Potter Sibling Trilogy Plus One Book 2 (continued from Book 1)

Chapter 44 - Leaving Forks

Tap, tap, tap. My head snaps to the window, and there, staring at me through the glass, is a beautiful black owl. Her big amber eyes are looking straight at me, and in her beak is a letter. I recognise the owl straight away, for its Sirius' owl, Tinie. And before I've even opened the window I know what the letter is about.
It's time.
I run to the window and wrench it open, letting Tinie fly into the room. She drops the letter on the sofa, before retreating to the other side of the room. She is staring at me, and I swear there's a look of confusion on her face. I know what it is. Her senses are telling her to get away from me, that I'm a threat, but she knows who I am. She knows I would do no harm to her. I quickly run to the kitchen at human speed so I wouldn't scare her, and get her a bowl of water. If she's flown to Forks all the way from England she deserves a break. She seems to warm to me a little more once I have given her the water, and she hoots appreciatively.
"Hey, I'm still me," I say smiling to her. I then turn my attention to the letter. My hands are shaking as I open it, and unfold the letter.
'My dearest sister Bella,.
It's time for you to come out of hiding. I feel terrible asking you to leave your family, especially your daughter, but we have found the last 2 Horcruxes. We have lost the sword of Gryffindor, but we think there may be another way to destroy them at Hogwarts. You must be very careful when coming over here, if the Death Eaters get wind that you're still alive, you'll be in terrible danger. There is the possibility that you will never return to your family Bella, you know that as well as I do. We are all missing you dearly, and can't wait to see the new you. Go to Hogwarts on Thursday the 14th. ASAP. We can beat him once and for all Bella, we can end this.
Harry.'
I let out the big breath that I have been holding, and then I realise that today is the 14th. I quickly look at the clock standing on the mantelpiece. It's 7:45pm.
"Well that is good timing," I say to Tinie, who is now having a bath in the water. I know that this day would come eventually.
I go into Renesmee's room. She is still fast asleep, her lilac eyelids fluttering as she dreams. I hold her hand to my face to see what she is dreaming about. It's beautiful colours, and butterflies, and me and her having a cuddle on top of a hill. My heart instantly breaks, and I feel the pricking in my eyes as the tears that I could not cry come.
"My dearest Renesmee," I whisper in her ear. "Always know that you are loved. Mama loves you so much. You will grow up to be a beautiful woman, and mama is so proud of you. You're the most beautiful thing Edward, your daddy has given me. Please look after your father. Don't let him do anything stupid. Never doubt that I'm thinking about you wherever I am, and please be safe. When you grow up, make sure you don't get yourself into trouble, and don't break Jacob's heart like I did to Bam. Mama will always love you baby, I'm so sorry I must leave you. Now sleep my beautiful Nessie."
And with that, I run out of the room without a backwards glance, for I know if I looked at her again I wouldn't be able to leave. I quickly get my phone out of my pocket and dial Jacob's number. It only rings twice.
"Hey Bella," Jacob answers in a cheerful tone.
"Hey Jake, I erm, need to go somewhere for a bit, do you think you could come over and just watch Nessie? I don't want to leave her in the house on her own," I say, glancing at the clock. It's 7:55pm.
"Yeah sure thing Bella," he replies. "I'll be there in a few."
"Could you come really quickly?" I ask. "It's really important."
"Erm, sure," he replies. I know he knows something is up then.
I can hear him running, he'd be here in less than a minute.
"Okay Bella, is everything okay?" he asks, as I hear him speed up.
"Goodbye Jacob," I whisper, before hanging up.
I quickly hold out my arm. "Tinie!" I whisper, and she just looks at me.
"Come on, you'll never fly back to England in time, we'll apparate together," I say urgently. She still just looks at me.
"Whoa Bella! Does Edward know where you're going?" Jake asks quickly, staring at Tinie.
I take a deep breath and shake my head. "I'm going to Hogwarts. Goodbye Jacob," I say again, looking straight at him. His face turns to confusion, before he says.
"Bella, wha-" But I don't hear the end of the sentence, as I apparate away from Forks.
I end up landing in Hogsmeade... that's what happens when you don't use magic for almost a year.
