Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter or Twilight.

Here is the next chapter! I hope you enjoy it.

I woke up the next morning alone on the love seat. Harry was gone. I looked around to see that everyone else was up and about also.

"Allie!" I heard Jacob shout from the kitchen. He nearly knocked over his chair at the table as he ran over and knelt next to me on the couch. "You're awake."

I groaned as I tried to sit up. New, more stiff, bandages were wrapped tightly around my torso and it made bending quite difficult. "No dip, Jake."

My guardian grabbed my arm and helped me into a sitting position on the couch. "Well somebody is crabby this morning." He told me.

I just simply narrowed my eyes at him before rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I looked over at the couch and saw that George was still laying there. The twin winked at me.

"So, Cullen, looks like we are going to be recovery buddies." He teased.

I chuckled once. "Speak for yourself, one-eared-wonder. I'm not laying around in here all day."

I tried to stand up but the instant I moved Mrs. Weasley descended upon me. "Oh, no you don't Allie Cullen!" She scolded as she came to shake a wooden spoon in my face. "You will not get up from this couch! You are injured young lady and I will not permit anything else to happen to you under my roof."

I froze between my standing and sitting position. It was as if Mrs. Weasley and I were having a show down. But, unfortunately, a second later I sat back on the couch. Who was I trying to kid? I was no match for Mrs. Weasley's death glare.

I sighed as I settled back in.

"Told ya, roomy." George shot over to me with another wink.

I shook my head at him. Jake came to sit in the spot next to me. He stared at me for a moment, as if he expected me to say something to him-but I didn't. I didn't really have anything to say to anyone. Anger filled me this morning

I was just pissed about everything- Moody, Snape, that freaking broom. Actually, I was kind of thankful for the anger because it was keeping the pain in my torso at bay. Anger was always easier for me to handle than grief or disappointment. It was always something that was more natural to a vampire.

"Lupin was here this morning." Jacob informed me. I finally looked over at him.

"Oh?" was all I said. I crossed my arms over my chest but they almost instantly moved back to their position by my sides due to the sting of my wounds.

I could see Jake nod from the corner of my eye. "He-ugh-he came to find out what happened last night but I wouldn't let him wake you up...so instead Harry told Lupin the story you shared with him."

I looked over at Jake's doubtful expression. "I didn't lie about it if that's what you are thinking."

"No, hun. Of course I don't think you are lying...I just..." He paused as he ran a hand through his hair. "I just think you might of thought you saw something when really it was something else."

I raised an eyebrow at my guardian. I wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about. Did he think I was going crazy or something? Instead of using the energy to think about it I, instead, decided to look into his mind. I scoffed at what I saw. "Jake, it was Snape. I'm not blind."

"But he's part of the Order-"

"He killed Dumbledore! He tried to kill me!" I shouted, causing everyone around to look over at me. I made eye contact with each of them. I heard the stairs creak before Harry, Hermione, and Red came into view. I began to speak loud enough for everyone to hear. "I know what I saw and what I saw was Snape trailing Moody and me. Once Moody was...gone he hit me with the curse before going to find some back up to finish the job. I wouldn't lie about that."

I looked back over at Jake. "Got it?"

Jake's entire face fell. Never in my life had I spoken to him like that. I would probably regret it later but right now I didn't care. "Kid, cool off. We are on your side, remember?"

I took a few deep breaths and counted to five before nodding to him. "Sure, sure." I sighed. "Jake, can I get up? I need some air." I asked calmly enough.

The werewolf stared at me for a second before nodding. I stood up awkwardly, without a word of protest from Mrs. Weasley, and hobbled over to the kitchen and out of the door. I burst through from the house and into the fresh air. The confides of the living room had felt restrictive and cage-like. I walked a few steps and fumbled as my toes made contact with a rock.

I began to fall but was caught by a hand around my arm. "Jeez, Allie. Are you sure you should be out here?" Red asked as he helped me to steady myself. I looked up to see that Hermione and Harry were a couple of feet behind him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, Red." I said as I walked out of his arm's length.

