Chapter 5: Circle the Wagons

A month later found the two families spending the evening at the Evans' house. The young couple's relationships had grown; they were learning about each other and becoming closer. Emse and Carlisle shared knowing looks as they caught the stolen kisses and whispered conversations, their family was growing. Strong friendships had formed and were blossoming and they were very happy. They had settled in together and were messing very well, it was hard to tell where one family ended and the other began, and soon the line would disappear.

They were gathered in the living room Harry was playing his violin and Edward was playing the white Yamaha upright. All the furniture had been pushed back to the walls and everyone was dancing.

Suddenly Luna and Alice stopped where they were dancing with Draco and Jasper, their eye glassing over. When their eyes clear Luna grabbed Jasper's hand and turned to Alice saying "Call us when it's safe for us to come back."

And with a crack they were gone. Everyone looked to Alice for an explanation. Only for the large fireplace flamed to life. The Cullens all stepped back, a natural reaction to fire from vampires. The Evans siblings all stepped forward as the flames turned green. A figure stumbled out of the fireplace twisting as it fell to the floor, landing on its back.

Harry rushed forward there on his living room floor was Neville Longbottom. Neville was clutching something against his chest, as Harry moved forward the bundle moved. Moving Neville's hands he picked up the bundle of blankets and uncovered a baby. Harry had not seen him in two month, but he would recognize his godson Teddy Lupin anywhere. Neville moaned and coughed up blood and Harry screamed jolting everyone from their frozen state.

"Rosalie take him…Carlisle! Neville what happened?" Harry shouted.

Rosalie took Teddy as Carlisle knelt on the other side of Neville. She held the child tight to her chest breathing in deeply. The baby was human but didn't smell like food, and deep down under that was the faint smell of something else. Rosalie smelled the child again; she couldn't tell what it was.

Neville made eye contact with Harry as Carlisle checked him over, opening his robes as Neville tried to choke out his story; "The Ministry ordered the registration of dark creatures. They came today for Remus and Teddy."

"Where was the Order didn't they come to help? Why aren't they pushing to stop this?" Harry demanded.

Couching Neville answered "The Order is who came to get them. Remus was willing to go till they said they wanted Teddy too. Remus and Tonk tried to keep them out Andromeda defending the stairs as I took Teddy up them. I was trying to hide him. The Order killed them all Tonks, Remus and Andromeda." Reaching into his torn robes he pulled out a letter and passed it to Harry saying "From Remus."

Harry sat back but Neville jerked up grabbing his shirt telling him. "He's an orphan now too…but he didn't hear and didn't see I SWEAR IT TO YOU."

Harry nodded his head and placed the letter in his pocket.

"I SWEAR he didn't Harry!" Neville hollered as he slumped back onto the floor.

Everyone looked to Carlisle who shook his head saying "He's not going to make it…it's too much damage."

"Change him…Carlisle you have to change him." Ron demanded.

Carlisle shook his head as he said "It's too much risk…a newborn…the treaty…I can't."

Alice's phone began to ring; looking down at it she saw it was their house number. She opened her cell phone and just listened. Nodding her head as she listened when she finally hung up the phone and turned to the Carlisle saying "Luna says it's your choice, but that you should know Neville's gift would be that he won't have bloodlust. As a matter of fact he wouldn't like the taste. The treaty doesn't apply he is a wizard and not a human the treaty doesn't cover him. But it is you choice."

"What choice…change him…Longbottom will die… Luna…" Draco shouted.

Alice interrupted him saying "Said it is Carlisle's choice."

Draco and Ron bowed their heads, as Cedric stepped up putting his hand on Ron's shoulder.

"Change him" announced Cedris

Edward nodded saying "Change him."

Esme smiled encouragingly as she said "Go ahead Carlisle."

Emmett shrugged saying "What's one more brother…change him."

Alice clapped as she said "I vote to change him. What about you Jasper?"

Jasper nodded yes and Harry looked at Rosalie, who also nodded her head, then looked back to Carlisle. "Please Carlisle!" Harry begged.