"POTTER!" I hear someone scream, and for a moment I thought I have been spotted.
However, I can hear them running away from me, towards where I had thrown a rock. I quickly throw another one, setting off the sirens again. I know I only have seconds, so I pick up my brother's scent and follow it as quickly as I can. They have obviously been running away, because his scent keeps going back on itself. I follow his scent down an alley, where his scent just vanishes. I panic. Has it been washed away? Has he had to apparate to get away? I suddenly sense someone behind me. I turn, and to my horror, I see a man at the end of the alley, with his wand pointed straight at me. He recognises me at once, because his lips curve into a smile.
"Bella Potter" he sneers. I have to think fast. I run towards the man, and as I do, I grab a loose brick from the wall. I have just enough time to see the man's face turn from a smile to a look of terror before I hit him over the head with the brick. He falls to the floor unconscious. I pick him up and throw his body into the street, so he would be found by someone there and not in my hiding place. I then turn into the alley again. How has Harry and Hollie's scent simply disappeared? My question is answered when a door opens on the left wall of the alley next to where his scent has ended.
"In here Potter!" an Irish person says. I quickly run inside and thought I was seeing things. At first I thought it was Dumbledore, but I soon realise it's his brother, Aberforth. I didn't really have time to talk to him. He points at a hole in the wall, which I presume is usually hidden by a portrait of some kind.
"Your brother, sister, and their friends went through there. They're waiting for you in the castle," he tells me. He doesn't seem terribly kind, but rather in a bad mood.
"But-" I start.
"I've already get a message to the Order. They're going to send someone to Forks," he interrupts me. How did he know I was going to say that? He doesn't seem terribly patient with me.
"Hurry up Miss Potter!" he snaps at me when I don't move. How is he related to Dumbledore?
"Its Mrs Cullen now, if you don't mind," I tell him, before running full speed through the portrait hole. The tunnel must have been very long, because it takes me a few minutes to get to the end even at vampire speed. I slow down when I see a light. I don't know where this tunnel comes out. For all I know, I could walk straight into Snape's office.
Snape! I nearly growl just thinking about him. I can't wait to see his face when he sees I'm not dead. That is going to be fun. I stop at the end of the tunnel and stand behind what I guess is a portrait blocking the other end. I listen very carefully. I can't hear any movement on the other side. Still, I slowly push open the portrait door. It takes me a moment to realise where I'm. But then the memories of Dumbledore's army come flooding back. I'm in the room on requirement. I guess that some students must have been hiding out here, because the floor is covered in mattresses and bedding. The room is completely empty. I panic for a moment. Where can everyone be? And why is Harry with them? But I quickly pull myself together.
I closed my eyes, and use my enhanced vampire hearing to listen for things throughout the castle. It's not long before I can hear Snape's droning voice.
"Harry Potter has been sighted in Hogsmeade," Immediately followed by the whispers of children. My eyes fly open. They are in the Great Hall. Well, it's a good place to make my entrance. I quickly walk - at human speed - towards the Great Hall. It's really strange being in Hogwarts again. It's not the same as the place I remember. The joy seems to have been sucked right out of it. But it still feels like home.
Home.
The hole in my chest suddenly re-appears. My thoughts drift towards Forks. Someone would be there by now. I wonder who they sent? And how are they all reacting? How is Edward reacting? I just hope they haven't woken Nessie. My chest throbs.
My baby. How is she? How would she react to me abandoning her? This is one of the few times I wish I was still human. I want to cry again. But I can't, nature is forcing me to keep it all locked away inside of me. Perhaps it's for the best. I don't want my enemies to think of me as vulnerable. And besides, how bad would it look if I revealed myself to Snape with blood shot eyes and a tear stained face? No, it's good I can't cry. I stop walking for a moment to tune my hearing back to the Great Hall. Harry has revealed himself to Snape, just as I presumed he would. They are arguing over something, but I can't make out what. And then, just as I round the corner of the last corridor, I realise what they're talking about.
"You're lying Potter. Everyone knows she's dead!" I hear Snape yell.
Harry must have told him about me. By the sounds of it, he isn't taking it too well. My pace quickens.
