sanctuary

by airali

it's not easy to loose the one you love. but when someone new comes along should you give yourself another chance with love? even more so, should you give yourself a chance when you know you may endager his life? love isnt meant to be easy.

32. let go of my hand

i am awfully sorry for making you guys wait for so long, i had alot of unexpected complications with a writers block top it off FF decided to not work for almost the whole week. i hope you dont have to wait as long for the next chapter and i am already working on it so thats good. so as a reward for all the time you have waited for i give you guys this fifty-eight page chapter and hope that you guys throughly enjoy it. also if there are any gramatical errors i im very sorry, i corrected it myself as much as i could. my beta is going through some hard times at the moment so i didnt want to bother hope. if she reads this i hope you get better soon.

and for the rest of you, i hope you enjoy this.

---

Alex's P.O.V

"You should practice you know?" I didn't move as harry's tired voice talked to me.

"Hmm?" I murmured as I looked up at the dark ceiling. My arm was behind my head while the other one rested on my stomach.

"That memory thing of yours," he said from the floor. It was my turn to take the bed tonight.

"What about it?"

"You should keep practicing."

At this I furrowed my eyebrows in the dark. I didn't particularly enjoy those practice sessions. It required a lot of mind work and it left me mentally drained. Unfortunately that meant that I would fall into a deep sleep. And I would prefer to pass up on that. Although having quiet time to think wasn't any better.

"Why?" I mumbled.

"Because it could come in handy. What else can you do?"

"As far as I know I can only see memories but I don't know if there's anything else."

"Well you can more or less do occlumency that must be worth something don't you think? It wouldn't be bad to know it just in case"

"I don't know," I hesitated.

"You should do it, we ought to be prepared for anything"

I thought about this quietly.

"I'll think about it," but instead of getting a response I heard soft snores coming from below the bed.

This is stupid, why am I even taking the bed if I'm not going to sleep on it? Quietly I got off the bed and shook harry awake.

"Huh?" he mumbled dumbly.

"Get on the bed," I whispered.

"Hmm," he rubbed at his eye with his fist. "Why?"

"Because I'm not going to sleep anyway."

I don't think he really paid attention to what I said but he obediently got up and deposited himself under the covers.

I moved over to the chair by the desk. We'd been here for a week and just yesterday we had received a visit from Mr. Weasley and Kingsley Shacklebolt. They explained to us the tight situation in which harry and I found ourselves in and how the Dursleys were also involved. If anything it helped to feed their dislike for us now that they knew that they were in life threatening situation thanks to harry and I. They went over the plan with us and it seemed like everything would be alright. The Dursleys would go into hiding while we left for the burrow in three weeks.

It was…surreal thinking that in just three short weeks harry and I would be leaving this place for good. I know for sure I would never set foot in here again. In truth, before I found out I was a witch I don't think I ever thought ahead of the day I would leave this place. Now it seemed very stupid not to have dreamed about this day when I was a small girl.

That didn't matter anymore. Soon we would be out of here. Suddenly three short weeks seemed longer.

I sighed and took a glance at harry's sleeping form. Lately he had almost as much trouble sleeping as I did. It was understandable. For years bad sleep had plagued us now and then. He and I dreamed of the day in which all the bad dreams would go away. For all we knew it could be years until that moment arrived.

Harry stirred and began groaning, as if he were about to wake up.

"Shh, shh, shh" I crooned and he became quiet. Then he settled back into deep sleep. I loved my brother, I really did. How could I not love the only family I had? And I felt guilty for deserting him for so long. Things changed between us since cedrics death. I admired harry, despite everything that had happened since that year he remained strong, which is more than I can say for myself. With any luck all of the time we would be spending together in the future will bring us together. I hoped so because I missed the old times.

A loud snore made me flinch.

"But if I have to sleep next to you I'll kick you" I mumbled to myself with a slight smile.

With a deep sigh, I stretched my arms and felt my joints crack. I was stressed, badly stressed -although when wasn't I stressed?-and my body most definitely felt it. My shoulders felt heavy and my back ached. I wondered if old age felt this way. It probably did.

"That's probably why uncle Vernon is always so cranky," talking to myself was most likely not healthy…

"Probably not." I mumbled.

I let out a breath and softly hit the sides of my head with my fists.

It didn't matter. I could talk to myself as long as I wanted as long as it kept unwanted thoughts locked away.

---

"Concentrate," harry said lazily as he flipped the page of a book. While sprawled on the small bed his body seemed to melt from laziness. And here I was sitting on a chair, my face red and about to explode from all the concentration.

"I am," I said in a forced voice.

"No I mean concentrate not hold your breath in and look constipated."

I flung a pencil at him and hit the wall instead. He groaned and rolled onto his stomach

"What's wrong Alex? A few months ago you were doing beautiful progress and now…need I finish the sentence?"

So far I had made no progress. In fact it seemed like I was going to have to start from scratch.

"Well this is shit," I muttered and slumped on the chair.

"Oh sure go on ahead, give up," he slowly flipped another page.

"How is this, in any way, going to benefit me?"

"Do you know just how far you ability goes?"

"Not exactly,"

"Then find out. What if there's more to it than just seeing memories?"

I sighed and resumed my concentration on his black mop of hair. Hours later I seemed to regain all the progress I had previously made.

---

Why I ever doubted harry will forever be a mystery to me.

"So right after we leave the…" an image of the burrow came into harry's view. It was the first and most accessible memory of the moment so I took it.

Over the course of two weeks I had perfected my insight into unfamiliar memories. In fact I had unburied many lost memories in harry's dusty mind. It was quite entertaining. I'd managed to examine them without him noticing that I was probing his mind.

But now, now I was moving to greater heights. I was almost positive I could do so much more than that. I'd been working on it for some time and often I was close to achieving my goal.

Today I would reach it. I could see the house perfectly depicted in his thoughts. I could see the crooked house with the overgrown grass and its many other…oddities. My mind felt like it was shriveling like a raisin under the amount of concentration I was putting. I could feel my face screwing up in concentration as I focused on the house.

Slowly but surely I felt it, a mental bond seemed to stretch from my own head to harry's mind. I could almost see it. It allowed me to tamper with this image.

"Alex?" harry called.

"Shh!" I hissed sharply. The house began fading, but just as it was fading I was losing grip on the connection.

Hold it I mentally whispered to myself. Just a little more.

The house was almost gone.

"Alex!"

The straight line of connection bent and twisted under the strain of my mind. It sent shocks to my mind making my control slip further. A loud ringing made me deaf to the outside world and my lungs were constricting making it impossible for me to breathe.

Hold on!

Numbness took over my feet first, then the rest of my body. Stars clouded my vision and then darkness enveloped me.

---

Harry's P.O.V

I was planning ahead on what we would do after we left the burrow. And just as the thought of the burrow crossed my mind it froze there, baffling me for a moment. There was something peculiar about the image in my head. And when the house began to look like a stranger I looked up at Alex.

Her eyes were concentrated on me, her eyebrows furrowed with concentration, making her look as if she were seething.

"Alex?"

"Shh!" she said forcefully. I sat up straight on the bed her eyes seemed to unconsciously follow me. It was a bit unsettling.

Hold on I heard her think. It was obviously not meant for me. So I shot her one more glance and got up to feed Hedwig. I was aware of her gaze following me.

When I slipped in the owl treat through Hedwig's cage, which she ignored for she had been mad at both Alex and me for some time, I heard grunts coming for Alex. When I turned she was red in the face, her hands were in a tight fist that threatened to snap her fingers. I grew panicked when I saw her whole body begin to convulse and her eyes dilated completely turning even the whites of her eyes black.

"Hey,hey,hey,hey!" I hurried to her and caught her before she fell to the floor.

"Alex! Alex!" I tried to bring her back by shaking her roughly but instead she drew in strangled gasps. I had no idea on what to do; I didn't even know what was going on!

And just as I was about to uselessly call to the Dursleys for help I heard her ragged breath. She shook once more and then slowly her eyes seemed to go back to normal. She panted and looked at me as she trembled. A trickle of blood was running down her nose. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head a bit before she was able to draw a sentence in a scratchy voice.

"What happened?" I winced the sound of her voice sounded like it would hurt her to talk.

"That's what I would like to know," I said slightly breathless. "What happened, what were you doing?"

"So close," she whispered and coughed out bits of blood.

"Whoa," I quickly used the hem of my shirt to clean off the blood running down her nose and the blood around her mouth.

I waited about ten minutes for her to recover a bit and then I moved her onto the bed. Then she explained to me what she was trying to do. I should have been impressed by her discoveries but the heart attack I almost went through didn't leave me particularly thrilled.

---

Alex's P.O.V

"I think you're taking this too far," he said running a hand through the messy hair atop his head.

"No I'm not this is perfect harry. What if I can do even more? I know I can,"

"How do you-"

"Because I've done it before!" I brushed my newly red hair out of my forehead. "I've done it before but I don't know how. I always did it on accident. In our fourth year I would do it all the time. I looked into people's heads and I made them- I made them forget things. The things I could see in their heads I could make them forget it. Then I would make them remember. I made them think things that were not true."

Harry looked at me uncertainly.

"I'm not lying harry. I swear it's true. This- this, thing of mine was very out of control that year. I talked to cedric about it too. Harry I tried to control it and it seemed to work. I mean it stopped acting up so much. I just couldn't use it to my advantage; I didn't even try to master it. But it's the truth. This may sound…impossible, but once I even made cedric think he had some long lost sister. He told me he had vivid memories of her. And he described her to perfection, hell; he even said what her favorite food was. But by then I knew I could do odd things. And when he told me it was some long lost sister he barely new and he gave such accurate descriptions of her I realized that I had done that. And then one day he forgot all about her. In fact he didn't even remember thinking about her."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I don't know. I was too confused to give you the details that you would surely ask. I would only confuse myself further, I think. I was scared. I was scared I would cause something bad but just as I began thinking about consulting Dumbledore this thing just began to calm down."

He furrowed his eyebrows and pursed his lips. I looked down at him. His shirt was stained with my blood.

"And now that I begin to gain control of some parts of it, I know I can handle all of it. And harry you're right I can work this to a great advantage."

"What are you thinking?"

"What better way of getting rid of Edward than making him forget he's even trying to keep me?"

His look was long and hard.

"I'll just make him think what I want him to think. I'm pretty much controlling what he does."

"Like the imperious curse?" his tone sounded like a mother who has found their kid stealing cookies before dinner would sound.

"I'm doing it for a good purpose you know?"

His lack of response was beginning to irritate me.

"I need you to help me," he sighed and looked at me. I put on my best pleading face and he gave in.

"Fine but we can start tomorrow. I think you've put too much strain on yourself for today.

"No! I was so close to succeeding let me try again."

"No, look at you, you're still shaking. You won't achieve anything today."

I made to sit up but he put a hand on my shoulder.

"I will sit on you if you even try to sit up."

I didn't actually think he would sit on me but he would stop me nonetheless. Besides under all the mental strain, I was tired.

"Harry?"

"What if the dreams come back?" I mumbled.

"You're tired, I don't think they will," I felt a light ruffling of my hair and then fell asleep into the first dreamless sleep since I left forks.

---

The next day I felt…well in truth I felt new.

Harry helped me through direct contact, it really helped a lot. And as the days progressed I was able to erase his memories for a certain amount of time. I decided I would worry about the time span later. Right now being able to erase memories without physical contact seemed to be more important.

---

"Hey," I closed the door behind me and gave him some of the cake I'd sneaked up. He didn't seem to have heard me; he was too concentrated in the newspaper. I quietly glanced at the paper and I saw the familiar face of Dumbledore. I felt a familiar pang in my chest and I quietly laid down on the bed, listening to everything harry was reading in his mind.

"Makes me wonder how much more we didn't know about him," I said when he put down the paper.

"Loads more," he responded quietly.

Instead of practicing that day we delved into our own thoughts.

Unlike harry I didn't wish I'd asked him. Dumbledore had always seemed like a private man to me. In fact I did not think anyone ever knew him or his life completely, but rather made their own assumptions from the rumors about him. I felt like even if we had asked he would not have told us anything. He would have been too focused on us rather than his own story. He had always been like that as a matter of fact.

---

"Congratulations," harry said as I threw myself onto the bed right next harry.

"There's still more to come," I mumbled, already feeling the sleep creeping over me.

"Oh really? What?"

"I have to try and do it without eye contact."

"Don't you think that's too much?"

"Nah, I won't lose anything with trying right?"

"I suppose. But we can start practicing that when we're at the burrow."

I wanted to respond but I was already dozing off, the last thing I remembered was that we would be leaving tomorrow.