Holding Neville's arm Carlisle looked quickly to his family then bit into the arm that had such a weak pulse. They all watched as the venom began to spread through Neville he moaned, arched his body hissing in pain.

"Harry seal the fireplace!" Ron shouted as the fireplace started to flicker to life.

Harry looked up and thrust his hand towards the fireplace, the wave of magic coming from him made the entire house vibrate. Then he looked back to Neville and said "We are disconnected from the network…it will be okay Nev. I know it hurts but it will pass…come on Nev stay with us."

An hour later the pain seemed to pass and Neville slumped to the floor unconscious. About this time Luna and Jasper had walked through the door. Luna immediately took a spot on the floor moving Neville's head to her lap and began to comb her fingers through his dark brown hair.

"Why didn't you just Apparate back in?" Cedric asked.

Luna looked up at him giggling as him saying; "Harry set the wards on this house, they are keyed to us we can Apparate out and take someone if we need to. But Merlin himself could not Apparate into this house. Harry, you should read Remus' letter; Neville will be out for another hour and 23 minutes."

Harry stood to his feet and pulled the bloody letter from his pocket began to read aloud.

Dear Prongslet:

If Neville has gotten this letter to you then I know Teddy is safe. Severus was able to warn us that the Order was mobilizing to come and take me in. But, my blood ran cold when he said they were going to take Teddy too. I just can't allow that.

I cannot help but think of James and Lily and the night Voldermont came for you, as I now face the Order coming for my son. Since you are reading this I can only assume that Tonks and I have fallen protecting our son, as they did, probably Andy too. All I can think is that it is worth it to protect him, as they would say the same about protecting you.

Harry, I must ask you something now. Take Teddy, you are his godfather but I want you to adopt him. I know what you will say and you are not taking my place. Teach him about us and tell him how much we love him and always will. But, please don't let him grow up without a father, or a family. I know this is low playing the guilt card, but don't let him go through what you did.

Know that we love you Prongslet.

Love,

Remus J. Lupin

P.S. Neville has sworn to me on his magic and his name that Teddy won't see or hear anything. I trust Neville to keep that promise.

Putting the letter down on the coffee table harry walked over to Rosalie and took Teddy into his arms, holding him tight as he stood in front of the large window looking out. Edward stepped up behind him putting his arm around his waist as he asked. "Harry why is it so important that he didn't see or hear. He is just a baby he wouldn't remember anyway?"

Harry leaned back against Edward's chest but never took his eye of the invisible scene outside the window, the one that only he could see. Harry spoke softly "when I was thirteen our school, Hogwarts, played "host" to the Dementors of Azkaban, they are the creatures that guard the wizard prison. They feed off you misery by making you relive the worst thing that ever happened to you."

Ron started to protest saying "Harry, you don't have to…"

But Harry cut him off "Yes I do Ron. I may not have told Edward everything about my life, but I am not going to start hiding things from him. They had come to look for Sirus who had escaped Azkaban trying to find me. Professor Dumbledore assured us that they would not harm any students. During the Quidditch match with Hufflepuff I got to high."

Cedric's brow furrowed in concentration as he said; "I remember that you fell off your broom." Looking at the others he continued "He feel 300 feet if Professor Dumbledore hadn't stopped your fall you wouldn't be here…We won and I asked for a rematch because of the accident."

Harry nodded and continued "You did but it wasn't an accident. I got to high and the Dementors came after me. I didn't know I remembered. Do you want to know what I heard when they came near?"

"Only if you want to tell us," Edward said as he tried to comfort him.

Harry sighed and continued "I heard them die…I heard my father screaming for my mother to take me and run as he stood to hold Voldermont off. I heard him die. Voldermont offered to spare my mother if she would hand me over. She pleaded for my life…Not Harry…No, Not Harry. And I heard her die and Voldermont turn his wand on me."

The Cullens stood either mouth handing open or hand over their mouth, all with identical looks of horror on their faces.

