Disclaimer.

I have posted the beginnings of the Carlisle/Harry romance in Italy. That is about their romance (so it has the M rated smut) and how it began, it is called Harmonic Cacophony.

Chapter 8:

(8/11)

True to his word Harry kept in contact with Charlie even when Charlie snapped at him out of worry for his daughter who he described was acting like a zombie.

Obviously the Cullen's were no longer one of Charlie's favourite families.

Edward dropped in on Harry and Carlisle nearly as often as once a month, Jasper studied at night, Alice researched her history (her human life) from the information James had given them in Phoenix-she had never remembered anything about being human so she was essentially searching blind until the clues from James, Rosalie and Emmett went on a several month long honeymoon.

Harry felt slightly lost.

He could see Edward slowly splitting at the seams and when he hadn't visited them in eight weeks straight Harry had tracked him down and found him in a rather grotty hotel room eyes pitch black with extreme thirst.

Harry had cajoled, bullied and coaxed Edward out, making him hunt, making him take a shower, buying him fresh clean clothes.

Edward was not coping.

Harry didn't leave him after that, he called Carlisle and explained he was going to stay with Edward for a bit. Carlisle had wanted to come over too but Harry convinced him to stay, Carlisle did like his night shifts at the hospital.

Edward didn't really seem to get any better with Harry around but at least he was clean and fed properly now. When Edward left the apartment they were sharing with a single scrawled note saying he had gone, Harry let him be. Edward visited every month once again.

Carlisle was more than relieved to have Harry back with him.

Harry entered some night art courses, he had always enjoyed sketching and it would be good to learn other techniques like sculpting or painting. It also dulled his thoughts, it was soothing creating something and it was a respite from worrying about his stubborn son.

Harry immersed himself in learning and art, anything to take his mind off his sons torment.

According to his phone calls Bella wasn't getting better either. Charlie didn't harp on about his dislike of Edward, even he noticed the strain and worry in Harry's voice whenever Edward was mentioned.

Harry did enjoy a visit from Severus, which was an unexpected delight. Unexpected because Alice was out at the time when Severus decided to visit and he arrived only two hours after he had made his decision to come.

Severus had been working on a new potion that would be used like sun cream to make sure they could go out in the sun and not sparkle. It was a good invention apart from the side effect. It turned their skin purple for a few hours afterwards.

Unlike Harry, Severus had explored the full potential of his magical and vampire abilities and was often irked by Harry's reluctance to do the same. Harry let Severus do some tests on him, do certain spells Severus asked etc. It was nice to see him because their contact was infrequent.

Carlisle still seemed slightly shocked (but mostly amused) by Severus's acerbity.

Harry was away visiting some of his friends who had been turned at the party too (not Ron and Hermione this time), he still kept in contact despite their different diets.

It was while he was away that Alice had the vision of Bella jumping from the cliff and she immediately made her way to Forks to make sure Charlie was coping after his daughter's death.

It was the next day that Harry found out Rosalie had passed on Alice's vision to Edward and that he was contemplating suicide by forcing the Volturi's hand. Not good.

Apparently Bella was actually alive, not dead, as Alice hadn't seen her being saved by her friend Jacob and Alice and Bella were racing to Italy to show Edward that Bella wasn't dead and to stop him from dying.

They could do nothing. Harry could do nothing. He wouldn't make it in time to Volterra. Jasper was extremely apprehensive for Alice's safety and Harry waited dreading the thought that soon Alice, Edward and Bella could easily be dead. Harry sorely wished he could still apparate as a vampire or that there was a convenient floo area near to Volterra.

Rosalie looked wretched, she hadn't told Edward out of spite and she never would have expected him to react this way. Emmett had a serious expression on his face; it was such a contrast to his usual jokey grin that Harry couldn't look at him for long.

And Jasper...

Harry didn't know what Jasper would do if Alice was harmed let alone...

Harry was not particularly good at waiting when others were in danger; his skin seemed to itch every time he tried to stay still but when he paced he felt a crushing sense of helplessness.

"Stop pacing!" Jasper snapped. Harry halted hands clenched by his sides as he resisted the urge to snap back.

