Chapter 3: Getting THE Talk

After Carlisle left for work, everyone was trying to relax after the long emotional night. Emmett and Jasper had dragged Draco over to the flat screen and were showing him the marvels of muggle video games. Rosalie and Alice had taken Luna upstairs to discuss the difference in muggle and magical fashion. And with a smile Esme had cornered the two new couples at the kitchen breakfast bar saying "I wanted to talk to you boys…I'm not sure what Edward remembers, it's been a while since there has been a new couple in the house. And, well I thought someone should explain things to you…you know about the nature of mate bonds."

"Oh god!" Edward groaned as he leaned forward and banged his head on the granite counter.

The other three looked at him like he had lost his mind, then suddenly Cedric gasp with his hand over his mouth and Edward looked at him.

Looking at his "twin" Edward asked "Just figured it out didn't you?"

Cedric nodded as he said "Oh god…she wants to have THE TALK."

Looking at them questioningly Harry asked "What talk?"

Ron not looking well asked "You don't mean like the birds and bees?"

Nodding Edward answered "Yeah, only the vampire version."

Cedric, Ron & Harry in unison said "Merlin's Beard."

Chastising Edward as she spoke Esme said "Now Edward stop that you're going to break the counter. So, what do you remember about Carlisle and I or Rosalie and Emmett when we first got together?"

Edward looked up at her as he answered "Not much I tried to block out as much as possible, I really didn't what to hear my "sister" going at it and you and Carlisle doing things, you are like my parents…can you say yuck?"

Giving him a sympathetic look Esme continued "I didn't mean the physical part of the relationship. I assume you are all old enough to know how that works."

She looked at all of them and knew that if they could they would by blushing. Really that was not a talk grown men wanted to have with their mother or boyfriend's mother. And really the youngest of them was born 25 years ago…surely they knew.

Eyeing them all Esme asked "You do know…you know…how that works?"

All four of them shouted "YES!"

Relieved Esme went on saying "Good, then we only need to talk about relationship aspect, sort of what the bond requires and will lead to. You are soul mates, meaning that each of you is perfect for the other. However, the bond is not a miracle; it does not automatically make you love each other. You will have to get to know each other just like any other couple starting out. At this point you should feel attraction to each other." She watched as they all nodded before she continued. "That is normal and part of the bond. While it doesn't make you fall in love, it does help you along the way. You will be able to feel each other's emotions possibly hear each other's thoughts. This varies with every couple Carlisle and I can feel each other's emotions not to the degree of Jasper and Alice but more that Rosalie and Emmett. None of us can hear the other's thoughts, if that happens it comes in time after…well you …you know, and often it doesn't happen at all or only at that one time."

Trying to understand Harry asked "If it doesn't make us love each other why are we so touchy feely. Holding hands and arms over shoulders that sort of thing?"

Smiling Esme answered "The bond is new and it needs physical contact like that to reassure it's self. Kind of like it is trying to make sure that your mate is really there. Also a great deal of what we talked about last night was emotional for you and Ron, and whether they realized it or not Edward and Cedric needed to comfort you. The bond will always give you the need to comfort and protect your mate. This is something that is in all four of you but the bond will strengthen that. Ron, when Cedric rubbed your knee and leaned into you how did that make you feel?"

Ron looked at Cedric as he spoke "Good, like I wasn't alone. Like he would always there."

Esme not surprised by the answer asked "Harry when Edward rubbed your back and hugged you to him how did that make you feel?"

Harry looked down at the counter as he answered "Safe, like…like I didn't have to take on the weight of the world. I…this sounds so strange…it was like I knew he would protect me."

Wanting to relieve some of Harry's concerns Cedric interjected "That doesn't sound strange. You have fought for and protected everyone else your entire lift, but no one ever done that for you did they?"

Not looking up Harry replied "Ron, Draco and Luna have tried but no one else since my parents."

Wanting to move on Esme said "This is what I am talking about; comfort, support and protection are all part of the bond. It appears to me the Ron and Edward are the "dominate" partners. Now that only means that they will in something's take the lead but more importantly the will have an overwhelming need to protect you. That doesn't mean you're not equals it just means that they will feel that need the same as you, only for them it is stronger, they will probably try to shield you in a fight. Although I am sure Cedric and Harry can handle themselves."

Ron laughed at that saying "Yeah, I think Harry can take care of himself…he brought down the most powerful Dark Wizard in history."

