CH 25

Between the lines.

A solitary cloaked vampire sat on a stone bench, observing the very last color melt into the Fjord's horizon. Hours went on as Jasper braced himself from the storm of emotions from Ravenclaw Tower. It hurricaned such suffering, just hundreds of feet above him. Fury, love, loss, confusion, heartbreak. Jasper Hale knew these emotions all too well. It was the sound of hope being torn apart. He watched as Edward scaled down the tower and darted for the Forbidden Forest. He resisted every taut muscle to stop the idiot.

No, he had to stay still and wait. That's what Luna trusted him to do. "Jasper, wait here. Wait for her, okay?" Luna said, stuffing the second Unspeakable envelope in her pocket. She serenely apparated, presumably to the Trial's Camp.

A few minutes after Edward's departure Cho Chang emerged from the Tower, completely alone.

Her emotions were enough to fill a war zone. And this war followed her wherever she went. Jasper was hypnotized. She managed to walk through the grounds with such lovely grace, as if nothing but determination was on her mind. He watched her in awe. The raven-haired witch walked into the darkness, without a wand to protect her. Cho confidently passed the stone bench, refusing to be distracted by any cold gust of wind. She nearly walked past Jasper.

"Miss Cho" the velvet voice emerged.

Cho kept walking, lost in her thoughts.

"Auror Cho." Jasper's warm voice solidified, causing her to pause. She looked up, dazed but still determined. Jasper Hale, of all vampires, should be at the trial by now. Cho knew if she uttered another word of instrution, she would break. She wordlessly walked faster, hoping he'd take the hint. She was in no condition to argue anymore, not after Cedric...Cullen. Cho walked on with a mixture of exhaustion and determination. Jasper assumed the position of a gentle shadow.

"How are you going to make it to the Main Tent? It's more than a 800 kilometers away." Jasper's hesitantly soothing voice followed her. It was apparent that he would escort her until the end. He'd stay by her side, even if her legs led them at an snail's pace.

"I'm going to walk." the stubborn witch simply stated.

Walk, indeed. Jasper was astounded by her stride. Cho marched on with an immense thickness of pain. Cho was walking through an entire wall of suffering. It barricaded every step. Even he was slightly overwhelmed by her pain. Jasper turned his attention to the dark road they were taking, and back to the wandless witch. She was actually going to walk here alone? That golden envelope just saved Cho's life.

"Alright. Would you mind if I accompany you?" he gently offered.

"I think you should run Jasper. You can't afford to be late." her voice was a whisper. She refused to look anywhere but forward. She marched on to the blackness without a weapon. Cho used whatever she had left to save her comrades. Even if it was nothing. He could sadly relate to this feeling.

Jasper decided that he was going to reach her, without manipulating any emotions. They would go through this, whatever it is, together. After long moments of silence, Jasper stopped in his tracks. Cho slowed and turned around. Tears were about a mile away from her eyes. If they managed to fall, so be it. Jasper wouldn't stop her emotions. He'd give her a choice, and his company.

"Let me help you, Cho. I don't know what happened in that Tower, I certainly won't ask. Friendships and relationships outside of the battlefield... are an entirely new concept for me." he whispered.

"But I can venture to say there are people out there that still need you, no matter who it is that you.. lose." Jasper gently continued. Cho shut her eyes and mildly flinched.

"Luna and all your friends. You know that they need you. There's a faster way to get to where you're going. And you definitely don't need to do this alone." Jasper's smooth twang strained, at her pain.

She appreciated that Jasper didn't try to change her emotions. That they felt this burden together. She was carrying her pain for years, and Jasper came out of nowhere and saw. He saw what she expertly hid, and he didn't hide from it.

Cho met his golden ember eyes. The moonlight illuminated his sincere expression, and beautiful serene face. You are more handsome on the inside than you are from your exterior, Jasper Hale. He sensed her admiration and bond to him. He looked away, knowing he didn't deserve a thing. Not after years of what he'd done to humans. Her hand was suddenly holding his arm, as her dark brown eyes focused on his.

"I know why you are an empath. I'm certain you were the most compassionate person in your past life. Nothing about you has changed, since then." Cho remarked, gratitude in her voice.

It soothed the depths of Jasper's own pain. Cho wouldn't leave him, neither would Luna, regardless of what he did. His Coven was different, but somehow having friends made it more real- he wasn't alone. He was more than a beast among beasts, he was a friend. Jasper straightened up and looked down at her, with a lopsided grin.

"What're friends for? Now would you allow me to give you a lift? Because I sure as hell am not leaving you here." Jasper smoothed over his own battlefield of pain, flashing a brilliant smile. Jasper crouched down with graceful ease to give her a piggy back ride.

"Whitlock-Hale!" Cho's sudden authoritative voice made him stand at attention.

"I am not riding you like you are some kind of horse." her gentle voice firmly held on to his gaze.

She looked up at him, suddenly shy. This was going to be hard for her to do. Cho never allowed herself to be vulnerable before, especially not in front of her friends. "I would rather look like a lady in distress than make you out to be cattle" she barely murmurred, thinking an astounded Jasper wouldn't hear.

With great difficulty the Chief of Dumbledore's Army gently wrapped both hands around Jasper's broad shoulders. She took a deep breath as she whispered to no one in particular.

"Could..Could you possibly carry me like this instead?" she asked. Jasper nearly melted at her kindness. He knew what it meant for her to ask, in this way. Jasper instantly realized why Cho was Luna's best friend.

Without another moment he shifted the young lady by her knees and gently lifted her up. Cho embraced the back of Jasper's neck, looking down with a fierce blush. She felt like some ghastly bride being carried over the threshold of embarassment. Well, at the very least Jasper wasn't made to crouch down like some sort of animal. She'd rather subject herself to this..compromising position.

"Chief Chang, you're one of the strongest that I have met." he whispered, fully upright and striding toward a run.

"Thank you Major Hale. You really are a noble friend. That's something worth fighting for." she looked ahead.

Jasper's earthy chuckle broke past the wind, as he suddenly carried her at the speed of light. Everyone loved stealing his lines.