Smaragdus arcanum Lunam
Cloud Sorano
12
Hermione pulled her riotous curls out of her face, and it was a windy day. She held it back, glancing up at Harry. "You seem happier."
Harry had his face to the sky, eyes closed as he allowed the wind to bring the smell of the sea to them. He then looked down at his best friend and smiled. "I am happier."
He leaned back on his elbows. They were sitting on the sandy beach together while Ron and Bill had gone to town to get last-minute supplies. Hermione wanted to stay behind, to talk with Harry. Edward remained in the house, curious about Hermione's collection of books she had with her and reading them.
After a long silence, he said, "I know we're in the middle of war now but I can't help but be happy. I should thank you for casting that spell."
Hermione leaned forward and rested her arms on her knees. "Yeah, but you're now a vampire. That means you're going to be seventeen forever. While everyone else grow old and die. And the Potter line ends with you."
Harry hummed in agreement before replying, "I know. I've thought about it, but in the end. I think I was meant to die in this war after all. I never thought about what I would do afterward, let alone carrying on my bloodline. It doesn't matter much to me anyway."
"What about becoming an Auror, didn't you want to join?" Hermione asked.
"I thought I did. But after thinking about it, it was like everyone expected me to join Auror because snake-face was after me. Honestly, I don't want to be chasing Death Eaters as a career. It was bad enough in the past year to evade them. And look at what happened." He glanced over to Hermione. "If it weren't for Edward..." he left that hanging.
Hermione buried her head in her arms; a slight whimper escaped from her lips. "You're right, I am glad you are here, it really doesn't matter that you're a vampire. You're still Harry, still my best friend. Just you drink blood now." She gave a weak laugh.
Harry moved and drew her in a hug, and she curled up in his arms, holding on tightly. "Small sacrifices. But I am here."
Hermione looked up, her eyes peering through her curls. "Have you ever?"
Harry looked down and brushed her hair out of her face. "No. And I'll never will. I'm sticking to animals only. Beside, wizard bloods are unappealing to vampires."
She frowned, "Huh. That explains why they are able to move freely in wizarding communities. We're really in no danger from them."
"Yes. And they tend to keep to themselves and to muggles. It's the muggle bloods that they like. I think it's the magic that deter them." He shrugged.
She shifted to sit closer and rested her head on his chest as he held her closer. She had missed him in the past week and a half when he was gone. "Don't you think it's really quick, between you and Edward? I mean, it's been only six days since you were "killed." She made a quote gesture at the end.
Harry gazed out to the sea, watching the seagulls do some aerobics in the wind. "By human standard, you would say it is a whirlwind romance and all that. But I learned something while staying with his family. Once a vampire find his or her mate, they just know it instantly. The whole courtship, getting to know one other, working out the kinks are all skipped. It's in our biological makeup finding a perfect mate for life. Carlisle," She looked up at him, curiously and Harry smirked. "He's the father, the leader of the coven. He explained to me that as a vampire, we bond immediately upon finding our mate. The feeling is intense, and it never fades away. The bond is forever. It's one instinct we have that is stronger than the drive for blood." He looked down at Hermione. "My love for my family such as you, Ron, the Weasley carried over after I turned and it's there forever and stronger. I will feel the loss when all of your times comes intensely, but Edward and his family will help me along. I have come to love his family very much and they made me part of their coven."
"Bonded forever." Hermione murmured, considering Harry's words.
"Edward," He started and sighed. "The moment I saw his eyes, it was like the earth gravity wasn't holding me anymore. It was him that pulls me. You spend your whole life, not knowing you have your other half, and then, there he is and you could not be without your other half. He is my soul-mate and I love him irrecoverably. Yes, we're bonded forever. It's already in the record, we are considered married under the wizarding law."
"Wow." Hermione whispered. "I can see why he came back with you. The way you look at each other is unlike anything I've ever seen."
"Yes. Even a part of me is still reeling about it. But I just need to look at him and I am grounded again, knowing I have someone to depend on."
Hermione smiled and traced the silver crest on Harry's wrist. "You and Edward have the same thing." He held out his wrist to show the Cullen's crest on the leather band. "Is it a family crest?"