Harry kept his eyes on the scene outside the window as he spoke "I was fifteen months old when he came for me and killed my parents…and at thirteen I heard it all again. Only this time I was old enough to remember." Harry looked down at Teddy who had woken and was looking up at him as his eyes changed to the same green as Harry's. And Harry promised "I won't let you grow up the way I did. You will know all about your parents and the sacrifice they made for you, and how much they loved you. You will know all the love that can be showered on you. I will protect you."

Edward looked down at the smiling baby, his arms protectively wrapped around Harry and Teddy vowed "I'll protect him…I will protect you both…I swear it on my life."

Teddy looked at Edwards as his hair turned bronze just like Edward's. This was the image of what a child of his and Harry's would look like. And then there was a flash and they looked to see Alice holding a camera.

Giggling Alice said "this is the moment your new family began. And when he is older and mad at his dads this will help him remember that what you do is out of love for him."

"Hey Harry…wasn't his hair sandy brown?" Emmett asked?

Rosalie also asked "and what do I smell from him…it's very faint?"

It was Draco who answered "In answer to Emmett's question Teddy is a Metamorphmagus like his mother. He can change is appearance at will. It is a family gift of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black. To which Teddy is the blood heir."

Harry agreed saying "and when I am done he will be the named heir, to the Houses Black, Potter, Gryffindor and Pendragon."

"Pendragon? Like as in Merlin?" a shocked Jasper asked.

Ron spoke up to answer "yes, Harry on his mother's side is a descendent of Merlin, although that was something he was lied to about. They told him his mother was muggle born, not that she had been adopted by muggles when her family was killed. And on his father's side the last descendent of Gryffindor. Teddy is a wizard as were both of his parents. I think what you smell faintly is Remus' little furry problem."

"Little furry problem?" Esme questioned.

Draco answered "Remus was a werewolf."

The Cullens all tensed, really they looked like statues they were so still.

Luna didn't even look up from running her fingers through Neville's hair and said. "Relax he was not like the Quileute tribe he was a child of the moon. And with the help of wolfsbane potion could maintained his mind, really he was not a threat to anyone."

Draco nodded adding "and the kindest and gentlest man I have ever met. Teddy will have the strength and healing ability of a werewolf but will not go through the transformation. Magic and genetics have seen fit to give him the benefits of the curse his father suffered under but none of the pain."

Harry looked around the room and then into Edwards topaz eyes and asked "Can you accept him?"

Before Edwards could answer it was Rosalie the stepped forward stating clearly. "Of course his is accepted! As if anything could possibly be wrong with my nephew!"

"Your nephew?" Carlisle questioned.

With a huff Rosalie answered "Well duh, did you not hear the letter Harry is going to be his father. And Edward is Harry's mate that makes Luna, Alice and I Aunties and Emmett, Jasper, Cedric, Ron and Draco Uncles."

Carlisle suddenly dropped to the floor where he had been standing. Esme rushed to check him asking "Carlisle are you alright?"

Carlisle looked at her in shock and said "That makes us grandparents."

Everyone laughed as Emse dropped to the floor next to him.

Luna smiled at them, then looked to Rosalie and said "Yes, but you forgot his Uncle Neville."

Carlisle looked at her and questioned "You think Neville will stay when the change if finished?"

Giggling Alice answered "Of course he would… he's Luna's mate."

"Why didn't you say something…why make me choose?" Carlisle asked completely lost. Why had she not told him?

Luna who had gone back to watching Neville answered "Because all of us have had others wants and expectations forced upon us. Harry most of all. You needed to do what you were comfortable with."

Neville choose this time to wake his brown eyes fluttering open and the first thing he saw was Luna smiling down on him. A smile spread across his face and he whispered "Mate."

Draco plopped down in a chair and folded his arms over his chest pouting "her too, this is so not fair…what about me…where is my mate?"

Alice and Luna answered in union "Close and the time to meet draws near."

Draco watched them carefully as he asked "well…that's better. Close and soon?"