I wrapped my arms tightly around my stomach as I walked farther away from my friends. They stayed as they were, close to the house as I ventured out into the yard.

I sighed. "What's wrong with me?"

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked as she came up and put an arm around my waist and put her chin on my shoulder in a friendly gesture; I saw the boys come up on the other side of me.

I just shook my head. "It's nothing. I'm just angry."

"We all are, Allie." Red said.

"But you weren't there." I snapped at him.

The next second I calmed; I chuckled humorlessly at myself. Okay, I was being a jerk. "I'm sorry. That wasn't fair. I was just feeling sorry for myself." I paused. "It's been hard these last couple of months on the road. I had no one to talk to about...well, anything. And, I guess, it just built up over time and this thing with Mad Eye put me over the edge."

I smiled over at Hermione and gave her an awkward one armed hug.

"I'm sorry." Harry said from next to Ron. I furrowed my eyebrow at him.

"What for?" I questioned.

He pursed his lips at me. "I knew you were alive and I still didn't write to you or get in contact with you."

"You knew that we couldn't communicate though. That was part of the deal when I left Hogwarts after the funeral-"

"Whoa, wait." Ron said, butting in. "You attended your own funeral? That's kind of mental, Allie."

I shook my head. "No, I didn't attend mine...I attended Dumbledore's."

We all went silent at the mention of our fallen headmaster. Dumbledore's passing was sudden and impossible to understand. Sometimes it seemed as if he was still here but I knew it wasn't true.

"Ronald Weasley! You and Hermione need to be in the kitchen helping me! I cannot do all of this by myself!" Mrs. Weasley called from the doorway.

Red waved his mom off before rolling his eyes. "I do not know why that bloody woman would want my help with cooking."

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Mrs. Weasley planned a birthday party for today. Every one needs to contribute." Hermione said as she and Red headed back to the house.

I looked over at Harry and smirked. "Lucky you."

I didn't know why but he started to laugh. "Oh, no. This isn't my birthday party. This is our birthday party."

The smirk was wiped clean off of my face. I had never celebrated a birthday with the Weasley's and to be honest I didn't really want to; I hated parties. I think the last birthday party I had was when I was six. Jake invited some kids from my school over for some cake and games. It started out innocent enough until in was time for the pinata...let's just say a kid went home with a black eye and two missing teeth. Since then, I had always just celebrated my birthday with Jake. He'd attempt to cook dinner and a cake and then we would watch a movie.

"You're kidding, right? I hate this kind of stuff!"

Harry just shrugged and continued to laugh. He knew it too and that was why he was giving me so much crap.

I narrowed my eyes at him before slapping the boy on the arm gently...for a vampire. He laughed a little more at my expense before finally calming down. "Well, I'm going to head inside."

"Kay," I told him.

His eyes lingered on me for a second more before he turned around and stared toward the Burrow. He ran his hands roughly through his hair as he went.

I took a deep breath before deciding that I should go back in and apologize to everyone for the way I acted. I held on to my torso as I turned, I kind of felt like my guts were about to spill out of my wounds and I was trying to keep them in place. I hobbled slightly, making it two steps, before falling to the ground and growling in pain. I curled up in a ball just where I lay.

"Allie, you really shouldn't be out here. You are going to hurt yourself more." Harry said racing back to my side. He made a motion to help me up but I smacked his hands away.

"No, I have this." I told him. Harry shook his head at me causing me to scoff. "Harry, if Malfoy can pull a heist at one of the most protected places on the planet a day after he got cursed than I sure as hell can walk from here to the door."

"Okay, well first of all I was the one who hit Malfoy with that curse where as the creator of it hit you and second of all he was healed with magic and you weren't." He informed me while grabbing hold of my arms and helping me up.

I sighed, defeated. While walking toward the house I allowed him to help me. There really was no point in fighting him on this. By the look on his face, I could see that he was determined.

He walked slowly, allowing me to go at my own pace. Had we really walked that far away from the house? It seemed a lot farther away than I remembered it being.

"So," Harry started, looking down at the ground. "You are on a last name basis with him again?"

