Disclaimer.
Chapter 5:
(5/11)
When they moved this time they accidently ran into another Coven, the Denali Coven, a group of female vampires that also only fed on animals.
One of the members, Tanya, set her sights on Edward only to be rebuffed with all of Edward's gentlemanly charm. Sometimes Edward reminded Harry far too much of Carlisle, in fact he teasingly accused Carlisle of brainwashing much to everyone's amusement.
The Cullen's stayed with them until people nearby got visibly edgy about the similarities and odd peculiar beauty of the vampires. Ten vampires in one place were a little too much even if they claimed they were all related.
Harry was slightly amused to learn that myths of Succubus could be linked to the trio of exceptionally beautiful female vampires. He was also slightly sympathetic to the loss of human life before the three woman decided to abstain from human blood because they liked human men and their warm flesh too much.
Emmett had laughed at Harry's embarrassment whenever the topic of sex came up in conversation. Harry had been brought up where sex went on (obviously) even affaires but it was never mentioned, he could deal with the act but not speaking of it or casually mentioning it.
xxx
Much to Harry's delight it wasn't many years before they returned to Forks.
He did so love the greenery.
They settled down for two years of normalcy (as normal as a vampire family got) before a new addition to the town stirred up the entire family.
Harry overheard people gossiping about Charlie Swan's daughter who was coming to live with the Chief of Police soon when he was out shopping for the food the Cullen's never ate. Harry always brought the amount a family of seven would eat (plus extra because teenage boys were supposed to be bottomless pits) he always added in the oddest things he could find in the shop just for the slight amusement it gave him.
Because really...food shopping was dull.
Harry always took most of the food and gave it to the centres for the homeless in Seattle, anonymously of course. He also cooked occasionally...well attempted to.
Because human food was now repulsive to Harry he wasn't sure what went with what, especially since the last time he had cooked for himself was in the very early 1800s.
He was never quite sure if Charlie Swan (Harry had made friends with Charlie after one of the boys-Emmett and Jasper- had been caught speeding...again, Rosalie and Alice were too clever to get caught and Edward could hear the police's thoughts) was humouring him when he said he liked the food Harry cooked.
Harry lied, he could tell when Charlie scrunched up his nose whether he liked something or not. Thankfully the majority of things Harry cooked and gave to Charlie the Chief of Police liked. But Harry was sure it was mainly because Charlie would be surviving on only fry-ups and sandwiches if Harry wasn't dropping round food. So Charlie wasn't really the best taste tester.
It was only occasionally his food went wrong.
Harry felt sorry for Isabella Swan already, she was the talk of the town and she hadn't even arrived yet!
Harry wondered if she would mind eating the food he sent Charlie as well...
xxx
Harry tried to tune out the prattle from the school students but it was hard when he could hear conversations in the other side of the school.
It seemed the new girl was a hit with the boys seeking a new shiny toy to play with.
As much as Harry adored Forks even he had to admit the town was a little slow. Not much happened and so the people living there spent ages gossiping about anything new.
Harry watched as the new girl approached, apparently she was in his class, the second period lesson.
Harry took the slip to sign with a gentle smile, he barely even noticed the girl's flushing cheeks as he signed it then let her slip (or rather trip) to a seat in the back next to Angela Weber, Harry knew Angela was a kind girl.
He asked her to see him at the end of the lesson for a quick word before she sat down but otherwise left her alone, she hardly needed more attention, the entire class was gawking even when Isabella (she preferred Bella, from the conversations Harry had overheard) sat in the back.
Harry effortlessly garnered the classes attention and began his lesson, pleased when most people seemed to be listening. He did try to keep it interesting.
If he was teaching a time period he had lived in then he added some new facts each time. It was both to keep people entertained and playing a game with Jasper who enjoyed history.
Harry hadn't yet managed to catch Jasper out; Jasper had worked out each addition to the lectures each time. Harry had only managed to catch Alice out because she had a vision during his lesson and so was distracted.
