Author Note: I'm way behind on answering reviews for all of my stories, so please be patient and don't give up on me.

Chapter 2 – Explanations

"Hey Harry," Jasper said as they all piled into the living room, "I hope you don't mind an impromptu visit, but the parents were dying to meet you."

Edward smiled and motioned for him to sit beside him on the sofa. As soon as Harry sat, Jasper quickly took the spot directly to his left. He smiled hesitantly at the both of them before setting the plate of cookies down on the coffee table. The remaining vampires all found seats of their own.

The wizard chuckled. "No, I don't mind at all. You guys saved me from the useless endeavor of trying to find something good on television, actually."

"Harry," Edward smiled and gestured to the unfamiliar couple, "we would like you to meet our parents Esme and Carlisle."

The handsome doctor smiled. "It's so wonderful to finally meet the young man that my children can't stop talking about."

Green eyes sparkled with joy as they turned to the handsome doctor. He knew all about Carlisle's reputation as the best physician in town from the various people he'd come in physical contact with since his arrival. "The pleasure is all mine," he said as he reached out to shake the vampire's hand.

Any thoughts he had previously entertained about his gift not working on vampires was disproven the second his fingers brushed those of Carlisle Cullen. He was instantly assaulted with a flood of images and knowledge that was worse than any other experience he'd ever had due to the sheer number of years his mind was forced to sift through. Harry had no idea that Edward and Jasper were freaking out because he'd started seizing. Nor was he aware that the two had almost immediately pulled him away from their father, hoping to break the transfer.

If he had known, Harry would have told them that it was pointless. As soon as it began, nothing would stop it from running the full course. He had no concept of the passage of time as the assault continued to torment him until he thankfully blacked out.

Harry came to as someone ran a cool, wet cloth under his nose. He must have had another nose bleed.

"You did," answered a soft voice above him. Harry still felt too weak to open his eyes to confirm it, but he knew Edward was the one gently cleaning the blood from his face.

He was also aware, based upon the knowledge he'd received from Carlisle, of how exactly Edward knew what he'd been thinking. Harry's previous question had also been answered of why he and Jasper had been giving him odd looks since his arrival. His head hurt too badly to process that information at the moment, however, so everything was just going to have to be put on hold until he was better able to deal with it.

"Carlisle, his head is killing him," Edward said softly.

The sound of a bag unzipping met his ears and he instinctively leaned into the cool hand that had settled upon his brow after Edward's pronouncement. Since he knew the telepath was standing to his left, Harry could only surmise that the hand belonged to Jasper. He couldn't imagine any of the others would risk touching him so soon after what had just happened.

Edward sighed with aggravation. "No, Harry," he answered, sounding shaken, "none of the others will be touching you."

The wizard finally cracked open his eyes, blinking as they adjusted to the lights of the living room. He was laid out on his sofa with Edward crouched beside him and Jasper hovering worriedly behind him.

Carlisle came close, causing his sons to tense at the perceived threat to their mate. He passed a filled syringe to Edward with a worried frown on his face. "Easy boys… I won't touch him. Edward, you can administer the drug… it's morphine for the pain."

Harry didn't even react as the bronze-haired vampire swabbed a place on his forearm and effortlessly slid the needle into his vein. He ignored the burning of the morphine as it circulated and focused on the blonde doctor. "It's okay," he said with a weak and scratchy voice. "Once the transfer is complete it won't happen again. New things may come through in the future through contact, but," Harry blinked sluggishly as he began losing his train of thought, "it's just small things."

Edward rested his forehead against the side of his mate's head. "It's okay Harry… just go to sleep. We'll talk when you're feeling better."

The wizard fought the lethargy that was rapidly claiming him. He felt like there was something important he was missing… something that he had to tell them before he drifted off. Finally Harry could resist no longer, and let the waves pull him under. The last thing he heard before completely losing consciousness was Jasper whispering in his ear that they would be there when he woke up.

The next time Harry opened his eyes he was in his bed and it was dark outside. He was alone, but knew that there was still a house full of vampires waiting downstairs for an explanation. He sighed and got up, eternally grateful that none of his guests had thought to change his clothing while he was out of it. All they had done was remove his shoes before tucking him into the soft bedding.

The wizard ran his fingers through his hair as he descended the stairs. He smiled at group of beautiful beings who were all eyeing him with concern. "I'm okay, guys." Harry turned to Carlisle, who wore a guilty expression. It was completely unwarranted, considering the fact that the wizard had instigated the entire handshake. "I apologize, Mr. Cullen. I honestly thought vampires were immune to my gift because of Edward and Jasper."

