A Different Path

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Twilight, nor the characters within the stories. I do not make any profit from these writings.
Rating: PG-13

Chapter 6: Getting to Know You – Part 3

“The summer before my sixth year was both difficult and freeing. I spent half of it alone at the Dursleys, the other half at Order Headquarters. I was used to getting letters and visiting Ron, Hermione and the Weasley’s, at least towards the end of the summer. Such a major part of my life was gone and I was dealing with my own guilt for what happened to Ginny. I felt like if I had been less impulsive or done things differently she would have still been alive. To add to this I was faced with the wizarding world against me. I was no longer their golden boy, not that I minded that part, but it was hard to not be hurt by so many people saying I was unstable or dangerous. The Weasley’s in their anger were not quiet about how they felt about me and that hurt even more. However, what helped me get through were my friends who stuck by me and my godfathers. They helped me stay strong and I was happy that I had some who knew me enough to have faith in me that much.”

Harry smiled thinking about the events that happened during his sixth year, some were hard and others were so easy to accept; once Draco and he got past their mutual hatred of each other.

“I never told Sirius and Remus about the conversation with Dumbledore after the battle, except the prophesy. I knew they would feel guilt for not being there to help me when Dumbledore manipulated my life for his own goals. I knew that if they ever found out that they might confront Dumbledore and I was worried about the outcome of that conversation. Sirius was an escaped convict and Remus was a werewolf, Dumbledore could make their lives hell if he chose. After that night in the Ministry, I talked to Remus and Sirius, telling them I needed more training. I wasn’t ready to fight Voldemort and told them so. So they, Dumbledore and Snape began training me in advance magic. Since then, I have learned advance defensive magic, charms, transfiguration and Occulmency. I was able to learn a great deal from everything, but Occulmency, as Snape was my teacher again. Snape made the lessons as trying as the last ones; I learned to partly shield my mind, but not fully.”

“You’d think that would be a priority with what happened the last year.” Emmett stated.

“I tried, but he had no patience for teaching me and it showed. Dumbledore also began meeting with me and taught me about horcruxes and how Voldemort had begun using them to attain immortality. We researched possible items that Voldemort would use for horcruxes and where they might be. It was a long and tedious task and still to this day is not finished. He obtained information that Voldemort had seven horcruxes, so we knew at least how many we needed to destroy. Three had already been destroyed; the diary from second year and a ring that Dumbledore destroyed in the summer between fifth and sixth year. There was one more we found that year or so we thought. Dumbledore and I went to a cave located on the coast that was near the orphanage Voldemort grew up at. We found a locket there, but it seemed someone else had taken the real one and replaced it with a fake.”

“Why would the person do that?” asked Emmett.

“The person, who went by the initials R.A.B., had been a Death Eater in the first war and had wanted out. He knew that he wasn’t going to be allowed to live once he deserted Voldemort, so he took revenge for his future death. He took the real locket and had meant to destroy it, but he was killed before he could do so and the locket disappeared. We later found it of all places, in Sirius’ family house and destroyed it. It turned out R.A.B. had been Sirius’ younger brother Regulus.” Harry said with a sad smile. “Sirius’ family, who were purebloods, were strict blood purists and he was the first in a long line to not believe he was better than others just because of his supposed magical purity.”

Harry then frowned and spoke again. “Just before the new term of school started Draco Malfoy was brought before Voldemort. During the battle at the Ministry his father was captured by Aurors and was sent to Azkaban prison. Voldemort was very displeased with Lucius and told Draco he needed to prove his family’s loyalty to Voldemort. He told Draco to do this, he must find a way to get Death Eaters into the school and kill Dumbledore.”

“Did he? Not that I would feel sorry for the man, after the way he had manipulated your life!” Jasper said.

