* * * Eventful Reunion * * *

Hearing the unexpected whispers of alarm, along with the swish of movement as everyone in the Hall quickly rises to their feet, Bella looks up from her sleepy position to see what it's all about. "Edward!" she whispers in happiness. Smiling largely, she stands up quickly from her seat at the head table and stumblingly rushes around to meet him (watching her feet as she does so, in order to navigate the steps) while he strides the remaining length of the hall toward her at human speed, eyes locked only on her.

Numerous thoughts throughout the room are struggling to recall the recommended protocol for encountering a member of what is reputed to be the most lethal species in existence. Be inoffensively offensive. If you don't strike first, you may not get a chance at all… but don't do anything to make it mad. They're extremely fast and strong, and always fatal in an attack. Spells will not penetrate their skin. Defensive distraction, followed by escape via disapparation, may be your only chance. Whatever you do: Don't bleed… and pray it's not hungry.

Fearful of his dangerous presence, a number of the more panicked students and staff aim defensive spells at him- knowing that such would be ineffective, but unable to not try something. U-Vampires aren't reportedly familiar with magic, after all, so maybe it could be a good distraction. Understanding this from their thoughts, Edward dodges the beams of light smoothly- not wanting to give himself away but also unwilling to carelessly test himself out against their magic. The spells that had been meant for him end up narrowly missing students on the other side of the room.

Following this casual display, wherein the vampire didn't even have to break his stride to remain untouched, most of the Slytherins abruptly run out of the Great Hall yelling in panic- putting as much distance as they can between him and them, as quickly as possible. The rest of those at the Slytherin house table, along with a selection of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students, more silently make their way to the exit, not far behind.

During the commotion, a fiery swan-like bird pops into the room and settles onto the headmaster's shoulder, watching Edward keenly. On his other side, a giant-sized wizard, nearly twice as tall and half again as wide as anyone else in the room, quickly shuffles around the head table to position himself defensively near to the front of Dumbledore's position, and Edward's apparent destination. Theoretically, his only half-human heritage, combined with his giant-like bulk and thick skin, may prove to be of more use in this situation than his underdeveloped magic would have been. Besides, ev'ry liv'n creature's got a friendly side, he knows without a doubt. Surely, he's got to hav' one too?! he imagines with grim optimism. He seems like a nice fellow.

Many of the teachers and brighter students have attempted to set up various kinds of illusionary defense. A certain bushy-haired student witch begins by making herself and the two male students next to her become invisible to human sight, though for Edward- an eighth-color-of-the-rainbow distortion of the light still remains visible where they stand, and their heartbeats and thoughts remain audible. The castle ghosts swoop in to stand guard in any way they can for the visible students behind them. Mirages of people who don't really exist appear to be standing in front of many of the unguarded students that still remain. One crafty student manages to douse himself with the scent of garlic, somehow effectively diluting the strength of his own scent by doing so.

Another series of spells, performed by the smallest wizard of them all (a professor whose less-than-appealing scent pegs him as being only part human), places a sequence of invisible perspective-altering fields directly in front of Edward's path- in hopes that he could be slowed down from posing so undefendable a threat to the lot of them. The charms master remembers having previously set ones of this type up for use in the Triwizard Maze, which caused a person's view of the world to turn disorientingly upside-down or backwards while one was within them. It's possible indirect magic would be of use here.

A fiercely defensive dark-haired professor sitting to the left of the headmaster chooses instead to enclose all the humans in attendance within a 6 foot wall of real flame. As the adept wizard carefully draws out his spell (one apparently of his own design), and sets what he thinks might be the best parameter for it (venomous capability has been speculated of the undead species of vampire, but never confirmed), Edward notes that the vigorous magical fire will not actually spread away from the thin line it has been directed to burn in, unless a venomous creature approaches it… in which case it would proceed to spit parts of itself in his direction until either the threat was consumed, the creature deterred, or the spell was disbanded. Fascinating. Thankfully, the ring of fire is not-at-all too high or wide for a forewarned vampire to jump over without ever coming close.

A cloud of butterflies fills the room with a distractedly fluttering movement, very briefly cutting off visibility even though the insects instinctively leave a clear space in Edward's immediate vicinity. Almost instantly, the pristine space around him starts to expand in every direction, as the fluttering creatures promptly perch and still, fly out of the room, or otherwise venture up into the farthest corners of the area in order to offer him the widest berth possible. The witch who conjured them is surprised and dismayed by this unexpected shortcoming.

On top of the tables on either side of his position, an animated army of silverware and table dishes magically gathers together in preparation for attack at the least sign of provocation. It's almost comical. Around the room, lit candles floating ten feet off the ground over simple domed bases transform into blazing torches floating over gigantic shield-like chandeliers, ready to be wielded at a moment's notice… a motion understandably defensive in its intent, but also somewhat threatening. Clumps of garlic appear at frequent intervals upon every table across the hall.

