'Do you like Harry?'

Edward repeated the question to himself that Alice had asked him the previous day. But he could not come up with a definitive answer, as there was always internal questioning that led him to something like a philosophical debate. Emmett often said that Edward thought way beyond what was needed, never seeing how simple things were. He had to agree with his brother, but still, he couldn't change his way of being... It was stronger than him.

But now that the question popped, there was no way he could escape the obligation to get an answer and he should do it for the obvious reason alone: his family would more likely hinder him rather than help.

If he talked about it with Esme, she would be euphoric that he might have found a mate, giving him no room to think coherently. Carlisle was going to start a long speech about how wonderful it was to share immortality with someone, which would lead to the intense debate between them about their "state" of immortality.

For being an empath, Jasper would be the best choice because he understood feelings like no one else. However, he would look at everything from a similar angle to a military strategy, especially considering the unknown risks of Edward getting involved with a wizard.

Alice would roll her eyes impatiently, repeatedly showing him the prediction as if he were a stupid child who could learn nothing from what he had been told. Rosalie would laugh at his face and make a derogatory comment about him - as she always did, whatever the topic. And Emmett? Well, a fern would have more tact to talk about feelings than Emmett.

Edward sighed in defeat as he returned to the initial question.

Did he like Harry?

Yes, he did.

Very much, actually...

He liked his company, their conversations, their friendship... Edward liked that aura of mystery that Harry had: he was sweet and warm to the people around him, while paradoxically somewhat distant and even inaccessible. Harry was energetic and vivacious, as if there was a fire crackling behind his green eyes that seemed ready to defy someone and already knew he would win, or when he laughed at some dirty joke that Emmett and Ron were telling. But there were times when he contained himself in his own silence, stillness and secrets.

Harry was like volcano covered with snow.

And to his dismay, Edward realized how much it attracted him, how masochistic he became for liking someone who made him so... So thirsty! Thirsty for that sweet blood that smelled like lavender and caramel, thirsty for any crumbs of information the wizard decided to give, thirsty for his company, the smiles, the conversations, thirsty even for his silence.

And this thirst manifested itself as desires for physical contact.

It began long ago as innocent, unintended touches, evolving into more intimate physical contact like the day they were in the meadow and Edward showed what happens when sunlight touched him. If Edward closed his eyes, he could still feel the ghost of the warmth of the Harry's fingers touching his skin, just as he could feel the sensation of having Harry on him, his own arms around the wizard's waist, the scent of his hair, the heat of his body, the softness of his warm skin pressed against his own, cold and hard...

And with Alice's vision, everything got worse because memories and probabilities of a future were no longer enough.

Once again, he was thirsty.

And confused.

Confused because he had never felt something like this for anyone else. He didn't know, or rather, never felt the attraction or desire that one person had for another and for a long time he believed that he would never feel those things for someone.

Even in his human life, he was always totally disinterested in such matters, causing his mother to interfere whenever she could and even insisting that he court the daughter of a couple of bankers from Chicago - whom he had never met, as she was one of first to die by the first wave of Spanish Flu. After he became a vampire and after his rebellious phase in the 1920s, in 1933 Carlisle transformed Rosalie Hale - a Rochester beauty who had suffered a cruel act of violence that ended her human life- to make her as Edward's mate, but the plan soon failed because he and Rosalie had totally different personalities, leading to nothing but a brother-sister relationship. There was Tanya, a blonde vampire who openly wanted him as her lover but Edward swiftly shied away, making it clear that there would be only one friendship between them.

When Bella Swan appeared, for a short while, he thought he might have found someone special to complete him, but... It wasn't and it all ended in a traumatizing way thanks to his vile nature as a vampire...

How could he feel something like love when he was what he was?

This thought led him to the perennial philosophical debate whether vampires were really capable of feeling human emotions, which he always suspected because they were no longer human, despite Carlisle and the rest of his family's insistence on assuring that yes, Edward-stubborn-ass, vampires, as well as humans, are capable of feeling joy, sadness, happiness, hate...

Vampires, even though technically dead, unchanging, and inhuman, can still feel and have attraction, desire, lust, and fascination for someone else... Vampires can love.

But there was a point Edward was considering now, something that had never crossed his mind.

Maybe...

Maybe he simply never had an affinity towards females...

Maybe all this time, he has tried to feel these emotions for women, unaware that they could never induce these same feelings in him.

Maybe all this time, the answer was in young men with porcelain complexions, emerald green eyes, dark hair, smaller than him...

Maybe... Maybe he was already in love with one right now.

And then the epiphany happened.

"Oh..." Edward whispered in amazement and shock, rubbing his forehead as his ochre-colored eyes were fixed to the living room carpet. "So that's what it's like to be in love..."

.

.

.

Over the following days, Edward found that ignorance was indeed a blessing.

The fact that he found out he was in love with Harry made him no longer know how to act when the two were together, because instead of serving as an impulse for him to take some initiative it only made him nervous, shy, without knowledge of what to say or what to do.

An example of this was a day when he, Harry and the rest of his siblings were in the school cafeteria and at one point when Harry chatted with Alice, Edward had watched the wizard closely, not noticing a small smile of affection forming on his lips while doing it.

Jasper's golden eyes widened at Edward, mentally calling his name as he stared at him incredulously.

The blond vampire, who had hitherto discreetly followed the emergence of certain emotions from Edward since the day on the beach, was shocked when he felt these emotions in a much more potent and clear way.

'Edward... you... great balls of fire!' Jasper's mental voice exclaimed.

Alice quietly watched her mate, placing her small hand on his forearm in a sign of comfort.

Jasper soon understood, concentrating on making Edward calm down, making the bronze-haired vampire whisper a thank-you in response, knowing that his secret would be safe.

