Ch. 10

A/N: So I got nearly thirty reviews for the last chapter and I thought I was going to faint! You guys are awesome and I hope you keep it up! Please let me know your thoughts on this weeks chapter. Oh and check out my profile. I made a banner of sorts to use as my avatar. Oh and I owe a special thanks to Wistful-Stargazer for proofreading this chapter for me! She's such a doll!

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)

It was Sunday, and it was also going to be a long day for me. I could just tell. Not only did I wake up at three thirty this morning from yet another nightmare, but I had to meet Jasper to work on our art project.

At half past eight I was going crazy. I couldn't concentrate on any books, there were only church programs on T.V., and my parents were bugging me about seeing a doctor for nutritional supplements. So I decided to get dressed and take a trip to the beach. Maybe the soothing sounds of the ocean would help. Today was supposed to be one of the last warm days of the season so I dressed in a tank top, jeans, and flip flops. I put on a pullover hooded sweatshirt to protect me from the early morning chill then I set out.

The beach was beautiful. I walked along the seashore and reflected. My main thoughts were about my nightmare. To me it's the most troubling out of all of the ones I have. Professor Snape's familiar black eyes haunt my mangled conscience. They rarely hold the acceptance of his fate that they did in real life. In my dreams they are accusing and hateful. Those fathomless eyes accuse me of being a coward. They mock me for doing nothing to help him while Lord Voldemort stood over his broken body taunting him. They pierce my soul as I watch him being killed by that snake. They blame me for his death.

I know the nightmare is a product of my guilt, but that does not make me feel any better. It doesn't help to know that my own conscience is punishing me for the way we treated him. The man spent nearly his entire life as a spy torn between two masters for us. He bowed before a mad-man and endured torture for us. He killed his father figure to help us win the war. And our payment for his sacrifice? We ridicule and underestimate him for years. Then we condemn him without allowing him a chance to prove his innocence. I feel like such a monster whenever I remember how we treated him.

By the time I made it back to where I parked my car it was time to meet Jasper. That brought up a whole new plethora of issues that have been bugging me lately. Jasper and I have sort of become friends throughout the past few weeks. We talk to one another, we help each other out during class…I even gave him the option of referring to me by one of my nicknames -Mione, my nickname in the magical world or Mia, my family nickname.

That pretty much makes us friends.

However, what is bugging me…What I don't understand is why this coven of vampires is being so nice to me. Sure they aren't human drinkers, but they still avoid interacting with other humans as much as possible. I can't imagine why they want to befriend me. All I know is that I don't know what to think about it. I've never really had friends that weren't witches or wizards.

I sipped from my steaming Venti Caramel Macchiato as I followed the directions Jasper gave me. The hidden entrance to his house was about a ten minute drive past my own. We were neighbors. Who knew? The two mile long driveway opened up into a meadow where a large white Victorian house stood. I looked around at the fabulous landscaping in awe as I made my way towards the front door.

The doorbell only rang once before Jasper opened the door with a heartbreaker smile and a drawled "Hey sweetheart."

-Cue the swooning from every female in the peanut gallery.

"Hey." I returned. Then I wanted to kick myself. Of all the ways I could respond, I say something as mundane as 'hey.' What happened to the witty repertoire I have at school?

He then pulled me through a living room that was entirely too white where Emmett was playing video games while Edward plodded away on a piano. The cacophony of noise in the room was astounding. I have no idea how they can stand it with their superior hearing. I've been here all of two minutes and it's bugging me.

We walked into a large dining room which opened up to a modern kitchen decked out in stainless steel appliances. I placed my caffeine fix on the table then my rucksack of supplies beside his before I was greeted by his mother Esme. Of course she wasn't his real mother, but she was such a warm, loving woman that it really didn't show. I could tell she really did think of him as her child. I complimented her gorgeous home to which she responded and asked after my mother. A few minutes of small talk later led me to find out she was the interior designer for our house as well. So I told her how much I loved it. She left us to work on our project with a happy smile on her flawless face.

Jasper and I took that as our cue to begin. As always, the silence was comfortable and we only spoke to discuss different aspects of our combined drawing. At times I would feel him staring at me, but I ignored it and the urge to shrink away from his gaze. By the time we were done, I finished the dregs of my coffee then looked at the cup with a disappointed frown.

