Edward felt, as a rule, that it was not uncommon for him to be annoyed with at least one member of his family at any one time. Alice for example, despite being physically older than Edward, had taken on the role of annoying little sister admirably. An ever present bundle of energy, added with her knack for showing him visions at inappropriate times, Alice was a frequent source of irritation. Then there was Emmett. Edward could hardly come up with a day in the past sixty-odd years that his brother had not annoyed him in some regard. Hundreds if not thousands of times Edward had questioned whether Emmett's special gift wasn't his ability to aggravate him with the least effort required.

Rosalie was a special case. She and Edward clashed on most opinions; it was laughable now that Carlisle had once thought her to be a good match for Edward. Her main irritating habit these days was her blatant dislike and cold treatment of Bella and Harry. Edward was rapidly growing tired of her continuous iciness toward the pair, but he knew Rosalie had always been jealous of humans.

Jasper was generally the least annoying of his siblings. The most reserved of the group, he normally kept any conflict to himself. That wasn't to say he didn't have his own special ways of riling Edward up; an unexpected blast of emotion – his favourite being waves of desire during class – was enough to throw Edward for an entire day. In his own way, Jasper had the ability to be the most annoying of them all.

Despite each of their misgivings, Edward still loved his siblings dearly. There had been few times over the decades where they ever spent prolonged periods of time apart, but when they had it had always been with warmth and joy that they reunited. They were their strongest as a family, not just in power but in love too, and they couldn't have been as close without their adoptive parents.

As anyone locked forever in the age of teen angst and rebellion would attest, there had undoubtedly been moments in which Esme and Carlisle had irritated him. It had always been out of pettiness, however, and when he had calmed down Edward had always seen that neither of them had done anything wrong. It was probably something he would never quite grow out of, but Esme and Carlisle were always waiting to accept his apology on the other side.

This time was different though, and Edward knew it. This time he was annoyed with Carlisle, and Edward knew he had every right to be so. It had been two days since Carlisle had finally resurfaced, and while the man had not retreated back into his study, he had not changed his opinions either. Whenever Edward tried to reason with him and suggest that he was being ridiculous about Harry, he steadfastly refused to listen. He was adamant that his past proved he was undeserving of Harry's trust and nothing Edward said could change his mind.

Now it was Monday, the start of the second school week without Harry. Carlisle had returned to work this morning, Edward wondering how well he would be able to mask his emotions from his colleagues. Meanwhile at school, Edward had still not been able to speak with Bella. He hoped that the weekend away from school and the constant reminders of Harry's absence had given her time to think. Because today he needed her.

Edward had a plan. He didn't care what Carlisle said; he was going to find Harry whether he liked it or not, and he needed the help of the boy's closest friend in Forks. He knew they would not be able to force him to return, but Edward needed him to know that he was accepted no matter what. He knew that Bella had forgiven Harry, her sadness being that of losing a friend rather than being hurt and betrayed. He still, however, had no real indication of how Bella felt about the Cullens.

As he sat next to her in Biology that afternoon, he hoped that the curious looks she had been sending his family's way at the end of last week were a suggestion that she did not plan to entirely abandon them. He hoped she could understand the dangers, but also appreciate that none of them would ever intentionally hurt her. He also prayed that he had not read her wrong, and that she too would do anything to find Harry.

"Bella," he began cautiously as the bell rang to signal the end of class.

Bella turned to look at him, clearly unsure of what to do. At least she hadn't run yet.

"May I speak with you?" He realised he was nervous. How human of him. "About Harry?"

Upon hearing that name, Bella's eyes widened.

"You know where he is?!" she whispered pleadingly.

"No, I don't," he said sadly. "None of us do. But I have a plan to find him, and I think it might just work." He could tell she was still unsure. "Can we talk somewhere? I want to answer the questions I know you have for me."

She nodded twice and turned to walk out of the classroom. Edward followed, taking the lead slightly to direct her to a part of the school he knew would be secluded. When he turned back to look at her, he was slightly hurt by the distance she kept and the wariness in her eyes.

"I would never hurt you, Bella. I promise," he said earnestly. He needed her to believe him.

"I know that," she replied. She paused. "Thank-you."

"You're welcome." But Bella shook her head.

"Not for that. For getting in the way of the van. I never thanked you properly because I was so annoyed you wouldn't tell me how you did it." She smiled her embarrassed smile.

Edward smiled back. "You're welcome," he repeated. And just like that, the iciness melted.

"Do you really think you know how to get Harry back?" Edward's frozen heart warmed at her concern for her friend.

"I do," he confirmed. "But we need to get into his house. I don't know if Charlie told you…"

"About the invisible barriers around the house stopping anyone from getting close? He did. Harry thought of everything." She frowned. "Does it affect you guys too?"

