Ch. 8

A/N:

This story is mostly compatible with the Harry Potter series, except that the war was more intense. There were far more battles and things Hermione experienced upon entering the magical world. As you will find out in later chapters, her history isn't limited to the adventures written about in the books.

Disclaimer: I unfortunately am not the owner of the Harry Potter series or the Twilight saga, I'm just playing with the characters.


(HPOV)

I was once again observing the radiant family on the following Tuesday at lunch. I couldn't believe what my weekend revealed. I, Hermione Granger, managed to find magical creatures in one of the most remote towns in the United States. And not just any magical creatures. I found vampires.

I've started believing that maybe Harry was right all those years ago… trouble does just seem to find us no matter what.

It wasn't too terribly hard to figure out after I had that epiphany regarding their perfection on Friday. It got me to thinking when I got home because if there is one thing I've learned about magical creatures its that the more perfect and beautiful they seem, the more dangerous they are.

In fact, the only thing that confused me was their eye color. I've never encountered vampires who abstain from humans so it took a bit of research throughout the weekend to figure out that I was right, that they were indeed vampires. Last night I surprisingly found the answer in one of the Magical Creatures books I purchased before I left England. It didn't contain much information about them, barely a paragraph, but it was helpful.

"Though very rare, it is possible to come across vampires with golden eyes. These abstain from consuming human blood and instead drink from animals . Unfortunately, no one has been able to properly research these rare covens to determine whether the animal blood affects their physical abilities differently than human blood. So for your own safety, assume that they are just as strong, fast, and dangerous as human drinkers."

Despite the warning in my text, I'm not the least bit frightened by them. Not even after the few bad encounters with human drinkers I have had. Now that my magic has stopped going haywire in order to warn me that they were not human I've been able to concentrate on their good attributes.

This past week I've witnessed them repressing their natural instincts to attack anything with a pulse. I've watched as they struggle to hold onto the last shreds of their humanity. I can't turn my back on them after watching this. I can't hate them or be afraid. I've never met vampires so civilized. Vampires, like Werewolves, don't usually posses such a strong desire to be good, wholesome creatures since they are shunned for their species.

This is truly an intriguing coven. I'm going to enjoy my chance to interact and study how they are different from human drinkers.

But now I'm confused about how to act around them. It's bugged me since my suspicions were confirmed. Do I reveal that I know their secret and commend their choice of diet? Do I tell them my secret? Is the reason Jasper talks to me, but no other human because they already know mine? But as I really think about it the answer to all three questions is a resounding no for several obvious reasons.

If I tell them I know they are vampires they might kill me before I get a chance to explain how I know. And even if I do get to explain, they might not believe that I'm truly a witch and still kill me. Their first priority in life is to hide their existence from humans or else they are subject to the wrath of the Volturi.

Then again, if I tell them I'm a witch they still might attempt to kill me because most vampires hold a grudge against us. They hate how the magical world scorns them and basically treats them like brainless animals because they need to consume blood in order to survive.

Most magical creatures whom are familiar with us can sense the power within our bodies. It naturally radiates from our magical core and leaks into our surroundings as a defense mechanism. So I imagine they would have already approached me to inform me they are vampires if they knew I was a witch. After all, It's a common curtsy in the magical world to let someone know what you are when you co-exist so as to not accidentally expose one another to the muggles. Which leaves me believing they are completely oblivious to the existence of other magical beings.

So the obvious thing for me to do would be to keep my mouth shut about it all. I should just continue living my life and let them live theirs. I should just let things go back to how they were the first few days of school. I should do my best to avoid them at all costs.

If only it were that easy.

As if he felt my gaze, Jasper's golden eyes met mine and he offered me a heart-stopping smile. I couldn't stop the one that bloomed on my face in response as my heart-beat stuttered. I'm attracted to him…drawn to him even though I know he's a vampire. Looking into his eyes I know I should fear him because of what he is; what he is capable of doing. But I can't bring myself to feel that way towards him.

Deep down inside I get this incredibly safe feeling whenever I'm in his presence. I know that no matter what, he won't hurt me and he won't let anyone else either. It's just…strange. I don't know anything about him or his life as a vampire, but I know that I'm not in danger around him. I know that he'll protect me. On top of that, I have these uncontrollable urges to talk to him. I desire to touch him and let him hold me. My body alerts me to his presence as soon as he enters a room.

I've been trying to shake these…urges…these feelings and they just won't go away. Whatever this is…this feeling of needing to be in his presence and needing him truly scares me. I've never honestly needed anyone since I was eleven years old. I've always been the one people rely on. If someone needed help with homework they came to me. If someone was upset, they came to me. And then I became the person offering protection as well as shoulders to cry on. I don't know how to be the one needing these types of things. It just does not feel right. It makes me feel weak.

