRISE!" He looked around excitedly at his family. They had a balloon arch with the words "Happy Birthday Harry" interwoven in the balloons. There was a giant picnic table laden with gifts and a huge cake with sparklers on it. There was another table that looked to be buckling under the amount of food laid on top of it. Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Sue, the Pack (now in human form, of course) and all of the Cullens were standing on the lawn.
"Happy Birthday son," Carlisle Cullen said. He looked, of course, exactly the same as when Harry had first seen him, but the pride and happiness in his eyes and the way he said son always filled Harry with joy. He accepted the offered hug happily, and then was hugged by Esme as well.
"Happy Birthday son," she also said, her voice breaking slightly.
"Mom, don't be sad!" Harry said, alarmed. Carlisle put his arm around her waist as Esme smiled at him.
"Don't worry about me Harry, you know how I get. Go blow out your candles!" She urged. Harry was pulled away from his concern for his mother as Hermione dragged him away to the cake.
The next few hours were a whirlwind of fun and mayhem. Alice certainly knew how to throw a party, and Esme and Carlisle had become excellent cooks, especially with Popsy and Nilly helping to guide them. Harry did open his Hogwarts letter and it got passed around to everyone. They had already done their shopping earlier when Hermione had received her list, but they could now get Harry's wand, which was the plan for tomorrow. Hermione(with her parents' help) had bought him a wizard's chess set so they could play together at Hogwarts. Charlie and Sue had purchased tickets to a football match the week before he would leave to Hogwarts to take him to. Charlie had, as always, been left on a "need-to-know" basis about the whole situation. But at some point he had started to fill in the grandfather role, because as he said "I don't know much about this whole adopting you business. But you're part of the family and you actually grow like a normal boy, and every boy needs a grandpa to teach him how to fish and do sports and spoil him rotten, so here I am." Harry liked Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Sue a lot, and thanked them profusely for the tickets. To think, he had started out life as Harry Potter, a boy who lived in the cupboard, had no friends and lived with an aunt, uncle and cousin who despised him.
Now he had parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, grandparents, friends and magic! It was a dream come true, and Harry was thankful for it every day. After saying goodbye to everyone who didn't live at the house (which was just him, Carlisle, Esme, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett), he was surprised when Uncle Jasper pulled him aside. Popsy and Nilly went about cleaning up the leftovers, and everyone else seemed to have disappeared.
"A gift for you." Jasper said, handing him a large box.
"Uncle Jasper, you already got me a gift," Harry said, confused. Jasper had bought him Potions for Fun! Jasper had become very interested in the subject of potions, and why they react one way or the other and how some ingredients are magical and some could be found in the human or "muggle" world. Since being in Diagon Alley wasn't nearly as painful for Jasper as any other shopping place on Earth, Jasper, Alice and Harry had actually visited quite often.
"Well, I'm getting you another one. Will that be a problem?" Jasper could be quite intimidating when he wanted to be, and if Harry wasn't sure Jasper loved him he would probably be attempting to run for the hills.
"Nope, no problem Uncle Jasper!" Harry squeaked.
"Good!" The sudden fear vanished as quickly as it had come, and Harry leveled Jasper with his best annoyed glare to show he didn't approve of Jasper using his powers on him, to which Jasper just shook the box he was still holding at him. Harry took the box and tore about the brightly colored paper with "Happy Birthday!" written all over it. He took out his brand new pocket knife that Uncle Emmett had given him (complete with a screwdriver, scissors, and other assorted useful tools) and opened the taped cardboard box. Inside it was a dark green, thickly padded motorcycle helmet with knee and elbow pads.
"Wicked!" Harry exclaimed. Before he could even fathom what it could be for, a loud rumbling noise met his ears. He ran around the side of the house to see Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Alice and Emmett all standing by an ATV. Harry stared at it in awe.
"Now, we do expect you to watch a safety video, read all of the instructions, and save all the crazy tricks for when you're older." Esme cautioned.
"But you said you like to go fast, and since you can't drive yet…" Carlisle nodded toward the vehicle.
"It's...so cool." Harry breathed.
"We expect you to use this responsibly, Harry." Esme continued. "You've been very good and we think you're ready for this responsibility. But if it's too much for you, we will take it away." Harry nodded eagerly, running his hands over the smooth leather seat and handlebars. "Yes ma'am!"
"And I will be supervising the safety video and going over all of the great stories I have from the hospital about similar aged young boys taking ridiculous risks!" Carlisle interjected cheerfully.
"Okay." Harry, a little less enthusiastically but still happy about the amazing gift. He gave his parents another hug. "Thank you guys!" His mom and dad pulled him in close.
"You're welcome. Happy Birthday Harry."
-ACE-
Harry was pretty tired after the events of the day, with the long car ride and then the party. He was surprised to be jolted awake by Aunt Alice. "Harry, I'm sorry to wake you, but you need to be awake right now." Harry rubbed his eyes blearily and read the time. 11:55pm. He had only been asleep for an hour.