Edward grimaced remembering the pain that had lanced through his body that day with the Chief. It had felt like pure electricity coursing through his limbs. If Charlie hadn't dragged him out, he wouldn't have been able to move himself. Emmett and Alice had returned with him later that evening to test it for themselves. They approached much more cautiously, one hand extended. Both of them had experienced the same electricity shoot down their arms.

"It seems Harry added a special protection against vampires. We can't approach the house either." He stopped in thought, watching the trees in the distance. How were they ever going to get close enough for Edward's plan to work?

"I wonder why I could walk up to the door without trouble," he heard Bella whisper to herself. Edward's head snapped around to look at her.

"You did what?" he demanded. Bella looked at him, startled.

"The day after he left I went to his house. I knocked on the front door but of course he was long gone and nobody answered. Charlie told me the next day about how the police couldn't get near it," she explained, frowning in thought. "I hadn't really thought about it, but those protections would have been up from when Harry left wouldn't they? So –"

"– how did you get past them?" He finished her question. Had Harry purposefully allowed his friend access to his house? Edward wouldn't have thought so. He doubted Harry would have wanted anyone to be able to snoop around.

Edward watched Bella closely as she thought hard. Not for the first time, he wished he knew what was going on in her mind.

He froze.

"In her… mind," he whispered, eyes wide in surprise. Bella raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?" she asked.

Edward smiled broadly at her confused look. He felt like laughing. It was so obvious to him now.

"I know how we can get into his house."

Bella gasped. "How?"

He grinned at her. "I think it's time you came and properly met my family."


Edward turned the Volvo off the main road onto the winding track that lead through the dense trees to his family's house. Bella was sat in the passenger side looking tense. He couldn't blame her; both of them remembered well what had happened the last time she came here.

His siblings had left school before them, and so were already home. Carlisle too had returned from the hospital, told to take it easy after his "prolonged illness". Edward was unsure how Carlisle would react to his plan to find Harry. Well, he knew he wouldn't like it. He just didn't know how much he would express his real thoughts if Bella were there.

They pulled up in front of the house. Edward got out and flashed around to open Bella's door. She gasped in shock, effectively reminding Edward that she had only had the barest of exposures to any of their proper abilities. He sniggered good-naturedly as Bella got out of the car.

Esme was at the front door to welcome them home. She was particularly excited to see Bella. She embraced the girl in a motherly way, unlike Alice who ran in at top speed and started spinning Bella around in her arms.

"Bella!" She squealed. "We're going to be amazing friends, I know it!" Edward noticed Bella turning an alarming shade of green.

"I think you should put her down, Alice," he laughed. "I don't think Bella's stomach can take much more of your friendship just now." Bella staggered as she was placed back onto her feet, Alice guiding her through into the living room. Edward shook his head in amusement. Alice's joy was infectious, helped by Jasper who surfaced smiling for the first time in over a week at the sound of his wife's happiness. It was nice hear laughter in their house once more.

Edward stood back, watching the rest of his family trickle down into the living room. He could hear Alice talking to Bella at top speed, insisting that once Harry is found they must go shopping together. Carlisle was the last to come into the entrance hall, the same uncertainty on his face that had been present since Saturday. Edward was at least pleased to hear that Carlisle's thoughts were pleasant, as he too was affected by the family's happiness. The emotion did not reach Carlisle's eyes, which despite returning to their soft golden colour still lacked the warmth and brightness that was normally there.

"I haven't told Bella about your negativity because it would hurt her," he said softly. Carlisle didn't turn. "Hear me out first. That's all I ask." And without waiting for a response, he walked in ahead of his father.

Emmett was lifting furniture, thrilled at having someone to show off his strength to, and Edward watched on, smiling, as Bella's jaw dropped in amazement. This was just what his family needed, he thought. Sure Rosalie was being Rosalie, and they were still helping Carlisle win the battle against himself, but the others were smiling and laughing at Emmett and Bella. For a moment they could forget about the darkness that had plagued their home the past week and be reminded what it was like to live again.

"What's the story then? Who are you, really?" Bella asked the room as a whole but she looked at Edward as she spoke.

"It all started with Carlisle," Edward began, as he launched into the history of the Cullens. He only spoke of Carlisle's and his own changing in detail, leaving the others the choice in how much of their past they shared. In the end only Rosalie didn't elaborate, and Edward was pleased Bella knew enough of his sister to not ask her directly.

"And now you move from state to state, redoing high school?" She asked in bewilderment. "Doesn't that ever get dull?"

"Sometimes we play a bit with the ages, but it's difficult to stray too far from the late teens and early twenties," Alice explained. "We haven't worked out yet where we'll go after Forks. Maybe somewhere north of the border."

