Edward hadn't moved from the rocking chair in my bedroom the following morning. The crooked smile was on his lips as he commented on the way I talk in my sleep. 'You're quite an interesting human. The sleep-talking is fascinating.' Bet Edward wouldn't think that, if I still muttered Voldemort's thoughts in my sleep. I stretched, asking Edward about my sleep-talking. 'What did I say?' Edward looked thoughtful for a few seconds. 'Err... something about nargles and radish earrings.' I didn't comment, letting Edward continue. 'You said... and I quote: Padfoot, you're such a prat.' I chuckled. 'That should be the Potter family motto.' Edward spoke, changing the subject slightly. 'Speaking of families. Carlisle and Esme would like to meet you... Esme invited you to lunch.' Lunch? With a family of vampires? 'Esme felt like cooking.' Right. 'Wh... What if they don't like me?' I didn't mean to say that out loud. Edward chuckled. 'So, you weren't worried that we're a family of vampires. You're worried that those vampires may not approve.' I glared towards Edward. 'Don't make me hex you again.'
I got dressed into a pair of jeans and chunky fairisle patterned jumper. Edward had gone home for a few hours: he'd be collecting me around one o'clock. I was sat in my bedroom examining a particularly complicated potion. I hadn't expected a visitor. 'Poppet.' A smile appeared on my lips. Dad. 'Mr. Minister.' Dad chuckled, hugging me. 'I miss you, Bells.' The smile on my lips widened. 'I miss you too, dad.' We pulled away from one another. I asked dad how things at work where going. He sort of smiled and said that the Ministry was getting there. 'I fired the senior undersecretary, because he's prejudice against werewolves. That position seems to attract people like that... and I'll probably return to find the Ministry in ruins. I left Padfoot in charge.' I laughed: dad continued. 'Truthfully... I was hoping to catch you with that boyfriend you mentioned.' I grinned, thinking about dad's reaction to Edward. 'I'm meeting Edward's parents over lunch.' Dad seemed to be about to talk, as I continued. 'But you... Mr. Minister shan't be here. I'll bring Edward to meet you next weekend. Okay?' Dad nodded. 'Fine.' I smiled, leaning against dad's shoulder.
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Dad didn't want to leave, but he eventually promised to wait until next weekend. I am anxious about introducing Edward to my friends and family. I didn't even want to think about the Daily Prophet's reaction: Isabella Potter Dating A Vampire. I can see the headline now. Edward soon arrived to collect me. He climbed through the window, pausing as he saw the apprehensive expression on my face. 'Carlisle and Esme won't disapprove of you, love.' Edward's concern made me grin. 'It's not that... My dad may disapprove of you.' Edward stepped down from the window ledge. I knew Edward would be able to smell dad's scent. 'I don't blame him. I wouldn't let my daughter date a monster.' I smirked. 'You're daughter isn't me. I can look after myself... and you're no monster.' Edward didn't comment. 'Dad wants to meet you next weekend.' Edward nodded, asking how we'd be travelling to London. I was hoping we'd floo to the Ministry, avoiding the Daily Prophet reporters. I wondered if I should warn Edward about the reporters. Hmmm. Maybe later.
Edward drove us to the Cullen family's house. The house took me by surprise. It wasn't like I expected moats and dungeons: but I had expected something a little less ostentatious. The walls of the large house where mostly glass, allowing light to stream into the rooms. I could only imagine the view on a sunny day, with eleven sparkling vampires going about their day-to-day routine. I had never seen a vampire sparkle in person. Padfoot tells me that it's quite a spectacular sight. I've only seen pictures in textbooks. I waited for Edward to open the passenger side door, holding his hand out for me. 'Where you expecting dungeons and coffins?' I grinned. 'Nope. Just something less flamboyant.' Edward's crooked grin showed his amusement. 'It's the one place where we can be ourselves.' Edward lead me towards the front door. I tripped slightly on the front step. Edward caught me, but I'm sure I heard muffled laughter from inside the house. I steadied myself as we stepped into the hallway. I could see most of Edward's siblings in the living room: Gemma greeted us. I noticed that Emmett seemed to be restraining himself, most likely over commenting on my clumsiness.
We greeted the Cullen siblings and Edward then lead me through to the unnecessary kitchen. Two vampires were stood in the kitchen preparing lunch at a rapid pace. I watched the male vampire slicing salad without really paying attention. 'You're right son. Her blood is more potent than others... I'm proud of you for resisting.' The male vampire glanced towards us with a smile on his lips. 'You must be Isabella.' I corrected the vampire. 'Bella.' He looked momentarily towards Edward. 'Sorry. Bella. I'm Carlisle Cullen... and this is my wife, Esme.' The female vampire had stopped preparing lunch to watch us standing in the doorway. Esme reminded me of a typical mother. Her smile was full of warmth and love. 'It's lovely to finally meet you dear.' I watched Esme return to cooking, whilst Carlisle spoke. 'Edward tells us that you're a witch.' I nodded. 'Yes. I went to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like Gemma.' Edward corrected me. 'Zara and Quin attended too, love.'
