Disclaimer : All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the intellectual property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Of Quidditch Players and Giving Ups
Emmett and Jasper were leaning against the island in the small kitchen of Hermione's flat. It had been only a few hours since they'd last been there rescuing the young witch from the baddies. They could see into the living-room thanks to a small wooden sliding window and Hermione was currently informing the wizarding police—Aurors—of what had transpired the night before. Her two friends—Neville and Luna—were standing next to her.
Even though they'd chosen to accompany Hermione, the two vampires had been designated the temporary bodyguards of the witch by Carlisle. Emmett and Jasper had been surprised by how protective their father figure was of the young woman and of Tony. They'd been mostly surprised by the deep bond that the blond vampire doctor had created with Hermione. Just like a father with his child. At least, Jasper had felt like it and he knew that Edward had read his thoughts on the matter. "So, what do you reckon, Jazz?" Emmett asked, breaking the silence.
They might not really be blood brothers but the long years that they've spent together, despite Alice and Jasper being the last additions to their 'family', Emmett had created a quasi-sibling like bond with him. He'd known Edward longer but it was still easier to goof around with the quiet empath than with the mind-reader. It wasn't like that stopped Emmett from teasing Edward—he could tease the latter for days on end—and ever-since Isabella Swan came to Forks again, he'd been having endless teasing material. True, Edward could still be extremely broody—Emmett had often joked that Edward had more mood-swings that a pregnant woman—but, at least, he was getting better.
"Whatever do you mean, Em?" he stalled, knowing exactly what Emmett wanted to talk about.
"Come on, Jazzy. All the things we've heard and discussed about Alice's vision of the future. Ring any bells?" prompted Emmett.
"To tell you the truth –" Emmett nodded, turning to his brother to give his full attention, "– I don't really know what to make of it. I'm split. I feel like it's the end of it all."
"Yeah, I've felt it too. The rift that's split our family in two. There's something there that could make it definitive," shared Emmett, in a low voice. "I've felt bad for Edward. I've never thought I would ever hate the day Bella sat next to Edward in that Biology class. It's all because of her and for her."
"Yet, it's also because of Bella that Edward actually met Hermione. If we hadn't stopped in New York in spring, he would have never met Hermione and there would have been no Tony," said Jasper, equally softly.
They were speaking in soft tones as they didn't want to draw the attention of the wizards and witches talking in the next room.
"Yeah, that too," agreed Emmett. "So, what do you think we should do?"
"Nothing for the time being. No, let me finish, Em." He'd seen that Emmett disagreed with him and was going to interrupt him. "It's Edward's decisions that got us in this mess. He needs a chance to clean it up."
Emmett shook his clearly in disapproval. "That's what I feared you would say. If we leave it in Edward's hands, it's bound to blow up in our faces. You know as well as me that Edward always manages to mess up something simple. We can't risk that. He always blows things out of proportions."
"I know that, Emmett," concurred Jasper. "Yet, it's still up to Edward to right all the wrongs. Unluckily for him though and based from what we've overheard this morning, it just seems that he has a lot of work to do," muttered Jasper.
Both vampires were talking about Edward and Hermione's conversation in the morning. Of course, Edward had badly handled it by losing his temper quickly.
"We now know that this witch will not be as forgiving as Bella and that wasn't a big surprise, anyway. She doesn't strike me as the easily dazzled sort like Bella," observed Emmett.
"Yes, there's that and then, there's also him," pointed Jasper, reading the article of the Morning Oracle that Hermione had left on the kitchen table. The two vampires leaned forward reading the article detailing the relationship between the American National Quidditch team Captain and the British witch before they stared at the moving picture on the front page.
"Well, this just complicates things a hundredfold," Emmett deadpanned.
"You don't say," replied Jasper.
Both vampires were even more surprised when Maximus Brankovitch III—himself—walked into Hermione's apartment in a panic. The Quidditch star wrapped his arms around the British witch before asking, "Are you alright? I heard from an Auror friend of mine of the attack and I Apparated straight here."
"He's genuinely concerned," Jasper shared, having gotten a feel of the Seeker's emotions thanks to his ability.
"I am not concerned about the dude's feelings, Jazz," uttered Emmett. "I am more concerned by how close he is with Hermione."
Maximus was still holding Hermione in his arms as the little witch told him what had happened and where Tony and she were staying.
"He isn't one bit jealous," said Jasper, still monitoring the Quidditch player's feelings.
"I am glad you weren't harmed. It could have ended up badly, you know?" revealed Maximus.
"I know," replied Hermione, voice somewhat muffled as she was hugging Maximus. "Thank you for coming so quickly," Hermione said, finally extracting herself from the wizard's arms and looking up at him.
"Hey, don't worry about that. For me, there's no good nor bad reason not to get a hug from my favourite witch," declared Maximus, grinning before he glanced around the flat.
It was apparent—at least to the two male vampires—that in his haste to get to Hermione, the wizard had ignored everyone else and was now surprised to see the Aurors, Neville, Luna and the two of them.
"Oh, where are my manners? Let me introduce you to my friends, Maximus," said Hermione, pulling the smiling wizard behind her.
Maximus had short reddish brown hair with glints of golden and bronze in the sunlight pouring from the floor-to-ceiling window. He had chiselled features, an angular bone structure, high cheekbones, a strong chin. He was lean and wiry, tall and thin, standing at 6'2" and weighing 173 pounds. He was not ridiculously buff, but he was strong and well-built and athletic mostly thanks to his Quidditch training. His sparkling and mischievous sea green eyes almost never left Hermione as she moved around.
A little while later, Maximus was reminding her that she was his date for the Gala meant to held the next day but said that he'd understand if—given the current circumstances—that she'd not like to go. Hermione assured him that it was not the case.
"I feel a little guilty, Jazz," breathed Emmett. At Jasper's enquiring look, Emmett elaborated, "I can't bring myself to hate this guy. He seems genuine and likable."
"I agree and he cares for her deeply," Jasper added.
"He's just going to make everything difficult for Edward, won't he?" questioned Emmett.
"Yep, and Edward's gonna have to work hard to win her back," agreed Jasper. "This might make everything more interesting."
"I told her," Edward announced, making her jump and drop her glass of milk which splashed around the immaculate kitchen. "Sorry," he said, as he caught the glass before it crashed on floor, smiling.
"I never asked you to," Hermione replied, waving her wand to get rid of the milk splashes before turning to look at him.
"Hermione, I—" he started before stopping himself. He really needed to reign his temper with Hermione. "Hermione, I'm trying."
"I know you are, Edward," Hermione sighed before sitting down on the floor and leaning against the cupboard. "It's just that I'm already seeing someone, Edward."
"Oh," he simply said, surprised. He sat down in front of her on the floor. He did not know what to say but he still asked, "So what now?"
"We get on with our lives, Edward," she replied, looking at him.
They stayed silent for long minutes lost in their thoughts. "I don't think I can do that," Edward said, in a whisper loud enough for Hermione to hear.
"Do what?" she asked, looking at him.
"Give up on you… I don't think I'm ready to give up on you, Hermione," he announced.