It was not.

Not that Jasper had told someone, but it was enough for Emmett eavesdropping on the conversation of the seer and former Confederate Major to let the rest of the Cullen family know the news at the end of the day.

"Of course this would happen... I warned you!" Rosalie said to Edward sarcastically as she filed her nails. "It's typical of you... First get involved with a human girl with the charisma of a potato and now falls in love with a wizard... On the plus side, Harry is really cute. I can see why you've fallen in love with him and let me say that if I had known you had a thing for posh-accented British boys, I would have gotten one for you myself... Oh, don't make that face, Edward, I deep down I knew you were a 'friend of Dorothy'... Not of the colorful kind but more of the tragic kind, almost emo..."

Emmett rolled with laughter as Rosalie continued to mumble her distrust that dates back to the 1930s when Edward rejected her, as she says "... no straight guy would think twice in have me as a mate."

As for Esme and Carlisle, he didn't even want to remember their reactions, especially his adoptive mother who already made plans to supply the kitchen with human food as well as call Harry to come to their house more often, already imagining the relationship with her future son-in-law. And Carlisle obviously gave the speech about immortality and mates.

Seeing his secret and personal realization - which wasn't really that secret as everyone suspected what was happening - being treated so lightly by his family, made the 17/118 year-old vampire feel the greatest shame since he was human.

Gathering the last pieces of his dignity, Edward asked, in fact almost begged for everyone to behave naturally when they were with Harry and his friends, to avoid acting overly receptive in the almost freakish way that only the Cullens could act - like the day they decided to make pasta for Bella just because her name was Italian.

.

.

.

"Is it my impression or are you always alone?"

A familiar voice caught Edward's attention as he was distracted looking out the window. Turning around, he saw Harry with his usual soft smile only with a difference that now he was wearing round glasses, an accessory the vampire had never seen him wear.

It was a Tuesday, the first English Literature class.

"I'm not very popular ..." Edward replied with a casual smile. Harry chuckled low and sat beside him.

"I doubt it. Half the girls here would cut off their own hands so they could sit with you!"

Edward laughed, shaking his head as there was a bit of reason in that sentence.

"I hope you don't mind... I was going to sit with Mione, but she's already paired up." The dark-haired boy said while tipping his chin towards the school desk.

"No, of course... But I thought you didn't have this class."

"Indeed, but apparently they needed to fill some vacancies in this class and I had this time vacant..." Harry explained. "I knew Hermione took this class, but I had forgotten you were here too."

"I see..." Edward bowed his head, secretly happy about it and once again feeling butterflies in his stomach. Taking a deep breath, he changed the subject as he looked at the other. "You didn't lie when you said you wore John Lennon-like glasses... Why are you just wearing them now?"

Harry laughed, embarrassed.

"I was out of patience to put on my contact lenses..." The boy said, looking at his reflection in the window and frowning a bit. "I had forgotten how weird I look with glasses."

"I don't think so," Edward replied promptly. "They suit you..."

"Kind of you." Harry blushed softly.

A moment of silence settled between them as they watched the students settle into their respective places and the teacher wrote on the board the play to be analyzed in class, 'Romeo & Juliet'.

At one point, Harry laughed again, catching Edward's eye.

"What's up?" The vampire asked curiously.

Harry shook his head and looked at him.

"I was remembering the first class we had together. Biology, remember?"

"I remember." Edward said, embarrassed to remember that he had almost advanced on Harry.

"You reacted so violently towards me ... Today you don't even seem to be disgusted by my scent or anything." The wizard smiled shyly as he opened the copy of Shakespeare's play.

"Your scent never disgusted me, Harry." Edward answered softly as he looked at his hands "On the contrary..."

Harry blinked at him in confusion.

"But I thought ..."

"That day, I really acted with revulsion and disgust, but not because of you, but because of my monstrous nature, you see... I... I wanted to drink your blood," the vampire whispered.

"Drink my... Blood?" The wizard asked, dumbfounded.

Edward nodded slightly in confirmation.

"The scent of your blood is..." Edward closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the other's scent fill his unused lungs. "Alluring to me"

"Alluring?" Harry whispered "Like... Like Bella's?"

The older boy looked down at his hands, thanking the heavens that he was unable to blush.

"No... Much better... Sweeter, more exquisite... I never sensed anything like yours. It's like my personal brand of heroin... If you hadn't left the class, I... I probably would have tried to kill you." The vampire confessed in a low voice.

Harry paled, slightly distancing himself reflexively.

"Please... No, don't be afraid of me ... I'm under control now... I would never hurt you!" Edward whispered, embarrassed and horrified.

'Please do not turn away from me!' his mind pleaded, cursing himself for being an abomination that only served to bring death wherever he was. But he had his thoughts of self-deprecation cut off by Harry, who gently patted the vampire's hard, cold hand in comfort.

"It's okay... I was just surprised." Harry assured and finished with a laugh. "It's just not every day someone compares me to a drug or tells me that I smell like a snack!"

Edward laughed loudly, catching the attention of a few girls around who were delighted to see him, the most handsome boy in town - and the most withdrawn - laugh.

A comfortable silence settled between them as they listened as the teacher began to explain the historical background about Shakespeare's work.

"You know... I never liked 'Romeo & Juliet'." Edward said softly to Harry.

"Why...?"

"I never understood why there was so much glamorization around it... In the beginning, Romeo says he is in love with Rosaline, kills her cousin to prove his 'manhood' and out of nowhere he falls madly in love with Juliet and she just seems to act driven by hormones of adolescence." The vampire answered. "It's a story about two inconsequential beings"

Harry frowned.

"I think that's the point..." The boy replied in a dreamy voice, supporting his chin with his hand. "Apart from political issues, what we see is the inconsequence of love. Such a sincere and pure love, but at the same time so violent..."

