I am so sorry this has taken me so long to post, however I have some free time over the next few days and so will try to have another chapter posted this week. Huge thanks to everyone reading and reviewing this story :)
Carlisle Cullen sighed loudly as he sat in his favourite room in their home in Forks Washington, his study was a relatively private place despite the unfortunate circumstances that led his family to have very little privacy. Although it was possible to respect each others requirement for solitude that did not necessarily mean that it was an easy thing to give. Enhanced hearing and other senses ensured that. But the situation he now found himself in necessitated the need for a few moments of private thought before he confronted his family with the news that a witch would be living with them for at least a few years and that she would need protection. It even sounded absurd in his mind. A witch. Living with vampire's.
Of course Carlisle had known about the magical world for quite some years due to the situation surrounding Edward's return to the family, but that did not make it any easier to comprehend. It still managed to amaze him how little he truly knew about the world despite the amount of years he had spent travelling and learning.
If there was one thing that did confuse him though it would be that Edward had not been able to read Carlisle's mind when he thought about those times when he had encountered the Professor. And he knew he had thought about it in his presence despite trying his hardest not to. Perhaps that was more magic at work.
A small fissure of excitement shot through him at the thought of being able to ask this young girl questions about her world, would she even be willing to talk about it? Perhaps he could offer an exchange of information, answers about his world for the same in return. It would be a fantastic opportunity for the whole family but there was the worry that they were not going to take it very well. He could already picture the protestations from Rosalie and Jasper especially. Uncertainty swept through him, perhaps this was not the best idea, for a human to be living with them, with all that temptation and fresh blood from inevitable accidents. But he really did not have a choice, he knew he owed a debt of gratitude that could never be repaid and all he had been asked of was to shelter a young girl in danger.
Resigning himself to a difficult evening he moved to the family dining room where his family could be heard gathering, Alice must have already told them that he needed a family meeting.
"Carlisle," his wife smiled at him gently as he moved to place a small kiss on her cheek, "Alice believes you have important news for us."
"I most certainly do," he replied even as his family took their usual seats around the dining room table whenever meetings were called. He could read the impatience running across their faces, their curiosity that even Alice held was apparent.
"A rather long time ago I met an unusual person that rendered me a great service, in fact he really helped the whole family although I am aware that this has been a great secret,"
"How is it that there are secrets in this house?" Jasper questioned and quite rightly so, secrets were unheard of when you lived with a mind reader, empath and a seer.
"Please hold questions until the end," Carlisle continued, "it's a rather long story that is quite fantastical. The man that….helped was no ordinary human but a wizard.."
"No way!" Emmett yelled, "come on Carlisle, you can't expect us to believe that."
"I assure you it is true, and one of the things that he managed to do was block some of my thoughts from Edward, as I know I have thought about him in Edward's presence. I am also unable to speak about how he helped, the words just do not seem to come out when I try," Carlisle frowned slightly wondering, even to this day how it had been possible.
"Are you saying I cannot always read you?" Edward asked, to which Carlisle merely nodded in the affirmative.
"Are you really being honest here Carlisle?" Edward continued.
"I'm not one to lie Edward! I assure you I speak the truth."
"Why are you telling us this now?" Jasper frowned, confusion and curiosity written quite clearly on his face.
"Because it is time for me to repay a debt of honour and it is going to affect the entire family," Carlisle continued, "he arrived again this morning, looking not a day older than the last time I had seen him and has asked, or rather told me, of how it is I can return this debt. A young English witch is apparently in grave danger and is in need of our protection."
"A witch? How do we protect her? Do we need to travel?" Alice asked quickly, "I can't see her."
"No, no she will be coming here."
"For years?" Edward asked, having read it in Carlisle's mind, shock running through him, "you want a human to live with us?"
The chorus of outraged cries rang through the room as Carlisle tried to make sense of what each was saying, but it was impossible to distinguish any one persons spoken words.
"Enough!" he yelled loudly, "I understand that this has come as a shock to you all, but I really have no choice in the matter. However you do. Our family has often spent a few years apart from each other and can easily do so once again."
