ANOTHER NEW CULLEN STORY .... LOL

PREFACE

In my imagination, in my Twilight-fanfic world, Bella journals. She’s not a popular girl, she’s very introverted, doesn’t have many (any?) friends, so in my mind it stands to reason that she has a trusted diary that she confides her secrets to.

The time-frame is really before any of the books happen, right when Bella makes her decision to move to Forks. (I don’t like to put my fanfiction into the actual timeline of the books, as NOT to mess with the author’s vision!)

So here it is:

TOUCH OF DESTINY 

Dear Diary,

I told Mom yesterday that I wanted to move to Forks and live with Dad for a while. She didn’t like it, of course! She’s horrified. Why would I go to a place where it rains 95% of the year and to a “city” (that’s really not the right word - even “town” doesn’t seem to fit) with a population that is smaller than the entire student body of my high school here in Phoenix. Those were her exact words. She can’t understand that I would want to move to the very place she escaped from 16 years ago.

She doesn’t get that I am doing it for her. That is the point, of course. I don’t WANT her to know. She would only feel guilty and that would totally defeat the purpose. Phil, her brand-new husband, is good for her. Although it seems like he isn’t much older than me, he is a great guy. And they need time together - without me, without the added pressure of an adolescent teenage daughter. And since he’ll be on the road a lot she needs to go with him. She would never go with me staying behind at home. So I had to make it easier for her, make yet another decision for her.

Will it be easy for me? Probably not. Sometimes it really sucks to be more grown-up than your own mother. Sometimes I wonder what it feels like to be taken care of. But that’s not fair - she DOES take care of me - in a different way. It’s just that sometimes I think I would like to ... I want to be carefree ... I want somebody there for just ME and I can just count on them to be there. - BUH Humbug!

So anyway.... it’ll only be for a couple of years - until I graduate. I can make it until then. Mom’s been there for me all my life. It’s time for her to enjoy her time with her new husband. Sure, I’ll miss Phoenix. I’ll miss the sun, the heat, the red mountains, the cacti, the junipers. I’ll miss the big city. But I’ll manage. It’ll be good for Charlie, too. He hasn’t had anybody to take care of him and he hasn’t seen much of me or spend time with me for the last 17 years. Yup .... it’ll be good.

Well ... ok .... this is you, my trusted old Journal I’m talking to. I can’t lie to you. After giving it my all to convince Mom, I’m trying to convince myself a little bit. My mind is made up, but I need to stay strong now so my resolve won’t falter.

Apparently my subconscious sees it that way, too. I had THE strangest dream last night. Here is what happened: Not long after starting at Forks High I suddenly became one of the popular girls. (ME!?) But at the same time I also became an outcast. (Weird? Definitely!)  And I didn’t move into Charlie’s house, either. Not unless his house is suddenly a very modern, white palace with huge windows. But I didn’t really move into the house. No! Charlie sent me out in the backyard - at least I think it was the backyard. It was somewhere close to the water - it almost looked like the ocean, almost like the beach on the reservation where Charlie took me when I was little. Yet it was very deep in the woods as well. In the “backyard” is this tent, only it isn’t really a tent you would have for camping. It was more like a Native American tipi! Yes, my “room” was a tipi, complete with the fireplace, earthen pots and a bow and arrow. Where does all this stuff come from and clutter my mind?

But the weirdest thing was when I saw Charlie with a baby. At first I thought it was me when I was little. Like my subconscious was trying to reconnect with my Dad. But all of a sudden I was there as well. And Dad looked at me so lovingly and gave the baby to me! YIKES! I didn’t look a whole lot older than right now. Maybe a year or two! And here I was with a baby. How does that happen?

I don’t even have a boyfriend. Nobody here in Phoenix is even remotely interested. And it’s highly doubtful that will change in Forks. Oh yeah, I’ll definitely be the center of attention at the beginning, unfortunately: Girl from the big city moving back home to the small town to live with her dad, the Chief of Police. But that’s the extent of it. Most of all, I certainly will not have a baby right out of school! Who even was the father? The dream never revealed that. There were other people in the room with me but I couldn’t make out the faces.