Aforementioned vampire art partner chuckled. "It won't refill no matter how hard you stare at it."

If he only knew that it could. Damn him for not knowing about magic. It would be so convenient to use right now.

"A girl can wish." I sighed sadly while looking at the cup. "I'm exhausted. I really need another caffeine fix."

One of his perfect eyebrows arched in worry. "Why are you exhausted?"

I shrugged, trying to forget about the guilt plaguing my conscience. "I fell asleep late, then woke up at three thirty this morning. I ended up going to the beach to help clear my head."

The concern was written all over his face. That made me feel good inside. "Did it help?"

"A little," I conceded as I stood to dispose of my cup into the rubbish bin. I met Jasper's father, Carlisle, on my way back to the table. During our talk, he kept looking at me curiously… as if he could sense something wasn't normal about me. The questioning glances were subtle, but I caught them. I shrugged it off figuring if he was merely curious about the human.

He bid me good-day with a smile. While I was up I pulled off my hoody since it was getting rather warm.

He paused at the door and scrutinized me. I could feel his gaze burning a hole in my back, making me somewhat uncomfortable. "Your tattoos are very interesting, may I have a closer look?"

I stiffened slightly because I forgot that I put on a tank top this morning. Not only were my tattoos visible, but my scars as well. The scars I constantly hide from the world beneath my mass of curly hair and clothes. And judging by the disbelief on Jasper's face he hadn't failed to notice them.

Damn vampires and their superior sight.

I chose to let Carlisle look at my tattoos. It would postpone the questions burning in Jasper's angry eyes. He stood behind my chair expectantly so I pulled my bushy hair over to my right shoulder and slid the strap of my shirt down. Carlisle hummed his compliments at the design I knew by heart; the ancient rune for loyalty with mine and Harry's initials entwined with it. Jasper didn't seem to care about looking at my tattoos at all. He was eye-balling my scars with a fiercely clenched jaw. His eyes were pools of blackness and his nostrils were flaring with every enraged breath he took. I had no problem imagining him as a vampire in that moment. He truly looked like a predator of the night.

I then pulled my hair over my left shoulder but Jasper's eyes didn't move with me. They were glued to the once again hidden hideous scar on that side of my neck given to me by Bellatrix Lestrange this past May.

Carlisle's ice cold hands traced the scarlet and golden phoenix design on my right shoulder reverently. "This is familiar." He hummed as his finger tip glided along the words 'For The Greater Good.' which circled the bird in elegant script.

I stiffened as he casually continued his thought process out loud. "I met some extraordinary men in England some time ago. It was rumored that they were members of an organization named after a Phoenix. Their mantra was "For The Greater Good."

I jerked away and looked at him, a sense of dread pooling within me. My brain was going haywire due to my mounting panic. The irrational part of me was commanding me to leave this instant before I became vampire dinner. The rational part of me, the part that always seems to ask questions at the most inopportune times, was trying to figure out how he figured it out. But of course I already knew the answer; He's an old vampire. It's quite possible he's met a wizard before, therefore he sensed the power coming from me. My Order tattoo merely confirmed his suspicions.

His golden eyes met mine. They were full of kindness, but I could see the fascination and intrigue as well. By this time the rest of the family ghosted into the kitchen, no doubt wondering what their leader was talking about. Jasper was looking between us anxiously, his anger forgotten.

"This tattoo… It means you're apart of the same organization -The Order of the Phoenix- doesn't it?"

I warily stepped back towards the wall so I would have room to get out of here if this didn't end well. My body had automatically taken on a defensive stance, all it would take is a flick of my wrist to bring my wand out if I needed to fend off an attack. I looked between the other six stoic faces nervously before I confirmed his suspicions. "I am."

"Please forgive my curiosity, but the existence of The Order of the Phoenix has always been a whispered rumor in Europe's magical community. The list of members has only ever been guessed at… the society's true purpose doused in suspicion and shadow. I know you cannot tell me much, but I would love to know why it exists."

My eyes darted to his. They were merely curious, he didn't seem upset or hostile in his questioning. Nor did he seem like he was intending to upset me. So I decided to answer his request truthfully, albeit vaguely. "Essentially The Order of the Phoenix is a secret society with members from all over the world uniting to fight for the greater good of the magical world."

His eyes gleamed and he nodded with enthusiasm. "And only those with extraordinary abilities like yours can join?"

