Chapter 16

Birthday Plan


September 7th, 1977

"Bella, we have to do it!" Alice was persistent.

"And I told you already, that it's a stupid idea and neither I nor Edward care about that!" I wasn't giving up.

"But it's your birthdays! Your actual Birth-Days! I was fine not celebrating any birthdays for a long time, can you just give me this time! I can do joint birthday parties for you both, I don't even ask for two separate ones!"

It was 1977. The year both Edward and I were born. His birthday was on the 11th, while mine was on the 13th. My little sister was adamant about the idea that this must be celebrated. Her point was always: "That kind of thing doesn't happen! It's a magical miracle!"

Alice was sure that all the miracles had to be celebrated. We never celebrated our birthdays, we were so old, it didn't matter. So, what if another year has passed, we haven't aged at all. We got each other gifts, cars, watches, and broom kits for the boys and Rosalie, but there were never any celebrations. That's until the girls were born. We celebrated their birthdays every year and Alice went all out, getting decorations, flowers, cakes, everything really so they could feel more human. It made sense because they were still growing until recently and they were still in school. I loved seeing them so happy unwrapping their gifts and Emmett pushing their faces in their birthday cakes.

For the past 4 years, they had to celebrate their birthdays in Hogwarts, which saddened me a lot. Of course, with their auntie Alice being so organized, they still got a huge party when they came over the winter break, but it wasn't the same. Not only because it wasn't their actual birthday, but also because they grew up…a lot. They looked much older than regular 4th years, having reached their full maturity last year. They were supposed to be only 14, turning 15 in a couple of months, yet they looked as old as Edward and me. They both weren't tall though, having just a couple of inches on me, which helped mask their rapid growth.

Speaking of medical wonders, Carlisle was now fully working in St. Mungo's hospital after spending a few months as an intern, learning how to treat wizards and witches. He seemed to be enjoying the opportunity to learn so many new things and often asked me for advice on some potions that he could brew. More advanced ones that required the use of a wand weren't accessible to him. But we were all really proud of him, he managed to make people around him believe that he was a squib. No one even knew about him being a vampire. Since he was still considered Savi's and Nessie's father to the rest of the world, it made their lives easier.

Savi sent me letters every day, Nessie forgot sometimes, but at least they were together, and I knew they were safe. Savi wrote in her letters that Nessie joined the Quidditch team and spent a lot of time with Phoebe Dawson, Uncle James, and my father as well as the rest of her teammates. Of course, Savi was invited to all of their get-togethers. I liked that both my girls got to know their grandfather. Savi also mentioned that she spoke with my mother a few times at Hogsmeade last year, while Renee was on a double date with my dad and Lilly and James. I learned a lot about her from my daughters, like the fact that she was…is outgoing, spontaneous, and quick to jump on any new activity. I understood why my dad fell in love with her. I also knew how hard their lives became this year, with them both still in school and having me at the same time. Renee would have to miss this school year to stay home with a child until dad graduates next spring and can take over the parenting.

"Bella?" Alice asked. "Earth calls to Bella!"

I shook my head, stopping myself from thinking about the tough next few years for my parents.

"Just give in," Rose spoke, coming downstairs. "You know she won't stop bugging you about it."

"But you understand how ridiculous this is, right?" I whined to my other sister.

"Oh, yes, a hundred percent." Rose rubbed my shoulder in support. Alice huffed.

"It's not ridiculous. I'm not asking to throw a party for your regular birthday, I am asking to throw a party for your actual Birth-Day!" She spoke the last words separately.

"If Edward says yes, then fine." I gave up. Alice jumped in one place before running off to her room. I had to know my husband wouldn't be an issue to our pixie sister. He always gave up faster than I did. "Nothing grand, Alice, we are still in hiding!" I raised my voice to make sure she listens to the words I was saying.

"Do you have any plans for today?" Rose asked.

"Not really, you have any ideas?" I asked.

"Well, I just got a few nail polishes, I wanted to see how they would look." She shook her shoulders.

"Care if I join you?" I asked.

"Not at all."