That’s so besides the point anyway! I definitely don’t want to stay in Forks forever. I want to go to College. I don’t know where and for what yet. But I do. If I find a “boy”, a man or even my soulmate along the way - fine, that’s great. I’m not saying I have to be Ms. Career Woman. If I find the right mate I’ll be happy to settle down and be Mom and homemaker. Or I could possibly have it all - career and family. But those are a lot of variables that have to fall into place. A lot!

To make a long story short: Where does all this stuff come from? I thought dreams were your subconscious trying to make sense of all the stuff that is going on in your life, to help you work things out. Well - none of that makes sense to me. And it’s certainly not anything that is going on in my life right now. Therefore I’m entrusting this to you, my faithful diary! You’re not giving me any answers either. But maybe at some point in the future I can say “wait a minute” and come back here and say “ohhhhhhh!”. Wouldn’t that be cool?

WE INTERRUPT OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED STORY!

I'm still here

CHAPTER 5 - THEIR BRAVEST SON

Cedric had said goodbye to Joey the evening before his departure to Hogwarts. Joana's parents would not be able to accompany her to Kings Cross train station that morning and Amos did not feel comfortable 'taking responsibility for her' as he put it. Cedric was very annoyed with his Dad and had pleaded with his Mom. But this was one of those rare occasions when even Justina could not convince her husband. Equally disappointed was Ginny Weasley who had hoped to talk to Joana for a few minutes. She was at the station together with her whole family to drop off her brothers Charlie, Percy, and, of course, Fred and George who were First Years and therefore starting school with Cedric.

As Fred and George were the only kids he knew, Cedric was glad they agreed to share a compartment with him on the train. They seemed to be just as nervous as he was. Yet, while they tried to overcome their wariness by joking with the other kids, Cedric sat back and took it all in. He was on the Hogwarts Express. His parents had, of course, told him a little of what to expect, but sitting here, watching all the excited First Years, as well as the older kids passing by outside his compartment was all a little overwhelming. He looked out the window and saw the countryside flying by. He had never been this far away from home and the scenery was changing constantly. He loved riding the train. It was almost like a house on wheels that mysteriously knows the way through the ever-changing landscape. Soon he was yanked out of his daydreams by the prefects walking from compartment to compartment to remind them to change into their school robes. The First Years, for now, wore basic black robes until they got sorted into their Houses. Before the official start of term the robes would then be mended by the Houselves to represent the appropriate house colors and bear the respective house crest.

Stepping off the train Cedric heard a booming voice over all the chatter of the many kids “Firs’ Years over here!” He tried to locate the source and did not have to look twice. A gigantic man with a huge black beard and masses of equally black and frizzy hair was calling out to them. “Tha’s righ’, line up over here. You’ll be going across the lake with me, Hagrid, keeper of grounds and keys at Hogwarts. It’s tradition. Only the older kids take the coaches. Come on, Firs’ Years over here.” Thankful that all their belongings would be brought to the castle, Cedric lined up with the rest of the First Years and followed Hagrid to the boats. It was dusk by now and by the time they had entered their boats, 4 students to one boat, the light had grown quite low. All they could see was the black water and the lanterns on the bows of the boats bopping up and down.

In the distance Cedric thought he could make out a faint outline of a massive building. As they grew nearer, a few specs of light appeared, marking the windows. One of the boys in his boat got so excited that he leaned forward, trying to see better. The boat started swaying precariously and the boy quickly retreated to his seat, causing it to rock to the other side, and he lost his balance. With a loud splash he landed in the water. For a second there was no sound and Cedric tried desperately to locate the boy in the water to reach out for him. Then they heard some thrashing around and the boy started shrieking with panic “Help me! I can’t swim!” Silence, then again “Ahhhhh, I’m drowning, somebody, please!” Again silence as the boy’s head went under the water once more. And then Cedric saw the bubbles and could make out the boy’s white face as he broke through the surface.

