A/N: Just a few things before you read the chapter…

There will be some music in this chapter that is recent. I know the story is set in the 90s, so just go with it. The songs fit what I wanted, so I used them.

I got a review reply from Termia asking me if all the stuff went down with the Marauders and the Golden Trio already, since it wasn't mentioned and we're into the summer. Yes, the ministry kept the story out of the papers, because of their massive blunder in losing Sirius (At least in my version), so The Skirts don't know anything about it. They just know that there has been no more news. I didn't want to give Bella any indication that she might find someone who'd believe her that Sirius is innocent.

Speaking of review replies, does anyone know how to do it? Whenever I click the link in the review alert e-mail I get a page that says something to the effect of, "Oops, this page doesn't exist on FFn" I can only figure out how to reply in PM, so if someone asks a question and they have the PM feature turned off I can't respond. I feel dumb, because I get replies to my reviews all the time that don't go through PM.

Thanks!

Chapter Nine:

My friends have been giving me some space for the last week or so. They know that I need time to grieve the death of my relationship with him. It just hurts so much. I think back to the time we spent together; all the times he told me he loves me. Was everything a lie? Every look of adoration? Every kiss? Every caress? Every "I love you."? I'm just so confused.

I sigh, feeling defeated. I just don't know. I thought I knew him, but the man I knew would never just abandon me. Would he? Or did I really not know him at all? And his family. They just left without a single parting glance. There one day and gone the next. Not because I was abducted and they falsely presumed I was dead. Nope. They weren't forced to leave, they chose to. They left because they don't want or need me. I need them, though. But they left.

I have been listening to Taylor Swift's "Breathe" over and over again. The lyrics express how I'm feeling in this moment better than I ever could…

I see your face in my mind as I drive away
Cause none of us thought it was gonna end that way
But people are people and sometimes we change our minds
But its killin me to see you go after all this time

I was trying really hard not to let it kill me. I know my friends won't allow it, but I just feel so lost right now.

Music starts playing like the end of a sad movie
It's the kind of ending you don't really wanna see
Cause it's tragedy and it'll only bring you down
Now I don't know what to be without you around

I don't know what to be without him around. It's like losing you right arm...or your wand. Something that's a part of you. How do you function after that? How do you go on when half your soul is missing? Are you even a whole person at that point? Where does that leave me?

And we know it's never simple never easy
Never a clean break, no one here to save me
You're the only thing I know like the back of my hand
And I can't breathe without you but I have to
Breathe, without you but I have to

The day after I arrived at Harley's, the girls asked me to explain exactly what he said. They were having a hard time believing that I wasn't his mate. Sigh. No. If I can say Voldemort's name, I can say Ed..ward's. Edward. I can say it. Or at least think it. I will not be a coward.

I didn't want to repeat everything Edward said to me, though. I decided to just give them the memory. It's funny how a magical person's mind works. We can consciously miss so many things in the moment, but our subconscious minds are able to retain every detail of the event, leaving a perfect memory.

As I gathered the memory in my mind to pull the pensieve, I remembered some things Edward said. I hadn't taken in the words while I was sobbing relentlessly in front of him. But my mind retained them. He told me his family was already gone. He said it was to give me a clean break. Apparently that's supposed to make me feel better.

Yeah, right. Just like Taylor says, there's never a clean break. Not when it comes to matters of the heart. It's always messy. When someone you love leaves you behind, how can it be easier if they just remove themselves from your life? I think it's a coward's move. The Cullens got to move on with their lives without having to see the devastation they wrought in mine. They don't have to be accountable for their actions. They don't have to see me stuggle to breathe, to live, without them. I mean, does family mean nothing to them?

Sweet Circe, it means so much to me. I can't hold back the tears as I think about all the families that have been torn apart because of outside forces. Families that would have, and did, fight to the death to stay together. The non evil Blacks. The Potters. The Prewetts. The Longbottoms. The names go on and on. I read about so many families that were obliterated in that senseless war. But they fought. They stuck together. That's how I felt about the Cullens. If Victoria threatened them I would have fought for them, been willing to die to protect them. Because they were my family. I guess they lied when they told me they viewed me the same way, because family doesn't abandon. They don't walk away.

I try not to allow the Cullens' and Peter's actions color the way I view life. I don't want to turn into an embittered old hag who trusts no one and pushes everyone away in order to protect myself from this kind of pain. It's hard, though. Daddy, Jamie and Remy thought they knew Peter. They thought he was their friend. They trusted him with their lives, and now Jamie and Lily are dead because of it. My dad spent 12 years in prison and had to suffer people believing horrible lies about him. All because they trusted someone untrustworthy. But how do you know?

