AN: Hey guys! Thanks some great reviews again! I love your support and I'm happy you guys like my story. By the way, I made a mistake with Neville's birthday. Someone told it to me ages ago but I completely forgot so thanks to that special reviewer for reminding me! Chapter dedication to you!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I promise. Really.
NOTE: SO HEY GUYS. Ugh I'm getting completely torn now. Some people are telling me Luna/Harry is cute. Others are saying that Harry/Cedric would be interesting. (Hehe. I was laughing hysterically when someone reminded me that Cedric was played by Robert Pattinson and so was Edward. I can't believe I forgot about that. Well actually I can, because I was thinking more along the lines of the books, but seriously I was laughing hysterically.) So this is a tough one for me.
I'm actually thinking about not caring about any romance and focusing more on Harry and his family. The fic might just turn out not to have a pairing. If I do want one, I'll probably make a sequel for everyone.
Chapter 4: Little Wizard
Esme held a lollipop in front of Harry's face. He smiled happily and reached out for it, but she pulled back. "Please?" he asked. She kissed his cheek and gave it to him. With a squeal, he popped it into his mouth and began swaying his head with a hum. Carlisle frowned, trying to put the ice back on Harry's head. "Hurts!" He whined as he pushed the hand away.
"It's the only way to get rid of that ugly bump, son," Carlisle explained. Harry continued to dodge away from his hand. "You have to!" He shook his head no. "Harry I- no, Harry stop!" Remus laughed as he watched the ice quickly melt in Carlisle's hands. Harry looked away innocently licking his lollipop. "Harry Cullen."
"Harry James Cullen if you want to be assertive," Alice piped.
"How do you expect me to make the bump go away?" Carlisle asked as he walked into the kitchen to get more ice. "You wouldn't happen to know any spells would you, Remus?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't and Albus sent me here without any of my belongings so I couldn't look it up if I wanted to."
"It's alright," Esme told him as she picked Harry up at set him on her lap. "Can you please let us put the ice back on that nasty golf ball you have on your head."
"Mama!" He laughed loudly.
"What? Look at it! It's a big golf ball!"
"No!"
"Yes, it is."
"Not!"
"I wonder if there's a way to contact Dumbledore. The floo isn't set up in this house… I don't even have floo powder. I've never owned an owl…" Remus continued to mutter to himself, trying to figure out how to send a letter to the man. He stood and began pacing. "I could always try using muggle mail but who would I send it to? The telephone! Or not. Maybe there's a little wizard village around here..."
"Okay, Harry," Carlisle warned. "If you melt this one I'm taking away the piano, is that understood?" Harry's wide eyes stared up at his father. It was usually Carlisle that was easily swayed but the injury had turned him into full doctor mode. The boy crossed his arms and pouted, looking at anything but the blonde vampire. Carlisle sighed and sat next to him before softly pressing the ice down. Harry flinched and his lollipop dropped down to the carpet.
"Oh dear," Esme sighed. "I'll just get you another one. For now…maybe a popsicle?" She asked as she made her way to the kitchen. "Are you okay now, darling?"
Harry frowned but nodded his head. "Cold," he stated.
Carlisle laughed. "Yes, it's cold. Don't worry, little one. It'll get better soon."
Remus looked up, about to ask a question when Alice raised her hand. "Don't move," she told him. He looked at her questioningly before he jumped back in surprise when a chest and a few baggages appeared before him. She smiled before turning back to read her magazine.
"Well what do you know?" Remus laughed. A piece of parchment was pinned down on one of the bags. He picked it up and read it out loud. "I deeply apologize for forgetting to send your belongings after you. Albus. Crazy coot knows just when he's needed."