"These violent delights have violent ends... And in their triumph die, like fire and powder..." Edward recited an excerpt from the play with a soft smile.

"Which as they kiss consumes..." They both said at the same time and laughed.

The vampire turned his full attention to the younger boy.

"They were born in the wrong place, under the wrong circumstances ..." Harry whispered with a faraway look, his fingers caressing his gold necklace. "They loved each other and made promises because they knew they could only count on themselves as the world was against them... But contrary to what others think, I don't think it ends tragically."

"No?" Edward asked curiously. "They died. What was the point of all this love after all? What good was the promise they made? It's pure folly."

Harry looked at Edward.

"It is tragedy for the family of the two, who needed the death of their children to bring about reconciliation, but at the same time it was a happy ending for Juliet and Romeo. If they both lived, they would never have had peace in their lives," Harry answered. "In death they found peace."

"Don't you think the suicide part is overkill?" Edward asked.

Harry sighed, looking forward again.

"Maybe... I don't know... When someone you love dies in a tragic way, it's like... It's like ripping out a vital part of you, leaving you with only emptiness in your chest. You feel so much pain... You can't think... You can't breathe..." The wizard whispered as he stared at nothing. "But what comes after that is what varies from person to person: some can survive with this emptiness. Others, like Juliet, cannot stand suffering and find in death the cure for pain... And others..."

Harry was silent for a moment.

"What do the others do?" Edward asked.

"Others feel the hate. A hate so great and destructive that it acts like an atomic bomb, razing everything and everyone ahead of it... And even themselves in the process." The wizard responded bitterly.

Edward didn't know what to say, just watched Harry go on with a sigh.

"But in the end, I'm just like you."

"In what sense...?"

"'Romeo & Juliet'... I don't like it either," Harry shrugged.

"Which books do you like?" Edward asked curiously.

"In general? I love suspense and horror, like Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft, of course. From classics works, I appreciate 'Divine Comedy'... The description of Dante's Hell is... Picturesque." Harry laughed as he continued to shake his pen.

"'Divine Comedy' is one of my favorites too..." Edward replied with a smile. "I really like the idea that Dante's love for Beatrice guided him from Hell to Paradise."

"Oh..." Harry raised his eyebrows with a smile. "You're definitely a romantic, Cullen"

Before Edward could answer, the teacher caught their attention.

"Mr. Cullen and Mr. Potter, could you tell me if your subject is more interesting than my class, because if it is, we'll be happy to hear."

"Sorry, ma'am. I was just exchanged opinions about Shakespeare with Harry" Edward said innocently.

"Great. Since they are so excited about Shakespeare, why don't they both recite a passage to start reading with the rest of the room? "

Edward smiled politely but mentally snorted in irritation. He would still hate school - even though he had nice company by his side.

"If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle fine is this..." Edward randomly recited by heart Romeo's speech, his voice giving a velvety texture to the words. "My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready to stand smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss"

The wizard frowned when he saw that the teacher was looking at him, encouraging him to continue.

"Your turn, Mr. Potter"

Harry let out a breath, realizing there was no escape.

"Good pilgrim... You do wrong too much, what mannerly devotion shows in this..." Harry's British accent gave Juliet's lines an intonation of extreme elegance and authenticity, as if he was in the Old Vic Theater instead of an American classroom.

Harry broke off for a moment as if remembering something and the vampire watched the blood flow concentrated on the human's cheeks.

"...For saints have hands that pilgrims 'hands of touch and palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss" Harry finished his line.

'Oh' Edward frowned as he realized that this was the 'Romeo & Juliet' kiss scene. They both fell silent.

"Have not saints lips and holy palmers too?" Edward asked after long seconds.

"Ay, pilgrim..." Harry replied with a nod of his head, his voice breaking for a second "Lips that they must use in prayer..."

"O, then, dear saint, let lips of what hands of... They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair..." Edward could not resist the temptation to look into the wizard's face meeting warm, wary green eyes, crowned with long dark lashes.

"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake" Harry licked his lips, causing the vampire to swallow dryly followed by a wide smile, causing some girls who watched them to sigh in response.

Unconsciously, Edward tilted his head toward the other boy, able to feel the vibration of his heartbeat as well as the waves of heat emanating from his body.

"Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take ..." Edward whispered, his eyes fixed on Harry's lips. "Thus from my lips, by yours... My sin... Is purged"

Gold met green, both of them facing what could be milliseconds or hours. A small part of Edward's mind wondered if Harry was reading his thoughts. It didn't matter.

Harry could read it if he wanted to.

Edward wondered if it was okay for him to lift his fingers to the wizard's face, to feel the texture of his soft, warm skin, to take his thumb to those parted pink lips.

"Well ... That was ... It was really great boys ... Congratulations ..." Professor MacClare broke the silence of the room that caused Edward to swallow the dryness in his throat once more when having eye contact with Harry interrupted.

The vampire genuinely forgot where they were and that there were people around him and Harry.

People who sported different facial expressions and varied thoughts.

The old teacher was slightly flushed and frowning. 'Intense...' was the word she repeated in her head.

'Is it my imagination or did they almost kiss? Not that I minded, on the contrary...' A brown-haired girl looked at them with lust. Edward would have blushed if he could, when he heard her thoughts. The sexual awakening of this generation of young people sometimes scared him.

'I didn't understand anything they said... By the way, does anyone understand anything?' Another girl scratched her head.

'Is Edward gay? Why is every hot guy liking dicks lately?! What a waste...' Another one with curly hair pursed her mouth in disgust, just like some of the boys.

He analyzed them all, face by face, their thoughts invading his head, but stopped when he reached Hermione. The girl was looking at him with a disapproving expression, her dark brown eyes with veiled fury and the corners of her mouth twisted.