Our new house…well mansion was humongous, too big even for a family of ten. On the first floor, there was a large living room space, kitchen, dining room, five rooms that we made into the library, Carlisle's office, Esme's workshop, storage room and the game room. The second floor had three bedrooms and two other rooms, one of which Alice used as her second closet and the other was given to Jasper. We all knew Alice's enthusiasm could get out of control sometimes, and Jazz being her mate and an empath at the same time, it could be especially tiring for him. No one was really sure what that room looked like or what he did in there, even Alice wasn't permitted to enter it. One of the bedrooms was Carlisle's and Esme's, the other one belonged to Jasper and Alice. The third bedroom was there in case we had some guests coming over. The third floor had 6 bedrooms, mine and Edward's, Rose's and Emmett's, Savi's, Nessie's, and two for the guests.

My favorite room in the house was located on the fourth floor. Esme made it into sorts of a greenhouse. It was always warm there and smelled like different kinds of flowers. This room was her biggest project and required a big financial investment that our family business gladly gave her. She started off by tearing apart the roof and breaking walls on half of the fourth floor. Esme put new walls, separating the entire fourth floor in half – one staying covered by the roof, the other taking shape of a dome. She put glass windows around the whole area instead of walls and a roof. Rose and Savi helped her get flowers and other plants from the store, while Emmett, Edward, and I were building a little pond in the middle of the room. The greenhouse pond reminded me of the one on Isle Esme and brought a lot of memories.

After we finished building it, it looked like a magical oasis. So different from the rest of the house, but somehow still in the theme with everything else. It was warm, smelled nice, and the pond water mirrored the stars from the glass ceiling at night. In my head, that was the definition of a safe haven.

Rose and I went into her room, and she grabbed a few nail polishes out of her drawer. We set on the floor. She took my hand in hers and I gave her a light pink polish.

"How are you doing?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I just thought. Time is running by so fast. It feels like only yesterday it was the 1930s and yet 40 years have passed already. You are getting very close to your original time." She gave me a cautious look and quickly turned her attention to putting the nail polish on one of my thumbs.

"I guess I'm a little nervous. For the longest time, I've lived knowing exactly what is waiting for me. You know, coming back from the 'dead'…" I quoted with my hands. "…helping Harry defeat Voldemort, but it was all so far away in the future. I didn't have to worry about how I will actually do that, but now…"

"Now you think you need to start creating a plan?" She guessed.

"Yeah, and I don't even know how to start." I sighed. "I mean, Dumbledore knows about Edward and me being alive, but nobody else does. All our friends have mourned us, I don't even want to imagine what Harry is going through…" I shook my head. "Or will be going through. It will be at least another year for him after my 'death' until he turns 17 and will no longer be under the protection. I don't even know if anyone has a plan for when that happens."

"Maybe Dumbledore does?" Rose wondered.

"Maybe, but even then…I don't know what the future looks like, Alice can't see anything yet since Harry isn't born yet. I can't start planning when I don't have any information."

Rose was in thought, putting the second layer of nail polish on my nails.

"I guess I've asked too soon." She smiled at me sadly.

"Why don't you ask me the same question in 19 years?" I chuckled a little.

"You think you'll have an answer then?" She asked.

"Probably not, but I'm sure you guys will help me figure it out." I reached to hug her, but she stopped me.

"If you think I'll let you ruin these amazingly well-done nails…" Rose jokingly threatened me. We both chuckled at that.

"You're right, they do look amazingly well-done." I looked over my nails to see there was no imperfection in them, no polish went beyond the nails. "Your turn."

Rose gave me a bright red color and I started working on her nails.

"I've missed us doing things together," Rose said. "Ever since Alice joined, you completely abandoned our shopping trips."

"I thought you preferred Alice as your shopping buddy," I whispered.

"Oh, don't get me wrong." She giggled. "Alice is a lot better at this role than you are, but Bella, those trips were for us to spend time together. I never had any sisters as a human, I like having them in my life now. I'm not saying that you should go shopping with Alice and I, but we could find something to do together, all three of us."

"Like what?" I asked.

"Well, we all like speed, there is a motocross in Glasgow, maybe we could go there sometime." She offered.

"You know my dad had a bike." I felt my lips form a huge smile on my face.

"Really? Have you ever driven it?"

"No, he always said it was too dangerous, but I'm unbreakable now." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Perfect." Rose smiled. "Alice!"

The little pixie ran into the room a second later and handed me an envelope.