"Hey, now." Emmett attempted to diffuse the anger stifling in the room they were in before they could catch the next flight to Seattle.

Harry sighed, eyes snapping open and tracing over Jasper with a piercing intensity. Employing what little occlumency Harry could actually use (he was still utter shite at it but Severus attempted to teach him whenever they met and he could at times manage to block Severus out of his mind but his control of it was rudimentary at best).

Jasper relaxed minutely when Harry's emotions hid behind the shallow, flimsy wall in his mind. Obviously Jasper's own emotions were bringing Jasper close to snapping point but he had to deal with everyone else's panic, worry and crippling terror as well.

"Give Jasper a little space, our emotions are amplifying his." Harry ordered his voice flat and eyes shuttered, he had to concentrate hard so he wouldn't put more strain on Jasper. And this actually seemed to help Harry because he now had a goal to focus on, a mentally strenuous task that forced his crippling worry away for the moment.

Harry didn't know how long he spent concentrating on his flimsy mental shields, he vaguely realised Carlisle was guiding him onto a plane, discretely holding up some of his weight.

He only snapped back to reality when Jasper received a phone call and the expression on his face was burning relief. Jasper soon informed them that Alice, Bella and Edward were fine and that they would arrive at Sea-Tac Airport in a few hours time.

Harry dropped his feeble mental shields with a groan. Jasper almost lurched at the sudden mass of emotions he could feel from Harry. Harry was a rather emotional person naturally and almost startlingly in tune with his emotions.

"Thank you." Jasper stated his sincerity evident. Harry didn't ask what he was thanking him for.

Harry leant against Carlisle, exhausted. Vampires didn't get tired in the literal sense, they didn't need to sleep, couldn't sleep even but they could feel mental exhaustion. Well Harry could.

He was drained from holding up his mental shields for so long.

Harry felt rising anger for Edward making them worry so but this was quickly quenched by the utter relief.

Harry didn't think he had ever been so relieved before in his life.

Waiting after that, knowing the three were safe was far more tolerable and Harry relaxed into Carlisle's side appreciating the hand stroking his hair soothingly. Occlumency always left Harry with an awful headache, even more so since Harry had been turned; Harry assumed it was because his magic had gone weird.

Finally the plane Alice had told them they were on landed and Rosalie stayed behind, Emmett with her, by the cars, Rosalie looked awful (well not really she was absolutely beautiful) but Harry didn't have to be a mind reader or an empath to know she felt utterly wretched, flooded with guilt.

Harry waited anxiously with Carlisle just a little behind Jasper who was already searching for Alice.

xxx

Bella saw Jasper first and Alice immediately went to him, they didn't embrace, they stared into each other's eyes and the moment felt so private Bella had to look away.

Harry and Carlisle were behind Jasper and Harry gently embraced Bella, which was a little difficult since Edward didn't let Bella go.

"Thank you." Harry whispered before turning agonised green eyes to Edward.

Harry punched Edward in the shoulder and it was such an unexpected action from Harry's extremely gentle countenance normally that Bella blinked in shock. Edward too seemed a little surprised by Harry's odd actions.

"You promised me you wouldn't do anything suicidal!" Harry said in a broken voice. Edward recoiled from the thoughts projecting from Harry's mind, the pain in them was debilitating. Edward let go of Bella with one arm (the other still holding her gently) reaching for Harry's arm.

"I'm sorry if I brought back memories of Teddy..." Edward began but stopped when Harry chuckled his green eyes no longer spitting mad but a mixture of relieved and so loving it almost hurt to look at.

"Oh you silly boy." Harry muttered pulling both Edward and Bella into his arms. "Teddy is dead. You aren't, I was worried about you. You, Alice and Bella, not Teddy." Harry shook his head fondly as he let them go.

"Sorry dad." Edward apologised.

Bella stepped forward as Edward was greeting Carlisle and she stumbled slightly, even in Edward's arms. Harry reached out to steady her, a useless action since Edward had already done so. Harry looked at her worriedly.