He went silent as he watched each of his children's faces, lastly resting his gaze upon his wife, "I'm with you Carlisle no matter what may come," she told him quietly, squeezing his hand in reassurance. He had known of course that he would have his wife's full support but relief still flooded through him at her confirmation and he smiled widely towards her.
"I'm not missing this," Emmett grinned, "this is gonna be so cool, can she do magic - real magic? I wonder if she'll help me with some pranks?"
Rosalie slapped him around the head, "You idiot! How do you think you will cope having constant temptation living with us? What if someone slips up? I refuse to be a part of this," and so saying she stormed out of the room. It was not entirely unexpected to Carlisle.
"Don't worry I'll talk to her," Emmett said, moving to follow his wife, "there's no way we're leaving."
"Carlisle," Jasper spoke quietly, "I don't think it would be wise for me to live with a human." Jasper was the newest to their way of life and therefore found it much more difficult around humans.
"I did express my concerns to the professor," Carlisle spoke equally as quietly, "however he assured me that the young girl would provide no temptation owing to a potion of some kind. I won't really know much more until she arrives, which will be in a few days time."
"Is that really possible?" Jasper questioned, not really expecting an answer.
"I think that Jazzy and I will stay at least until she arrives, then we will make a decision," Alice said softly, grabbing Jaspers hand and walking away.
"Edward?"
"You can't tell me something that relates to myself?" Edward asked
.It is not for lack of trying Edward. It is simply the magic that restricts me. Carlisle thought, A few years ago I even tried to write it down, but all that was written when I had finished was a lot of nonsense.
"Would this girl know the truth?" Edward asked.
"I have no idea, but it is a possibility."
"In that case I believe I too will be staying in Forks." Thank you Edward. With a small nod towards Esme, Edward quickly left through the door and made his way upstairs.
"Carlisle?" Esme spoke quietly, "are you certain you cannot say anything more?"
"Positive," he replied, "and I thank you greatly for always being so understanding despite the odd circumstances that we find ourselves in," he smiled ruefully.
"You are where I belong. Now I believe I have a human to prepare for, can you believe that this time we will actually need to buy food rather than just for show. Oh and we must prepare the spare room for her, especially if she is to be a guest for some time. What about school? Do you know how old she is?" Esme asked her succession of questions quickly with an ever increasing smile on her face.
"I believe she is seventeen, and I have been told that she would like schooling," a small frown appeared on his face as he noticed an unusual sight from the window. An owl was hovering just outside with what appeared to be a piece of paper, "I don't suppose…..no…..is that…?"
He stood quickly and opened the window, watching avidly as the owl flew in and dropped a letter on the table before flying off again.
"Carlisle is that….a letter? From an owl?"
"It would appear so my dear," he replied, watching in wonder as the letter rose from the table and started speaking,
Dr Cullen, came the smooth voice of the professor, by which point all of the family had rushed into the dining room in shock, it has been brought to my attention that you may need a little more detail on the insufferable, SEVERUS! The voice had turned distinctly female, my apologies, the deeper voice continued, on the young lady that will be residing with you. As I had stated she is quite thrilled at being offered a chance to attend a muggle school and has assured me that she can cook her own meals, she is also potty trained. Severus! Came the female voice once again, go and sit down I will finish the letter, NOW! Sorry, she continued, he really is friendly I promise (a snort could be heard at this point) I'm quite looking forward to meeting you all and I hope not to be to much of an imposition on you all, I grew up with muggles you know and will be quite at home amongst them. Severus is brewing a potion that will render my um…blood without scent, he's quite good at brewing, did you know he… HERMIONE! (again the voice turned deeper at this exclamation) oops sorry, our plans have changed somewhat and I should be arriving almost as soon as you have heard this, I'm deeply sorry if this inconveniences you, but needs must. I thank you again for offering to take me in, Yours sincerely Hermione Granger."
Did that really just happen?" Jasper exclaimed in shock. It was a look that was shown on all the faces surrounding the now quiet letter, even as there was a distinct knock at the door and a small voice could be heard muttering, "Really Hermione, it will be fine, you can do this, its just vampire's. A lot of vampire's, who like to drink blood….just breath."