I am alive! Just very busy. I am teaching full time, being a mother to two rambunctious pups, and I published a book! You can check it out at Amazon. Guardians: Dusk.

But I never stopped thinking about this story, so here is the next chapter!

CHAPTER 12

Harry was already exhausted after the stressful and emotional Diagon Alley. It was Edward, noticing his brain turning to mush, that halted the family's questions. Harry thought Thank you to his Uncle, and received a half-smile in reply.

"Oh Harry, you must be exhausted. We're sorry." Esme fretted, smoothing his hair back and kissing his head. Harry was too tired to pretend he didn't enjoy her affections, leaning in to his mother's touch.

"It's okay Mom. I know you're just", he interrupted himself with a huge yawn, "worried".

"Time to go to sleep." Carlisle said. Harry nodded and trudged up the stairs. His head was whirling, excitement and guilt warring in his head. But he could think about that later. For right now, his bed was calling to him.

——ACE——-

"He did it". Jasper said, relief evident on his face.

"I knew he would". Alice said confidently. "You couldn't see the future though". Emmett argued.

"But I believed in Harry". Alice said simply. Emmett smirked. "Of course! He is my favorite nephew, after all".

"He is your ONLY nephew." Bella said, her voice indicating this was an argument they had had many times before.

"I don't believe this changes any of our plans". Carlisle interrupted before Emmett could retort, bringing his family back on topic.

"Do you believe that Hagrid was genuine?" Edward questioned.

"I don't." Jacob snorted, crossing his arms. "They just want their 'savior' to like them." They had all read the "Harry Potter History" and were honestly disgusted by it. Harry, while wonderful, had been a baby. It was his mother who saved him. Her love intertwined with her magic and repelled the dark curse that would have taken his life. Carlisle, ever the empath, pointed out that being

outsiders gave them a unique perspective, but it was still strange to them that they treated a baby as a hero.

"I agree with the wolf. Ulterior motive". Rosalie stated. "And if Blondie is agreeing with me, we're probably right." Jacob added. Seth snickered.

Carlisle frowned. "I don't know. We have to remember that Dumbledore is a powerful political figure with a strong following. Hagrid could be being used, just like Harry. By Harry's description, if that really is his character he seems quite gullible, but kind hearted."

"It doesn't matter anyway. Plans still the plan." Leah said bluntly. "I'm heading out." Even after all this time, she still didn't like spending too much time with the Cullens. With the birthday yesterday and the meeting today, she was reaching her limit.

"She had a point." Bella said as the door shut behind Leah, having said her piece. "We let Harry go to Hogwarts. We hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. We have to believe in him." The family sat there for awhile, their worries for Harry evident on their faces. Questions that had no answers, plans that couldn't work flitted through their minds. But they had done everything they could to prepare Harry for this. Now they just had to be there for him if he fell, and support him as they always did.

—-ACE—-

The next few weeks flew by for Harry. He went to the football game with Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Sue. He practiced magic with Hermione and also made sure she didn't glue herself to her books and spent time outside with him and went to their karate classes. He spent time on his ATV and the only time he was almost injured was when he looked to his right and Carlisle was running next to him. He practically jumped out of his skin and Carlisle had to catch him, which was embarrassing and Emmett had yet to let him live down. He spent time with his school friends, and they threw a party for him where they played soccer and ate way too much junk food. He also got to play baseball with his family during a thunderstorm, which wasn't as fun because he didn't really get to play, but it was always great to see his family let loose a little.

Finally, September 1st rolled around, and it was time to go to Hogwarts. Poppy insisted on packing his trunk, but Esme lovingly packed his lunch. It didn't feel real until he was outside, waiting for Hermione's family to pick him up.

I have such a big family. Harry thought in wonder. He had come so far from the scared, scrawny boy under the stairs who wished for a hero to save him.

His hero stood with his arm wrapped around his wife's waist, a warm smile on his face. They didn't talk about plans. They didn't talk about warnings. They had gone over everything, and now was the time for everything to happen. Harry was officially going to enter the Wizarding World today. He would most likely meet Dumbledore. He would be Sorted into a house and

make new friends. He might even be separated from Hermione, though they agreed they would still hang out when they could. He would have to face being famous, which he knew would bug him to no end. He was just Harry Cullen-Potter. Well, just Potter for now. He had to remember that. Though he would always consider Carlisle and Esme his parents too, they were worried the Wizarding World would not take kindly to the idea that a family of vampires had raised their "savior".