---

"Ouch!" I turned and saw harry cursing and then sucking his finger from where a slight trickle of blood had fallen.

"Something in there bit you?" yes it sounded like a joke but if he still had the book of monsters then there was a good possibility that something did bite him.

He didn't say anything instead he left the room with one more curse.

I shook my head and smiled then turned back to my packing. I unfolded my legs from under me and stretched them out and kept taking things out of my trunk.

My fingers came into contact with what I recognized to be cedrics wand. I briefly wondered why his parents didn't burry it with him, after all a wand to a wizard was like a limb. All the same I was happy that they decided to entrust me with it. I packed it into a messenger bag that I had charmed while I was still at forks, because it would always allow me to pack in many things and it wouldn't look any bigger or weigh too much. I was glad to see it was working to my advantage this time.

Harry entered the room again after cleaning up his finger and we resumed our quiet rummaging of our things.

"I cut myself with this," he mumbled.

I turned and took the shard of mirror he was handing me.

"Hey I remember this mirror. It's the one Sirius gave us,"

"Yeah," He turned and sat at the edge of the bed. "I could have sworn I saw an eye look at me through it just right now though."

"No you're just going crazy," I handed the shard back to him. "Keep it."

He nodded and tossed it on the pile of things he would be taking.

"Can you believe were going to be out of here once and for all soon?"

"What I can't believe is that we are days from our birthday and we still can't use magic, it's completely metal!" he shook in disbelief.

"Boy!" uncle Vernon called. Now he could be talking to the both of us, he always did refer to me as a boy.

"You go," I said to harry. "I might pop a vein if I have to listen to his ranting again."

"Okay," he sighed and rubbed his face. "Be right back."

"Where's the other one?" I heard uncle Vernon call.

"She's busy," Harry responded. After that I didn't hear anything. I finished my packing just as I heard a knock on the door. That must be Dedalous Diggle and Hestia Jones. I sighed and got up to my feet. Well this was it.

I came just in time to see Dedalous embrace harry into a tight hug and eagerly shake his hand. They saw me going down the stairs and I received the same enthusiastic greetings from them.

"What do you mean a change of plans?" I questioned after they explained the plan they had for the Dursleys.

If they did a last minute change of plans then this could mean trouble. And why had we not been informed of this?

"Yes mad eye will explain the new plan to you and harry," Hestia said reassuringly. Or at least she tried to sound reassuring.

They gave us privacy to say goodbye to the Dursleys. Although hardly anything was said, there was only the discovery that Dudley wasn't as bad as he used to be. I actually shared an awkward hug with him that almost gave aunt petunia a heart attack. She kept talking about how good Dudley was. And then just like that they were gone.

Harry and I looked at each other.

"That was…odd," I began. He snorted.

"More like mental. Did you ever imagine-"

"No." I didn't need for him to end the sentence.

He buried his hands into his jeans pockets. "Well I'll go get Hedwig."

"Can you get my things?" I called.

"sure."

I began to pace around the kitchen. We'd be out of here soon and time didn't seem to speed up.

I heard harry talking to Hedwig, remembering our time here no doubt. I came to a stop and sat on the kitchen counter next to the seat. I looked at the kitchen table and I could remember where I was sitting when harry came in with that fateful letter six years ago.

A loud ripping noise of an engine made me jump. I heard harry swear and I looked out the kitchen door.

"Harry they're here!" I called jumping off the counter and heading for the door.

I never expected this many people to come. Things must have gotten really complicated that we couldn't leave with mad eye.

And indeed once the greetings were over, mad eye explained to us the situation. And I had to agree we were in an extremely tight situation.

"I get that but wouldn't it give us away if they see all of us flying to one safe house?" Harry responded to the plan that they had come up with.

And they moved in to tell us all about the plan with the Polyjuice potion.

I remembered when we took that thing in our second year. And I also remember what happened to Hermione after she accidentally put a cat's hair into it.

I wasn't particularly thrilled about the plan. It wasn't necessary to put the rest in so much danger, but like Fred said, what could harry and I do against twelve wizards that could use magic?

I watched as harry reluctantly yanked off a bit of his hair and extended his arm to dump it inside the flask. Just as his hand was over the flask I grabbed his hand and pulled it away.

"I can't take that," I said.

"Why the bloody hell not!" moody growled impatiently.

Harry looked at me in understanding. I looked around and everyone was looking at me as if I was mental.

"But Alex," Hermione began, "you've taken Polyjuice potion before remember in our second year?"

"What?" Fred and George said in unison.

"Well yeah but, things have really changed since we were twelve."

"Alex this is no time to beat around the bush," Lupin said stopping mad eye from going into a rant. "What is going on?"

I bit my lip; apparently this was as far as my secret was going to go.

"There was…an accident during our fourth year in Hogwarts and I was bitten… by a vampire."

I don't think anyone knew what to say to this. They all seemed to be trying to understand what I had just said.

"Who did it?" Hermione asked despite her look of disbelief.

"It doesn't matter who did it. I'm only half a vampire and I don't quite know whether the Polyjuice potion will affect me like all of you."

"Lupin," mad eyes electric blue eye looked towards lupin. "Do you know if it will work on her?"

Lupin's measuring eyes turned away from me and looked at mad eye. "As far as I know it won't work, I don't think it works on werewolves. If it doesn't then there's a great possibility that the same rules apply to vampires. That's the most I can say, I'd prefer not to risk it. "

Mad eye growled angrily and I was half scared for my safety.

"Do you know how much this changes the plan!" my eyes were wide and I instinctively shrunk away.

"It's not so bad!" I defended, "they can just take some of my hair instead."

"Yes but I came prepared with men's clothes!"

I looked down at the sacks that he was carrying with him.

"Here" I took my bag and began pulling out my own clothes. "They can put these on"

He didn't seem to be able to look for another excuse so he gave up. "All right hand over your hair."

I stopped stuffing the clothes from the sack into my bag and looked up. This was too much, what if one of them got hurt? I shouldn't-

"Alex!" I jumped in fright and looked at Ron who had shouted.

"Your hair potter, your hair!" mad eye barked. I hesitantly reached up to my hair and pulled out red strands of hair and dropped them into the flask. Upon contact the mud=like substance turned an interesting copper color.

I watched as they began passing the flask around and taking drinks from it. It was one thing to turn into someone else but it was a completely different thing to see others turn into you. It could probably be the most bizarre moment of my life seeing six of me.

And then came the moment for them to undress. I watched as one of them began removing their shirt and I almost threw myself onto them and pulled it back down.

"I would appreciate it if you gave my body some privacy; it's bad enough having you guys seeing it let alone the others."

Some rolled their eyes but they all took the clothes and hurried to separate rooms. As we all waited I began taking the clothes out of the sack and stuffed them into my own bag.

"What happened Alex?" I felt uncomfortable under Lupins scrutinizing gaze.

"I was attacked-in my fourth year- while I took a walk in the forbidden forest." I inspected the tile of the floor all the while I was speaking.

"What in the world were you doing in the forbidden forest all alone?" Tonks looked at me as if I were crazy.

"I honestly don't know, I was mad is all. Guess I paid for my stupidity though."

"Who did it?"

I finished stuffing the last article of clothing and I sat on of the kitchen chairs. I looked down at my chewed nails to keep from facing anyone. "I don't know."

I didn't need anyone else knowing about the crazy situation I was in. Nor did they need to know Edward had a wife.

"I can't remember anything from the attack; I just remember waking in the hospital wing." I spoke so low I doubted that anyone heard well but it didn't matter. In that moment six me's were walking into the kitchen and everyone was back to business.

Once moody told us who would be paired with who we headed outside. Standing behind bill I looked around and found harry looking exactly like me and crammed into a small sidecar attached to hagrids bike.

Guess I'll see you in a few.

And Edward too because I have no doubt that he's there at the burrow, anxiously awaiting your arrival.

I bit my lip to keep from beaming. Edward didn't make my problems any easier but just because he himself presented a problem did not mean I wasn't excited to see him.

Good luck then

Just as the thought left my head bill kicked off from the ground and I immediately wrapped my arms around his waist.

We'd been in the air for maybe just a minute before an alarming amount of death eaters surrounded us just as the order broke away and went off in different directions.

And then the screams and lights began.

---

Third person P.O.V

Bill cursed under his breath before he swerved the broom downwards and sharply turned to the left. Alex held on to bills waist tighter as the sudden movements if the broom threatened to throw her off.

Hexes flew in every direction. Alex turned just as a killing curse nearly ended it all for her. Five death eaters were on their tail. The wind pressed her hair down and made it hard for her to see through her bangs. So she aimed back and blindly shot stunning spells. The sudden scream from the back told her that she got one. She turned back just in time to see one of them aiming at bill.

"TURN!" She bellowed into Bills ear who swerved just as a killing curse came close to touching him.

She looked down and what she saw horrified her. Mad eye and who she knew to be Mundungus were being pursued by another group of death eaters, and then they broke away. A new figure had joined the chase. Alex was about to spit her heart out as the bill made a sudden dip and she recognized who was chasing mad eye and Mundungus.

Voldemort was suspended in the air, with no broom. Instead the hem of his robes seemed like smoke and it's what seemed to be suspending him. Alex was afraid, not for herself but rather for mad eye and Mundungus. There was nothing that she could do as she found herself trying to protect herself and Bill who found it harder to shoot blind hexes while maneuvering the broom. But she still saw, she saw when Mundungus fled, immediately alerting Voldemort that Mundungus was a fake and not one of the potters. In that second there was a flash of green light that hit mad eye just as he turned to look back. His body fell from the broom and Alex wasn't able to see where he fell as she busied herself with the following death eaters.

She felt Voldemort when he directed his eyes toward her and Bill. Her forehead burst into flames and she fought to keep her grip around Bills waist.

We found one of them! That's the real one! In the midst of everything going on around her she didn't understand where that voice had come from. But the moment she heard it Voldemort disappeared from sight. It's then that she realized that harry had been caught. They knew he was the one with Hagrid and that's why Voldemort had left; to get rid of him.

As this realization crossed her mind a sharp turn made her unsteady hold break. She felt her body go opposite from the broom as she let out a yelp and she was thrown off.

"NO!" Bill bellowed, right then Alex's hand shot out and she managed to grab a hold of the broomstick.

Bill looked down and felt a flood of relief when he saw her precariously dangling from the broom.

"Keep going!" she shouted. She swung her body right at the moment that a curse flew her way.

"Don't kill her! It might be the real potter!" She heard one of them shout.

"Hold on! We're almost there!" Bill shouted down at her.

Her hand was sweaty and it was quickly beginning to slip. The desperate beatings of her heart only served to scare her further as it seemed to be the only thing she could hear.

"STUPEFY!" She shot a red bolt toward another death eater and he slid off his broom. Three more followed.

"ARRGH!" Her hand gave away and she fell just as a broom seemed to materialize from nothing and she landed on it. The broomstick painfully pressed on her stomach the moment she fell on it knocking the air from her and leaving her momentarily paralyzed. She recovered and looked into the face of a death eater whom she only knew by the face and not by name. He smiled triumphantly.

He raised his wand and she saw it pointed straight at Bill.

"AVADA KEDABRA!" The words had barely left his mouth when Alex, with blinding speed, launched herself onto him moving his arm. The curse hit another death eater straight on the chest. The sudden movement threw the both of them off of the broom. She could see the woods coming nearer to her and her mind began racing. She held her wand tighter and pointed at herself "arresto momentum" she choked out and felt as her body slowed its fall, until she hit the ground of unknown woods hard. Her mouth opened and tried to let out a sound but all she managed was a small strangled squeak.

She heard a grunt from next to her. The death eater had also survived the fall and upon realizing this she was up in a fluid motion and immediately spotted his wand laying close to him. Before he got up she ran towards it and placed her foot upon the wooden stick. There was a snap and an enraged roar. She felt her feet leave the earth as the death eater tackled her to the ground, and her wand left her hand. Her head hit the ground and she saw stars in her eyes. A hand closed upon her throat she struggled to get the man off of her and began clawing at his face but it had no effect upon him.

She laid her hands on top of the man's own hands that were strangling her and she mustered all the strength she had to focus on the man's mind. Instead of making him forget his purpose as she meant to do, a million memories began racing throughout the both of their heads. She felt her body begin to convulse and the man's hands slackened as the jumbled memories took a complete hold of him.

Stop, STOP! Her mind screamed at her just as it felt like it was on the verge of bleeding and she broke the connection. The man fell off of her and looked as if he were in some sort of trance, she gasped and desperately filled her lungs with air as she got up and picked up her wand.

