𝕿𝖔𝖌𝖊𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗? 𝕬𝖑𝖜𝖆𝖞𝖘.

𝕳𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖞 𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖉 𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖊𝖞𝖊𝖘. He couldn't breathe. He was underwater. Harry's ebony hair floated in a halo around his head. He tried to swim towards the surface. Bubbles floated up from the dark water below. He was at the surface. Something was stopping him. A strange barrier of sorts. He was getting desperate. A red blob was rising under him. His vision was getting darker. He began to sink. The last thing he felt was a pair of phantom arms around his waist and a large splash above him. His vision went dark. 

~
Harry woke up breathing hard and in a cold sweat. His shirt stuck uncomfortably to his skin. Percy was looking at him from the top bunk. "You okay?" Percy asked, concerned. "Yea, Yea." Harry panted trying to get as much oxygen in his system as possible. 

"I'm going to go take a shower," Harry said shakily, sitting up. "Don't forget that we're going to help Anut Reneé at her shop, and Bella is going to the beach with Jessica and Mike," Percy called out as Harry shut the door to the bathroom. 

He leaned against the counter inspecting himself in the mirror. He hated his thin frame-covered scars. He hated his lightning bolt scar starting at the top right of his face through his eyebrow and spreading out along his cheek. He hated his glasses. He hated his messy hair. He hated the words carved into his hand-courtesy of Unbridge-. He hated being shorter and smaller than average. 

He hated himself. 

The only thing he liked was his eyes. His mother's eyes. Bright green. 

Right now tears filled those bright green eyes. He cried silently. Then he noticed a piece of broken glass from the cup on the sink. He remembered Bella accidentally breaking the cup last night. She must have forgotten to throw it away. 

Harry held the piece of glass in his hand. He stared at the sharp corner. Sitting in the corner he began to make cuts on his thigh. Some were deeper than he intended. Still crying he hugged his knees. 

After about 10 minutes he finally got the motivation to get in the shower. He made it cold. Ice cold. He shivered under the stream. The water turned red with blood. He still cried. 

A knock resounded on the bathroom door. "Harry. Honey, are you okay in there?" Aunt Reneé's soft voice sounded through the door. "Y-yes," Harry said, his teeth chattering. "Ok. Well bud, we're leaving soon so come down for breakfast when you're cleaned up." 

"Yes, Aunt Reneé." 

Reneé frowned from the other side of the door, recognizing the speech tone. "I love you," Reneé said knowing that Harry may need comfort. 

"I love you too, Auntie." she heard Harry's quiet voice from the other side of the door. 

Reneé left slightly concerned for her youngest son. 

Harry lathered up his green loofa and washed his body. Cleaning his cuts out. He finished washing his hair and face. Finally stepping out of the shower he grabbed his matching green towel. Wrapping himself in the fluffy towel. Making him notice how small he was. He felt like crying again. He looked in the medicine cabinet for the gauze. He wrapped his thigh up.

When he walked into his room he was thankful to see that Percy wasn't in the room. He pulled on boxers, and loose jeans, and pulled on his green Weasley sweater that Ms. Weasley knitted for him last Yule. 

He joined Aunt Reneé and Percy in the kitchen. "Hey, bud. Want any toast?" Reneé asked noticing Harry's red-rimmed eyes. "Yes please." He said, sitting down. 

"Harry!" Percy called from the bathroom. Harry stiffened. "Can you feed Aqua? She needs to be fed." 

"Yea. Sure" Harry called back. He wasn't hungry he had a headache. Aqua was his snake. A common smooth green snake. Aqua, other than his siblings, and his friends from camp and school, is his best friend. After Hedwig, he felt lonely. Like a part of his heart was missing. That was until he found Aqua at camp. They called him since he could talk to snakes. 

They bonded and are inseparable. $Do you want to come to the shop with me today? I need the company. Please.$ 

Aqua sensed her snakelet's distress. $Of course, bubs.$ Aqua said finishing the rat he gave her and climbing up his arm settling himself in his dark, soft hair. "Harry you ready?" Aunt Reneé called from the front door. 

Harry went down the steps Percy and Reneé stood there with their jackets on Charlie had already left. 

They piled into the car and Reneé drove to her shop, pulling up. They got out of the car. Aunt Reneé turned the closed sign to open. Harry was restocking while Percy was manning the checkout line. Around thirty minutes later it started getting busy. "Harry! I have another box of mystery novels for row 5." Reneé called from the backroom. Harry grabbed the box and made his way to row 5. 

