Chapter 2: Getting to Know You

Everyone moved to the large living room. Carlisle taking the chair to the right of the fireplace while Emse sat on the arm and leaned against him. Her face shown with happiness and her eye sparkling with joy, he youngest son was a hero, famous as the best and brightest. But, best of all her two boys the "twins" had their mates. Yes, she was very pleased and their family was going to grow. Draco took the chair across from Carlisle while Luna sat Indian style on the floor next to it. Emmett had taken his position in his favorite recliner by the flat screen TV swiveling around to see the rest with Rosalie sitting on the arm and leaning on his shoulder. Jasper had taken the matching recliner and Alice was setting on his lap, he didn't look now like he was in pain obviously not having humans around helped. Cedric had led Ron to one of the two couches facing each other; they separated and sat down but only a couple of inches apart. This was soon copies when Edward guided Harry to the other couch setting on the end with Harry next to him, only a couple of inches apart. The bonds were new and the two couples would not be able to be very far apart for a while.

Carlisle spoke first after everyone got settled. "I suppose I shall start this "story time" I am a little over 360 years old, but I was 23 when I was changed…"

He went on to tell of how he had been forced by his father to participate in the witch burnings when he was mortal. That in retaliation he had been taken and turned, and then abandoned in a cave. When he had woken from the change there was a deer at the mouth of the cave and in his bloodlust he had drank the deer dry. It was then that he discovered that he could live without feeding on humans. He struggled to control his thirst and in time even became a doctor healing mortals. Now he had been practicing medicine for nearly 300 years. He talked very briefly talked about his time with the Volturi and his decision to live a different life, one that had led to his own coven or as he preferred family. It was plain to see that the title of "father" was not just part of their cover. They were a family and he was the father. And finally Carlisle talked about being alone and desiring companionship. Finishing Carlisle told of his vampire gift which turned out to be his control of the thirst.

Edward taking his turn continued saying "Well, assuming that we are going by when we joined the family I would be next. Carlisle found me in Chicago in 1918; I was seventeen and dying of the Spanish Influenza. My mortal parents had already died in the pandemic. I was alone with no one left and Carlisle gave me a chance at a new life…"

Edward told of his rebellion and touched briefly on his time with the Volturi. He didn't go into much detail and no one pressed him seeing his unease with the subject. Then Edward told of his vampire gift, he in mortal life had been good at reading people and now he could read their minds. He went on to explain that it was not intentional; to him it was like having everyone talking in the background. He could focus on one voice if he needed to but usually tried to close them out.

"Bloody Hell!" Ron exclaimed in shock.

Draco stiffened as he asked "You can read our minds?"

Nodding Edward answered "Well until I said that I could get glimpses from you like looking out a window in the pouring rain. But, the minute I said that it was like a bank vault shutting. How do you do that? I have only not been able to hear one mind in my entire existence."

At this the Cullens all sat up, they had never heard of this. Edward had always been able to ready everyone before.

Draco continued to question "So you are a natural Legilimens?"

Most of the Cullens all looked at him not understanding what he meant. Before Cedric answered him; "Yes, that is the spell that allows a wizard to read another's mind. So I assume you all have mastered Occulemency?"

Luna wanting the most important thing to come out spoke next. "Yes, we were taught by Professor Snape during the war. Edward, whose mind, is it that you cannot read?"

Edward looked at Harry as he answered "Harry's."

Harry how had been tense next to him since the subject came up relaxed back against the couch as the Cullens also relaxed.

Deciding that she would be next Esme started to tell her tale; "I was brought into the family next; I was 26 when I was changed…"

She told of her lost child and how devastating it was, to the point that she tried to kill herself. And how Carlisle had found her already in the morgue but still having a faint heartbeat, that he had recognized her as his mate and changed her. She looked at Carlisle and their children as she told of how Carlisle had given her everything, a new life, a mate to share it with and children to fill it.

Rosalie grumbled "I suppose that makes me next. I was 18 when Carlisle changed me…"

Rosalie told of her life as a bankers daughter and how her fiancé and his friends had gotten drunk and attacked her, beating her nearly to death and then leaving her to die. And how Carlisle had found her and turned her, hoping for a match for Edward. If not mates then at least a romantic paring. But that was not to be, Edward only saw her as a sister, of course seeing as his mate is male it certainly explains the lack of interest. She did tell them that after the change she hunted her fiancé and his friends down, tortured and killed them in retribution for what they had done to her.