"Petrificus totalus!" the man's body stiffened and fell back. She took her chance and ran away, her breath was heavy, her lungs on fire, and her head threatened to burst. She cried when she felt herself lose control momentarily of her body. It stopped and she couldn't quite make it keep going. And in less than two seconds she gained the feeling and control of it again. She continued to run without knowing where she was going. She didn't want to dissaparate for she didn't know if Bill was still here. Every moment she kept looking back making sure no one was behind her.

"AH!" her body collided with some one else's and they covered her mouth to shut her up. She looked up afraid and saw it was Bill. Her screams subsided and he began to run while pulling her by the hand.

"There they are!" spells shot down from the sky at them and they ran and tried to shoot back.

"Hurry! Hurry!" They heard more death eaters running after them.

"Sectusempra!" She saw one of them fall and begin bleeding.

And though she had never done it before she was now grabbing at anything that might allow them to get out of there alive. With all the mental capacity left within her that connection she had, overtime, grown familiar to, split and attached itself to the death eaters running after them. It was difficult but her feet continued to run, although they were beginning to stumble. She couldn't make sense of all the haze clouding her brain. But she was distantly aware that the attacks from behind her and Bill had stopped. The connection flickered and seemed to lose its power before she forced it back.

"Alex!" Her body toppled forward and gave away as she lost control over it. She was stuck; she couldn't break the connection although she desperately wanted to do so.

Alex no! As soon as Harry's voice ran through her mind she lost her vision and any sense of what was happening around her left. All she could see were the flickering images she couldn't break away from, all she could feel was the pain that centered on her brain. As this ability of hers took control of her entire being she lost awareness of her surroundings.

---

Bill still hadn't let go of her hand as she toppled forward.

"Alex!" He bellowed when she fell. He ducked away from a killing curse and picked her up and began to run. They were almost there. He could see Aunt Muriel's home in the distance; it was only visible to him. He ran with greater speed, or as much speed as the Alex's body allowed him to get. He chanced a look at her. Her eyes were rolling to the back of her head and her body was convulsing. Her hair had turned black.

"She's a fake!" That's what he heard one of them shouting in the distance. And he began running faster for now they would try to kill her instead of stunning her.

A jet of green light passed inches from her head and his heart almost stopped. Just before he was struck by a curse, he stepped on the safe barrier around the house. He didn't stop running nor did he call his aunt he simply headed to old brush that was glowing blue and he took a hold of it with Alex still in his arms.

---

He wasn't able to keep his balance, the moment his feet felt the floor he gave away. Alex's body fell from his grasp and rolled a bit before becoming still.

"Bill!" He felt fleur kneel next to him and wrap her arms around him.

Edward shook Alex's limp body roughly and begged her to wake up. She was alive, he could hear it, but it didn't make things any better. He desperately shook her but there came no reaction.

He looked up blindly and whispered for help for he couldn't manage to speak any higher. They all bustled around Edward who kneeled and held Alex to his chest.

"Rennervate" Lupin muttered. Her body twitched and then began to convulse.

"What's happening to her?" Edward said through gritted teeth.

"Alex! Alex! Listen to me!" harry called. Alex eyes opened. What Edward saw there scared him. Her eyes were completely black; the whites of her eyes where black too. She was in trance and horrible grunts and strangled sounds came from her mouth as she convulsed.

"What hit her?" Lupin question urgently.

"Nothing! I don't think anything even touched her. She just fell." Bill was at loss for words. She'd been running behind her something could have hit her without him noticing.

"Carlisle what's happening to her!"

"There's nothing to do Edward. It seems like she's experiencing a seizure. Just keep her from hurting herself."

A horrible cry came from her mouth and settled like a needle inside his heart. Then her black eyes widened and her chest heaved as if the air was being stolen from her.

"she's going to throw up." Mrs. Weasley warned. Everyone took a step back to give her some room, but nobody expected what was to come next.

At the moment that Edward was about to turn her so she could throw up on the grass, her mouth opened and he lost all sense of reason. Red stained his shirt and his white skin. The thick blood ran down Alex's mouth like a river and in one fluid motion that nobody, not even the Cullen's caught, Edward had Alex held only by the neck, her feet had left the floor.

She kicked and punched as she felt another load of blood coming and seemed to pull out of her trance when Edwards hand tightened around her throat. It was too late, he had tasted the sweet nectar he had denied himself for so long, he was gone.

It had all happened in a second, before anyone had any chance to react and in that one second Alex saw the monster from which Edward had run from for so long, she was afraid.

Her trembling hand went to his face and she tried to push it away from her but his hold tightened and she managed to release the blood collecting in her throat. It was a bloodbath and Edward drank from it as if were the manna god had sent to the Hebrews. With each drink he became more lost in the ecstasy of the sickly sweet liquid that slithered down his throat finally quenching that fire that had scorched his insides for two centuries. It was relief like no other and he sought for more. The greatest source of relief laid there right at her neck; as if by the force of a magnet his teeth came closer to her neck and she couldn't say or do anything, he was almost crushing her windpipe. His mouth was inches from grazing her warm red stained skin. She saw the teeth at her neck and she lost all consciousness.

A sudden force of unbelievable strength pushed him away but not before he sank his fingers into his preys flesh as if he had claws, he felt the tearing of flesh and the immediate flow of blood coming from the wound.

They all watched, paralyzed, as Emmett and jasper wrestled the monster away from the highly vulnerable girl whose heartbeats were diminishing fast.

Carlisle hurried and knelt before the scarlet mess she was.

"I need someone to help me close these-"

A ferocious growl seemed to shake the earth and the beast released itself and bounded back towards his prey. Carlisle was violently pushed away and he brought down the tree he hit. Now screams seemed to come from the bystanders. But there was nothing they could do; everything was unraveling so fast there wasn't time to think.

The monster took a hold of the girls hand and was inches from the wrist before he was pushed and wrestled away again. He held on to her arm and pulled roughly, and audible snap was heard as the joint on her shoulder shattered. No sound came from her. Her body merely turned with the force Edwards hold had exerted and she joined the fallen tree.

This time the rest of the Cullen's restrained and pushed him away.

"Protego!" Various wizards shouted at once, creating such a powerful barrier that even when the monster broke away from the others again he was deterred by it. And now the beast was driven into madness and he launched himself onto the ones responsible for his sudden anguish. There were growls, and roars, sounds of cracks, and the trembling of the earth as the close family turned into something beyond horrible. And once more he was in their clutches, struggling to free himself.

Frankie stepped forward and pointed directly at Edwards head.

"Stupefy!"

It was unbelievable that even then Edward did not seize his struggles. He was slightly weaker but he was still struggling.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione pointed their wands at him too "stupefy!"They said in unison and Edward fell limply to the ground, completely smothered in dirt and blood. The Cullen's looked almost as bad after such a violent struggle.

"Alex!" Harry hurried to his twin sister's side; she was already being tended to by Mrs. Weasley and lupin.

Esme and Alice looked in shock at Edwards's unconscious body. Never in their life could they have imagined him to lose control in such a way. For a moment Alice had actually thought they'd have to rip him apart.

"May I pass?" Carlisle spoke. No one had ever seen him looking so grave and scared as he now was. He was embarrassed by his son's actions although he was fully aware that Edward had had no control over what happened.

Bill scrutinized him for a moment before he, with the help of others, put down the barrier.

Carlisle quickly made his way to where they were tending to Alex.

"I can hardly hear her heartbeat" Carlisle murmured. "She's lost incredible amounts of blood." He was relieved to see that they were stopping the bleeding and magically closing the wounds. Yet the danger wasn't gone. Many things could be wrong. With worry he began to attempt a rough diagnostic. There might be internal bleeding, extreme concussions. Due to the force of the attacker many bones must have been completely shattered and could have harmed vital organs.

How Edward hadn't torn her apart with that pull was beyond him. But it was probably the small amount of venom that seemed to course through her veins that made her more enduring to such a powerful attack.

"She can't die" Harry whispered. He cradled her head in his lap and pressed his forehead to hers as his tears fell on her face.

"Tell me she's going to be fine" harry looked up at Carlisle with fearful eyes. Tough Carlisle was lost for words. Not even he knew if she was going to be fine. Her heart was simply too slow and weak. She needed medical attention immediately. He looked around to see if anything could be done by their hand when Fleur arrived carrying a box full of bottles without labels.

"Thank you dear" Sniffled Mrs. Weasley as she shakily took the box from fleurs hands.

"I stopped the bleeding," she murmured Carlisle felt that she was directing herself towards him. "There could be internal bleeding." She rummaged through the box and pulled out a round purple bottle. Harry raised Alex's head so they could give her the potion. Mrs. Weasley carefully tipped the bottle and a clear liquid fell into Alex's blood stained mouth. "That should take care of it."

"Molly is it possible for you to help her?" Carlisle needed to be sure that she was in capable hands; he desperately wanted to get some x-rays done and see exactly what was wrong.

"I should be able to, no magical harm was done; things aren't as serious" Carlisle found this hard to believe for the situation seemed highly serious to him but he decided to trust her.

He looked back at his family, none of them daring to go near the girl.

"Frank?" Carlisle called quietly.

"Yes?" Frankie did not release his grave eyes from Alex.

"I think it would be more convenient if my family would go back home. We don't know when he'll be waking up and he will need to hunt when he does. We need him as far away from her as possible."

Frankie turned and looked at Edward somberly before speaking. "Yes of course."

They all looked at Alex. They didn't want to leave but too much blood was tainting the air and it was making them grow more uncomfortable every passing minute.

Carlisle stood up and walked towards his family.

" Go-all of you-, do not let Edward out your sight, we don't want him to do something he will regret. When he goes hunting all of you accompany him and don't let him wander off by himself. Be careful, he could wake up very violent."

They all nodded. They understood how important it was to keep an eye on him. He drank human blood; he might try to go for more when he hunted.

Carlisle turned to Esme who silently sobbed.

"Be careful," he whispered to her and kissed her.

"Please tell them were all so sorry. He didn't mean to, Carlisle, it wasn't his fault."

"Shh, I know honey, believe me I know. I will talk to them don't worry. It's nobody's fault."

She nodded and kissed him again. "Will she be fine?"

"I really can't say," Esme nodded and threw a longing glance at Alex, wishing she could walk to her and hug her. "All we can do at the moment is trust that they will fix it."

Before they walked away and crossed the magical security around the house he warned them once more to be careful. Then he went back towards the rest.

When he returned Mrs. Weasley was pouring a milky white liquid down her throat. "She's got broken bones, but I can't really say which ones or how many." She uncorked another bottle and carefully poured a white liquid into her mouth.

"Can that be fixed?" He asked.

"Yes the skele-gro should fix it" She responded then pursed her lips, "although it will be a painful process."

"Thank you, for helping her."

She nodded as her eyes began to water again. "There's no need to thank me. She's like a daughter to me."

Carlisle understood her; in the couple of months he had known her she had become an important member of the family. Even now that she was putting Edward through such grief she still had a place in Carlisle's heart as his daughter.

After a couple of minutes they carried her into the house. George had already moved from the couch so they could lay her on it. The twins had never looked as serious as they did now, seeing her broken body. They quickly cleaned up the blood staining her alarmingly pale skin.

Everyone was quiet afterwards and Carlisle felt the need to explain.

"My family and I," he looked at Harry as he talked, for this was his sister who was nearly killed. "Are deeply apologetic for what has just happened. Please understand that, that man you saw out there tonight was not Edward. Please understand that he had no control over this. He would never consciously harm her, he loves her. Unfortunately accidents like these tend to happen especially in their case. Alex's blood has a very powerful pull to him it's almost impossible to abstain from it. Please forgive my son."

Harry nodded. "Will she be all right?"

Carlisle looked at her sleeping form. Her face was bruising and was beginning to swell. Her nose was very crooked after being a target of so many injuries; her bottom lip was split, cuts and scratches littered her soft angelic features. He directed his gaze to her neck where, starting by her jugular and behind her ear extending to her chin and nose, four long cuts disfigured her face and pulled the left side of her face into a grimace. Her neck was already turning purple.

"She's going to need a lot of rest to regain her strength, but I trust she will make a full recovery," their magic seemed like it would fix her completely and leave no internal damage.

Harry nodded and cleaned his tearstained face with his hand. No one wanted to talk about this any longer. They were all shocked at what they witnessed, if they thought about it now it almost seemed impossible. But one look a t Alex and it was reminder that had actually happened.

"Do you think Mad-Eye made it?" George asked after a while.

"Mad-eye's dead," Bill said gruffly. He explained what had happened and how they had gotten attacked.

