Under the Cursed Moon - CH - 24 (Patreon)

Sunday morning dawned bright and clear, a perfect day for a meeting that Harry and Hermione had been anticipating since Leah's revelation about the Black family's connection to the Quileutes. The excitement in their household was palpable. Harry and Hermione were preparing everything, making sure the house was in order, while Teddy was practically bouncing off the walls.

“Do you think he’ll like me?” Teddy asked, his hair shifting from bright blue to a nervous brown as he fidgeted with his clothes. “I’ve never met a chief before.”

Hermione smiled warmly at Teddy, brushing down his collar. “You’ll do just fine, Teddy. Just remember what Harry said—no talking about magic, okay?”

Teddy nodded enthusiastically, though his excitement was barely contained. “No magic, got it.”

Harry walked into the room, giving Teddy a reassuring pat on the head. “They’re good people, Teddy. Just be yourself, and everything will be fine.”

Leah arrived a little later, looking slightly on edge but hiding it well. She glanced at Harry and Hermione, grateful for their calm energy. “Billy should be here soon. He’s curious, but I think he’s more interested in meeting you two than anything else.”

Harry nodded, adjusting the cuff of his shirt. “I’ll be respectful. We don’t want to overwhelm him or his family.”

Teddy looked out the window, his face lighting up. “I think they’re here!”

A few minutes later, Billy Black’s truck pulled up to the house. Leah took a deep breath as she opened the door, ready to greet her old friend. She saw Billy first, sitting in the driver’s seat with Rachel and Rebecca beside him and Jacob jumped out from the back. They got out of the car, exchanging glances with each other as they took in the sight of Harry and Hermione’s home.

Billy’s eyes found Harry’s almost immediately, and the two men shared a brief, knowing look. There was history here, even if it hadn’t been discovered until recently. The weight of it hung between them, unspoken but understood.

Leah stepped forward, introducing her friends. “Billy, this is Harry and Hermione Black. And this little guy,” she smiled as Teddy darted up beside Harry, “is Teddy.”

Billy gave a warm smile and extended his hand toward Harry. “It’s good to meet you, Harry. I’ve heard a lot from Leah. And from the way she talks, I can tell this was long overdue.”

Harry shook his hand firmly. “Likewise. I’m glad we could finally meet in person.”

Hermione stepped forward next, offering her hand to Billy and then greeting Rachel and Rebecca. The twins gave friendly, curious smiles but were clearly keeping their guard up, sensing that there was more to this meeting than a simple family introduction.

As they all moved inside, Teddy could barely contain his curiosity. He trailed behind them, his eyes wide with wonder, though he kept Harry’s warning about not mentioning magic firmly in his mind.

As they all settled together, the conversation began with Billy introducing his children. “This is my son, Jacob, and my daughters, Rachel and Rebecca,” Billy said, nodding toward each of them.

Teddy, who had been observing everyone silently, suddenly pointed at Jacob with an almost accusatory expression. “Jacob? Your name is Jacob?” he said, his little eyebrows furrowing. “I thought you were a girl!”

Everyone burst into laughter at Teddy’s remark. Jacob, with his long hair hanging down his back and a smooth, clean-shaven face, smirked as he rolled his eyes. "I get that a lot," Jacob replied, his voice dripping with good-natured sarcasm. “And you must be Teddy. Seth’s talked about you.”

Teddy’s eyes widened. “You know Seth?”

“Of course, I do. He’s our neighbor, and we’re friends,” Jacob said, leaning back in his chair with a grin.

Teddy’s mood instantly shifted. The mention of Seth, his playmate and Leah’s brother, made him break into a wide smile. “Oh! Well, Seth’s one of my best friends!”

Jacob chuckled. “Yeah, he talks about you a lot. I’m surprised we haven’t met before now.”

Not one to miss an opportunity, Teddy shot up from his seat, a burst of energy taking over. “Hey, do you guys want to see my room? I have a ton of toys!”

Rachel and Jacob exchanged amused glances, but Rachel, always the warmer of the two, smiled and nodded. “Sure, Teddy. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Teddy, thrilled at the attention, led them enthusiastically toward the stairs. “This way! I’ve got some really cool stuff!” he said, his small hands waving for them to follow.

As they made their way through the house, Hermione looked at Harry with a fond smile. “I think Teddy’s got himself some new friends.”

Harry chuckled softly, watching as Teddy dragged Jacob and Rachel up the stairs, his voice carrying excitedly through the hallway. “Yeah, he always knows how to win people over. Especially when he’s got toys involved.”

Billy looked on, smiling at the sight of his son and daughter getting along so well with Teddy. "Seems like they’re hitting it off."

Leah, sitting nearby, quietly watched the scene unfold. For her, it was comforting to see the blending of her two worlds—her old life with the Quileutes and her new one with the Blacks. It wasn’t without its complexities, but for the first time in a long while, it felt like things were finally aligning.

Billy took a good look at the mansion, glancing around at the house. “This place is... well, it’s not what I expected.”

Leah, seated beside him, smiled faintly. “Harry’s done a lot of work on it. The whole Black family has been making sure the property is well-kept.”

Rachel, who had been quiet so far, finally spoke up. “So, what made you decide to live in Forks?”

Harry smiled. “It reminds me of home, in a way. Quiet, peaceful. Plus, I discovered some... family connections here that I wasn’t expecting.”