Bella sat, pondering all she had heard. Edward was silently impressed with how well she was handling it all. Perhaps the week to herself had been what she'd needed. Or perhaps she was just far stronger than any of them had given her credit for. Edward was leaning toward the latter.

"What was it earlier you were saying about someone's mind, Edward?" Bella asked. His family grinned and turned to look at Edward. He sighed; his siblings had never relented about the fact his gift had been stopped by an ordinary human girl.

"Some of us have what we call gifts," he began. "Namely Alice, Jasper, and myself." Bella frowned.

"What kind of gifts?"

"I can sense and, to an extent, control emotions," Jasper explained before filling the room with a sudden wave of joy. Being human and unused to Jasper's abilities, Bella was the most affected, laughing hysterically until Jasper calmed her down again.

"Wow," she said, still giggling slightly.

"I get visions of the future. Not about Harry, before you ask. I'm sorry Bella," Alice added, genuinely upset still by her gift's failings.

"Is it because he's a w–wizard?" She stuttered slightly as she mentioned Harry's abilities for what Edward knew would have been the first time in real conversation.

"We suspect so," Edward said. "None of our gifts work on him very well. Jasper's does a little, but not properly." He looked Bella directly in the eye as he said his next words. "I can read minds, Bella."

Her reaction was comical. Her hands immediately went to clutch her head and she snapped her eyes shut as though they were the window into her mind. Edward had to try very hard not to laugh at her.

"Relax, Bella. I can't read your mind either," he said kindly, but he couldn't help a slight bitterness lace his words. It still irritated him after all.

Bella slowly opened one of her eyes, not removing her hands from her head. "Really?" She asked, clearly not believing him.

"Really. It's horribly frustrating I'm not ashamed to admit." He smiled at her, trying to put her at ease. She did at least lower her hands and look back at him with both eyes open.

"And you think that's why I could approach Harry's house? Somehow his protections don't affect me because of… whatever's wrong with me." At this, Edward did laugh.

"We tell you that we can see the future and read minds, and you think there's something wrong with you?" Bella smiled, embarrassed, as the Cullens laughed.

"What's this plan of yours, Edward?" It was the first words Carlisle had spoken all afternoon. He had been watching the whole affair from the doorway, never settling himself down with the rest of them. Edward could see Bella look at her former doctor in concern, as though wondering what had happened to the gentle and cheerful man who had treated her.

"It's very simple," he said, looking directly at his father. "Bella, being unaffected by Harry's protections thanks to her mental block, goes into his house to find his owl. We then tell the owl to find Harry and we follow it."

Edward could hear Bella murmuring in confusion, as were his siblings. Being the only person knowing exactly what Edward was talking about, Carlisle frowned. He knew the plan would work and he didn't like it.

"How do you know Artemis is even still in the boy's house?" Carlisle asked Edward. "She probably flew away when there was no one to feed her."

"I could hear her flying around inside when Charlie and I tried to approach the house." He wasn't going to let Carlisle find any flaws in this plan. It had to work.

Edward had heard quite a bit about Harry's owl from Carlisle. His pet seemed to be one of the very few things Harry was happy to talk about himself. He had told Carlisle about Artemis and how she was a special owl who would always know where to find people, and knowing enough, then, of how special Harry was himself, Carlisle hadn't doubted it for a second.

"Harry has an owl?" Bella asked from behind him. He turned to look at her.

"Yes. Harry's told Carlisle before that she can find anyone you tell her to. My bet is she's somehow magical like her owner. If we find her in his house and send her off to find Harry, we could easily follow where she goes." Edward watched the excitement grow in Bella's eyes and he knew that she would help him.

'This is a bad idea, Edward. You can't force the boy to return.'

"And we won't," Edward promised without turning around. Bella looked at him in confusion, not realising he was answering his father's thoughts. "But we need to give him the choice and tell him that he's still accepted here." Now he did turn to look at Carlisle again. "By everyone."

'He deserves to go his own way if he chooses.'

Edward growled but tried to keep it as soft as possible; he didn't want to frighten Bella. Carlisle was infuriating him. He could read his father's thoughts; Edward knew he was worried about what might have happened to Harry but was letting his own guilt block his real emotions. Carlisle would always accept Harry and wanted him to come back, Edward knew that. It was just a matter of convincing Carlisle he would be able to face the boy when he did.

"We'll discuss this later," he murmured to Carlisle, who closed his eyes and winced as though in pain.

Edward heard acceptance of his plan in a majority of the minds of his family around him. Rosalie was still adamant Harry shouldn't return, but she equally was still unimpressed at Bella being at their house in the first place. Carlisle's thoughts were of his inner turmoil, neither able to agree nor fully disagree with the plan. Edward turned back to face Bella who was watching him with concern. He gave her a tight smile and she relaxed slightly.

