• 1-Alice Knows Best
• 2-He Needs A Family, Jacob
• 3-Petunia Dursley's Disgrace
• 4-The Best Laid Plans Are Often Foiled By Politcians
• 5-I Think We Should Listen To Jasper
• 6-Yeah, I Know Them
• 7-Difference of Opinion
• 8-Change Of Venue
• 9-Who Needs A Judge And Jury?
• 10-Catching The Mouse

Personal thoughts in Italics. Pack thoughts in Underlined Italics. Edward's super-cool thought thefting (on purpose) in Bold Italics.

Harry was fully immersed in battle mentality by the time he climbed out of the car. Leah hadn't said a word the entire time she'd driven, and Billy had been too intent upon the conversation he was having with the elderly man Harry hadn't been introduced to yet. Someone who looked around fifteen or so to Harry's eye made their way out of the tree line and took the handles of one wheelchair while Leah took control of the other. Harry hung back, strapping on his swords and triple checking his bag. While he did so he mentally cataloged the various points upon which he could feel pressure against his skin; daggers, explosive Potions, vicious poisons, charmed or cursed bits of crystal or precious stone, spare wands. All in all Harry was armed to the teeth and he knew when and how to use it all.

His bag had ceremonial Potions, parchment, ink, and quill for writing out the new treaty. He had the books he'd need both for answering questions about the Pack but also to make sure he cast the proper binding spells on the new Treaty. He had food in case the caucus ran long, more books he knew St. Carlisle would be interested in, and several issues of ‘Marvin the Mad Muggle’ for Prince Emmet. The most important thing in his bag was his TAS log, a journal of sorts that was connected to over a thousand others; a holdover from the war, TAS logs were a quick and easy way to coordinate allies around the globe.

"Are you coming?"

Harry felt himself blush when he looked up to see The Warrior Jasper standing just at the tree line, head cocked to one side. Harry thought the Vampire was by far one of the most attractive men he'd ever seen, not to mention an amazing warrior. It was embarrassing to have been caught unaware by a man he felt something of a hero worship/crush thing for; Harry absently wondered if this was what Ginny and Collin had been feeling about him for years. It was an odd feeling.

"Yep, I'm on my way now. I'm sorry, I just wanted to make sure I have everything. It would have been embarrassing if we got everything set up and then found out I forgot something."

Oh Merlin, I'm babbling like an idiot! I wonder what would happen if I just stuck a wand in my ear and shouted the first spell I think of?

The Vampire chuckled as though he could read Harry's mind.

"I can feel and manipulate emotions. Why are you embarrassed?"

Harry just knew he was blushing. There was no question. He moved toward the trees, intent on getting to the larger group as quickly as possible before he actually tried that wand in ear thing.

"Because I'm an idiot. Can we pretend this never happened?"

The Vampire chuckled again but nodded and swiftly began a new subject; this time he asked questions about Harry's visible weaponry. That subject was pleasurable for the both of them, and wandered into the weaponry Jasper was most familiar with during the five minutes or so until they reached the clearing.

**

Jacob was currently in wolf form, listening to the pack complain about the smell of the Vampires and making random comments on what they could sense in the woods beyond the clearing.

The Wizard and the leech are finally coming.

Leah’s voice was scathing and Jacob hated her for it; it wasn’t the Wizard’s fault he couldn’t move as quickly as she could, but she was such a bitch that she didn’t care. Jacob ‘heard’ her indignation when the rest of the pack agreed with his thought and turned to watch Harry and Jasper break the treeline. They did just as the sun broke through the clouds. Jasper’s skin sparkled like…very sparkly things…Jasper’s skin sparkled like Harry’s eyes when he smiled up at Jasper…and suddenly Jacob wanted to be over there, needed to be near them. His world was walking across the clearing.

Except there was something missing, a shadow of a man that Jacob almost thought he could see standing next to Harry but couldn’t quite bring into focus. Jacob had no idea what was going on; this was very confusing and his brain didn’t seem to want to work right. All Jacob could think about was Jasper and Harry and finding the man that they needed to make them complete.

Seriously, what was happening to him?

You have Imprinted on them, Jacob. I have never heard of Imprinting on more than one person before, and I can see the shadow of the Mate you are missing as well. We must inform the Elders and see what the Wizard says of this.