A part of Edward's mind asked if she too was prejudiced or something, but soon he dismissed that... Something in him said that there was another reason.

Edward bowed his head sheepishly as the class proceeded with further reading of the 'Romeo & Juliet' passages, as well as punctual explanations from the teacher.

From time to time he would peek at Harry out of the corner of his eye, seeing the boy with his head bowed and his gaze fixed on the table.

'What is he thinking?'

This question was what he repeated most often when he was with the wizard, his curiosity to know more slowly eroding his sanity.

When the period bell sounded, Harry was the first to leave, grabbing his pack and marching quickly out of the room, causing the vampire to just blink in a confused and somewhat disappointed way.

Slowly picking up his own material, Edward started to walk to the door, but was stopped by Hermione's hand on his chest, her eyes still sporting a hard gaze.

"One moment, Cullen."

Edward frowned.

"Hermione?"

"We need to talk. Follow me."

"Oh... Hm... Right." He responded by walking beside her to the corner of a relatively empty corridor, her back to him.

Hermione stared at the ceiling, taking a deep breath until at last she turned and faced the bronze-haired vampire.

Her gaze was intimidating, glacial.

"Stop whatever you're doing."

Edward blinked in confusion.

"I'm sorry, I don't..."

"Harry! I'm talking about Harry... Stay away from him." the witch replied.

Edward clenched his jaw.

"I ..."

"You really think that I don't know what you are doing? Where do you want to go with this?!" Hermione crossed her arms, her face with a stern look. "What are you planning anyway?"

He was silent, shocked by the direct way she spoke.

"Don't matter. Stay away from him or I swear on Lilith's name that I'll..." Hermione broke off, breathing through her mouth. "Just stay away from him!!! This is a warning that I'll give you only once."

"I... I can't." Edward finally said, choosing the words calmly as he placed his two hands behind his back in a formal way. "I don't have strength to stay away from him anymore... And I don't want to."

"What?!"

Edward bit his lower lip.

"I... I am falling in love with him." He murmured, surprised by the naturalness and softness that those words came out.

"Falling in love?!"

"Yes..." Edward repeated simply.

Hermione widened her eyes, stepping back.

"Oh no... No, no, no... This can't be happen... No way..."

"I see you don't approve ... Do you have something against homosexual people, Miss Granger?" Edward asked in a more formal way to mask the growing irritation inside his chest.

"NO!!!" Hermione exclaimed, shaking her head and hands and taking a deep breath to calm down. "Hell, no... I... I don't have any problem with same sex couples... I don't have those rubbish conceptions. Nor does my community."

"So, what's the problem then?" Edward asked urgently.

Hermione stood with an unreadable expression.

"Oh... I see..." Edward took a step back. "Is it because I'm a vampire? Because I'm a blood-drinking monster? If so, know that I already know it very well. And I know it would be too much of me to think that Harry would look with interest at a vile creature like me. "

She closed her eyes as she shook her head in denial.

"No, no, I mean, partly I think... or rather, I don't know... I just worry about him, okay?" Hermione muttered, lowering her eyes. "Harry is like a brother to me, I love him very much and I don't want to see him hurt."

Edward cocked his head to the side.

"I have no intention of hurting him. On the contrary..." Edward said truthfully.

"But you hurt him already..." Hermione whispered, frowning then.

The vampire frowned.

"What?"

"No... Nothing. Forget what I said" The witch replied quickly, closing her eyes and sighing, seeming to think of something.

Edward paused for a moment, thinking about what she had said.

Did he hurt Harry? In what sense?

He would have to find out in order to avoid.

Hermione opened her eyes and looked calmer.

"If what you say is true..."

"It's the most resolute truth." Edward answered.

"Edward, I'm asking you because this is really serious... Are you sure about your... Your feelings?"

He paused a bit, looking to the ground for a moment.

"Yes. I am sure." He replied.

"And what makes you so sure about that?"

Edward sighed.

"I've never... I've never felt these feelings for anyone. I... I like him. A lot. Not like a friend... I mean, I feel greatly privileged to be his friend, but it's not enough... I want more...I..." Edward bit his lower lip and continued. "I want him."

Hermione gasped and took a deep breath.

"Nine Hells, I hope I don't regret this, but... I will support you."

Edward raised his eyebrows, taken aback by her.

"I don't understand..."

"Well..." Hermione said with her hand on the back of her neck. "Let's say I have particular reasons to believe that maybe, I repeat, maybe it's even good that you guys could have a thing..."

"Uh, really?!" The vampire replied incredulously.

"Honestly, I'm not sure about it yet," she replied. "But in actual circumstances, it's an option to consider."

A moment of silence passed between them.

"Thank you" Edward said humbly.

"Don't thank me..." Hermione answered dryly.

Edward nodded. It was clear to him that she cared a lot about her friend and he would do the same thing for any of his siblings.

"Do you... Hm... Do you think he might like... Me?" Edward asked sheepishly.

Hermione looked at him for a moment, biting her lip.

"It's not up to me to give you an answer, Edward." She stopped for a moment and then continued. "I'm sorry."

"No, you're right... That's okay..." He whispered.

"I must go, and we'll talk later about this... But remember... I'm watching you!" She said with a serious tone before walk away.

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.

.

Edward sighed as he finished tying the butterfly-tie, looking at the mirror and seeing himself flawless in a midnight-blue tuxedo.

Hermione's birthday had come with a party hosted by Alice: a sort of fifties-style cocktail party, full of alcoholic drinks mixed with a potion which she made them ingestible for them. Alice had decorated every corner of the house with pink candles and flowers. She had even moved part of the living room furniture to get a makeshift dance floor and ordered everyone to dress in character for "theme cohesion" - which to Edward figured was just a lame excuse for Rosalie and her to wear their designer dresses again. The brat...

