The Magic

Jasper had helped me locate a bed frame in the attic, and Emmett had gone out to get me a mattress. The bed was not necessary, seeing as I don't sleep any longer. However, I wanted the addition anyway. After years of sharing a room with two privacy invading female roommates, my bed had become my only place of privacy, and also my study location of choice.

Like many times before, I was sitting Indian style on the bed with text books spread around me. These books belonged to Emmett, and he had never brought them to the school. Emmett had laughed and told me that it upset his teachers, but they had given up reprimanding him for it when they couldn't find a question in the curriculum that he didn't have the ability to answer. The story sounded familiar, but I had always brought my books anyway. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if I had ever turned up in Potions without my assigned text.

I had spent some time with the books he had given me - the same ones laid out around me. The material was disappointingly easy, which is why I wasn't currently looking at any of the books.

I held my wand loosely in my right hand, acutely aware of the feel of the grain. I stared at the vine pattern. Despite the fact that my magic still allowed me to turn into my animagus form, I had low expectations for my next endeavor.

Well, time to summon the Gryffindor courage that I apparently have in abundance. At least, that is what they once said about me.

My grip wanted to tighten, but I kept it loose. Having a tight grip sometimes alters the wand movement, and I felt that if I could make my movements perfect enough, if my magic flow was just right, then maybe, just maybe this might work.

I moved my wand in a steady and familiar sequence, "Accio". Everything I had was focused on that pink tinted glass vase. A vase Esme had placed on my bookshelf before we had even spoken a word to each other.

The spell hadn't worked. The results didn't even yield a movement as had been the case the first time I had tried the spell. I had been a fourth year then.

I tried again, again, again, and again. Nothing. I switched spells, "Wingardium leviosa", and still nothing. Again I tried. Four times led to eight times, then nine times - all to no avail.

With sharp, frustrated movements, I flung my wand at a bare portion of the wall. I admired the product of my action. The wand had cleanly pierced the plaster of the wall, but remained unharmed. I regretted the unbreakable charms that George and I had created during the war for the wands of Order members.

That one act of violence wasn't enough. I wanted to punch something. The only problem is that I am now too strong to indulge my violent tendencies.

I thought about sparring. Going up against Emmett would help me let off some steam, but Esme was home. I dismissed that wonderful, workable plan.

Instead, I tried what my mum used to do to calm down. I lightly clutched the pendent of the necklace I wear daily, and breathed. I breathed deep, unnecessary breaths with my eyes shut. After a dozen or so minutes, it seemed as if the process had worked.

Now in a relaxed state, I unclasped the necklace and ran the pads of my fingers over its surface as I took in the familiar design. I inherited the piece when my mother had died. She had gotten it to wear on her wedding day and had worn it everyday after.

The jewelry was elegant and just detailed enough to break out of being classified as simple, just as my mother had been. The cross was made of a solid silver and was accented by pearls. I have developed a certain fondness for pearls since I received the necklace. That was after the police had released it from evidence. The form of the cross was created by looping metal and a darker circle of silver was set behind the upper portion of the cross. The intersection of the cross held the biggest pearl, smaller pearls lined the four extensions and circle. I appreciated that the necklace looked delicate but still remained strong. The idea of a misleading delicacy hiding a strength made me feel connected to my mother's cross.

I felt it again and the anger that I had temporarily abandoned in order to think of my mother and the jewelry flared again. A deep, raw growl escaped my throat. I ignored my anger, I compartmentalized and had shoved that emotion under some childhood memories that I wouldn't be thinking of anytime soon. I prepared for my next step, but the feeling was already gone. I continued anyway, with one brief thought of Severus Snape, as all of my decent mind shields snapped into place.

Now I could think. This morning, the ringing I had been suffering through abruptly stopped. I had been waiting for it to do so. After our hunt, Emmett had made me talk to Carlisle. Both he and Alice had dealt with the pesky ringing. Carlisle had endured it for four days, and Alice racked up a week and a half. Both situations, three counting mine, had ended sharply.

The lack of noise inside my ears opened and improved senses. My hearing improved dramatically. Also, my awareness of my occlumency ability - which had been previously ignored, forgotten, and neglected - now returned to me.

