Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, the author J.K. Rowling does. I do not own Twilight or any of the characters, the author Stephanie Meyer does.
Chapter 6- The Wolf's Cry
Hermione's voice was cracking and breaking and she tried to shake Harry awake. Her eyes welled with tears of worry for her best friend, "Harry? Harry...wake up!" she pleaded.
Ron rose to his feet and took Hermione into his arms and hugged her, "He's going to be fine Mione'."
Hermione nodded as she wiped away the few stray tears falling from her eyes, "Edward? Are you okay? What's happening?"
Edward was still clutching his head, even though the pain had passed, "I don't know what this is. We need to get Harry inside, how far away are we?" Bella was rubbing his arm soothingly at his side, staring at him with worry.
"Within earshot." Ron answered, pointing to the brightly lit home just over the next small hill.
Hermione knelt down beside Harry once more and tried to bring him back to consciousness. Several moments passed by before Harry stirred and sat up. Hermione immediately crushed him with a hug. Ron and Edward then helped him to his feet, and Edward told him not to think too hard and not to speak until he was sitting down.
They started down the road again, Harry leaning on his taller red headed friend for support. Not long had passed before they reached the Burrow and Ron gently pushed the creaky back door open, leading to the messy Weasley kitchen.
He peered around expectantly, checking to see if his family was afoot. "Lucky for me it's a bit too late for them, come on Harry let's sit in the living room." Harry kept his hold on Ron until he was planted firmly onto the old couch. Hermione took his side in an instant and offered him a cool washcloth. Edward began pacing the room, Bella biting her lower lip in worry; she had never seen Edward bothered this much by someone else's thoughts. She had seen how he reacted to Jacob's but...he had never been hurt before. "So what do you think happened Edward?" Bella finally asked.
"I'm not sure.. Harry? Can you describe what you felt?"
Harry laughed grumpily, "Why? You already know everything."
"I can't know everything exactly Harry because obviously this has happened to you before, when your scar burns I can feel it... but I have to concentrate just on you to do so. It's very strange, then everyone else's thoughts are harder for me to see."
"So it is..." Hermione dropped her voice to a whisper, "You-know-who."
"No." Harry shook his head frantically. "This was different."
"Different how mate? When you-know-who is close to you or in your head that happens." Ron reasoned.
"No, when Voldermort...."He paused to allow his friends to shutter, "When he is close by, my scar just burns... but this was my whole head like it was being crushed by something."
"Was it like that when Ron's dad was being attacked Harry?" Hermione asked.
"No not at all, I didn't feel anything except my scar prickling a bit, it was like I didn't have any control over it and I didn't know what I was doing... this was just like a really bad headache. I don't think that Voldermort is strong enough to do that... or that he even could do that. "
Ron and Hermione shuttered again in unison, Edward continued to think, "The pain seems to have passed by now Harry, I don't feel anything like I did before."
"Yeah, it's weird it came on so suddenly and then it just vanished." Harry examined his feet intently, "Maybe it's nothing..."
Hermione snorted, "Harry... this has got to be something. Nothing like this has ever happened before so it must mean something else is coming."
"I'm telling you Hermione, we shouldn't be worrying about me right now.... we need to focus on helping Bella and Edward's friend."
This time Edward snorted at the mention of Jacob Black being a friend of his.
"Well then.." Hermione sighed deciding to drop the argument with Harry, "I still think that your wolf friend has got something to do with that boy."
"HERMIONE! Shush!" Ron commanded, "Don't make assumptions like that... we don't even know how long their friend has been here."
"And neither did he." Edward added, "He doesn't have a clue about the amount of time he has been in London. Either his memory is really that bad because of his 'pain' that he is in, or there is something far more to the situation." he sneered the part about Jacob's pain and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Edward? What did Jacob mean when he told me that you didn't tell me everything he was saying... you edited him again."
'Well Bella, for starters he was thinking of how much he loves you... and if you ask me that is a total load because he just wants to make pathetic excuses for his not imprinting yet.." Edward snarled, Bella was about to protest his last statement but he cut her off, "I saw that Bella, I heard him think that so there is no way that it's not true.
Bella sighed, "So what else?"
"He said he can't remember anything, everything is all patchy, he doesn't remember long stretches of time and sometimes he will be in the forest walking around, and the next thing he knows... he's walking down the street in his human form."
"What could that mean?"
"I don't know, but I don't think it's anything good... Bella I'm sorry but it looks like there might be a connection with Jacob and that boy."