I looked over at him with a stunned look on my face. I didn't even have to ask who he was referring to.

"Are we really going to go there?" I asked him. Why would Harry care? I mean, I know why he would but what did it matter now? I wouldn't make any difference.

He shook his head. "No, I was just...I was just thinking out loud."

"Right." I said.

No more words were spoken between the two of us as we walked awkwardly the rest of the way. Harry dumped me on the love seat again before he went into the kitchen to see if he could help Mrs. Weasley with anything.

I clicked my tongue as I sat there watching everyone busying themselves. Fleur, Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley were busy chopping and stirring while the boys, including Jake, were hanging decorations.

It was like this for an hour before I decided to get up again. It was Jake who scolded me time for trying.

"Kid, stay put for a while, okay? At least until it is time for the party." He instructed.

I sighed. "What am I supposed to do? I'm bored, Jake."

"Talk to George." He nodded his head in the direction of the couch where the twin was currently zonked out, taking a nap.

"Right..." I paused. "I could actually read his thoughts and see what kind of bizarre dreams he's having. That could actually be quite interesting-"

"No, don't invade people's minds. You know better." He scratched his head. "I'll go get you a book. I know you have a huge stack of them in your trunk upstairs. Any requests?"

I thought for a moment. "Um, how about my book of William Blake poems? I'm not feeling a novel right now."

Jake shook his head. "You are definitely your father's kid. I'll be right back."

He returned a moment later with the tattered paperback book that I had bought at a library book sale in Forks a couple of summers ago. I took it from him and opened it. The worn spine parted easily.

I turned the pages until I came to my favorite poem entitled The Clod and the Pebble. I began to read.

"Love seeketh not Itself to please;

"Nor for Itself hath any care

"But for another gives its ease

"And builds a Heaven in Hell's despair."

So sang a little Clod of Clay

Trodden with the cattle's feet,

But a Pebble of the brook

Warbled out these metres meet;

"Can someone go find Harry, Bill, and Ginny? Lupin and Tonks should be here any moment and it is almost time to eat." Mrs. Weasley asked, cutting off my attention to the poem easily.

"I'll go!" I said, jumping up and heading towards the stairs.

"No. No, dear. Someone else can go-" Mrs. Weasley started only to be interrupted by me.

"Oh, no! It's fine. I have to get get Harry's present out of Ginny's room anyway."

Before anyone else could object I headed up the creaky old stairs. It was slow going (Who knew that blood loss was such a bitch?) but I was moving pretty decently with a railing to hold onto. It was stupid, I know, for me to overexert myself-I'm not a masochist, after all-but I just needed to be doing something. After life on the road it was hard for me to just sit around and "take it easy". That was just not how I worked anymore.

Ginny's room, that she was currently sharing with me and Hermione, was the first door on the second landing so it didn't take me too long to get up there. Now getting to Ron's room on the topmost floor was going to prove a little more difficult-I would probably end up having Ginny go get Bill and Harry for me.

I came to Ginny's door and swung it open.

And that was when I saw something I was not expecting.

Ginny was obviously there but...I just didn't think I would find her wrapped up in Harry's arms. The two of them quickly separated at my sudden intrusion and stared at me like they were two kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.

The three of us stayed silent for a second before my brain remembered to think. My eyes finally blinked and I was no longer a statue. "I-I should have knocked."

I could not lay my eyes on either of them, instead I decided to stare at the spot on the floor where they stood. "Um, Mrs. Weasley said that you should come downstairs. Lunch is almost ready."

"Allie-"

I didn't even hear the rest of what Harry was going to say before I slammed the door closed again. What had I just walked into? Harry...and Ginny? Together?

I shook my head, ridding the thought from my mind. Why did I care? I didn't. It was none of my business anyway. I walked slowly back down the stairs until I was back in the kitchen.

"Did you find them?" Mrs. Weasley asked with a smile on her face.

I just nodded.

Awkwardly, I stood around in the kitchen for a moment before I saw Harry and Ginny both descend the staircase. I didn't want to confront them just yet; I felt so embarrassed. I made my way back toward the couch where I had left my book face open and read the rest of the poem.