There was no time to waste. Without hesitation he jumped in the water. As soon as he hit the water, Cedric thought his heart might stop. He hadn’t counted on it being so freezing that it took his breath away. The icy cold instantly hit him as hard as a brick. And as his robes soaked up the water he felt himself being pulled under by the weight of the wet fabric. What was he thinking? Why hadn’t he taken off at least his robes first? But he was a good swimmer and he was able to reach the boy in no time. Trying to hold both himself and the boy’s head over the water surface was another matter, which was made even harder by the boy thrashing around in panic. “Listen to me!” Cedric pleaded. For a moment he got the sinking feeling that he was literally in over is head. But he knew he had to put the other boy at ease if they were to both get out of this mess. “I got you, I’m a good swimmer, but you have to stop flailing about!” Cedric felt an elbow hit his nose and a foot kick his shin, but he held on tight. “Hey!” he shook the boy a little bit angry now “Stop it; it’s going to be ok!” All of a sudden the boy noticed that he wasn’t going under anymore and this seemed to be the first time he noticed that Cedric was there with him. He stopped thrashing his arms and was just kicking his legs now, to stay afloat. Cedric was getting tired but held on desperately, trying to keep his own head above the water. He succeeded just long enough to take intermittent breaths before his nose and mouth kept dipping below the surface. All his energy went into keeping the other boy’s head steady, while he bopped up and down. He was really hoping that somebody would come to their aid soon.

The voice was booming just as it had been at the train station. “Good gracious, boys! What ‘r’ you doin’?” and he felt a strong arm pick him and the other boy up by the back of his robes and place them back into their seats. Hagrid had turned his boat around as quickly as he could when he heard the first splash and was now floating alongside them. “D’you think you can make it the res’ of the way without fallin’ in again? I have ter get back t’ the front!” Both boys, nodded silently. Cedric was terribly cold and they were both shivering so violently that he feared the boat would start shaking and topple all four of them out this time. Through clattering teeth the other boy said, “Th…thank you, my name is Zacharias Smith. You saved my life.” Cedric just nodded and rubbed his nose where the elbow had hit him. He was trying to concentrate on not feeling cold. “My robes were pulling me under and I can’t swim.” Again Cedric nodded “Don’t mention it!”

********

A witch in long black robes and a tall pointy hat met them at the top of the stairs leading into the main castle entrance. Cedric saw Hagrid talk to her and assumed correctly that he must be telling her about the little mishap on the way, because he immediately heard her shout “Oh Dear! Smith, Diggory…. Where are you? Over here please!” Cedric and Zacharias, both now shivering uncontrollably hurried to the front of the crowd and up the steps. “Oh Dear!” the witch said again and pointed her wand at them. “Spiro Siccus!” Cedric immediately felt warm air engulf him and his hair and robes were instantly dry. “The sorting ceremony is about to begin. So this has to suffice for now. I want you two to drink lots of warm tea with honey! After the feast I’ll have Madam Pomfry take you up to the hospital wing and look you over, just to make sure that everything is alright!” Cedric and Zacharias nodded a little embarrassed. “First Years, you will please line up right here and follow me into the Great Hall!” she called out to the rest of the students waiting anxiously at the bottom of the stairs.

The two large oak doors opened and as Cedric entered the Hall he felt hundreds of eyes on himself and the other kids that were following him. It was actually a little terrifying. He half wished he could be out on the lake again. The procession stopped in front of the hall where an old wizard hat sat on top of a chair. The witch that had greeted them at the stairs now had a roll of parchment in her hand and called out “Aurelia, Patsy!” A small girl with long brown hair stepped forward and sat on the chair, placing the hat on her head. After a short pause the hat yelled “Gryffindor!” and the long table to the right of Cedric erupted in applause. This procedure was repeated over and over. Cedric knew from his mother that the Sorting Hat placed you in any of the four houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin or Hufflepuff according to your abilities as a wizard or witch as well as according to elements of your character.

Cedric was yanked out of his thoughts when he heard “Diggory, Cedric!” He stepped tentatively forward, picked up the hat, put it on his head and sat down. The thoughts were racing in his mind. His mother had been a Ravenclaw and his Dad a Gryffindor. He wanted to be a Gryffindor. He was sure anything else would just disappoint his father. “Gryffindor, ey?” he heard the sorting hat say only loud enough so he could hear. “I can see the Gryffindor in you. Bravery you lack not. But defined you are by the loyalty to your friends and sense of justice.” And then the hat proceeded to shout out to everybody in the Great Hall “Great Honor you will bring to the noble house of those who never get the glory. A hero like you they never had!” Cedric’s mind was racing, which house was he talking about? But he didn’t have to wait long. The hat yelled “Hufflepuff!”

