Disclaimer: I own nothing...
A/N: Sorry for the long wait... Here's the next chapter! Hope you'll like it...
Now about last chapter... Well I always thought that Bella jumping in the founder and start screaming was... well quite entertaining. Personally if something like that happened in front of me I would have filmed it and posted on youtube! So there! That's from where I inspired the whole: "Why don't you go to Italy?" theme!
Okay, I had quite a few reviews about missing words and such... I warned you all again that FF always erases some words. If you have a problem with that then I'm sorry. I can't do anything about it. I believe that the problem is that the program I'm using is not compatible with the net. You have two options. Either I'll update every chapter I write until I change my program or I'm going to wait until I change the program. I warn you I have no idea when I'm going to buy new windows. My mum's condition is getting worse and my free time is limited... I want to spend a lot of time with her because honestly? The chances for a recovery are against us... We all hope though...
Sorry if I brought you down...
Thanks to Maria Binger for doing such an awesome job proofreading this!
The day after...
Hermione slowly stirred the casserole. She was smiling softly as she remembered all the times she literally blew up the Burrow kitchen while Molly attempted to teach her how to cook. That summer after the Final Battle was a complete nightmare. Reporters were shadowing every step she took, bombarding her with offers for just half an hour of her time (the amount of money they offered was absolutely crazy!) and of course a dozen or more official balls and gatherings that she just had to attend. Being one third of the golden trio who vanquished the Dark Lord and also the most powerful and bright witch the world had seen since Albus Dumbledore (his words not hers!) she was, along with Harry-The Boy Who Lived-Potter and Ron Weasley the most popular wizards and witch respectable alive.
That left them with few choices about their free time. Harry and Ron would go to Auror Academy late August to get acquainted with the place and she would return to Hogwarts as Head Girl for her final year along with Ginny, Neville and Luna. Over the summer the trio had found a few quite unorthodox ways to amuse themselves since going out seemed like a death trap.
They became champions on Trivial Pursuit (more like she became champion, no one beat her), Monopoly (Ginny surprisingly had quite a business streak in her), Taboo (Harry and Ron's favourite since it was admittedly the funniest) and a variety of other Muggle games.
Harry and Hermione introduced the Weasley family to the joys of television (Mrs. Weasley spent a lot of time, sniffing, watching soap operas) and Internet. George, in honour of his brother, decided to expand Weasley's Wizard Weezees and used the Internet to promote his stores. Through a simple spell any wizard could find the advertisement and see what his shop had to offer.
They did sports, with Ron drooling over Hermione when he saw her in just a bikini and Harry mimicking a fish when Ginny appeared in a similar outfit. But after two weeks or so Hermione grew bored. She was the only one from their casual quartet that woke up before eleven (her body refused to stay asleep past seven, she was an early riser and if there wasn't some pretty important reason she couldn't stay asleep) and she used to take long walks around Ottery St. Catchpole, just watching the people living their lives.
None of them knew she risked her life to assured their own, that she got viciously tortured for them. And that oddly made her feel at ease.
So when Molly offered to teach her how to cook she practically jumped with joy. While on the run she was a horrible, horrible cook. No matter how much Harry and Ron tried to persuade her that she was fine and that they were just snappy she knew she sucked. And that was why she spent the mornings of the next two months learning from the best cook she knew, aside from her mother. She was proud when she and Molly served dinner one week before the boys left and they all exclaimed that the food was delicious. Molly then revealed that everything was cooked by Hermione. Ron confessed his love but she knew he was only joking.
Beep...
She looked up, startled. Her phone vibrated and she caught sight of the caller's name.
Blaise...
She wiped her hands on her pink apron and lifted her black cellular phone.
"Hey Blaise what's up?" she asked as she turned the stove off.
"Everything's fine princess...Draco has been moody since you left, Skeeter is following us all around trying to get us to tell her where you disappeared to, Weasel is whining constantly and Potty keeps smirking at Draco whenever he mentions you...Usual everyday things, really..."
"I see" she laughed but then she frowned. "Is Draco okay?"
"Don't you dare worry about Drake, Granger" Blaise warned her. "You are there to have fun, not to worry about my lovesick arse of a friend. He's fine, just moody because his dear old aunt escaped. He's worried about you. We all are..."
"Well I'm fine, tell him not to worry. Did you find anything new about what I asked you?" she asked, nervously chewing her bottom lip.
"I did but first you must tell me what happened! Did you use what I sent you!" his voice was excited and Hermione could picture him with his full lips stretched to a full blown smirk, his cobalt blue eyes shining with mischievous anticipation and his hands innocently held behind his back.
"Oh I did" she confirmed and she imagined him jumping up and down with glee. "Last night to be precise..."
"So?" was his excited reply.
"So what?" she asked him sweetly as she started stirring her food again. Charlie was joining her for lunch while Bella was being measured for her 'going away' outfit.
