Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters, places et al. are owned by J.K. Rowling. Also Twilight and all characters places et al. are owned by Stephenie Meyer

A/N: Let's get it moving a bit more :) I hope it is enjoyable, too. Soon I guess we'll also meet Ms. Swan. Got to keep Edward occupied ;)

Chapter 5: Dinner Talk

The rest of the day wasn't so bad, in retrospect. For one, he found out that the French class was ridiculously easy for him, which was a good thing, given how abysmal his history class turned out to be. Who knew Muggles could produce so much history? That would really be a tough nut to crack. At least he managed to get some good acquaintances for a first day – and didn't piss them off just for being Muggles. He was rather fond of Angela, he talked a lot about his past with her, the Muggle-friendly one, at least, and being taken seriously helped him. Just that Jessica girl... Twice he came within inches of just hexing her mouth shut. Merlin, was it annoying sometimes!

Later, when he got 'home' he worked on his homework, and dug deep into his books. He had a lot of ground to cover before even beginning to be on equal ground with the other students. A thought that caused him significant frustration. He just wasn't used to being on the bottom part of any ladder.

Dinner later that evening was delicious. Even the house elves of Malfoy Manor had nothing on Martha, he was sure - or it just was that much more delicious after the food at school. He just didn't complain. He asked some questions about Forks and the surroundings, and she more about his past. It felt nice, for a change, almost liberating to have someone to listen to him without judging. And he laughed a lot, too.

When he was finished, he had the feeling he would explode if he ate one more bite. But it felt good...

"You help me clean up?" Martha asked him.

Draco took out his wand and was about to cast a cleaning spell when Martha pushed his wand down. "Don't, Draco," she said softly.

"But why?" Draco looked puzzled. "It'd be that much easier to clean."

She looked at him deeply and he could almost feel the love and emotional warmth from her eyes. "Life isn't about easy solutions, my dear. Sure, magic could do it at the flick of a wand. But what do you learn from that? If life always gives you aces, any idiot could do great. It's when you get the shitty cards that shows what you're made of." She handed him a towel and began filling the sink with water. "When you use that wand of yours, do you ever marvel at how special that makes you? What life gave you? And I am not whining about being a squib, mind you. I mean, do you appreciate the gift you got, or is it just something you assumed you were entitled to?" She handed him the first dripping plate, and Draco started drying it without speaking. His mind wheeled, thinking. After two more plates, he looked up, sorrow filling his eyes. "I have to say, you got me there. I just never thought about it, really. My parents would have dismissed the thought off-hand. I am a Malfoy, end of discussion. I need to put that on the list of things to really ponder on," Draco said sheepishly and continued drying.

When they were finished, they sat at the kitchen table drinking a mug of hot chocolate.

"What do you know about the Cullens," he suddenly asked Martha.

"The Cullens?" she raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I've seen them today at school. They were...weird, in a way. And I come from a world full of weirdness," Draco answered.

"I don't know much about them," she rubbed her nose slightly. "Came here a few years ago, their dad is a doctor, the chief doctor, at the hospital. Always likeable, never heard a bad thing about them. Though they tend to keep themselves apart from the rest. Almost like a wizarding family," she chuckled. "You might get more out of old Penny down the road, that old tattletale."

"I felt as if they were observing me during the day. Whenever I saw one of them today, they were looking at me as if trying to solve a complex puzzle..."
"Oh, you must be over-reacting..."

"Maybe," Draco took another sip of chocolate. "But still... They give me goosebumps," and he didn't mean that special kind of goosebumps he got from one particular Cullen.

He stayed silent for a moment. "Ever seen vampires here?"

"Vampires?" Martha laughed. "Here? Aren't you a bit paranoid?" Her eyes widened suddenly as another thought slid into place. "The Cullens? Be serious! How many vampires you know that walk outside during the day? And visit High School, of all places? You sure you had vampires covered at your school?"

"If you put it that way..." he smiled. "Maybe I am a bit crazy. Sorry to bother you with that."
"No problem, dear."

After the chocolate, he went to his room. Lying on his bed, dressed just in black sweatpants, he stared at the starry sky magically projected on the tester of his four-poster. His thoughts circled around one person, Jasper... He couldn't get it out of his mind. Those cold eyes looking at him, the way he moved... Stop it! He slapped himself mentally. Focus!

His thoughts drifted away towards the other members of that weird family. They all had looked funnily at him today. He knew people being scared of him, and it was there, in their eyes. But there was more, something predatory, something dangerous. Damned if I knew what they wanted...

Tomorrow would be another busy day, and he focused on that, lest he would think about something he clearly thought he should not...

"Jasper, you can't be so callous," Carlisle said with warmth in his voice. "I know you're hungry, but remember who we are; what we stand for. Even if that new student new about us, we don't kill. His life is worth too much."

"I am sorry," Jasper said softly. "I just want to protect us, and I didn't think clearly."

They all sat in the drawing room, discussing 'the situation'. "I still think we should do something about it," Rosalie joined in. "If he really knows... He could be dangerous."
"If he knows, we move," Carlisle answered her. "That's what we do, and you know it."
"But what if I don't want to move again? It's almost perfectly normal here! I don't want to give that up just for some stupid blood bag! He dies anyway, all of them do!"

"Rosalie!" Carlisle was a bit shocked at her fierce reaction. "Life is what makes them precious! If we just take and do what we want, it doesn't make us any better than animals. We're supposed to be above that."
Rosalie huffed but sat back into the embrace of Emmett and pouted.

"What do we know, anyway, before making wild speculations? Edward?"

"I can't read him, I just get straw words from his mind, not one coherent thought. I never experienced something like this from a human. I don't know how or what is the reason for it. But he looked at us and 'vampire' shot through his mind. And twice afterwards. He also thought about 'pure blood', whatever that means. Some of the words are without meaning to me." He paused shortly. "And I heard him think about Jasper, once."

Jasper's head turned sharply, but he didn't say anything.
"So you don't know anything for sure?"

"No..." Edward said. "I wish I could read more..."

"But he looks weirdly at us. We clearly interest him," Alice interjected. "It's more than just stray thoughts. Sadly, like Edward, I cannot see more, my visions are foggy when I think about him."

"Then try to get to know him. Meet him, talk with him. Remember: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer..." Carlisle finished the conversation.

"What is it, my love?" Jasper asked her, clearly worried. "You have been distant all the evening. Something is bothering you, isn't it?"

Alice looked up and forced a smile on her face. "Nothing's wrong. Maybe it's just not my day. Don't worry," she softly stroked his cheek. "Maybe I go for a little walk, ok?"

Jasper was about to come along, but then something in her face made him change his mind and he let her go.
As she wandered aimlessly through the forrest, silent tears flowed down her cheeks. She had known this moment would come, one day, but what had surprised her was that the vision had to come true so quickly... I love him, I do. Holding him back would be selfish. He deserves to be happy, even if he doesn't see it right now...