"Why would he lie? Bella is alive and well. She's changed a bit since the last time you saw her. Let's just say, she's married, has a baby, and, erm, oh, she's no longer just a witch," I hear Hollie say as I hear her footsteps, and I smile. I'm halfway down the hall now.
"Do not lie to me Potter!" And I hear the sound of wood being drawn against fabric. Snape is getting his wand out.
"Oh no he doesn't," I think, running full speed towards the doors.
"SNAPE," I scream, just as I throw the doors open making them bang against the walls. Everyone in the Great hall jumps and turns to look at me.
"No one points their wand at my siblings... but me," I snarl at Snape, and I have the pleasure of watching the blood drain from his face.
"Miss Swan!" he says disbelievingly. Oh, this is going to be fun.
"Actually, it's Mrs Cullen now," I smile at him. The students in the hall have backed away to the sides, and I can hear them all gasping and whispering.
"Told you" Harry and Hollie say smugly. Snape's face turns to anger as he points his wand back at Harry. I'm in front of my siblings with my wand pointing at Snape in half a second. Everyone gasps, and Snape's eyes go wide.
"I really wouldn't do that if I were you Snape," I growl at him.
"The Dark Lord will be very interested to know you're still alive Bella," Snape sneers at me.
"Well you can tell Tom, thanks but I'm already taken," I sneer, holding up my left hand and showing him my ring.
"He knows you aren't dead Bella. He knows you are just being a coward, leaving your brother alone so you could be safe," Snape says, smiling wickedly. That gets me the angriest I've been in a very long time.
"For your information, I didn't want to leave, I was forced to. I've had to leave my home to come here tonight Snape. I have to leave my family, my husband AND my baby. So if I were you, I really wouldn't be pissing off an already PRETTY PISSED VAMPIRE!" I scream, and lunge for him, knocking him on the ground. I hear a few girls in the crowd scream, and Harry backs away, for even he can't see how dangerous I am. Snape gets to his feet, before pointing his wand at me.
"Stupefy!" he screams, but even as I see the red light coming towards me I do nothing. The red light passes through me, and I'm not affected. I begin to laugh.
"Seeing as I'm a vampire and I don't sleep, I don't think a spell that knocks people out is going to affect me," Murmurs begin when I say vampire. "Being an ex Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, you of all people should know that Snape. Perhaps that reflects how rubbish you are at teaching," I get a few laughs at that.
"So you're a vampire now?" sneers Snape. "You're a crime against nature. A monster to this world."
"Unlike you Snape I actually value human life. Me and my family don't drink human blood. Only animals," I tell him. I pause and look around the hall.
"What have you done to this place Snape?" And I did my most stupid thing ever. I turn my back on him.
"Incendio," I hear him scream. Fire I thought. Now that would affect me. I turn to see a wall of flames coming towards me.
"Aguamenti!" I scream for my life. A jet of water springs from the end of my wand and demolishes the wall of fire, shocking Snape in the process. There is just enough of a pause for me to look him straight in the eyes, before he takes flight and crashes out of the window.
"COWARD!" I scream, knowing he would hear me.
I jump when the crowd of children suddenly start cheering and screaming. Harry runs over to me and hugs me.
"That was brilliant!" he tells me, and I can't help but smile. Ron and Hermione are smiling at me too.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time," I tell them.
"Bella!" I hear someone shout from behind me, and turn just in time to see Merida run into me. She is crying.
"I thought... I thought you were... you were..." she stutters, with tears in her eyes.
"You can't get rid of me that easily!" I laugh, before hugging her once more. She holds on tight.
"Excuse me, excuse me!" I hear a Scottish voice coming from behind me. I turn to see Professor McGonagall approaching me.
"Well I don't believe it" she says, looking at me. "Miss Swan! You're not dead after all! My goodness you've changed."
"Mrs Cullen actually," It's getting annoying the amount of people I have to correct.
"You're married! And is it true what you said about a baby?" McGonagall asks me. I nod in response.
"But, surely, the vampires we know about can't reproduce" she tells me.
"I had Renesmee before I was turned. She's half witch, half vampire. I nearly died having her. Edward saved me by transforming me. Renesmee grows really quickly. I had her only nine months ago but she looks around three," I explain. Everyone seems fascinated. The hole in my chest threatens to re-appear but I won't let it. But then I suddenly remember something.