The Evans family was sure that she had glossed over some of her story, but then everyone was entitled to some mystery, privacy and secrets.

With a huge smile an arm around Rosalie Emmett started his story; "Yeah, well then there was me. I was 20 when his lovely angel found me…"

Rosalie had found him having been mauled by a bear and recognized him as her mate. He was dying and she carried him over a hundred miles to Carlisle, begging him to change him. And the two married and have been together ever since. He laughed as he told them that his vampire gift was to maintain most of his newborn strength.

Alice bounced up and down as she spoke "I guess that leaves us, well I don't have any memories of my mortal life so I'm not sure how old I was when I was changed or who did it…"

Alice explaining her life is like a butterfly in a field of wildflowers never touching on anything long enough for it to stick. She told that her vampire gift was to see the future; she was there seer, but that it changed as decisions were made altering the future. It was one of her visions that had led her to Jasper, her mate. The vision had led her to a dinner in Philadelphia and then another had led them here to their family.

Somberly Jasper spoke as he looked at the floor; "I was…I was 20 when I was changed…"

Jasper had begun with no preamble he had been an officer in the Confederate army during the Civil War when he was changed. He had been taken to train an army of vampires, and later kill them when they were no longer useful. That he had left to find a better lifestyle, and in the end had come here with Alice because he no longer wanted to drink human blood. You see his vampire gift was to feel others emotions and to be able to influence them, the down side of this was that he could feel his victims emotions as they died. Being new to the lifestyle he still struggles.

Everyone was quiet for a while after that.

See that he was the last and youngest Cedric spoke "Um…well you obviously know that I was 17 when I was changed. I was a 7th year at Hogwarts though I never graduated."

"Actually you did" Ron interrupted.

Cedric looked at his like he had grown another head.

Since Ron wasn't elaborating Luna decided to explain; "Your Certificate of Completion was presented to your father posthumously but technically you did graduate. I think Harry forced Dumbledore to do it.

They all looked at Harry who shrugged and edged closer to Edward saying "You deserved it; you were a hero, and a better man than most of those who thought so highly of themselves."

A blinking Cedric tried to continue "Wow, thanks…so the vampire that changed me did not drain me, he took me away. Later I found out that he had taken me to the Forbidden Forest…"

He told how the vampire that changed him, whose name he didn't know, had stayed to help him through the change. But he had disappeared leaving Cedric alone, until the Centaurs had found him and apparently they got help and potions from Professor Snape. Later he was told that the vampire had been caught by giant spiders and was burned for injuring a unicorn. His family gave him an incredulous look at that.

"Aragog" Ron said shuddering.

Harry said nodding, "Yeah, but it's a good thing he didn't actually drink the unicorn blood."

Emmett sat up straight asking "Wait, giant spiders and unicorns are real? Why should he not have drunk he blood?"

Harry looked at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the world as he spoke. "Drinking unicorn blood is a crime against nature, because you kill something so pure. If you drink it, it will keep you alive even if you are at deaths door. But, from that moment on you will have a cursed life, a half life."

Draco looked at him in confusion questioning "Harry?"

Looking up at then Harry answered "Frienze told me during that detention in the forest during our first year when we were tracking whoever was killing the unicorns. Besides unicorn blood looks like melted lead, can't possibly taste good."

Shaking his head Cedric continued "I cannot wait to hear some of your stories…so anyway the Centaurs helped me and Professor Snape helped get me here to Carlisle and I joined the family. With Edward and I looking alike we pass as twins, same as Rosalie and Jasper. Even though my change was in the Forbidden Forest I have never tasted human or magical creature blood. I don't really have a vampire gift.

Ron chuckled as he said "Pf…like you need it with your magic. It has to be even more powerful now."

Cedric looked up at Ron whose chest he was now leaning against. Ron just snickered as he hugged him with the arm that had been slung over his shoulder.

Cedric sounded unsure as he said "Magic…but I don't have a wand, I tried to buy a new one from Olivander but he said the Ministry didn't allow them to be sold to vampires. He was very sorry and very nice about the whole thing, but said there was nothing he could do.