"Early birthday gift from Alice and me," Rose explained. "Tickets and bike rentals."

"Is that why you pushed me to accept Alice's party?" I exclaimed and shook my head at them. "You guys are making me insane!"

"That's what sisters do." Alice high-fived Rose, carefully not to smudge her nail polish. And we all chuckled at the same time.


"Happy Birthday, Bells!" Emmett roared and bear-hugged me.

"Did you know that people who have the most birthdays live the longest?" I chuckled at his confused expression. "Are you mind-blown yet?"

I waited for him to get what I was saying. Emmett's face came to a realization a second later.

"You know, regular people would just say 'thanks'." He smirked at me.

"Are you calling me names on my birthday?" I shook my head smiling. "So rude of you."

I just finished hunting and was planning to go to the shower before Alice's party would start. She didn't reveal what time it will happen as she was waiting for a vision to come. She was focused on the idea of starting the party only when she sees Renee give birth to me.

We decided to have the joint Birthday party on the 13th, well decided was a big word. I lost a bet to Edward, and his wish was for the celebration to be on my birthday. Not that he didn't get a present from me on his because he did…a lot of presents, in different positions…

"Happy Birthday, love," Edward whispered to me when Emmett let me go, getting me out of the perfect memories that we made on his birthdays.

"Are you my present?" I whispered back before his lips met mine in a passionate embrace.

Later in the morning, we saw Lightning coming through the window and I went to untie the letters from its leg. He gratefully beaked me in my hand for the water and food that I left out and I opened one of the letters. I looked at the rest of the family, except for Carlisle who was at work.

"Happy Birthday, mom! Sirius…Or grandpa. Still weirds me out to call him that! Well, he just got an owl saying Renee…grandma went into labor this morning, so not so much time left until you're born. He looks nervous, I'm worried he might puke right at the table. I bet with James that the kid is going to be a girl, and I'm one hundred percent sure I'm winning this bet!" We all laughed at the last sentence.

"That's my niece!" Emmett spoke proudly.

"Hey! Not only yours!" Jasper interfered.

"They just decided that James and Lilly will be your godparents. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow, Sirius…grandpa…whatever is planning to visit Renee and…well you. Hope you guys have a lot of fun at the party. Happy Birthday, mom! I love you all! -Ness." I finished reading.

"Open the one from Savi!" Esme was smiling, I did exactly that.

"Happy Birthday, mom! I wish you all the best on this special day! I wish I could be there with you to celebrate. It is a little strange to think that today is your actual Birth-Day…"

"Ha!" Alice jumped from the couch. "See, I'm not the only one who thinks it's a special birthday."

"We get it, sis. You said the exact thing two days ago when I read out Savi's letter for me." Edward chuckled.

"Just proving my point again." She smiled an 'I-told-you-so' smile.

"Keep reading, love."

"Grandpa Sirius is nervous but very excited for you to come to this world. Ness and James bet if you would be a girl or a boy. I told her to bet 10 galleons on it, so I think we'll be fine without you sending us money for the next Hogsmeade trip."

"That's my niece!" Emmett repeated.

"Our niece." Jasper corrected him again.

"What are you both talking about?" Alice asked both. "Rose and I helped bring money to the family, you two, on the other hand, just make us lose it."

I laughed out loud at Emmett's and Jasper's upset faces. I saw Carlisle and Esme trying to hold their laughs, but they couldn't and soon the whole family was laughing. After a few moments, my two brothers joined us, sending two pillows in Alice's face.

"Idiots." She sighed with love.

"I help Remus study for the N.E.W.T.s now. I thought it was strange that he asked me since I'm only in my fourth year and the fact that he keeps sniffing me when he thinks I'm not looking, I wonder if he might guess that we're also not just regular witches. Despite what I said, I don't want you to worry about it, if he finds out, I'll make him keep mine and Nessie's secret by telling him we know about his. That is all the news that I have. Happy Birthday, mom! I send you and the rest of the family all my love!"

"She is definitely more independent than I want her to be." Edward shook his head.

"She's a grown woman now." I agreed, not able to hide a hint of sadness in my voice.

"Ah!" Alice shouted and I saw her eyes lose their focus. She squeaked after a second. "It's the time!"