Carlisle listened intently to Bill and everyone else as they all speculated about who could have betrayed them. Though Carlisle knew harry had a good heart, this knowledge was further reinforced when Harry claimed that nobody in the room was responsible. Carlisle then saw the deep affection Harry held for every single person in the room.

As they all paid a moment of respect to Mad-Eye Carlisle looked at Alex who remained in a deep slumber that almost made her seem dead had it not been by the weak rise and fall of her chest.

"Harry," he spoke when everyone fell silent. "Has this ever happened to her?"

Harry hesitated. He wasn't sure whether he should talk to him about this. Carlisle caught the hesitation. "Please harry this could be serious."

Harry looked at Alex and hoped she wouldn't be mad at him.

"Just once at the beginning of the summer. But she didn't vomit."

"Do you know what she was doing when this occurred?"

"She was trying to…she was trying to erase my memory."

Carlisle hesitated, suddenly wondering if he had heard right, "excuse me?"

Harry delved into the long explanation of how she came to be what she was and then he explained how it seemed this talent of hers worked. All the while the wheels in Carlisle's mind where turning with an eerie excitement he always felt when discovering a vampire's unique gift.

"What doesn't make sense to me is why this happened," he finished.

"Has Alex always had such a good memory?" Carlisle asked.

"Since she was small it's like she had photographic memory. Of course there are many remarkable things about her."

"Like how she can always seem to confuse people," Ron said, his expression took on a faraway look.

"And convince you" Hermione added.

"Like when she convinced filch that Malfoy had been the one to scatter all that dung through one of the halls," Fred added.

"It was us," George added with a mischievous smile. Mrs. Weasley shot them a reprimanding look.

Seems like Alex developed what could be a very potential skill when she becomes one of us Carlisle thought to himself. For he had a nagging feeling that she would one day be completely like them.

"I have only theories," He began and everyone listened intently.

"When someone is turned into…someone like us. The talents that they possessed are sometimes brought into this new life and enhanced. Edward for example appears to have been good at reading people; hence why he can now read minds. The same goes for Alice and jasper. Hearing you recall these talents of hers makes me think that when she was bitten these talents were enhanced. Which is why she can manipulate minds through the use if imagery. The problem with this is that Alex's mind is still very much human. I don't believe it can support so much mental strength."

"But how can she not? What she can do is more or less like occlumency." Harry argued.

This was an interesting point Carlisle had not thought about.

"Explain to me about this interesting piece of magic. I'm afraid I am not very learned on this area"

Lupin took it upon himself of how occlumency worked. Carlisle was easily able to come to more theoretical conclusions after learning about this.

"The way I see it is occlumency is much more restricted than what she can do. For example you say that she can erase memories right? Occlumency does not do that. I believe that if she were to be a full vampire she could have complete reign over not just one person's minds but many people's minds all at once-"

"That's what she was trying to do tonight," Harry cut into the explanation. "She tried to confuse them so they would stop shooting curses at them and give her and Bill a chance to escape."

"Did it work?"

Harry had seen the whole thing happen in his mind and was certain that it had, indeed, worked. But it had had bad results for her.

"She was able to confuse them. But you saw what happened then. She lost complete control over her body."

"I'd like to think that, if she were ever to fully become like us then she could successfully gain control over multiple minds."

"Complete control?"

"Maybe not in complete control but by the sounds of it I think she could have a lot of influence over ones thought and actions."

"However, given the fact that she is still partly human, I wouldn't recommend that you experiment with this gift of hers. It might seem like she was improving but it may be causing damage to her mind. It could eventually have disastrous consequences."

Harry had never thought about this but now that it had been brought to his attention it made complete sense.

A small grunt brought everyone back from their musings and they all turned to look at the hurt girl. Her eyes tightened and she pressed her lips into a thin line. She tried to move and then groaned in pain.

Edward even her mental voice sounded drained.

She opened her mouth and tried to let out the name. All she let out where senseless slurs.

"Shh, Alex" Carlisle tried to soother her.

"Eeee" she grunted, trying to form the word. "Eeerr" a violent cough overtook her and she cried in pain. As she coughed blood spluttered from her mouth. Mrs. Weasley was quick and she magically conjured a bucket which Carlisle took and he helped Alex turn before she threw up more blood. Harry held her hair and rubbed her back as she dumped more blood.

Carlisle looked down to make sure she didn't choke; the blood barely had an effect of him, though it was still something to be worried about.

When she finished her weak body began to shake and he quickly helped her lay back down.

"eee-"

"Shh Alex, shh don't try to talk right now." Carlisle said.

"She wants Edward" Harry explained.

Carlisle pursed his lips for a moment. "Edward left Alex; he needed to get away because it was dangerous. He had to get his mind clear."

What's going on? What happened to Edward? Where am I?

Harry was confused. Don't you remember what happened Alex?

What happened?

"Carlisle? Is it normal that she can't remember what just happened?"

"It's very normal; I would take it to be a sign of a concussion. The slurred speech is also a symptom of a concussion."

Edward!

"He can't be here right now Alex." Harry said a bit firmer.

"I'll bring him as soon as I can, but he needs to recover" Carlisle said and he reached to smooth her hair back.

Recover? She was in near hysterics. What happened to him!

She stirred and let out a wail of pain. Why does it hurt so much!

Harry took her cold hand and grasped it tightly. Calm down melody everything is going to be fine.

But she didn't hear this for she had soon passed out again.

"She's going to be sleeping a lot for the next few days," Carlisle explained. "Her body is weak and it needs to rest," he glanced down at the cuts; they would scar badly, and she shouldn't be burdened with them, nor should Edward have a constant reminder of this day to torment him furthermore. "Can these wounds be fixed?"

"The wounds are still fresh, the skin there is tender but I should be able to remove them once they're healed." Mrs. Weasley said.

"Thank you." He said from the very bottom of his frozen heart. "For everything you have done for her."

Mrs. Weasley shook her head, slightly pink in the face. "It's nothing."

Carlisle glanced at Frankie who nodded at him.

"Well, I must get back to my family and explain to them what happened," they all understood he was referring to Mad Eye. "And they must be anxious to know about Alex."

---

That night while everyone tried to sleep- tried for moody's death hung above them and saddened them greatly- Alex lay on the cot in Ginny's room having a mental talk with Harry who was upstairs in Ron's room. She'd woken up in the middle of the night and seemed to remember the incidents of the day. She was awake despite her body's protests, but she would give in to sleep soon.

I've never heard of a wand acting like that,she said after Harry recounted the events of earlier in the day.

Nobody has Alex could tell he was frustrated they all reckon it was me but I know it wasn't. I've never done anything like that. nor do I know any spell that could possibly do close to it.

Maybe you did it unconsciously.

I know I didn't!

Okay, okay I get it. You didn't do it. But then what happened. I mean Voldemort wasn't using his own wand so you can't blame the twin cores thing.

She was met with silence as he mulled things over.

Dumbledore would have had an answer to this

She tried to squirm and then thought better of it. Her whole right side hurt.

Yes I reckon he would.

How are you feeling? The sudden change of conversation threw her off for a second.

My whole right side hurts.

Well it's no wonder apparently your ribs were completely broken. The bones in your arm were shattered. And you hit a tree Alex. Did you expect to be feeling better in no time?

Yes my body does seemed to be attracted to trees when its being thrown around…what happened? I remember when he caught me by the neck but I fainted afterwards.

A sudden flashback and reminded her of the animalistic look in Edwards eyes as he looked up at her in hunger. A hunger that was completely different to the one she had seen before in him, she didn't like it.

Well I can't say I saw clearly, it all happened so fast. One moment he had you and the next Emmett and jasper were struggling with him. Then the next thing we know he was pulling you from the arm then you hit the tree. It was all really confusing.

Well then it was no wonder that she was so hurt from her whole right side.

Don't worry he said.

I have to worry, Harry, this is going to kill him. He's capable of doing something stupid because of this. I'm scared. I need to see him.

You're going to see him soon. I'm sure of it.

Wish I could be as calm as you are though.

I'm simply calm about this matter because I'm not desperately in love with him.

She rolled her eyes and tried to readjust her body but was unsuccessful.

I can't believe mad-eyes gone.She didn't want to continue this conversation; Edward was in her mind enough as it was.

Yeah well we couldn't imagine Dumbledore dying and you see what happened.

I…I guess you're right.

While Alex didn't want to touch the subject of Edward, Harry did not want to think of Mad Eyes death either. Alex kept remembering how he was killed and Harry didn't like seeing that.

Carlisle reckons that you ought to stop trying to look into people memories. You realize that none of this would have happened if you hadn't tried to tamper with their heads.

You realize that if I hadn't done that then Bill and I would probably be dead. At least I'm here right.

Yes but look at the condition you're in.

The way I see it, it's better than being dead.

She heard Harry's small chuckle.

You always have to win don't you?

I've lost before.

Carlisle has this theory, he thinks you have control over a person's mind through imagery. You've always had an amazing photographic memory, and you're very persuasive, that and other talents of yours, he thinks, were enhanced when you were bitten. That's why you can do all of those things. But he says that you're mind is still mostly human and not strong enough to support your ability.

But I was getting better at it.

Yes but he says that you look fine on the outside but he's right we don't know how it's affecting your mind.

That does make sense.

Guess that means those lessons have to stop.

Right…

Alex, the reproaching tone registered in her mind.

Trust me harry, I know what I'm doing.

No you don't. None of this would have happened today.

Yeah you're right. I would've been dead before it happened.

Go to sleep Alex.

For a change she listened to him and slept through the rest of the night and until noon.

---

Earlier that day

Bella had been sitting in the library, reading a book she had recently purchased, when she heard a distinct crack that, she had come to learn, indicated the arrival of a witch or wizard.

Things hadn't been well between her and Edward. She had stopped her advances towards him in the hopes that he might realize that he was losing her and then he would pull himself together. There was no such luck. She didn't know what to do anymore so she decided to let her motionless heart guide her.

She closed the book and headed downstairs. When she was out of the house she stopped and took in what was before her eyes. The family was disheveled indicating some sort of struggle. And Edward lay at their feet completely unconscious and looking like the most beautiful corpse she had ever laid eyes upon. Yet for obvious reasons she knew he was merely unconscious. She gasped at the sight of the blood running all over his face and her eyes rolled back with delight as she caught a whiff of the smell.

"Stop that," Jasper warned her.

She struggled for a moment to ignore the smell. It wasn't like the source of the delightful smell was even there, that's what she told herself.

"What did he do?" she said in quiet horror. She was sure that he had killed her. And although she didn't like Alex she knew that the young witch's life wasn't supposed to end this way. And Edward, Edward was sure to do something stupid because of this. She briefly wondered whether he'd attempt suicide but quickly pushed the thought aside. He wouldn't be doing such a thing while she was there to prevent it.

"He attacked Alex that's what he did," Rosalie said, although she was bothered and preoccupied about her youngest sister she didn't blame Edward. She'd once been a bloodthirsty newborn and she knew how hard it was to abstain. If this la tua cantante thing he had really was harder to ignore than a simple newborns bloodlust then she didn't think she'd be able to abstain from it either. Rosalie admired Edward for his strength. And although Edward had had weaker moments, he gave Carlisle a run for his money.

"Is she alright?"

"Half dead maybe," Emmett responded "but at least she's half alive."

"Why did he attack her?"

"She vomited blood all over him,"

A sudden movement from Edward kept Bella from asking for further explanations.

He hadn't even stirred; he simply opened his eyes and took off in search of something that would come somewhat close of the smell that plagued him.

"Bella!" Alice said in the distance, the whole family pursued Edward as he headed towards the town. "Block our minds to him!"

Suddenly Edward couldn't hear a single thought. His reliance on his mental ear was too great and he was left dumbfounded; but the need he felt maintained him running. Searching for any human he could gets his hands on.

They came at him from all sides, effectively blocking him. Emmett took his chance and lunged at him and struggled to pin him to the ground. He rested his full weight on top of Edward who was still struggling and Jasper placed placed a hand on Edwards's hair and the other under his jaw, he forced his face upwards and Edward stilled. His breath came in heavy pants and he looked at all of them with murder written all over his eyes. He began to growl at all of them and tried to wriggle out.

"Listen- LISTEN TO ME EDWARD!" Jaspers voice echoed throughout the woods and everyone was quiet.

"Bella you can unblock my mind please," Jasper said smoothly. Bella nodded and did as told.

And Edward saw Alex's look of terror as he held her up by the throat. He felt her panic and horror at what was going on before the shock and strength made her pass out.

Bella freed everybody else's mind and Edward saw just how much damage he had caused.

"Did I-"

"She's alive Edward," Esme assured him.