Draco spoke up "Diggory the change doesn't kill your magic it enhances it. You probably don't need a wand anymore. More than likely if you had yours you would blow it up. Harry did."

"So did you!" Harry said quickly defending himself.

Trying to encourage him Ron said; "Go on try something, just use your hand and say the incantation. Though really you don't need the incantation with training you don't need an actual spell; your magic will just bend to what you want. Like accidental magic when you were a kid.

Shaking his head Cedric stood thinking they were all nutters. Looking around he saw the fireplace pointed his hand and said "Incendio" and the fireplace burst into flames.

All the Cullens hollered in shock.

Emmett looked at his brother with wide eyes as he spoke "Holy shit. You know I love you bro…right bro… just don't try any of that on me."

Cedric turned to him as Rosalie stood from the chair. Emmett teased him a lot and Cedric had a look on his face like a kid on Christmas morning. Pointing his hand at the chair and making the swish and flick motion as he cast " Wingardium Leviosa" and Emmett and the chair raised off the floor.

Emmett screamed "Fuck bro put me down."

"Language Emmett. Cedric put your brother down." Esme chastised.

They all laughed as Emmett and his recliner floated to the floor. And Cedric retook his set and position against Ron's chest with Ron's arm around his shoulder. Cedric smirked as he said "Well I guess I do have a gift"

Emmett trying to calm down gave a smart answer to him "You think?" Emmett glaring at him as everyone laughed. Esme and Carlisle beaming with pride at their youngest son he had been insecure about not having a gift that could contribute to protecting the family. Carlisle then turned to Draco "Will you share your stories with us? If our comfortable."

Draco looked around at his siblings with questioning eyes.

Luna shrugged saying "its okay they would find out eventually."

Harry looked around the room before saying "I trust them."

Jasper was dumbfounded as he asked "What…how? You just met us."

Ron answered "Rule #2: Always trust Harry's judgment."

Rosalie asked curiously "What is rule #1?"

Harry, Ron and Draco answered in unison "Always trust Luna's sight."

Luna held her head high with Alice as the others snickered.

Rosalie nodded saying "Yeah, Alice too."

Deciding it was okay Draco started his story "Okay if you are sure…I was 18 when I was changed…"

And so Draco began his story, he told of being born into an old and prestigious if not dark wizarding family. Being the heir and a spoiled child, of his father, whom he wanted to please, but was never good enough. How his father was demanding and later after the Dark Lord's return was cruel. He talked to being slapped and beaten, of being later punished with magic up to and including the Cruciatus Curse. Cruciatus Curse being the Dark Lord's favorite torture curse, and that when his loving mother had stood up for him, she had been cursed with it till her heart gave out. All the while he was forced to watch Stupefyed. Of getting away and making friends with Harry and later the others, touching lightly on the war and the final battle, leading to their change, Professor Snape's help, and finally to moving here.

The Cullens were horrified at what he had been through and what a father could do to his only child. The woman were shaking with their hands over their moths as if crying, and the men where growling low wanting to go to Britain and rip apart this man that called himself Draco's father. Luna smiled at the men as she said.

Guessing the she was next Luna spoke "You cannot go kill him; he is beyond your reach. Draco killed him in revenge for his mother in the final battle. He had been the Dark Lord's right hand man you know. Well, I guess it is my turn. I was the youngest still only 16 when I was changed…"

Diving in Luna told of her mother who was killed in a potions accident when she was 9, of her father and his paper, and how the deatheaters tied him to the printing press and burned the building down for daring to print the Dark Lord had returned a year before the Ministry or any other paper would recognize it. Of their group forming and growing all thought her 5th and 6th year. How that she hide her talent with the cloak of eccentricity, that being more accepted in the wizarding world. She became Harry's personal seer, and later the family's seer, which was really the same thing. She touched on the war and the final battle, fighting to get Harry close enough to the Dark Lord and holding back the deatheaters as Harry dueled. Then talked about their change, Professor Snape's help and telling her sibling that this was the place they needed to move.