“No. Draco was given until the end of the school year to do it and for the first few months of the term, he gave half attempts to kill Dumbledore. He was a obnoxious git, with warped values that he had been taught since birth, but he wasn’t a murderer and he couldn’t do it. He finally went to Dumbledore for help and Draco was offered safety from Voldemort. Within a few months Voldemort knew he had switched sides and another student was picked to complete the task. Draco was ostracized from the other Slytherins, his school house, as that house was mainly made up of children of Death Eaters or supporters of Voldemort. The others houses, after years of Draco’s mistreatment of them, ignored him as well. He was an outcast like me and oddly we began to become friends. It was odd, after years of mutual hatred of each other; we found we got along fairly well once Draco accepted that he was not and never wanted to be his father.”

“You became friends? After how he and his family treated you?” Asked Rosalie in surprise.

“Yeah. He had been trained from a very young age to be cold, to bottle up his emotions, to think he was better than others. His father hadn’t been a loving man, nor his mother, he was raised to be a follower of Voldemort and his beliefs. Draco once told me that the harder he tried to defy his father and think for himself, the more his father beat him down. He was taught dark arts from an early age and his father used the beat him and used the cruciatus curse on him to bend him into his father’s will. Draco realized that it was easier to give in than to fight him. So, when he was faced with finally having to truly become his father; a murderer and a Death Eater, he couldn’t do it. When he made that choice, he was finally free to think for himself and make friends with those he chose to. Once that happened, it was easy to be friends with him; he became a brother in so many ways. Oh, he was still the same sarcastic git to me and we still sniped back and forth, but it was done teasingly and without malice.”

They looked disbelieving and Harry laughed. “He really had changed and he, Neville, Luna and I became close friends. We helped each other survive that year, surrounded by people who either hated us, feared us or in Neville and Luna’s case; the other students just didn’t understand them.”

“What happened with the other student who replaced Draco?” Asked Edward.

“Theodore Nott was a Slytherin and a son of a Death Eater. He took over the task and used Draco’s beginning idea of using two vanishing cabinets to achieve it. One was forgotten and left in a room in Hogwarts; it had been broken for years and no one paid attention to it. The other was in a shop in Diagon Alley that catered to the dark arts. The cabinets were used to transport a person from one place to another, even within strong magical wards placed on Hogwarts. It took several months, but he fixed the broken one and made plans to kill Dumbledore. Then a few days before the end of the school year, it was done and the battle began. The Death Eaters came in the night, while many were asleep in their beds. The Order was notified as soon as the fighting began and soon they came, helping to defend Hogwarts. The older students, teachers and the Order fought against the Death Eaters and we had many hurt. One of Voldemort’s follower’s who broke in that night was a blood thirsty werewolf who took delight in killing children.”

Esme gasped in horror and the rest stared in outrage that someone would attack defenseless children like that.

“Greyback attacked many children that night and several adults. Because it wasn’t a full moon they weren’t fully infected with the virus, but they had wounds that would not heal properly and some characteristics of the werewolf.”

“The plan to kill Dumbledore failed.” Harry said with a blank face. He did not wish the wizard dead, but he would not have mourned his loss either. “Nott tried, but he was no match for the older wizard. Many other death Eaters tried as well and severely wounded Dumbledore, but he survived. After a long fight, the Death Eaters were either captured, killed or fled, but we held Hogwarts in the end. A few days later the year was over and I returned to the Dursleys.”

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

“My summer before the beginning of my seventh year, I spent mostly at the Dursleys, as usual. Every once in a while Dumbledore would come to take me searching for Horcruxes and all, but one were false trails. The fourth horcrux was a cup owned by Helga Hufflepuff, one of the founders of Hogwarts. It was located in the vault of Bellatrix Lestrange, a fierce follower of Voldemort, in Gringotts Bank. The goblins that ran it were notorious for their security. The vaults were located deep underground in maze like tunnels that were built to be as confusing as possible and guarded by dragons. Dumbledore, several Order members and I broke into Gringotts and after several hours of searching and battling the dragons, we retrieved the cup and destroyed it.”

