"So what happened with your bloodlust?" Harry asked.
"Before I say anything, I will say this, my lack of… or at least my self-control has made Jasper a bit wary," she commented as she looked at him with a smirk.
"Well, you're unlike any other vampire I've encountered and rightfully so," he responded with his own snicker. "But you made me question if bloodlust is truly about self-control."
Harry raised an eyebrow towards Ella, waiting for his unasked question to be answered. Ella looked at him and laughed, "Harry, do you recall what Jasper told you about newborn vampires?"
"Oh, right," he responded after a moment's time. "And what you went through was something he's not used to."
"Correct," she confirmed. "After I woke from my transformation, my family was apprehensive because we weren't sure as to what would happen this time around. Once I got comfortable in my vampire skin again. I asked that my family accompany me to hunt, just to make sure that I don't harm anyone and myself. Plus it helped Jasper to keep an eye on me. His gift would be of use to help me control my emotions."
"What's hunting like?" he asked. The Cullens looked at each other a bit apprehensively. "I only asked because I know that you wouldn't let me observe you while you hunt and hearing stories is the only option that I have."
Ella and the rest of the Cullens chuckled a bit when she heard his explanation and realized that he was right. "Once we found a place where we could start, I closed my eyes and listened to everything around me. I felt like I could hear everything, the whispers of birds preening their feathers in the treetops, their fluttering heartbeats, the maple leaves scraping together, the faint clicking of ants following each other in a long line up the bark of the nearest tree. But I wasn't going to allow that to distract me, so I let my ears range outward, seeking something different than the small hum of lift that surrounded me. There was an open space near us – the wind had a different sound across the exposed grass – and a small creek, with a rocky bed. And there, near the noise of the water, was the splash of lapping tongues, the loud thudding of heavy hearts, pumping thick streams of blood… it felt like the sides of my throat had sucked closed."
"What was the smell like?" Harry asked.
"I could smell the rich, earthy smell of rot and moss, the resin in the evergreens, the warm, almost nutty aroma of the small rodents cowering beneath the tree roots. And then, reaching out again, the clean smell of water, which was surprisingly and unsurprisingly unappealing despite my thirst. I focused toward the water and found the scent that must have gone with the lapping noise and the pounding heart. Another warm smell, rich and tangy, stronger than the others and yet nearly as unappealing as the brook. I left myself drift with the scent, barely aware of my movement as I ghosted down the incline to the narrow meadow where the stream flowed. My body shifted forward automatically into a low crouch as I hesitated towards the fern-fringed edge of the trees. I could see a big bull, two dozen antler points crowning his head, at the stream's edge, and the shadowed-spotted shapes of the four others heading eastward into the forest at a leisurely pace. I centered myself around the scent of the male, the hot spot in his shaggy neck where the warmth pulsed strongest. Only thirty yards – two or three bounds – between us. I tensed myself for the first leap," she stopped abruptly but she wasn't sure if this was something worth sharing with Harry.
"Then what?" he asked curiously.
"I'm just not too sure if the next part of the story is worth telling you. I fear that it'll frighten you," she stated. "I did smell a couple of human beings. Being a vampire, naturally, I coiled and was ready to attack them but I managed to stop them."
"How?" Harry asked.
"I was thinking of you, Harry and all that we've been through together but most importantly, I kept thinking about what your mother told me and the promises we've made to each other. Once I remember that, I immediately ran in the opposite direction of where the campers came from. Of course, my family was there to not only protect me but to protect the humans." Ella took a moment to stop and allow Harry to digest what he just heard. Ella distinctly heard a small gasp coming from Harry.
"Did you manage to feed after remembering your promises?" Harry asked softly. He didn't want to hear anymore but had the basic comprehension of what hunting is like with the Cullens.
"Yes, I did. I think that this is a good place to end the discussion, don't you?" Ella asked. Harry nodded numbly. At that time, the Cullens helped Harry pack up his things. Carlisle, Esme and Alice were going to go to the Burrow with Harry's things whereas Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper were going to linger around and scout ahead for security matters. Ella and Jade were going to stay with Harry to ensure that nothing happened while he waited for the Order.
Before anyone knew it, there was a knock on the door, in which Harry opened it to allow every one come in. Moody immediately walked in, "What say we get undercover before someone murders him?"