Alice nodded answering "He's very close and the time is very soon."

Leaning towards Alice Draco asked "What does he look like?"

"She can't tell you! Dobby!" Luna shouted.

And with a pop Dobby arrived and asked "What can Dobby do for Mistress Luna?"

Smiling at him Luna replied "Neville needs to feed can you bring him something?"

And with a pop Dobby was gone. Everyone moved to set around the room, once Neville had feed they would need to check for bloodlust and hear what had happened. By the time all were seated, Dobby popped back in handing Luna a goblet, which she sniffed before handing it to Neville and smiled at Dobby as she said "Thank you Dobby…elk is an excellent choice."

Dobby walked out as Neville tasted the blood, and then downed the entire goblet. When he had finished he sat up more moving so Luna was next to him with his arm over her shoulder. And then took another sip from the goblet."

"Wait a minute I thought you drank all of it?" Asked a confused Jasper.

Ron nodded as he explained "It's an ever-refilling-goblet; till it's canceled it will continue to refill itself every time it is emptied."

Draco it was time to get some answers asked "Okay Longbottom what happened?"

Neville looked down as he spoke "Snape was able to warn us, I was over visiting I wanted to talk to Remus about what to do with the new legislation the Ministry has passed. They are going after vampires and werewolves, but I think they are going to spread out to other magical creatures. Anyway, Snape was summoned to an Order meeting, that none of us were, and sent word that they were coming to take Remus for registration…and Teddy too. Andromeda arrived shortly after the warning; she said McGonagall got word to her. They decided to make a stand and that I should get Teddy out and to you."

"The Order doing the Ministries dirty work? Who?" Ron demanded.

Neville looked down and Ron who had stood for his outburst dropped as if all his bones no longer existed. Cedric rushed to him and Harry shook bowing his head, his shoulders showing that he would be crying if he could?

"What is it…who?" Cedric demanded.

Neville shook his head as he answered "Hermione, Kinsley and Bill led a dozen Aurors against the three of them."

Cedric couldn't believe what he was hearing as he asked "Oh Merlin…Granger?

Edward trying to calm Harry down as he spoke; "who are these people?"

Brushing the hair out of Ron's shocked face Cedric answered "Hermione Granger was part other Gryffindor Golden Trio… along with Harry and Ron. They have been best friends since they saved her from a Mountain Troll… when they were eleven."

Draco nodded and continued "Kingsley Shacklebolt is an Auror for the Ministry of Magic…he worked with Nymphadora Tonks Teddy's mother for years."

Luna who looked like she would be crying if she could finished saying "and William Weasley is Ron's oldest brother."

Silence descended on the house as Cedric and Edward tried to comfort their mates and everyone else trying to get their heads around what they had been told. The Government was registering citizens and stripping them of their rights. And their own friends and family were working for that same Government.

Winky broke the silence when she came scurrying in with a letter in her hand saying "Harry Potter a letter comes for you."

Harry handed Teddy over to Edward with a smile, and took the letter from Winky thanking her. When he opened the letter he knew who it was from, he would recognize that writing anywhere and he read it aloud.

Potter:

I am sure by now that you have figured out Remus, Nymphadora and Andromeda did not survive the attack, and who was behind it. I am sorry that I couldn't do more. Your location has not been compromised, but they suspect that Longbottom took the child. Take every precaution do not get any idiotic Gryffindor ideas. Trust only Minerva and myself, I cannot vouch for anyone else.

The Ministry is attempting to register "dark creatures" to prevent the rise of another Dark Lord, although how they rationalize this I do not know, especially as he had no creature blood in him. This prejudice is worst then the blood purity spewed by the Deatheaters. I fear that it will spread to all magical creatures."

Keep your godson safe and mine too. I will do what I can to get you information.

Severus Snape

"Who is his godson?" Esme asked

Draco answered "I am."

Looking around Emmett asked "What do we do now?"

"We have to move." Jasper answered

Rosalie asked in shock "What a new town…start school again?"