"Love seeketh only Self to please,

"To bind another to Its delight,

"Joys in another's loss of ease,

"And builds a Hell in Heaven's despite."

I agreed with the last part of the poem. You see, the clay believes that love saves us all while the pebble believes that it destroys us...and it's right. Love is pain. It's a game to see who can get hurt more and it is usually the person who actually gives a damn; the power in a relationship is given to whoever cares less.

"Allie, please let me explain." I heard Harry's voice from over my shoulder.

I didn't turn to look at him at first. Instead, I read over the the first two lines of the poem which also held some truth for me. "Love seeketh not Itself to please; Nor for Itself hath any care."

"I'm sorry?" He asked coming to stand next to me.

If Harry wanted Ginny then he should have her. Despite what I think because, honestly, it didn't matter anymore.

I finally looked over at him and smiled slightly. "You don't owe me an explanation, Harry. It's fine." I shoved the book into his chest before quickly walking away and back into the kitchen.

I went to stand against the counter next to where Hermione was chopping. I took a carrot off of the chopping board and popped it in my mouth. "Need some help?"

Hermione shook her head. "No, you aren't allowed to."

I scoffed. "Hermione, I am fine. See?" I did a little jig-painfully, but I would not admit it-to show her that I could move.

Hermione laughed slightly at me. "No, it's not that. It's just that Mrs. Weasley told us not to let you or Harry help since it is your day and all." The girl shrugged and went back to what she was doing.

I sighed as I continued to lean back. The next second the door opened to reveal Lupin and Tonks walking in.

Lupin did not wear a smile where as Tonks was the exact opposite. The werewolf's eyes landed on me and he froze. "What are you doing up?" He asked.

I shrugged.

"You should be resting." He told me with a sharp tone in his voice.

"Oh, Remus, leave her alone. She would not be walking around if she was not alright." Tonks said as she came up and gave me a gentle hug. "Happy birthday, Allie."

"Thank you." I smiled.

I looked back over at Lupin who was still staring at me almost spitefully. I raised an eyebrow at him. Tonks walked away from me and over to greet Mrs. Weasley, giving me the opportunity to confront Lupin. "What?" I snapped as he continued to stare.

"Allie-" He cut off, looked around, and took my by the arm back outside before trying again. "Harry told me a story of what happened last night. Is it true?"

I tilted my head at him. "What do you think?"

He glared down at me. "I am not interested in playing games."

"Neither am I." I shot back. "Twenty questions is over. Yes, the story is true."

Lupin studied me for a moment. I didn't understand what was so hard to believe about my story. Obviously, I wouldn't make it up. But everyone-excluding Harry, Hermione, and Red-doubted the validity of it.

My ex-professor finally nodded his head to me. "It just does not make sense." He said. "Mad Eye went off course and put you and himself in more danger by doing so. Then he spoke your name out loud in front of Death Eaters? It's impossible"

"Why? Why is it so hard to believe?" I questioned.

Lupin pursed his lips before pulling a Daily Prophet out of his back pocket. He shoved the front page in my face and I read today's headline.

Voldemort Still At Large. Ministry Doing Everything Possible.

"Alright? What's your point?" I asked as I gave the paper back to him.

"My point, Allie, is that if Voldemort knew you were alive it would be front page news, not this."

I took another look at the newspaper he held. There was no mention of my being alive again. It seemed odd to me also. "Well, perhaps he is trying to keep it a secret? Like, Voldemort is trying to keep the public in the dark so they continue to fear him?"

"Perhaps." Lupin said, stroking his chin, but then shook his head. "No, he would have a price on your head. Voldemort would be furious...it just does not make sense." He repeated.

I just shrugged. "I honestly cannot help you. I told Harry everything I know and he relayed the information."

Lupin nodded before looking back at me with sad eyes. "I am sorry about what happened last night." He told me. "You had to witness another murder and you almost died yourself...I should never have let you go with us."

I smiled up at him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Lupin, I'm the one who should be sorry. If I hadn't demanded to go then maybe Moody would still be alive."