Downstairs he could already hear the soft jazz playing as his perfectly dressed family waited for their guests to arrive. Alice, who wore a green dress with full skirts, leaped toward him with a bright smile.

'Not bad, Ed...' She thought as she looked him up and down. 'Harry will be impressed!'

The vampire rolled his eyes and stuffed his hands in his pockets, feeling anxious to see Harry again - even though he had seen him hours earlier at school... What a needy creature he had become.

They waited in the living room, each talking to their respective spouses while Edward remained alone, staring out the window overlooking the forest that was lit by a faint bluish light from the evening sky dotted with stars.

It had been almost a week since finding out he was in love with Harry, and during those days he had done nothing but act - or at least try to act - naturally with the wizard. Even with his family's support and relative approval from Hermione, he was more insecure than ever. If he told Harry, what would happen?

What if Harry said he didn't think of Edward the same way? What if he decided to get away from him because of that? Edward didn't want to lose a friendship that was already so precious to him.

If only he knew what was going through the wizard's head, if only there was a breach in his mental shield so that he could read it for a minute instead of experiencing this psychological torture... Edward soon understood why Human teenagers act like fools when in love and asked forgiveness for every time he made some derogatory comment about them over his hundred years as vampire.

As Harry had told him before, karma was a bitch.

The knock on the door warned that their guests had arrived, making them all walk to the front door to greet them. Edward stood away from everyone, leaning against a wall as he watched them.

"Haaaaappy Birthday, Hermione!" Alice hugged the girl as she opened the door and walked away looking at her. Hermione wore a mauve-pink silk dress with a pearl necklace and discreet makeup with her hair pulled up in a bun. "Uhhh... I LOVE your dress!!!"

"Thank you." The witch smiled shyly as she looked at Alice, Rosalie and Esme. "You're all so beautiful."

"All Alice's work!!! Happy Birthday, dear" Esme said with a hug, followed by Rosalie, who was dazzling in a gray Dior embroidered with faux-pearls and glass beads. "I'd say the same about you... In fact, all of you! How elegant and beautiful you are..."

Esme smiled in a motherly fashion at Ron and Harry.

Edward looked at the latter with admiration, lowering his eyes with a smile. He was beautiful, of course, in his perfect-cut tuxedo, bow tie and formerly unruly hair, now properly groomed in a formal manner. And with his glasses... Edward loved seeing him with them.

Harry looked at Edward with a polite smile and a slight flush on his cheeks, and then cleared his throat as if giving himself courage to answer.

"It's kind of you, Esme... But I guess that doesn't apply to me." Harry replied with a nervous laugh as he greeted Carlisle and her with a wave of his hand. "When tall and good-looking blokes, like you, wear tuxedos, you all look like male models. When I wear one, I look like a teddy bear with a bow tie"

Everyone laughed, except Edward.

"That's not true!!!" He suddenly interrupted, his inner monster enraged by everyone who as laughing at Harry, even if Harry was laughing at himself. "You look..."

'Beautiful, the most beautiful and adorable of all' Edward thought out of pleasure, but quickly recovered to see the gaze of everyone towards him, as well as the expectant thoughts of his family.

"Effervescent!" Edward said the first word that came to mind "You look effervescent..."

Harry blinked in genuine confusion and frowned.

"Thank you... I suppose..." The boy answered him uncertainly. "You look 'effervescent' too..."

Alice, Rosalie, Emmett and even Jasper looked at Edward with displeasure.

'Effervescent?! Really? That was the worst attempt at a compliment I have ever heard in my life... That's the real reason why you're always single!' Rosalie rolled her eyes.

'Dude, I'll have to give you some tips on pick-up lines... You're a disaster.' Emmett mentally told him with a mischievous smile.

"Why don't we go to the living room?" Alice suggested cheerfully as Jasper made everyone's moods more relaxed.

"Let's go guys, 'cause the night will be effervescent!!!" Emmett laughed as he looked at Edward who discreetly punched his stomach.

In fact the early evening was effervescent like the champagne bubbles served along with wine, whiskey and brandy that filled the glasses magically. Ron had brought several bottles of his favorite drink, butterbeer, apparently a traditional drink from their hometown, Godric's Hollow. Edward looked suspiciously at the mug served to him, smelling butter and brown sugar and when he tasted it, the flavors exploded in his mouth. It was absurdly delicious, sweet for sure, but well balanced... It tasted similar to the feeling of being safe at home. When he finished taking his mug he was incredulous to see that Emmett was already on his third.

They sang happy birthday to Hermione for her seventy-third birthday as well as handed their gifts to her - even though the witch had insisted they not buy her anything. Alice, of course, completely ignored the recommendation. Hermione smiled as she was hugged by Harry and blushed heavily when Ron kissed her passionately.

Over time, the room was filled with lively conversations, anecdotes, laughter and relaxation, leaving everyone, at least for a few hours, free from any concern for supernatural attacks. Edward was anxious to be able to talk to Harry, but soon saw that it was virtually impossible given that they were surrounded by so many people.

The vampire laughed to himself as he remembered an excerpt from 'The Great Gatsby' in which one character said that he loved big parties because they were intimate, since at small parties there was no privacy. Now he understood very well what that meant.

"Harry?" Alice called the wizard at one point.

The boy, who was talking to Esme about his parents, turned to her.

"Yes?"

"I still haven't forgotten that you promised to show us your musical skills on the piano ..." The little vampire smirked as she sipped her martini.

Edward didn't like that smile.

She was planning something, he could feel it.

"Well remembered! It would be lovely to see you playing, dear." Esme smiled warmly, oblivious to her adopted daughter's malevolent intentions.

