A/N: I have a new poll up on my profile dealing with this story. I decided I have to have Alice with someone, but I'm still on the fence about who. Head over there and let me know what you think. It'll be up for the next couple chapters, as I'm not introducing the Cullens into the story for a little while at least.

Thanks for all the reviews. It's nice to hear how you are liking this, and what I could do to make it better. I do take suggestions into account.

Enjoy, and please review.

She went hunting the morning of the twenty sixth, fearing she would lose control, but she didn't put much thought into it, just taking the first easy target she could without thinking of the life she just ended. Afterwards she waited throughout the day, but he did not show up. A feeling of panic was starting to set in, and she wasn't sure what to do as night fell. Had her guide to her new life abandoned her? Taking a deep breath she weighed her options. First she could return to England, take up residence in her house, track down Sanguini or some other vampire in the area to take Jasper's place until she felt comfortable enough to leave on her own. Or she could keep going, leave that night and get to Volterra as fast as possible. They would obviously have enough vampires around to teach her what she needed to know, and she could barter her abilities as payment.

After much internal debate she decided that the latter of these options was the more appealing, and she started packing her bag. She would run rather than Apparate, it was safer until she learned the land. If she moved quickly she could be in the Czech Republic before the sun rises, maybe Austria if she was lucky. She shouldered her bag and walked towards the door, but the knob started turning before her fingers made contact with it. She stepped back as it swung open, revealing Jasper holding a large box. He stepped in, closed the door, and placed the box on the bed before speaking.

"I owe you an apology," he said, looking sheepishly at her. "When you spend as much life as I around those who don't mind on which day they kill one has a tendency to form expectations when it comes to newborns. And I continuously forget that you have gone against nearly every expectation I have. I needed some time to... adjust my thoughts about newborns in general. And take stock of the damage I've done by holding newborns only to the standard I had for them before. I have caused much more hurt and devastation than necessary, and I needed to come to terms to that. Please forgive me for my actions of the last day or so."

"There's nothing to forgive," she replied, putting her bag down. "I wish you had made mention you were going to be gone for a day or two so I didn't worry about going crazy and committing a killing spree, but you have as much right as I to spend some time alone."

He chanced a quick smile. "I would not abandon you unless you insisted on it, Hermione."

A shiver ran down her spine at the emotion in his voice as he whispered her name. "What's in the box?" she asked.

"You seem to hold Christmas very dear, and I feel derelict in my obligation to keep you happy by letting the holiday pass with only our meeting in the church as recognition."

"You have no obligation to keep me happy," she pointed out.

"Yes, I do," he said firmly. "You begged for death, and I snatched the opportunity from you and turned you into a monster. The least I could do is to keep you happy."

She felt a smile curl her lips momentarily.

"As such I decided to bring Christmas to you. I apologize for the delay, but I had to get things together. And shopping was difficult."

"You didn't have to do anything..."

"I wanted to. Please, at least humor me, Hermione."

"Okay," she muttered. Smiling Jasper started pulling things from the box- a small tree, lights, trimmings, and a small wrapped box.

"Jasper..." she whispered.

He motioned for her to hang on a minute, bent over the tree, and stood up seconds later, revealing a decorated tree. She stepped forward, reaching out and running her fingertips over the branches. Jasper's hand rested innocently on her shoulder as she bit her bottom lip.

"I could sing carols, if you wish," he whispered.

She chuckled, and he started singing in a low murmur while twirling a lock of her hair between his fingers. She felt herself leaning into the contact, and this time she was sure what she was feeling was not his influence. There was a feeling coming from him, she knew that, but she had started to recognize what was his influence and what was her own feelings. His same feelings of desire were there, but they were different... less physical. A different level that she couldn't explain if she tried.

"I got you this," he said after he finished singing, reaching for the wrapped box.

"Where did you...?" she started.

"All legitimate. I promise you. I went shopping around the humans and everything. I can go steal the security footage if you want me to."

"That would defeat the purpose," she smiled, unwrapping the box. She revealed a soft, velveteen exterior. Slowly she opened the hinged box. Inside was a round bauble on a golden chain.

"Open it," he whispered, nuzzling her cheek.

She couldn't stop her hands from shaking as she carefully pried open the locket. Inside were two pictures, the left her parents were smiling, unmoving, up at her. On the right was a tiny picture of her, Harry, and Ron, laughing and waving.

"Ouch," she muttered.

"What?" he asked, suddenly confused.

"Sorry. I was biting my lip pretty hard," she said, turning to wrap her arms around him. "It's beautiful."