Setting up Ron said "Right…me next. I had just turned 18 a week before the final battle and our change…"

Ron talked about growing up the 6th child out of 7 children, with a younger sister and 5 older brothers. How his father worked for the Ministry in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department, and his mother was amazing and could cook anything. Charlie his oldest brother was a dragon tamer in Romania, his brother Bill was a curse breaker for Gringotts the wizarding bank, Percy the next brother was assistant to the Minister of Magic and a prat. Lastly came the twins Fred and George who owned two successful joke shops one in Diagon Alley and one in Hogsmead, which they had opened with the money SOMEBODY gave them. Ron was looking straight at Harry as he said the last.

"What? It was just the tournament prize money" Harry said in defense of himself.

Cedric looked at him in shock as he asked "You gave the money away?"

Harry looked back at him answering "You died because of that tournament, it was blood money, and I wanted no part of it.

Not wanting Harry to dwell on the past Ron continued "Anyway…"

He talked of his younger sister who was still in school. Then of meeting Harry at eleven, saving the philosopher's stone, the tests, the giant chessboard, rescuing Harry before 2nd year, Lockhart and the going into the Chamber of Secrets. All of this was almost too fantastic to believe. But he continued with Sirus, the shrieking shack, Scabbers a.k.a. Peter Pettigrew. He touched on the battle at the Department of Mysteries. Then snickered as he talked about fighting with Malfoy, nodding to Draco, and how they latter made peace, then friends and finally family. He too skimmed over the war and final battle, talking about Professor Snape's help in the war, the battle and after their change. They came to find out that like Jasper, Ron was the strategist of the group.

Esme had a question that was bothering her and decided to ask; "I don't mean to push; Draco and Luna obviously have lost their families. But, you sound like you still have one that you love a great deal. Are you in contact with them, why didn't you stay with them?"

Ron and the others tensed as Cedric looked up at him in concern, running his hand on Ron's knee hoping to reassure him. Edward likewise was concerned with Harry's sudden tension and was rubbing his arm and pulling him against his chest.

Seeing the tension her question caused Esme stuttered out "I'm sorry I didn't mean to…"

Ron looked at Harry, who nodded it was okay to tell. " No…it is alright. You see my family has always been a "light" family. And after the war Professor Dumbledore, our old Headmaster, and the Minister of Magic became obsessed with preventing the rise of another dark lord. They knew we had been bitten by vampires, and in the wizarding world vampires are classified by the Ministry as "dark". They had been concerned about how powerful Harry was during the war, but when we reemerged from the change they took that as a sign that Harry was going "dark."

"We were vilified in the press, Harry was going to become the next dark lord and we were to be his inner circle." Draco continued.

Looking sadly at Ron Luna said "Unfortunately Ron's family bought into it."

Nodding Ron went on "Yeah, hook line and sinker. My family has always followed Dumbledore, and if he said we were dark than we were. They refused to have anything to do with us, my parents told me that I was not their son and disowned me. All of my family followed except the twins. They and Professor Snape and Professor Lupin worked to help us and get us out of Britain. And sent us here, the house we live in was part of Sirus Black's estate that passed to Harry, after his death in our 5th year, as Harry was his godson. It was old enough that no one remembered it, which was one of the reasons we came here.

Esme felt terrible as she spoke "I am so sorry…that a family or parents could do that to their child." Esme looked torn like she wanted to cry and wanted to run to Ron and comfort him. Ron just shrugged and hugged Cedric to him, burrowing his nose into Cedric's hair.

Luna looked sadly at Ron, but answered Esme. "It is alright."

"Yes, they will have a new family…that will always be there for them" agreed Alice.

Harry sighed and looked at the floor, running his hand over Edward's knee while Edward hugged him. Jasper, who had remained silent through most of this because of the emotions running high gasp at the flood of negative emotions pouring out of Harry.

Harry spoke softly as he told his tale "Well…um…I was 17 when I was changed after the final battle…"