"She's very tired." Harry stated placing the back of his hand on Bella's forehead to check her temperature. The moment Harry's hand touched the bare skin of her forehead he stiffened and would have toppled over had Carlisle not caught him.

Bella blinked briefly feeling a little more awake. She thought vampires couldn't go unconscious or sleep...so what was wrong with Harry?

Suddenly Edward gasped and held Bella to him slightly more tightly a painful look in his eyes and Harry blinked looking slightly confused, he was also rubbing his chest as though it ached, much in the same place where Bella had felt as though there was a gaping hole in her own chest while Edward was gone.

Carlisle examined Harry with his eyes brow crinkled in concern.

"I'm fine. It was probably more shocking because of the occlumency earlier." Harry soothed quietly before spearing Bella with an unfathomable look.

"Edward leaving really messed you up." Harry stated simply, truthfully. Bella grimaced feeling a wave of tiredness overwhelm her. She nodded, there was no point denying it. Edward winced.

Harry moved away to hug Alice.

Harry frowned rubbing his head, it still ached.

He, Carlisle, Alice and Jasper were in one car and Rosalie, Emmett, Edward and Bella were in the other.

Harry watched as Edward carried Bella into Charlie's house, she was nearly comatose, asleep on her feet. Harry went over to them as Charlie started shouting at Edward, Bella diffused Charlie's anger and Edward carried Bella to her bed before coming back down.

Harry massaged his head again.

He felt guilt well up when he realised just how much Bella being involved with Edward had hurt Charlie. There was the time Bella had shouted at Charlie that she couldn't live in Forks so he wouldn't protest as she left to escape from James and when they had all left. Harry rubbed his chest feeling the phantom pain.

When he had touched Bella's forehead skin to skin he had felt an overwhelming agony in his chest area and a sense of utter and complete despair. It had been very similar to the feeling he had gotten from Edward one of the times he had touched him too during Bella and Edward's separation.

Harry was silent on the ride home.

xxx

Harry looked at Bella eyeing her determined features with a strange sense of strangled hope.

Bella had called the meeting, it was one in the morning and she had slept for little over fourteen hours straight. They were going to vote over Bella being turned.

The Volturi had given them an ultimatum; either Bella was turned or killed.

Harry's vote was second to last, just before Carlisle and his thoughts raced.

Rosalie had said no, but then she was out of all of them wanted to be human again the most. She didn't want to dam Bella to a vampire life. Edward had been emphatic in his refusal but everyone else (apart from Rosalie and Carlisle-he hadn't had his say yet-) said yes.

Harry could feel Bella's eyes on him and he winced.

"I...I..." Harry paused and looked at Bella and the slight hurt she was showing.

"I want you to be part of our family, and I want you to be a vampire because it would be easier on us as a family, not to mention you, and remove the threat from the Volturi but..." Harry paused as thought seeking the correct words very carefully.

Bella watched Harry worriedly; she was sure if Harry was against it then Carlisle too would be and Carlisle was probably the one person who she needed to say yes the most.

"Being a vampire is not nearly as...I can't say I was happier as a human but...We'd be taking so much from you." Harry finished in a whisper. He looked from Bella and Edward and then frowned at the table.

"I think you fit and I would be honoured to count you as another of our children...but there's Charlie and your mother. Charlie would be...devastated if you disappeared. I think you should wait a few years at least...but it's not my choice...Yes." Harry finished looking at the table face torn with guilt at what he thought of as betrayal to his friend Charlie and a tiny bit of guilty relief.

Edward destroyed the piano and the table in the lounge room when Carlisle said yes as well.

"So Alice?" Bella asked looking far too calm. Alice's eyes widened in horror and fear. Bella then turned to Harry and Carlisle.

Looking at Edward's black glare and enraged face Harry declined Bella, he would not turn her. Well he would if she asked him properly or if she was dying but not like this. And not before she made a plan to make sure Charlie wasn't hurt too much.

Carlisle said he would if Bella wanted but Edward managed to delay it until after Bella's graduation.

Harry sighed in relief as Bella and Edward left, Edward looking more calculating than angry now.

He walked into the lounge and stifled the urge to scream Edward's name.