"What's up?" The next thing he knew he was downstairs, his already ruffled hair even more tangled from the ride. His family didn't move him around like that often, but Alice seemed to be impatient. The rest of the family was gathered around the table, Uncle Edward and Aunt Bella included.
"Harry, Alice has had a vision. Someone is coming to visit tomorrow." Carlisle explained grimly.
"Who?" Harry asked, confused.
"I don't know!" Alice said, frustrated. "I can sort of see you Harry, through interference, because you're still human. Your magic just gives me a headache. But tomorrow is completely blacked out. I thought for a second…" Alice trailed off and Harry understood. Usually, if Alice can't see someone's future, they don't have a future. "But then I looked further and you were back home with us."
"We think someone from the Wizarding World is going to visit you tomorrow." Carlisle explained.
"Do I need to go back to the Dursley's?" Harry asked. He tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice, but from the looks from his family, he didn't succeed.
"It's just for one day. We'll pick you up right after." Carlisle assured him. He moved around the table and laid a hand on Harry's head.
"You're going to have to not mention us Harry." Uncle Jasper said. "At all."
"I know." They had gone over these kinds of scenarios before, in case a wizard popped up unexpectedly. Harry had even practiced Occlumency. It was hard to get his thoughts in order, but Edward had told him he could at least keep thoughts from rising to the surface, so at a cursory scan no one would know anything about his family.
"Aunt Bella has already packed your overnight bag." Bella handed him a bag decorated with soccer balls, and hugged him tightly.
"I know how much it sucks to keep secrets. And how weird this can all be." Bella told him gently. "You're going to do great."
Carlisle had his keys in hand, and after saying their goodbyes, he and Harry got in his car and drove into the night.
"What if I mess up?" Harry asked anxiously.
"You won't. And if you do, we've been careful not to break any of the laws we have read. Technically, you do live with the Dursley's. You just visit us often. Hopefully, if you do slip, nothing bad will happen."
"But what if it does?" Harry asked. "What if I say something and they do something terrible to you?"
"Then we will handle it when it happens. Remember Harry, the moment I discovered you, our family was at risk. You've done us a favor being with us and keeping us secret. Plus, we have been in fights before. I think we can handle ourselves." Carlisle assured him. Harry huffed. Carlisle was just so kind. Him, doing them a favor? If they had just wanted Harry to protect them when he got older and use him to get into the magical world, they wouldn't look at him the way Esme does when she tucks him into bed or when she hands him his lunch to go to school. They wouldn't sit with Harry and help him figure out how to do his homework or bandage his skinned elbows when he fell out of trees. The Cullens had been completely honest with them, and the thought of his father doing something just for personal gain...out of the question.
Silence stretched on for a few more minutes before Harry quietly admitted, "I wanted to get my wand with you." Carlisle placed a hand on Harry's head for a moment. "I wanted to go with you as well. But, if this is someone from the Wizarding World, it would be good for you to be friends with them. Besides, it's not like they're purposely taking you away from us." Harry scowled at the window, still unhappy with the circumstances.
"At least they're doing you a favor by not making you shop with the Dursley's."
The image of trying to shop in Diagon Alley with the Dursley's was both horrifying and hilarious. "I think they would implode." Harry said seriously. Carlisle chuckled slightly.
"You'll be back before you know it." Carlisle promised him. Harry nodded and then yawned, leaning against the car window. "Try to get some sleep." Carlisle urged. "I'll stay up with you." Harry insisted, fighting his slipping eyelids stubbornly. The next thing he knew, he felt the car pulling into Privet Drive and his father gently shaking him awake. "I'll go deal with the Dursley's, you go grab your bag. I'll tell them you're just staying in your room and then you'll leave as soon as your escort arrives. If anything bad happens, and Harry, I mean anything, you call Popsy to take you to us. Understand?" Carlisle said seriously, staring deep into Harry's eyes.
"I promise Dad." Harry agreed. Carlisle pulled him into a tight hug and then left the car. A few moments later as Harry was pulling out his overnight bag he saw the light in his aunt and uncle's bedroom window light up. He wasn't sure how Carlisle managed to make Harry arriving at 3am and a witch or wizard appearing in the morning to take him shopping seem like a good idea, but the light switched off and Carlisle appeared back downstairs.
"I think you're magic." Harry commented, rubbing one eye blearily. Carlisle just gave him a half-smile and pulled him into a hug.
"I love you Harry. Be safe." Carlisle said. Harry hugged him back. "I will. Love you too. See you tomorrow." Carlisle let go and watched as Harry got into the house, making sure to lock the door behind him. He looked out the window to see Carlisle pulling away, and with a heavy sigh he headed to his bedroom to prepare for the next day.
We get to see Hagrid next chapter! I am excited to get Harry to Hogwarts! There will also be more about Hermione once we start going to Hogwarts and references to their friendship and such. What do you guys want to see? Are you excited? See you guys next time! Remember, there is a poll on my profile about what house Carlisle should be in!
-Hatakefire