Chapter 5
Pairings are: EMMETT/HARRY/EDWARD and REMUS/BILLY BLACK.
it's going to be interesting to write E/H/E i'll tell you that now.
Hermione rubbed at her eyes and flipped the book she was reading closed and put it down next to her on the bed with a sigh.
She couldn't concentrate on the text when something was bothering her and both Remus and Ron were out in town getting their camping supplies even though they obviously wouldn't be going out this weekend in this weather so she had no one to talk to about it.
Getting up from her bed she walked in to the bathroom hoping that a nice warm shower would sooth her enough that she could go back to reading her book. It was while she was under the shower head letting the water rush down over her head that she came up with the answer that was bothering her so much. With out turning off the shower she raced into her room and flicked open another of her books and looked down at the page she hurriedly flicked to. Staring up at her was cold, calculating blood red eyes and the title word VAMPIRE.
Falling to the floor in shock Hermione dropped the book down in to her wet, naked lap and began to read what was written there trying as hard as she could to soak up the information while she soaked the floor she was sitting on.
Ron and Remus shook themselves off as they came into the house having left the camping gear in the garage until it was needed.
"Why don't you head up and grab Hermione and I'll get the plates for dinner." Remus instructed having heard the water running in the bathroom.
"Yeah, sure." Ron responded as he hung up his jacket and headed upstairs.
"Well my Cub. How about some warm custard." Remus mused as he looked down at his son. A bag of take out in his other hand and headed for the kitchen.
"'Mione will be down in a minute." Ron explained as he entered the kitchen with a troubled look on his face.
"Is there something wrong Ron?" Remus asked concerned as he put Teddy in his high chair.
"I don't know. When I went upstairs 'Mione was sitting in the middle of our room soaking wet and naked with a book in front of her." Ron explained.
"What was she reading about that was so important?"
"I don't know. She slammed it shut before I could get to her to see. I guess she'll tell us when she's completely analysed it or some thing."
Remus nodded, "That sounds like something Hermione would do." He responded and put the plates out and started to dish out the take away evenly on to the plates.
"How did everything go today?" Hermione asked as she joined them at the table brushing her hand through her hand drying it with the little bit of wandless magic she could do.
"Yes, we got everything that we will need for our camping trip when the weather is much better. Charlie Swan the Chief of the Sheriffs office gave us a few pamphlets about camping that they had at the office so they should give us some further information for when we're ready to go." Remus explained as he fed Teddy his custard.
"When should we go and get Harry?" Ron questioned through a mouthful.
"I'll head out after lunch and go and get him. Hopefully the road won't be too bad." Remus explained.
"And if it is?" Hermione asked.
"Well I guess I'll have to park at the top of the hill and apparate over the ditch where the water comes through. Charlie said that it floods down the bottom of the hill between our property and the next." Remus told her.
"Well the Cullens actually live on the next property, just down the hill." Hermione responded.
"At least you're all making friends." Remus smiled at the teens.
"You know Harry's going to have to confront Lily and James soon enough. He can't keep avoiding them." Ron said as he looked at the pair.
Remus nodded, "I know Ron. But it's all up to Harry as to when he wants to see them."
"Yes, but Ron's right you know Remus. Harry has had more then enough time to gather together everything he wants to say to them. It's about time he confronts them, soon otherwise I think that it will be unhealthy for him keep all of this bottled up." Hermione rattled off.
"Of course you're right Hermione. I will talk to Harry tonight and see if we can't get this confrontation over by the end of the weekend." Remus explained.
"Do you think Harry'll go for it?" Ron asked.
"Not at all but he will eventually see to reason."
Ron shook his head, "If you really think so but I think he'll be angry at the lot of us for a couple of days if we push him but he'll calm down some and forgive us."
"Yes, that's true but it's something that has to be done." Remus responded, "Now, tell me something about these Cullens."
"Well there are 5 of them. Rosalie and Jasper Hale, they were adopted by their Aunt, then there's Edward, Emmett and Alice Cullen." Hermione started the explanation.
"Rosalie is as much of a bitch as Draco Malfoy is." Ron butted in, "She has the exact same air to her as Malfoy does. I wouldn't be surprised if Harry turns her into a smouldering pile of ash over the next few weeks. That is if she hasn't already pissed him off today while he's over there."
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Honestly Ronald, Harry has a lot more self control then to let Rosalies' petty words get to him."
"I don't know 'Mione. There is one touchy subject that will get Harry every time you know." Ron responded knowing that Hermione would understand what he was talking about.
"What else can you tell me about them?" Remus asked butting in before the pair got into an argument.
"Not much else I'm afraid. You'll have to ask Harry, he's the one that speaks with them the most. We're kinda just ornaments when they're around." Ron responded.
Remus sighed, "I guess I'll have to ask his once he gets home. You sure that there is nothing else?"
"Well their father is a Doctor at the hospital and their mother is an architect." Hermione offered.
"Well that's something I suppose. At least I'll have something to go on." Remus responded thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?" Hermione questioned.
