Hermione couldn't leave. Jasper Hale was NOT alright. Day after day, Jasper planted himself on the ground of shame. The very same ground he was blasted onto by Alice Cullen. No one dared to come close. Bella was the only Cullen who could get close enough to block his Emotional battlefield. Even then, Jasper drowned her out. He was determined to sulk in the quicksands of regret, to wait for Alice to 'hang him.
It was only when a gentle breeze of amusement drifted his way, that he decided to open his eyes. Weeks later, of course.
"Get. Up. Jasper!" Alice play-kicked the frozen statue on the ground. "Or you can stay there a few more years. Serves you right for flirting with another girl." Alice's voice chimed.
Jasper stilled even further as the she slowly knelt by him. This was it, the moment of judgement. Thank the stars that Mary Alice Cullen was a kind judge. The beautiful pixie girl leaned in with the gentlest kiss. It was the kind of kiss that brought you back home. She patiently kissed him until Jasper sheepishly kissed back.
"Alice, I meant no dishonor. You know that right?" He cautiously whispered. He wasn't in the safe zone, not yet. Soldiers didn't anticipate for nothin'
"Yes. I know...you slime bag." Alice laughed at the nervous question. She couldn't see much of the past, or whatever happened in that trunk and tent. The past never really mattered to Alice anyway. The future was more important. Jasper Hale's future was was clear. Clear as it always was. It wouldn't change. An eternity... and her Jasper still didn't realize it. Men.
"Really, Jasper. Stand up and say hi to your friend. She's been moping around completely convinced that she's hurt you. She refuses to come near you out of fear that you'll explode into ashes! You need to talk the poor girl. C'mon love." Alice coaxed.
Jasper gracefully rose from the dead. He propped himself up by his elbows to look at Alice. The L word. Jasper was safe. Or was he? His dark eyes looked around. Jasper carefully assessed Alice for any emotions leaning toward decapitation. His peripheral vision scanned the area for fire. One could never be too certain.
"Are you sure?" Jasper asked a loaded question.. 'Are you sure you won't destroy me over this? And are you sure you want me to do this?
"Well, yeah. You're the only one that's close enough to save her from her closet. Cloaks are so 1890s." She replied. Alice Cullen was back. Jasper chuckled and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. A stamp to seal the deal.
Jasper found Hermione sitting by a pond. The sun cast golden tones on the curly waves of her hair. This wouldn't be easy. All the easy conversations were done.
Time for the hard one. And Hermione was definitely a hard one to please. Stubborn as ever. She refused to talk to Ron, Harry, or anyone else until she'd spoken to Jasper first. Jasper needed to know, first. Hermione alternated for weeks between hiding in the bushes, sitting on a rock, and fiddling with her luggage. She was currently on a rock. Hugging said luggage.
"...s'that the right trunk?" A smooth 'twang came from behind. Hermione stared at the concrete and instantly fought her grin. She coughed and tried to look angry before facing Jasper. He looked stunning, even when he was sad. She cast her best glare, a rather weak flame.
"You can't make me feel things I don't already feel." Jasper responded to her hidden emotions. Hermione was genuinely upset even if she didn't realize it.
"Well, do you feel it's appropriate to ship me to America to witness a vampire play dead?" She huffed, half joking. Hermione continued to look forward in silence. It wasn't funny. She worried day and night about the health of an immortal being!
"You're rather bad at it, you know. Playing the role of a stone." Hermione suddenly grinned. Her long lashes laughed along with her. Jasper relaxed, gazing longingly at the rock. Hermione rolled her eyes and moved over to make space. One rock. One moment to talk. Jasper sat and patiently waited for Hermione's latest monologue.
Hermione took a very large breath to speak as he inaudibly chuckled. This one would be a treat.
"So. Carlisle says I'm to stay this way. Well, he didn't quite say that. It's just, I am choosing to stay the way I am. I know Forks is an optimal choice for..my situation. Your treaty's on magical beings are rather liberal, but I.." Hermione suddenly stopped thinking out loud. Her golden brown eyes melted into his. The small part of Jasper that still held on, braced itself.
"Jasper, I am choosing to go home." Hermione firmly declared. Her chocolate golden eyes were met with his silence. Jasper kept his gaze forward, waiting for what he wanted to hear. Waiting to be forgiven.