There was a familiar figure reading the back of 'The Murder on 16th Street'. 

Edward Cullen stood in the aisle his perfect features practically glowing in the shadow of the bookcase. "Excuse me-" Harry said hiding his face as he walked by. He knew that Edward could still smell him though. Harry began to carefully lay the books on the shelf so as to not tear or crease them. 

Edward looked at Harry as he restocked the shelf. He saw a small blue creature sitting in his hair. The animal lifted its head to reveal a small snake. The snake hissed at Edward glaring at him. Edward heard Harry laugh a bit as if he understood what the snake said. He thought about what he saw a week ago. He continued to observe Harry. The snake continued to glare at him. 

Harry smiled to himself as Aqua glared at Edward. 

||

Bella sat on the chilly beach the salt air blowing through her hair. She and Jacob sat huddled around the blue campfire (courtesy of the salt in the wood.) Jacob was warm. "Wanna walk to the tide pools?" Jacob asked shivering. "Yeah.." Bella shivered back.

As they walked Jacob told Bella the stories of his tribe the Quileutes.

"The Quileute people settled onto the Quileute Indian Reservation after signing the Treaty of Quinault River of 1855 it was later reauthorized as the Treaty of Olympia in 1856 with the United States of America. The Quileute tribe settled in La Push and became efficient fishermen and shipbuilders. The tribe was small and could not defend themselves, so they took their ships and left the land. At sea, Kaheleha used the magic in their blood to defend it. He was the first Spirit Chief in Quileute history. He and all the men left the ships in spirit only, using the original power of Quileute Astral Projection, leaving their bodies behind under the care of the women. Though they could not physically hurt the enemy, the warriors had other ways. They blew fierce winds into enemy camps; they could make great screaming in the wind and could manipulate animals to do their bidding. Animals were the only ones that could see them and help. The invading tribe had packs of thick-furred dogs to pull their sleds in the north, which were set against them. Bats were brought out of the cliff caverns. As a result, the dogs and bats won and the survivors of the invaders scattered thinking the harbor was cursed. The Quileutes released the dogs, who ran wild and returned to their bodies victorious."

Bella furrowed her eyebrows. "How did they manage to control the animals." Coming from a world of magic she somewhat understood how to control animals, but how did an assumed muggle tribe manage to control animals?

"One minute that's coming," Jacob replied with a cheeky smirk.

"Generations passed and the last of the great Spirit Chiefs came to be. Taha Aki was a man of peace and was known for his wisdom. However, there was one man named Utlapa who believed that they should use their magic to expand their control over the Hohs and the Makahs, building an empire. When the spirit warriors left their bodies their minds were all connected. Taha Aki did not like what Utlapa wanted and banned him from the tribe. Utlapa left and hid in the nearby forest."

"So they had magic!" Bella said with slight awe. Being a demi-which not much surprised her, but this discovery did surprise her a bit. Jacob nodded enjoying her enthusiasm.

"Taha Aki was vigilant and protected his people even when there was no danger. Every so often, the Spirit Chief would leave the village to a sacred and secret place in the mountains. He would leave his body behind and search the surrounding areas for any dangers or threats. One day, Utlapa followed Taha Aki planning to kill him, but as he waited for him to leave his body he hatched another plan. Utlapa left his body, took Taha Aki's body, and killed his own. Taha Aki knew immediately what was happening when Utlapa joined him in the spirit world. He raced back to his sacred place but was too late. He followed his body in his spirit self down to the tribe. For weeks he watched with despair as Utlapa made sure everyone believed he was Taha Aki. Then Utlapa's first edict came: no warrior was to enter the spirit world because he had a vision of danger, but in truth, he was afraid of Taha Aki. Utlapa took liberties with the tribe that no one ever dreamed of. He took a second and a third wife, even though Taha Aki's wife still lived. Eventually, Taha Aki brought a great wolf down the mountains to kill Utlapa and free the tribe, but Utlapa only hid from it behind his warriors. The wolf ended up killing a young man, making Taha Aki's grief greater. Taha Aki had been away from his body long enough to be in agony. He felt doomed of never being ever to cross the line between life and death. The great wolf followed him through the forest and Taha Aki felt jealous of the animal; at least it had a body and a life. At that moment the Spirit Chief had an idea that changed the future of the Quileutes. He asked the animal if he could share his body with him and the wolf complied. As a single being, the wolf and the man went to the village. The people feared the wolf, shouting for the warriors' help. The warriors came with spears in their hands, but they stopped in surprise at what the wolf was doing: the wolf was retreating from the warriors and trying to yelp the songs of their people. The warriors realized what it was doing and could only think that it was being influenced by a spirit."