"Barely," Emmett snorted. Rosalie stomped on his foot.

It might be hard to believe but Edward was a million times more broken than Alex was at the moment.

---

Alex's P.O.V

"Have you seen him?" I was in one of my moments of coherence and wasted no time in trying to obtain news of him.

"It's only been a day Alex and Frankie was not able to come. But I'm sure he's fine," Harry tried to inch the spoon full of soup to my mouth and I moved my head away. I gasped in pain at the sudden movement.

Since I woke up my life had turned into a nightmare. I could hardly move without hurting and even while I wasn't moving I was hurting! The whole right side of my bones had apparently been fractured and as if I didn't have enough head injuries I received a nice concussion to my head.

I'd spent the entire day sleeping, being force fed, and being utterly useless.

"Don't worry Alex I'm sure he's still alive," Hermione said with a gentle smile.

"Wish I could be sure too," I muttered.

I wondered if the dead felt this heavy, even my head felt like it was a hundred pounds.

Call me stupid but I did not blame Edward one bit. Nobody did except him of course. It was an accident and accidents happen. I couldn't expect him to have complete control around me all the time and he was caught off guard this time. Something like this was bound to happen.

---

The days passed and I began to regain my strength. Soon I was back on my feet although I was still very sore and bruised on the face and neck. Not to mention the four humongous cuts on my neck that looked like I was attacked by a lion. My nose however…well I suppose I could ask Mrs. Weasley to straighten it. Or maybe even I can do it.

A total of three days had passed since the accident. I'd seen Frankie but he would simply say, "He's beyond himself, let him calm down"

I wanted to claw my eyes out in frustration every time he said that.

---

The day before my birthday I sadly watched from Ginny's room, the sun sink behind the hills. I heard someone come in to check on me. Then Hermione sat down next to me on the bed.

"Is he really going to leave me alone on my birthday?" I mumbled.

"Isn't this what you wanted?"

The comment made me feel as if I were slapped in the face. I suppose that was true but…I don't know. I'm worried about him I can't lead him to think that I think he's some sort of bad person or something of the sorts.

"I dint want it to be like this."

"You know how much easier things would be if he just stayed away until you left?" With some effort I turned my neck to face her.

"I have a plan Hermione. One that won't leave him crawling on the ground with grief when he doesn't know whether I'm still alive or not, I need him to come."

I slowly turned my head back and was surprised to see that the sun had already left.

"Do you think he'll come?"

I heard a small chuckle from her.

"Really melody, you contradict yourself too much… I think his family will eventually drag him here. If I've learned enough about him then I'm ready to bet he's scared of seeing you."

"The vampire scared of the witch…how interesting."

She ignored me and inched closer to my face.

"Those bruises look ugly." I looked away, feeling uncomfortable under such scrutiny.

"Mrs. Weasley toned them down as much as she could. My face looked all purple before," a huge yawn made its way out of my mouth and it frustrated me. I'd been sleeping too much to be considered healthy.

---

"Happy birthday!"

I was far from happy but I still smiled as I took a seat on the crowded table and dutifully ate a full plate of scrambled eggs.

Once I was done I excused myself to the backyard where the grass has just been cut. It was odd seeing the yard so clean, it looked foreign to me. Slowly I made my way to a tree and at a tremendously slow pace I sat on the ground.

It was odd, knowing that I could do magic outside of the walls of Hogwarts. I hadn't done one bit of magic since I woke up, I had to see for myself that I really was free in almost every way possible. Pulling out my wand I looked at it for a long time. I felt my hand tightening its hold on it and felt as if my hand had a mind of its own lifting itself and then coming down in a fast swiping motion. I flinched at the movement but I saw as ribbons of colors spurted from the tip of my wand; an old charm I had learned in my first year I hadn't used it in a very long time and the colors still caught my attention.

But as soon as I heard a faint pop my concentration broke and the ribbons disappeared. Instead I turned (and winced) to look at who had just arrived. Suddenly my day didn't seem as bad. The Cullen's and Frankie were making their way towards the burrow. All of them were holding a gift and big smiles on their faces. It felt like it had been years since I had smiled and I liked the feeling. With effort I managed to get to my feet by which time the Cullen's had already reached me. I was gently enveloped by loving arms as everyone wished me a happy birthday and took a good look at my beat up face.

I saw Emmett's face and guessed he wanted to say something about it badly. It was a wonder he hadn't already blurted it out.

"I look tougher like this don't I?" Emmett burst into fits of laughter and brought me in for a none too gentle hug I winced but remained quiet.

"How are you feeling Alex?" Carlisle took me in and gently kissed my forehead. I smiled at him and hugged him back loving the warm feeling that spread throughout me as he embraced me.

"Well I'm useless right now but I'm recovering; everything's fine," Carlisle smiled and he hugged me once more.

"Well were gonna head inside," Alice said. "There's another birthday kid we must congratulate."

"Hardly a kid anymore, technically we're adults already." I could not help but sound arrogant.

Alice came to my side and although everyone could hear what she said she still leaned in and whispered into my ear.

"Work your magic on him Alex." she winked at me and I just offered a lopsided smirk as they began to walk into the house. I looked towards them as they disappeared through the door of the house.

I'd planned and rehearsed this talk with him these last four days; I just never planned out how I would start it.

When I turned to him he wasn't looking at me like I hoped. Instead his eyes were tightly closed as if he was trying to wake up from a horrible nightmare. I would suppose that this was a nightmare to him.

Slowly I walked towards him. I didn't want to push him too much because surely this was already hard enough. So when I took the first step and his hands balled into fists and his whole body stiffened I stopped and hesitated for a second before continuing my way. He never moved, it set my nerves on edge.

Standing right in front of him I took his fists into mine and slipped my fingers into the tight fists. I wished I could look up at him but the current state of my neck left me unable to do so. But I felt as his lips pressed softly to my head and remained there. My hands managed to open his hands and interlaced our fingers.

Forget staying away from him, I was going to take whatever time we were given. I could be gone by next week and I may never come back the future was more unpredictable than ever. I couldn't waste any time.

I pressed my nose against his chest and inhaled, all the while I listened as he did the same. But his breaths were slower deeper, more measured and much more guarded. His hands slightly tightened around mines.

"Don't say it," I whispered as I leaned into him. "Nobody here is blaming you for any of it."

"It was unacceptable," I hate him so much when he's so self deprecating!

"It's nobody's fault there was no way you could have known-"

"I didn't need to know! I needed more control!" Before I knew it I was alone and Edward paced a good distance away from me.

"More Edward? What more can you want?"

He made a move to come near but then turned his back.

"I want a healthy relationship with you. One where neither of us gets hurt Alex." I heard his sigh and observed as his head hung low and his shoulders fell as if he had a huge amount of weight upon them. "And when I had my chance to obtain that…I didn't take it"

And now as I thought of that, I was glad he hadn't agreed to change me. It would have completely rendered me useless if I hadn't been able to control my bloodlust.

"I…I promised myself I would never hurt you."

"That monster that attacked me…it wasn't you. When I looked you in the eye…you just weren't there." I walked back to him and softly encased one of his hands with both of mines. "The fact that you can stand being this close to me, that you can control yourself at my touch that already gives you more control than probably even Carlisle has."

He looked down and flinched when he saw the damage.

"Edward this is nothing, it's going to go away. But you know what won't go away? The miserable feeling that this memory of my birthday will always hold if you don't learn to live with what happened. Don't give me a bad time today Edward. I was looking forward to a visit from you."

He would have cried had he been human, he swept me up into a gentle hug and pressed his forehead to mines. "Why are you so good to me?" a small sob left his mouth and it made me smile.

"If you're not good to yourself then who is Edward?"

"Will you ever forgive me?"

"I would if there was anything to forgive."

I felt his lips touch mine but before I could respond he flinched away from me while hissing.

"Everything is so much harder now," his gold eyes were hidden behind tightly shut eyelids. His whole expression twisting into a painful grimace. His fingers dug into his white palms and the tendons at his forearms became more defined as he stiffened. Though his lips were parted his teeth were clenched and he took deep heavy breaths.

"Then were going to have to set boundaries. But I'm determined to spend the whole day with you Edward. Whether you want to or not." I went to take my seat back under the tree and after a moment he followed after me. His body never touched mines but I could still feel the heat coming from him. I turned to look at him although he didn't. His eyes were firmly set on the clearing of the yard.

"I forgot…happy birthday," he said.

He was trying it was plain to see .It didn't seem like there would be any smiles coming from him today. It didn't matter as long as I was near him and talking to him. Making sure he wasn't wallowing in guilt was the best birthday present I could ever get.

"Very happy indeed, despite the circumstances."

"I've missed you so much you have no idea-"

"I do. Did you think I didn't care enough to miss you? You're the one thought that's always running around in my mind, it's maddening."

"I thought…when I saw that you weren't coming. I thought the worse" He shook his head, as if trying to get rid of a bad memory. And he probably was remembering the wait for my arrival to the burrow. Everything had gone so horribly wrong that day. "How many bad times are you planning on giving me before I cease to exist?"

"I never do them on purpose. There was no way around it. You really don't deserve everything I put you through…but neither you nor I will have it any other way."

He didn't respond.

"There really was no time for me to feel anything. While I was in the air I thought I would die for sure. I really don't know how both Bill and I survived. Everything happened so fast…it all becomes a blur now."

I must have been scared…but I suppose that adrenaline overthrew the feeling. But here I was, fate must really want me alive, which further proves why I had to embark in such a dangerous journey. There was no other way, this was what I wanted.

"I saw you." I looked back at him but he stared straight ahead.

"Excuse me?"

"Through harry's mind I could hear your frantic thoughts. And he and I had a small glimpse of you…"

Harry hadn't told me this.

"What did you see?" I realized that my voice was barely a whisper.

"One of them," he took a deep breath and clenched his hands. "He was choking you and you were, you were," a small humorless chuckle came from him. "You were clawing at his face and neck. Then I saw you running through the woods. They were behind you weren't they?"

"They were very close by." I nodded. "It's a miracle you know? I probably told you this on my last birthday. But after all that's happened all these. After everything that happened four days ago… I'm still alive it's kind of amazing."

"Maybe it's another opportunity…" I could see the words he wanted to say written in his face; I do not think I'd ever seen his emotions so out in the open.

"For us?" I wished he were right…but that future seemed too far away from my reach. There were other things I needed to focus on.

"I shouldn't have waited for you to leave so I could decide what I wanted. Alex-"

I twitched when he appeared in front of me so unexpectedly. His expression begged for understanding.

"I always knew what I wanted. I just…I was too much of a coward to come forward and say it. Forgive me Alex, because my cowardice hurt you and it pushed you away. I've done many unacceptable things melody..."

Slowly he leaned in and placed his hands on either side of my face. His eyes drew me in and kept me transfixed there.

"You must really love me if you are still willing to forgive what I have done and overlook it. Either that or, forgive me but, you are exceedingly stupid."

I chuckled. "It's probably both but more of the first one. It was about time you realized that."

"I won't ever be able to forgive myself Alex…but I plan to take full advantage of the fact that you do seem to forgive my flaws."

"Edward, listen to yourself! For once in your life just listen!"I took his hands and removed them from my face. "You think I want you to be perfect? Is that what you think I expect form you? I know you have flaws; nobody not even a vampire is perfect, I've seen that. If perfection is what I expected from you then I would have never even loved you to begin with. I don't want you be perfect, I want you like this because this is who you are. Don't try to be something you're not."

"I know you're not asking me to be perfect- but I feel like I have to in order to even considered worthy of being with you. I know you're not perfect but you're damn near-"

"Only in your eyes silly. Ask the rest of the world and they'll tell you the truth about me."

"And because that's how I see you in my eyes I need to feel worthy of your love. I understand I might never get to that goal but it doesn't mean I'm going to let you go. Not again."

I looked away and couldn't help the frown that took place… the most I had with him was days and afterwards I might not ever see him again. My throat tightened at the sudden realization.

"Please look at me."

I took a deep breath and looked back at him he himself was frowning. Using his thumb he smoothed the lines that my frown formed on my forehead.

"I wish we were under different circumstances but you have to know. Yes I'll change you if that's what you want…if it's the only way to have a healthy relationship and you're willing to do it then I will do it. Like you say you're already halfway there. But Alex…maybe it's too soon and you're still too young but I have to ask now…will you marry me?"

The words ran loudly in my head. My heart stopped before it restarted and went at full speed. My stomach lurched and I felt as if I was about to regurgitate it. I shook my head to try to get the room from spinning and winced at the movement.

"Alex?" his voice sounded far away and it took a couple of moments before I realized I had yet to answer.