"Yeah. It's the Cullen's crest. They gave it to me before I left, making me part of their family."
She traced the engraving of the shield. "What do they stand for?" She asked.
"The lion represent strength and ferocity, a characteristics of the vampires. The hand," He traced the hand above the lion, "Faith and sincerity, loyalty to each other in the Cullen family, and as the hand of faith because Carlisle came from Christian background. There," His finger moved down to the trefoil at the bottom with three fleurs across the scroll. "Forever."
"And the wand?" She asked, tracing the wand that intersected behind the lion across the crest with three stars surrounding the fourth that was bigger on the tip of the wand. "Would this be you?"
Harry smiled, nodding. "Yes. It's a new addition to the crest. The wand represent magic. They all could see magic, meaning they have some traits of magic in them. The stars, Edward told me, stands for three original magic users in our coven, Alice the seer, Jasper the empath, Edward the mind reader. And the fourth, the bigger one, myself as a wizard."
"It's beautiful." Hermione softly said.
Harry leaned down and kissed Hermione's head, keeping his arms wrapped around her. She was his sister in all but blood, and he truly appreciated her ability to look past his vampirism and see him for who he is.
"Thank you, Hermione."
"For what?" She asked.
"For accepting this change."
Hermione shook her head. "I would be a hypocrite if I do not. If I can accept being a witch, Remus being a werewolf, and Hagrid as a half-giant." She then giggled, "And there's Gawap." Harry laughed. "No, Harry. As long you're you, it doesn't matter. I love you, Harry."
"And I am happy Harry still have his family here." They craned their necks to see Edward approach them, a smile on his face. He sat down next to Harry, hip to hip. "I want to thank you, for sending him to me even if it was unintentional. But, thank you."
Hermione reached over and grasped Edward's hand and held it. "And I should thank you for saving him. I don't know how we would go on without him." Edward bopped his head. Hermione leaned up and kissed Harry's cheek. "I should check to see if Ron's back." She got up and left the two alone.
"I can see why she is special to you." Edward said as she was out of earshot.
One of Harry's eyebrows rose, "Oh yeah?"
Edward laughed, "I hear in her mind that she care for you very much and think of you as a brother."
"I think of her as a sister. We've been through so much together. She has gotten Ron and me out of many messes with her quick thinking." Harry replied and wrapped his arm around Edward's waist, leaning his head on his shoulder. They watched the sea for a while longer in silence.
Then with the ringing of a phone breaking the silence, Harry looked bemused at Edward and asked, "Is someone calling you?"
Edward nodded as he pulled out his flip-phone and looked at the screen. "Hm." He opened it and answered, "Bella." Harry then sat up and leaned in closer to listen in.
"Edward, oh! I'm glad you answered." Bella said.
"Why are you calling me?"
There was an awkward silence before she stammered, "I missed you. I just wanted to call and see how you are doing."
Edward closed his eyes in exasperation. "Bella, it's not really a good time to talk."
"No, I know. I am not trying to convince you to get back together. I get it, you and that guy being mate and all." She exhaled a long breath and continued, "Jacob... he told me about his tribe being shapeshifters, wolves... he said you knew."
Edward's eyebrows rose. "Yes. I am surprised he told you."
Bella gave a weak chuckle. "He figured that I knew about you and your family being vampires, that it was fair enough to tell me about wolves. It's crazy. But he also explained about imprinting, and how it is like you vampires kind of have same thing. That you imprinted on that guy and there was no way of getting in between you both."
Edward glanced at Harry. "He is correct. It is similar."
There was a long pause, and Bella exhaled finally before replying. "Jacob imprinted on me."
Edward's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Wow," He glanced to see Harry also had a surprised look on his face. "Well, come to think of it, I'm not surprised he imprinted on you. The way he acts around you."
Bella laughed. "You're right. I'm in Florida. You know, to think about everything. It's just so sudden, you breaking up with me and Jacob coming clean about his tribe and imprinting. It's almost too much for a girl to handle."
"You're a strong girl. You've managed with knowing about me. You'll be fine with Jacob being the wolf." Edward said honestly and heard her laugh. He smirked. "He's good for you, really. I may have been good but not as perfect. So, I am happy he is there for you and is giving you the support you needed."