He saw his family react as they heard the car approaching. He, of course, could hear nothing. But one by one they said their goodbyes, encouraging him to write to him via owl. They gave last bits of advice ("Punch the biggest guy as soon as you get there to assert dominance" from Uncle Emmett, followed by Uncle Edward saying "He's going to school Emmett, not prison"). Uncle Jasper reminded him to keep practicing his karate, and his simple "I'll miss you, Harry" meant a lot coming from his usually quiet Uncle. Aunt Rosalie told him not to be too much of a heart-breaker with a wink, causing Harry to blush and mumble incoherently that he wasn't a heartbreaker and that he didn't like girls like that yet; Seth adding in "or boys!" with a smirk. His Aunt Alice told him to call the house elves if he was ever in danger - she couldn't see his future inside Hogwarts because there was too much magical interference, and her frustration was evident on her face as well as her worry.

All too soon he had been shuffled back to Carlisle and Esme. Harry was getting used to having parents that loved him and were proud of him. They had all struggled to adapt to the new family dynamic, and there had been many ups and downs.

Harry was not a scared, attention-deprived, uninformed eleven year old with no friends. He was a confident, loved, strong and talented eleven year old with the best support system anyone could dream of.

Before he knew it, Uncle Emmett had put his trunk in the car, his parents hugged him and told him he loved him while he valiantly didn't cry (okay so maybe there were a few tears, but it was really windy), and he was in the backseat with Hermione and the newly dubbed Hedwig (from a name Hermione had read in her history book), waving as the Grangers drove away to the sound of howling wolves. "Those wolves sound close." Mrs. Granger commented. "I hope your family will be alright."

"They have it handled, Mrs. Granger." Harry promised, smiling.Hermione clung to her parents between platforms 9 and 10, her voice turning a blotchy red and she held back her sniffles.

"You take care of her, young man." Mr. Granger warned him, shaking his hand briskly.

"Daddy, I can take care of myself." Hermione said in an unconvincing, warbly voice as she dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

Hermione received hugs and kisses from her Mum and Dad, and then the Grangers stepped back to allow the magical children to enter into the Wizarding World.

"We're going to look pretty stupid if this doesn't work." Harry said casually, trying to hide his nerves.

"You first." Hermione said.

"Ladies first, actually." Harry countered good-naturedly. She took his arm in hers, and smiling asked, "Together?" And together the two friends walked through the stone wall.

Harry couldn't help his mouth from falling open slightly as the beautiful crimson train in front of him, steam blowing from the top and twisting through the crowds. He tightened his grip on Hermione's arm so they wouldn't get separated and walked briskly towards the train. They had arrived about half an hour early, and while it wasn't too packed yet, he wanted to make sure they got a compartment together. He self-consciously flattened his hair over his scar, and luckily no one seemed to notice him.

They made it onto the train and pretty quickly found a compartment with a slightly chubby boy their age with dark hair. "Do you mind?" Harry asked, gesturing to the seats across from him.

"Of course not. Here, let me help," the boy offered quietly as Harry moved to stow Hermione's trunk and then his own. Poppy had put a Feather-Weight charm on both trunks, so it took only a matter of seconds to get settled.

"I'm Hermione Granger." Hermione said, sticking out her hand. The boy shook it tentatively.

"Neville Longbottom."

Harry braced himself. "Harry Potter." As expected, the boy's eyes flicked to Harry's hairline, his eyes widening in recognition.

"Oh, you're - " Surprisingly, Neville cut himself off. "Sorry, I bet you get that all the time. Gran said you'd be on the train, and to not make a fool of myself." He added with a sheepish grin.

Harry shook Neville's hand and smiled back. "It's okay. I'll probably never get used to it." Neville chuckled. "I never would. Blimey, I get enough staring from my family. They didn't think I was magic, see. Wanted me to be a great wizard like my mum and dad, so they kept watching me for any signs. Took my Uncle throwing me out of a window for my magic to appear."

"Your Uncle threw you out a window?" Hermione asked, aghast.

Neville shrugged. "I bounced."

"I can't imagine my Uncles throwing me out a window." Harry said, and immediately regretted it. Well, that happened quickly. Way to go, Harry. "What is your family like?" Neville asked.

"Well…" Harry hedged, glancing at Hermione. She gave him a look that said, You got into this mess, now get yourself out of it. "It's complicated."

"Oh." Neville said, looking a little crestfallen.

"They um, they're kind of off the grid." Harry tried, not wanting to shut Neville out entirely. "They don't like the politics of the Wizarding World. So I was raised with my Mum's blood relatives, but also my other family took me in most of the time, so really it's just on paper I'm with my blood relatives, but my other family like I said wants to not really be noticed…" Harry fumbled.

"Complicated." Neville supplied helpfully. Harry grinned. It was awkward for a moment before Hermione saved them with, "Are you excited for school, Neville?"

They continued to talk happily for awhile about subjects they were excited for. Harry could see Hermione already mentally drawing up a study plan for Neville, who seemed terribly uncertain of himself. They spent some time teaching Neville to turn the light off in the compartment, and then lighting the tip of their wands in the dark. They bought candy from the trolley (despite Hermione reminding them that candy rots the teeth), and ate their lunches, which was for some reason absolutely hilarious in the dark.