"I request from Minerva and the Ministry. Every one that we come in contact with has to be checked out thoroughly just in case any of Voldemorts followers that were never recognised. It's all for Harry, Hermione. We have to be careful with who we associate ourselves with until we know more." Remus explained.
"It is a good idea in theory, but when Harry finds out he won't be very happy with you or us for not telling him." Hermione told their caretaker.
"I know. But it's all for Harry's safety. We've even had the Ministry do blood work and potions on Lily and James to make sure they are who they say they are and have all come back positive. It really is James and Lily there is no doubt about that but I can't find it in myself to trust them." Remus told them as he rubbed between his eyes to starve off the on coming headache.
Hermione stood and headed over to the kettle and flicked it on before using her wand and summoning the cups and tea and started to brew their favourite tea to help start to sooth frayed and upset nerves.
"So we'll just have to wait for everything to fall into place and see how it ends huh?" Ron questioned as 'Mione set down the steaming cups of tea on the table and retook her seat.
"That's right." Remus mumbled over the rim of his mug.
"So there is Mr and Mrs Cullen with their 5 children, shouldn't be too much to handle." Ron grumbled sarcastically.
"Cullen. Hmm I really do know that name but I can't remember how I know it." Remus mulled over the name but couldn't put his finger on how he knew it.
"Don't force it Remus, it'll come to you eventually." Hermione told him.
Remus nodded, "You're right Hermione. It will all come to me in time."
"Now that we've got that settled, we should look for something to do until the rain stops." Ron said and zipped upstairs to see what he had in his trunk that they could waste time on.
Pulling out his chess set and some wizard games he headed back down stairs and dumped the lot on the table and separated the games.
"Right so we have Chess, Gobstones, Exploding Snap, normal Muggle cards that self shuffle, wizard charades, couple of other Muggle games I haven't played yet that Fred and George gave me." Ron explained.
"Suppose it would be an idea to do something to kill the time." Hermione responded as she sorted through the games with one hand while using the other to sip her tea.
A middle-aged woman ran pale fingers over the photo that she held in her hands, a small cherubic face staring back at her, his bright green eyes glowing back at her.
"Lils, you have to stop teasing your self."
Lily Potter looked up at her husband, her normally bright green eyes dulled with emotion and pain, "I want to see my son."
James sat down on the couch next to her, "I know Lily and so do I. But what we have done is irreversible and Harry just needs some time to sort out his feelings otherwise he'll explode on us." He told her calmly, "Albus told us that Harry was quite powerful and we don't want to be on the receiving end of that if he's really angry with us."
Lily sighed, "Yes. You're right. We'll give our son some time to process everything."
"Now, we have another son that is in need of his mother. So why don't you head upstairs and spend some time with him and we'll worry about Harry when the time comes." James told her giving her a kiss on the forehead, "I'll see you once I've finished work okay." He said moving over to the door and grabbing his jacket.
"See you later dear." Lily responded with a smile as she headed upstairs ti their sons' room.
Hermione looked up from the game and turned her attention to Remus, "Do you know if there are any creatures here?" She asked.
"I have heard that the Native American reservation is a clan of old shape shifters. They can turn into wolves. This is only known because the American Ministry had to check them out since they were around a township and that they weren't dangerous to humans. Once it was known that they were just natural shape shifters so the Ministry let them be." Remus explained, "I don't know of any others that are here. Is there a reason for your question?"
Hermione hummed, "No not really. I just wanted to know is all." She responded.
"Oh hey look." Ron burst out pointing at the window, "A long distance owl."
Remus walked over to the window and opened it allowing the bird in, Hermione had walked over to the sink and drew up some water and broke some bread for the bird to have. Remus grabbed the letter and sat down at the table to read the Ministry sealed letter.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione asked even before Remus had really started reading the letter.
"Give me a minute Hermione. I've just opened it." Remus chuckled and started to read the letter.
Remus could do nothing but stare at the letter in stunned disbelief and passed it over to Hermione for her to read and help make heads or tails of what was written. Remus brushed a hand through his hair and let out a deep sigh and got up and headed over to the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of fire whiskey and three glasses and poured it evenly in to each one and put the bottle in front of him while Ron read the letter as well and waited for the inevitable explosion to come from the red head.
"What the bloody hell do they think they're doing asking us to do this?" He raged for once not throwing in expletives.
"Maybe they think, that with Harry here he would be able to control what Draco does. Maybe try and get him to see the brighter side of being a wizard. Not the death and destruction that he grew up knowing about. Maybe bringing him into a Muggle world will help Draco well on to the road to recovery." Hermione explained to Ron calmly and rationally, as she always did.
"Well we've got time to talk about it and talk to Harry as well before we send a reply to the Ministry and tell them our answer." Remus explained.
"Yeah well my answer is a big fat no. I don't want that bastard anywhere near me or I'll probably end up killing him." Ron exclaimed as he threw down the letter and drank the fire whiskey and then poured another shot and slammed that down as well.