Harry took a leaf out of Severus's book and when marking homework whenever writing a criticism turned it into a quip, or sarcastic comment. Of course Harry wasn't nearly so stringent with the marks he gave nor as caustic with the comments as Severus had been and no one had complained so far, also it slightly stemmed the tediousness that was marking (at least) thirty sets of the same homework.
Harry enjoyed being a teacher; he had found a taste for it in his fifth year when he tutored Dumbledore's Army so they would be able to defend themselves against Voldemort and his cronies.
Harry enjoyed teaching muggle and magical, it didn't matter to him which.
When he taught in Hogwarts he ran to Seattle (it took him only a few minutes) and used the floo in the secret magical sect to floo to his office in Hogwarts. He chatted to Albus's portrait at times too, the man was just as cryptic and odd as a portrait as he had been in real life.
Apparently Severus spoke to Albus also from time to time.
Harry dismissed the class and leant against his desk while Bella slowly approached. Harry smiled at her to put her at ease; it only seemed to make her flush again.
"Don't worry I won't bite." Harry stated with an amused grin, he might tell his students that a lot...only the Hogwarts students laughed getting the inside joke. "I just wanted to know what history you took before you came here and to wish you luck in fitting in." Harry stated watching Bella grimace at his words curiously.
"Ah, don't worry, it's a small town. They will get over the gossip one day...hopefully before pigs fly." Harry stated dryly feeling slightly triumphant when the corners of Bella's lips twitched.
"They still natter on about my family even though we moved here two years ago." Harry continued seeing Bella's eyes widen in surprise.
After Bella told Harry what history she had studied before Harry walked her to her next class so she didn't get lost and caused a stir by walking in to explain to Bella's teacher why she was late.
The stir that occurred at Harry Cullen-Potter walking into the classroom nearly completely masked Bella's own entry much to the girl's evident relief. She still flushed red though.
Sometimes Harry cursed the vampire stunning looks, at times Edward could be way too depressingly correct, they were the perfect predator, the honey trap. Sometimes Harry would have preferred vinegar.
It wasn't until the second to last period of the day that anything alarming happened.
Harry, packing up having finished his last class, period five, stilled, forgetting to even blink and act like a human as he peered through his classroom windows and saw Edward tearing away from the school and locking himself in his Volvo.
Harry frowned and without further ado swiftly left the classroom (at a speed which if noticed would definitely out them) he opened Edward's car passenger door and slid inside. Harry noticed the too tight grip Edward had on the steering wheel with worry.
Harry didn't say a word as rain fell through the open windows and Edward's CD blared, well blared to them to a human it probably was just on the side of too loud when not driving.
Harry placed a tentative hand on Edward's arm before stiffening involuntarily.
Edward's head swung round to look at Harry far faster than a humans could.
"What's wrong?" Edward asked a frown crinkling his brow. He was genuinely concerned but maybe talking to Harry would take his mind off the delectable scent of Bella Swan's blood.
Eventually Harry shuddered and he removed his hand from Edward's arm.
Harry took deep unnecessary breaths while Edward tapped impatiently at the steering wheel.
There were times when Harry's mind went completely blank to Edward. Harry couldn't control when it would happen, it was seemingly random and it tended to frustrate Edward every single time. Edward was just too curious for his own good.
"Your control is impeccable." Harry eventually said making conscious effort to blink and fidget like a human. Sometimes, occasionally, Harry would touch someone (usually when they were in acute distress) and he would momentarily be swamped by their feelings, their thoughts. It was as though for a second he was no longer Harry but the person he was touching. It was a bit like Edward and Jasper's gifts combined for the short burst of time it occurred, it usually took skin on skin contact but Harry was so attuned to his family it didn't always take even that.
It made his already naturally empathic (not like Jasper's gift) nature extreme.
Harry's magic had gone a little crazy after turning into a vampire. Harry guessed it was because his blood contained Basilisk venom, Phoenix tears and he had been a Horcrux and then vampire venom...so yeah, a cocktail of rather odd substances in his blood.
Edward snorted.
"It's true. Her scent..." Harry trailed off ignoring the dark glare Edward sent his way.