Although it had been two years, the Cullens had grown terribly protective of Harry. If Rosalie was ever near, she would make sure that Tanya wasn't. Emmett always carried Harry up and down stairs. Edward, like Rosalie, had a problem trusting anyone, ANYONE, with handling Harry. He managed to get in trouble for accusing Carlisle of malpractice when he was giving Harry a routine checkup. Alice made sure she knew every step that Harry made in advance and if Jasper was with him, he'd calm the emotions of others while Harry passed. It caused others to zone out so there wasn't a chance of them hurting Harry but, like Edward, got Jasper into trouble every time he did it. Carlisle and Esme had gone into strict parent mode, but of course there were times when they couldn't help but be influenced by emerald puppy-dog eyes. Remus was just as, or even more, protective than all of them combined. Although the family had been raising him for three years already, Remus had known the boy since Harry was minutes old. Harry had been his cub since James first brought him out of that hospital room.
"Did you enjoy your birthday party, Harry?" Esme asked as she sat him down next to her. He nodded energetically. "Which present did you like the most?"
"Edward's!" He exclaimed. She smiled. Of course he would have liked Edward's the best. He had bought Harry a brand new Schoenhut baby grand piano. She brushed his hair out away from his eyes.
"Sweetie, I know it's your birthday but Daddy, Uncle Remy and I need to talk to you."
His eyes widened. "I didn't do anything!"
"What? Sweetie, you aren't in trouble."
"I swear, I didn't mean it! Emmett told me Rose's dress would be prettier if I painted it!"
"WHAT?!" They both heard from downstairs. Remus and Carlisle flinched as they walked into Harry's room.
"SWEETIE, I DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD REALLY-"
"EMMETT MCCARTY!" Harry quickly buried himself under his blanket when they heard Rosalie storming up the steps. A bedroom door slammed open before a loud shriek sounded. "You sorry excuse for a man! What were you thinking?! This is my favorite dress!" Esme desperately tried to calm Harry, but the boy began to sob.
"Harry, you aren't in trouble!" She told him firmly as she pulled the blanket off of him.
"But Rosie is really angry," he stuttered. Rosalie walked into the room swiftly, and when Harry saw her, he made his way to hide behind his mother.
"Harry I'm not angry at you, I'm angry at your fool brother!" She muttered. "So don't worry, little one. It's Emmett that's going to get in trouble tonight."
"Aw Rose!" They heard Emmett shout from downstairs.
"WHAT YOU DID IS ENTIRELY INEXCUSABLE!" She shrieked, stomping her way down the stairs.
Carlisle ruffled Harry's hair gently. "We promise you aren't in trouble, child. We just have a little surprise for you."
"You promise? Rosie isn't angry with me?"
"We promise," Remus told him. "Now… about that little surprise." Harry nodded his head, looking up at them. "Ah… Carlisle?"
"Uhm… well Harry… you're a wizard," He blurted out.
"Oh so that's what you meant by telling him gently," Remus stated him sarcastically.
"You weren't much help!"
"Well I could have done better than just saying it like it was any old thing."
"If you could have done so much better than-"
"Boys!" Esme scolded. She turned back to Harry and smiled. "Now I know this must be confusing, sweetheart but we're here to explain. You know how there are times when something happens because you want it to happen?" Harry nodded his head slowly. "Not everyone can do that, love, but you... My special little boy," She stated with pride. "You're a special person who has magic inside. Uncle Remy is a wizard too and when you're older you'll be able to control it just like Remus."
He tilted his head and opened his mouth. "Like…bunnies?"
Remus laughed. "No, those are magicians, cub. They're non-magic people, muggles, who pretend to have magic."
"Oh…"
"It's why Aunt Carmen got you robes for your birthday. Those are wizard robes and a quidditch outfit. Quidditch is a game that wizards and witches play."
"But where did Aunt Carmen get the robes?" He asked in confusion.
"The same place I got you that book," Remus answered him, pointing at Harry's new copy of The Tales of Beadle the Bard. "Remember when Aunt Carmen and Uncle Eleazar sent me to Massachusetts for a vacation? Well, it was also so I could get you some presents from the Wizarding community in Salem." He cleared his throat uncomfortably. Carmen and Eleazar had paid him generously for going across the country to buy their gifts for Harry. They had also made sure that Remus could use that time as a real vacation, renting him a private house and his own transportation. He was extremely thankful but still felt bad at the same time. They told him to think of it as a job they were doing for them, a business trip. "There are Wizarding Communities all over the World, Harry. When you're old enough, we're going to go to Diagon Alley in England for your school things."
