Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Twilight.

List of POVs:

Bella – BPOV

Edward – EPOV

Renesmee – NPOV

Jacob – JPOV

Alice – APOV

Jasper – JasPOV

Emmet – EmPOV

Rosalie – RPOV

Harry – HPOV

Ron – RonPOV

Hermione - HerPOV

18. Worry

BPOV

We left for the hospital in the early afternoon, accompanied by Mad-Eye and Tonks. It was a pleasant walk to the train station, the air apparently chill, though we vampires didn't notice.

The busy London streets had Alice practically dancing in enthusiasm. We would occasionally have to stop and wait for her as she ducked into shops and came out again with full shopping bags.

"We're going to a hospital, Alice," I reminded her. "Don't you think you're acting a bit…tactless?"

She pouted. "When else am I going to get a chance to Christmas shop?"

"On the way back," Edward said firmly.

"Fine," she huffed, dumping the many bags into Jasper's arms with a scowl.

We stopped outside an old, run-down department store, and Tonks spoke brightly to one of the mannequins.

"Wotcher, we're here to see Arthur Weasley."

We watched in surprise when the mannequin nodded and beckoned us forward, and then when Tonks grabbed Ginny and Mrs Weasley to steer them through the glass window. They vanished on the other side, and the rest of us followed them through.

We came out in a bright hospital reception area, the smell of antiseptic and bleach heavy in the air.

"Wait here," Mrs Weasley told us, and headed to the Enquiries desk.

We looked around, reading the posters and laughing quietly at some of the many injuries the wizards had sustained.

The witch at the desk directed Mrs Weasley to the "Dai Llewellyn Ward" on the first floor, and we walked quickly through corridors and up a flight of stairs until we arrived outside Mr Weasley's room.

The Weasley's and Harry went inside first, leaving the rest of us waiting by the door. When Mrs Weasley opened the door for them to go inside, an awful smell drifted out into the corridor. It was so bad that I cut off my air supply and held my breath.

"What is that?" I hissed through clenched teeth.

"By the stink, I'd say it's a werewolf," replied Emmett, holding his nose.

"A new werewolf," added Carlisle, "Probably only days old."

"It's not that bad," shrugged Jacob, "You guys smell worse."

"Is it safe?" asked Jasper, eyeing the closed door doubtfully, "Maybe we shouldn't go in."

"Don't be ridiculous," grunted Mad-Eye, "It's not a full moon for a couple of weeks. You'll be perfectly safe."

"That's not the problem," murmured Edward, "That's a true werewolf in there. The Children of the Moon are the natural enemies of our kind. The Quilleutes are our greatest friends compared to them."

"But we're okay around Remus," I said. The smell of Lupin wasn't as strong as this, at least.

"I think we should be alright," said Carlisle, "Like Alastor said; it's still two weeks til the full moon. It will be in human form and should pose no threat. But if you don't think you can control yourself, perhaps you should wait outside."

Rose was first to volunteer to stay outside, to no one's surprise. She said something about how it would take her weeks to wash out the smell. Emmett wanted to stay with her, and Jasper didn't trust himself to go in just yet.

The rest of us went in with Mad-Eye and Tonks when the children came out. Arthur was lying in a bed by the window, looking rather cheerful despite his situation, and smiled at us.

"Hey," he said brightly.

We greeted him happily, although I couldn't help shooting tense looks at the new werewolf in the bed opposite him.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine," he replied honestly, "If I didn't keep bleeding every time they take the bandages off, I'd be fit as a fiddle!"

"Maybe I could take a look?" suggested Carlisle, examining the bandages with an interested expression.

Arthur nodded in agreement. "Maybe later, if the Healers don't mind."

"So what happened?" asked Edward quietly, "I watched the vision through Harry's mind, but we don't know anything new…"

"We don't know," whispered Tonks, "They searched the whole area, but couldn't find the snake anywhere. It just seems to have vanished after it attacked you, Arthur…but You-Know-Who can't have expected it to get in, can he?"

Alice shook her head. "It wouldn't have got in, even if Arthur wasn't on guard. It was there for another reason."

"I reckon he sent it as a lookout," said Mad-Eye, "'cause he's not had any luck so far, has he? No, I reckon he's trying to get a clearer picture of what he's facing."

"But do we know what we're facing?" asked Carlisle. "Alice, have you seen any more from the Volturi?"

"No," said Alice grimly, "I still see Voldemort going to them, but he hasn't yet. I don't know why. He's taking his time, I think, trying to find a good reason for them to join him."