"NO!" Bella protested much too loudly, "How can you say that? How could you accuse him of that Edward?! I know Jacob and he would never hurt anybody!"
"I know that Bella, but if he doesn't remember what he was doing from time to time... how can he know that he's innocent. Harry, Ron, Hermione... what is it you said earlier about people trying to go into the woods?"
Harry swallowed, "Well the father of the boy is trying to get together a group of people to go in and search for the animal that is responsible for his son's death."
Hermione took over, "But the city doesn't want any 'civilians' going in until they know that it's safe. They keep saying that it may or may not be dangerous but they don't want anyone going in after it. Supposedly, they are going to handle it.. it's a load of rubbish if you ask me. They won't do anything at least not until something else happens."
"That's why we had to go investigate when we did, we thought that someone else might be in trouble and couldn't risk another muggle going in there." Ron explained, "We knew that it wasn't the cry of any average wolf.. besides that forest is big, but there have never been wolves in there before."
Bella nodded as she took in the fresh information, but she hated it that they were all accusing Jacob of this. There was no possible way that her best friend was capable of mauling a little boy to the point of death, that just wasn't him. Suddenly there was a loud crashing from the staircase behind them...
"Well hey now... what do we have here?" George crooned.
Fred sauntered right after him, "Ronald Bilius where have you been? Mum expected you home at eleven... and now.. blimey look at the time, nearly half past twelve! Looks like you're in for a right-bloody screamin'." He smiled.
George chimed in, "Tisk, tisk Ron. You should have known better."
Ron snarled at his older brothers ,they were always giving him a hard time.
"Don't give us that look." Fred warned, "After all we may be the only people who are able to talk Mum out of grounding your sorry self until school."
"And you almost got away with it to didn't you? Mum gave up and went to sleep at eleven-thirty and told us to wait for you... she said if you were home within the hour of Eleven it was no big deal. But lucky for you, you brought Harry and Hermione over and they caused the ruckus we heard down here." George Beamed.
"Hello, hello. Who might this be?" Fred asked looking at George. The two proceeded to where Bella and Edward were standing, one twin on each side of them. "I'm Fred Weasley."
"And I'm George."
"The twins of the family." They said together.
"Seeing as you've already met our sorry brother Ron here, that saves us an introduction." George explained.
Ron slumped back into his chair with embarrassment. He hated it when they did this, now Bella and Edward were going to think that his family was seriously messed up.
Edward, much to Ron's surprise, offered a smile to the twins. "My name is Edward Cullen, and this is Isabella Swan."
"Bella!" She spat at him, still upset with his previous statement. "It's just Bella if you don't mind."
"Not at all." Fred sang, "Something like when we call Ron here, Ronald."
"Get's him angrier than a bee!"
"All right you two! Why don't you get to bed before Mum comes down here and leave us be!" Ron harped.
"What now Ron." The twins moved on opposite sides of their little brother, "Don't want us crashing the party do you?"
"Afraid we will embarrass you?" George grinned.
"Not at all."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
The twins exchanged another look and then nodded together before shoving Ron off of the couch cushions and stealing his place. Ron crashed to the floor below and whipped around at his brothers, "Why don't you two just skedaddle, can't you see we are having a discussion."
"Easy there Ron, remember we can get Mum to let you off the hook." Fred said.
Ron decided to drop it, there was no point in arguing with them and there was never any reasoning with them either. Hermione interrupted, "Fred, George... maybe you can help us. Edward, Bella? Is it all right if they try to help your friend too? They are very clever and quick witted; they might be able to help us a lot."
"Bella what do you think?" Edward asked.
Bella was stunned, Edward was finally thinking straight, probably because he felt bad about his Isabella slip up from a few minutes earlier, "We could use some more help."
"Perfect then!" Hermione smiled, "Positively splendid, Fred and George, listen closely...."
Bit by bit, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bella and Edward filled the twins in on everything that had happened that day. Edward had even told them about him being a vampire, the twins response to this wasn't one of shock or fright but simply...."Wicked!" They said together. After a long time, the twins were fully caught up and very eager to help out.
"So I'm sure you can understand, the situation is a delicate one and we need all the help we can get." Concluded Edward.
"Right then." George agreed, "Where do we start?"
"From what you 've just told us, it seems to me when can't rule out ol' wolfy there until we know exactly why his memory has gone all wonky. " Fred thought aloud. "I don't know what to make of your issue Harry, I think you're right, Voldy wouldn't be strong enough to bring on that kind of an attack."