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

The remains of Edward's piano littered the floor along with Harry's favourite coffee table, it had been a gift from Severus and the wood it was made from had an odd effect on potions.

Emmett boomed a laugh and Harry turned to glare at him, Emmett just laughed harder.

Harry surveyed the wreckage mournfully, a 'reparo' would not fix this, maybe the table but not the piano, it was such a shame too, the piano was exquisite.

Harry cleared it up mind still dwelling on Bella and her decision to become a vampire.

xxx

Harry smiled to himself over the rumours about their return to Forks.

Carlisle had spread round that Harry didn't like L.A. and was miserable away from Forks...it was true after all just not really for the reasons he implied.

Harry held the tray of baking so the rain wouldn't make it all soggy and knocked on Charlie's door.

Charlie opened it looking grumpy, his expression lightened a little when he saw Harry there and the tray of cinnamon rolls, pastries and muffins. Harry placed the tray in the kitchen calling a greeting to Edward and Bella who were sitting and filling in college applications for Bella.

Harry pretended to drink the cup of tea Charlie made him. Charlie kept sending glares in Edward's direction and Harry pretended he didn't see.

Charlie was shocked to hear Edward had gotten accepted in Harvard and Dartmouth and he didn't miss the fact both Bella and Edward had been accepted into the University of Alaska Southeast. Charlie shot a crafty look at Harry.

"Surely you would rather Edward go to the Ivy League than the University of Alaska?" Charlie prodded. Harry grinned in amusement.

"I dropped out of school before my seventeenth birthday, Charlie, I'm just glad he's continuing his education." Harry commented. Charlie looked at him in surprise and Bella sent him a curious look.

"Why did you drop out?" Charlie asked curiously.

"Some of the teachers were trying to kill me." Harry said truthfully knowing Charlie would take it as Harry joking; it was quite amazing how often Harry could tell the truth and people would just brush it off as a joke. Sure enough Charlie chuckled. Bella shot him a sharp glance however and Harry mentally groaned, he had forgotten how astute she was.

"So I dropped out of school with my two best friends and we jumped over the pond. America is so much larger than England after all." Harry elaborated. Again Charlie and Bella looked surprised.

"I didn't know you grew up in the U.K." Charlie stated eyebrows raised.

"Well I lived in England and Scotland for seventeen years then jumped around Europe. I met Carlisle in Italy we got married and moved to America. Then we adopted the brats." Harry explained with a fond smile sent in Edward's direction.

Harry rubbed his head as they lapsed back into silence.

"Are you alright, Dad?" Edward asked watching Harry's pained grimace. Harry waved off the concern.

"I'm fine." Harry muttered getting rid of a bit of his tea, Edward noticed the slight pinch to Harry's mouth and cursed the fact he couldn't accurately read Harry's mind once more.

"Are you sure?" Edward asked with a worried glance in Bella's direction. Harry resisted the urge to frown; he was going to have to tell Edward what was wrong otherwise he would worry about Bella's safety for the rest of the evening.

"Yeah, it seems like Theodore has decided to drop by soon." Harry attempted to sound nonchalant as though it was a passing acquaintance coming to say 'hi' rather than a man Harry honestly detested and had hoped he could avoid forever. He failed miserably even Bella and Charlie noticed his extreme distaste of the man.

Harry didn't know how Theodore had been turned but he knew it was around the same time as the massacre at the party, a party Theodore hadn't attended.

Edward's eyes tightened.

"I am sure Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper and I will be able to keep him away from you." Edward reassured. Harry grimaced.

"He's a psychopath, he enjoys mind games and I was the one who escaped, he's out for my blood, I'm still not sure how he got out of prison." Harry muttered irritably rubbing his head again.

"He won't hurt you again." Edward soothed rubbing Harry's arm gently, Harry seemed to always relax when offered tactile comfort. Harry snorted.

"It's not me I'm worried for." Harry said looking at Edward pointedly, Theodore knew his family was a sure fire way of hurting Harry.

Harry stiffened when he realised he and Edward weren't alone, both Bella and Charlie seemed bemused by the conversation. Oops...Harry hadn't meant to reveal so much in front of either of them.