"Like us," I muttered, "If he doesn't know already."

"It's only a matter of time before he finds out," said Mad-Eye, "The Potter boy could unintentionally help him with that."

"You think he's using Harry as a spy?" asked Edward sharply.

"We know there's something funny about Potter," he replied, "He saw the attack happen, after all."

"Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when I spoke to him this morning," added Mrs Weasley, "He would know what's going on."

"Well, if the boy's being possessed, I can't think of many other reasons other than to spy for You-Know-Who," said Mad-Eye.

"You never know," said Carlisle.

Edward's head shot up to face the door. "The children are listening to us," he breathed.

Everyone else looked at the door as well. "Did they hear?" asked Mad-eye, and he nodded.

"Harry?" I whispered.

"Yes. He heard everything. They're terrified."

"We should go," said Esme nervously, "I'll take them. You come too, Alice, Nessie, Bella."

We followed her out of the ward after giving Arthur our best wishes, and frowned disapprovingly at the eavesdroppers, but otherwise gave no sign we knew they'd been listening.

"Come on, you guys," exclaimed Alice brightly, "We can finish our Christmas shopping! The others will meet us later."

Harry was pale, and the Weasleys kept giving him frightened glances, but they followed us back down to the reception area without saying anything.

"They're genuinely afraid of him," Jasper told us quietly so they wouldn't hear, and Esme touched Harry's arm sympathetically.

Emmett wasn't at all worried, like usual, and Rosalie didn't seem to care.

Alice was mainly responsible for making conversation, and our group was otherwise silent as we weaved in and out of shops.

***

"That's not true, Harry," murmured Edward as the train lurched forward through a tunnel, "You're not a weapon, and the protection is for you."

Harry looked at him desperately. "How can you be sure?"

"Mind reader, remember?" Edward tapped the side of his head with a smile.

"Nobody thinks badly of you, Harry," I told him gently, "We all care about you." I hugged Renesmee tightly to my side.

"Of course we do," my daughter added matter-of-factly.

He let himself smile a little, but it looked more like a grimace. "Thanks."

"He doesn't believe us," Edward whispered in my ear, and a wave of sympathy washed over me.

Back at Grimmauld Place, Harry retreated to his room alone. From downstairs, we heard him pacing back and forth.

"I'm going to talk to him," I said finally, pulling away from Edward.

"I don't know if that's a good idea, Bella," he replied, "He wants to be left alone."

"I don't care. He needs to talk to someone, and I need to make him feel better."

I think Renesmee had brought out my motherly instincts, and so I behaved similarly to Esme when it came to upset humans. It was something I needed to do, the way I used to need to comfort Renesmee when she was scared, or rock her to sleep when she had a nightmare.

I walked up the stairs slowly and tapped on Harry's door gently to let him know I was there. When he didn't answer, I creaked the door open the slightest fraction and slipped inside. He was lying on his bed, facing the wall, appearing to be asleep, but his heart was beating too fast and his breaths were too shallow, so I wasn't fooled.

"Hey," I whispered. He didn't reply. "I know you're awake, Harry, so please look at me."

He rolled over with a sigh and opened his eyes. "Hi Bella."

I watched him uncertainly, hesitating. He clearly wanted to be left alone, so I felt like an unwelcome intruder.

"Do you mind if I talk to you for a few minutes?" I asked finally. He stared back at me with bright green eyes for a long moment before nodding reluctantly.

I went to sit on Ron's bed, and he sat up to face me.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

He shrugged, and I saw him glance at his suitcase, zipped tightly shut.

"You can't leave," I told him, reading his intentions on his face.

"I have to," he mumbled, "I'm a danger to everyone around me."

"So am I." I smiled faintly. "If you leave, you'll hurt everyone else. Trust me. They all care for you very much."

"At least I won't be putting them at risk. You heard what Moody said in the hospital. I'm being possessed."

I shook my head. "That's just a theory. I don't believe it, and you shouldn't either. You are strong, Harry. You wouldn't hurt anyone."

He looked at me silently, and I could see purplish shadows under his eyes; the kind I got when I was thirsty.

"You need to sleep," I told him firmly, and put my hand up when he opened his mouth to protest. "I'll stay with you, if it makes you feel better. I'll make sure you don't start sleep-walking with an axe and go around killing everyone."

He grinned a little at my attempt at humour, and yawned.

"Sleep," I repeated, "I promise nothing will happen."