"Stop being coy, Granger, it doesn't suit you" Blaise scoffed. She snickered at his expense.
"Oh I think it does. You just don't like it when my coyness is directed at you!"
"You are so funny, I'm rolling on my floor right now" came his deadpanned reply. She giggled.
"Okay I'll stop being a bitch... But it's your fault you know. Yours and Draco's. I hung around you two so much the last few months that your charming Slytherin personalities kind of rubbed off on me!"
"Cut to the chase!" the Italian snapped.
"Fine!" she opted for the speaker phone and rested the tiny device to the counter. "I had dinner with them last night and sneakily mentioned the video. It was quite hilarious to watch them squirm but then my uncle asked to see the video too."
"Oh crap! What did you do?" he swore. He knew she didn't want her Muggle uncle to learn about her cousin's lies yet.
"Well..." her smile turned to a full fledged smirk when she thought back to the previous night. The Cullen's expressions when Charlie asked to see the video were priceless.
Flashback
"I want to see it" Charlie commented and if it was possible Bella turned even more pale. She was now seriously giving the vamps around her a run for their money to the deathly pale skin. The Cullen's seemed to be in various states of shock and bewilderment. Carlisle's face held the more shock and he genuinely seemed upset. She kind of felt bad. Kind of...
Esme would be crying if that was a possible feat Hermione was sure. She obviously felt guilty.
Emmett's usual playful demeanour disappeared and was replaced with open mouthed astonishment.
Rosalie's beautiful eyes turned to a deathly glare towards her baby cousin and then at her but she just smirked back. Blondie became more furious with that blatant display of haughtiness.
Jasper's eyes turned darker and she knew in that instant that the quiet blonde vampire was the most dangerous of them all. His skin was covered in half moon shaped scars, which she knew came from vampire bites. Nothing except other vampires and werewolves, and of course witches and wizards could harm a creature so powerful. She thought that Jasper Hale may be one of the few vampires that survived the great newborn wars almost two hundred years ago. It happened near Texas and his barely there accent gave his origins easily. He couldn't get this many scars anywhere else and his whole stance and attitude screamed military man. And being vampire she couldn't be sure about his age.
But he sure was dangerous. If she was correct he too had a special talent. Something to do with emotions. She felt him using his strange power to calm her cousin when they all stepped in and upon her when she felt her ire rising after Eddie tried to invade her mind. She didn't like it...Being able to read minds was one thing but if someone was capable of controlling other's emotions then the Muggle's were in trouble. Thank god that her Occlumency lessons helped her block empaths as well as mind readers. Interesting family, she thought as she turned her honey orbs to Edward. I wonder if anyone else other than them has a special talent.
Said boy's eyes were the size of saucers and his mouth set in a firm line. She could see every muscle tensing and he was probably contemplating where she had found the video. And of course what she was planning to do...Too bad she won't say more tonight! Let him stew!
Alice was the most shocked. She seemed thunderstruck like she couldn't believe it. Her eyes unfocused for a fraction of a second and then focused on her. She seemed more distressed, like Hermione some how had intervened with her plans...Strange...
"Mya?" she turned to her uncle who was watching her with impatience. "May I see that video? You have me awfully curious."
"Of course Uncle Charlie" she smiled charmingly and from the corner of her eye caught Bella's mortified glance towards her boyfriend. Idiot. I should let Charlie see this and be done with it... But that way Bella will just throw a tantrum and the Cullen's will be out of the State within a day. I need them here...
She offered her phone, but before Charlie could grasp it, she innocently smiled.
Mobilivas(1), she thought and watched with amusement as her glass of water rose half an inch above the table and spilt all over her and her phone.
"Oh god" she theatrically jumped to her feet while furiously shaking her phone. No one noticed the tiny, barely there red spark that left her fingertips and entered the black cell phone. Esme too jumped to her feet and approached her.
"Oh my! Dear come with me. Let's get you to the bathroom" the motherly vampire seemed to forget the video that threatened them all as she led her upstairs. She obediently followed looking sorrowfully at her phone.
"It's ruined" Charlie said after he carefully examined it. She turned around to hide her triumphant smirk. Esme led her to the first floor and opened a door to a magnificent marble bathroom.
"Oh" she whispered. It reminded her of the Prefects bathroom back at Hogwarts but it was less...well magical! "It's beautiful!" she breathed admiringly.
"Thank you, dear" Esme smiled proudly. "I designed it myself you know. All the house actually!"
"Really?" Hermione was impressed. "So would you consider designing a house for me? I have a very clear idea about how I want my house to be and I think building it is so much easier!"
"Certainly!" Esme smiled and turned to leave. "In the linen closet you will find anything you may need."
"Esme" she called softly, even though she knew that the whole family was listening. The vampire looked at her. Hermione's usually warm eyes held apprehension and determination simultaneously."I won't show it to Charlie. Yet."
Esme visibly sighed with relief.