"Well then," he said to her. "Let's go owl hunting."


They pulled up in front of Harry's house, the gate firmly locked by the police in an attempt to keep people away. It wasn't until halfway up the drive that Edward had collapsed in pain last time, and so he helped Bella hoist herself up and over the fence, following by leaping ten feet in the air and clearing it easily.

"Someone could be looking out their window, you know," Bella scolded with a grin on her face.

Edward grinned back. "Makes the risk more fun, don't you think?"

They strolled towards the house, Edward coming to a stop a couple of feet before where he knew the invisible barrier to be. Bella turned around when he stopped, looking at him uncertainly.

"You'll be fine," he reassured her. "I can't come any closer than this. If you need me when you're inside, call me. I'll be able to hear you from out here but you won't hear me." She nodded and kept walking. Edward watched as she took a deep breath and stepped over where the protection line sat. Nothing happened. They'd been right.

Bella strode confidently towards the house. Edward watched her rummage through the plant beside the door, pulling out a shiny silver key. Clearly Harry had not expected anyone to be able to get so close. Bella stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

His cell phone rang in his pocket.

"Okay, I'm in," Bella said needlessly.

"Yes, I did see that part," Edward teased. "From what I can tell she's upstairs asleep. She could be very weak not having access to food. Take up some water and maybe scope out the kitchen, see if there's anything an owl would eat."

"What, you think Harry kept dead mice in his pantry?" She joked. Edward could hear her opening cupboards and drawers. "Well, I've got water but I can't see any… hang on –" More rummaging. "Owl treats. That sounds promising."

Edward heard her pour out some small pellets of food before she began making her way upstairs.

"What if it attacks me?"

"Like I said, she'll quite possibly be a bit weak. But I also think she's quite intelligent. Just approach her slowly showing the food and tell her you're a friend of Harry's."

"You want me to talk to the owl?" Bella asked disbelievingly.

"Of course," Edward replied as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "People talk to pets all the time."

Edward listened as Bella opened door after door upstairs.

"Edward, I'm not so sure about this," she sounded scared again. Edward sighed.

"Bella, I promise it won't attack you. If it does I'll give you a hundred dollars."

"Not the damn owl, Edward!" she hissed. "Harry's house. It looks like someone was in here. There's drawers pulled out everywhere like they were searching for something."

Edward frowned. No one could have been in since Harry left. There was no one else with a mental block like Bella in Forks, he was sure.

"Harry must have done that before he left. No one can get in remember. He was probably looking for things to take to make his quick getaway." While that made the most sense, it still didn't sit entirely right with Edward.

Bella didn't respond, but her even breathing and continued searching told Edward she accepted his explanation. Suddenly there was a sharp intake of breath.

"What?" Edward demanded.

"I found her, oh she's gorgeous, Edward!" Bella gushed softly. "I think she's asleep."

"Just take it nice and easy, Bella, you can do this." He encouraged.

"Artemis," Bella cooed. "Hey Artemis, do you want some food? I'm Bella, Harry's friend." Edward could hear the bird hooting dolefully. "Well, she's eating." A pause. "That notebook of Harry's is gone. The one where he wrote about you lot. He must have taken it with him." That didn't surprise Edward. Since hearing about the book he had been concerned about the other sorts of things Harry might have written about. It didn't feel right to pry and ask Bella.

"Wow," Bella whispered. "It moves!"

"Bella what are you talking about, what moves?" Unable to see where she was, Edward had no clue what Bella was looking at.

"It's a photograph of Harry with his parents, but the people in it are moving! They were still when I was in here before." Edward still didn't really know what she was talking about.

"Uh huh, how's Artemis going?"

"She's perked up a bit. Hey," she called gently. "Artemis, we need you to go find Harry for us. Can you do that? Oh my god a bird just nodded at me, this is so weird!" Edward smirked.

"So she's good to go?" If the owl was going to leave straight away, Edward would have to follow immediately.

"I think so. Shall I bring her outside?" Bella suddenly screamed.

"What happened?!" Edward had to stop himself from racing into the pain barrier.

"Sorry! She just flew onto my shoulder, scared the hell out of me!" Edward sighed in relief.

"Okay, just bring her down." He hung up the phone and waited. A few short moments later, the front door opened again to reveal Bella with her new friend.

"Aw, I think she likes you," Edward teased as she came back outside the protections.

"Okay Artemis, off you go. Go and find Harry." Bella gasped again as the owl suddenly took flight. Edward kept a close eye as she flew.

"I'll call Alice to come drive you home. Here," he handed her the Volvo key. "Give that to Alice when she gets here. I'll let you know as soon as I find him. Promise."

"Good luck," Bella said.

"Hah! Following an owl across country to find a lost wizard?" Edward grinned. "What could possibly go wrong?"