"Yeah. Is that kind of thing that goes on with supernatural creatures? Are there more out there?"
Harry nodded, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to the house. Edward caught the image of Fleur and Bill. He had learned that Fleur was part of a creature that was harpy or siren, a Veela. "Yes, there are more of them. It's something the supernatural creatures do, find their mates and as Jacob says, imprint on them."
"Wow," Bella whispered. "I understand. I do love you and understand that we would never be. Just that, I thought maybe we could be friends."
Edward's golden eyes flicked over to Harry. He saw his lover shrugs. "Yeah, that would be good."
"I'm happy to hear that," Edward could hear the sadness in her voice. "I'll be heading back home in couple of days. I miss Fork too much."
"I see."
"Will I see you at school? Will he be there too? I'd like to get to know him. I don't want to get off a bad start with him."
Harry let go of Edward's side and leaned back on his elbows. "Might as well tell her that you won't be back for a while."
Edward nudged his knee against Harry's thigh. "Bella, I won't be in school for the rest of the year. I'm actually out of town and I don't know how long I'll be gone."
Bella softly gasped, and Edward could hear sniffling and assumed she was crying on the other end of the line. "Oh. Where did you go? Was it because of me?"
"No, it's not because of you. I'm in England, helping Harry to tie up some things here. Things aren't good here and I am helping him."
"Oh I see. I'll miss you a lot."
"I know. Do me a favor?"
"Yes?" She sounded hopeful.
"Don't be reckless. I don't want you hurt."
Bella sniffed. "Yeah. I'll try to not trip over my own feet, but no promise there."
Harry quietly chuckled.
Edward smiled, "And..." he then grimaced, "Spend time with Jacob. He'll keep you distracted and before you know it, Harry and I will be back."
"Yeah. He's been calling me every day since I've been here. It's crazy that he can barely stand to be apart from me. It's nice, really."
Edward's eyebrows shot up. "Oh? Well that sound good, he'll be a good protector then."
"You may be right. Well, I am sure its late where you are, I'll let you go."
"It is. Alright talk to you sometime soon. I may not be able to answer my phone all the time, the services here isn't strong."
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye." The line clicked, and Edward flipped his phone close.
"Who's this Jacob?" Harry asked.
"One of the Quileute, Bella grew up with him. It sounded like he phased, now one of the shapeshifters and imprinted on Bella." Edward replied.
Harry rested his chin on his arm, gazing at Edward. "Talking with Hermione got me to thinking. If we fall in love with someone, the feeling is permanent. You and Bella?"
Edward remained silent as he watched the sea. Finally, he said, "I thought I was in love with Bella, but I was wrong. I mistook it as fascination. Her blood calls to me and with that I could not read her mind fascinated me. I became a little bit obsessed. If given time, it would have developed into a true feeling of love. But you came just in time as I was doubting myself." He turned to straddle Harry's legs and leaned down, kissing Harry's lips, "You're mine, forever."
Harry smiled and whispered against Edward's lips, "Always." And he kissed him hard.
"Oi, yuck." They broke apart, seeing Ron approach him. Edward moved to sit back next to Harry, annoyed.
Harry leaned his head back to look at Ron upside-down behind him. "Hey, don't make me remind you of your disgusting public snogging with Lavender Brown."
Ron's face scrunched up. "Fair enough. Come on, dinner's ready." He saw their eyebrows rise. He rolled his eyes and waved for them to come anyway. "We got you some blood. Come on."
Edward stood and helped Harry up.
Much to the vampires' amusement, Fleur handed them goblets filled with blood. They drank while the others ate. Edward had never tasted such delicious blood before and inquired what it was. Bill told him it was dragon blood, and he got some from his brother, Charlie, who worked with dragons in Romania. It had tasted rich, and there was an element in the blood that Edward was starting to identify as magic itself. It made him more hyperaware and sensitive to the magic around him. When Fleur began to clean up using her magic, he was able to sense it with clarity. It was a strange and heady feeling, and he liked it. He could also sense the others as if they were humming. He was more in tune with Harry and decided his magic was like a song calling to him.