"I have a lot of questions though...And I want answers. Honest answers. Your son is marrying my baby cousin and I want what's best for her. I warn you now that I don't think Edward is the best option for her. And so far everything points to that direction. If I find anything, anything at all that indicates that Bella is in danger Edward will be in a very...difficult situation... Tomorrow I'll talk with Bella. I will be expecting him or all your family, I don't really care, this coming Sunday at my house. Bella knows where I live...I want answers Esme. Don't think that I won't know...I have quite a few connections and I'm sure by this Sunday I will know everything that I need. I just want to give your son a chance to plea his case...One chance...He better not mess it up. The consequences won't be...pleasant... for him that is!"
End of Flashback
"And what did she do? Nothing?" Blaise's voice sounded impressed.
"She was more likely dumbstruck. She was speechless when I walked in the bathroom. And the rest of the Cullen's were staring at me with anxiety! Except Edward! He looked like he wanted to murder me!" she laughed but Blaise cut her off.
"Are you sure you are okay? From what you told me they are vampires, Mya!"
"Don't worry your pretty little head, Blaisikins" she sniggered when he growled. "They are animal feeders..."
"How do you know?" he demanded. "The fact they have golden eyes means nothing! As far as we know they could be wearing contacts!"
"I may have contacted Kingsley last night... You do know that the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures have specific files focused on all great covens. The Cullen's or more precisely the Olympic Coven as they are known are animal feeders. Only one more family, the Denali's, shared this with them. And the two families are very close. Apparently one of Carlisle's pseudonyms was Stregoni Benefici..."
"No way! The vampire you based your final essay in DADA?"
"The one and only! Apparently when he left the Volturi he decided to come to America. Shame really... And I can't tell him I know! I can't reveal myself as a witch!"
"Why not? You won't be breaking any laws!"
"I want to have the surprise element!"
"Sneaky!"
"Thanks I took after you!"
"Seriously though...You don't think one of them would attack you?"
"One already tried actually!"
"WHAT!"
88888
"What are we going to do?"
"How did she find that?"
"That girl sure is smart!"
"Well Bella did warn us she is a fucking genius."
"Oh now Eddie she's out for your arse!"
"Shut up Emmett!"
"I told you humans will only cause us trouble but did you listen? No of course not! Because great Edward can do no wrong! Now what Edward? She knows about Italy! You heard what she said to Esme! She has people that help her! What if she founds out more than she needs? Hm? What if she decides that she needs a good blackmail material to keep you away from Bella?" Rosalie demanded, her buttery golden eyes blazing with fury. "Look what you caused us Edward! This is your fault! Fix it!"
The blonde shrugged off her husband's enormous hand and sprinted out the front door.
"She's going to hunt. She needs to cool off." Alice explained to Emmett who seemed ready to follow her. "Now that Rose left, all I have to say is...Jasper Whitlock you better forget it! You are not allowed to kill Hermione!"
"What?" Esme gasped and covered her mouth.
"Jasper" Carlisle tried to intervened but the soldier held his hand up.
"There is no other choice Alice" Jasper spoke slowly, carefully. "She knows too much as it is. And unlike Bella she won't hesitate to reveal our secret if she thinks it will keep Edward away from Bella... And if she managed to find this video who knows what else she can find? She is way too dangerous to be left alive... You all have to understand this... Edward?" He turned to his brother. "I know how you feel... She may be Bella's cousin but she will risk your relationship with her and our family. I love you brother but I love Alice more... And I won't let a human girl threaten my wife!"
"Jasper" Edward started but then snapped his mouth shut. What could he say? The girl said to Esme that she disliked him and that she only awaited the necessary proofs to keep him away from Bella. She only invited him to her house so she could warned him to get the hell out of her baby cousin's life. He was sure of it... But Bella... She clearly adored and worshipped Hermione. She spoke so highly of her, with almost religious reverence. If anything happened to her then he wasn't sure there would be any relationship to salvage. Bella may be naive but stupid she was not... She would eventually find out who killed Hermione. Will she be able to forgive him and his family?
No she won't! Alice's thoughts screamed at him. The pixie like vampire was having a staring contest with her husband but her thoughts were directed at him. She will hate us all...She will hate her self! And she will harm her self! Is that what you want?
"Jasper stop!" Alice shouted when he sidestepped her and headed for the door. "This is wr-"
She froze and they all turned to look at her. Her eyes unfocused and she gasped.
"Damn you Rosalie!" Edward cursed and ran out the door.
A/N: Cliffie... Don't kill me!
I know I said that the next chapter won't be coming out until March but I had inspiration. By the way it's Valentine's Day afternoon so Happy Valentine's Day to all who celebrates! This chapter is dedicated to them! *wink*
Next update... Yeah... Probably March... If I have free time sooner but don't hold your breath...
(1)According to Harry Potter Lexicon every moving spell starts with Mobili and you add the word. Arbor is Latin for tree so I switched it with vas which mean glass.