The room lost its original look in just a few minutes, it seemed like Alice had everything ready to take out and put in place, balloons, hats, and blowouts. Edward and I were both wearing the biggest hats that had 'Birthday Boy' and 'Birthday Girl' written on them respectively. The noise levels in the house grew drastically when Emmett got his blowout. The rest of the family got theirs as well.

"About 30 seconds, Bell!" Alice exclaimed, her eyes once again losing their focus.

Everyone's eyes were on her now, we waited for her to start the countdown. I felt a little excited now. I guessed Jasper couldn't help but spread Alice's own excitement towards everyone in the room.

"And five, four, three, two, one!" Alice was the first one to hug me. "Happy Birthday!"

"Thanks, sis." I chuckled.

I heard several people blowing in their blowouts at the same time and couldn't help but smile. I wished my girls would be here with us as well, but this would do.

"See! I told you you would like the party!" Alice came up to me hours later, after we cleaned up the house from all the balloons and all other decorations.

"You are such an annoying creature." I shook my head but smiled at my little sister.

"A creature?" She chuckled.

"Creature," I repeated lovingly, giving her a tight hug.

A loud pop made me jump. I would be able to distinguish its nature even if I was still able to sleep, apparation. A tiny heartbeat, not quite as fast as my girls' ones but still somehow still sounding like a hummingbird.

"What the hell is that?!" Alice jumped off me and took a step back, I turned my head around slowly to see who the strange heartbeat belonged to.

There, he stood, considerably smaller than a human with his bulbous, snout-like nose, bloodshot eyes, many folds of skin, and white hair growing out of his bat-like ears.

"What are you doing here?" I asked with disbelief.

"Kreacher was summoned by the Black, Kreacher always comes when the Black calls." The elf grunted with a frown. "Even if it's the blood-traitor's daughter. Oh, my dear Mistress will be so ashamed of Kreacher for coming here." The last part he said under his nose, so I wouldn't hear him.

"Kreacher, I didn't call you here and you are forbidden to tell anyone that you saw me," I said in a panic.

"You spoke Kreacher's name, Kreacher has come." He spoke with a bit of anger. "Dark creature commanding Kreacher, Kreacher won't take it. Blood-traitor's daughter, a disgrace to the family." He kept mumbling.

"You know what I am?" I asked.

"Oh, Kreacher has known for a long time. Kreacher sensed you for decades, Isabella Marie." His response left his mouth forcefully, I guessed I still had some control over him.

"Kreacher, go back home, do not tell anyone that you saw me, not one living soul can know about this." I gestured between him and me.

"As you command."

"And Kreacher, if I need you, I will call your name twice," I told him and saw his eyes squint in hatred. With another loud pop, he disappeared.

"What in the actual hell was that?" Alice screamed; her brows raised in shock.

"My house-elf, Kreacher." I sighed. "A sweetheart, isn't he?"

"He's so…so…" Alice started. "…so rude. All the things he said about you and your dad."

"He's old, very old and has been in my family for decades now. No one really knows when he was born, but his views on blood purity are the same as most of the pureblood families." I sighed. "He used to be friendly to me when I was young. Not at first, but after a year or so after my dad and I moved into Grimmauld place, we had quite a good relationship. Now when he knows what I became…or will become it's definitely not going to happen."

"I thought I'm the psychic in the family." Alice tried to cheer me up. "And either way, future changes so often, none of us can know for sure what will happen to Kreacher."

And then it hit me. The plan started making itself in my head and it seemed like the only thing that I was missing all this time was Kreacher. Alice was right, none of us knew what would happen to us in the future, but she was wrong too. I knew exactly what would happen to Kreacher in 1996. My father and I were the last Blacks, the last ones to still own the name and thus own Kreacher. I knew what my dad put in his will; I knew what I put in mine…

"Bella?" Alice asked concerned.

"I think I just figured out exactly what we are going to do in 1996." I breathed out and looked at my sister.

This plan was so easy, and I wanted to punch a wall blaming myself for not figuring it out sooner.

"I don't see anything," Alice spoke.

"Maybe that's because Harry isn't born yet." I guessed.

"Then will you tell me what we are doing?" She asked a little frustrated. Alice got like that whenever she didn't know what was going to happen, but someone else did.