Carlisle shot an understanding smile to the young man. "Think nothing of it, Harry, and please call me Carlisle. On the contrary, I owe you an apology. I had theorized that the effects of your gift didn't work on Edward and Jasper because you are their chosen."

"So what are you," Rosalie asked bluntly, causing her two brothers to growl softly at her. "Oh come on! I don't need to be a mind reader to know you're both desperate to hear the answer as well."

Harry chuckled wryly. "I'm… a one of a kind creature known as the Master of Death."

Blank stares met that proclamation. "I'm also a wizard."

Emmett chuckled. "No really… what are you?"

Sighing in exasperation, Harry waved his hand and gave Emmett a neon pink afro. "A wizard." He conjured a mirror and held it up so the brawny vampire could see what had been done. A loud laugh, reminiscent of Hagrid's, echoed off of the walls before Harry made everything go back to normal.

"But what's that other thing," Jasper asked. "I've heard of wizards, but not a 'Master of Death'."

"No," Harry said wryly as he took a seat on his sofa. The vampires quickly followed his example. "I don't suppose you have. When I said 'one of a kind,' I truly meant it. Many years ago my ancestors outsmarted Death and each one received a sacred relic from the Grim Reaper because of it."

All eyes were wide and somewhat skeptical by this point, but Harry didn't pause in the telling. "But Death didn't just hand over the treasures… he told a story about what would happen should one person ever come into possession of all three objects, also known as 'The Deathly Hallows.' He or she would become the Master of Death… a being of incredible power. One who had the ability to gain more knowledge than anyone should have a right to. That person would also become immortal, never to age."

"What if someone were to take the Deathly Hallows from you," asked Edward with a frown of concern. "Would you die, leaving the next person to become Master of Death?"

Harry chuckled. "It's not possible. I tried to rid myself of two of them, not wanting to have anything to do with the power they held, but they kept showing up no matter where I went. One, the Elder Wand, had actually been taken from me about five years ago from the hospital staff in Lisbon, Portugal. I learned through touch that one of the nurses threw it away, deeming it to be nothing more than a stick, but when I got back to my flat it was in my pocket, as if it had never been taken." He pulled the object out and showed them the most powerful wand in existence.

Jasper reached over to run his finger over the smooth elder wood. "It looks so… ordinary."

The wizard chuckled. "It does, but this wand can achieve things that no other could hope to match." He tucked it back into his arm holster. "I don't really need a wand to channel my magic any longer, but I keep it with me just in case."

"Okay," said a beaming Emmett, "I want to guess how old you are."

The green-eyed wizard chuckled dryly. "Alright… give it your best shot."

The large vampire looked Harry up and down as he considered his answer. Finally he smirked and said, "I think you're at least as old as Edward, so I'm going to guess approximately one hundred years."

Harry raised an eyebrow and asked if anyone else would like to guess, "Barring Edward, of course, because I know he's seen the answer in my head."

An amused smirk was his reply.

"I think he's older," said Rosalie. "Maybe even older than Jasper… two hundred?"

Carlisle steepled his fingers as he went through everything they had learned. "Well I don't think you've seen two centuries, but your attitude suggests that you're much older than you appear. I'm going to guess around the same age as Jasper at a century and a half."

"I think Emmett has it right," Esme said with a smile.

Everyone looked to Jasper, who stared intently at his mate. "You're either much older or much younger than everyone has guessed, based on your amusement. I'm going to pick younger and go with thirty."

Harry chuckled. "You're the closest. I'm actually only twenty-four."

"Whaaa?!" Emmett stared, aghast, at the wizard. "No way, dude… you have to be a century at least!"

Everyone but his mates seemed stunned at the truth. Harry beamed at his guests. "Well, I've certainly absorbed many centuries' worth of knowledge in the seven years since becoming a creature, but I was born on the thirty-first of July in the year nineteen-eighty."

Also, Harry mused, it's not like his relatives had ever allowed him to be a child. Some days he felt like he had been born an old man who has seen far too much. A low growling coming from his right reminded him that Edward was privy to his every thought. Calm down Edward… it's all firmly in the past, and that's where I would like it to remain.

The vampire didn't look pleased with the answer, but he did stop growling. Jasper, on the other hand, kept looking between the two of them as if wanting to know the reasons behind the negative emotions. Thankfully he let it go as Carlisle exclaimed over the time.

"Oh goodness! I think it's past time for us to head home." The doctor stood, prompting everyone else to follow his lead. "I'd shake your hand again, Harry, but I'm afraid that my sons would likely tear me apart."

Harry laughed. "Well it was great meeting you, and you as well Esme."

If the gentle vampire had been capable, she would have blushed. "Oh I'm so happy to have met you, Harry. You'll have to come over to our house so I can cook for you!" The Cullen family all said their goodbyes and departed, though Jasper and Edward seemed very reluctant to leave him.