Thinking about my dad in this moment makes me feel like such a melodramatic drama queen. Edward and his family left me. Even though I see it as a betrayal, the only consequence I have to live with is their absence in my life. No one has died. I am not being sent to prison. I suddenly felt a pang of sadness for my father. I wanted him to know that someone out there believed in him. He must feel so alone. I needed him to know that I had faith in him, even if he didn't know I was his daughter. I decided then and there that I would not wallow any longer. As an act of defiance, I decided that my first deed after climbing out of my pit of self pity would a reckless one.

I walked over to the desk and pulled out a small piece of parchment. On it I wrote a simple note:

I know you're innocent. I believe in you. Always.

I didn't sign it or address it in case Caelen was intercepted. I didn't know where my dad would be hiding, and I didn't want to risk him being caught. I told Caelen to be extremely cautious and if there was any danger to himself or Sirius that he needed to turn around and come back immediately. If he couldn't find him within two weeks, he was to come home. He hooted and rubbed his head on my cheek affectionately. I think he's glad that I've returned to the land of the living.

The girls were huddled together over some parchment when I entered the living room after my self induced exile. I cleared my throat and three heads shot up in my direction. They all smiled comfortingly and gestured for me to join them. Harley quickly flipped their parchment over before I sat down, and I raised my eyebrow at her. "It's a surprise. It'll be ready tonight," she told me.

Sammie put her arm around me and I laid my head on her shoulder while Nicole comfortingly rubbed my back. "You should go see the Jacob. He's got to be worried about you, Bells." Harley suggested.

I shot her a wry grin. "You're just trying to get me out of the house so that you guys can wrap up your little covert operation."

The corner of her lips twitched, but she tried for an innocent look. She finally gave up after a few seconds and let a smirk take over her features. "Maybe."

I sighed. "Fine. How long should I stay away?"

They looked at each other having a silent conversation before Nic turned back to me. "Come back in 5 hours."

"Five hours?" I whined. "What am I supposed to do for five hours?"

They all rolled their eyes at me. "You are going to talk to Charlie and Jacob. If you tell them what happened it will probably take more than five hours to convince the pack not to hunt Edward down and rip him to pieces." Sammie offered with a sardonic grin.

"Har Har. I give you five hours." I pulled out my wand and apparated on the spot.

I landed in the woods just outside Charlie's house. I wasn't sure if he was home, or if he'd be alone. As soon as I walked through the door I was surrounded by a bunch of wolves. Before I registered what was happening Jacob had me in a tight embrace. After he pulled away he held me at arm's length and looked me over. "What happened, Bella? Are you okay?"

All the wolves looked frantic. "I'm fine. I went to Harley's. I left you a note."

Sam took over. "It's Victoria. She's been seen around Forks. Your truck was here, but you were gone. The Cullens had left. We were afraid…"

I felt an immense wave of guilt crash into me. I'd been so wrapped up in my own heartache that I thought of no one but myself. Of course they'd be worried. And shit, how do I explain how I left and came back so suddenly without transportation while being trailed by a vampire out for blood?

I decided to tell the wolf pack my secret. They trusted me with theirs. They were not a potential enemy to magical people, hell they were magical creatures themselves. I could also perform the charm to hide the knowledge in their minds myself, as they don't have the same defenses that protect vampires from all but the most complex magic. I won't have to inform anyone that I told them.

Sam continued while I was lost in thought. "Well, we were just scared that either Victoria got to you, or the Cullens…I don't know. Had an accident? Jasper was so out of control. I know he would never hurt you in his right mind, but, well, you saw him. I hate to think of them like that, but they just told us they were leaving a few minutes after you left their house. They were already packing their things. It all happened so fast, and they didn't really explain anything. Only that you weren't going with them."

I grimaced. Thanks for reminding me, Sam.

He didn't notice my sour face and continued on. "Did you end up going with them, Bella? I mean, you left so suddenly. How did you do it? And doesn't your friend live in Kentucky? How did you get back?"

I took a deep breath and made eye contact with Jake. He nodded at me in encouragement to trust the rest of the pack with my secret. "You guys might want to sit down. Paul, you said I handled weird really well. It's time to see how you boys fare."

I told them that I was a witch and that before I came to Forks, I'd attended a magical institution in Massachusetts. They all burst out laughing. Embry threw his arm around my shoulder and poked me in the cheek with his index finger. "Right, Bella."