"Oh... Well, I haven't played for a while, but I'll make an effort... What do you want me to play?" Harry asked shyly.

"Great! You and Edward take turns playing together and the rest of us will choose the songs we'll all sing. Sound good?"

Edward narrowed his eyes at his sister who sported a false expression of innocence on her face.

'What is it?' Her mind asked.

"That's fine with me..." Harry said as he dropped the brandy glass he was holding so that it floated to a nearby tray. The boy looked awkward as he sat on the stool of the elegant musical instrument.

"Great!!! Ed? "Alice turned to him.

Edward gave her his best I-know-what-you're-trying-to-do look and got a mocking smile in return. The vampire approached the piano, standing next to Harry, who smiled at him in a friendly manner.

"Which song will be first?" The wizard asked as he snapped his fingers.

As his friends and family requested the songs to be played by them, Edward soon learned that Harry played the piano exceptionally well.

He was fascinated to see the wizard's hands strumming over the ebony and ivory keys, sliding over them with ease as he was surprised to hear Harry sing, for he had a sweet and beautiful voice. When it was Edward's turn to play, at times, when his mind wandered, he would fumble on certain notes and keys - which was immediately noted by his family, since he never missed a musical note when he played. All the Cullens sang songs of different styles, especially ballads and jazz, always ending with applause from everyone.

"I think that's enough for tonight" Harry said laughing as he fumbled with the final notes of 'Dream a Little Dream of Me'.

"Oh nooo... Can I ask one more Harry?" Alice clasped both hands in pity. "Pleeeease?"

"Alice!!!" Edward narrowed his eyes, propped up on the piano. "Don't embarrass the guests!"

The little vampire ignored him.

"Just one song!!! I promise we will all dance later..."

Harry sighed.

"Okay... Should I play or sing?"

"Play... Edward will sing for us"

"Who says I will?" The vampire asked.

"I'm saying."

Harry laughed softly.

"But continuing what I was saying, how about Ella Fitzgerald?"

Esme's eyes sparkled.

"Oh Edward... Please... You know how I love Ella!" The matriarch asked with a sweet smile.

"Hm... Well... Okay, if you guys insist..." Edward said feeling defeated "Which song?"

"Easy... 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered'" Alice replied with a wide smile.

"You're not serious... Can't be...." Edward said dryly.

"Why? It's my favorite! Now shut up and sing to your favorite sister!" She giggled, making Rosalie laugh along with Emmett. Hermione looked suspicious at the vampires and then her face brightened with realization while Ron didn't understand what was so funny.

Harry, totally oblivious, began to strum the notes of the song, making everyone silent. Edward kept his jaw clenched, making plans for revenge on Alice.

"Edward?" Harry caught his eye, causing Edward to turn to see him.

"I'm sorry..." He replied to the boy. "Let's start again"

"Alright"

Harry restarted playing while Edward took a deep breath to concentrate.

"Couldn't sleep and wouldn't sleep..." Edward filled the living-room with his velvety and slightly husky voice "...When love came and told me, I shouldn't sleep... Bewitched, bothered and bewildered, am I..."

Suddenly Edward stopped singing, realizing how Machiavellian Alice was: he was practically declaring his feelings in front of everyone and worse, in front of Harry, who was naturally oblivious to the situation.

Harry continued to play the song, worried that the bronze-haired boy was standing like a statue.

"Lost my heart... But what of it?" Harry sang shyly "...He is cold I agree..."

"Quite literally!!!" Emmett whispered to Rosalie and Alice, who covered their mouths to not laugh loudly. Esme told the three of them to hush while Carlisle smiled proudly and Jasper rolled his eyes.

Edward decided to ignore his family.

'Traitors ... All of them!' His mind growled, but stopped when Harry continued to sing.

"He can laugh, but I love it... Although the laugh's on meee ..."

He was unable to contain a smile as he looked at Harry who blushed and laughed softly. Edward continued to sing, this time paying attention only to the pianist who played for him.

"I've sinned a looot, I'm mean a looot... But I'm like sweet seventeen a looot... Bewitched, bothered and bewildeered... Am I!!!"

Edward moved closer to Harry, both of them singing together, their voices matching the piano notes with relative perfection.

"I'll sing to hiiim, each spring to hiiim... And long, for the day when I'll cling to hiiim..."

Harry abruptly stopped singing, looking down with a red face. Edward went on alone, unable to contain his dreamy smile as he stared at the boy in front of him.

"Bewitched... Bothered and Bewildered... Am I..."

He finished singing with a sigh, smiling softly at Harry who kept his head down, but slowly stood to look at him. Green eyes stared at him with confusion, surprise and something that seemed to be curiosity or even a little admiration. Edward didn't know what to say and before he could say anything the enthusiastic applause and whistling interrupted their eye contact, forcing him to give a grateful smile to their audience.

"I think I'll... Take some fresh air. Excuse me." Harry said quickly, opening the balcony door.

Edward turned to Alice, his withering gaze fixed upon her.

'Thank me later,' she winked boldly at him, pushing the button on the stereo's remote as she pulled Jasper to dance the foxtrot, followed by Carlisle and Esme, Rosalie with Emmett, and lastly Hermione and Ron.

He stood in a corner, staring into space as the music played.

Looking to the side, he saw through the windows the figure of Harry standing on the balcony. His body leaned against the balustrade as he stared at the star-studded sky, one of the perks of living so far away from major urban centers without all that smog. Edward watched the boy in his moment of solitude, reminding him of the beach day when Harry was sitting on the sand while watching the sunset.

But this time there was a difference. As he watched his family and friends dance with joy, Edward realized how sad the contrast of the scene was when he compared it with Harry. He couldn't read his mind, let alone did he have Jasper's empathic powers, but he could feel that no matter how much Harry smiled, laughed or interacted, he would always recoil, to be alone.