“Man, your life is like one big adventure!” Emmett said loudly, a smile on his face.

“Sometimes, even after everything I have seen and done, it still seems like a dream or nightmare, depending upon the memory. When I was younger, I would never have imagined my life turning out this way.” Harry said with a smile. “On September first, just like the last six years, I boarded the train for Hogwarts and all the other students. We were about halfway there when there was a great explosion and the train flew off the tracks. When the train finally stop moving, everyone began to check each other over. Several were dead and many injured. We thought at first it was just an accident, but several minutes after the explosion, we heard screams coming from the back of the train. Then Death Eaters seemed to swarm in and curses and hexes started firing. Many were taken by surprise and were killed before they were able to even get their wands out. The Death Eaters were making their way towards me, but the odd thing was once they got to me, they didn’t try to kill me like they usually did. They were trying to capture me. Draco, Neville, Luna and I fought against them as they tried to take me. Then many pops filled the air as Aurors and Order members arrived to fight the Death Eaters. When they arrived, the Death Eaters began to be overtaken and soon the left or were killed in the fight.”

“When it was over and we counted the dead, thirty-three students were dead and nearly all those who survived were injured in some way. Those that were severely injured were taken to St. Mungo’s, the wizarding hospital and the rest were portkeyed to Hogwarts. For several weeks, classes were postponed as the Ministry and the school board tried to decide if the school should be closed. The danger of more attacks seemed high. However, they decided to keep the school open as the danger of attack was high everywhere. Voldemort, since the end of Fifth year, had stepped up his plans to rid the magical world of those inferior. Attacks were happening all over, in both the wizarding and muggle world and the Ministry was scrambling to protect the public. So, a month after the attack, school started. Things were tense there, it seemed like every day more were dying and the papers began listing the dead from the previous day. The staff tried to make everything as normal as possible, we still had homework, there was still quiddittch season to prepare for-”

“Wait a minute, what’s quidditch?” Asked Emmett with a frown.

“Oh, I can’t believe I never said anything about quidditch! It is a big sport in the wizarding world. It is played on brooms. There are three rings on either end of the field and three balls played with. A quaffle is used to score points, a bludger is a ball that flies around trying to knock people off their brooms and a snitch, a little tiny fast ball that flies around and if caught the game is over and the team to catch it gets 150 points. The players, three chasers who score the points, two beaters who have bats and protect their team from the bludger, a keeper who keeps the other team from scoring and a seeker who searches for the snitch. I was the seeker all seven years at Hogwarts and in sixth year I was the captain of the team. The game can be really hard and the longest ever game went on for six months and was finally called to an end when the snitch hadn’t been seen for weeks.”

“It lasted for six months?!” exclaimed Jasper.

“Yeah, but that was professional game and those can often be for days or weeks on end.” Harry answered with a nod. “So anyway, we were getting ready for the new season one day and Ron as team captain was as usual, misusing his power and berating me for some made up offense. Our relationship since Ginny’s death consisted of him either ignoring me or picking fights with me. While he was doing this no one was paying attention to anything else and from the Forbidden forest nearby a hex came flying out. The hex hit one of the players and cut several large gashes into his chest and he screamed falling to the ground. Within a matter of seconds he had bled out and died. Then Death Eaters began coming out of the forest attacking everyone around. I sent a message to the Order to get there quick and we hid for cover and hexes began flying back and forth. The Order soon arrived and it went on for a while. Then a Death Eater found a hole in our defense and made it unseen to where we were covered. He sent a killing curse at me and as it came towards me I knew I was going to die; I hadn’t seen it before it was too late. However, a flash of silver light came and a shield was placed around me like a bubble and the curse rebounded off the shield and back to the Death Eater; killing him.”