I considered how best to show them that I was speaking the truth. I went through all the spells I knew, but finally decided on showing them my animal form. The only three people who know that I'm an animagus are Nicole, Sammie and Harley. First of all, it is illegal to become an unregistered animagus. Second, it made our adventures much easier. We also figured that it was helping Sirius to have his unknown form. He could be playing fetch with Cornelius Fudge and the man would never know he was but feet away from the convict he was hunting. I know the wolves will keep the secret, and it will introduce magic to them in a way theyll understand completely. I'd also been wanting to tell Jake for years.

With the decision made, I stood up and smirked at them. "So, you boys think you're so special, just because you can turn into an animal, don't you?" At the confused looks on their faces I transformed into a chocolate lab right in front of their eyes. I barked out a doggy laugh at the sight of their wide eyes and open mouths. I trotted up to Embry and put my nose under his chin, shutting his mouth for him. That broke the rest of the pack out of their shock induced silence and the room roared with laughter. I barked another laugh and chased my tail before transforming back into a human.

"And I get to keep my clothes and everything. Isn't magic awesome? It's illegal to transform without registering. You guys are the only people besides the Skirts who know. I know you won't tell anyone." They all agreed. I then took out my wand and started levitating Jared around the room. After that I broke a couple of glasses and repaired them, good as new. They were all very impressed.

Sam then looked to Jacob. "You knew?" At Jake's affirmative nod, Sam continued. "How did we not see this through our connection?"

I went on to explain the concept of the concealment charm and told them I'd have to place it over them. They were hesitant at first, but I assured them it was perfectly safe. Jake had his since he was nine, after all. After realizing that the reason the charm was required was to protect the magical community from vampires, they understood. They knew Edward could read minds, and I explained about Aro. They all ended up taking the charm without complaint.

After Jake finished regaling them on the wonders of Quidditch and wizarding New York, the pack wanted to know what happened with the Cullens. I squirmed uncomfortably in my seat. I was trying really hard not to feel sorry for myself, but retelling the story was making that a near impossible feat. I decided on the condensed version.

"Basically Edward realized that I wasn't his mate. He'd been trying to make me fit that mold, because of my mental silence, but after what happened on the baseball field, he started to question it. At least that's when I assume he started having doubts. That was when he started pulling away from me. After what happened with Jasper, he couldn't risk his family's safety anymore. Especially when he knew I wasn't his true mate." I tried to keep the moisture in my eyes while retelling the story, but a few tears spilled over.

When I finished the explanation they all shouted in unison, "Bullshit!"

"Excuse me? I think I know what happened. I was there, after all." I was hurt that they thought I was lying. Why would I lie about something like that?

Sam responded for his pack. "That's not what we mean, Bella. We are calling "bullshit" on Edward, not you. You are his mate. He knows it. His family knows it. We all know it. Why is it that you don't know it?"

The tears starting making their way down my cheeks much faster than before. I looked down at my twisted fingers resting in my lap. "I know Edward is my soul mate. But he said he didn't want me anymore. That I wasn't good enough for him."

The wolves shot out of their seats and started vibrating. Shit. I immediately apparated to the kitchen in case one of them accidentally phased. I heard surprised voices in the living room. "Where the hell did she go?"

"I'm in the kitchen. You guys looked like you might lose control and I didn't want to get in the way if you did."

I could tell they were still angry as they filed into the kitchen. Jared and Sam looked the most angry. In fact, they looked down right murderous. Jared was the one who spoke. "I can't believe he said those things to you Bella. I could never say those things to Kim. I could never leave her. Never. How can he stand to be away from you?"

I was…confused. I guess Sam could tell because he asked me if I'd ever heard of imprinting. At my negative response he explained, "When one of us meets our true mate, it is called imprinting. When you find this person, your whole life becomes centered on them. They become your everything. It doesn't matter if you're married, or in a committed relationship. There is nothing that can keep you from your imprint." He then told me about how he was dating Leah Clearwater all throughout high school. He was in love with her. He was going to marry her. Then he met her cousin, Emily. There were no ties that could keep him away from her. It was predestined. "It is the same way with vampires and their mates. When they fall in love, it's for eternity, Bella. Edward loves you. Even a blind man would be able to see it. You are his mate. I'm with Jared. I don't understand how he can stand to be away from you."

Jacob snorted. "You guys don't understand because you're not thinking like Edward. We all know how he was before he met Bella. All self loathing and emo. He hates what he is. He thinks he doesn't have a soul."

I gasped. How could Edward think that? It radiated through him like the brightest sun.