I know that ultimately it's wrong of me to feel these things towards him. It's an attraction that will lead to nowhere because ultimately he's a vampire and I'm a broken, battle hardened, and war-torn witch. In what type of world would the two of us actually stand a chance?

Yet I can't help but want to taste this forbidden fruit. And sweet Merlin is Jasper forbidden!

I've denied myself so many things these past seven years. Girls like Pavarti and Lavender got to experience a mostly carefree life and I didn't. I couldn't date like the other girls because I had to focus on training to fight in a war. I couldn't run around the castle carefree because I had to spend all of my free time in the library researching. I couldn't spend time on my appearance because I was too busy being handler to a spy and helping him assassinate known Death Eaters after interrogating them.

For once in my life I just want to do something normal. I want to do something for me without worrying about the rest of the wizarding world. When have I ever been selfish? When have I ever done something solely for myself? Never.

I'm here for a fresh start, to find myself. And if that entails being attracted to a man -well vampire- and possibly flirting with him… then so be it. As long as I'm careful and I don't get too attached. As long as I don't get too involved it'll be ok. I'll be able to go back to London without any regrets. I won't spend the rest of my life wondering about what could have been.

With those encouraging and slightly confusing thoughts I made my way towards Art. The other class I share with my own personal Eros that is Jasper Hale. I could compare him to many of the mythological deities, but Eros seems to fit perfectly.

Eros is the god of three things that seem to personify Jasper; Lust, Love, and Sex. The man has every woman he passes panting after him lustfully (me included), from our limited interaction I can tell that he loves deeply, and the man just oozes sex appeal. He's a walking talking orgasm if I've ever seen one.

"What's got you so flustered Darlin' ?" Aforementioned god questioned from beside me.

I jumped slightly from his sudden appearance next to me and felt the blood rush to my face at being caught thinking such naughty thoughts about him. Damn the bad luck.

"Umm…nothing."

He chuckled and held the door open for me. "Uh huh. Anyone ever tell you you're a horrible liar?"

I rolled my eyes in exasperation. I've never been able to lie properly. "Everyday of my life for the past seven years."

"So about these naughty thoughts…anybody I know starring in them?"

I immediately wanted to scream out 'Yes! You!' or something seductive along those lines. Instead, I sat in my chair and gave him what I hope was a haughty look to cover my embarrassment at being caught thinking about him in a sexual manner.

"I was thinking no such thoughts. Perhaps you're the one whom should get their mind out of the gutter."

He sat beside me with a blindingly white grin that would put the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland to shame. It annoyed me that I was caught and we both knew it. So I decided to let my inner snarky personality out to play for a bit. It's been much too long since I've encountered someone adept at exchanging words. In a sick, slightly perverted way I miss Malfoy. He was always able to form such entertaining witty comebacks.

"Geeze Jasper. Wear a warning sign next time you plan on grinning like that. I don't like being temporarily blind."

My attempt to start whatever twisted game of insults I play with the ferret didn't work. His infuriating grin just grew larger.

"I happen to think I'm one incredibly sexy man when I grin. Don't you think so?"

Uhm Duh? What woman wouldn't? Hell, he could turn a straight man gay with that sexy little grin. But I would never tell him that. His ego is obviously big enough as it is..

"Never thought I'd ever meet a man who could be any more arrogant than Malfoy." I muttered to myself. Even though I know he heard every word, I looked up with big innocent eyes and smiled sweetly to play it off.

"Do I need to have NASA send out a team of astronauts to bring your ego back from whatever galaxy it's currently residing in?"

This earned me a full out laugh instead of a witty retort. I just found his first flaw...Pity. He really doesn't know how to play the game. Perhaps I should instruct him on the finer points of exchanging insults. The first being that he must retort to whatever rude remark I make with one of his own about me. That would be a definite improvement over his laughter.

But I still watched him utterly fascinated. Those golden eyes danced with humor and his beautiful face lit up with a megawatt smile. I stared mesmerized. I could die happily right now knowing I wiped his usual stoic expression off his face and put that smile there instead.

His lips remained twitching even after he calmed down. He turned towards me with a wink before he shot me a lopsided grin and started working on our assignment.

The vampire that is Jasper Hale has me under his spell and he knows it. Cheeky bastard.


Once again, Thanks to everyone who has reviewed/favorited/alerted this fic. so far. Your reviews inspire me to write!