Harry stopped for a moment as he knew the next part was big and revolved around the Cullens. “We all stared at the shield wondering who cast it and what exactly it was. It was something none of us had ever seen before. Dumbledore and Sirius tried to see if they could breach it; as neither I, nor anyone else had cast it. Their hands were shocked when they touched it and on my end it was like a solid wall, impenetrable. Another flash of silver light came and a woman was in its place. She was tall with white blonde hair and an ethereal look about her. She said hello to me and knew my name. I asked her who she was and she told me her name was Illyantia and she was The Guardian of Lost Souls. She said I called to her when the curse was coming towards me and that I had lost my way in the world. That I hadn’t fulfilled all I needed to before I died and that she was there to set me back on the right path.”

He smiled as he thought about how she had yelled at Dumbledore when he had spoken. “She yelled at Dumbledore when he asked how she was going to do that and told him she knew what he had done and she had done and seen more than he could possibly imagine. I asked her what she meant and she told me about the prophesy and that Dumbledore hadn’t given me the whole thing. He had only told me what was necessary and nothing more. He had intervened when I was eight years old after my uncle had severely beaten me. What should have happened didn’t because he changed the outcome.”

“What part of the prophesy didn’t he tell you?” Asked Carlisle softly, having an idea where this was leading.

“There were two verses to the prophesy and he only told me one…” Harry said quietly, almost afraid to speak. What if they rejected him? What if they heard the rest and decided he wasn’t worth the trouble?

“That will never happen!” Edward said sharply and pulled Harry to him. Cupping Harry’s face in his hands, he looked into Harry’s vivid emerald eyes and spoke. “You are my mate and I will never leave you! Neither will they!”

“Whatever it is, we will stand beside you, you are family and we would never leave you!” Esme said fiercely, trying to make the broken child in front of her see they would always be there for him. That he wouldn’t be alone anymore.

Harry closed his eyes and spoke.

“The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches … He shall be taken in by the dead, delivered from a life of pain … And he will find his soul’s mate, seven times his power will increase … And they that walk of the living dead have travelled for one hundred years, they return to land of Quileute … And he shall be marked by one of their own, but he will not turn … The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.”

They were all quiet for a moment and then Carlisle spoke. “When you were eight what happened?”

“My uncle caught me stealing food from the kitchen… they hadn’t fed me for four days and I was starving. He then beat me so much that, I knew he was going to kill me that time. He broke both my arms, a leg, my nose and there were so many cuts and bruises. I was screaming and my aunt and cousin just stood by and watched. It seemed to last for a long time, but probably was only about ten or fifteen minutes. The neighbors heard and called the police. Two officers broke in and then everything went black. When I woke up I was healed and the only thing the Dursleys told me was that I was spared, that time at least.”

Edward sat holding Harry tightly to him, seething with anger. Those people needed to be killed for what they had done to his mate! For that night and for all the rest Harry hadn’t mentioned. He could hear Jasper speaking to him in his mind, that Harry was filled with a lot of pain and despair from what happened that night. He wanted to take the pain from him, letting Harry be free from the scars the events had left upon him.

“Illyantia told me Dumbledore obliviated the memories of the police and the neighbors and had me healed. He knew that the events would have led to the second part of the prophesy fulfilling itself and he wouldn’t allow it. He wanted me bent and broken, easily pliable to his will and he knew the Dursleys treatment would achieve that. I would be starved for any king of kindness and he was right. His treatment of me once I found out I was a wizard ensured that. He gave me kindness and affection, showing me a world that freed me from the Dursleys for most of the year. He knew that if the prophesy was fulfilled that I would be taken away from the Dursleys and I wouldn’t be under his thumb anymore and he couldn’t have that.”

The bitterness Harry felt came up like bile in his throat and Harry nearly shook with his anger. He felt waves of calmness flow over him and smiled gratefully at Jasper.

“We were in England in 1988 and I spent several months at a hospital working. If things had happened differently, we would have found you much sooner. I probably would have treated you and it would have developed naturally from there.” Carlilse said.