Harry sat with both feet on the floor and Edward's hand rubbing circles on his back. He told them that there had been a prophecy made about him, even before he was born. That his parents had taken him and gone into hiding, they put the house under the Fidelius Charm but that instead of making Sirus Black the secret keeper like everyone thought they had made Peter Pettigrew the secret keeper. But he was not as good a friend as they had thought. He betrayed Harry and his parents to the Dark Lord, whose servant he was. On Halloween when Harry was 15 months old, Voldermont came to kill them. Both of his parents died trying to save him, and when Voldermont tried to kill him with the Killing Curse it bounced back on him killing his body and leaving him only a specter the fled the house. Hagrid found him in the rubble of the house and took him to Professor Dumbledore, who left Harry with his mother's sister. He thought it would be better that Harry grow up outside of the wizarding world for you see every child in that would know his name, he was famous the only one ever to survive the Killing Curse, he was The-Boy-Who-Lived. In describing life with his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin Harry would have said he was The-Boy-To-Whom-All-Shit-Happened. That the Dursley's had ignored him then neglected him and even starved him. He would now forever be short because during his formative years he had been malnourished. His cousin had pushed him and nothing happened, then he slapped Harry and was not reprimanded, Dudley had hit him and been praised for how strong he was, and that opened the floodgates. If finally escalated to "Harry Hunting" Dudley and his gang would chase Harry and if they caught him, they would beat him to a pulp, Harry could run fast. Aunt Petunia made him work cooking and cleaning from the age of 4 and would work him to the point of exposition. He grew up with a clear understanding that he was worthless, unlovable and a Freak. As a matter of fact he thought "Boy" and "Freak" were his name till he started primary school. His Uncle Vernon had slapped him and spanked him but that grew into beatings. He would often times have cuts, bruises and burns from his relatives. Then on his eleventh birthday he found out that he was a wizard when he got his Hogwarts letter. Laughing he told the it was addressed to Mr. Harry Potter, The Cupboard Under the Stairs, #4 Pivet Drive, Little Wilmington, Surrey.

Harry was shocked when he felt Edward jump to his feet, it was then he noticed that all the Cullen children were on their feet and growling. Even Esme looked like Carlisle was restraining her. They had an address they could go to England and rip them apart for what they had done to this child.

Ron laughed as he reached up and pulled Cedric down saying "Sit down they have been dealt with."

Luna agreed saying "Yes and quit fittingly too."

Nodding Draco said "I must say that for being a Gryffindor Harry can be quite Slytherin."

Everyone calmed and was curious now.

Emmett asked "What did you do…did you kill them?"

This having struck Rosalie hard because it had to do with a child she said "Killing is too good they need to suffer."

Ron agreed saying "And so they are. You must make the punishment fit to them."

Jasper now interested in the strategy spoke up "Sort of hit them where it hurts."

Luna smirked, which didn't look like it belonged on her face as much as Draco's as she said "Yes, first you have to show them what they did was wrong. Carlisle you may find this interesting."

Carlisle curiously asked "How so?"

Luna started to explain the revenge saying; "Well there was a spell that was developed because of the witch hunts, people believed that those pursuing just did not understand or that they had a lack of morals. So the spell adjusts their morals and makes them see the ramifications of their actions. It makes them feel what they did as if it was done to them or their family."

Draco continued from there "Since they neglected and never in his life offered Harry any comfort, they now can have none. Any time they come in contact with another human will be painful. It starts as a light burning and intensifies the longer they touch."

Picking up next Ron said "They gorged themselves while they allowed Harry to starve, so their present from me is the food that they so enjoyed and denied Harry will never give them comfort again. Anything that they eat will taste like ash and anything they drink with taste like nothing. So really they can't even wash down the taste of the ash because the drink is like they drank nothing."

Smiling Harry continued saying "They didn't like magic; they wanted to be normal and perfect. So in turn their perfect house will not be perfect. Everything they fix will re-break, if they pull a weed two more will replace it, if they clean something else will dirty. In short that harder they clean the dirtier the house will be. Defiantly not perfect anymore."

Everyone thought that the punishment was fantastic; Harry had said "Don't get mad or even…get ahead." He went back to his story about discovering magic, and going to school in a castle, how he and Ron had saved Hermione from a mountain troll in 1st year and facing Voldermont for the Sorcerer's Stone. In 2nd year that he had gone into the Chamber of Secrets, meeting Sirus in 3rd year and finding out that he was innocent. That the Tri-wizard Tournament his 4th year had been a trap and resulted in Cedric's death and the resurrection of Voldermont. He talked about the battle at the Ministry in 5th year, touching deafly on the remainder of school, the war, and Professor Snape's help and moving to Forks.

By the time they had all finished it was dawn. Carlisle announced it was time for him to get changed to go to work.

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