Billy nodded, understanding what Harry was hinting at. “About those connections. Leah told me about the Black family history, and I have to admit, I was surprised. I didn’t know my ancestors had ties to the Blacks. Alphard Black, you said?”

“Yes,” Harry replied. “Alphard Black married into the Quileute tribe. His grandson became the chief, and that line has continued through your family.”

Billy leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing in thought. “It’s strange, isn’t it? To think that all this time, our families were connected, and we never knew it.”

Hermione, ever the historian, chimed in. “It happens more often than people realize. Family lines get tangled, especially when history is as rich as yours.”

Rebecca, who had been quiet until now, turned to Leah. “So, how does this all work, Leah? I mean, you’ve known about this for a while?”

Leah shook her head. “Not really. Harry only found out recently. But it’s... a lot to take in.”

Rachel, still curious, asked, “So, what does this mean for us? Does it change anything?”

Billy looked at Harry, his expression serious but not unkind. “That’s what I’m here to find out.”

Harry leaned forward, his tone gentle but direct. “I didn’t bring this up to disrupt your lives. I thought you should know because it’s part of your family’s legacy, just as much as mine. What you choose to do with that information is entirely up to you.”

Billy considered this for a moment, then gave a nod. “I appreciate that, Harry. And I appreciate you coming to me with this instead of keeping it quiet. I’ll need some time to think about all of this, but I think it’s important for our families to stay in touch.”

Teddy, who had been listening quietly, suddenly burst out, “Does that mean we’re family now? Like cousins or something?”

Everyone in the room laughed, breaking the tension. Billy smiled warmly at Teddy. “I suppose in a way, we are.”

As the afternoon wore on, the conversation became lighter, with Harry and Billy talking more about the history of the Black family and the Quileutes. Leah watched with a mixture of relief and contentment, knowing that things were going better than she had expected.

Hermione, meanwhile, took the time to get to know Rachel and Rebecca better, asking about their lives and interests. She was careful not to pry too much but wanted to build a bridge between them, sensing that this connection between their families could grow into something meaningful.

As the evening wore on and the conversation deepened, Harry glanced over at Billy. “Billy,” he began, his tone thoughtful, “I know you’re not one to ask for help, and I’m not offering this because of our new connection, but I heard you’re between jobs right now. I’m going to be traveling with my family soon, and I need someone trustworthy to manage a factory I own. If you're interested, the position is yours. You’d be able to work from behind a desk, so your wheelchair wouldn’t be an issue at all.”

Billy’s eyes lit up with surprise and excitement at the offer. The thought of having meaningful work that wouldn’t be hindered by his condition was more than he’d dared hope for. But before he could give his answer, Rachel jumped in with a wide smile.

“Yes! He’d love that!” Rachel answered enthusiastically, cutting off any hesitation her father might have had.

Billy shot her a half-amused, half-exasperated look, but there was no denying the excitement on his face.

Rebecca, never one to miss an opportunity, chimed in, “What about us? Do we get a job too? We’re going to college in Seattle next year, but we could work part-time for now.”

Hermione, who had been listening quietly, smiled warmly. “Of course. There’s plenty of work to go around. You’re both welcome to help out as much as your schedules allow.”

The conversation wrapped up on a high note, with plans made for Billy, Rachel, and Rebecca to visit the factory the next day. Hermione promised to show them the ropes and train them on everything they needed to know.

As the Black family and the Quileutes made their way out of the house, the sky had darkened, and the moon shone brightly through the trees. Teddy ran to the porch, waving enthusiastically as Billy’s truck began to pull away. “Bye, Jacob! Bye, Rachel! See you tomorrow!” he called, his voice full of excitement for the new friends he’d made.

Jacob, from the back of their truck, waved back with a grin, and Rachel leaned out of the window to give a final wave before they disappeared down the thick, wooded path.

Harry and Hermione stood on the porch, watching as the truck disappeared into the distance. “Well, that went well,” Hermione said with a satisfied smile.

Harry nodded, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Yeah, it did. I think we just made some lasting connections.”

Teddy, still bouncing on his feet with excitement, beamed up at them. “I’m gonna show them all my toys tomorrow too!” he declared.

Harry chuckled and ruffled Teddy’s hair. “You do that, buddy. Just don’t overwhelm them on the first day.”

With the night quieting down, the Blacks retreated back into the house, ready to prepare for the new chapter of their ever-growing connection with the Quileutes.

From the very next day, the Blacks began working at the Phoenix Sports Equipments, a factory Harry owned. Hermione took the lead in guiding Billy through his new role as the manager. She patiently explained the ins and outs of running the factory, what to do, and what to avoid. Billy, a lifelong fan of sports, was thrilled to learn that one of the perks of the job was a massive television in the factory break room, constantly streaming sports from all around the world. He couldn’t have asked for a better setup.

As Billy settled into his new role, he quickly realized how thoughtful Harry and Hermione were in their treatment of both him and his tribe members. Many from the Quileute tribe had been hired to work at the factory, and the atmosphere was friendly and welcoming. Billy was content, knowing that Harry and Hermione weren’t people who judged based on background or heritage. They had offered him this position and hired his people not because of their newfound connection but simply because they believed in giving back to the community.

Billy often found himself reflecting on how lucky they all were. His friend Charlie Swan, the local sheriff, had been equally excited when he found out that Billy got the job. Charlie had always spoken highly of Harry and Hermione, whom he’d become good friends with, and now they were bound by an unexpected familial connection as well.