YES! That's what I wanted to scream out but I couldn't.

"Why are you asking me for this?" I whispered.

He hesitated and understanding sunk in. He pulled away and sat back down on my side without looking at me. The guilt taking over me was overwhelming I quietly crossed my arms across my chest and shrunk away from him.

"Is it hard to believe that I want to be with you for eternity?"

"I can't say yes Edward," he looked at me and I focused on pulling on the grass we were sitting on.

"I can't promise to marry you when I might not be able to keep it…Is this your way to make me stay? Or to go with me?"

He shook his head. "It's one of my reasons…but I do want to marry you and begin a life with you. I've often caught myself day dreaming of that day, I want that dream to be a reality. Now more than ever."

I shook my head and tried to look at the sky.

"Marriage wouldn't change things Edward…I'd still leave even if it killed me. I don't want to make things harder than they need to be."

"You're really set on leaving aren't you?"

"You know I am."

"I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you from that Alex. But I know I won't succeed, it doesn't mean I'm going to go down without a fight though. But just promise me Alex that when everything is over you're going to marry me."

"No…"

"No?"

"I can't make a promise I might not keep. I can't leave you looking forward to something that might not ever happen…I might never come back."

His hand reached out to take my arm before it stopped in midair and curled into a shaking fist.

"Don't say that," he growled through clenched teeth. "Don't even think about that. You're not-you can't- Alex-"

"Edward I don't want to talk about this. Please don't make me cry on my birthday."

I bit my lip hard as he stood up and paced.

"This is just too hard…" I sensed his eyes on me and even if I had wanted to look at him my neck hurt too much when I looked at the sky. Why was it taking so long to heal?

"But I'm not going to give up," it came more as a promise.

"As happy as that makes me…I wish you would. It would make things so much easier for me."

"Well right now the last I want is to make things easy for you Alex. I'm going to do everything in my power to be at you're side."

My eyes were watery and I was trying to discreetly remove the tears before I felt his warm thumbs clean them away.

"I'm sorry. An angel shouldn't cry on their birthday. This discussion is over okay."

The tears came faster than he could wipe them away and I wrapped my arms around him with strangled sobs escaping me.

Though his body was rigid he stroked my back and quietly made soothing shushing sounds.

"I love you so much Edward Cullen," I whispered behind his shoulder.

"I know angel, I hope you know that I love you too. I would have left a long time ago if I didn't, Alex."

"I know," I sobbed and allowed him some distance from me so he could compose himself.

---

"If there's one thing I know about Dumbledore is that he would never give me something that is simply a souvenir." I said as I walked with the Cullen's to the edge of the protective barrier. "He would have challenged harry and I."

Scrimgeour had left a couple of minutes ago after giving us what was in Dumbledore's will. Harry Hermione and Ron were just as confused as I was nothing of what he left us made sense. And then harry hadn't even gotten the Gryffindor sword. But how was the sword even important? It's not like it was a horcrux.

"And you say nothing happened?" The Cullen's hadn't been there when Scrimgeour had spoken to us but they clearly heard what was going on. And there was no doubt Edward saw the whole scene through someone's mind.

"Nothing happened, and like Hermione said, they have flesh memories, Dumbledore would have taken advantage of that."

"Maybe they changed the snitch?" Jasper offered.

"What would they get with that?"

"More time to try and find out what was in it?"

"No," Edward spoke. "That's the snitch, his thoughts didn't indicate anything of the sort…do you remember the day you caught that snitch."

I rolled my eyes although I don't think he caught it. "Well it's not every day you come close to swal-"

Oh my god…

I stopped on my tracks and everyone seemed to sense I'd figured something out.

"Of course" I half laughed to myself. "Nothing ever escapes Dumbledore." I raised my head enough to see their expressions. "I never caught that snitch with my hand. I caught it-"

"With your mouth," Edward realized. "You told me"

He was gone and then he was back in a second. In his hand was the golden little ball that had been fluttering around us a couple of seconds ago. It was struggling in his hand and the moment he handed it to me the snitch became still. As I lifted the golden ball to my lips I was certain that something was going to happen. For a second the cold metal grazed my lips and then I heard Alice gasp.

"Something is forming on it." If Alice saw it then so did everyone else except Frankie and I. Immediately a ball of white light appeared at the tip of his wand and lighted the snitch he and I drew closer to it while the others could see perfectly from the distance.

I recognized the writing too well, I just didn't understand what it meant. I knew he would have never made things easy for us.

"I open at the close," Emmett read out loud. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" I couldn't have asked it better myself.

"Seems to me like you have a lot of thinking to do," Frankie walked forward and gave me a hug. "But not tonight, we don't want you to be falling asleep tomorrow during the wedding."

I smiled but the word wedding made me feel guilty towards Edward. After we decided to end such a problematic discussion we talked but our conversations were short, both of us needed time to come to terms with what had happened and what was going to happen. As every single thought passed by the future seemed to become more real; like it was being slowly etched into stone marking it as something that must and was going to happen no matter what. Today I could have said yes to him, I could have agreed to marry him and stay with him. The future didn't permit me, it was written and I could not change it.

When we had gone into the burrow we quietly listened to everyone else speaking. He was all across the other side of the kitchen so as to not put himself in too much temptation he had said. And then they began to talk about the wedding. His eyes had tightened in the slightest before he excused himself back to the yard. I had followed him and he heard me. With his back to me he answered my unspoken question.

"I know your intentions are good…but it hurts to know you'd rather go off and risk getting killed than marrying me and facing this with me."

I began to say something but he had cut me off.

"You don't have to prove anything to me melody. I do not doubt you; you don't need to put yourself in the hands of death just to prove yourself. I deserve to be part of this too."

When he turned around his expression did not match his angry voice. He face gave nothing away.

"Maybe it's me who I need to prove myself to. I don't want to hide behind everyone's back like before. There are so many factors that keep me from marrying you Edward but it all ultimately leads to the biggest reason of all…I have to go and that's that."

He just wouldn't give up and it began to irritate me.

"Just stop," I said before he could talk. "This will get us I ask for is peace on this day but apparently that's asking for too much with you."

The rest of the day we didn't exchange a word. I don't know whether he was angry or sad it could have been both. I found it hard to decipher his feelings.

"There's little chance of me falling asleep tomorrow that's for sure. But my mind will be very occupied tonight."

I began to say goodbye to everyone when Alice stopped me. "Wait for me tomorrow I'm doing your hair. No excuses."

I offered a tight smile. Knowing Alice she would want to treat me as if I were the one that was going to get married. "Okay Alice."

I looked at Edward who looked intently back at me.

"I just want to spend as much time as I can with you, with both of us happy…is that too much to ask?"

He pursed his lips and stepped forward to kiss my head chastely. "I'll see you tomorrow," he promised.

---

Were leaving the day after the wedding.

Oh…alright. I suppose that was the best… I turned on my cot and looked out Ginny's window. Tonight the moonlight shone directly through the window and made her light blue room give off a certain peaceful aura that, despite the sadness that I carried within me, it warmed me to my very core.

We really shouldn't be wasting any more time.

Right…the sooner we start the sooner this will end.

Exactly. Are you ready for this?

I've been waiting for it for a long time, but I don't think I will ever be ready.

Well we've still got until tomorrow.

Yeah…tomorrow…

I think he sensed that I did not wish to keep the mental conversation for his thoughts stopped. I didn't sleep through the whole night, my thoughts alternated between Edward and the snitch through the whole night.

---

There was a lot of commotion the following morning. Everyone getting dressed and putting the finishing touches to the house and everything else. The girls and I were in Ginny's room already getting ready. Alice hadn't arrived yet and I was in no mood to wait for her.

"She will have your head for not waiting for her." Ginny laughed as I began to pile the top half of my hair in a loose bun.

They'd decided that Harry and I would be disguised and since Harry was already posing as a Weasley I would be acting out the part of a cousin of fleur.

"Wont it be odd though," I said as I pinned the blond curls. "If I'm a cousin of Fleur's and I'm walking around with a Weasley?"

"Maybe…" Hermione said as she got into her robes, "but I don't think anyone is going to really be paying attention to you, Just the bride and groom."

She had a point.

"I heard Alice was going to help fleur with her hair."

"Great! Then she won't have time to worry about my hair."

Harry and Ron had already gotten ready and were out showing people to their seats.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror and wondered how much time it would take the Cullen's to know it was me. There wasn't a single trait that would give me away.

"This should be fun," I said when the silence felt awkward.

"Alex I have all of your things packed all right?"

"When did you do that?"

"Yesterday when you were very occupied."

About an hour later we were all ready and were going to go out and see if we could help.

---

Edward's P.O.V

Alice paced hurriedly around the living room the expression on her face was almost comical to me.

When the morning arrived we all retreated into our respective rooms to ready ourselves for the first party since my wedding with Bella. At the moment she was tucked away in the library making all inhabitants of the Cullen house feel irrevocable guilt. Just like everyone else I attempted to ignore the feeling as I meticulously readied myself.

The goal was to blend with all the other wizards in the wedding. And for that we had all been provided with what they called dress robes. At the current moment the most audible thought was Emmett's.

What is this! I feel ridiculous!

Along with that came not so polite words that made me chuckle. The clothing was odd but I'd become so accustomed to seeing Frankie dressed in a similar fashion when he arrived from work that it felt normal to some extent.

"Alice you should calm down," I spoke. "He's here."

"Why do humans have to be so damn slow," she muttered.

Just as he entered the house I heard Bella come into my room.

"Knock knock," her voice was soft…sad. She leaned on door and appraised me. Instead of the compliment I thought was going to come from her she said, "I have a bad feeling."

"About the wedding?"

She nodded. "of course it could be just my mind."

"It's your mind," Emmett strode in looking more confident in his clothes than he really was. "What's the worse that could happen? That fleur gets cold feet about this?"

"Emmett!" Rosalie's voice came from downstairs.

"Guess that means it's time to go."

He disappeared from sight and left Bella and I to an awkward moment.

"Well…" she fidgeted with the sleeve of her sweater. "Have fun."

I nodded. "we'll see you in a few hours." I made a gesture to reach for her merely out of courtesy but thought better of it.

---

When we arrived to the burrow, wizards had already begun to arrive. Ron, Fred, George and a short red haired boy were showing people to their seats.

"I have to go see fleur," Alice announced. "And Alex might still be inside."

I hope she realized I'm not going to be able to do her hair I chuckled at Alice's worried thoughts.

I tried to locate where Alex was at the moment but she wasn't in anyone's thoughts. She wasn't out here either so she must be in the house.

The rest of us made our way towards the red haired boy that was free for the moment.

As we approached him the voice of his thoughts confused me. "Harry?"

The red haired boy turned looking bewildered he smiled when he saw us. "Didn't take you long to recognize me"

"Why are you disguised?"

"We just thought it'd be safer if no one knew we were here."

So that must explain why I hadn't seen Alex. Realizing this I looked around trying to spot her again although that might almost be impossible.

"That's her," I turned in direction in which he was pointing. A tall breathtaking blond was making her way towards us with a knowing smile placed upon her seductive, full, and pouty lips. My expression must have come across as comical for it was surely the reason her sky blue eyes seemed full of amusement aimed towards me. Just as I tried to find any sort of resemblance to my Alex, anything that would assure me it was still her, I found I was unable to hear a single whisper from her head.

Once assured that this really was her I took in her new self, her temporary disguise. The long golden curls that framed a thin well structured face. With defined angular features that were sharp. I took in her soft looking flesh colored skin that held bare hints of a rosy blush. I examined her nose the straight line of it ending with a sharp tip. The high and sharp cheekbones that gave her an air of elegance and delicacy. Her striking blue eyes were unlike anything I'd ever seen it was the loveliest of blues that were only emphasized by the long black eyelashes that created a beautiful frame for such piercing eyes. The sharp eyebrows that made her seem more serious than she really was and slightly intimidating. My eyes seemed to have a mind of their own as the wandered down her tall and perfect body, clad in blue robes that matched her eye color to perfection. No scars, no sign that my hand had ever disfigured her. This woman seemed to have been handed in by Mother Nature itself, she was breathtaking, she was beautiful…but she wasn't Alex. At least on the outside she wasn't.

"So if I'm judging your expression correctly, I take it you like it," this unknown woman spoke in my Alex's sweet voice.

"You know Alex I don't think Edward has ever been left this speechless," Emmett winked at her and she smiled. I caught Rosalie's passing thoughts and was surprised that even now while she knew this was Alex that familiar jealousy was within her, threatening to rear its ugly head. She didn't let any of it show through, however she merely smiled Alex.

Alex was looking at me now and I could not help but be brought back into her aquamarine colored eyes.