"So Taha Aki possessed a wolf because he was jealous of the life it had?" Bella said trying to comprehend it. She had known of magic practically all her life. She lived, breathed, and digested magic. She knew of the dangers of magic. The pros and cons. The practice of magic. "Pretty much." Jacob shrugged his shoulders.

"An old warrior, Yut, disobeyed the orders of the false chief and left his body. Yut gathered the truth in an instant and welcomed Taha Aki. Almost instantly, Utlapa realized what had happened and raced towards Yut's body with his knife. The other warriors were confused. Yut went back into his body but could not fight Utlapa off before warning the others, as he was too old. Taha Aki watched as Yut's spirit left the world and he returned to the wolf's body feeling a great rage. The wolf shuddered and transformed into a man before the eyes of the warriors. The man did not look like Taha Aki's body, but like his spirit self, which the warriors recognized instantly. Utlapa tried to run but Taha Aki had the strength of the wolf and killed him. Upon realization of what had happened, everything returned to normal. The only change he kept in place was the forbidding of spirit travel. From then on he was known as the Great Wolf or the Spirit Man. He led the tribe for many years because he did not age. He fathered many sons, who in time found that they too could turn into wolves on reaching manhood. However, they were all different because the wolf form reflected the spirit of the man. Some became warriors like Taha Aki and did not age, others did not like to transform and started to age. After Taha Aki gave up his spirit self, trouble began in the North with the Makahs. Several young women had disappeared and they believed the neighboring wolves were to blame. However, all the wolves knew it was none of them because their minds were still connected. Taha Aki did not want a war, especially since he could not lead his people any longer. He gave his eldest son, Taha Wi, the responsibility of finding who was to blame. Taha Wi led five wolves in search through mountains looking for evidence but they only found a strange, sweet scent. They followed it and the journey took them so far north that Taha Wi sent the two younger brothers back to inform the chief. Taha Wi and the other two never returned. A year later, two Makah maidens were taken from their homes on the same night and the Makahs called upon the wolves. The Quileutes found the same sweet scent and went on the hunt once more. Only one of them returned. Yaha Uta, the eldest son of Taha Aki's third wife, returned carrying strange cold pieces of a corpse. He described what had happened to his brothers. One of them underestimated the strength of the creature and became a victim. Yaha Uta and his other brother were more careful but the creature matched their movements and got his hands on one of them. Yaha Uta found an opening in the creature's throat and began tearing at him desperately trying to save his brother. It was too late but he succeeded in ripping his enemy apart. Yaha Uta laid the remains of the creature on the ground to be examined. Suddenly the corpse began to attach itself and so the elders set fire to it. They spread the ashes far and wide, except for a small bag that Taha Aki wore around his neck to be warned if the creature ever decided to get himself together again. The creature was called the Cold One and the Blood Drinker. They feared there were others like it since they only had one wolf protector left. Then came the Cold Woman, its mate. She was the most beautiful creature to be seen, though one small boy claimed the smell hurt his nose. An elder heard this and yelled for them to get away. He was the first to die at the mercy of the woman. She then proceeded to the other people until Yaha Uta arrived, followed by Taha Aki, his third wife, and the elders. When Yaha Uta was defeated, Taha Aki turned into an old gray wolf with the strength given by his anger alone. He began fighting the Cold Woman when his third wife concluded.

Bella knew exactly who and what the cold ones were. Vampires. She knew who the vampires in town were currently. She stood on the rocks next to the deep tide pools staring at her reflection. She then noticed that Jacob held her hand as he kept talking passionately about his culture and their beliefs. She smiled to herself and squeezed his hand, fondly. Jacob continued.