"Why can't I use magic now?"
"Well, firstly you'll need a wand. Second, you don't know how to control magic. When you're eleven, you'll go to school to learn how."
"But I'm going to be in kindergarten soon!"
"That isn't the same," Carlisle told him. "We sent you to a muggle school. No one there knows about magic and they can't ever know. This is a secret between all of us but you can't tell anyone else."
"So Rosie and Edward and Emmett and Alice and Jasper know too?"
"And so does Carmen, Eleazar, Kate, Irina and Tanya." He scrunched his nose at Tanya's name. "Now Harry, she's been very nice to you."
"She's a big, fat meanie pants!"
Remus' laughter echoed until Carlisle and Esme sent a glare his way. "That's not a nice thing to say, Harry," He said, the corner of his lips twitching slightly.
"It isn't," Esme said, looking Harry straight in the eye. "But we'll talk about that later. For now, we have one more thing to tell you. In the magical world, there are also magical creatures. The Denalis, Carlisle, your siblings and I are vampires."
He gasped. "Like Dracula?!"
"No!" Carlisle said quickly. "Absolutely not!"
"You bite people!"
"Wait, Harry let us-"
"You guys bite people!"
"No we-"
"Biting people isn't nice! Miss Lassiter told me so when I bit Alex for taking my cookie!"
"They don't bite people, Harry!" Remus shouted.
"Yes they do! I saw it! I saw it! Dracula bit the girl and then he turned into a bat and flew away saying 'Eeeeee! Eeeeee! Eeeeee!' You guys are big fat meanies!"
"Harry, sit down!" Carlisle said sternly as he reached out for him. Harry let out a scream. Remus and Esme tried to grab him before he ran out the door door, but they didn't realize how fast the boy was going and just missed him.
"Daddy's gonna bite me!"
Edward, Alice, Jasper, Rosalie and Emmett were laughing hysterically as they watched Carlisle try to get Harry out of the cupboard he locked himself into. "Harry, please come out," Carlisle begged. "I'm not going to bite you." A muffled sob sounded from behind the door. "Harry, son, please don't cry."
"But you're going to bite me," Harry blubbered.
"I'm not going to bite you, child!"
"You're just saying that!"
Carlisle rested his head against the door and closed his eyes. Esme laid a hand on his shoulder while Remus tried to silence the others. "Son, I love you so much. I would never bite you." Harry didn't respond. A few more minutes of silence passed.
"You promise?" The boy finally said, opening the door just a bit so that you could see him peeking out. Carlisle looked at him and nodded. Harry let out another sob as he threw the door open and launched himself into his father's arms. "I'm sorry, Daddy!" he cried.
Carlisle held him tightly. "I promise you, child. I will never, never let anyone bite you."
"Pinky promise?"
Carlisle picked him up before hooking their pinkies together. "Pinky promise. How about we tell you more about the kind of vampires we are tomorrow. You need to sleep, son." Harry nodded, resting his head on the shoulder before him.
"Sorry, momma," Harry said when he saw Esme. She smiled at him, brushing his hair out of his eyes again. He waved at his brothers and sisters before Carlisle turned the corner to take him back to his room.
"So you only bite animals?"
"Yes, Harry."
"And Uncle Moony is a good werewolf who won't try to eat people either?" He glared at Remus suspiciously.
"I won't try to eat people," he laughed.
Harry crossed his arms, looking at all of them from the corner of his eye. "I guess… it's okay for now…" he turned on his heels and pointed a finger at them. "But if you bite anybody I'm gonna be really, really angry!"
"We promise," They all said simultaneously.
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose like Edward. "Now what is for lunch?"