"Do not think that way." Lupin told me. "We cannot dwell on what could have been, Allie."

I could have called his bullshit but I just kept my mouth shut; I was kind of a broken record when it came to talking about what should have been.

"So how about we go back inside? I'm sure Molly already has everyone at the table." He asked.

I just nodded before walking back in. As Lupin predicted everyone was seated and already digging into the grub. There were only two seats open: one next to Tonks and one next to Harry. I considered fighting Lupin for the empty seat next to his girl-I probably would have if I was in better condition-but I just didn't really feel like making this any more awkward that it already was.

I ran my hands through my outrageous hair before going over to sit by Harry in the center of the table. I plopped down next to him without a word. The two of us sat silently as everyone around us, including George who was now able to get up from the couch, chatted and laughed without a care in the world.

I thought it was kind of strange of them to be this happy after what happened last night but I figured they thought it was better this way. It's always easier to avoid a problem instead of facing it head on.

Mrs. Weasley put a generous amount of meat, potatoes, and other vegetables on my plate while muttering something about my being too thin before sitting down herself. I picked at the food, attempting to eat but finding that everything tasted dull in my mouth. So I resorted to pushing it around my plate and hoping that it would satisfy the woman.

From next to me I could feel Harry's eyes burning a hole into the side of my head. I ignored it for a while, trying to start a conversation with the person next to me. But, since it was Fleur, that did not last long. All she wanted to talk about was Bill and their upcoming wedding scheduled for the following week.

As much as I loved to talk about frilly, trivial things I could not take much of Fleur's rambling. I turned back toward my plate and pretended to eat. Eventually Fleur got the idea and realized that I had given up on her; she then turned to talk to Tonks sitting on her other side.

"Allie, it was nothing." Harry finally spit out quickly as if hoping I wouldn't have time to cut him off.

I took a deep breath before looking over at him. "This is neither the time or place, Harry. I told you it's fine, okay? Don't worry about it."

"But-"

He didn't have time to get his next comment in. The next moment Mrs. Weasley started to sing Happy Birthday while bringing a monstrous cake toward Harry and me. Everyone else joined in, as well. When the song was over, Harry and I exchanged a glance before leaning in to blow out the candles together. The group around us clapped and whooped.

The cake was cut-I discovered it was chocolate-and pieces were served. Even I took a bite of it and then another and another; it was delicious.

Within minutes, everyone had finished and was sitting around the table in various degrees of fullness (some were saying how great the meal was while others were groaning and saying they were going to explode) but it was not over yet.

Soon enough, presents were shoved in front of Harry and I.

It was so surprising for me to see more than one or two presents, in fact, I had three.

"You guys! You really shouldn't have gotten me anything!" I scolded as I stared at the pile.

"Nonsense! It is your birthday and presents are to be expected. Now, go on, you two. Open them," Mrs. Weasley insisted.

I smiled slightly as I took the first one off the pile. I slid my fingers under the paper and ripped it open to reveal a box. I took the top off and saw that a little lump of yarn lay inside. I took it out and saw that it was a multi colored beanie and matching mittens; it was obvious that it was from Mrs. Weasley.

"Wow..." I said as I studied it. "This is so cool. I've never had anyone knit me something before. Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." I smiled up at the woman who was glowing at me and Harry.

I turned to the boy next to me and saw that instead of a beanie and mittens he had received a sweater with a large "H" on it. He gave me a look and tried not to laugh; I had to look away so I wouldn't.

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley. I needed a new sweater." Harry politely told her. She only waved at his comment as if to say it was nothing.

Next, I opened the lime green package that seemed to match the one Harry had also. We both ripped it open to see a huge pile of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes products-it had to be from Fred and George.

I looked over at the two boys and shook my head. "You guys are going to regret giving me these, I'm sure of it."

They both pretended to be scared at the thought of being pranked with their own merchandise but they knew it was an empty threat. I thanked them as did Harry.

The next second my box was snatched away from my by Red who began to dig through it to see what I had gotten.