The wizard shook his head as the cars sped away. He hadn't allowed himself to contemplate the knowledge he'd received about being the mate of two vampires. Harry liked Jasper and Edward a great deal, but didn't know if he was quite ready to commit himself to anyone yet. The last time he'd been willing, everything had blown up in his face. He snickered at the thought of his "One true love" Ginevra. Counting up the years, he figured she was most likely either dead or close to death based on the knowledge he'd received.

It was highly ironic that Ginny had crossed his mind for the first time in a good while, because the next morning there was an owl from her tapping on his window. He shook his head after reading his name on the letter, easily recognizing his ex-girlfriend's handwriting after all of the missives she had sent him when he'd first left. All of them had begged him for an explanation, and all wound up in the rubbish bin. The girl had finally got the message, he'd thought, when the owls stopped two years after he'd walked away.

Dear Harry,

I know you haven't heard from me in a while, so this letter must come as a great surprise to you. Even though you never once gave me the courtesy of an answer to my one question of why, I never gave up on you. Hermione had told me years ago that we should have expected this from you, after everything you've been through. That the things you were forced to see and do in order to win the war had caused you to suffer in ways that even you probably weren't aware of.

But whatever the reason you left, know that I have never once stopped loving you.

This isn't the reason for my letter though. I'm reaching out to you for help. I know this is going to come at a great shock to you, but I'm dying Harry. I've contracted a muggle disease that is curable only in the wizarding world, but the potion costs more than anyone in my family could afford in a year. As I'm writing this I can feel myself grow weaker, and I know in my heart that you will come for me. You've saved me so many times that I can't help but have faith that you will come to my rescue once more.

I'm sorry for interrupting your solitude with this plea, but I could never be sorry for the opportunity to gaze upon your handsome face one more time before the end comes, even if you choose not to help me. Please think it over at least, for my time grows very short. I've included my address… it's in a muggle town, believe it or not. My father is so proud of me for that, ha ha.

Forever yours,

Ginevra

Harry chuckled as he shook his head. Even after seven years apart, the girl still had the writing style of a cheesy romance novelist. The wizard loved how she neglected to mention exactly what disease she had contracted. Considering Arthur, Harry seriously doubted that pride was what he was feeling at the moment. He glanced at the address before smirking. Perhaps he would pay Ginny a visit.

It would be bad form to deny a dying girl her final wish, after all.

After taking a relaxing shower, Harry dressed in a dark green button down shirt with black slacks. He then used the knowledge he had gained through touch to create a portkey powerful enough to take him all the way to Portsmouth in the UK. He was just about to say the activation word when he felt someone trip the wards around his home. A knock at the door soon followed.

Harry smiled when he opened the front door to find a sheepish-looking blonde standing on his porch. "Hey Jasper, come in."

The vampire visibly melted in relief when he was welcomed inside. "I just wanted to stop by to see how you were doing." Jasper picked up one of the knickknacks on the fireplace mantle and inspected it closely before replacing it and meeting Harry's eyes. "I'm sorry that you had to learn about being mine and Edward's mate in that way, Harry. It had been my intention to break it to you gently, after getting to know you a bit better."

The wizard smiled softly, knowing Jasper was terrified that he would run away from this new development. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I'm not freaked out by this, but I'm not one to shy away from adversity… not that I think being yours and Edward's mate is a hardship. And while I'm not ready to make any kind of commitment quite yet, I wouldn't be opposed to going out on dates with either of you."

The smile that lit up Jasper's face caused his dimples to come out and Harry felt his knees weaken slightly at the sight. He seemed to notice that the wizard was dressed up more nicely than he would have been had he intended to spend a typical Saturday lounging around his house. "Did I interrupt your plans?"

Harry chuckled. "Well, I received a letter from an ex-girlfriend who's asked me to visit one last time. I've decided to go… closure and all that."

Jasper looked worried all of a sudden, prompting Harry to continue. "There's nothing for you to be concerned about," he said placing a hand on the blonde's arm. "I walked away from Ginny when I found out she had only been after me for my money."

"Through your gift?"

"Yes… she's actually the first person I read through touch." Harry scowled. "I had planned to ask her to marry me that day. I arrived at her parents' home to pick her up for our date, but as soon as I grabbed her hand I learned the truth. Not only was she after my money, but her mother and brother, my then best friend, were as well. I was just on my way to see her before she died. I figure I'll finally give her the explanation she's wanted all these years."

Nodding, Jasper said, "I understand. And I know this is a personal matter, but would you like some company… in case you run into trouble?" He tried to sound nonchalant, but Harry could hear the worry in the smooth voice.