“Yeah, Illyantia said you would have treated me as you were the best doctor to help me. You and Esme would have… adopted me and I would have met Edward then.” Harry stated.

“What does it mean about your power increasing seven times?” Jasper asked.

“I’m not sure. I have thought about it and maybe it is not talking about my magic, but about strength. There are seven of you… maybe it means with you by my side my power or strength will increase seven times more than it had been.” Harry answered.

“What about the part that you will be marked by one of us, but won’t turn?” Asked Edward. The thought of his mate becoming a monster like him, being cursed to living with the thirst to take human life didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t want Harry to have more scars on his battered soul.

“I don’t know… your guess is as good as mine.” Harry replied.

“So Illyantia, she brought you here?” Asked Emmett.

“She said she couldn’t take me back to when it all changed, but she could bring me here and I would meet you all.” Harry answered. “I said yes and then told Remus and Sirius goodbye. Then Draco, but I wasn’t able to say goodbye to Neville or Luna, they hadn’t been there during the fight. Then she brought me here.”

They sat quietly thinking about all Harry had told them and then Carlisle spoke. “Harry, thank you for trusting us enough to tell your story. We are very honored to have you as a new member of our family.”

They all nodded in agreement and Harry blushed in embarrassment, but said “Thank you.”

“There is only a few hours before you all need to be at school, so Edward why don’t you take Harry home so he can get a few hours of sleep and get ready for the day.” Esme said softly and then sat up to give Harry a hug. “Thank you, for telling us. I am so happy that we were chosen to be your family…”

She placed a kiss on Harry’s forehead and backed away. Jasper and Alice came up to Harry next.

“We’re going to be such good friends, Harry. I can see it!” Alice said sweetly and then pounced on Harry, hugging him in a tight hug.

“If you want to talk, about anything, I will be here.” Jasper said with a knowing look and shook Harry’s hand. Harry wondered about Jasper and what he had been through to put such a look in his eyes. It was the same war weary look that Harry had had for years.

“You’re going to have to show us some more magic; it is awesome, little brother!” Emmett said loudly as he wrapped a large muscled arm around Harry’s much smaller and shorter shoulders.

Harry laughed and said, “Sure.” Emmett calling him ‘little brother’ sent a thrill threw him and the smile on his face was nearly blinding.

Beside Emmett stood Rosalie, who during the story had slowly begun to relax more around the young wizard. The events of Harry’s life had shaken her and Harry had changed in her eyes. Before he had been an outsider, a threat to her and her family… now, he was a broken battered child who somehow found the strength to keep going and she respected him for it. She gladly welcomed him into her family. The protective feeling that engulfed her on Harry’s behalf was frightening in its intensity. Her anger and rage for the hurt her ‘brother’ had endured made her want to go over to England and burn it to the ground. The fact that so many in his life had failed him and betrayed him, made her furious. Harry was special, sweet… he was broken and had seen many horrible things, but still held a childlike innocence… how could they not have seen that?

“Thank you, Harry.” She said quietly and hugged him.

Harry was surprised by Rosalie, but welcomed the hug. He was glad that they all accepted him into their family.

After Carlisle and Esme got more information about Harry for the adoption, Edward and Harry said goodbye and left. The ride to Harry’s house was quiet, both thinking about what was to come. When they arrived, Harry grabbed Edward’s hand and pulled him wordlessly through the house and up to his bedroom. Once in the bedroom Harry turned around to Edward.

“Will you lay with me for a while? We don’t have to do anything, but I just want to be near you…” Harry murmured. He spoke so low that Edward’s vampire hearing was the only thing that allowed him to catch the words.

“I want to be near you too.” Edward answered.

They both removed their shoes and climbed onto the bed. After Harry set his alarm for school he found himself pulled into Edward’s arms. Harry felt Edward pull him back against Edward’s chest and wrapping an arm around his waist. He placed a hand on top of Edward’s that rested on his lower stomach and threaded their fingers together. From behind Harry, Edward nuzzled his neck and placed a few light kisses on the nape of Harry’s neck and then pressed his face into Harry’s hair, breathing in the scent of his mate.