Alongside him on the right, a number of wrapped confections-on-a-stick, which smell to him like a suspiciously iron- and sodium-rich human food, float through the air in single file and come to rest in a neat pile on the head table closest to where he is heading. The apparently human-blood-flavored lollipops (purchased from the local wizards' candy store, and thankfully not odiferous enough to trigger Bella's sensitivities) are being offered as a friendly alternative to his assumed normal diet… a surprisingly thoughtful idea, really, even if they don't actually have any appeal.

In her hurry to look up to see him again, Bella finally trips on air right in front of Dumbledore's place at the head table- while Edward is still only two-thirds of the way down the length of the Great Hall. In a burst of speed, Edward is suddenly standing in front of her- inside the wall of fire and past the illusion fields- holding her up gently… to the surprise and frightened alarm of everyone else in the room.

Immediately upon his arrival, however, the distraction of Albus' suddenly blindingly bright wand apparently catches Edward's attention more than any other magical attempt has. His now sparkling limbs instantly twist and freeze into a protectively and frighteningly threatening stance facing the grimly but boldly defensive headmaster, while remaining supportive of Bella's frame closely behind his own… shortly after which his refulgent visage becomes unexpectedly confused and then relaxes completely. Inexplicably, he turns back to face Bella as if disregarding the threat, and proceeds to greet her as he would have without the interruption. Around the room, as well as upon Bella's beautiful face, the reflected colors of the rainbow twist and writhe as if they were alive, visually creating the most effective magical distraction yet. The light's anxious but soothing movement, set to play out the symphony of Edward's mood, will shift threateningly and shape into psychedelic images at any sign of aggression. It's an impressive piece of magic.

"Bella," he exclaims in relief. "Are you alright?"

"Oh Edward!" she wraps her arms around him tightly, burying her face in his chest. "I thought I'd never see you again," she mumbles.

Edward hugs her tightly in reply and nuzzles her hair, breathing in her scent deeply. The room is eerily silent around them, the stunned occupants observing their unanticipated exchange with bated breath. "I'm so sorry. I'm here now. And I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. Apparently, this place has been magically enchanted so as not to be locatable by someone who hasn't been here before; I had to take the train."

Nervous and fearful glances are shared around the room at this news, considering the arriving students haven't come in yet. It's bad enough that they already have a deadly vampire in their midst that they don't know what to do with… but could there be more bad news waiting for them upon the passengers' return? At this point, the only magic they suspect might be strong enough to affect this vampire- would also harm everyone else in the room, at least as badly. Why aren't the wards working?! Their thoughts are despairingly desperate. Responsively, however, the witch commanding the silverware army sends out an incorporeally discreet patronus missive to redirect any arriving students into safer areas of the castle.

Bella nods, then looks around briefly- a little uncomfortable with being at the center of attention. "Where's Alice?" she asks him.

Edward replies cryptically: "She went swimming."

Bella suspects his vague reply is probably because of their very public situation, though he is also making no move to get them out of it. Maybe they would worry more if he took her away. She is thoroughly confused by his statement, however.

Edward chuckles at her expression, then proceeds to explain what happened: "The newborn we met in the alley was able to calm down quickly enough, once your scents were out of the area. We talked to him. He is overwhelmed and unguided- but he seems nice enough. He might even like to join us. Alice is taking him home the long way, in order to keep him out of trouble."

Bella is still confused. "I thought she went sw… Oh! Hah… the long way," she mutters to herself. Swimming = the Atlantic Ocean! Right.

Edward smirks in humor at her reaction.

Tentatively she inquires: "Will she be… okay… with him?"

Edward chuckles. "Of course she will. Alice knows what to look out for; she can take care of herself."

Bella nods, mostly satisfied, and then asks curiously: "How long will it take them to get there?"

Edward's eyebrow raises in amused seriousness: "At this rate," given their few-hour head-start, and not having even secured new airline tickets for the trip home yet, "they're sure to beat us home."

Bella nods again thoughtfully, her expression becoming pained after a moment. "They told me you wouldn't be able to come here," she speaks quietly, hugging him with renewed vigor.

Edward pauses thoughtfully, recognizing the expectation that surprised him as well, and listens in on thoughts around the room in order to find out the reason why. Finally he offers: "Yeah, well- they also think my eyes are red."

"Ah," she replies as she leans back again, smiling up at him with a subtly proud expression as she traces his eyebrow. "They've never met a Cullen before."

Edward smiles back: "Apparently not."

A/N: The world of magic is a fascinating place! It was fun to dive in here. Thank you J. K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer, for the fantastic opportunity!