Harry saw Kingsley standing by the doorway and said, "I thought you were looking after the Prime Minister."
"You are more important," he responded.
Bill held out his hand, "Hello, Harry. Bill Weasley."
"Oh," he said and shook his hand, "Pleasure to meet you."
Fred walked by and said, "He was never always this handsome."
"Dead Ugly," George said.
"True enough," Bill agreed and added, "Owe it all to a werewolf, name of Greyback. Hope to repay the favor one day."
"You're still beautiful to me, William," Fleur commented.
"Just remember, Fleur, Bill takes his steaks on the raw side now," Lupin joked.
"My husband, the joker. By the way, wait till you hear the news. Remus and I—" Tonks started off but was cut off by Moody.
"All right. We'll have time for a cozy cat-up later. We've got to get the hell out of here… and soon. Potter, you're underage, which means you still have the trace on you," he said as everyone paid attention to him.
"What's the Trace?" Harry asked.
"If you sneeze, the Ministry will know who wipes your nose. We have to use those means of transport the trace can't detect: Brooms, Thestrals and the like. We'll go in pairs, that way if anyone's out there waiting for us, and I reckon there will be, they won't know which Harry Potter is the real one."
"The real one?"
"I thought you explained it to him?" Moody asked as he looked at Ella.
"I believe that you wanted to tell him yourself… or am I wrong?" Ella responded.
Moody said nothing but took out a flask and showed it to him, "I believe you're familiar with this particular brew."
Harry knew what it was but said, "No, absolutely not."
"I told you he'd take it well," Hermione spoke up.
"No, if you think I'm gonna let everyone risk their lives for me, I—" Harry started off.
"Never done that before, have we?" Ron asked.
"No. No. This is different. I mean, taking that, becoming me. No," Harry clarified.
"Harry, what would you do if it happened to any one of us?" Ella asked. "If someone was to be hurt and you could protect them, would you?" Harry said nothing because he knew he would jump at the moment and he finally understood why everyone was doing what they were doing. "Plus everyone here wants to see the Dark Lord to die. So this isn't all about you." Harry nodded.
"Everyone here is of age, Potter. They've all agreed to take the risk," Moody said.
"Technically, I've been coerced," a voice spoke up. He approached Harry and introduced himself, "Mundungus Fletcher, Mr. Potter. Always been a huge admirer."
"Nip it, Mundungus. All right, Granger, as discussed," Moody said. Hermione grabbed a piece of hair from Harry's head.
"Blimey, Hermione," Harry responded as he scratched his head.
Hermione immediately put it in the flask, "Straight in here, if you please. For those of you who haven't taken Polyjuice potion before, fair warning: it tastes like goblin piss," he said as he went around the room.
"Have lots of experience with that, do you, Mad-Eye? Just trying to diffuse the tension," Fred said before he took a sip.
Once Fred and George took a sip and changed into Harry, they said, "Wow, we're identical."
"Not yet, you're not," Moody said. Everyone immediately looked like Harry except for the clothes. In the middle, Hagrid dumped a pile of clothes in the middle. Everyone started to grab clothes to put on.
"Haven't you got anything a bit more sporting, have you?" George asked.
"I don't really fancy this color," Fred commented.
"Well, fancy this, you're not you. So shut it and strip," Moody explained.
"All right, all right," Mundungus said.
"You'll have to change too, Potter," Moody replied.
"Bill, look away. I'm hideous," Fleur said.
"I knew she was lying about that tattoo," Ron commented.
"Harry, your eyesight really is awful," Hermione added.
"Right then. We'll be pairing off. Each Potter will have a protector. Mundungus, stick tight to me. I wanna keep an eye on you. As for Harry—" he said as he was looking for the real Harry.
"Yes?" all of the Harrys responded.
"The real Harry. Where the devil are you, anyway?" Moody asked.
"Here," Harry said as he came out of his hiding place.
"You'll be going with Hagrid," Moody told him.
"I brought you here 16 years ago when you were no bigger than a Bowtruckle. Seems only right that I should be the one to take you away now," Hagrid told him.
"Yes, it's all very touching… let's go." He said and led everyone outside. Everyone teamed up on their respective modes of transportation.