There was a knock on the door. Bill got up and held up a hand to tell the others to wait. He went over and peered through the small window on the door. He held up his wand and opened the door, "What did you tell me few days ago about Tonks?"
The voice replied, "I told you that I worries about Tonks dropping the baby on his head with how much she trips over her own two feet."
Bill laughed and opened the door wider. "Come on in, Remus. You got someone to see here."
Remus clapped Bill's shoulder and stepped in the door. He looked up and smiled, "Harry!" He moved to the young man and froze, the smile dropping from his face. His eyes darted to the stranger and back to Harry, and then his lips curled in a snarl. "What is going on? You do not smell like Harry." He whipped his head to Bill, "They're vampires!"
Harry had smiled when he saw Remus enter and stood up from his seat to greet. But when Remus froze and started to snarl, he sighed. "Well…" He said, holding his hands up to appease his father's best friend.
Bill moved to stand beside Remus and gripped his elbow, giving a silent warning not to do anything rash. "Ask him."
Remus's eyes darted from Bill and then back to Harry. "What did I teach you and what did I use?"
Harry smiled fondly, "You taught me how to cast a Patronus, and used a boggart because it transform into a dementor for me." He waved his hand, and a bright ethereal light exploded from his palm, and a stag formed, leaping around the room before fading away.
Remus strode across the room and gathered Harry into a hug. "Harry. I'm glad you're okay otherwise. This will take some getting used to." He nuzzled his nose into Harry's hair taking in the fresh scent of his cub. It was strange, and he could smell Harry's scents but with a tinge of ice and coldness. He no longer could hear or feel Harry's heartbeat.
Harry laughed, "And you too. You really do smell like a wet dog." He leaned back and scrunched up his nose. "I can see why werewolves smells offensive to the vampires."
"What happened?" Remus asked as he held Harry at arm's length, his amber eyes roving over Harry's recent appearance.
"I got hurt real bad last week, and Hermione," He gestured to her, "cast a spell and sent me somewhere to get help. I ended up at Edward's feet," He gestured to Edward, who stood behind him to his side. "He gave me a choice to change and I took it. I was really dying then with no way of being saved."
Remus paled; he looked to Ron and Hermione, who looked somber. They nodded. He whispered, "Harry."
"I'm fine." Harry said and turned to grasp Edward's hand, bringing him forward. "This is Edward Cullen, the one who turned me. He's my mate."
Remus' eyes widened. "Mate? Really." He nodded to Edward and reached out, grasping the other man's hand in a shake. "I am sure Harry told you about me."
"Yes. He thinks highly of you." Edward replied, smiling easily at the werewolf. He liked him already.
Remus tilted his head, "Your accent, you're American?"
Edward replied, "Yes. Washington state. My family has a permanent resident there and we're the second largest coven after the Volturi with eight of us, including Harry here."
"Interesting. And your eyes." Remus gestured to Edward's eyes, "You drink animal blood."
"You are correct." Edward smiled. He could see why Harry had thought of Remus as one of the best Defense teachers, knowing all about various creatures, including the vampires.
"Fascinating. Well, despite the situation, thank you for saving Harry. He's important to us all." Remus said, grasping Harry's shoulder. "Did Ron and Hermione tell you?"
"About Teddy?" Harry asked and then nodded. "They told me." He smiled. "Congratulation. Can't wait to meet him!"
Remus laughed. "So, do you accept? To be Teddy's godfather?"
Harry grasped Remus' arm and held it affectionately. "Yes. Yes, I accept."
"Wonderful!" Remus looked about the room to see smiling faces. "Bill tells me that you guys are heading to Hogwarts next."
Bill moved to stand beside Fleur and nods. "They're getting ready to go tonight."
"Very well. The Order are standing by as we speak." Remus said seriously and turned to Harry, "Have you finished what you need to do?"
Harry nodded. "It is nearly finished. The plan is set and it's time to finish this for once and all. The endgame will be at Hogwarts."
"Alright." Remus replied and grasped Harry into another hug. "We'll see you soon. Good luck." He let go of Harry and bowed his head to Edward, and turned to Ron and Hermione. "Take care of Harry… even if he's stronger and faster now." He jerked his thumb to Harry and grinned.