Harry was out of presents now and I had one left.

My eyes drifted over to my guardian who smiled back at me from across the table. "Go ahead and open it, kid."

I narrowed my eyes at Jacob, wondering what he was up to. I took the crudely wrapped present and ripped the paper off of it. I opened the box to find another box inside of it and then another inside of that one. I glared up at Jacob.

What a smart ass.

Three more boxes had to be opened before I finally got to the present. I took the small glass object out of the package and placed it on the table in front of me.

"Wow, you got me a...top. Thanks, dude." I told him as I studied the present.

I heard him chuckle. "It's not a top, kid...well, I mean it is a top but not the normal kind."

"That's a Sneakoscope, Allie." Hermione informed, delighted. "It has the ability to detect deceit, lies, and danger. They are a wonderful piece of magic!"

I squinted at it for a moment. "Someone tell a lie."

"I hate you." Jake said from across the table. Almost instantly the top began to spin wildly and make more noise than my sensitive vampire ears could take. After a few seconds the contraption quieted down and the kitchen was restored to it's original noise level.

"Where did you get this, Jake?" I questioned my guardian as I studied it further.

"Arthur was going into Diagon Alley a while back and I tagged along with him to look around. I found it in one of those weird shops I saw you go into before school started last year." He shrugged. "I thought it would come in handy."

I smiled. "It will. Thanks."

My guardian waved my comment off before he left the table. By the way he was acting, I could tell that he felt as if he was loosing me again. Through the imprint I could read into his very soul: we had celebrated the day of my birth but not of my aging.

I pried deeper into Jake's mind and saw that he knew I had not changed one bit since my last birthday. My blood still ran and I still breathed but that was about it-my vampire side was almost in complete control.

And that scared Jacob. I would have to talk to him.

I sighed before looking back to see that Harry and I were the only ones still remaining at the table. An awkward moment passes between us before I finally got up from the table, grabbed my gifts, and wobbled toward the stairs. I walked with some difficulty while cradling the presents in my arms but I made it to Ginny's room and found it to be empty thankfully.

I dropped the stuff onto my bed before going over to my trunk. The next second I heard the door open and close behind me. I instantly knew who it was.

"What is it, Harry?" I asked as I opened up my luggage and began to rummage through it.

"Why won't you give me a chance to explain what you walked in on earlier?" He asked as he came over to me.

I pulled the plain velvet box out of my trunk without looking at him. "Because it doesn't matter. I kissed Draco and you kissed Ginny. We're even, right?"

My comment pushed him over the edge. I looked up to see his jaw clenched and his head shaking back and forth sowly. He looked like he was about to hit me when he walked past and struck the door instead. I heard him take a few deep, calming breaths. "How can you even compare this to...that?" He asked.

I turned to look at him; he was leaning against the wall. "We were together when you did Merlin knows what with Malfoy. And I kiss Ginny and you're trying to make me feel guilty? That isn't fair, Allie."

I scoffed. "Okay, for starters, it was just a kiss. Nothing more than that. God, do you think I'm a skank or something? And secondly, if you want to talk about being unfair you shouldn't be pointing the finger at me."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

I pursed my lips and shook my head. I didn't want to admit what I was really thinking. I thought that after last night Harry would like to give us another try, that he-I don't know- missed me or something while I was away. But after what I walked in on I knew that clearly wasn't the case. It was unfair that it was Ginny kissing him and not me. I sighed.

Stupid, stupid, stupid...

"I thought that you-I thought that we...never mind." I told him before looking down at the box in my hand. "Here, I got you a watch. I know how much your old one bugs you."

I pressed the box to his chest before walking over to the door. I was about to open it when Harry stepped in front of me. "You thought what?" He asked quietly as if to not let anyone overhear.

I chuckled humorlessly. "Nothing, it was nothing. You do what you want, Harry. I don't care anymore." I looked back up at him for a split second before scooting past him and out the door.

I didn't stick around long enough to hear the Sneakoscope begin to go wild from within the room where I had just told one of the biggest lies of my life.

Tell me what you think! I hope you enjoyed it! =]