/Disclaimer/ All rights and respects to JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer for their universes. I'm just playing in the sandbox.
CHAPTER THREE: Promises
Professor Brightwater pursed her mouth in an indignant pout. Her eyes travelled up and down Edward's figure and Jacob could smell the woman's feelings. Fear at the death threat mingled hauntingly with concern for Nessie, chased by an aching need. The werewolf rolled his eyes. Of course the human was again reacting to the compulsion the vampire cast, merely by the lines of his face and perfectly tousled hair. She seemed to come to her senses when her leaning body tipped the balance of her stool and sent her wobbling. As soon as the eye contact was broken, the witch's scent changed to a steely determination, much like the prickling smell of pepper.
"We can come to an agreement about this," the woman said, sitting upright. "What exactly is it that you think I'll say that will disrupt the balance of your lives, as you so put it?"
"The Volturi enforce the laws of the vampire world, but there are other covens. While Aro has been appeased, other powerful vampires seek to stamp half-breeds out," Edward murmured.
The witch nodded sagely, "Prejudice is no stranger to witches and wizards, Mr Cullen."
A strange expression crossed Bella's face before she said, "Here we can protect Nessie, educate her, keep her from the grasps of those who want to kill her, study her, or mate with her."
Jacob tensed, his jaw tightening. Nessie was his soulmate. The thought of another man being with her, touching her, even befriending her made his hackles rise. The girl in his arms hunched her shoulders and Jacob ran a soothing hand over her thigh. Goosebumps appeared under his light touch and his teeth began to ache.
Bella's face returned to her normal frosty demeanor, "It's another reason why Jacob is so important to Renesmee's safety. He'll die before he'd let her get hurt."
The werewolf inclined his head slightly, his eyes never leaving Bella's. He searched her face for a sliver of the girl he used to love, but none seemed to remain. Edward had stolen much from him when he had married Bella, including Bella's tentative friendship. Jacob felt Edward's presence in his mind, gentling rifling through his thoughts. The vampire's expression didn't change, despite Jacob's stare.
Professor Brightwater fiddled with her wand, her fingers tracing ridges and bumps. "Of course the safety of the students are paramount at Augury Academy. No other students need to know about Renesmee's... condition. Her diet would be attended to by the house elves, though she should eat with the rest of the student body to prevent suspicions. As for the werewolf," the witch's gaze lingered on Jacob and he quirked his eyebrow, "he's practically a Squib -"
The young man bristled at her tone of voice, "What did you just call me?"
"Squibs are the non-magical offspring of magical folk," Brightwater explained offhandedly, "We don't accept Squibs at Augury Academy as the majority of our classes require control of magic."
Bella said, "Does he need to be enrolled as a student?"
"I really dislike school," Jacob offered.
A quick study of the young man and the witch nodded, "You look old enough to have graduated anyway."
"I'm 27."
The professor's double-take was almost comical. Her eyes flicked briefly towards Renesmee again. Jacob smelled pity roll off her in waves. He couldn't tell if it was for him or for his bonded. He showed his teeth in a wide smile and said, "I retained my age as soon as I Imprinted on Nessie. Once she stops aging, so will I."
Brightwater smoothed out the furrow of her brow. Everyone in the room heard her whispered words of "nearly two and a half times older". A sudden burst of hurt escaped Nessie's body, flooding Jacob with the emotion. She squirmed in his lap and he let the girl go, clenching his hands into fists when he lost the conduit to her feelings, a hollow ache in his chest. She turned her sweet face to look at him, really look at him. Of course he imagined he looked the same as he always did; a sardonic twist to his mouth, crinkles at the corners of his eyes. Had she never considered their age difference before? The fact that he had watched her grow up? Transition from a cuddly fat baby to a long-legged young woman? His stomach roiled with the thought that their easy relationship had changed.
"... we could employ you within the school." The professor was saying, "Perhaps as an assistant to the Keeper of Keys and Grounds. Or a laboratory aide for our Potions Master..."
Jacob broke eye contact with Nessie and said, "I'm good with tools, cars, bikes, that sort of thing."
"Perhaps you could assist Professor Ionine in Metallurgy. It would be an asset to have fresh near-muggle eyes assess our curriculum." Brightwater's enthusiasm was infectious and her smile seemed genuine, "Ironically, I feel much more comfortable knowing you're of a sensible age."
The young werewolf rewarded her with a beaming smile. "Afraid I was going to seduce some freshmen?"
Both Bella and Nessie narrowed their eyes at him. Edward was bemused; having access to his true thoughts, Edward knew that Jacob only had eyes for his daughter. The professor's skin tinged slightly pink. Before she had a chance to continue, Edward stepped forward. The witch was once again enthralled by his appearance.
"If you agree to keep Renesmee's half-breed nature secret and Jacob remains her protector, we will allow Renesmee to attend Augury Academy." Edward entwined his fingers with his wife's as he spoke, stroking her wrist with his thumb. Jacob watched the contact with a lick of longing, but no jealousy. Not anymore.
"That is," Bella added, her face an emotionless mask, "if Nessie would like to attend this school."
Rene actually jumped at the sound of her name. This was all too strange. After years of being cooped up, hidden, living in the fear of unknown assailants coming for her to ravage her in some way... could she live away? Attend a school where she would learn how to control her magic? Where there were other children, like her, who understood what it was like to never interact with the humans around them?
Children... Rene dug her fingernails into her thigh. She felt Jacob's enormous warmth despite the distance between them. He was hers, she was his. She'd known that ever since she could form coherent thoughts. But it wasn't something she actively thought about. He was so much older, more experienced, more worldly. How did he deal with her childish antics when he was so relatively old?
Yet, would she be able to go long periods of time without him in her sight? Jacob was always nearby, lounging at her feet in wolf form, shoveling food into his mouth while she studied, running with her when she hunted. What would it be like to be alone for once, by herself?
The girl peered up at her father, noting the openess of his face. Her eyes reluctantly swept to her mother, her features settled in a thoroughly blank manner. The witch's eyes appeared kind and welcoming. Last she turned her head to look at Jacob, her soul mate. She could see the love in the lay of his mouth and softness of his face; he'd follow her no matter where she went.
"I want to go."
Professor Brightwater's eyes gleamed. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you, Miss Cullen. I'm the Head of Nu Lambda Nu," Jacob twitched at the mention of a fraternity, "and also teach the elective course the Study of Ancient Runes." A thoughtful expression swept across her face and she continued, "As I mentioned earlier, you'll have to be enrolled in third year so that you do not stand out physically among your peers. Third years can choose a minimum of two electives to study in addition to core classes."
Rene felt her heart beating fast in excitement. Until last year, she had been a devourer of knowledge, pestering those around her with questions. Ever since her body started to really change, she had become withdrawn, didn't like to attract attention to herself. She was so academically starved she spent most of her free time searching the Internet and studying any online course she could enroll in. But this. Magic. Something almost entirely new to her. Potions, spells, what other things waited for her to explore?
The witch rose out of her chair, prompting Rene to stand too, Jacob following only a moment later.
"Mr Cullen, Mrs Cullen, er, Jacob and Miss Cullen, it was a... an eye-opening journey meeting you all. Automated mail will arrive soon with details of how students travel to and from the Academy. I must be going, other new students to enroll." As she was speaking, Professor Brightwater was letting herself out the front door, the Cullens and Jacob watching her retreating form. On the doorstep she said, "Farewell."
Before the door could swing shut, the witch drew her wand, spoke softly and disappeared with a faint popping noise into thin air.
/Author's Note/ I had a lot of fun creating the "houses" of Augury Academy. Can't wait to reveal them all.