He lay down tentatively, and pulled the blanket up to his chin. He frowned, and I could tell he would have trouble sleeping, so I went to kneel next to his bed and started humming the same lullaby I used to hum to Renesmee.

Before long, his breathing deepened and he fell asleep, still frowning, and I was left alone with my thoughts. If Voldemort really was messing with his head through dreams, perhaps I could help. I stretched my shield over his sleeping form, and the frown vanished. I smiled to myself.

I felt something; the very faintest pressure on my mind, fluttering around the edges of my shield. It wasn't at all uncomfortable; it was actually rather pleasant, and it scared the hell out of me.

When Harry awoke, I could tell I hadn't convinced him, and he spent the next day moping around upstairs, away from company. He shunned us whenever we tried to talk to him and casually started walking in the opposite direction when we approached. I realised I wasn't the only one worrying about him, either.

At six in the evening, Hermione arrived, after guiltily ditching her parents skiing trip for her friends. I opened the door for her and carried her suitcases upstairs, explaining the situation. She was concerned and immediately went to talk to Harry.

I watched her dart out of her bedroom without even greeting the others and smiled to myself. If anyone could make Harry see sense, it was Hermione.

"What are you grinning about?" asked Emmett, strolling into the room and ruffling my hair.

I jumped out of the way and punched his shoulder lightly. "Oh, Hermione's going to talk to Harry, and I think he'll finally listen."

Emmett rolled his eyes. "That's great. Anyway, Bells, everyone's going hunting, you want to come?"

I grinned. "Of course! Bring on the grizzly bears!" I said, and dashed out of the room.

"Not if I get them first!" Emmett called, following me.

We raced to the back door, where I jolted to a stop in Edward's arms.

"I'm sure there's enough to go around," he told us both, grinning.

The others joined us and we ran to the forest outside the house, where we spent the rest of the night hunting.

When we returned the next morning, I was pleased to find Harry in a much better mood. He grinned at me over his cereal. "Hey, Bella."

I put my hands on my hips and watched him. "So they finally talked some sense into you, did they?" I asked, mockingly stern. He nodded sheepishly. "It's about time."

"Yeah, sorry about that."

I dropped my arms and smiled. "Don't be sorry. I'm glad you're feeling better." And then, in a spontaneous gesture, I gave him a quick hug.

Edward came in to find me like that, and beamed. "You're an amazing person, Bella," he told me when Harry had finished eating and we were alone in the kitchen.

I looked down, hiding my embarrassed smile. Edward put a finger under my chin and lifted my head back up to kiss me.

For the next few days, we cheerfully helped decorate the house to make it more festive, stringing tinsel and golden lights across the ceilings, and hanging up holly and mistletoe over some of the doorways. Alice was in charge of the decorating, of course, and I couldn't even manage to be frustrated at her intense enthusiasm.

Esme and I helped Mrs Weasley in the kitchen, making dozens of gingerbread men and fruit cakes with good humour. Whenever Fred or George would sneak down to try and steal our freshly made cooking, I would laugh and tap them over the head with the spoon sternly, and then Esme would give them a plate of shortbread to take upstairs. We caught them every time, much to their dismay.

I went out alone to finish my Christmas shopping, my wallet stuffed full of cash, and returned with it empty. To make up for destroying Alice's credit card, I bought her the Lamborghini she had been intending to buy, and asked Jacob to pick it up on Christmas day so she wouldn't see. For the rest of my family, I bought the usual clothes and jewellery and books and other trinkets they wanted.

Hermione, Harry and the Weasleys were trickier to shop for. I got Ron and the twins top-of-the-range Quidditch gear that Alice assured me they would love, and I got Ginny a set of delicate pearl jewellery. For Hermione, who I knew hated her thick bushy hair, I found an expensive hair straightener, and for Harry I eventually bought a relatively accurate book on vampires, which I handed him with a wink.

"This guy actually knows some stuff," I told him, "Although apparently we're still burned by the sun."

Harry laughed and thanked me, and I left to give the others their presents.

Downstairs, Esme was making a very upset Mrs Weasley a cup of tea. "Ron's older brother, Percy, sent back his gift," Edward told us, and we frowned angrily. The twins wanted to comfort her, but we stopped them, knowing what their idea of 'comforting' was.

"Insulting him won't help," Alice murmured.

"Even if he is a total pile of shit," added Emmett, for once mildly serious.