"We'll talk with Harry and decide then."
Hermione and Ron nodded, "Sounds like a plan. It'll be Harry's decision."
Remus let out a small laugh, "Yeah. Leave it to Harry to decide."
"Do you guys read the bloody dictionary or something. There is no way a teenager, except 'Mione should know such big bloody words." Harry grumbled as he watched Alice spell out 'Haemoglobin' on the Scrabble board and how she did it with so few letters he'll never know.
"We don't read the dictionary Harry. We just like to study." Alice responded.
"Ah ha, and I'm water buffalo." He responded with a roll of his eyes.
"Well you're one good looking buffalo then aren't you." Emmett responded from where he was sitting on the sofa playing video games, Scrabble not being his strong suit.
"Well at least one of you is a Neanderthal." Harry threw back and threw one of his tiles at the bigger man and made him crash his virtual car in to the side railing.
"Aw Harry. Now you've made me lose." Emmett whined and dropped the controller at his feet.
"Not my problem." Harry responded and turned back to the game and looked at his tiles to figure out what word he wanted to add to the board, "I don't want to play anymore." He pouted arms crossed over his chest.
"Just because you're loosing." Jasper commented.
"Yes. So before I get totally slaughtered I will bow out right now and save my dignity." Harry responded and shuffled back from the board and picked up the game controller from where Emmett dropped it, "Now show me how to play." He demanded of Emmett.
Emmett rolled his eyes and moved down on to the ground and hooked up the spare controller and started to explain to Harry how the controller worked and what he had to do with the game and what the goal was, even though it was just to race against the other cars and Emmett.
The quaint atmosphere was soon broken by someone knocking of the door; Carlisle moved from where he was seated reading and went to answer it. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"Yes I am Harrys' father Remus Lupin. I have come to pick him up."
"Well please come in. I am Carlisle Cullen." Carlisle responded as he moved away from the door to let the man in.
"Hey Remmy." Harry called out to his guardian from where he was sitting with his tongue out in concentration to keep ahead of Emmett and win, "I'm just about done here." He explained.
"Of course Cub." Remus responded with a smile.
"Please take a seat. They shouldn't be much longer." Carlisle offered to Remus picking up his book from where he put it so that Remus could sit down.
"Thank you."
"This is my family. My beautiful wife Esme and our children, Emmett, Edward, Alice, Rosalie and Jasper." Carlisle introduced.
"Nice to meet you all. I am Remus Lupin Harry's father."
"How are you liking Forks?" Alice questioned from where she was on the floor.
"Quite soothing and a welcome relief from everything." Remus responded with a smile and turned to Esme, "I believe that we have you to thank for the wonderful house that we live in. So thank you."
If she could have Esme would have blushed, "Oh I am glad that you like it. Originally we were going to move in there but I had inspiration to draw something else and this is what I came up with instead." She explained.
"Well I am glad that you decided to build and live in this house instead." Remus chuckled.
=Smells like wet dog, I want him out along with Harry.= Rosalie grouched and Edward threw her a look of warning.
"Okay, I'm done Remmy." Harry announced with a smile as he put down the controller, a giant smile over his face.
Emmett was sitting there pouting at the large screen of the TV, "I can't believe it." He bemoaned.
"Oh get over it Emmett." Harry responded as he walked over to where Remus was sitting and noticed the look on Remus' face. Seeing what others wouldn't, "What's happened Remus?" he asked.
Remus smiled and shook his head, "Nothing Cub. Let's get you home Teddy hasn't stopped screaming once he woke up from his nap. I think he loves you more then me." He pouted at the teen.
"Of course he does. I just that much better then you." Harry responded and ducked the hand that swang out to hit him, "Come on old man, I'm starting to get hungry." He explained pulling Remus up from the couch.
"I don't know Harry. I'm quite comfortable right where I am." Remus responded as he wiggled around in his seat getting comfortable.
Harry just looked at Remus, blinking stupidly and turned on the Cullens, "I would like to thank you for today. I had fun." He said with a smile and felt Remus stand up behind him.
"Now we can go." Remus said walking over to the door with a smile, "Thank you for keeping Harry out of trouble." He said as well as Harry slipped under his arm and out the front door.
"You're welcome. We enjoyed having Harry here. He's been a breath of fresh air around here." Esme responded with a beautiful smile.
"Mr. Lupin." Carlisle called, Remus turned his attention to the blonde man, "Do we know each other?" He asked.
Remus frowned thoughtfully, "I was thinking the same thing but I can't remember if we have or not. I was involved in a car accident and hit my head a few months ago and some memories are still a little fuzzy."
"Well I'm sure that it will come to the both of us in time." Carlisle responded with a smile.
Remus nodded, "I'm sure we will. Good bye." He said leaving after Harry, closing the door softly behind him.
"You know him Carlisle?" Esme questioned grasping her husbands' hand.
Carlisle shook his head, "I don't know. I have the feeling that I do but I cannot remember." He explained and headed off to his study to think things over.