Harry drove home after his visit with Charlie slowly. Perhaps the newborn killing all those people in Seattle was somehow linked to Theodore's newly rekindled obsession with Harry?

Harry had only seen Theodore three times since they had been turned and none of those times had been pleasant, twice was before he even met Carlisle and the last time Carlisle had seemed to cower Theodore, Harry had also actually held his own in that fight too so Theodore had left to nurse his wounds.

Harry hadn't heard another peep from him in over 100 years.

But from Alice's vision earlier he was back on Harry's trail.

Not good.

And Edward, well Bella, had informed them that there was a pack of shape-shifters in the Reservation again and this time the pack was larger than the three there had been when Carlisle managed to negotiate a treaty, it helped that Harry had saved the life of Ephraim Black's wife and young son.

Also the Cullen family then had five members so outnumbered the pack so it was in the pack's advantage to agree to a treaty.

Alice and Jasper hadn't joined them at that point.

xxx

Harry looked at his children then to the map where the boundary was drawn for where they and were allowed, they would break the treaty if they crossed into the Quileute lands.

Edward had taken Bella to Jacksonville for the weekend to get her away from Forks. Alice had had a vision of Victoria coming to Forks so Edward had taken Bella out of harm's way.

Harry eyed the ambiguous areas where it wasn't really certain whose territory it was.

"Be careful, stay more than a meter away from the borders. The wolves are just waiting for an excuse to attack us." Harry cautioned. "Make sure they have no reason whatsoever." Harry ordered.

He still remembered the time before his fifth year, there was a Statue of Secrecy that had been set up a few years before Harry's birth and Harry had broken it to save him and his cousin from Dementors sent to attack him.

The ministry had leapt at the chance to attack him, no matter that it had been necessary to use magic to survive; they had been waiting on the merest flimsiest excuse.

From the animosity the wolves had for vampires, well, Harry was sure they were looking for any excuse for a fight. It seemed Emmett and Jasper weren't averse to fighting either much to both Rosalie and Alice's disgust.

Harry was paired with Rosalie as they ran the perimeter, where Alice had said Victoria would be.

Jasper and Emmett were running together while Alice and Carlisle ran around from the opposite direction.

Harry ran exulting in the speed but also keeping an eye out for bright red hair like a flame.

Suddenly the sound of ripping and snarling caught Harry's ears and he froze before immediately following the noise.

Victoria was dancing about on the exact line of the boundary teasing Emmett and Jasper and the wolves on the opposite side to Jasper and Emmett simultaneously. Harry was in motion even as Emmett leapt for the red haired vampire.

A large grey wolf snarled at Emmett as he missed Victoria (who had dodged and was running away) and landed almost on top of the large grey wolf.

Harry caught both Emmett and the big grey wolf with a stunner each as they were leaping at each other ready for a proper fight. The wolf lay on the ground for a second before shaking himself and standing back up with barely a wobble, the wolf had shaken off a stupefy in under a second.

Harry had dragged Emmett back with him and they returned to their side of the boundary, Emmett had shaken off the stunner just as quickly as the wolf.

The scuffle had taken a split second before it was over no blood spilt. Harry hit Emmett on the side of his head none to gently.

"You idiot! What did I tell you?!" Harry yelled at Emmett while Rosalie growled at the wolves standing in front of Emmett protectively. He turned as Carlisle and Alice appeared having witnessed the split second conflict. The wolves were growling at the Cullens teeth bared.

Harry rubbed his aching head a frown crinkling his eyebrows.

Emmett, Jasper and Edward tended to disregard the very real threat the Quileute pack could cause. Both the wolves and vampires were overly cocky in their chances of survival against each other and Harry found it infuriating.

The wolves could kill vampires, the Cullens could too. It would be far too even a match if it ever came to it and Harry doubted there would be any survivors.

"I apologise for overstepping the boundary." Harry stated to the wolves knowing Victoria was long gone now. Carlisle stepped next to Harry and Jasper sent soothing waves of calm to the wolves.

Both groups walked away without bloodshed. Just.