"Yeah, we will." Ron replied, and Hermione nodded in agreement.
Remus went to the door and gave everyone one last look. "See you at Hogwarts." He ducked and left.
Edward turned to Harry and said, "You're right, he's a good man. He worries about you."
"I know." Harry softly replied and turned to the others. "We should leave in an hour."
An hour later, they were ready to go. Hermione had packed up her beaded bags with essential things, mostly stocked up with medical supplies. Ron checked them over, making sure they had everything and did not leave anything behind.
Harry and Edward had dressed in their muggle jeans, shirt, and covered with dragonhide robes, which could repel most spells. They also had dragonhide boots that Edward was starting to love, they were comfortable and the best-fitted footwear he had ever worn in his entire century of life.
"Wands?" Ron asked as he glanced around them. Hermione held up her own; Ron has his. Harry shook his head. His had broken since Christmas Eve. Ron asked, "We're gonna need to get you one?"
Harry smiled and held out his hand, and a blue flame erupted to life in his palm. "Don't need one. My magic's stronger and I have more control over it." He then vanished the flame.
Bill stepped up to them and glanced at the two vampires. "Harry... you might want to glamorize yourself and Edward, to hide the fact you both are vampire. It's something you do not want anyone to know in the heat of the battle."
Hermione frowned, "Why?"
Fleur stepped up and grasped onto Bill's arm, looking worried. "It will be bad. Vampires has one weakness and they will exploit it."
Edward looked grim, "Fire. They will use fire spell on us, will they?"
Bill nodded. "There are several different fire spells. Bluebell is the most basic and harmless one, but I worry about Incendio and Feindfyre. Those two will hurt you and they will not hesitate to use it on you both."
Harry nodded and waved his hand over himself and Edward. Gone was their pale skin; now, they had a rosy hue to their tone. Their otherworldly beauty became plain. Edward's eyes became honey brown instead of bright gold. Their hair became duller. Harry took out the glasses from his pouch and waved his hand over it, turning the prescription lenses to plain shatterproof glass. He slipped it on and turned to his friends.
"Wow... I can see the difference." Ron said, "you really did change a lot. Even he looks just like Cedric." Harry gave a sad smile, looking up at Edward.
Bill stepped back with his wife and gave them a nod. "Remember, stay to the shadows until you get to Hog's Head Inn. Aberforth knows you are coming."
Ron took Hermione's hand, and Harry did the same with Edward. They turned and vanished.
"We should've warned Harry about that law." Fleur said worriedly.
Bill sighed. "They have enough on their hands for now. Maybe they'll get lucky."
AN:
Well, that answer some questions. Now let's bring in actions.
I'll be updating a bit slower now on, I have so many other things I need to do. I'm a teacher and we're approaching Spring Break and I have a lot of homework to grade (I teach High School ASL), and I have to prepare my new classroom (had to do last minute move from one room to another) for 4th Quarter back to F2F (been teaching from home for a year now). And preparing for Spring Break vacation travel (my son and I are heading to Florida, away from the arctic cold of Alaska for a week).
But I can say this - this story will not be abandoned or put on hiatus. I am going to see it to the end. I already have the rest of the story outlined and looking forward to bring them to you. I really enjoyed your feedbacks, seeing that you are enjoying this unique story. It brings smiles to my face.
As for Bella... Bella was portrayed a bit badly in the movies. But in the book, she was better, smarter and more level-headed for a teen. A lot of you guys don't realize, 16, 17 years old, they're irrational. Their hormones rules them. I know this too well because I was 16, 17 myself. My son is 16 right now and it's a huge SMH phase in life. I also teach High School kids and I'm constantly rolling my eyes at their drama. But I want to include her in the story, even if it's a small role. Once you meet someone, have an intense relationship, then you move on, that person is forever in your life, no matter what, even if you don't ever talk to them. They still shaped you from that part of your life. Bella is that way to Edward.
I realize in the previous chapter I had said we're going straight to Hogwarts but I forgot I had this chapter laid out to be posted. So, now we're heading to Hogwarts!
Up next: Two battlegrounds on the opposite end of the Earth.