It was only when Hedwig started hooting for a snack that Neville realized his toad was gone.

"Oh no, Trevor! What if I left him at the station?" Neville wailed.

"I saw him when we arrived, Neville, surely he is still on the train." Hermione assured him. "We can help you look."

"You…you would do that?" Neville asked, shocked. "Of course, that's what friends do, right?" Harry said casually. Neville's face lit up with so much joy that Harry promised to himself that if Neville wasn't in his house, he would still find time to hang out with him.

They started asking door-to-door, and no one had seen a wayward toad. They eventually reached a compartment with three red-heads and a dark-skinned boy. One of the red-heads was about their age, and was staring sullenly out a window with an uneaten sandwich in his hand, while the other three had their heads together and gave an air of planning something they shouldn't be planning. Harry heard, "But how would we get the toilet seat past Mum?" as they opened the door.

"Hello, have any of you seen a toad?" Hermione asked.

"Nope, sorry." The three boys chimed simultaneously. The other boy continued to stare out the window.

"We'll never find him." Neville said hopelessly as they turned to leave. Harry was about to, but his curiosity got the best of him.

"What are you doing with a toilet seat?" He asked. The three heads poked up and shared a quick glance with each other.

"Nothing a wee firstie has to worry about -

"Wouldn't want to taint the young minds of the future -

"Unless of course, you have any good ideas?" The two red-heads said rapidly. Harry, who was used to trying to distinguish vampire-speed speak, answered, "Well, if your Mum has a regular errand day or something she does each day, just send it then. Don't know why you're sending her a toilet seat though.

"Not her - "Our sister!

"Poor Ginny left home alone -

"Needs a Hogwarts toilet seat to remember us by.

"Good idea though -

"She always goes to market Thursday morning.

"Thanks, firstie!" They said in unison. The other boy seemed content to watch the twins speak, and the only contribution of the other red-head was to let out a long sigh.

"Sure thing," Harry said, bemused. He followed Hermione and Neville out the door, preparing himself for a short lecture from Hrmione about NOT helping people send toilet seats home, and was surprised to find the red-heads follow him out.

"Harry Potter, right?" One twin asked, pointing at his forehead. Harry realized his hair had moved to the side, and quickly moved to flatten it.

"So?" He said, somewhat defensively. The twins put their hands up in surrender.

"A tip for a tip - "Little Malfoy has been looking for Harry Potter -

"And since you seemed so nice to us -

"We recommend telling him to shove off." They said.

"Thanks for the tip," Harry said. They bowed and went back into their compartment.

"How do you follow what those two are saying?" Neville asked, impressed.

"My family talks fast." Harry said vaguely. "Neville, do you know who the Malfoys are?"

Neville shuddered. "Yes. Their family were followers of You-Know-Who. Gran says the patriarch bought his way out of jail. His son isn't too pleasant either. I've met him at a few parties - not many other kids our age - and he always goes on about blood purity and how great his father is and how he's going to be head of Slytherin, etc." Harry made a note to steer clear of him.

They eventually happened upon the prefect compartment, where another red-head (they were all Weasley's, Harry learned) used a spell to summon Trevor to them. On their way back to their compartment, they passed a blonde boy and two surprisingly bulky boys for their age.

He glanced at Neville, made a grimace, and turned towards the other two.

"Have either of you met Harry Potter? He's supposed to be on the train today." The blonde boy said. Harry noted his perfect posture and lofty voice and concluded that this was most likely the aforementioned Draco Malfoy. "He's not on the train." Harry said.

"Oh, and how would you know?" Draco asked pompously.

"He got private transport." Harry answered. "Dumbledore arranged it himself."

"It's true," Neville piped up, surprising Harry. "Gran told me that."

"Dumbledore." Draco scoffed. "Well, it doesn't matter. I'll just have to meet him then." And then he brushed past them with the two other boys and left.

"Harry, he's going to figure it out eventually." Hermione said disapprovingly.

"Oh come on 'Mione, it's harmless. And funny." Harry turned to Neville, holding out his fist. "Nice back-up Nev." Neville pressed his fist against Harry's, and Harry politely pretended not to notice Neville's eyes watering slightly.

"'Course." Neville sniffed. "We're friends right?"

"Exactly." Harry said, as Hermione rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Now, are you any good at Wizard's Chess? Hermione beats me most of the time and I'd love to see someone else take her down…"

There it is, Chapter 12! Next we have Sorting and classes. I don't know when that update will be, but thank you for all of your reviews and loyalty. It means to much to me. Again, please take the time to check out my book, Guardians: Dusk. It is a fantasy adventure with magic, friendship, and the classic light vs darkness struggle. Please check it out on Amazon!