"Harry, I love you and I'll see you at the Burrow," Ella called out before she disappeared into the night with Edward. It was time for them to meet up with Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper. "Head for the Burrows. We'll rendezvous there. On the count of three. One… Two… Three." As soon as Moody said three, everyone left in various directions. Not a moment too soon was everyone attacked by Death Eaters. They were confused as to which one was the real Harry and which way he was going.
When Harry saw what was happening, he said, "We have to help the others."
"Can't do that, Harry. Mad-Eye's orders," he said as he continued to drive.
Shortly after arriving to the Burrow, the Order of the Phoenix feared the worst that there was a leak in the Hogwarts staff but didn't know who but what was even worse for Harry was the loss of his beloved owl, Hedwig as well as Moody's death. When the news hit everyone, Harry needed time alone and went to the Cullens house. They have created a house for themselves and for additional guests. As much respect and love he has for the Weasleys, he needed time and space away from the magical community for a bit. "With what happened tonight was exactly what I was talking about earlier," Harry commented.
"I can't change the way you feel, Harry. I know that you despise having people sacrifice their lives for you but unfortunately there was a leak in the Hogwarts staff. We…" Ella looked at Edward who in turn shook his head.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"Love, don't," Edward warned.
"I have to, unless you want me to die," she told him. "We know who it was, but we're not going to involve you, Harry."
"I'm going with you," Harry said. "Just wait until tonight then we'll go."
"I cannot promise you that I'll do that, Harry. What we're about to do is dangerous and you need to find the other Horcruxes. If you come with me and if not you, then who will find the Horcruxes and destroy them?" Ella asked as she put her hands on his shoulders. Harry thought about what she said and realized that she was right. They were just trying to divide and conquer the pieces. By being together, they were easier to find and easier to kill. That night, everyone went to sleep but Harry woke up suddenly from his nightmare. He tossed and turned for 20 minutes before he realized that he couldn't go back to sleep. He got up and walked back to the Weasleys home. He entered quietly, gathered his things and walked out.
He was only a few yards before Ron called out, "Going somewhere?"
Harry turned around and said, "Nobody else is going to die. Not for me."
"For you? You think Mad-Eye died for you? You think George took that curse for you?" Ron asked. "You may be the Chosen One, mate, but this is a whole lot bigger than that. It's always been bigger than that."
"Come with me," Harry reasoned.
"What… and leave Hermione? You mad? We wouldn't last two days without her," Ron retorted. Harry knew what Ron was talking about and decided to stay. Ron grabbed Harry's knapsack and then he said, "Don't tell her I said that. Besides you've still got the Trace on you. We've still go the wedding –"
"I don't care about a bloody wedding!" Harry said harshly. He didn't mean to take the pain out on his best friend. "I'm sorry. No matter whose it is. I have to start searching for the Horcruxes. It's the only chance we have to beat him. And the longer we wait, the stronger he gets. "
"I agree, but tonight's not that night, mate. You'd only be doing him a favor. Do you think he knows? I mean, they're bits of his soul, the Horcruxes. Bits of him. When Dumbledore destroyed the ring and you destroyed Tom Riddle's diary… he must've felt something. To kill the other Horcruxes, we have to find them. Where are they? Where do we start?" he explained as they went upstairs. Sleep still didn't come easily for Harry but he managed to just lie down and attempt to sleep.
He awoke the next morning feeling groggy and disoriented but he managed to get up and go to the bathroom. He cleaned the sleep off his mind and body and went downstairs, only to see Ella and Edward talking quietly to Molly. He tried to be quiet, just to see if he could hear the conversation but the next thing he heard was, "Come out from where you're hiding, Harry," he walked out and saw Ella and Edward standing next to the door as they allowed Molly to take over.
"Ah, good morning, Harry. You must be hungry. Time for a spot of breakfast," Molly said. "Come, come, sit down." Harry looked at Ella, who was not looking at him. He was determined to talk to her when he had the chance. But he knew that he had to be careful with his thoughts, especially around Edward. He knows that Edward does what he can to not read his mind, but he just wanted to be on the safe side.
"Harry, come to our house after you've eaten, okay?" Ella asked. Harry nodded as he ate his food. This might be easier for him than he thought.