Esme grinned and picked him up. "I made you macaroni and cheese."
"That's one of my favorites!"
"I know, little prince." When they disappeared into the kitchen, Carlisle dropped onto the sofa in relief.
"Thank God. We got through this-"
"Carlisle!" Alice pulled him off the couch as a green flame erupted from the fireplace.
"Oh dear," the voice chuckled. They vampires looked up and saw a man who was wearing a long purple robe. He adjusted a tall hat on his head before brushing the dust out of his beard. "It seems you don't use this fireplace much."
"Obviously!" Tanya hissed as she walked into the room. "We're vampires! Now who the hell are you?!"
"Why, dear girl, I mean no harm."
"Relax, Tanya," Remus smiled as he walked forward to shake the man's hand. "It's good to see you again, Albus."
"You too, Remus. Where is little Harry?"
"He's in the kitchen eating lunch," Carlisle spoke, stepping forward to great the man. "I've heard much about you, Mr. Dumbledore. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine," Albus' eyes twinkled as he looked at Carlisle. "So this is the man who took Harry in so unselfishly. It is pleasing to see vampires who strive for a better way of living."
"Thank you," he answered. "I don't mean to be rude but why are you visiting us?"
"Well, now that you've told Harry about magic, Remus told me you were planning on telling him on his birthday, I wanted your family to come visit Hogwarts and become comfortable with magic, if you're up to it of course. I'm sure you'll love the campus and I'll give you room and board."
"That's so much to give," Esme said as she walked in. Harry was still in the kitchen. Esme nodded at Tanya who stood and walked to the kitchen to watch him. "How would we repay you?"
Albus laughed. "Why do you think I want something in return?"
Remus looked at him suspiciously. "What is it, Albus?"
He smiled softly. "I would like for Harry to meet another wizard his age, so he's at least familiar with magic and can be introduced to it at a young age."
"Like whom?" he growled. "Every family out there wants to worship the boy."
"I know of one who wouldn't."
"And they are…?"
"The Weasleys, of course."
Remus' eyes widened as he smiled in happiness. "Albus, you genius! Why hadn't I thought of them before?"
"Who are the Weasleys?" Rosalie asked.
"They're a pureblood family who fought against You-Know-Who during the war," Remus answered them. "Molly and Arthur are some of the kindest people you'll ever meet. They had six children the last time i saw them, the youngest being Ronald. He's the one who is Harry's age."
"They had Ginerva a year later," Albus told him.
He looked up in surprise. "The first Weasley girl in years."
"They're quite proud."
"Oh, Harry would love to meet them," Esme smiled. "It's the beginning of August, Carlisle. Wouldn't it be lovely to spend a month in England before coming back for school?"
His eyebrows furrowed while he thought. "I…guess it would be okay."
Edward, Jasper and Emmett looked at each other. Emmett cleared his throat. "Would there be anything…fun to do at Hogwarts?"
"Well you are magical creatures, yes?" Albus asked. They nodded. "I'm sure you can learn how to fly a broom, and there are no muggles around so you could do it in the daytime."
"Nice!" Emmett boomed, giving Jasper a high five. Jasper rolled his eyes as he turned back to Alice.
"Would there be any…villages around Hogwarts?" Alice asked.
"Hogsmeade is where the students go during school time. I'm sure you'll love it there. They have all sorts of clothing stores around, although they mostly sell wizard attire."
"You read my mind like an open book!" She exclaimed as she grasped Rosalie's arm with a squeal. "I vote on a 'yes' to England," she told Carlisle. Jasper nodded with her. Rosalie shrugged but Emmett's head was bobbing up and down. Edward shrugged before nodding his head. Esme smiled at Carlisle.
"Just think, sweetheart! Meeting more humans! We can bring them food when we go over, it's a human custom after all, which means I get to cook for more than two people!" She clapped her hands before walking back into the kitchen. "Harry! We're going on vacation!"
"Huh?" The boy shouted in confusion.
"Come darling, come. I want you to meet someone."