"You're beautiful," I said stroking a golden curl. "But it's not you. I'd much rather you be yourself than to disguise your appearance. Although given the circumstances…"

"It's for the best right now," She went to greet the rest of us.

"You look hot as a blonde," Emmett said and was elbowed by Rosalie.

"That was the point," she discreetly signaled towards a small group of blonde girls congregating happily and just as attractive as the person in front of me. "I'm supposed to be one of fleurs cousins and their all like half veela so I had to play the part and resemble them. They couldn't have too many unknown Weasleys. So I was kicked out. I had to have someone get me new robes, never been this tall before. Kind of weird actually."

She looked around her and frowned and pursed her lips when she looked back up she smiled.

"It's very weird to almost be at your eye level." I smiled and carefully brought her into my arms she wrapped her arms around my waist. "I think it's about to start," she said to all of us.

Just as she said it Harry returned and ushered us to our seats.

"Will you sit next to me?" I hoped she would. I wanted her next to me as my partner not at some distance from me as the person who was mine no more.

I do not believe she had planned to sit with our family and I but she acceded and took a seat on a golden chair next to me. Harry, Ron, Hermione and the twins sat in front of us. There was talking around us for a few more minutes before it was announced that bride was coming.

A wizards wedding was one of the most beautiful things about this world that I had yet to see. I caught Alex looking very thoughtful through the ceremony; a small frown took place on her forehead. I raised her hand and kissed it lightly she turned to look at me and smiled though it did not take away the slight sadness that her eyes held.

Could she be thinking of my proposal just as much as I was?

"Its okay," I whispered low enough so that only she could hear.

"I wish it were true," she whispered back.

The ceremony went smoothly; to say that we were in awe of all of this was understatement. In truth the introduction of Alex to the family had given us so many new experiences that it was truly rejuvenating to each and every one of us. This was a new episode in our existence, one we had waited for ,for so long.

---

Alex's P.O.V

"Her hair looks lovely Alice congratulations." There had been no time to greet her before the ceremony.

"Thank you," she looked at me and nodded in approval. "Who did your hair?"

"I feel insulted Alice," I scoffed at her, "do you really think I have no talent for this kind of thing?"

I heard Rosalie and Esme chuckle at my mocking tone.

"Well you learn something new every day right? You look stunning considering the fact that this," with her hand she motioned to my body, "isn't you."

"No, but it's safer this way, trust me."

"Yes well I suppose that's true."

I looked around and saw harry who had been just abandoned by Hermione and Ron.

Was that, "Krum?"

"What?" Rosalie asked.

"Oh no, excuse me for a second," I said and walked towards their table.

"Bored much barny?" I laughed when I heard what his name was and even now I had a hard time keeping a straight face.

"Hmm," he grunted. I chuckled and casually turned to look at the man who was at the table.

"Viktor Krum?" I said almost in disbelief.

He had already been looking at me and had to blink a few times when I spoke to him.

"Do I know you?" his voice was rough just as I remembered it to be.

"No but I do daresay that everyone at this gathering knows who you are…or most of them anyway."

"Oh, right."

"Come dance with me," Harry interrupted.

He took me by the hand and led me to the dance floor. I had to laugh at our situation; he was considerably shorter than I was. He was trying to tell me something but it was simply too funny in the end we just pulled away to a quiet and lonely area of the field.

"Do you remember I told you about gregorovitch?"

"Yes and quite frankly the name does not seem familiar to me."

"Try and remember and trust me you will."

My eyebrows furrowed and I put my mind to work. The images flew by through my head but in none of them did the name pop up.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead as I looked around and saw Krum looking in my direction again.

Krum! That's why harry had linked the name with quidditch! And I missed this?

"Yes, I remember he made Krum's wand right?"

"Exactly!"

"Voldemort's looking for another wand maker? What Ollivander was not good enough?"

"I don't believe that Ollivander was able to explain to him why my wand acted that way. Maybe he's looking for an explanation from someone else."

That made sense. "Do you think he'll want him to make a new wand for him?"

"Maybe but I don't think that's his main objective."

"When did you see this?" I turned sharply and saw a concerned looking Edward looking at harry.

"Nosy much?" I muttered but he made no acknowledgement of having heard me although I knew he heard me perfectly.

"In a dream," harry explained. "Were both positive that Voldemort is looking for him. His purpose is not all that clear though."

He turned to look at me. "Why didn't you tell me about this?"

The less you know Edward the better.

"I don't know, there was so much going on yesterday that I forgot." And that was the truth. I had completely forgotten about that incident.

His frown disappeared and he offered me his hand. "May I have this dance?" His courteous tone made my heart smile and I eagerly followed him to the dance floor.

"So what exactly did you both see?" He whispered into my ear as arranged us into a slow dance in beat with the tempo of the song.

"It was just a dream, Edward; we were simply heading to a town where this man was supposedly at. Nothing more."

"What happened to harry's wand?"

"You haven't heard about that?"

He frowned and shook his head. "I only know your accounts on the matter."

So as we danced I began to explain to him everything that had happened to Harry on that day.

After I finished and he was silent to think about what I told him a sudden question popped into my mind.

"Edward?"

"Hmm?"

"I know you guys were there when you all came up with the plan and everyone says that someone tipped of the death eaters about the day in which we would be moved. I have a hard time believing that anyone from the order would do such thing, but tell me, did you notice anything strange about any one when this plan came into mind?"

He shook his head without giving it a thought. "I'm positive nobody had such thoughts. They could have been blocking me, whoever betrayed you, but such a skill takes very long to develop I find it very unlikely that anyone would do that."

That was comforting to me. "Well it's not like it matters anymore, what's done is done and Harry and I made it here…alive."

He pursed his lips and nodded in a tense manner.

I leaned into him and rested my chin on his shoulder while my hand went to stroke the hair on the back of his head.

"It's alright love. It's in the past now." I whispered into his ear. "I love you."

He sighed and turned his head to catch my lips with his own just as the song ended.

"I love you too, Mon Amour"

We both laughed.

"I should teach you French sometime, I have a feeling that you would grasp it very fast."

I smiled and kissed both his cheeks. "Someday."

Someday... if not never.

We continued dancing, unaware of anyone in the world.

He rested his chin on my head as I lay mine on his chest.

"Alex?" I barely heard the whisper.

"Yes?"

"Do you really hate me?"

Where on earth would he get that from?

"What?"

"You said…when you left you said you cursed the day you met me"

That hadn't been the best thing to say.

"I don't hate you Edward. I could never hate you, but I can't help but think how things would have been so much easier if I'd never crossed paths with you."

Or at least for him, I have no idea how I would have survived the past two years without him.

"We can't always take the easy road you know. You have to work hard for something you want."

"Guess I'm a coward like that…how do you think it would have been if you'd never met me?"

"I can't imagine a life without you in it anymore…I would have probably returned with Bella, but I feel like I would have always felt like something was missing. I can't say for sure. But I can tell you this; I will never regret having met you."

I gave him a questioning look when he rolled his eyes. "Emmett loves to ruin the perfect moments."

As he said this I was whisked away by a different set of arms.

"You love me too don't you shrimp?"

"Oh Emmett, how dare you even ask such a thing?"

The night slowly settled upon us and by then I had danced so much that I had to take off the heels I'd been convinced to wear.

I was sitting on one of the small round tables talking to Alice and Rosalie when I saw Harry head towards a white haired old man that I recognized from a newspaper we had seen over the summer.

"Excuse me," I said standing up. "There's someone I have to meet."

I could feel their eyes follow me as I headed to the table where Elphias dodge and harry sat at. The man noticed my approach and it made Harry turn.

"Mr. Dodge," I greeted him and looked to Harry and nodded.

"Ah I would assume this to be Alexandra," I nodded and took a seat beside my brother to listen to what he had to say. That is until aunt Muriel barged in. and I had to say I did not like the woman very much I felt like slapping her every time she opened her mouth.

But I could not help but wonder whether what she said about Dumbledore was the truth or not. I could tell the woman was not to be trusted, especially if she read Rita Skeeter.

I could see the idea that was now implanted on harry's mind. An idea that he and I both shared, we both wanted to go to Godrics hollow, now more than ever. I smiled at Hermione when she popped out at our side.

"I just can't dance anymore," she slipped off her heels.

"Hmm join the club." I pointed to my own bare feet to which she laughed.

The night was almost over…and tomorrow I'd be leaving. I glanced longingly at Edward who I noticed had always been watching me. He smiled at me and I stood up and headed back to him and enjoy the little time we had left.

A silvery mist came down on the dance floor where everyone moved away and every guest turned their attention to the lynx that was forming. I looked at the patronus that was beginning to take shape and went into the crowd to get a better look.

"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming." Kinsley's patronus spoke, leaving everyone at the wedding to process the information for half a second before the chaos began. It was hard to see clearly with so many people running and pushing me. But I clearly saw the masked figures that were beginning to apparate and the figures that were dissaparating.

This can't be happening!

"Harry!" I found myself shouting and pushing against the crowd of people. "Harry!"

I screamed when I felt a hand wrap around my arm and I looked into the silver mask of a death eater. His wand pointed to me, I pushed away the wand before he could think the words and kneed him in the middle. I took out my wand and pointed it at him.

"Stupefy!"

He fell and I looked behind him and found harry at a distance, I began run toward him Hermione and Ron.

Fear gripped me as I felt two strong hands grip my waist. I thrashed against the person and screamed. The last I heard from my brother was him screaming my name before I was engulfed by darkness and felt my whole body begin to compress.

Even then I thrashed and screamed.

When everything around me came back to shape the figure released me and I dropped to the cool grass.

"Melody?"

The fear I had felt evaporated now as I realized that this wasn't a death eater. But I felt the fury that was growing within me as I realized what had just happened.

My brother was most likely gone now and I had no idea where.

---

Edward's P.O.V

I knelt down to look at her as she lay on the grass with her heart sounding almost like a hum.

"Melody?"

Her breaths were heavy; her disguised body gave the slightest tremors. I reached to inspect her, frightened that my hold on her might have hurt her.

"Get away from me," she spat looking up at me through fierce blue eyes. "Don't touch me."

I drew back my hand. When I saw her running to harry I didn't think I simply took her a moment before Frankie dissaparated. Even if my thoughts had been coherent in that one second I would have done the same. Her sudden hostility was to be expected and I now had to brace myself for it.

An angry tear escaped her eye and she roughly wiped it off and sat on the ground.

"We shouldn't have left," Esme said.

Every one aside from me, who had other matters to think of, was rather alarmed at what had just taken place back with the Weasleys.

"No, believe me that it would have only been a problem. We can't have anyone even wonder what you are. It's too dangerous. I'm sure they've all ran to safety by now."

"We should leave," Carlisle placed a comforting hand on Esme's shoulder and kissed her cheek. "It seems to me like there's something Edward and Alex must discuss." Looking at Frankie he said, "if you receive any information from them we would be grateful if you informed us."

"I promise I will," he glanced at Alex and gently took her arm to try and help her up.

"Leave me," she pulled her arm away brusquely clenched her fists and placed them on either side of her head.

"Just leave her," I mumbled and spoke to my family. "I need to speak with her in private."

"I don't have anything to talk about with you," she hissed through clenched teeth. "I want you far away from me now!"

Oh Edward you're in trouble now Emmett's taunts annoyed me.

I glanced at Frankie who only nodded.

Good luck fixing this he began to leave before Alex spoke.

"I have to go back Frankie," he stopped and looked back at her.

She was back to normal in a split second and I momentarily flinched upon looking at the reminder of what I had done to her face.

"Harry is gone by now Alex."

"Yes but we can't just leave the rest like that. What if one-"

"I'm sure they're safe by now Alex you'll only cause trouble by going back there."

"But what if-"

"Alex, Frankie is right."

She looked back to me sharply.

"Who was talking to you? As far as I'm concerned you have no business here. Fuck off!"

She could not have been any harsher although I suppose it was very well deserved. Still I would never find it in me to regret my actions.

She threw dirt at me before standing up. I took her arm, a reflex reaction, to keep her from dissaparating although holding her could not possibly deter her.

I watched as she pointed her wand directly under my cheek. Threats came from her eyes and attacked me.

"Let go of me. Have you not done enough damage to me?"

Her accusation moved through me like an electric shock. I released my hold on her and wished that the earth would simply swallow me and take me where I would pay for all the wrongs I'd committed.

"It's useless Alex. I took a lot of measures to protect this house a few months ago. You can't dissaparate. I suggest you stay here and avoid causing more trouble than there already is." Frankie winked at me discreetly.