"You do like it, then?" he said, wrapping his arms around her.

"It's perfect," she nodded.

"Allow me?" he asked, raising the necklace out of its box. She turned around and pulled her hair out of the way, and he lifted the locket up around her throat and clasped it, letting it fall past her collarbone. Her fingers traced the circle as she felt his cool breath cascading down her neck.

"Merry Christmas," he muttered, as she dropped her hair.

"Would you like me to get you something in return?" she asked. "What do you get someone who has been living since the eighteen forties?"

"There is only one thing I want," he breathed, almost too softly for her to hear. She turned to face him, studying each feature of his face as she weighed the emotions crashing over her. She slowly leaned towards him, eyes locked onto his until her face was less than two inches from his, then they closed their eyes simultaneously as she closed the distance, pressing her lips tentatively to his. They held it for a moment, then she stepped back. His neck craned to follow, but after a fraction of a second he righted himself.

"You have to give me time with this," she whispered. "Part of me still can't stand to see you. And part of me wants to let this happen, as you have been so patient and kind with me. I need time to sort out my feelings."

"Understandable," he nodded, letting her go. "What would you like to do now?"

"I want to go to Volterra," she said quickly.

It was very early in the morning, before the sky was even lightening, when they came to the city on the hill. They slowed, and he offered her his arm, and together they started walking the cobbled stone. Immediately Hermione felt eyes following them.

"I think we should stop," she muttered.

"Why? We need to find this place before the sun rises," he said, stopping nonetheless.

"I have a feeling they'll find us."

They sat together on the side of a stone fountain and waited. A couple times Hermione thought she caught glimpses of movement, but the sun was hitting the tops of the stone towers around them and Jasper was near a panic attack when a woman approached them. They knew this was a vampire, she was a beautiful porcelain, her eyes dark with just a rim of crimson.

"Hello," she said, smiling, but offering nothing else in the way of a greeting. "I'm Heidi. Could you follow me, please?"

They stood, and followed her through the streets which were starting to come to life. They were led into a building, through a lobby to a set of elevators. The small group stepped into another lobby where a black-haired woman was just situating herself behind the desk. Hermione inhaled, and her hand clenched around Jaspers. While certainly not her singer, the woman smelled delicious.

"Heidi," the woman beamed as they walked past.

"Adrianna," Heidi replied shortly, moving quickly past the front desk, down a long hall, and pushing open a pair of ornate double doors.

"Look what I found hanging around the city," she announced as Hermione and Jasper followed her into the large stone chamber.

"Very good, Heidi," a long-haired, ancient-looking vampire smiled warmly at her before eyeing the ones following her. "Welcome, friends, to Volterra. I'm Aro, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Very much a pleasure," Jasper said, squeezing Hermione's hand and stepping forward to offer his hand to Aro. Looking curious Aro stepped forward, touching Jasper's hand. Flashes of emotions passed over his face as he went over every thought Jasper had since birth. He looked mildly amused, even interested at points, for several moments before his mild interest suddenly turned into unmasked excitement.

"Thank you, Jasper," Aro smiled, nodding quickly before spinning to look at Hermione. "Is what he tells me true, young one? Are you really...? May I?"

Hermione stepped forward, offering her hand. As soon as his skin touched hers she could feel her thoughts being pulled from her, her life like a movie being played in extreme fast forward. Her years at Hogwarts flew by, her time hunting Horcruxes and fighting moved less quickly as he carefully picked his way through. Ron's death intrigued him, as did Greyback, she could tell that simply by the look on his face. Then her mourning, finding out about her parents deaths, her depression, then one night in particular, with a dark figure entering her room...

"That one's private," she said, closing her mind quickly.

"You can cut me out?" he asked, excitement and joy easy to read across his face.

"Those thoughts are all mine. I've given you free access to everything before, you can have free access to everything after, but those thoughts are all mine."

"Of course, my dear," he nodded, and happiness was thick in his voice. "Please continue."

Her thoughts resumed after that night, and he was particularly interested in her recently acquired immortal life. When her thoughts caught up with the moment he let go of her hand.

"Excuse me, one moment, Dear One," he said, turning and sweeping from the room. Hermione took the opportunity to look around at the vampires who were now staring at her, trying to figure out what had excited their Master so much. Three in particular were studying her, brows furrowed, whispering quietly to themselves. She focused her hearing, but still only caught glimpses.

"But Aro can obviously..."

"She can keep him out, though..."