"Alright, but I must warn you that you'll probably think I'm a right git when I'm done with my visit. She's dying and I'm still bitter enough to refuse her any measure of peace."

The vampire chuckled. "I'm not likely to hold it against you Harry… especially after the way she used you."

In response, Harry held out the portkey. Jasper grabbed the sock, confused until the wizard said the activation word and they disappeared in a flash of light.

They stood in front of the ramshackle building that matched the address written on the letter he had received just that morning. With the time difference, Harry knew it had just reached early evening here. He hastily knocked on the door before stepping back next to Jasper, who put a steadying hand on his shoulder.

Harry could hear a sudden flurry of activity coming from within the shack, as if someone were hastily tidying up, before the door opened a crack and Ginny Weasley herself peeked out. Squealing in joy, she threw open the door and went to put her arms around her ex. "Harry," she exclaimed before stopping in shock when the wizard dodged her attempts to grab him. Though he could see the hurt in her eyes, she pushed it back and invited them inside.

Ginevra certainly had the frail countenance of a dying girl. Her hair, once a vibrant shade of auburn, now looked limp and dull. Her skin was still as pale as he remembered, but the dark circles under her now dull-brown eyes gave it a decidedly unhealthy appearance. Though the Weasleys had always had to make do with second hand clothing, they had been well-fitting and neat thanks to Molly's sewing skills. The rags she was now wearing had so many holes and stains that Harry wondered if the girl's mother was still alive.

"I knew you'd come, Harry," the redhead said before inviting them to take a seat on the dirty sofa. Her eyes widened as she completely took him in for the first time since his arrival. "You look almost exactly the same since the last time I saw you! Except you're no longer wearing glasses."

The wizard smiled politely and gestured at his companion. "Ginny, I'd like you to meet Jasper Whitlock Hale… he's my mate."

The stunned girl gasped in surprise, causing her to go into a coughing fit. "Your… your mate?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, one of them… I'm actually the mate of two vampires, but that's not why I'm here. You said you wished to see me one more time before you passed on?"

Ginevra turned away and pinched the bridge of her nose, as if trying to keep from either crying or screaming at his news. Once she had finally gotten control of herself, she turned back around. "I… Yes, Harry. I'm dying and I need your help." She refused to even look in Jasper's direction. "There's a potion that can cure me, but I could never afford it… I was hoping you'd be willing to loan me the money."

The brunette made a show of looking around at the dilapidated shack. "No offense, Ginny, but I don't quite see that you have the means to pay me back."

Face reddening in embarrassment and indignation, she bit out, "Well I'm not able to work in this condition, but I plan to follow my dream of being a professional quidditch player when I'm well."

Harry chuckled. "Ginny, the odds of you securing a spot on one of the national teams is miniscule at best. You expect me to loan you a great deal of money while you offer up a pathetic pipe dream of becoming a world-famous quidditch star as collateral? That's quite a risk you're asking me to take." He took a guilty pleasure in the way her jaw dropped. "I'm terribly sorry, Ginevra, but I'm going to have to decline."

Fury lit up Ginny's face as she picked up an empty drinking glass and chucked it at her ex-boyfriend's head. Jasper's supernatural reflexes caught the heavy object before it would have made contact and set it well out of her reach. "What is wrong with you, Harry James Potter?! You… you bastard!" She used the sleeve to wipe the angry tears from her face. "First you walk away from me without even giving me the dignity of a goodbye, then you refuse to answer the thousands of letters I sent you, and now this!"

She stared at the wizard as if wishing to smite him with the intensity of her glare. "What did I do to you that was so wrong that you're willing to let me suffer a slow and humiliating death rather than save me?"

"What did you do? You truly don't know what you did to wrong me?"

Ginny threw her arms up in the air. "NO, Harry… I truly don't know what I have ever done to deserve your scorn."

Harry stood up to leave with Jasper following closely behind. Just before he grabbed the doorknob, he turned back around. "You feigned romantic interest in me, despite being in love with Dean Thomas, just so you could gain access to my accounts. You asked your mum if you would get half of all of my estates if you divorced me soon after the wedding. You planned, with your mother, to give me love potions if I didn't ask you to marry me soon."

If Ginevra had been pale before, she was the color of chalk now. "Who told you that? Whoever it was lied to you!"

The wizard laughed. "You told me, Ginny. You told me on the last day I saw you. So yes… because you spent the majority of your life being a selfish harlot, and because you were willing to destroy my life simply for financial gain, I am more than willing to watch you fade away without lifting a finger to help you. You deserve it."

With those parting words the two mates were gone, leaving Ginny Weasley alone and sobbing.

Thank you all for reading and reviewing! *kisses*