"But I'll miss you dearly, surely you must know that?" Hermione's small voice sunk. That's not what he wanted to hear, but it might do. Jasper turned to look at her with such endearment. Oh to be young. Well, under 100.
Jasper silently held her hand, the one he'd damaged. She was leaving. He had to say it.
"Hermione. I'm sorry. For this.. And for what happened between-" Jasper began before Hermione squeezed his hand. The witch was getting good at calming him down. That's a lot to say, for an empath.
"If you're going to apologize, then do it for things you regret. I don't want you to carry any sorrys, especially not because of me. Don't carry that around." Hermione leaned toward his cold shoulder.
Jasper looked away, stubborn as a mule.
"I could never be sorry, Jasper. Not for you." Hermione insisted.
"If being sorrys what got us here, then I'm still the sorry type." His lopsided grin finally emerged. They lingered in the dark a while longer, somewhere between happy and sad. That gray area.
" I should probably be on my way." Hermione smiled softly.
"Yeah, let's both head home. Home's where the heart is. Am I right?" Jasper smoothed over, winking toward a certain red head. A hundred feet ahead of them, Ron Weasley tried his best to look bored. But there was nothing boring about a bloody vampire sharing a blasted rock with Hermione. So he sat on his own rock, across his own pond. He threw stones against its waters, trying hard to look very bored.
Hermione coughed at the sight of Ron. Jasper precisely knew why. Reading about this Ickle Ron was one thing, actually observing him was another.
The vampire tightened his jaw. If this 'wizard' wasn't so freckled he could easily be mistaken for a Cold One. That athletic build, obvious agility, and slightly aristocratic features were only hidden by the redheads..endearing...unawareness. Jasper begrudgingly assessed him, and the situation at hand.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Hermione thought the same thing. Ron Weasley was blind to the fact that he had grown into one of the most attractive wizards. Hermione knew him before that. She's known him all along. Her blushes were real, and beyond physical.
"He's staring, Harry. Why's he staring? And she's gone red!" Ron asked nervously. Vampires don't wink, don't blink, and definitely don't lie on the ground for days and days.
"Gee Ron, maybe he'd fancy to be your special friend. And maybe 'Moines peeved." Harry laughed, joining him to throw stones. Ron tensed even more. He consistently rejected offers from girls and now...no. Regardless, Ron was Ron and had to pitch in his two sickles. Rather, two cents.
"Well, he might be a handsome bloke but he's obviously mental. Really. And besides-I'm not..and I already" Ron was close to admitting his feelings for the witch that conveniently appeared before them.
"Brooms up, 'mate!" Harry chuckled as Ron caught his broom. Harry was already in the air before Hermione could say a word. She stared up at him incredulously.
"Sorry ''Mione, but I can't find Buckbeak! Suppose you'll have to fly first class!" Harry zoomed ahead before either of his friends could protest. This was the first time she's seen Ron in person, since the war. The first time since she had run away..from that kiss they'd shared during the war. Hermione cringed at the memory. It was probably meaningless to him..a product of nerves.
"Er, Hi." Ron swallowed, gripping his broom as he looked at the sky. Where else was he supposed to look?
"Hi. So, um, London then? I'd really like to go home." Hermione looked upwards. Where else could she look?
The two stood side by side, looking up at the sky. They'd spent over seven years argu-flirting. There was nothing left to really say. Ron looked down at her, the girl who was just as nervous as he was. Was: past tense. Hermione blushed when Ron bit his lip to prevent a smile. In a split second Ron grabbed her waist and kicked off the ground so fast that Hermione's squeal became an echo.
"He's kinda hot." Alice laughed from a distance.
"A ginger." Rosalie lazily responded, choosing to hide her grin.
"And he has a mop." Bella the newlywed gushed.
Jasper allowed it, karma.
Precisely one year and three days later, Alice would cause another fiasco. A wizarding owl had arrived. It was one of many that the Cullen's cautiously received over the year. Alice nearly choked this brown owl as it flopped around for dear life. The message this owl carried totally confirmed her visions! It was happening. And she wouldn't miss this opportunity for the world. Wizarding world included!
"Jasper! We're going to London! Hurry and pack your bags!"
Luggage. Again?