"Unless he has help from his Death Eater fan club that is." Said George.
Hermione was tired of listening to them babble about the things that she already knew, "Harry I think we need to be very careful. I think that somehow this thing with Jacob is connected, I don't know how and I can't begin to imagine why but.... well Harry I'm sure that whatever it was back there was an attempt on your life."
Edward cut in, "Please, I hope that you will still help us, you've already been so helpful and trustworthy with this. I don't want to risk your life over this Harry, but will you consider still helping us?"
"Of course I will. We all will. And I'll tell you what else, we are all going to drop this thing about me. It wasn't an attempt on my life, I don't know what it was but I know that it wasn't that. So let's all just forget about it for now, we've spent enough time worrying on my behalf over the years." Harry snarled.
Everyone nodded, afraid to say another word about it. A moment of silence passed between the group, Edward was first to break it. "Well, I think this night has had enough excitement and we should think about getting some sleep. What do you think about meeting tomorrow and talking more?"
"That would be fine." Said Hermione.
"Can't we go try and talk to Jacob tomorrow? We need to know more about what's happening to help him." Bella stated tartly.
"Bella, I don't think that's a good idea. He's so unstable right now and.."
"Maybe he wouldn't be so unstable if he had someone to talk to!"
"I'm not saying that you are wrong Bella, but I'm not going to risk him hurting you again for no reason. I don't know what happened when he grabbed you but I couldn't see his thoughts... I'm worried he has found a way to block me and the pack out of his head like he claims. And I just can't take that chance."
Bella hung her head, it didn't matter how much she argued, rampaged, or protested Edward would always find some way to convince her that it was a bad idea. However it didn't change the fact that she thought she should be able to see her friend. After all, she might be the only person who is able to talk any sense into him and get the answers out of him.
Ron got to his feet and walked towards Bella and Edward. "You can't go all the way back to your house now, it's so dark out and late too. Why don't you just stay here?"
"It's no trouble Ron, I like to run... all though I can't speak for Bella. She's better than she used to be at handling the speed." Edward said with a grin. "I can see fine."
"Err... well that's good I guess, but I really think you should just stay, we've got the room here." Ron said nervously, crashing into the nearby plant stand and tipping it over. The little herb plant toppled off the table and splattered into a thousand pieces at his feet. Ron pursed his lips as he looked worriedly down at the rubble, "Hope mum didn't hear that." He said swallowing hard.
"RONALD! Is he home yet!" Molly Weasley's voice called at the top of the steps. There was a frantic running as she came barreling down to the living room in her frilly pink bath robe. "Ron Weasley where have you been? I told you to be home from Hermione's by eleven o'clock and here you are sneaking in at nearly two!"
Ron looked to his older brothers for support, the twins giggled together and sat back on their seats to enjoy the show.
continued yelling, "And with guests no doubt!" She dropped her voice to its calm pleasant state as she looked from Harry to Hermione. Harry dear so lovely to see you again, and Hermione you too. But I think it's best if you got to sleep straight away. No, no! Sit down!" She commanded as Harry and Hermione reached for their wands. "No apparating now, not this late. No need to wake up the rest of the house."
"As if she hadn't done that already." Fred said to George in a hushed voice.
"FRED! GEROGE! You two were supposed to see to it that once he got home he was to be in bed! What time did he get home anyway?"
Ron looked at them once more with worry. "OH he was home on time Mum, just a few minutes after you went to sleep in fact." George explained.
"He brought his friends over for a visit and we told him it would be fine if they stayed a bit as long as they didn't make any noise." finished Fred.
"Well... good then. I suppose there was no harm done." said calmly before her eyes came to rest on the broken pot on the ground, "My new Rosemary plant! Ron, you know that your father was delighted to give it to me. You know how he is with muggle obsessions. He wanted me to use the spices in my cooking... now it's going to have to be re-potted all over again!"
"Sorry Mum. It was an accident." Ron said solemnly as broke out her wand and repaired the pot.
"Good as new. Try and be more careful Ron please. Now then, Harry you can sleep in Ron's room tonight... I'll take a wild guess and apologize for his mess!" She said shooting her youngest son an aggravated look. "And, oh yes Hermione too... well Ginny won't be expecting you and I don't want you to wake her she'll never get to sleep. But if you tip-toe you might be able to sleep on the extra bed without waking her."