Esme reappeared with Harry in her arms. "Sweetheart, this is Albus Dumbledore. He's the principal of the school you're going to go to when you're older. We're going to visit the school so you can learn more about magic. You're going to meet a wizard family too!"
Harry's eyes widened in excitement. "Really? Other wizards?"
Albus smiled at him. "Would you like to come see the school?"
"Yea!"
"Good, good! You shall meet little Ronald Weasley. He's very excited to meet you as well, Harry."
"You already spoke to the Weasleys?" Remus laughed.
"Of course I did," Albus smiled. "I gave you an offer you couldn't refuse."
Carlisle laughed. "Apparently."
In three days and after a long goodbye to the Denalis, the Cullen Family had portkeyed their way to Hogwarts grounds. The speed had fueled adrenaline into them, but had scared poor Harry into tears. Carlisle tried to calm him as he released the portkey and slowly floated onto the ground. "Welcome!" They heard. The family looked up into the eyes of a large man. Emmett's jaw fell open. "You must be the Cullens! Aw look at that! Is that the little Harry I picked up when he was just a year old?"
"Why yes it is, Hagrid." Remus said with a smirk.
"If it isn't Remus Lupin!" Hagrid exclaimed. "How've ya been?"
"Just fine, Rubeus. Still the groundskeeper I see."
"That I am. I thank Albus Dumbledore everyday for giving me this job." His grin stretched across his face. "Come on, now. I'm sure portkeying took a lot out of yeh. I'll show you to your rooms then Albus wants Remus to show you guys to the Headmasters office. I'm sure you remember the way." Everyone noticed the sly tone in Hagrid's voice.
Remus' eyes lit up with a bittersweet glow. "Of course I remember. How can I forget? I got into trouble so many times that I could walk there blindfolded from any spot in Hogwarts." Hagrid laughed loudly before stopping and leaning in.
"Just thought I should warn ya, Remus. Severus is the potions master for Hogwarts and he's here early to restock Pomfrey's medicine cabinet. Ya might want to watch out for him. He's been in a sour mood since Albus announced that you'd be comin'."
Remus blushed sheepishly. "Thank you, Hagrid. Is Poppy here as well?"
"That she is. She's quite excited to see you again." He frowned as he picked up the suitcases that the Cullens were carrying. He jerked his head in the direction he was walking in so the others would follow him. "Though you might want to watch out for her too, something about hurting you if you haven't been taking care of yourself."
Remus rolled his eyes with a scoff as they entered the castle. "That woman-"
"That woman what, Mr. Lupin?" Everyone stopped and looked at a gray-haired woman standing before them with her arms crossed. She tapped her foot as she waited for Remus' response. He gaped silently before fishing for a coherent sentence.
"That woman…is….simply…just…wonderful. She's just amazing and I don't know what I'd do without her."
"Hmph," she hummed before smiling and walking over to him. "Dear Remus," she laughed as she threw her arms around him. "It is good to see you again."
He smiled at her gently. "It is wonderful to see you as well, Madame."
"Now tell me," She said, pushing him aside and looking Carlisle in the eye. "Has this boy been taking care of himself after every full moon? Every month he'd leave his bed just to fool around with his friends! I had to start strapping him down!"
"To be fair, that was only once," he said weakly to the others. They laughed at the look on his red face.
She glared at him. "After you're settled in and you're done speaking to the headmaster, I expect to see you and little Harry in the Hospital Wing. If you're not, I'll know where to find you," She finished threateningly. She turned to look at the little boy who was staring at her. She smiled softly with a tilt of her head. "He looks just like his parents," she told them. "You're lucky to have him." Esme nodded in thanks before Madame Pomfrey walked up the stairs.
Emmett stared at her back as she walked away. "She's scary!" He stated. "We've been here for about five minutes and she managed to scare poor Remy mindless."
Remus glared at him. "That's a sick lie."
Hagrid laughed as he patted Remus on the back. "Welcome back to Hogwarts!"
