* * * The Wizards of Oz * * *

Albus, and any other wizard or witch that has retained control of their faculties enough to appreciate Edward's revelation, wonders amazedly about what color other than red his eyes could possibly be (underneath the blackness of thirst, that is)- and how they could be that way. He is pleasantly astounded that Edward hasn't made any motion of aggression toward anyone in the room- even though he has been benignly attacked by quite a few, probably is tempted by everyone, and she remains in very close proximity.

Looking upon Edward and Bella from the opposite direction as the headmaster, the attention of one Harry Potter (one of the mostly-invisible student trio) has become captivated by the distinctive double-crescent bite mark visible upon Bella's wrist, which he noticed shimmering unnaturally when she reached up to touch the vampire's face. Surely my eyes must be deceiving me! he imagines… because if that's what I think it is… what it looks like… it means not only that this type of vampire is devastatingly venomous (shudder!), but that she's got a survivor's scar every bit as significant as my own. … How? Nudging his friends' similarly disillusioned shoulders (which he happens to be able to see only because they are under cover of the same spell), he quickly mimes his observation to them, by pointing to his own scar and wrist, then Bella's hand in turn. Hermione's panicked eyes are wide with alarm and surprise by the time she looks back to meet his. Ron remains fearfully perplexed.

While most of the teachers and Gryffindor students remain riveted by the fascinatingly unprecedented display in front of them, a bunch of the more frightened students still present- including a majority of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws and a few of the Gryffindors- have backed themselves slowly toward the door of the Great Hall, in hopes of making a more discreet escape. Aside from their own sense of dread, the general consensus of thoughts in the room is one of disbelief: She couldn't know what he is… could she?!

At the other end of the hall, cowering behind the more courageous teachers who are standing warily alert on the other side of the head table from Edward, an absolutely terrified Delores Umbridge feels way too unprotected. She would have happily run out of the room with the very first wave of Slytherins, if it hadn't been that she was stationed in such an unfortunately isolated position- where doing so would have focused too much attention upon herself. The best she can think to do at this point, is inch along towards the exit- while hugging the wall behind her. With a discreet flick of her wand, a silent command causes a number of the school's house-elves to appear in a semi-circle around her- standing as a guard, and ready to bleed for her if necessary, were she to be attacked. From her thoughts it is evident: she would be thoroughly willing to sacrifice them, if it would save herself. Edward is disgusted.

While this is happening, another house-elf materializes protectively in front of the near-invisible trio, this time of its own accord. Harry in particular holds his loyalty.

Within an ornately framed landscape to the side of the head table, various odd characters from animated portraits throughout the castle have begun to congregate in order to see for themselves what is going on. The Slytherins' panic evidently had made quite an impression as they fled down the corridors- yelling about an undead vampire in the building- and at least the portrait inhabitants don't have the worry of still being human to deter them from attending.

Truly, the level of exposure and panic engendered by this incident has reached highly dangerous proportions already… and it seems there is very little he really could have done to prevent it. At this point, it is going to take quite a bit of careful diplomacy if there is to be any hope of finding a delicate balance that both the vampire and wizarding worlds could live with.

A sudden wave of fatigue causes Bella to nearly collapse into Edward's prismatic arms. "You haven't been able to get any sleep, have you?" he surmises. "You look like you're about to faint with exhaustion."

Bella responds groggily: "I haven't had much of a chance to. I've been listening to the Wizard of Oz," indicating Dumbledore with a nod of her head, "and the Wicked Witch of the West," another vague nod, "debating over whether or not I could go back to Kansas. They seem to think I'm a muggle, yet can't figure out how I was able to see the castle or why they couldn't tamper with my memories."

"I heard about that," his low voice reproves the culprits warningly. Edward's eyes briefly flash with anger at the thought of her memories being tampered with- though he realizes the practical motivation behind it, and is simply thankful she is immune. Finally, chuckling with immense relief as he holds her close, he comments: "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" His fingers trail down her cheek affectionately. "Don't worry. I'll get you back to Kansas."

Bella grins at him tiredly. "I know you will," she replies, positive that- at the very least- he would see her home safely from here. How long he will stay after that is what worries her. "You're a rightful Prince Charming in disguise, you know…" she acknowledges, at least in part for the benefit of their worry-filled audience. Just not mine anymore, she laments quietly. "And a knight in shining armor beats the tin man's company any day."

Frowning at the unearned compliment, as well as the distinct impersonality of her statement, Edward shakes his head sadly in disagreement. By her own admission she's nearly died, at least twice, in his absence… from things he should have been there to protect her from… not to mention that by leading her to Volterra, he nearly was the cause of it himself once again. "I am no more than a glorified scarecrow," he whispers, very conscious of the fact that everyone else still in the room remains terrified of him- as she rightfully has every reason to be. A brainless fool, he continues silently, who is desolately unworthy of you.

"Except that you keep a lot more than just the tigers and bears away…" Bella finishes for him deliberately, thinking of the hole in her heart which remains blissfully absent while in his presence. Members of their audience imagine she must be referring to the other vampire that was in the alley, and Edward does as well.

He sighs. "So did the tornado," he observes wryly, "but that didn't make it any less of a natural disaster. Next to something like that, even a lion would be a sensible and companionable character." Edward subtly indicates the red and gold banner with a nod of his head, suggesting she'd be much safer seeking her fortune in the magical world, than she would be in his.

Of course, underneath his obvious meaning, Edward is also imagining the word lion to refer to his single biggest (and most devastatingly miserable) whopper of a lie. Trying to go that route clearly didn't help anything, and he can't imagine being able to do it again, but- avoidable disasters notwithstanding- he still can't say it couldn't have been the better choice. For her.

With some bit of surprise, the wizards realize that he seems to be promoting their magical over his muggle company… and they can't disagree with him.

She scoffs wearily. "He wasn't what both saved the munchkins from the big bad witch and gave her what she needed to get home without them. Face it: you're better than all three of Dorothy's companions put together." Her voice is earnestly gentle, but pained. Dorothy would be so lucky to have you, her silent thoughts trail off longingly. She'd never want to go home if she had to give you up when she got there.

Dorothy's companions were people she loved, at least,Edward gazes into her eyes with desperate but patient longing, even if they were no more than friendly farm hands… and her precious little dog. He sighs. I'd be more than happy to slop pigs for the rest of my existence- if it meant I could stay that close to her. "Isn't that a bit like asking the tornado to take you back to Kansas?"

Shrugging, she replies in a quiet voice: "It brought me over the rainbow…" she reminisces their previous summer longingly, "…and I didn't even have to ask for that."

The touch of sadness in her voice is painful for Edward to hear… as if she were remembering something they may never have again. He couldn't blame her for it if they didn't- because he wanted her to move on, after all- but it hurts nonetheless. Of course, he had seen through Alice how much the wolf had wanted her to stay for him… and how bad she had felt for letting him down. "You give me entirely too much credit."

"I don't think so," she states evenly, looking directly into his troubled eyes. The corner of his mouth twitches upward in appreciation.

To the side of the hall and still behind the staff table, Delores Umbridge- unfamiliar with the Oz reference and remembering that the headmaster had been talking to both herself and Professor McGonagall about what to do with Bella- turns fearfully to a teacher standing next to her and asks in not-so-very hushed tones: "Wh-wh-who is the Wicked Witch of the West?"

Edward and Bella pause to look at her in disbelief before resuming their interaction with slightly shaking heads. Hesitant snickers can be heard around the room from people who recognize the muggle literature reference and agree it most definitely applies to Umbridge.

A/N: Thanks for reading and sharing!