The table on the opposite side, which was now on his right, jumped up and applauded and cheered. Cedric rose, placed the hat back on the chair and walked over to his house table in a daze. That was just his luck. The House that ‘took the lot’. His father would be thrilled. He sat down and felt a soft jab of an elbow in his side. He looked up and saw a head full of purple hair. “Welcome to the noble house of founder Helga Hufflepuff. I wonder what the sorting Hat meant. It has never been that specific with anybody it put into our house.” Cedric shrugged. “Hi, I’m Tonks. I’m in 6^th year. Come on, what’s with the long face? You must be pretty special for the hat to single you out like that.” Maybe she was right, she seemed nice enough. Cedric smiled tentatively and tried to forget about what his father would say when he found out and focused on enjoying the rest of the sorting ceremony.

One by one the first year students were distributed into their different houses. Zacharias joined him at the Hufflepuff table and every time another student joined them they cheered with the rest of their House. The ceremony ended with “Weasley, George!” The Sorting Hat had not even touched George’s head and it yelled “Gryffindor!” just like it had for his brother a minute before that. Instantly Cedric’s gloom was back. They would be in different houses, playing Quidditch against each other. His father would never understand.

CHAPTER 4 - THE WAND CHOSES THE WIZARD

The two kids looked on in amazement as Amos Diggory opened the hidden entrance to Diagon Alley. Granted, magic was nothing new to Cedric but it was another thing to know about it or to actually see a brick wall moving aside to create a doorway into a completely different world. His friend Joey was completely blown away by all the shops selling magical supplies. Amos had not been thrilled when Cedric had asked permission to take his friend along when he was getting his school supplies, but in the end he couldn't deny his son's pleading. As soon as Joey had convinced her parents that she needed to keep an owl as a pet, Cedric thought it was just fair that she should pick out her own.

This was Joana's first glimpse into the magical world and she was probably more excited than Cedric and wished she didn't have to wait two more years to finally go to school. Consequently she tried to soak in the sights. There was Gringott’s bank, a Cauldron Shop and Apothecary, Florish and Blotts with all the magical books – where they almost lost Joey, as she had picked up a book and retreated in a quiet corner and started reading - Madam Malkin’s Robes and Ollivander’s Wands. They visited them all one after the other and saved Ecylops Owl Emporium for last. The name of the shop was misleading as they were offering many more familiars than just owls. In the muggle world Joana despised buying pets from a store but this seemed different. It was a store, yes, but Cedric had explained to her that all the animals here had been rescued and nursed back to health and were now given a new chance at a good life. The money they would be spending in here would go right back to help more animals. Joey liked that.

As communication was the issue Cedric and Joey only had eyes for the owls. Joey tried to tune in to every bird she approached, in order to find a connection. Finally she decided on a silver Sooty Owl with large black eyes and a beautiful black marking around his face that looked like a disc and named him Clyde. Cedric took a similar approach, sticking his finger into every cage and picking the one who protested the most to this intrusion. When Joey gave him a quizzical look he said “What? I like the spirited ones! Owls are magnificent birds and they shouldn’t cower down to our will. I’m sure Miss Bonnie here will warm up to me eventually.” Joey chuckled "Bonnie? Are you serious? You’re going to name your owl Bonnie? Bonnie & Clyde?” Cedric grinned mischievously “Oh… I hadn’t even noticed!” And he picked up his large brown Eagle Forest Owl and turned to leave.