Sam’s voice was calm, but Jacob couldn’t hold back the snarl at the thought of anyone talking about his Mates. They were his Mates! His! Edward’s voice broke through his indignation.

”Yes, they’re yours. Is this the first time you’ve actually looked at them?”

I think so. I mean, I saw Harry on t.v., and I might have looked at Jasper before but I don’t think so. I don’t really look at you guys. So the Mate I couldn’t figure out was me?

Edward nodded, and for some reason talking to the Vampire was helping Jacob calm down. That didn’t mean that he took his eyes off the approaching pair, and when he realized that they were talking about weaponry he wanted to join in. Unfortunately the only weapons he had any experience with here his teeth and claws, so he had nothing to contribute. That made him feel unaccountably sad.

“Jasper uses his teeth as a weapon, too, and I’ve seen him rip apart vampires with his bare hands.”

Seth’s voice suddenly filled Jacob’s mind.

Jake, go put on some pants so you can talk to them as a human. I phased and Old Quil said it’s ok. He said something about coming full circle, and it being a sign from the Old Ones that you have Imprinted today when we were meeting to modify the treaty.

Jacob took off at a run, shooting past Jasper and Harry into the forest. He phased quickly and pulled on his sweatpants, wishing they were nicer, before dashing back into the clearing. He was met with the end of a sword and what looked like a fancy twig pointed at him. When Harry spoke, his voice was hard as though he was expecting a fight.

“What’s wrong? Why did you rush into the woods? Who is coming? How many? Do you know if they’re armed?”

The questions were shot at him rapidly and Jacob just blinked, hands up in the classic position of surrender. Harry didn’t lower his weapons, and seemed to get frustrated with Jacob.

”Answer me! You went shooting off into the woods like we were being attacked, there must be a reason. I need information if I’m going to protect anyone!”

Jacob blinked several more times before answering; his tone turned the answer into a question.

”I went to put on pants?”

Harry relaxed slightly and looked to Jasper, who confirmed that he didn’t sense anyone out there. Harry relaxed fully and glared at the tanned teen.

”Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to make sudden movements around soldiers?”

With that, Harry turned and stalked towards the watching assembly. Jacob slowly lowered his hands, turning wide eyes on Jasper.

”Is it strange that I thought he was really hot even when I was pretty sure he was going to run me through?”

Jasper smiled.

”No, because I thought he was hot when I was pretty sure he was going to run you through, too.”

Feeling shy for perhaps the third time in his entire life, Jacob hesitantly laid a hand on Jasper’s arm and offered to walk with him across the clearing. It sounded silly out loud, and embarrassed Jacob even more, but Jasper gave a gentle smile and agreed. Jacob’s hand slid off his arm and they walked slowly to where Harry was conjuring up tables and chairs for everyone. Casting around for a topic, Jacob decided to go with the relatively safe combination of Harry and weapons.

”I’ve never had a sword pulled on me before. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen one in real life.”

Jasper nodded.

”I have some training, but it’s mostly ceremonial. I can use a bayonet in a combat situation, but the only real sword work I know just looks cool.”

Jacob laughed quietly, imagining the large blond Vampire doing the almost dancing footwork he’d seen in the movies. Jasper shot him a slightly teasing grin, almost as though he knew what Jacob was thinking; Jacob blushed again. Jasper gave a good natured groan.

”Why is everyone embarrassed around me today?”

Jacob blushed harder, and Jasper smiled teasingly again. They reached the group; everyone was taking their seats, but Jacob wanted to get this out in the open first so he asked Harry and Jasper to speak with him in private. Jacob wasn’t sure how private the conversation would be with seven Vampires around but Harry took care of that by casting some sort of Charm that kept even the Vampires from hearing them. Then they stood quietly, waiting for Jacob to get up the nerve to talk. Harry and Jasper remained quiet, waiting patiently. Finally Jacob decided to just come out with it.”

”I’ve Imprinted on the two of you.”

Jasper didn’t seem in the least bit surprised and Harry just shrugged.

“Ok. What can I do to make things easier on you?”

Having not expected this easy acceptance from the Wizard Jacob just stared at him stupidly for a moment before asking a (rather understandably) stupid question.

“What do you mean?”

Jacob wanted to smack himself but Harry didn’t give him the time.