He felt this loneliness too, after all. His existence had been like that for a century. They were two lonely souls.

Edward grabbed a bottle of drink with two glasses, discreetly walking out to the balcony while trying to avoid bringing much attention to himself. Stopping at the door, he pondered whether or not to interrupt Harry in his private moment, but something was telling him that he should not be alone. Edward didn't want to leave him alone. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and entered the space.

"Am I disturbing you?" The vampire asked.

Harry turned toward him, his eyes wide with fright, but calmed to see that it was him.

"Never." He replied shyly.

The vampire's still and cold heart warmed at that answer.

"I apologize for my sister..." He said, offering a calm smile. "I've known her for almost fifty years and could never understand how someone so small can be so annoying"

Harry laughed softly.

"Oh no... No... It's okay." Harry assured with a slight smile.

Edward approached him, lifting the bottle with the glasses.

"I don't know if you wanted one, but I brought a drink. "

Harry let out a dramatic yet comic sigh.

"You are an angel, Edward, that's just what I needed!" Harry chuckled and grabbed a glass while the other poured a drink.

The vampire read the label.

"Ogden's Old Firewhisky... I never hear of that brand."

"It's a kind of magical whiskey made in Godric's Hollow..." Harry explained. "Try it..."

Edward poured himself a glass while being watched closely by Harry. The liquid was golden-orange, sparkling as if it had its own light and the smell was warm, like liquid sunlight... Taking a discreet sip, Edward felt it drip down his throat like a pleasant fire, heat spreading rapidly throughout his body. It was like being warmed inside out by an invisible fireplace.

"Fascinating!" He exclaimed.

"I know, right?" Harry said, pouring himself a shot.

"You know we shouldn't be doing this, don't you? Technically, we're 17 years old. " Edward said casually with a mischievous smile as he watched the wizard drink.

Harry snorted.

"You're bizarrely moral for a vampire"

"For your information, I'm the one who keeps decorum among my siblings... Especially Emmett, who even after all this time with us is still almost a savage," Edward defended himself dramatically.

"OI, I HEARD THAT!!!" Emmett shouted from the room, making the other two laugh.

A silence settled between them, and as Edward watched a slight nostalgic smile from across the boy's lips, his cheeks flushed from the beverage he was drinking.

"What are you thinking?" The vampire asked in his low velvety voice.

Harry sighed.

"I'm watching them dance ..." He pointed with his chin at the three couples who were elegantly spinning in the other room of the house.

"Oh ..."

"I'm remembering my time... These kinds of songs playing on the radio... The social changes that I followed and experienced..." Harry rambled "When we live this long, we accumulate many memories. Many experiences..."

Edward smiled wistfully.

"I just know that feeling..." He replied. "What do you miss the most?"

Harry paused to think, staring at his hands.

"I miss who I was... How simple everything was... I miss the romanticism and a certain kind of innocence. It is becoming impossible to spend a day without getting nostalgic about something... It makes me angry and frustrated to be so young yet so old. I'm so fucking tired." Harry finished talking with a sip of his drink.

Edward was silent.

"I miss a lot of things, but.... The past is in the past." Harry whispered.

The vampire bowed his head, understanding well what Harry felt.

He himself had lived for over a century, a hundred years of never-ending experiences.

One hundred years of following social changes, changes of thoughts, behaviors... Edward followed and adhered to such changes as often as he could. After all, as a telepath, he understood human thought better than anyone else, causing him to reevaluate the values that existed at the time he was raised and that shaped his education. For example, women's rights, racism, homosexuality...

Edward was raised at a time when he was told that it was immoral, sinful, a crime against nature for one man to have relations with another man. There was no talk of "love," because "love" was something that existed "only" between men and women and anything other than that was "perversion" and "sickness".

For a while, even after being turned into a vampire, he still brought with him such prejudices, but gradually it was extinguished both by Carlisle's wisdom and his mind-reading ability, where he understood firsthand that love didn't need labels to happen. It simply happened in a natural, unpremeditated way... Edward could hear firsthand the suffering, anguish, and sadness of these people who felt like trash for not fitting into a pattern imposed by a society full of hypocrisy.

How could he still be prejudiced after that? It made no sense.

Edward stared at the couples as they continued to spin around the dance floor to the sound of the ending song, until he had a rather bold but irresistible idea.

"Harry... Would you grant me the honor of dancing the next song with you?" Edward asked cautiously.

Harry turned his head to look at him, his green eyes taken aback by the question and his mouth ajar.

"A dance...?" He whispered.

Edward nodded.

"Well... It would be lovely to be able to dance... With you." Harry whispered a little shyly.

The vampire who had so far been leaning against the balustrade stood in front of the black-haired boy, placing a hand behind his back and offering his arm for Harry to take for himself. Edward might have evolved over the decades, but his ways of acting like a perfect gentleman of the early twentieth century were permanent.

Harry intertwined his arm with Edward's, letting the vampire lead him to the center of the beautifully decorated balcony with candles and rose vases at the corners, which exuded a wonderful perfume.

The song changed, filling the area with the hypnotic and romantic beats of 'I Only Have Eyes for You' by The Flamingos, a song that Edward hadn't heard in years but it was still one of his favorites.

"I'm smaller than you, so... Lead the dance." Harry whispered.

Edward smiled, placing his hand on Harry's back and Harry in turn put his hand on his shoulder. The vampire sighed as the wizard's other hand caught his. Vampire's cold skin felt the warmth and softness of the human's hand. Their bodies were at an appropriate distance as Edward began to guide him in slow steps, perfectly synchronized to the music.

"You dance very well," Edward whispered.