"Anyway your control was remarkable. I can't say if anyone other than Carlisle would have been able to sit next to their singer for an hour and not drain them." Harry stated utterly sure in his verdict.
"You would have stood it too." Edward replied after a pause.
"My control is not nearly as good as your fathers. I doubt anyone's is. You do not have to hold yourself up to Carlisle's personal standard, Edward. It would be like you expecting Carlisle to be a telepath like you." Harry stated. They had a theory that it was Carlisle's gift, his compassion.
While Harry's control was excellent (he had never slipped) he did not believe he could keep it up in a hospital 24/7.
Edward didn't reply but he did turn off the CD playing. After a while he stood and excited the car heading towards the main office. Harry sighed and left the car, running home at a speed humans wouldn't notice.
Harry supposed vampires running was a little like the Night Bus, a rather recent invention in the wizarding world in Britain, in that they moved too fast for humans to notice.
Harry entered the empty house and sighed, a purely human action that he liked to indulge in from time to time.
He made his way to his and Carlisle's bedroom swapping his jumper for his favourite green one. It served no purpose but to make Harry slightly more relaxed, vampires didn't really feel the cold after all.
He hoped they wouldn't have to move he really did adore Forks.
Scratch that, he hoped Edward didn't kill Bella Swan, Charlie would be devastated. She was in most of his conversations when Harry stopped by for a chat and to drop off some food.
Harry felt a pang of sympathy for Edward. Bella's blood sang to Edward far more so than any singer Harry had personally come across and Harry doubted Emmett's blood singers had been quite so strong, so enticing. Emmett had drained the singers both times.
Harry had only barely resisted the urge to drain them when he ran into his singers and once Carlisle had had to restrain him. It had been early on in their relationship and Harry had been hunting when he had smelt a blood far more enticing than any he had smelt before. A human hunter, searching for game, had been wounded (mildly) with his knife and so the temptation was even greater as blood was spilt. Carlisle had had to tackle Harry to the ground and hold him down all the while entreating him to return to his senses.
Harry had, eventually, but he had been horrified, he had almost bitten Carlisle. While vampire bites wouldn't do much to another vampire it stung like mad (far worse than a bee sting) and left a scar.
Harry may have then locked himself in the basement of their house at that time and refused to come out for two weeks...maybe.
Harry was so utterly proud of Edward for resisting, for not just tearing through Bella like she was nothing and then draining the rest of the class.
Really, Edward was far more admirable than he thought.
Harry paced the empty house unable to keep still even though that was his natural state of being. Harry eventually decided just to cook something; he could deliver it to Charlie once done.
Strangely, even though he found human food distasteful, cooking had a calming effect on Harry.
It was soon, mere minutes into his cooking that the rest of his sons and daughters arrived at the house questions on all of their lips apart from Alice's.
Jasper picked up on the tension from both Alice and Harry and nearly reflexively sent soothing emotions their way. Harry eyes Jasper's tense form, he needed to feed.
Why did Jasper feel the need to test his endurance? It didn't matter if he needed to feed more frequently than the rest of them.
Of course it seemed to be a point of pride for Jasper. Harry sighed, again a human motion that didn't come naturally but tended to amuse and calm Harry down.
Harry didn't see Edward.
"I take it Edward went to Carlisle then?" Harry asked seeking affirmation. His heart sank when he saw Alice's worried/vexed features.
"No, he's gone to Alaska." Alice denied. Harry stilled and Jasper almost winced at the acute pain that flittered through Harry before he reined his emotions in, it wasn't fair for him to cause Jasper distress even if it was unintentional.
"Will he be back?" Harry asked hands clenching on the worktop so hard that the marble cracked. Alice shrugged wordlessly, helplessly.
Harry stayed motionless for a few minutes until one of his timers beeped. With another human sigh Harry flicked out his wand and tapped the broken marble mumbling 'reparo'. The marble counter fixed itself and Harry set out the cottage pie. It looked edible. Harry wrinkled his nose in distaste.