“What can I do to make things easier on you? I know that Veela need their Mates to stay away from other people for awhile, and Lycans prefer if their Mates don’t touch other people very often. So what do you need me to do?”

Jacob understood what Harry was asking, even if he thought the wording sounded a little bit rude. Maybe that was just a matter of perception, though, because Jasper seemed to be waiting for the answer too.

“Umm…well, I’ll need to spend time with the both of you, and I might get jealous if you spend a lot of time with other people without spending time with me, too. I’m not sure but there’s an old story about a Spirit Wolf who got really paranoid because their Imprint barely spent any time with them. He like, went nuts and did a murder-suicide thing or something.”

Harry seemed to be filing the information away but Jasper nodded his understanding so Jacob continued.

“I’ll probably be really affectionate, at least the others are, but I’ll try to keep that under control. Umm…there’s someone else, too, but I don’t know who. I could kind of see a shadow but I won’t know for sure until I see them myself. I know it’s a guy, though, and he was kind of next to you so I think I’m going to meet him through you.”

Harry smiled at the two and nodded decisively.

“Alrighty then. I’m a pretty affectionate person anyway, so that won’t bother me, and from what I understand Vampires are very tactile.”

Jasper cut in with his affirmation and Harry continued.

“As for the other guy we’ll just have to make sure to schedule my people’s arrivals around your schedules so you two can greet them with me. That way you can see if any of them are our Mystery Man one on one instead of in a great huge group.”

Jacob had to smile at the easy way Harry turned them into a unit; Harry, for his part, had a warning of his own to give.

“We’ll deal with jealousy and paranoia as they come, but you should probably know that I tend to get a bit jealous and possessive of the people that are important to me. Mostly it’s just been the Weasley’s, Hermione, Neville and Luna, but now it’s going to be your families and the two of you as well.”

Harry looked at the ground for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, before raising his eyes again.

“I’ve lost a lot of people so I get really paranoid about people’s safety and…yeah, possessive sounds about right. I’ve been told that I’m a bit psychotic about other people’s personal safety, to be honest, even though they say I don’t seem to care about my own at all.”

Jasper nodded his agreement, his soft Southern drawl making its way into the conversation.

“I get that way, as well. Must be a soldier thing.”

Jacob laughed.

“We’re going to drive each other nuts.”

With that they broke the spell and joined the table. The group had divided themselves according to species, Vampires to the right and Wolves to the left, so Jacob and Jasper went to sit with their families while Harry sat at the head. He pulled out the book first and turned toward the elderly man he still hadn’t been introduced to.

“Everything about the Pack is explained in this book, but I wasn’t sure how much you wanted exposed in this public forum so I brought it for you; in the interest of honest communication I had planned to hit the main points but all of the little details are in here. The only thing is that it’s in archaic Latin, and I’m not sure how strong you are in that. Some of the pages are written in Runes, too, but none of those apply to your Pack.”

The elderly man nodded and waved one hand dismissively. His voice had the dusty quality Harry remembered from Albus Dumbledore and the young Wizard got the feeling that this man would be a good person to talk to; he was most likely very wise.

“Oscar Wilde once said that ‘The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything.’ I believe I speak for the good Doctor and myself when I say that we are the old. We believe the legends, and we believe that peaceful accord can be reached through trust and open communication. I also believe that it would only be to our benefit to have a Doctor who fully understands the pack and can treat them if necessary. He once treated Jacob and saved the young man a great deal of pain and suffering both at that time and later in life.”

Harry nodded; several of the wolves were muttering disagreements about such full disclosure and Harry mentally classified them as ‘middle-aged’ from the quote.

“In that case, Sir, I’ll just explain everything.”

The elderly man laughed and it made something in Harry ache; he sounded so much like the deceased Headmaster. Jasper shot him an inquisitive look but Harry remained focused on the task at hand.

“My name is Quil Call, young man.”

Harry smiled, leaning over the table to shake the man’s hand.

“My name is Harelquinn Potter, Sir, but please call me Harry.”

Quil smiled in agreement and Harry opened the old tome to where he’d left a bookmark.

“What you call Spirit Wolves are actually Blood Cursed Animagi. I guess it’ll be easiest if I start with the basics and lay out the facts as I know them and then I’ll get to the conjecture.”