Edward took me up to his room after lunch. I'd say bedroom, but there was no bed. The room was decorated in a soft gold colour with black furniture. The external glass walls look out over the forest: and one of the internal walls is covered in shelves of muggle music storage disks. 'Wow. You have a lot of music.' Edward stood leaning against the doorframe as I examined the music. 'It's a hobby. You start accumulating things after a few decades.' I grinned. 'A few?' I pressed the play button on Edward's music player. Classical music filled the room. 'I'm almost one hundred and four.' Edward twirled me under his arm. I felt a frown appear on my lips: Edward chuckled. 'What?' 'I can't dance.' Edward seemed thoughtful. 'Hmmm... Well, I could always make you.' I grinned again. 'I'm not scared of you.' Edward just chuckled again. 'Well you really shouldn't have said that.'
The next second Edward had me on his back. 'You better hold on tight, spider monkey.' Edward jumped out his window landing on a tree trunk. We scaled the tree. 'I want to show you something.' We'd reached the top of the tree and I could sense Edward getting ready to jump. 'Do you trust me?' I gulped. 'Theoretically.' Edward jumped landing in the adjacent tree. He continued to jump from tree to tree at some pace, until we reached a small clearing. The little clearing was full of flowers and tall grass. Edward dropped suddenly from the tree, causing a scream to escape from my lips. Edward chuckled. 'Sorry. Should have warned you?' I climbed off Edward's back, almost falling. Edward caught hold of my hand. 'I like to come here to think.' I glanced around the little meadow with a smile. 'It's lovely.' Edward's crook smile had reappeared. 'I've never shown it to anyone.' I was a little speechless.
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We lay amongst the flowers for a while. I warned Edward about the Daily Prophet reporters. 'I might get bombarded with reports, when we visit London next weekend.' Edward took a second to think through his response. 'Gemma mentioned something about reports... Don't worry, love. I won't let them pester you.' I laughed, thinking about how Edward would dispose of the reporters. 'Can I ask you some questions?' I nodded. 'What's your favourite colour?' I glanced towards Edward. 'Before I met you it was Gryffindor red.' Edward raised his eyebrows. 'And now?' I stared into Edward's golden eyes: they were the colour I loved so much. 'Gold... like your eyes.' Edward grinned his crooked grin. 'My eyes were green as a human... but I have to say they were nothing like your eyes.' I flushed slightly red. 'I have my mother's eyes.' Edward continued to stare into my eyes. I knew it was dangerous, but I wanted to kiss him. Yes. I, Isabella Potter wanted to kiss a vampire. I wouldn't though, because just being around me was pushing his will-power. I admire Edward's will-power. I don't want to make the temptation any worse for him.
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Returning to the house, Edward had to go change clothes. The living room was deserted by now and there was no sign of Edward's siblings. I wondered over to the piano, sat in the corner of the room. I haven't played the piano since my fifth year at Hogwarts. This piano looked particularly expensive. I decided that the Cullens wouldn't mind if I had a go. I played an old piece of piano music that I'd composed as a fifteen year old. The beautiful piece of music seemed to come out differently as I ran my fingers across the keys. The music was softer with an element of blissfulness. I thought about Edward as the harmony filled the room. The thoughts in my mind where interrupted by a velvet voice. 'You didn't mention that you played piano.' Edward appeared beside me on the piano bench. I just continued to play. 'You never asked... It's yours, isn't it?' I assumed the piano was his, because I know he was into music. He nodded, commenting on the piece I was playing, because he hadn't heard it before. 'It's a piece I wrote a while ago.' Edward's eyes watched my finger moving across the keys. 'It's beautiful. Does it have a name?' I hadn't named the piece of music. Edward seemed to senses that. I finished playing as Edward searched through a pile of sheet music.
Edward pulled a pristine piece of sheet music from the pile. He handed the sheet music to me, beginning to play - from memory - the notes elegantly scrawled across the page. Bella's Lullaby. A smile appeared on my lips. 'You wrote me a lullaby?' Edward didn't look up from the keys. 'It reminds me of you. It is beautiful.' The crooked smile appeared on Edward's lips. 'You may keep the sheet music... if you like. I have it, uh, committed to memory.' I didn't respond, listening to Edward play the lullaby.
A.N. Next chapter :) Sorry it took so long. Been busy getting ready of university. Just to clarify Gemma and Aunt Luna are the same person. Gemma Cullen and Roxanne Ashby (who may appear later) are the daughters of Charles Goodwin. They are both witches and attending Hogwarts alongside the Marauders. During the wizarding wars the two sisters where undercover as Death Eaters. Gemma was posing as Mrs. Black. Gemma is also a shapeshifter like Jacob, because she was transformed due to being attacked by a werewolf. Gemma is Luna. Roxanne is Fangs. Luna because during the full moon she becomes fertile and around that time gets moody. It's sort of like her time of the month :p. Anyway... hope you have enjoyed this chapter. One more chapter until Bella takes Edward to the Ministry. Please Please keep reviewing. It really helps my motivation. I accept guest reviews. Love RoxannetheLaugh