Wish Upon A Star

Chapter 5 – A Tiny Explanation

“The brightest star I have ever seen was the one right there staring at me.”

/Edward/\Harry\

“How did it go?” Esme asked as Edward walked down the stairs. She stood up from her comfortable position leaning on Carlisle’s shoulder and made her way towards her son. His dazed expression worried her somewhat. “Well? Edward, speak to me.”

“Give him a moment to,” Carlisle gently admonished, turning off the television. His other children exchanged looks before moving closer, sensing a family discussion about to take place.

“It…” Edward blinked, shaking his head slightly. “It went pretty good.”

“So you know who your mate is?” Alice asked, practically bouncing in her seat. “Who is she? What does she look like? What’s she like? Does she enjoy shopping? Can I take her sho—”

Edward winced and cut her off. “Alice,” he spoke softly, “my mate isn’t a she.” He glanced nervously at his siblings. They stared at him, unblinking. Their minds were blank, giving away nothing and for a moment or two, Edward feared the worst.

“So?” Rosalie scoffed. “I already had a feeling that was the case.”

“What?” Edward asked, more than a little shocked. He narrowed his eyes slightly. “How did you know?”

“Oh, please.” Rosalie flipped her hair and inspected her nails. “You didn’t even turn your head when you saw me; definitely gay.”

Edward snorted in amusement before he could stop himself, though his humor was a tad on the hysterical side. “So everyone that doesn’t look at you with some amount of interest is automatically gay?”

“Yes,” Rosalie said arrogantly. “But, it’s okay. I forgive you for it. I mean, if you like men, I can’t really fault you for not taking my appearance into consideration.”

“Who is he? What does he look like? Will he let me dress him up? Do I have a new Ken doll?” Alice asked in rapid succession, easily recovering from Edward’s earlier interruption.

“I don’t know,” Edward said honestly, sitting on the couch. Esme immediately sat next to him, laying her hand on his shoulder comfortingly. “What we did was…odd…”

Rosalie scrunched her nose. “I’m okay with you being gay and all, but, please, no details.”

“What?” Edward sputtered, his expression embarrassed. “How could you even think something like that?”

Emmett chuckled. “You set yourself up for that one,” he said loudly. “Seriously, you and the star did something odd?” He paused and scrunched his nose, imitating his wife. “I agree with Rose here; please, keep your sex life to yourself.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Edward hissed, thankful that he couldn’t blush.

Jasper smirked at the embarrassing waves of emotion rolling off his brother. “Sure, it isn’t.”

“Anyways,” Edward changed the subject, “Harry did something he called opening my Inner Eye.”

“What’s that?” Esme asked curiously, her head cocked to the side.

Edward explained almost the entire process. He left out the bits of his performing the second part of the ritual because, frankly, if his siblings enjoyed making fun of him when he and Harry hadn’t even done anything, he could only imagine how much they’d enjoy teasing him about the provocative movements he had to do. “Harry said that after I practice opening my Inner Eye more, I can see my mate more clearly.”

“That’s very interesting,” Carlisle murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Can anyone do this or is this ability restricted to those with a gift involving the mind?”

Edward paused. “That’s a really good question,” he murmured. “I don’t think he knows I can read minds, though, so I assume anyone can do it.”

“So, you’ve been reading his mind without his knowing? Tsk.” Emmett shook his head mockingly. “Naughty boy. You don’t do that to people—er, stars—that are trying to help you.”

“Edward can’t read his mind,” Alice said, throwing a pillow at Emmett. “Besides, it’s not like his ability has a filter button.”

“Wait, he can’t? Why didn’t you say anything?” Emmett asked Edward, stifling his chuckles when the pillow bounced off of him and hit Rosalie. His wife looked at him dryly, a naughty gleam in her eyes that promised a very interesting session later involving him tied to a bed and being taught the proper way to protect the woman he pledged his life to—even from pillows. He learned to recognize that gleam and was looking forward to it.

Jasper shuddered at the feelings of lust rolling off of Rosalie and Emmett, and moved closer to Alice. “It was assumed that Edward can’t read Harry’s mind because Harry is a star,” the empath said. “And nothing was said since it was considered a rather easy and intelligent deduction that any idiot could make.”

Emmett stuck his tongue out and continued to make eyes at Rosalie.

“And where is Harry now?”