Harry was still speaking directly to Quil, who nodded easily. The rest of the table went still and silent, eager to hear what the Wizard had to say.

“Animagi are people who can change into an animal at will. Now this is generally done through years of study and conditioning, but very rarely it can be an inborn ability. One of the most common types of these rare inborn Animagi is the Blood Cursed. Two people must share blood for the Curse to be laid, generally brothers or very close cousins though occasionally it’ll be parents and children, etc. Er…for example if twin brothers get into a fight and one (generally the loser) feels that the other has acted contrary to the family honor the Curse can be cast. It rarely works because in order for it to take the one being cursed must have truly acted without honor.”

The Quileutes were all nodding their understanding while the Vampires remained still; they were interested and didn’t want the explanation to stop.

“This is where the conjecture comes in. I have made an educated guess as to which line was cursed, and from films that my friends have seen we have something of an idea about how it spread throughout the rest of the warriors.”

Billy spoke up.

“It was my line, wasn’t it?”

Harry shrugged uncomfortably.

“As I said it’s a conjecture but we do believe so, yes. I was curious how you could be Native American but still related to my decidedly British Godfather. When Embry phased for me this afternoon I realized that the form is almost identical to my Godfather’s except for the color. It’s not a wolf, it’s an animal called a Grim; an omen of unnatural death.”

Quil spoke again, his dusty voice full of ancient wisdom.

“Our warriors called one another brother. It is said that they would share their blood to bring them closer before going to battle. Could this be how the Curse spread?”

Harry nodded and took a deep breath; this part may cause an argument and he wanted to be prepared.

“That’s what my Research team speculated on what little information they had without resorting to Necromancy, actually. Now the real question would be the trigger. Clearly not every generation phases so I asked Embry a few questions and I have an idea. Your form is fueled by anger, rage, protection, even love to an extent; passionate emotions. The trigger for this Curse is always an emotion. Since your forms are fueled by passionate emotions I believe that your trigger is passion; specifically when we take into account the Imprinting.”

The wolves were in an uproar, arguing and denying the possibility. The two elder Quileutes were considering the idea. The Vampires seemed cautiously hopeful. Harry just sighed and waited. After a moment he reached into his bag and pulled out his TAS journal and a self inking quill; if they were going to argue he was going to get some work done. After about ten minutes Billy leaned forward, directing his question at Harry.

“Are you just going to let them keep fighting?”

Harry looked up first at the man then at the argument taking place between the Wolves and those Vampires who had joined in; he shrugged and pointed first at the Wolves then the Vampires as he spoke.

“I’m not their Alpha or their Mummy. I’m just the guy who can destroy them all and start over with their replacements.”

The table went silent, everyone turning to look at Harry with a rather amusing horrified fascination before Quil and Carlisle laughed loudly. Billy joined in, followed by Esme, while the arguing ‘teens’ retook their seats quietly; Harry rather thought they reminded him of scolded school children. Going with that Harry folded his hands over his journal and wished for a moment that he still had his glasses so that his stern look could be made over the top of them.

“Are we all going to act like big boys and girls or do I need to start conjuring Time Out chairs?”

The ‘adults’ laughed again while the ‘children’ nodded their agreement. Harry nodded.

“Good. My informant tells me that we’ve got about half an hour or so before Bella makes her appearance and she believes it best if we have the treaty signed by then.”

Esme stood hesitantly and Harry smiled soothingly; she seemed to take strength from that, looking over the Quileutes seriously.

“In the interest of full disclosure and open communication I wanted to let you know that Harry has told us that it’s possible for Vampires to get pregnant. I have already started taking the first steps toward that.”

There was a general murmuring from the Wolves but it seemed curious more than hostile so Esme continued.

“The baby will be human but if they ask to be turned in their adulthood I just can’t see myself saying no.”

Quil gave the Vampire a warm smile.

“Thank you for telling us. Who are we to force any parent to choose between their child and a peaceful life? I imagine that it will not be a decision made lightly, so I see no issue here.”

The younger Quileutes seemed less sure, even Billy, but they agreed with their Elder. Esme took a deep, though unneeded, breath and continued.

“What most people outside of the family don’t know is that I was turned because I tried to commit suicide.”

The Wolves seemed very surprised by this, though the Vampires just looked sad.

“My entire family was dead; just that day I had buried my only child next to his father.”