I don't think she'll be going anywhere alone.

With that he went into the house and left us alone.

"This is your entire fault. You ruined everything."

"I told you-"

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say, Edward. I just want to rid myself of you."

She began to walk into the house. If we were in any other situation a situation in which I knew she would be safer without me I would have taken myself out of her life if that had been what she wished.

Unfortunately this was not the case.

"You'd have to kill me," my words made her stop but she did not look back.

"Believe me, there's other ways besides killing you."

Then, like Frankie, she disappeared through the front door, leaving me alone. Frankie was right, I was certain she would not try to leave tonight. She knew the Weasleys home wasn't safe and that they might not even be there anymore. She had nowhere to go.

There would be another time to talk, one where she would not be as angry. Even so I was reluctant to leave her.

---

Carlisle and I strolled through the woods alone that same night. Once I had gotten myself out of the dress robes Carlisle requested to have a talk with me.

I'm not going to say that what you did was right, but neither was it wrong.

"Son, I cannot say that I understand what you are going through, I've never experienced such a thing. And quite frankly I do not know how I would have reacted had I been in your place"

"Carlisle would you ever let seem go off and face such perils while you sit comfortably at your home, not knowing whether she is alive or not?"

"I see your point Edward, believe me I do. I would not like to go through that. But do you see her side?"

"How can she ask me not to protect her? You would do so too if it was the one you loved in danger."

"There's a difference between protecting someone and fighting their battles Edward. You want to fight her battles and I understand that she can't have that. She cares about you just as much as you do."

"I don't want to see her get hurt."

"Nobody wishes to see their mate get hurt, I'm sure she wouldn't want you to get hurt either. Unfortunately the pain that she will face is inevitable no matter how much you try to keep it from happening. You can't always change the future son."

"Then what do I do Carlisle? I don't know what to do anymore."

"Find a balance Edward. Help her and protect her, but let her fight her battles and protect you too. You both need to discuss the matter and reach a mutual agreement. One that will give balance to the both of you. It's the only way."

I know you can do this Edward but first you must understand it.

Then he was gone leaving only a slight breeze behind.

Find a balance. Could I do that? With Bella I had always jumped in front of her to save her. I'd fought vampires for her safety, but those had been my battles and not hers. She had simply been dragged into my chaotic life. The situation was the exact same one I now found myself in except now I was the "victim" as per say. Unlike Bella, however, I was able to help, but I could not fight a fight that was rightfully hers. Almost everything had been ripped away by this demon that had vowed to take her life too and she and Harry had to be the ones to end it all. She had always been right, I could not protect her forever, and sooner or later she and harry would face them alone. She had to prepare for that and I was not allowing her. Instead I was shaping the future to have a tragic end.

With such an epiphany in mind I raced through the woods back to her house. At the speed I was going I almost flew, eager to have her hear me and that we could sort out this mess I had put us in.

I braced myself for more well deserved harsh words from hers. I would convince her that I now had it all right and then we'd embark in this long journey together, the way it is meant to be.

---

Alex's P.O.V

How could such a perfect day have gone so horribly wrong? I experienced a headache from all the worried thoughts going on in my mind. The violent anger that I struggled to maintain within me had long abandoned my body, only leaving irritation for Edward and remorse at what I had said to him. I had never been pleased of my inability to think before I spoke and more than once I came to regret that.

And I couldn't go anywhere. The burrow was most likely being observed. And I had no idea where Harry was. Because I was positive they were in some place unknown to me. They would never be stupid enough to go to a place where they knew death eaters might look for them.

Where are you? I tensed at the sound of harry's voice in my mind, could he really be close enough to communicate to me?

Where are you?I replied hoping I wasn't already hallucinating.

Standing in front of a sign saying 'welcome to forks', hurry up we need to get going.

The beats of my heart gained speed with joy that my brother had indeed returned for me.

I'll be there soon.

In a second I was up and running around the room looking for any clothing I might have left behind last year. Once I had changed out of the dress robes I walked downstairs in search of Frankie. I found him sitting on a chair in the back porch looking into the woods with a butterbeer in hand.

I slowly walked behind him and placed my hand on his shoulder startling him for a moment. I could see the tension of his posture I could feel my own tension in my bones. It was everywhere, threatening to break us.

"You know where they went then?" he asked and took a drink from his mug.

"No, harry's waiting at the edge of town. He doesn't know where the house is."

Before we could say more a patronus began to form in front of us taking the shape of Mr. Weasleys weasel.

Family safe, do not reply, we are being watched.

Frankie let out a relieved sigh and lumped on the chair. I smiled to myself and thanked the heavens for keeping them safe.

Harry they're safe the Weasleys are alright.

Are you sure? How do you know?

Mr. Weasley just sent a patronus, but they are being watched.

Hurry up we have to meet up with Ron and Hermione.

I blinked and noticed Frankie looking at me.

"I have to go," I said quietly.

"And Edward?" I pursed my lips and looked down at the floor.

"I have no time to baby sit Edward or carry around with him. It's more stress than I need. He's better off here, safer."

"He deserves an explanation don't you think?"

"I have given him an explanation but he is just too stubborn to understand it. There's nothing else I can do but leave. Besides we don't always get what we deserve."

I deserved to grow up with my parents and have a happy childhood but I didn't and neither did Harry. Of course I would not be the person I am today if that had been the case. Did I like the person I was? I doubt it.

"Well Alex, you're an adult now. And no one can stop you from choosing your path." He stood up and embraced me. "Remember that you have a lot of people to come back to Alex. We're all going to wait for the four of you…be safe."

I didn't want to think that this might be the last time I ever saw him but it was inevitable.

"Walk just a few feet into the forest woods and you'll be able to dissaparate alright"

I nodded. "Thank you Frankie…for everything. I don't think I would have made it through if you hadn't offered to take me in."

"He'll be waiting for you too Alex, forever!" he called as I began descending the porch steps.

"I really hope that's not true. It wouldn't be good for his sanity."

And with the way things were going I doubted he'd be able to keep his mind for too long.

I did as he said and once I was a good distance away from the house I dissaparated. It was short and in a couple of seconds I was at the edge of the forest looking out to the dark and lonely highway.

"Hey" I turned my head and saw harry leaning against the forks welcoming sign. I rushed to him and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Thank you, for not leaving me," I mumbled.

"Of course I wasn't going to leave you I need you with me. You and me, Alex, were in this together."

I smiled and nodded, "We should leave."

"Alex?"

My heart beat like it had run a mile and a shiver ran down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold that the rain had left behind.

Is this man stalking me? Yes he is, and right now he's making my life impossible. I suddenly felt ashamed at the way in which I was handling things. How could I have actually thought of leaving him alone to drown in torture when I knew it didn't have to be that way? When I knew I could keep it from being that way.

I turned but didn't look into his eyes. It wasn't what he wanted; he came to me and took my face in between his hands and forced me to look into his glistening eyes.

"You can't leave me like this," I blinked repeatedly, trying to keep the tears at bay.

Can you wait harry?

Just don't take too long or Hermione will go mental.

Edward didn't miss a second, he quickly but with great gentleness cradled me in his arms and ran deep into the forest. Less than five minutes passed and then he stopped. The sudden end to the cold air made my face grow warm, almost numb. He lowered me to the cool grass and I recognized where we were, though it looked much more different at night. The black creek was only illuminated by the feeble moonlight that managed to penetrate the trees of the forest; creating a rather haunting atmosphere. The sky threatened to shower us with its tears.

"Is your heart really so stone cold that it would permit you to leave me here to suffer for your departure?" His smooth whisper and harsh expression made a small tremor run through my spine. He wouldn't consciously hurt me but his terrible expression was enough to scare me. And his cold words stabbed my body.

"I-I" I swallowed and looked away from his hypnotizing gaze in hopes that I'd be able to form some sort f a response. " I-"

I gasped when I felt his hand grab me by the jaw and roughly, but amazingly gently for him, pull my face back to look at his. "If you had begged as much as I begged," He hissed, "and I had seen in your eyes the same torment I know you saw within my own I would not have been capable of breaking you like that."

"I wish my heart really was that cold, and then maybe I would be in so much pain right now." I tried to shove him aside but he did not budge.

"If you were in as much pain as you claim to be in you wouldn't be trying to leave."

"You left her," he looked confused for a moment and then seemed to understand what I was referring to. "You once told me it was one of the hardest and most painful things you've ever had to do. But you still got up and left. Do you think I can't do the same? Especially if I know this is the best for the both of us?"

"HOW IS THIS THE BEST FOR ME ALEXANDRA!" He was standing up now. I jumped when his fist easily damaged a tree nearby. "You're going to leave me here to simply sit and wait to hear news of your death. Tell me how is this of any good to me? Wondering everyday whether you have lived to see another day. How can you leave me to wonder whether you still roam the same earth onto which I have been eternally damned to live in or whether you are somewhere far from my reach?"

"Tell me is that worse than watching me die, should that moment come?"

"YES IT IS! At least if I was there to witness it then I would know it was time for me to move on from this place. If I stay I'm always going to be in doubt Alex, just drowning in endless torture. It would be worse than knowing you're dead because at least if you were dead I'd know you are away from any more danger and that you're no longer suffering."

He allowed his body to fall back to the grass as the first drops of water fell upon our skin.

Alex let's not make Hermione wait any longer she was nervous enough.

Alright

Edwards's body tensed as he heard and looked at me. Painstakingly slow he stood up and approached me, when he gently took my face into his hands I thought he was going to kiss me. His lips were inches from mine, his breath fanned across my face making me want to reach his lips with my own but his hands would not allow me.

"It's all going to be fine," he breathed, the exquisiteness of his breath almost made my resolve crumble. "It will all be fine if were together," I felt one of his hands leave my cheek and rest under my heart which must have sounded like a hum to him from the speed it was going at. I clenched my teeth together to keep from spilling any tears it wasn't the time to be weak. "What is this telling you melody?"

It's not the heart I should be listening to. It's my mind. And it's telling me not to risk your life! Not to risk my own…

"Its telling me…I-its saying that…that I-it's all going to be fine if I let you go."

And it will be fine at least for him…

And so I began to let him go by digging deep into his memories. Every memory where my image was engraved I slowly reduced it to mist and then to nothing. one by one, a hundred memories per second. He realized it, and tried to struggle. But he wasn't in the position to move away, I had the upper hand now. The past two years of his life passed before both of our eyes and then disappeared.

"Shh," I tried to soothe him. "I'm letting you go Edward," I spoke to him as I worked and he was kept in a trance. It kept my mind away from the ache my body was in. "Maybe we still don't understand each other, maybe I'm the one that has yet to understand." His hand fell from my face and to his lap where they remained limp. "But has the heart ever needed a reason? The heart never thinks Edward which is why you can't ever trust it."

He grunted as if he wanted to say something. "Please don't say anything else, it worsens the pain."

Somewhere back in time Edward held my thrashing body seeming as if he shared the agonizing pain but unlike me he was completely paralyzed.

My concentration went off balance and I struggled to maintain it. I was vaguely aware of the warm liquid evacuating my nose. Edward's senses were shut down; he wouldn't notice a thing.

The memory of an angry me kicking and punching a tree slowly dimmed and disappeared.

"It was meant to be this way all along. I don't think we were meant to be forever. Whatever my purpose was for entering your life I must have completed it." I kissed his wet hair and suppressed the shiver the cold of the rain gave me. "Maybe I needed you to get through all this time without cedric, to keep me alive until the time in which I would finally be able to go in search of vengeance. Maybe you needed me to keep you alive a little bit longer until Bella returned. But either way I'm going to make sure you walk away unharmed."

Edward and sat at a lunch table in the cafeteria as he unsuccessfully tried to have a conversation with me.

"I've been protected and taken care of for so long, now it's my turn Edward."

"I didn't know the new girl was coming today," Alice's casual voice played in my head, the image was already gone, just the voices that had yet to fade.

"So you knew someone would be arriving?" Edwards's monotonous voice slowly died and I ceased to exist to him.

"It's all going to be alright my angel," by now he could not hear a thing. He stared off into space as I kissed the corner of his mouth a trickle of blood got on him and I quickly cleaned it away although it would not get rid of the scent he would surely smell in a few seconds. My body trembled from the strain my mind had just been released of and I felt blood in my mouth coming from my gums. I took a few steps away to look at him from the distance. This could be the last time I'd ever see him again.

"It's going to be fine," I tried to assure myself.

I would not cry, there was no reason to cry, he wasn't dead and he would be happier.

In the moment I began to dissaparate he blinked and looked at me puzzled, he looked at me as if I were a stranger for just one second before I disappeared.

With absolutely nothing to return to.