"I had a good teacher..." Harry replied with a dreamy look. "But I was a shitty dancer before... You should have seen me at the Yule Ball"

Edward laughed without even understanding what he meant.

My love must be a kind of blind love

I can't see anyone but you

Edward felt once again the sensation of butterfly wings flapping in his stomach as he lost himself in Harry's eyes. The warmth of Harry's hands warmed his cold skin, making him feel hot inside, much hotter than fire whiskey could do.

That was a different kind of warmth.

He couldn't help but smile at the boy as they spun elegantly and effortlessly, and he almost gasped when he got back a bright smile from Harry that made his dimples highlight his face.

Are the stars out tonight?

I don't know if it's cloudy or bright

I only have eyes for you, dear

Edward felt the joy of having Harry in his arms and the sensation was unbelievable. His body slowly approached the other's, his chin resting on the top of the wizard's head. The scent of Harry's dark hair caused an irrepressible desire to hold him, to protect him, to never to let him go... To have him forever and ever...

Even his inner monster, which Edward so despised, rejoiced at the idea and growled in approval, both agreeing on something for a change.

The moon may be high

But I can't see the thing in the sky

I only have eyes for you

Everything around him seemed to be enveloped in a sort of blur that faded things.

Edward could not focus on anything but Harry, his eyes, his hand gently caressing the vampire's stony shoulder, their bodies slowly getting closer, more and more... He was so absorbed that if asked at the time what was his name he couldn't answer.

Edwin?

Edgard?

Edmund?

I don't know if we're in a garden

Or on a crowded avenue

You are here and I am

His hand came down to the base of the boy's spine, who in response moved even closer to his body, nestling his head into the vampire's cold chest as he closed his eyes. Edward took a deep breath, getting drunk on that divine scent, and for a single moment he felt privileged and truly humble, as if he was graced by a miracle.

He prayed in thanks to the Lord that this was happening to him... To have finally found someone.

As they spun around again, Edward had noticed that his siblings, parents, and friends had stopped dancing but were still holding each other, watching him and Harry.

Carlisle and Esme smiled at him, proud and pleased.

"He's perfect for you, Edward." He heard Esme think with immense pleasure.

Alice smiled at him euphorically while Jasper's smile was more discrete. Emmett lifted his thumb up in approval and even Rosalie, always so "bitchy", smiled slightly at him.

Ron and Hermione both looked at the scene curiously, but also with something that looked like fear and even sadness, which Edward couldn't and didn't want to try to understand at that moment.

Ignoring everyone, he turned his attention only to the one in his arms and nothing but him, closing his eyes as he continued to dance at his own pace.

At that moment, there were only two people on Earth.

Edward Cullen and Harry Potter.

Maybe millions of people go by

But they all disappear from view

Edward took a deep breath as he took his hand from Harry's waist, bringing it to Harry's face, caressing his hot, flushed cheeks with his fingertips.

Harry lifted his head, eyes closed and lips parted, exhaling his warm, sweet breath... Edward never thought he could see anyone so handsome. He smiled as he tilted his face down, his own lips gently brushing the scar on the boy's forehead, then down to his nose...

And I only have eyes for you

The wizard's lips were warm, soft, delicate... His taste - a part of the vampire's mind unraveling as much detail as possible - was sweet, of such an aphrodisiac sweetness that it caused his cold, hard body to give little tremors. as if he felt his legs become soft, unsteady.

Had Edward finally died? Had he, contrary to what he thought, gone to Paradise?

For there was no plausible explanation why he could be feeling those emotions while still on Earth.

It was not possible, but it was still happening.

Harry had put one hand to the nape of his neck, stroking the hair with his fingertips while his other hand was resting on the lapel of his tuxedo. Edward in response, hugged him, wrapping Harry's waist with his arms

"I..." Harry whispered, slowly tearing himself away from the vampire. "I think it's time for me to go..."

Edward took a deep breath, controlling his emotions.

"Harry... I don't... I'm sorry ..." Edward said as he tried to form whatever sentence he felt right now. "I... "

"Shhh... Do not say anything" Harry put his finger in the vampire's lips as he smiled. "I loved dancing with you... Edward... Thanks."

Edward kissed the wizard's finger and smiled back.

"I say the same," he whispered back.

Harry took a deep breath, looking at the copper-haired boy for a few seconds longer until he walked back to the living room, where his friends were.

"I'm going home..."

"Let us go with you." Hermione suggested cautiously.

"No, no, Mione. Stay. Enjoy your party! I just... I need to get my head in place... I think I drank too much." Harry said, blushing. Everyone knew it wasn't the brandy that had popped into his head.

"Are you sure?" Ron asked.

"Absolutely"

He said goodbye to each of the Cullens. Alice and Esme hugged him, wishing he would come back as soon as possible and both mentally begged him to come back as Edward's boyfriend.

"Thanks for the night ... It was wonderful." Harry told the Cullens politely.

"It was an effervescent night, wasn't it Edward?" Emmett said looking at his brother. However, Edward was still too absorbed in his own thoughts to understand the teasing.

Harry blushed deeply, but took a deep breath and turned to the vampire whom he had just kissed.

"Good night ... Edward ..."

"A thousand times good night... Harry" He smiled shyly.

With a loud crack, Harry apparated from the Cullens' house.

'Paradise has the shape of pink lips, the taste of firewhisky, honey, mint and cherry... Has a soft texture, has warmth...' Edward's mind asserted in pleasure as he caressed his tingling lips with the sensation of the kiss, reveling in the memory of the taste of the other boy's mouth.

Ignoring the people around, Edward decided to go to his bedroom, up the stairs while whistling 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' and feeling his chest explode in happiness.

Ah... How sweet was the feeling of being in love.