Harry could see the wheels turning in everyone’s minds; if her child asked to stay with her for eternity there was no way this woman was going to say no and really no one could blame her for it. When Harry felt the mood was melancholy enough he just had to say something.

“In a completely inappropriate effort to lighten the mood I’ve got to say that you didn’t try to commit suicide.”

Everyone’s eyes turned toward him but Harry kept his on Esme, knowing he’d completely lose it if he saw the incredulity he was sure he’d find.

“I would have to say that you succeeded.”

There was a moment of stunned silence before something hit Harry’s head hard; it turned out to be Billy’s notebook. Harry whined at the man, rubbing his now very sore head.

“I was using that!”

Billy blinked.

“My notebook?”

“No, you jerk, my head!”

There was another moment of silence before everyone burst into slightly hysterical but healing laughter. Rosalie stood and spoke briefly, not elaborating.

“I’m taking these steps also.”

A few of the Quileutes seemed curious and Harry expected them to ask for her story as well; then his TAS journal signaled that he had received a message.

Just so you know, Rosalie and Edward’s stories will be much more important for the Alliance in about six weeks. She left earlier than expected; ten minutes tops.

Harry read the entry aloud before pulling out his parchment.

“Since this only has to last six weeks does anyone care if I use regular parchment and ink? I’ll cast the same spells still.”

There were no objections and the four ‘adults’ began shooting out bullet points that Harry copied down. In the end they had a workable treaty, which was really a very basic alliance, signed just before the Ward alarm went off. Harry stowed away the treaty and pulled out a sword and his wand.

“Showtime.”

No one argued on the girl’s behalf.

**

Bella tripped over yet another tree root, wondering not for the first time why this was being held in a baseball field instead of a house. She sure hoped they hadn’t gotten too far without her; she was important to this! No matter what anyone said she was involved and her opinions needed to be heard. Just before she reached the treeline a blast of yellow light came flying toward her and slammed into the tree she was leaning on. She jumped away with a scream, tripping over another root and smacking her head into a low resting tree branch. A voice came through the trees; it was masterful and sent shivers down her spine.

“Show yourself or forfeit your life.”

Bella squeaked in fear, stumbling past the last of the trees. There stood a boy a couple of inches shorter than her that fairly radiated danger even worse than Jasper did. Bella felt her eyes widen at the very large, clearly sharp sword pointed in her direction; those wide eyes fell on Edward, who stood with Alice and Jacob (oddly enough). The three looked resigned.

“Edward! Help me, please!”

It was Jacob who spoke.

“We told you not to come, Bella. We can’t stop this.”

The boy spoke again.

“Isabella Swan you are to be judged for many offenses which include being the direct cause of a dual violation of a long standing treaty, betrayal of trust, and being the cause of the unregistered formation of vampires for the express purpose of your death.”

Bella squeaked again. When he put it that way it sounded like it was all her fault!

“I can explain! It was…”

The boy cut her off.

“I did not ask for explanations, I simply detailed some of your crimes.”

Bella wasn’t sure how to respond to that; she really wanted to find a way, though. Especially with how he was advancing on her with that sword of his. Suddenly he stopped and turned to Jasper.

“I still haven’t gotten you that Potion, have I?”

Jasper answered with a quiet negative and the boy turned back to her, clearly annoyed.

“You are very lucky, little girl, that I care more for my alliance with the Cullen family than about meting out your punishment at this time. I want you to stay where you are, sit if you must, and I don’t want to hear you. Understood?”

Bella nodded frantically, dropping gracelessly to the ground. The boy made his way back to the table, where they spoke too quietly for her to hear for the next ten minutes. Out of nowhere three people and three small green…things appeared halfway between Bella and the table. The small green things were bouncing in place but they kind of freaked Bella out but the people were interesting enough; especially the blonde girl who walked up to Alice and started making out with her without saying a word. Everyone stopped talking then and just watched them. After a few minutes the dangerous boy chuckled quietly.

“Little sister, what have I told you about greeting people like friends when you haven’t been introduced to them yet?”

The blonde girl pulled away just enough to talk.

“I’m Luna and we’re going to have a very happy life together.”

Alice responded in kind.

“I’m Alice, and yes we are.”

Then they started kissing again. Bella decided that this would be the perfect time to pass out.