Every hour on the hour I felt a disturbance in my mind. It never feels like legilimency does. Legilimency feels like something is penetrating into my mind. This is different; this feels like something is phasing into my mind.

I was told about Edward's ability to read minds, just as I had been told about Alice's ability to see into the future, and Jasper's ability to manipulate emotions. I've thought about, and examined how I felt about those abilities. None of them had bothered me. At least not then, when I had been told.

I had been under the impression that Edward didn't have a choice in the matter when it came to reading the minds of others. Today's developments bother me - the fact that his presence in my mind can only be detected at regular intervals leads to the conclusion that he has been keeping tabs on my thoughts. He wouldn't have the need to do such as thing, had his ability been truly uncontrollable.

An hour passed during my emotionless rant, and all too soon I felt him trying to get a read on my mind. I tried to block him but it is impossible to stop something that reacts to your blocks as if they are not solid.

My instant response to this was to think of nothing but a color. I picked pink, nothing but pure Barbie pink.

I looked to the doorway, "'lo Edward." As I greeted, him I dug up that same anger I had pushed aside earlier. I allowed that anger to leak into my words. In the kitchen, Jasper flinched, and I wondered why he was in the kitchen.

Edward was confused, I could tell, because he tries to force his abnormal observational skills into overdrive when he is confused. His tell tale sign is that his eyes repeat their paths.

He tried to get into my mind again, and I let out a form of growl that I had only heard leave my lips when I had been in an instinctual state. Then I had been facing my prey. I had no doubt that the three other family members in the house were avidly listening. Furthermore, if Edward had doubts concerning the cause of my earlier growl, they had been erased and forgotten.

"Hermione," he tried tentatively. He was trying to pacify me, and I really wished he wouldn't. "We've told you that I can read minds, and you told us you were fine with the ability." He was standing as if I were an opponent ready to pounce, and that was smart of him. Even as his words displayed his stupidity at how he should handle the situation.

His words had been the truth. However, I learned how to lie that way, too. One of my many Slytherin attributes. The ability to spin partial truths which avoid the actual issue.

"Don't try that," I ordered harshly. "I'm angry, and I'm pissed, but I do know what is going on. This family had a lot to lose if I suddenly go psycho killer, and you got the lovely job of keeping tabs on me." I don't remember standing, but I had somehow gotten very close to Edward. "But what was the point of telling me that you couldn't control your ability?"

I wanted to punch a wall again, or better yet, I wanted to take a swing at Edward. I didn't dare clutch my cross again. The poor, innocent, sentimental thing would crumble had I tried. I started pacing, which in itself was awkward. The past days have made it clear that I am now much more partial to stillness. That is, besides the fact that I had played with the car window for the entire drive to Canada. I hadn't done so on the way how.

"Hermione?" That was Alice. She looked worried from where she sat on my bed after she had blurred past Edward and myself. "Please don't leave." I hadn't even realized that I had formed that thought until she had spoken. As Edward winced, I knew I had. Alice glared at Edward. "Apologize," the petite woman ordered, succeeding in looking extremely intimidating.

"I'm sorry." Edward responded without pause.

Realistically, I knew Edward wasn't at fault. After all, Carlisle had probably told Edward to do as he had been doing. With the safety of both his family, and all of the muggle humans on the line, it made sense to monitor the new vamp. Dumbledore, too, had used his own talents of reading the mind on Harry quite a few times. It didn't matter, though. I was angry, and this doubt of me stung, because I'm doing very well - and worse: I really care about them. I shouldn't have allowed that to happen.

'I'm sorry' wasn't good enough. "How long did you plan on monitoring my thoughts? I've breathed in the scent on every human worn shirt that Alice has brought here. I've sat in rooms with human blood from the blood banks with fans present, and have proven myself. We've heated blood and run it through fish tank pumps, and I have controlled my reactions. I thought I was doing remarkably well. Are you still expecting me to snap and jeopardize everything you have here?"

I wanted him to tell me it was only a habit. But that would be a lie. Edward Cullen stayed silent, and that spoke volumes.

I snorted an unattractive, disappointed snort and left.

I was sitting in my car seconds later.

Note: Just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who has been reading this story. Also, I wanted to remind you all that from now forward pictures will be linked on my profile.