They laid there spooning and Harry had never felt more safe or loved than at that moment. Their bodies fit together perfectly; they seemed to be made for one another. The events of the day filtered through Harry’s mind and he was amazed that he now had a family. They had accepted him so readily and welcomed him as Edward’s mate. He was thankful that he now had them in his life.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

The alarm went off three hours later and Harry turned it off in annoyance. The few hours sleep hadn’t seemed, but more than a few minutes to Harry and he was tired. Then from a movement behind him he remembered who was with him and what happened the night before and a grin overtook his face.

“What are you smiling about?” Edward said from behind him.

Harry turned in Edward’s arms and lay facing the vampire.

“I just remembered what happened last night and that you were here with me…” Harry answered in a whisper and then nuzzled his face into the crook of Edward’s neck.

“I will always be here with you, Harry.” Edward said.

Harry moved to look into Edward’s eyes and was caught by the brilliant amber orbs. He felt his heart speed up and his breath catch, Edward was so gorgeous… He leaned in and pressed his lips to Edward’s, experiencing his first kiss.

Their mouths pressed together and Harry gasped in shock at the pleasure it invoked. Edward nipped Harry’s bottom lip and then used his tongue to sooth the slight sting of the bite. He then swept his tongue into Harry’s mouth, sliding it against Harry’s tasting the sweet flavor of Harry. Hesitantly Harry followed the movements of his mate’s tongue, their tongues intertwining in a dance filled with lust and longing.

Harry wrapped his arms around Edward’s neck, pulling their bodies as closer together as possible. He carded his fingers through Edward’s soft dark locks and mewed in pleasure. Edward growled and pushed Harry onto his back, hovering over the smaller wizard. Edward broke free of the kiss and began biting and nipping his way down Harry’s jaw line to his throat. He breathed in the scent of his mate, but the bloodlust that would usually appear at the closeness of a living human, didn’t come. His blood didn’t call to him and Edward was thankful for that. The fear of being a threat to his own mate would have destroyed him.

Harry groaned in the bliss that Edward was creating in Harry’s body, but soon the kiss ended and Edward pulled back slightly. Looking into Harry’s emerald eyes he spoke.

“I don’t want to push you to take it farther than you want, so I will wait until you’re ready to take this further.” Edward said patiently and placing a final kiss on Harry’s cupid’s bow mouth, he unwrapped himself from Harry’s arms and stood.

Harry was both disappointed and relieved at Edward’s words. He had loved what they were doing and had wanted keep kissing Edward forever. However, he knew he wasn’t ready to go any further quite yet. Up until a week ago he hadn’t really given much thought to sex and now he had a mate and a bond pulling him towards it. He was excited to experience it, but not quite yet.

“Thank you, Edward.” Harry said and then stood up from the bed.

“I am going to do back home and get dressed for the day and then I will be back to pick you up for school.” Edward stated and Harry nodded in acceptance. With one last kiss, he was gone.

Harry smiled and then showered and dressed for school. After he was done he walked down the stairs and found Edward sitting on the couch waiting for him to come down. Harry smiled and kissed him, then walked to the kitchen to grab a bowl of cereal and a banana for breakfast. Edward followed him into the kitchen as he prepared his breakfast. Instead of sitting at the kitchen table, Harry chose to hop up onto the counter and ate there.

“When are you supposed to return to England?”

“I don’t know. Illyantia said I wouldn’t be found until I was ready. She is keeping me hidden right now, so no one can find me, not even my friends or godfathers. Once I am ready to fight Voldemort, I will be found. Illyantia told me to be on guard, so I don’t know if it will be Death Eaters or the Order who will find me.” Harry replied as he finished his breakfast.