"Let's call up a family meeting, I would rather not repeat the plan to everyone separately."

I sent Thunder with a letter to St. Mungo's for Carlisle and let everyone else know that I came up with a plan on how to get back to the wizarding world. Edward was dying to know what that plan included, so I took my shield and played the plan in my thoughts.

"Brilliant! How did we not think about that earlier?" He whispered to me.

"We were pretty occupied to think about what happens to my belongings in case of my death." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Hey! It's not fair! I want to know too!" Alice pouted.

"Patience, darlin'." Jazz rubbed her shoulders.

Carlisle came back around eight in the evening, and we all gathered in the dining room. Carlisle at the head of the table, with Esme to his right and Rosalie to his left. Emmett sat between Rose and Edward. I sat at the other head of the table with Alice on my left. Jasper sat in between his mate and Esme. Everyone stared at me, and I tried to figure out how to start talking. I was never good at big speeches and never liked being the center of attention. Funnily enough, my husband didn't seem to mind the second and was very good at the first. Opposites attract, I guessed.

I felt Edward's hand squeeze mine under the table and he nodded at me. This was his way of saying that he was right there if I wanted him to take over.

"Well, this afternoon, after the party was over, Alice and I were talking, and I called her 'creature'. Funnily enough, my family has a house-elf whose name is Kreacher, same pronunciation, but different spelling. The elf thought I was calling for him, so he apparated to the house." I started. "I told him not to tell anyone that he saw me, and I doubt he will because he has sensed me for decades and no one still knows. Besides that, he can't go against my order, since I'm still technically a Black at this time."

"That's great news, sweetie, but how is that connected to your plan?" Esme asked.

"See, Edward and I married before we were technically born, so I am still a Black until I marry Edward again in the future. Which means I still have control over him until then." I explained. "However, when I 'die' in 1996, he will be given to another wizard."

"That seems like slavery…" Jasper interjected.

"It is kind of like that, but house-elves, at least most of them, don't think of it that way. Their life purpose is to serve wizards, they're brought up with that ideology and most of them do that absolutely willingly and find comfort with their role." I explained. "Elf rights is a very controversial topic, but I do agree that they should at least get paid for what they do for wizards."

"Love, you got away from the topic." Edward reminded.

"Right." I sighed. "Anyways, Kreacher would have to be given to another wizard. In my dad's will, he left everything to Harry and me. Kreacher would consider me his main Mistress because I am a Black...That is in case I lived…But I will die, at least that's what everyone else would think, and in my will, I left everything to Harry…So in the eyes of everyone, even in Harry's own eyes, he would be the sole owner of Kreacher."

"But that wouldn't be true because you're still alive and not married to Edward in the new time," Carlisle spoke.

"Exactly!" I exclaimed.

"Bells, I'm still not following," Emmett whined. "Of course it's great you have an elf or whatever but how does that help us?"

"Bella will give Kreacher an order to spy on Harry and other members of the Order to find out what they will do when Harry turns 17. They would have to transport him to a safe location so that Voldemort can't find him." Edward spoke. "That way, we can help make sure everything goes well and no one's killed."

"We've already lost a lot of good people in this war," I added quietly. "We can't let anyone else die."

"And we won't. Six vampires, two vampire-wizard hybrids, we'll give them hell." Edward squeezed my hand once again.

"I think you forgot about Ness and Savi," Jasper added.

"Oh no, they're not coming with us, it's too dangerous," I spoke.

"I think you forget that they're adults now and can choose for themselves." Alice spoke carefully.

"And I think you forget that I'm still their mother and I won't let them." I felt a protective growl coming from my throat.

"Jeez, Bells, it's their choice. They're fast, strong and their skin reflects spells." Emmett argued.

"We don't know if it reflects all of the spells, I felt the killing curse hit me and I'm a full vampire!" I growled at him too.

How could they not understand that Sav and Ness were still kids?! They were ready to send them off to a freaking war! Kids! To war!

"They have a choice and only they can make it," Alice spoke again. "I'm sorry, Bella, but that's the truth. Like it or not, but they're already adults and by 1996 they would be adults by human years as well."

"We'll have time to discuss that matter later." Carlisle tried to resolve the rising conflict. "Right now, why don't we go hunting? I think we can all agree that it has been a while since we all hunted together."


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