Jacob cocked his head to the side. "You don't know this because you changed him, Bella. You made him believe that maybe things could be different. You were his singer, but he managed to control his instincts enough to fall in love with you. When you looked at him, you didn't see a monster, even when you knew what he was. He started to believe you until James and his clan came along. It reminded him of what he is. Of the dangers he brought into your life. Of course, he didn't know that you had plenty of danger in your life without him. He tried to move past it, but it was hard. He was finally making progress when the paper cut incident happened. Jesus, Bella. You are a complete disaster." He gave me a wry grin and a wink. "After Jasper's attack, he couldn't justify his presence in your life anymore. He was just beginning to get used to the idea of protecting you from the dangers outside of the little Cullen bubble. Realizing you'd also be in danger inside the bubble made it burst. He left because he loved you. He couldn't stand for you to be in danger because of him."

We all stared at Jake in stunned silence. It was broken by Embry. "When the hell did you get so observant?"

Jake just smiled at him. "Bella is my best friend. You think I'd let Cullen near her if I didn't know he loved her and had her best interest at heart?" He turned to me. "I've had my eye on him ever since he's had his on you, Bella. I know how he thinks. I also know that Edward Cullen is in love with you, and he always will be. In fact, I'd be willing to bet money he's holed himself in some dingy attic somewhere drowning in misery."

They all chuckled at that. Except me. I frowned…Edward left because he loves me? What about the rest of them? I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Jake noticed my frown and pulled me into a hug. "Give him some time, Bella. He will see that his actions are misguided."

"Why did he tell me I wasn't his mate? He basically told me he never loved me." I murmured into Jacob's chest while my arms tightly hugged his waist.

Jake sighed. "This is all speculation, Bella. I know that Edward loves you, of that I'm sure. I'm just guessing on his motivations, here."

"What is your best guess?"

"Well, I think he left with the intention of never coming back." I tensed at his words and he continued hastily. "I'm not saying that I think he'll succeed, Bella. I believe he'll eventually break down and come back, begging for your forgiveness." He looked down at me with a smirk. "And you better make him beg."

I felt a real smile creep onto my face. "Oh, I will."

"Anyways, I think he left with the intention of staying away. He told you what he thought you needed to hear in order to get over him quickly. I imagine he thought you'd be angry and say 'Screw him'. He did this hoping that you would move on with your life, even knowing that he never would move on with his." He paused for a beat. "Why didn't you tell him, Bella? That you're a witch?"

"I was planning to. The night of my birthday. Everything went sideways so fast. Then he was telling me that he was leaving me behind. It's a huge committment for him to know the secret, Jake. The ministry will have to put the charm on him. I don't have the tools or knowledge to be able to perform it on a vampire. I could be arrested, Jake."

"Maybe you should spend your last year of school researching how to place the charm on a vampire. I know how you Skirts like your side projects."

I laid my head back against Jake's chest and let out a shuddered breath. Could what Jacob was saying be true? I thought about what everything we'd discussed while listening to the strong steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. I was broken from my inner musings when Charlie came home from work.

"Bells! We've been so worried about you. You have a vampire after you, you know?"

I grimaced. They told Charlie! I sent Sam a glare and he smiled sheepishly. "I was worried."

I rolled my eyes and they caught sight of the clock on the microwave. It was 8:30. Shit! It had been almost seven hours!

I ran to the living room and floo called the girls. They were already sitting in the living room waiting for me. Nic whined in a mocking voice, much higher than my own might I add. "What am I going to do for five hoooouuurs?"

"Oh hush, you. I ended up telling the pack about magic. It took a while."

Nic and Sammie scowled while each handing Harley a galleon. "You made a bet on me?"

"Yep," Harley said, popping the 'p'. "I told them the pack would want to know how you got to Kentucky and back so quick. You'd panic and tell them everything. You can be such an amateur sometimes."

"Hey!" I exclaimed while Sammie and Nic snickered. "Tell me, what would you come up with, oh wise one?"

"Oh, gee, I don't know. How about an airplane, Bella? You could have said that your friend Angela picked you up and dropped you off." She looked smug.

"Oh yeah? Where did I get the money to pay for these plane tickets, then? I'm just Bella Swan, remember?" Now it was my turn to look smug.

"It doesn't matter," Sammie reasoned. "The point is that they know. Did you place the charm on them?"

"I did. I was wondering if my surprise was something they could see. I want to bring some of them along, if it's okay with your family, Har."

"Of course you can bring them, Bells. Why not bring them all?"

"Victoria. At least two of them will need to stay and protect the town. As long as one of them stays in wolf form while they're there, the others will get to experience it as well."

"Oh, Bella! Speaking of Victoria, we've been doing some research," Nicole informed.

"What kind of research?"