"I'm getting nothing. She would have felt it by now."

"Me, too. I can't figure her out. There's no other explanation other than she's a shield."

"But if Aro..."

The door Aro had disappeared into opened again suddenly, and Aro came back in, followed by two others. Jasper was back by Hermione's side, arm around her waist.

"Brothers, this is Hermione Granger. Hermione, this is Marcus, and Caius," Aro said, motioning to the two behind him, each of whom gave her an interested greeting and a kiss on the cheek. "Hermione, if I could trouble you to show them what I have seen?"

Hermione looked at Jasper, who nodded to her encouragingly. She drew her wand, and there was a gasp around the room. She conjured a cup from thin air, then pointed her wand at it and muttered 'Aguamenti'.

Rather than filling the goblet the room was suddenly filled ankle-deep with water. Vampires cried out in shock, several jumping to the walls and holding on to keep from being wet. She swore, then waved her wand again, vanishing the water. Another wave and everyone was dry.

"I'm sorry," she muttered. "I'm still getting used to the power behind my magic now."

"No need to apologize," Aro waved it off. "It takes all of us some time to adjust afterwards. Speaking of which, don't be too hard on him. He did it with the best of intentions."

Her eyes wandered next to her, where Jasper shifted uncomfortably.

"I see you came looking for a place to stay. My brothers and I have discussed it, and we would like to offer you a place with our guard. Both of you, of course. We cannot deny Jasper his talent as well. You understand what that entails, correct?"

"Yes, sir," Jasper nodded.

"I have a general idea," Hermione answered.

"Wonderful!" Aro clapped his hands. "No worry. We'll help you figure anything else you may need to know out. We wouldn't leave you in the dark. Now, where are my manners? Introductions are in order. Come, come," he took Hermione's hand and led her towards the three that had been whispering.

"Hermione, Dear One, this is Demetri, a tracker like none you've ever seen..." he chuckled. "Of course, you haven't seen any so far, but I promise you that you'll never come across one such as him."

"Pleasure to meet you, Jasper, Hermione," Demetri nodded to each.

"And Alec and his sister Jane, each incredible talents themselves."

Alec and Jane just nodded, each looking annoyed, Jane looking particularly incensed at the reception Hermione was getting.

"You have met Heidi. This here is Felix," Aro motioned to the large vampire.

"Welcome, Hermione," Felix swept her un-offered hand to his lips and gave it a prolonged kiss. She could hear Jasper's jaw tighten. "Nice to have you, too, Jasper," Felix added almost as an afterthought.

"Santiago... Corin... Afton... Renata..." Each gave more or less friendly greetings. Caius had disappeared and returned with the wives, who were looking excited, but approached Hermione cautiously. They both greeted Jasper first, then moved next to Caius and Aro as if waiting instruction on how to best greet the witch.

"Athenodora, do not fear Hermione," Caius urged. "She is young, but Aro has told us she is good at heart.

"Benvenuto, Hermione," Athenodora breathed, kissing each of Hermione's cheeks.

"Grazie mille," Hermione returned.

"Ah, you speak Italian?"

"Just enough to get by."

"I shall teach you, then."

"I would appreciate it," she nodded.

Sulpicia greeted Hermione much in the same way, then the two wives went to stand by the door they had come in from.

"Chelsea should be here any moment," Aro announced. "Renata? Could you fetch Adrianna and bring her in with the group? Hermione seems to have shown a preference, and we have much to celebrate tonight."

"Yes, Master," Renata disappeared.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to deprive you..." Hermione muttered, now looking extremely uncomfortable.

"I saw the reluctance, Dear One, and I understand the respect you hold for human life. You remind me of one who was here, long ago..." Aro looked lost in thought for a second. "But it's best not to dwell on the past," he finished in a tone that made it sound more like a threat against saying something than a casual conversation. Hermione wondered if there was something Aro didn't want her knowing about.

"It's a natural phase for a newborn. It will pass," Marcus muttered, waving a hand dismissively.

"There is much promise in you, young one," he nodded in agreement. "And after we dine if I could trouble you to tell your story to the group."

"Of course," Hermione said quickly, not wanting to offend them. She knew she would have to play the game for a little while, nothing she was unwilling to do for at least a time.

The doors opened, and she took a deep breath to calm herself as a group of people started filing in, lead by who she could only assume was Chelsea, then Renata and a terrified looking Adrianna, who seemed to know what being summoned at that time meant. Renata positioned Adrianna close to Hermione as Aro welcomed the group and the doors slammed shut.