Esme wasn't sure what to say to that so she continued; "Well, as I was saying the bond will help in getting to know each other although from the start you will all feel the need to support, comfort and protect each other. This being Saturday you have the weekend to spend together which will help. Till the bond is more established you will need to be near each other and touch you know hug and hold hands that sort of thing. Do you boys have any questions?"

They all shook their heads.

"Well, why don't you two boys show them around the house, I'm going to be in my studio" Esme said as she walked out of the kitchen.

Smiling at Harry Edward asked "Would you like the nickel tour?"

"Sure." Harry replied with a shy smile.

Edward and Cedric lead their mates around the house by the hand, showing them everything. The house was very modern, light and airy a huge change from what they were used to in the wizarding world. The yard was large and very well maintained; Ron couldn't help but think that at least there would be no need to de-nom the garden. When they got upstairs Cedric took Ron to his room, the walls were lined with book shelves filled with books floor to ceiling with a beige leather lounge in the center. As he made his way to the shelves Ron mumbled "Great, another bloody Hermione…what these aren't tomes they're..."

Remembering Hermione as a bookworm Cedric laughed as he said "Literature I love to read, I hope that isn't going to be a problem?"

With a huge smile Ron replied "Nope, I love to read good novels, although my collection isn't anywhere near as large as this. Our ex-friend Hermione forced Harry and I to read and study tomes and text books the most boring and mind numbing things. She would rave at us if we didn't or she found us reading something else. She practically had apoplexy when she found me reading Shakespeare going on and on about what a waste of time it was."

Appalled Cedric said in wonder "How can Shakespeare be a waste of time, she must have been a complete nutter."

"May I borrow some of these…you have quite a few that I haven't read yet?" Ron asked absentmindedly as he read the titles.

Nodding Cedric said "Of course, these are my escape and often how I pass the evenings. Perhaps you will let me read one to you?"

"That would be nice…if you want." Said looking shyly at Cedric, if he could he would be blushing.

When Harry and Edward reached his room Harry just started in shock. The room was beautiful, floor to ceiling windows took up one entire wall and everything was monochromatic. In the middle of the room was a white leather couch setting on woven white leather rug, the floors were dark wood and the walls a bright white. Around the room were ebony bookshelves filled with records, CDs and sheet music and a large stereo system. Harry ran his hand along the shelves as walked around the room, many of these titles where no longer available.

"Music is a passion of mine…I hope you like it?" Said as he watched Harry.

Harry flashing a brilliant smile said "I love music; it is an escape and an outlet. When you can feel to emotion building in the song…it…I really don't know how to describe it."

"I completely understand" Edward said in agreement.

Both couples were smiling when they made it to the formal living room, very pleased that their passion was something shared with their mate. Perhaps there was something to this "your mate is the perfect match for you".

Seeing the beautiful grand piano Ron asked "Whose piano is this, or is it just for looks?"

Taking Ron's hand Cedric answered "No, it is Edward's…he really is amazing when he plays."

Harry walked forward lightly touching the piano, reverently as if it were created by the hand of Merlin himself. Looking at Edward shyly through his bangs Harry asked "Will you play something?"

Edward smiled at him running his hand along Harry's back mimicking how Harry had treated his piano as he passed him. Setting down at the bench Edward began to play, it was deeply moving piece. And soon all activity in the house stopped, as Edwards poured his emotions into the song. His feelings of the long years of loneliness, which he had always kept to himself, could be felt at the beginning of the piece. The music building as his emotions poured it the song, to his hope for happiness and for a new life with his mate.

When Edward was finished Harry was sure that he would be crying if he still could as he whispered "That was beautiful."

"That was like listening to Harry play…you two should play together" Ron said.

"You play?" Edward questioned.

Harry shrugged answering "Violin."

"I'd love to hear you play too" Cedric prompted.

Always loving to hear Harry play Ron prompted him "Go on Harry."

"I don't have it with me" Harry said.

Not thinking about it Ron said "Summon it."

Harry bit his bottom lip, thinking as he said "Can't I think the house is too far, besides how would we explain a violin flying through the air all the way across town. Well I could ask…"

Harry looked at Ron as he chewed on his bottom lip. Ron just shrugged saying "They're going to meet them eventually…I want to hear you play together."

Harry looked up at the sound of feet and saw Luna and Draco dragging the others into the room, even Esme had come to see what everyone was so interested in.

"We heard you are you going to call them?" Draco said.

Luna giggled saying "We want to see their reaction."