Harry and Hermione both nodded graciously and gave a pleased smile.
turned her attention to Bella and Edward, and Ron immediately cut in front of her view to explain. "These are some of my friends Mum, Bella and Edward. They are just visiting for a bit."
"I see. Well, it's good to meet the both of you but there is simply no time for introductions now. Plenty of time for that in the morning. Not to be rude to you two but I need my sleep as does everyone else... now I won't have you running on home at this hour so... oh deary me what to do with you..." thought out loud as she examined Edward top to bottom, "Edward, why don't you stay in Harry and Ron's room. And you Bella, I'm afraid there's not enough room with Ginny and Hermione, so you can have Bill's room for tonight. Fred and George will show you where it is, now everyone off to bed this instant! Edward and Bella we can talk more in the morning dears. Goodnight!" She said before exiting up the same way she had came.
"That went remarkably well!" Ron proclaimed, relaxing a bit.
"That it did. And we wouldn't want to jeopardize it by not listening to your Mum Ron. Let's all do as she says and go to bed right away." Hermione whispered.
Everyone did what they were told to do without another word. The day had been long enough that everyone needed to get to sleep. Everyone that is except for Edward, he told Harry and Ron that he always stays with Bella and made his way to her room. He wrapped his stone cold arms around her and pulled her close to his chest. Bella drank in his exquisite scent and curled in closer to him before shutting her eyes and drifting into sleep, all the thoughts about Jacob being erased from her mind.
Not long had passed until the cry of the wolf howled in the silence of the night once more. Bella awoke with a start, Edward was already by the window looking into the darkness. "It's Jacob! He's in pain again!" She cried, in an instant he was by her side consoling her. Edward lifted her off the bed and grasped her hand, leading her out of the room. Along the way they met Harry and Ron, already out of their room.
"We heard it too!" Ron proclaimed when he saw Edward and Bella.
"Let's get Hermione and go out there. I don't think we can risk it not to go." Harry stated bluntly.
Edward and Bella nodded in unison and proceeded down the long hallway. Hermione was tip-toeing out of Ginny's room when she saw them. She knew what they were doing already and didn't hesitate the slightest. As they walked down the stairs, loud footsteps could be heard from the twins.
"You lot didn't think you were going without us did you?" Fred asked.
George grinned, "Wouldn't miss a chance to see the wolf-man first hand."
"Don't call him that!" Bella told him sternly, and at once they both apologized.
"Okay come on now let's hurry before it's too late!" Hermione said.
The group reached the living room and were nearing the kitchen door when they heard Ginny's voice behind them. "Where are you going?"
"Go back upstairs Ginny! You're going to wake Mum and Dad!" Ron spat.
"I'm not going back upstairs Ron, I want to know what's going on!" Ginny hissed, already dressed and expecting to go. " Who are they?" She added catching sight of Edward and Bella.
"No time for that now!" Hermione reasoned, "Ginny I promise we will tell you when we get back but you need to stay here for now."
Ginny nodded, seeming hurt and they rushed forward and out the door. "Another sibling?" Edward inquired.
"Yeah, the youngest."Fred answered.
"Sure are a lot of you." Edward chuckled quietly.
"Okay." Said Harry, when they were far enough away from the Burrow to talk without Ron's parents hearing." We will all apparate to the forest edge where we met you earlier."
"We'll run." Edward said. "Meet you there."
"Right then, let's go!" Harry commanded as he raised his wand and then with a loud snap was gone.
Edward didn't stay long enough to watch the rest of them vanish from view, he had already swept Bella up on his back and was running full speed back to the forest. A minute later they reached the forest, but didn't stop to look for Harry and the gang, he kept on running.
"Edward! What are you doing, you said that you would meet them?" Bella whispered into his ear as they flew through the trees.
"I know, there's no time, I can't hear Jacob's thoughts again... something is wrong." Edward told her as he pushed on. He came to a dead stop almost as soon as he had said it and placed Bella on the ground. "This way Bella, stay behind me."
They walked through the trees and Bella could hear Jacob's massive paws hitting the ground as he crept around. A distorted shadow finally came into view, she could make out the shape of Jacob's large body with his shaggy hair, and see that he wasn't alone. For the first time she could hear someone else with him, a man's cry. Edward grabbed Bella's arm to protect her as they shifted to see Jacob face to face with a middle aged man bearing his teeth and growling viciously at his new prey.
A/N: Okay, this chapter was very boring I know. Sorry but I had to have the details in there so there was a lot of talking. It's about to get good, finally we've reached a turning point in the story. Please review! =)