"Crap!" I cry.
"What is it Bella?" Harry asks quickly.
"I used my wand. He knows I'm alive. He knows I'm here!" I say quickly. "He's going to come here!"
"He won't come straight away Bella," Hermione reassures me. "He needs to think of a plan and get the Death Eaters together. Besides, Snape would have told him you're alive anyway," I feel a bit better. Harry turns to Professor McGonagall.
"Professor, we need..." But he is unable to finish his sentence.
"BELLA!"
As if someone is replaying what I did earlier, the doors of the great hall fly open just as someone yells my name. I turn to see who it is, and I nearly faint at what I see. And that's a pretty hard thing for a vampire to do.
My breath catches in my throat. I must be seeing things. But my eyes can never deceive me.
"Edward," I whisper. I can hardly get his name out, I am so shocked.
Edward has just burst through the doors of the Great hall. He's soon followed by the rest of my family, including Jacob. Edward is at the front, his eyes frantically looking around the Great Hall until they finally stop on me.
"Bella," he repeats, but a lot quieter this time.
It's gone completely quiet in the hall. For a few moments we simply stare at each other, gold looking at gold. Why is he here? Has he forgiven me? Or has he come to tell me it's over? I realise I'm not breathing.
"Do you still love me?" I whisper, watching his face.
His eyebrows knit together in confusion, before he smiles his breathtaking smile.
"Of course I do you silly woman."
And with that, I let out the breath I had been holding in, and run full speed towards my husband. He runs towards me too, and we crash into each other. Before I know it his lips are on mine kissing me, hard. I kiss him back harder. We'd only been separated for a matter of hours but it seems like an eternity without him. And as I run my hands through his bronze hair I promise myself I will never leave him again. My mind registers a few sniggers coming from the crowd, as well as a few 'ahs'. I ignore them and continue to hungrily kiss my husband. When we finally break apart, I keep my forehead on his. We are both breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sor-" I start.
"Its fine, its okay," he tells me, stroking my cheek.
"Why are you here?" I ask him, looking into his deep, golden eyes. He stares back.
"For better, for worse, as long as we both shall live," he says, which makes me and most of the girls in the room swoon. I give him another kiss on the lips, before I look behind him. My whole family are there; Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Jacob and hiding behind him is... Renesmee I hadn't seen her earlier.
"Renesmee," I smile, and start towards her, but I freeze and turn back to Edward. Suddenly anger rushes through me.
"YOU BOUGHT OUR BABY HERE?" I yell at him. He looks a little taken aback.
"We couldn't just leave her, everyone wanted to come, including her!" he defends.
"You could have left her with Charlie!" I tell him.
"I didn't think of that!" he sighs in defeat.
"Oh, so you thought she'd be safer here, when the most powerful dark wizard of all time is most probably on his way here to start a war? YOU IDIOT!" I screech, and shove him as hard as I can. I regret it instantly, because I completely underestimated my strength. My shove sends Edward flying backwards through a crowd of screaming students and into the left wall of the hall.
"CRAP!" I yell, and run straight to my husband's side.
"Oh my goodness, Edward I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It's alright." He cuts me off as he gets up, though he sounds a little winded. "But I think I left a mark." We turn to see an Edward shape dent in the wall with cracks either side.
"Oh I'm so sorry!" I tell him, and he smiles, before cuddling me to his chest.
"But why did you bring her here?" I ask him.
"We couldn't leave her without any sort of protection, it would be too dangerous. And when we asked her if she wanted to stay in Forks, she point blank refused. She's so stubborn, just like her mother," he smiles at me.
"I am not stubborn," I mumble, before I turn back to the rest of my family.
"I can't believe you're all here!" I tell them, and they all smile.
"We can't let you have all the fun now can we?" Emmett tells me, before coming over and hugging me.
"I thought you'd all be mad," I confess.
"Well we were for a bit," Rosalie tells me.
"But how can we not forgive you?" Carlisle smiles at me.
"You're family after all," Esme says, before hugging me.
"And only you can throw something like this on us Bella," Rosalie says.
"And besides, it's AWESOME!" Emmett yells, making the young students jump.