Back at home Cedric excitedly shared his experiences in Diagon Alley with his mother and showed her his new wand. "Ah, Ash! I should have known!" Cedric looked surprised. "I read up on old Druid Magic when I was in school, always interested me. After graduation I did an internship at Ollivander’s. Did Mr. Ollivander not tell you more about your wand?" Cedric shook his head "He was very busy but he knew who I was and told me to make sure to tell you it was Ash, pleasantly springy, 12 1/4 inches long. Oh and he said it has a unicorn tale hair." Justina raised an eyebrow "Yeah, he said it's from a particularly fine male unicorn." He glanced at his mother "So, Mom - what else is there to know about my wand?" Justina gave him a warm look and smiled at him. "Are you really interested or do you just want to indulge your old mother?" With an exasperated sigh, Cedric answered "Mo-hom" drawing out the word into two syllables. "You're not that old yet. And yes, I really do want to know. Maybe it can help me with my magic."  Justina nodded "Indeed, it could, Honey! That’s a very smart observation.

Well - the ash tree is one of the sacred trees of Wicca and witchcraft. Ancient Druids and in fact most other ancient mythologies consider it the father of all trees, the tree of life from which all the worlds spring. It unites the past, present and future and represents the continual cycle of birth and rebirth. It is a symbol of strength, purpose and wisdom. Folklore says a dragon lives in the root of the ash and the mighty eagle in its branches. Furthermore the ash tree also symbolizes the astral dimension and its many doorways, therefore linking the inner and the outer worlds. This has given the ash tree the reputation that it forms a pathway or a bridge by which the wizard may travel among the worlds. You could also conclude, that maybe you'll have a knack for divination, as the astral dimension is, of course, associated with divination, prophecy and inspiration."

Cedric wrinkled his nose "Divination? Really? That never struck me as all that interesting...." Justina shrugged her shoulders. "Didn't you tell me that Joana supposedly has inherited that gift from her great-great grandmother?" Cedric nodded. "Maybe you can give her some pointers after you take a class or two." Cedric seemed to ponder that fact. "At the very least it's something you'll have to talk about." His face lightened up a little. "I suppose ...." Justina laughed. "Ok then, now for the spells. Wands made of ash wood are supposedly good for spells that require focus and strength and strength of purpose. They are often used for healing and are excellent in the use of protection spells. As the Ash is associated with the element of water it was believed that carrying a branch of ash along on a boat ride would shield the bearer from drowning." Cedric protested again "But I can swim!" Joana nodded "I know that! You’re like a fish in the water. And that may very well be one of the reasons why this wand chose you, since you already have a big connection to the water."

Cedric now looked at his Mom in astonishment. "Wow, that's really a lot of stuff your wand considers before it picks you, isn't it?" Again, Justina nodded. "Your wand is your most important tool from now on. It can help you and it will protect you. It's your best ally, like an extension of yourself, really! That's why it is so important that you are paired with the right wand. The more compatible you are, the stronger it will make you as a wizard, the more powerful your magic will be." Cedric nodded his understanding "Is there anything else?" Justina reached for his wand "Let me see...  Sometimes the decorations of your wand are not unimportant. You have spiral sun symbols, which emphasize Ash's link to the sun. Then you have these eight-spoke wheels, which is really interesting." - "It is?" - Justina nodded "Yes, you see the Greek Goddess Nemesis carried an ash wand as a symbol of divine justice. She is also seen in iconology with an eight-spoke wheel that symbolizes the solar year. Furthermore the wheel symbolizes the fates who dispensed her justice under the ash tree, metering out happiness or misery. Actually, I remember now that the ash was also said to be enabling harmony with your surroundings. You see how that is all connected?" Cedric nodded pondering his mother's accounts.

"Any questions, Baby?" Cedric flinched and rolled his eyes "Mo-hom! I'm not a baby anymore!" Justina grinned "Oh, sorry, of course not!" - "Mom, what significance does the wand core have - or does it have any at all?" - Oh yes, I almost forgot. Unicorns are, of course, magical creatures that are considered, fierce yet good, selfless yet solitary but always mysteriously beautiful. It is pure of heart and his horn therefore has the power to neutralize poison. A unicorn can be captured by unfair means only." She looked at her son again, very fondly "In other words, they are very special creatures - just like you" Cedric frowned.

Justina laughed "Before you Mo-hom - me again, here is another little trivia fact about ash wood that you with your dislike of snakes will probably appreciate." Cedric shot her a quizzical look? "What's that, Mom?" - "For some reason snakes have an innate fear of the ash tree and will not crawl over its wood." That's good to know, thought Cedric shuddering.