Esme was trying to figure out what was going on as she asked "Who are you going to call dear, and why would we react?"

Harry tried to explain saying "Well when I call my friend…he will appear."

All the Cullens raised an eyebrow at this.

After receiving nods from his siblings Harry spoke clearly "Dobby."

Instantaneously there was a pop and Dobby appeared in the Cullens living room.

Dobby bowed slightly to Harry as he spoke "What can Dobby do for…VAMPIRES!" Dobby was immediately in a defensive position. "You will not hurt Harry Potter!" Dobby shouted.

Harry moved forward quickly saying "No…No, Dobby these are our friends. Here let me introduce you. This is Edward Cullen…my mate.

Edward who had been in shock since Dobby's arrival realized what Harry said and how he introduced him. A crocked smile spread across Edward's face and Harry's breath caught, that was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen and he decided right then and there that he wanted to see it more.

"Dobby is honored to me the Great Harry Potter's mate" Dobby said and he bowed low to the ground till his ears touched the floor. Harry then gestured to Ron and Cedric.

Continuing the introductions Harry said "and this is Edward's brother Cedric…he is Ron's mate.

Bowing again as he spoke "Dobby is honored to me the mate of the Harry Potter's Weasey."

Alice jumped up and down saying "Oh my god, he is so cute."

"What is he?" Asked Emmett as he eyed the little guy like a whole new world had just opened up to him, which it had.

"Harry, you own a house elf?" Cedric asked never taking his eyes off Dobby.

"Own?" Esme asked in shock.

Nodding Cedric explained "Yes, in the wizarding world rich families own house elves to do the work around the house, it is virtually slavery and most are not well treated."

At this Dobby had straightened up and standing to his full height he replied. "Dobby is free elf. Dobby was freed by the Great Harry Potter. Dobby chooses whom he serves. Dobby is Harry Potter's friend."

Smiling Harry added "Yes, Dobby and Winky are part of our family. Here let me finish the introductions. This is Esme Cullen Edward and Cedric's mother. And these are their brothers the huge one with brown curly hair is Emmett and the blonde one is Jasper. With Luna are their sisters the blonde is Rosalie and little one is Alice. Their father, Carlisle, is at work."

Alice was jumping up and down looking at Dobby and his SpongeBob Squarepants shirt and bright Scooby Doo socks. She and Rosalie were going to have so much fun dressing up the little guy.

Turning to Dobby Harry asked "Dobby, I was hoping that they could meet Winky also do you think she could come here or is she busy?"

Dobby gave an agonized cry gripping his ears and pulling. Harry was on his knees at his side in seconds saying "Dobby no…no punishing. What is wrong?"

"Dobby is sorry Harry Potter. Winky can no pop." Dobby moaned out his disappointment in not being able to give Harry what he wanted.

A very concerned Harry questioned "What why? Is she hurt? Does she need a Healer? Edward's father is doctor…but I don't think he knows anything about house elves. Ron, we should call Madam Pomphrey!"

Draco stepped forward and put a hand on Harry's shoulder saying "Calm down Harry. Dobby why cannot Winky Apparate?"

At this Dobby stood tale and puffed out his chest proclaiming "Master Draco. Winky is breeding."

Everyone was shocked, and Luna began jumping up and down and clapping her hands.

Luna was clapping as she congratulated him "Oh Dobby, congratulation you're going to be father. And such a handsome son you will have. Oops, I shouldn't have said that." Luna slapped her hand over her mouth.

Harry just looked at her with his mouth open. Then closing his mouth turned back to Dobby saying. "Congratulations Dobby, please tell Winky how happy we are for both of you. Of course Winky will have to take good care of herself and the baby and get lots of reset. She's not to do any more that she absolutely has to. And you are to let us know if she needs anything."

Dobby answered with tears in his eyes "The Great Harry Potter is to kind to Dobby and Winky. Harry Potter called Dobby. What can Dobby do for Harry Potter?"

Harry: "Dobby I was hoping you could bring me my violin?"

With a snap of his fingers Dobby was gone. They others had finally recovered from their shock.

Emmett laughed saying "Man, he's awesome; I can't wait to play with him."

Seeing the mischievous grin on Emmett's face Harry stood up and looked at him firmly and told him. "Don't mess with him Emmett and don't get on his bad side. He can be aggressive and vindictive if he gets mad. I saw him throw Draco's father 30 feet down a hall once for trying to hurt me.