"I thought you would think that," I laugh at him.
"I'm not going to let you get away with that easily," Jacob tells me, as he hands me my now squealing daughter.
"MUMMY!" she screams as I reach out for her and hold her close.
"Oh baby, I missed you so much," I tell her, kissing her forehead and smelling her hair.
"We were only apart for a few hours mamma," she tells me.
"I know, but it's far too long," I smile at her, before kissing her cheek. Keeping Renesmee on my hip, I take Edward's hand, and lead him towards the now shocked looking group of witches and wizards.
"Emberlee, Harry, Hollie," I say to my brother and sisters.
They walk forward and stare at my precious baby in my arms.
"This is mine and Edward's beautiful daughter Renesmee," I smile down at my daughter.
"Say hello to your Uncle Harry and Aunties Hollie and Emberlee, Renesmee," I tell my daughter, who is looking at them suspiciously. She examines Harry for a moment before she smiles, causing her dimples to appear. Harry can't help but smile back.
"Hello Uncle Harry, Aunty Emberlee and Aunty Hollie," she says to them, still smiling.
"Oh my goodness, Bella! You have to let me hold your baby!" Hermione squeals, and Ginny looks just as eager. I smile at them.
"Renesmee, this is Hermione, Ginny and Ron. They're really nice, and they want to meet you, okay?" I tell her, and she nods. I hand her to Hermione, who, along with Ginny starts cooing over her, while Ron smiles at her.
"Goodness me, will you look at the time! These students need to get to bed!" Professor McGonagall exclaims. "Bella, Cullen, why have you returned to us tonight? What is it you need?"
"We need to get into the ch-" But I am suddenly cut off by a searing pain in my collar bone.
"Bella?" Edward's voice sounds very concerned. I look at my brother, who is clutching his forehead.
"Harry?"
"Mine hurts too," he says. I notice the room has gone dark, and all the students look terrified. My scar sears, and I fall to the floor yelling with pain, clutching my scar.
I then hear a piercing scream so I walk with Harry by my side to see a first year screaming, then another scream but more familiar. I realise its Alice. She's holding her head.
And that's when I hear him. That's when we all hear him.
"I know that some of you have planned to stay loyal to your school, and have already planned to fight against me."
His voice is like acid, invading my head, whispering and echoing. I thought it was only me he was invading. I also hear the confused cries of my family. I am still on the floor, my scar still searing, and it seems to sear more when he speaks. Voldemort continues his torment.
"But you are all foolish. I do not want to spill precious wizard blood, but if you are naive enough not to do what I am about to ask, you will have to accept the consequences. I want the twins and Emberlee. Not Hollie Potter. I want Isabella, Harry and Emberlee. Give me the twins and their older sister, give me them, and I will not harm anyone. Give me them, and I will leave Hogwarts un-touched. Give me them, and you will be rewarded. Do not be foolish and over look this offer, you will regret it if you do. You have one hour."
My scar is still burning, and I suddenly become aware of my family around me. Harry is kneeling next to me, clutching his forehead. Edward and Bam are also kneeling beside me, clutching my hands, and staring ahead with terrified looks on their faces, listening to Voldemort. All of the couples in my family are clutching each other, all with terrified looks on their faces. Renesmee has her head in her hands.
"He's in my head," she's saying.
Hermione is clutching Renesmee to her chest, while Ron and Ginny huddle close to her. Renesmee is desperately crying out, obviously very distressed at my pain and hers. I stare at her in pain but am feeling very weak.
"Mummy!" she's screaming, with tears in her eyes. "Mummy!"
I thought Voldemort's speech was over, but I am gravely mistaken, as my scar burns even more than before. I scream out. I hear Harry's voice.
"Bella?" Harry says. He sounds concerned. Why isn't he in this much pain too?
"Why is she still in pain? Yours has stopped!" I hear Edward's voice, sounding frantic.
"I am very glad to hear that you aren't dead Bella, very glad indeed." Pain shoots through me, and I hear a piercing scream. I am shocked to realise it's mine.
"Very glad, but also very angry. How dare you try to get away from me? How dare you try and hide? We both know I will have you eventually; it's only a matter of time." I am desperately clawing at my shoulder, and thrashing around on the floor. I haven't felt my scar burn like this since the time he touched me in the graveyard.