"Wards" They said in unison with huge grins on their faces. Sammie continued, "We think we've figured out a permanent ward that you can place on a house to keep vampires out. It is a combination of your method of shielding yourself and other protective ward magic. We can come there now and place them on Charlie's and the wolves' houses if you want."

"Holy Merlin! You guys are genius! Yes, come over!"

I stepped back from the fire place and the girls apparated in the next moment. The wolves looked excited. "What do they mean by wards, Bella? Does this mean that vampires can't get into our houses?"

"Yep," Harley answered.

The girls explained the theory behind it, and it was brilliant in its simplicity. We would place a standard protective ward over the house. The wards, once set, stay up indefinitely if they aren't removed by a wizard capable of ward destruction. I would then use my magic to weave the shield through the ward. The shield couldn't stay up on my person without a small portion of my magic concentrated on maintaining it. However, the ward acted like a generator. Instead of using my magic to maintain itself, it would draw off the ward's magic. As the wards are self sustaining, the shield would never die out.

I started on Charlie's house, setting up the ward and the shield while the girls apparated the wolves to La Push to start setting up the wards on their houses. My magic was more powerful than my friends', and they couldn't erect the shield. They are unable to channel their magic the way I can. I've tried to tell them how I do it, and but they've never been able to do the things I can.

It took us about an hour to get all the wolves' houses, as well as some common areas warded and shielded. We did the common areas on the off chance that there is an attack on the town. The wolves could cover the elders while they ushered their people into the large community buildings.

I told the pack I knew a vegetarian vampire in Alaska. I promised to owl him and ask him to come down to test the viability of our creation. There is a wizarding town near Anchorage where I could meet him. I'd apparate us back to Forks and he could test the shields and then be back in Alaska before anyone knew he was gone.

It was around 10:00 by the time we finished, so it would be midnight in at Harley's. I asked her if we should wait until the next night for my surprise, but the girls insisted that it wasn't too late. Har's parents were at some convention in Georgia and the house was empty.

"We're at least ten miles from any neighbors, so we're good," Harley added helpfully. Oh Merlin. What did they have in store for me?

Jared and Embry were staying back, so I had the rest of the pack put a finger on an old shoe I'd turned into a portkey. Ha! Now I was the one standing regally while my travel companions were sprawled out across the ground.

The girls told us to get comfortable and Jacob phased so Jared and Embry wouldn't miss the show. I leaned against my friend, my brother, and snuggled in for the show.

I noticed Sammie and Harley throwing up some muggle repelling and notice-me-not charms.

"Ahem." Nicole got our attention, before continuing. "Bella. We know that you specifically chose your birthday to ensure that you'd always have fireworks on your birthday. Unfortunately, your last birthday was woefully lacking." Holy understatement, Batman. "So, the girls and I have come up with a little performance to try and make up for it. We've come up with some charms to make it happen, but we want your input when we're finished. We're thinking about presenting it to the school. Your weird voodoo like control over fire will improve the show."

Sammie continued. "Now, I know that the song is pretty spot on, a bit too obviously so, but we just felt that it was a good song to put to magic."

The music to "Firework" by Katy Perry came on and Sammie started singing the words. The visuals were amazing. They had managed to create fireworks that would explode into our animal forms.

When Sammie sang, "Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in," Harley magically erected a giant 10 foot tall house of cards and sent a gust of wind to blow the cards away. Nic then transfigured them into brilliant sparklers floating around the night.

During the line, "All the doors are closed so you can open one that leads you to the perfect road," Harley transfigured four doors that all slammed shut leaving one to open. She walked through and started walking down the yellow brick road that Nic created.

They then started focusing on the fireworks, and I decided to join in. Our animal forms were still being created amongst the other explosions, and I started manipulating them. I had the mountain lion and lab playfully wrestle while the fox chased after the hummingbird. They I changed one of the other generic explosions into a giant fire breathing dragon that was brought down by the tiny little hummingbird. Then I had the lion, lab and fox all dance to Thriller.

I continued to play with the fireworks that Nic and Harley were creating long after Sammie finished the song. We were all laughing and having a great time. It was the best belated birthday ever! I felt so grateful to have these people in my life. The only thing that would make it complete would be if I had my dad and the Cullens here with us.

A/N:

Big thanks to Lighty, darkangel0212, vivx-chan, Sweetie7smiled, I Am Number Seven,Termia, and DreamerHorse for your reviews! Much love!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I wanted to kind of give you an idea of what her head space was like right now. I also wanted you to get to know the other Skirts, as they will be going with Bella to Hogwarts for the TWT, er, I guess it will be the Quad Wizard Tournament, now.

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think!