Nodding Draco added "Father was not happy Dobby belonged to our family and my father did not treat him very well. When Harry lost him his house elf there was hell to pay. I had lost my childhood friend and caregiver, when I asked where Dobby was I got backhanded and knocked down a flight of stairs. I had a broken arm that whole summer, we were 12. Of course Dobby had nearly killed Harry and I both that year.

Memories suddenly clicking for Cedric he asked "Wait you mean that incident with the bludger in the Quidditch match?"

Harry and Draco nodded.

A shocked Cedric said "Bloody hell that was him? That rogue bludger nearly killed you both and almost took out a section of stadium seating."

"Cedric language!" Esme reprimanded.

Dobby chose that moment to pop in and hand Harry his violin case.

Accepting the violin case Harry said "Thank you Dobby. We will let you know if we need anything else."

And just as quickly as he arrived Dobby was gone.

After Dobby left Ron said "We don't discuss the bludger incident in front of Dobby; he gets very upset and wants to punish himself, which Harry forbad him to do which just makes him more upset. I tell you, the last time took us hours to calm him back down."

"Punish himself?" Rosalie asked in confusion.

Cedric tried to explain saying "House elves are supposed to be well behaved if they do something wrong not only can their owner punish them but they feel the need to do it themselves."

Harry said shrugging "Hit himself in the head with a bottle…could have been worse."

"He brained himself…what could be worse?" Asked a shocked Emmett, which is how he felt he had spent most of this day.

Ron cringed as he answered "Well he nearly got us expelled from school trying to help Harry…and he felt really bad about that."

"What did he do?" Jasper asked curiously, the emotions from the Evans sibling jumped to sad during this discussion.

"He ironed his hands" was Draco's deadpan answer.

Harry looked guilty, he had always blamed himself for Dobby doing that. Deciding to break them out of this mood Harry said. "He doesn't do that anymore. They are free and I tried to pay them, which they refused but for some reason they see me as their master. I have only ever once given them an order and that was that they could not under any circumstances punish themselves or each other. Now let's move on to something more pleasant."

And with that Harry laid his violin case on the coffee table and took out a beautiful violin that looked to be made of ivory.

"Harry that is the most beautiful violin I have ever seen…is it ivory." Edward said in absolute awe of the instrument.

Draco laughed saying "No and you'll never see another one like it, it is a one of a kind. ONLY Harry blood Potter…sorry Esme."

Everyone laughed at Dracos mumbling and correcting himself before the motherly vampire could.

Harry nodded saying "Draco's right it is a one of a kind. The violin is made out of Thestral bone and the strings are dragon heartstring, the bow is made out of willow wood from the whomping willow that has been on Hogwarts' grounds for centuries and the hair is unicorn hair. All willingly given of course."

"Harry you saw a Thestral, when? And how did you get wood from the whomping willow?" Cedric questions, he seemed to just have more and more questions as the day went on.

Harry nodded answering "Well apparently being turned into a vampire is enough…I saw them after I got…after you died. They pull the carriages at Hogwarts you know. And the whomping willow broke my first broom it owed me."

Draco laughed saying "It would not have gotten your broom if you had not fallen off 300 feet in the air."

"How did you get 300 feet in the air and why did you fall off." Edward asked in concern for his new mate.

Harry mumbled something that even the vampires could not hear.

Cedric raised an eyebrow as he said "Sorry Harry even we didn't catch that."

Huffing Harry repeated himself "I said Draco is a git and you try being attacked by Dementors. Now can we move on…did you not say you wanted to hear me play?"

With that Harry ended the conversation by beginning to play. The room was filled with beautiful music and when Harry nodded to him Edward joined in on the piano.

Cedric looked up at Ron and said "Will you dance with me?"

"I'm not really that good" Ron mumbled.

Cedric smiled and Ron's heart melted.

Taking Ron's hand Cedric said "I remember…don't worry I'll teach you. Anything I know I'll teach you just as you can teach me what I don't know and if we don't then we can learn together."

Ron took Cedric in his arms and they began to dance. Cedric giving pointers as they went, Harry was struck by the difference in the way Cedric approached teaching Ron and the Hermione had. She always made him sound stupid and clumsy. Where Cedric made is sound as if Ron could do anything if he were only shown how. Their dance was soon joined by Emmett and Rosalie and the later by Jasper and Alice and finally Draco and Luna. Esme held her hands to her chest and swayed to the music as she watched her children, the smile on her face could have light up half the town.

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