We drove to the hospital in Alice's new car, which she was still thanking me for, even as she sped down the London streets. Ron looked pale, and Alice warned him not to throw up in her 'new baby', or else. It didn't help that she turned around to tell him this, still driving at 100mph.

Edward chuckled when we entered Mr Weasley's room, and I guessed it might have had something to do with the sheepish look on Arthur's face.

The stink of werewolf wasn't as strong as last time, but it was still uncomfortable to be around.

Mrs Weasley soon noticed that Arthur was wearing fresh bandages, and asked him why they had been changed a day early. Mr Weasley turned red and explained that they had tried stitches on his wounds.

Sensing the explosion, most of us said a quick goodbye and headed for the tea room.

"Let Carlisle sort it out," said Jacob, flinching when we heard Mrs Weasley start yelling. "He'll tell her all about stitches."

"They were probably his idea," chortled Emmett.

"No they weren't," said Edward, shaking his head, "Although he's disappointed they didn't work. He doesn't trust magical remedies."

"Too bad," sighed Alice, "I'd love to see Molly go off at Carlisle…can you imagine it?"

We all laughed at the picture in our heads.

"Typical Dad, though," muttered Ginny, "Stitches…I ask you…"

"They actually work very well on non-magical wounds," said Hermione, but she was also shaking her head in exasperation.

We reached the fourth floor, and started up the staircase to the fifth, when Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny stopped and stared ahead in shock. We followed their stunned gaze to see a blonde man smiling brightly at them under a door marked SPELL DAMAGE.

"Professor Lockhart!" gasped Hermione, sounding faint. I thought back and remembered her telling me stories about her second year at Hogwarts. This man had been their useless Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, until a memory charm had backfired and completely erased his memories. He didn't seem to be doing so well.

"Well hello, there!" he beamed at us, "I expect you'd like my autograph, would you?"

Emmett, Jasper, Jacob, Alice and Rosalie snorted with laughter, while the rest of us watched him curiously. He pulled us into his ward, escorted by a matronly looking Healer, and started sorting through photographs. Edward and Jasper tensed, staring in horror at two beds in the corner that had floral printed curtains around them.

"Oh dear," whispered Alice solemnly, following their stare.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny didn't seem to notice their preoccupation, until the Healer mentioned the name Longbottom. Their heads snapped around in time to see Neville and an old woman who I presumed to be his grandmother leaving.

"Neville!" called Ron brightly, and we groaned. Neville caught sight of us, and turned white, looking at his feet.

"Ah, yes," said his grandmother, watching Harry with appraising eyes, "I know who you are, of course." They shook hands, before Mrs Longbottom turned her gaze on Ron and Ginny, "And you two are clearly Weasleys. And you must be Hermione Granger?" she asked Hermione, who nodded and shook her hand. "And the rest of you...?"

"These are the Cullens," mumbled Neville very quietly, "I told you about them, they're the new students, remember?"

"Ah yes, of course! Neville has told me all about you all. He's a good boy, but he hasn't got his father's talent, I'm afraid to say." She nodded toward the beds in the corner, and everyone gasped.

"What?" asked Ron in amazement, and we groaned again at his bluntness, "Is that your dad down the end, Neville?"

Mrs Longbottom scolded Neville for not telling his friends about his family before. "It's nothing to be ashamed of!"

"I'm not ashamed," murmured Neville, and I didn't doubt the sincerity. I had the strangest urge to fold him in an embrace and comfort him.

Mrs Longbottom explained to us how Neville's parents came to be there, when his wispy haired mother wandered over. "Yes, Alice dear, what is it?"

I now understood why Neville seemed upset when we had first introduced our Alice to him. His mother now held out her hand and gave him an empty sweet wrapper.

"Thanks, Mum," whispered Neville. His mother smiled vaguely and turned to go back to her bed. Our Alice stopped her and we watched as she leaned up to kiss her on the cheek.

"I'm sorry," she said seriously, then turned back to us, "We should go."

We left the ward without saying goodbye. Hermione and Ginny both looked close to tears.

"I never knew," Hermione whispered, and the Weasleys murmured their agreement.

"I did," mumbled Harry, "That's what Bellatrix Lestrange got sent to Azkaban for."

"The damage is permanent," said Alice grimly, "They'll never get better."

"Bellatrix Lestrange did that?" asked Hermione in horror, "The woman Kreacher's got a photo of in his den?"

"The worst monsters aren't always vampires or werewolves, or any other creature," I growled, "Sometimes, the humans are just as bad."