"She had just seen her son killed and now her husband ran a terrible danger, along with the rest of her sons and tribe. She heard every word the witnesses told the council and heard Yaha Uta's version of events the night the other one was beaten. She knew that his brother's divergence had saved him. She grabbed a knife from one of her sons, ran towards the blood drinker, and stabbed herself in the heart. The Cold Woman could not turn away from the fresh blood and gave in to the thirst. Taha Aki bit her throat and finished her off along with two of his sons who felt such rage at seeing their mother dead that they turned into wolves. After that, Taha Aki never returned to his human self, staying to protect his wife's body and leaving for the forest, never to return to the tribe. Taha Aki's descendants no longer turned to wolves when they reached manhood. Only when a cold one was near would they return. The cold ones always came in one or two so the pack stayed small with 3 wolves until a bigger coven came." Jacob finished only just noticing Bella holding his hand. He blushed and suggested they turn around and head back to the fire. 

||

Bella stood in a changing room in Port Angeles. Jessica kept handing her dresses to try on. Lauren and Angela already had their dresses and were waiting while Bella and Jessica finished up. "Here try this one on." The dress Jessica handed her was jade green. It had a square neckline and spaghetti straps. It crossed in an X on her back. The dress went to her feet with a slit to her mid-thigh. There was a flower trimming around the neckline. 

It was perfect. The jade matched her black hair and pale skin perfectly. 

She stepped out of the dressing room. "This is the one." 

||

Bella walked out of the bookstore waving goodbye to the nice old lady who ran the store. She had picked up the Harry's book and a few to read for herself. She began to walk to the restaurant where she and the others had agreed to meet for supper. Before long she realized she was being followed. She continued to walk, faster. She listened as about 3 pairs of heavy footsteps quickened behind her. It was getting darker. There were no street lights. Her wand was in its invisible holster on her thigh. She inconspicuously pulled it out. Still walking. 

She felt a large hand on her wrist. She saw red. Never again. She will never again have somebody force themselves on her. She held up her wand. "Stupefy." She said. The man flew back into a brick wall, stunned. She turned around. The two other, clearly drunk men stared at her. Before one lunged at her. She silently cast a stupefy in his direction and he went the same way the first did, flying into a brick wall. 

A car suddenly pulled up beside her. Edward Cullen stepped out of the vehicle. "Get in the car! Now." She hurried to the passenger side door, but not before the final conscious man grabbed her waist, he began touching her in uncomfortable spots. She was mad. No, furious. She would not continue to be sexually assaulted. She whispered Avada Kedavera." A small flash of green light and the man fell backward, dead. She was not sorry. 

She got into the car. Edward had a tight grip on the wheel, he was very stiff as he began to drive. She could tell he was mad. He loosened when she began to cry. He grabbed her hand in his very cold hand. It was reassuring. 

"Tell me about yourself and your family." He knew from the small snippets that he would get from a hole in Bella's shield that she loved her brothers more than anything. 

"Well." Bella sniffed glad to talk about her family. "Percy is the oldest and Harry is the youngest. We didn't even know we were siblings until our first year at camp. Percy's favorite color is blue, and his favorite food is blue cookies. My favorite color is yellow and my favorite food is cheeseburgers. Harry's favorite color is green and his favorite food is treacle tart." Edward appeared that he was listening. So she continued. 

"Harry has a pet snake named Aqua. Percy has a dog at camp named Mrs. O'Leary. Harry had an owl. She died recently, but he adored her. Her name was Hedwig. I have a rabbit named Sandy. I love it when Sandy wiggles his cute little nose. We all went to school in Scotland. Harry lived with our Aunt and Uncle on our mother's side, before he came here and we all stayed at camp for the summer. Percy has a boyfriend from camp named Jason. Harry isn't dating anyone which I don't get he is so pretty."

Edward relaxed when she said that. Before long they pulled up to the restaurant and Bella saw Jessica, Lauren, and Angela on the sidewalk in front of it. Jessica and Angela looked worried while Lauren looked annoyed. "Bella!" Angela shouted before she got tackled into a hug. "Where were you." 

"I just had to get those books remember? Did you guys already eat?" Bella said veering the subject. That was when Edward decided to get out of the car. Lauren looked suddenly interested and Jessica had an 'Ohh' look on her face. "Yeah we did eat, but we can stay if you wanna eat," Angela said. "No that's okay. You guys go on home. I need to talk with Cullen." 

Jessica winked at her as she got into her car. Oh, my gods. She did not like Edward Cullen. She likes somebody way cuter. She began to walk inside. Edward held the door open.

"After you."