Shaking his head Jasper answered "No, but two residencies are too hard to defend, we should centralize our efforts."

Ron agreed saying "He's right it's not good strategy. But which house?"

Carlisle looked at Esme who nodded before he turned back to them and said "Our house is larger… may I extend an invitation to not only live with us but to join our family?"

Neville looked at the Evans siblings and then to Luna as they all shook their heads. Speaking quietly he asked "What will happen to me?"

Carlisle regarded the shy boy and answered "You will also join the family the others are the Evans family, Rosalie and Jasper are Hales and we are their foster parents the remainder are our adopted children. You will become a new adopted child. This is only for a cover story, to Esme and I these are all our children. And we hope in time you will and they will accept us as family."

Luna smiled brightly saying "I already do."

"Us too…and even if those two didn't they would be your son in laws so it's a moot point." Draco said in answer.

Emmett making sure that he understood asked "So we're like circling the wagons for defense?"

Carlisle watched them all smiling and replied "Yes."

The motherly vampire got to her feet a huge smile spread across her face, her family had just nearly doubled she was very pleased. Clasping her hands she said "Okay…Rosalie and Alice you need to go shopping."

Everyone looked at here like she was crazy before they realized this was MOM IN CHARGE.

Esme turned to the girls as she continued "Teddy is 5 months, he will need food, formula, diapers, clothes, a crib, toys…anything you can think of the he may need or like. And remember only the best is good enough for my grandson."

"Esme let me get some money for them." Harry interrupted.

Esme just waived him off saying "Nonsense he is part of the family and it's our right to spoil him. Girls I think formula and diapers should be brought to the house first, then you can spend as long as you like shopping for the rest."

Rosalie catching on to the train of thought said "We'll run that will be faster. We can pick that stuff up here in town and take it to the house, and then we'll take Emmett's truck to Port Angeles that should just about hold everything."

Harry looked at Edward and asked "I'm not going to get much say in this am I?"

Edward gave him his crocked grin and said "When they are in shopping mode it is best to stay out of the way."

Having checked Neville out Carlisle informed them "Neville seems to be alright, and does have a natural immunity to bloodlust."

Esme nodded as she turned to the rest of them saying "Good Neville can help Luna pack, Cedric can help Ron, Edward can help Harry and Jasper can help Draco. Carlisle dear you need to get ready for work. Dobby…Winky."

Both house elves came around the corner at the sound of their names. And Dobby asked "How can Dobby help vampire momma?"

Speaking up before Esme Harry aswered "We need you guys to pack all your stuff. We are moving in with the Cullens. And put some pillows in the front seat of Draco's Corvette it has tinted windows and you can enjoy the view during the ride."

Blinking at him Winky asked "We go too?"

"Yes Winky you are both part of this family, and we are moving for the safety of the family. Do you need any help?" Harry asked.

Winky shook her head answering "No Harry Potter Dobby and Winky do it by our onesies."

Esme taking charge again announced "Perfect…Emmett start moving things to the house as they are packed. Put Harry's things in Edward's room the little study next to it was meant to be a nursery so that will work perfect. Then Neville and Luna in the Room across the hall and Draco in the room past that. Ron of course will be sharing with Cedric. Oh what about Dobby and Winky?"

Shrugging Draco said "They sleep in the pantry here."

"Do they like that…there is a nice wine cellar…never mind there will be time to sort that out." Esme said.

Carlisle: "And what will you be doing during all this?"

As she walked over and scooped Teddy out of Edward's arms, before looking at back at them saying. "Well someone has to watch this little angle. Well what are you waiting for…MOVE!"

And with a flash of vampire speed they were off. All that could be seen was the streak in the air reflecting the color of their cloths. Esme looked down at the smiling baby in her arm; she had never thought to hold a child again and certainly not her grandchild. Smiling she told Teddy "Silly adults don't they know grandma' little angels needs to get settled in his new home?"

Teddy gurgled and kicked, reaching out and grabbing her finger. Yes her family had grown and she was quite pleased.

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