Edward move in front of Harry, sliding between his open legs and wrapped his arms around Harry’s waist.

“We’ll be ready for whoever comes.” Edward stated.

Harry circles his arms around Edward’s neck and kissed his mate. The kiss lasted a few minutes and then they both pulled back, Harry flushed and breathing heavily and Edward restraining himself from taking his mate then and there.

With a sigh, Harry pushed Edward away and jumped down from the counter and they left for school. During the ride they held hands and talked about random things. Arriving at school, they pulled into the parking lot as the rest of the Cullens did as well.

“Hey, little brothers” he said as he grinned at them.

“Hi, Emmett. “ Harry returned.

Alice nearly floated over to air, her bubbly personality overflowing with glee. “Hi, Harry. Did you sleep well?”

Harry blushed and Alice laughed softly and then said, “It’s nice having someone to keep you safe in their arms while you sleep, huh?”

Harry nodded and they all made their way to the school entrance. A dull roar of whispers preceded them as the other students noticed Harry and Edward holding hands. The school hand never had an openly gay student, let alone a gay couple and the news spread like fire.

Throughout the day, Harry was asked over and over if it was true. He found the questions and the rude staring annoying. Some of the students were overtly hostile toward him. He nearly got into a fight after Mike Newton called him ‘queer.’ However, he had made it clear to the boy that if he ever made a remark like that again, he would regret it.

When lunch arrived he tried to shield his mind from Edward, not wanting Edward to do something rash to the homophobic idiot he had a problem with. However, the more he did this, the more Edward seemed to know something was wrong. His eyes narrowed and he said “What happened?”

“Nothing.” Harry said trying to evade the question. Then his concentration broke as Mike walked by and his mind automatically replayed the scene between second and third period, as he did this Edward growled low in his throat.

Edward filled with rage at someone treating his mate like that and slowly got up from the table and stalked over to Mike. He grabbed him roughly by the throat and brought his face to within an inch of the jock’s one.

“If you ever call Harry that again, I will rip you apart, is that clear?” He said in deathly quiet voce, his teeth bared threateningly.

Newton nodded quickly in fear, his eyes round and he looked as if he was going to wet his pants. Edward pushed him away, causing the teen to fall from his seat and then he scrambled from the floor and ran from the cafeteria. Edward smirked evilly and then turned back towards his family. He then saw all of his siblings baring their teeth and growling softly as well. They heard what Edward had said and could imagine what happened. The way they reacted protectively towards Harry, made Edward grateful to have a family like his to care for his mate. Walking back to the table he saw his mate raise an eyebrow and scowl at him.

“I had that taken care of. He was well aware that if he ever called me anything like that again he would regret it. You don’t need to protect me all the time; I am capable of doing that myself!” Harry said heatedly.

Edward sat down and wrapped an arm around Harry’s waist and kissed his temple. “I know, but I couldn’t help it.”

“A vampire has an instinctual response to protect his mate when he feels his mate is threatened. It is a basic foundation of a mate bond and can’t be ignored.” Jasper told Harry.

“Oh. Well, I guess you are forgiven, but you need to understand I am more than competent at protecting myself. I have been doing it since I was very little.” Harry said.

Nodding, Edward said, “I realize that, but I still would have done it anyway… he and the rest of the school needed to learn that I won’t allow you to be treated like that.”

Harry glared at Edward and tried to pull away, but the vampire kept a tight hold on Harry. Harry growled in annoyance, but didn’t try to leave again. He was going to have to get used to how his mate was going to be very protective of him. If his pride wasn’t hurt, he would have found his mate’s protectiveness charming. However, after spending his entire life taking care of himself, he had a problem with someone else trying to defend him, even if Edward had looked completely hot while doing it.


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A/N: Another chapter here for you guys, this is the end of the “Getting to Know You” chapters and the plot will pick up more, now that the whole “Harry tells his life story” part is over… If you enjoyed this chapter, review and make this author’s day!!!