"You don't just join the Order of the Phoenix." I corrected somewhat proudly.

He nodded while the rest of the family watched us in confusion. "I assume you also have figured out what we are?"

I bit my lip nervously, my eyes darting between the seven timeless faces surrounding me. "You're vampires. I figured it out by the second week of school."

Jasper turned his wide golden-eyes on me. "You know and it doesn't bother you? You aren't afraid of us?"

My eyes rolled of their own accord as I mentally scoffed at his questions. As if I would be scared of a vampire.

"I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't have continued associating with you if it bothered me. I knew I was fairly safe since you all have golden eyes. Your coven doesn't feed from humans."

They all stared at me, slightly stupefied. "I assume you've met others then?"

I looked at Carlisle. "I have, though the only one I've ever… taken the time to…exchange pleasantries with was a human drinker I met at a school party."

I worded that answer very carefully. I didn't just want to outright say I always killed them first and asked questions later. It probably wouldn't have went over all that well.

"What kind of school would allow human drinking vampires inside?" Esme asked in an angry, but concerned tone.

I gave Carlisle a strange look. It was questioning whether or not they knew the extent of the magical world he was obviously very aware of.

He shook his head so I looked around sort of gleefully, anticipating their reaction to the bombshell I was about to drop. "A magical school of course. I'm a Witch."

Their expressions of disbelief were comical and I couldn't hold in a loud guffaw on their behalf. Vampires are seriously doubting the existence of other magical beings? That's funny. Emmett was the first to recover. I imagine his easy-going, fun loving personality gives him a more open mind than the rest of his family. Alice was next, she looked like the prospect of magic excited her. Probably in relation to how it could help her wardrobe.

"Can you show us some magic?" Emmett begged eagerly.

I grinned and flicked my wrist. They all stared at my wand in disbelief, presumably because it appeared out of thin air. "Levicorpus" I whispered, my wand pointed at Emmett. He was immediately hung upside down by his left ankle about six feet from the ground.

His girly squealing was highly entertaining. I said the counter spell and he fell to the floor in a graceless lump which heightened my amusement. I love using magic for fun, it's just a pity its something I haven't been able to do in ages.

With a mischievous grin I pointed my wand at Jasper and silently cast the tarantallagra curse. His legs immediately began dancing in uncontrollable movements. The icing on the cake, however, was the look of utter confusion on his face as he stared open mouthed at his feet.

I collapsed into the nearest chair with tears streaming down my face. I could barely whisper the finite incantem to end his misery.

Carlisle's eyes were dancing with ill disguised humor. "This is so fascinating! How does your magic work and what decides whether your magical or not?"

I grinned at his enthusiasm. "Well, I know you're aware that the average human doesn't even use half of their brain. We witches and wizards use our entire brain. When our DNA is transcribed there is a mix-up that basically flips a switch to allow us to use the portion where the magical core resides. That enables us to use our powers."

"Researching the genetic differences between the magical races is a hobby of mine. Would you be willing to let me run tests on you?"

I laughed softly, especially when Esme scolded him for being rude. But I nodded my acceptance. "I would love to, but unfortunately it won't be today. It's time for dinner so I've got to get home because my mum is absolutely anal about my eating habits."

He promised to get in touch soon with bright eyes. Then Esme pulled me into a random hug and zipped out of the room after her husband and children. The dining room was now empty except for Jasper and I.

I smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to act now that the big secrets were out. He walked closer to me and smiled down at me. "You knowing I'm a vampire and me knowing you're a witch… it doesn't change things between us."

I felt an immense, surprising wave of relief as those reassuring words left his mouth. I know I enjoy his company and that I have somehow become quite attached to him over the last few weeks, I just never realized how deep my feelings went. I never realized how devastated I'd be if he rejected me once he found out the truth.

"If you're sure you're ok with it."

His lips twisted into a sexy, crooked grin that sent my heart into overdrive. "Ok with it? I think its cool as hell. Magic exists! I know a witch! And I finally have a big -very important- piece of the beautiful, intriguing puzzle that is Hermione Granger."

A blush stained my cheeks and I looked down at my bag embarrassed by his off-handed compliment. "I'm not that interesting."

He tilted my chin up with a cool finger to meet his smoldering eyes. "You are to me. You fascinate me."

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

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