"I'll just take this to Charlie's." Harry stated quietly moving to the garage and his simple car (he had absolutely no interest in cars whatsoever...much to his children's disbelief/incredulous amusement), they had brought him a car, one much more expensive and flash than the simple golf Harry had been eyeing.
Harry remained in his semi daze as he drove (slowly) to Charlie's house.
Once he got there he parked neatly eyeing the large red truck in the driveway with amusement. Was that the vehicle Charlie had got his daughter? Harry would have been crucified if he gave anyone of his children a car that old/rusted/truck or even a vehicle that ran so slow.
Harry knocked holding the glass container filled with hot cottage pie with his other hand.
Harry cursed mentally when he realised Charlie was still at work, otherwise the police cruiser would be there.
Bella opened the door brown eyes widening as she recognised him and a slight flush creeping up her cheekbones. Harry smiled a little sheepishly and this seemed to just make her blush even more.
"Hi, Bella, I was just dropping round this." Harry held up the dish then realised what his sentence must sound like and how confusing it would sound to Bella. "Oh, um, I sometimes bring round food for Charlie since he managed to explode tinned pasta sauce and burn the pasta." Harry and Bella shared a pained look.
Harry smiled a little sheepishly again handing over the glass ware making sure his cool (icy) hands didn't touch Bella's bare skin. Bella took it with a smile of thanks.
"What should I do with the glassware?" Bella asked pragmatically.
"I'll collect it next time I bring something round...if you don't like any of the food don't be shy to say...sometimes I manage to make something that tastes worse than dirt, your dad is always too nice with his comments." Harry mumbled the last a little embarrassed whenever Charlie thanked him for the cooking. It wasn't like it was something Harry didn't like doing after all.
"Well, thanks." Bella said a little awkwardly. Harry nodded about to leave before a sudden thought struck him.
"Oh! My son, Edward, asked me to apologise to you. Apparently he wasn't feeling very well in Biology and started glaring at thin air and he may have given the impression he was glaring at you. Sorry about Edward, when he's ill he gets really crabby." Harry said in a sudden feeling of...not pity but something close when he noticed Bella's reddened eyes. Being hated for no reason was always rather demoralising. Harry should know.
Plus it would hopefully quell any (if she even thought of any) suspicions. Hopefully. Harry looked at her sceptical face and inwardly frowned. Bella seemed far too astute. Harry was an appalling liar though and he hated lying but if it protected his family then he would try.
Harry made his way home, relieved when he saw Edward's Volvo in the drive. His relief vanished when he realised that Carlisle and Edward had just switched cars, Edward wasn't home. But Carlisle was.
Harry wandered in to find the family all in the lounge. Only Carlisle was seated, they technically never felt the need to sit down but it made them seem human so they tried to get into the habit of it.
Harry sat next to Carlisle leaning against his side. Harry always found comfort in tactile sensations, well nice tactile sensations. Carlisle absently, in an almost reflexive motion, wrapped an arm around Harry.
"He'll be back soon." Carlisle soothed pressing a kiss against Harry's smooth forehead. Harry didn't say a word, it was nothing more than a hopeful platitude, but one Harry was grateful for anyway.
Harry sighed. Carlisle smiled slightly and tilted Harry's head up for a kiss that was probably a little too heated for the living room. Carlisle always did like Harry wearing green.
"Eww!" Emmett exclaimed theatrically rubbing his eyes. Jasper coughed pointedly. Harry leaned back against the couch covering his face with his hands even as everyone else was unruffled.
"I can't believe you still get embarrassed over mentions of sex." Emmett teased. Harry leaned even further back into the couch. Rosalie laughed.
"Well if you take into account I was born in the 1700s then I'm way past prude in this day and age and I'm a crazy old man with a poodle!" Harry exclaimed sitting back up attempting to appear unaffected. There was a moment of silence.
"I swear that sentence made no sense." Emmett muttered loud enough for them all to hear. Harry, for the first time that day, found himself laughing at his absurd family. It wasn't long before Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper and Carlisle joined in.