"I am very interested to hear that you are not human, and even more beautiful than before. I am also interested to hear that you are married now, but of course that can be rearranged."
Edward growls, but his eyes never leave mine. I can see how much pain this is causing him.
"Even if your peers do not hand you over Bella, I will have you with me by the end of the night. And if you refuse like you did in the graveyard, you will be sorry. Especially since I know you have a family now."
"You will not touch my daughter!" I scream at the top of my voice, while still clawing at my shoulder.
"I do hope you're ready to become reacquainted with me Bella. Remember everyone, you only have an hour to hand them over, or you will be sorry."
The searing peaks, before it suddenly breaks off; and I can feel no more pain. All I can do is lie on the floor, breathing heavily.
"Bella? Talk to me Bella!" Edward is right next to my ear, and I pull myself up and hug him tight.
"It's over," I whisper, before I hear the approaching footsteps of my daughter.
"Mummy," she cries as she jumps into my arms. Her face is tear-stained and she's still crying.
"Don't let him scare you sweetie, he won't ever hurt you, I promise," I say to her, holding her tight.
"I'm not scared of him," she tells me, looking up at me with eyes full of tears. "I'm crying because he was hurting you." She presses her hand to my cheek. I see myself on the floor, thrashing around and screaming, whilst clawing at my scar. I shiver. And then I remember something.
"Did you say your pain stopped?" I ask my brother.
"Not completely, but it was nowhere near as bad as yours. It was like he was targeting you. At first it hurt a lot, then when he started to talk about you, my pain dulled, and yours seemed to intensify," Harry tells me.
There's silence for a time, before I hear the whining voice of Pansy Parkinson, Slytherin.
"What are you waiting for? We know what he wants! Grab them quick!" She yells, pointing at me and my brother and sister.
Infuriated, I run in front of them and point my wand at Pansy in less than half a second. Something about the way her blood drains from her face makes me think that the facial expression I am pulling isn't quite human. The rest of my family have gathered around us, and so have Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the rest of Dumbledore's army. Something tells me we aren't going anywhere. Slytherin house cower backwards, just as the doors of the Great hall open for the third time tonight. The Order comes through, led by Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"What did we miss?" he asks in a deep voice, and his eyes fall on me. He smiles.
"Voldemort just made contact," Harry tells them. A shiver goes through the room when Harry says his name.
"We know," says Lupin, who is behind Kingsley. "We have just come out of the portrait in the Room of Requirement and we heard."
"Students out of bed," we hear Filch shout before he hurries into the hall. "Students out of bed! Students in the corridor."
He stops.
"They are supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot," McGonagall says.
"Oh! Sorry, Ma'am."
"As it happens, Mr Filch" she says. "Your arrival is most opportune. If you would, I would like you, please, to lead Miss Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin House from the hall."
"Exactly where is it I'll be leading them to, Ma'am?"
"The dungeons would do."
The others clap and cheer.
"We need to start evacuating the students! He will be on his way here!" McGonagall suddenly cries, and she's right.
"But what if we want to fight!" Neville cries. I hadn't seen him earlier. He looks awful. McGonagall pauses for a moment, before saying:
"It's too dangerous Mr Longbottom! I can't let the students take that risk!"
"But how will you win without us? You won't have enough people to fight!" Neville challenges. Again, McGonagall pauses.
"Very well," she says quietly, before announcing. "All students under the age of seventeen must be evacuated. Those over may stay if they wish, but I highly discourage you." There are angry outcries coming from the crowd from those in year 5 and below, but McGonagall ignores them. The Order come over to me, and Molly Weasley gives me a big hug. She can't stop smiling.
"You look so beautiful dear," she tells me, and I beam back at her.
"Professor, you can't evacuate the students through the front gates, it's too dangerous, and all of the passageways are sealed off. There's one to Aberforth Dumbledore's house in the Room of Requirement. It's the safest way out."
"Thank you Swa- Cullen," McGonagall replies. "Now what is it you need?"
"We need time professor," I tell her. "We need as much of it as possible."
"Do what you have to do, I'll secure the castle."