Edward opened his mouth to answer, but froze. A low, pain-filled moan reached the vampires’ ears and they looked at each other sharply. “Harry?” he called as he hurried up the stairs towards the source of the noise. Edward knocked on the bathroom door sharply, ignoring his family surrounding him.

“Harry?” Esme tried. “Are you alright, dear?”

“Stop,” Harry breathed lowly, another grunt of pain escaping from behind the door.

Carlisle spoke up, “Have you hurt yourself? Do you need medical attention?”

Jasper grimaced at the emotional pain coming from behind the door. “He’s not bleeding,” he stated needlessly, knowing everyone would be able to smell the crimson liquid. “But he’s really hurt.”

“My…knee…” Harry whispered.

“I’m breaking down the door,” Edward warned, waiting a few seconds before he light pushed it open. It came off its hinges and, for once, Esme didn’t bemoan the destruction of her house.

Harry was lying on the floor, curled in a fetal position. His eyes were scrunched tight and Edward could smell the salt of his tears. “Sorry…my…knee…cold…”

Carlisle was by his side immediately, inspecting Harry’s knee as much as he could without actually touching the star. “Harry, where does your knee hurt?” he questioned.

“Is he alright?” Esme asked worriedly.

Rosalie narrowed her eyes at Harry’s form, annoyed that he’d been with her family for barely two days and was already causing unnecessary drama.

Carlisle gently placed his cold hand on Harry’s knee and was surprised when Harry immediately flinched. The star’s eyes snapped open and in a blur of sparkly dust put more distance between himself and the vampires.

Harry blinked confusedly and scratched his head. “Er, what are you doing here?”

“Are you serious?” Rosalie demanded, staring at him searchingly.

“You were in pain,” Jasper offered, grasping onto Alice’s hand tightly. “Edward had to break the door down.”

Harry’s eyes shifted towards Edward and the obviously not-attached door leaning on the wall. “The last thing I remember was washing my face,” he murmured quietly, not like it mattered with the vampires’ supernatural hearing.

“You were saying something about your knee. Would you like me to take a look at it?” Carlisle asked.

Harry stiffened slightly. “Bad dream, then,” he whispered. He looked at Carlisle. “No, my knee is fine.” He shook each leg and crouched to demonstrate.

“What was that about then?” Emmett asked curiously.

“Nothing,” Harry replied somewhat distantly. “Sorry about that.”

“Look, you don’t have to give us details, but we need to make sure you’re not going to harm us,” Rosalie snapped. “You’re still an outsider and I don’t trust you in the slightest.”

“Rosalie!” Esme admonished. “There’s no need to be rude.”

“I can accept him coming here to help Edward, but we have no idea what happened while he was in here!” Rosalie retorted. “We don’t need to hear the details.”

Esme opened her mouth to say something when Harry answered, “I was saying Mione, not my knee.”

The vampires shifted their attention to the star. “Mione?” Emmett asked. “What the hell is a Mione?”

“Mione is…was…my best friend’s nickname. Hermione Jane Granger,” Harry said, smiling wistfully. “She was with me when I died.”

Silence reigned. Rosalie looked a tad uncomfortable and slightly regretful. “I…”

“It’s okay. I understand, truly,” Harry said, waving his hand dismissively. “If I were in your place, I would be just as distrusting if not more.”

“Why?” Alice asked softly.

Emotion exploded in Harry and Jasper staggered back at the force of it. “You were in a war,” he realized.

Harry nodded his head and his face scrunched unpleasantly. “Unfortunately, yes.” He seemed to wrap his arms around himself.

“How?” Jasper asked, shuffling closer towards Harry. “When? Where?”

“Let’s move to the living room,” Carlisle suggested. “Would you mind explaining it to us, Harry?”

Harry swallowed and nodded his head. “I can do that,” he said softly. “But I’d like this to be an even exchange of information since what I have to say is incredibly personal to me. However, like I told Rosalie, I understand the need to protect your families and that having this information will put your worries at ease.”

Emmett looked at Rosalie and wrapped his arm around her, bringing her closer to him. Rosalie took a deep breath and nodded her head sharply. “If you answer our questions, we’ll answer yours to the best of our abilities.”

Harry accepted the answer and glanced at his feet, missing the surprised looks the rest of the Cullens threw Rosalie. “Let’s get this over with then.”