December Tenth

Dear Hermione,

First of all, Merry Christmas. Well, in two weeks, but as much as I hope to hear from you before then, I'm not sure if my letter will get to you in time for the gift of a response. As such, I've enclosed a little something for you. You know my passion is studying wars, and I'm currently enthralled by the American Civil War. I bought two copies of the book, and I am keeping one with me, unread, until I get word from you with a date to start reading it. I thought that if we agree to read a chapter a day starting on the same day, it'll be like we're reading it together. I know you told me your school is a little behind the time when it comes to technology, but I felt like I could smuggle you in an iPod. I had Edward go through his rather extensive music collection, and he compiled a list of songs that are of the style of that time period. Perhaps you could find a quiet corner of that library you love so much and sneak a listen. What is better than being a little rebellious sometimes?

My big news, if you may have noticed from the change on the envelope, is that my family has moved. Yet again. Now we're living in a small town called Forks in Washington State. I'd be willing to bet we have more rain and clouds than London. Our new house is nice, surrounded by woods made the most lush colors of green by the constant rain. It's not too far from the ocean, so with the right breeze you can smell the sea on the air, but it smells of earth and life the rest of the time, which is just as good. There are mountains in the area, so I'll be able to spend lots of time hiking and wondering if the view is anything like that from your school. Esme is in love with the nature surrounding the area, and I'm happy she's happy, but not all is well in this tiny town.

As always, a move takes some time to adjust to, but I feel like I'm having difficulty adjusting to this one more than anything. I've enrolled in the local community college, but I still feel out of place. There is a group nearby that has taken an instant disliking to us, hate is actually a better word for it, and they are locals and can trace their roots back further than anyone else. This means that their opinions are highly regarded by all the other locals, so because they dislike us it seems like the public sentiment is swinging that way. I don't wish to complain, Carlisle and Esme have been more than generous to me, but after all my previous moves I felt as though I have been able to find at least one person I can spend some time with, to consider a casual friend, but I feel as if I'm not going to be able to do that. I will always have Peter and Charlotte, if I can track them down, but right now I feel like the only thing I have to look forward to is your occasional letter.

I sincerely hope things are going better for you at your school. Are you still worried about your chemistry grade? With the information you've told me about Harry, I am surprised at his sudden improvement as well. But you shouldn't worry your pretty little head about it, darling. And don't worry about that complete charmer you seem to have teaching your law class, Snape. One day someone will fulfill their fantasy of releasing his shoulders of the burden of what you have told me is an overly greasy head. Just remember that as bad as he is, he certainly sounds better than that Umbridge woman you said had gotten sacked right before we met. You'll get through this year as easily as you have all the other ones. Just remember how I told you the importance of taking some time away from everything to explore and recharge your emotions. And I'll always be a pen stroke away if you feel the need to unload your problems on a willing pair of ears, or rather eyes.

Eagerly awaiting your reply,

Jasper

She smiled as she carefully folded the paper and tucked it into her pocket. She pulled out his previous letter, carefully unfolded it, and tucked it away in a folder atop a small stack of his previous letters. They were a lifeline to her, a lone tranquil voice in the sea of chaos around her. She played with the box in her lap, perfectly wrapped in delicate paper and topped with an exquisitely tied bow that had somehow managed to get only slightly flattened during transit. She decided that since she already knew what was inside she would hold off on opening the gift until Christmas.

No sooner than she had placed the package on her night table than Pavarti and Lavender walked in the room.

"Oh, Hermione!" Lavender squealed when she saw the gift. Hermione shot her a dark look. She and Ron had been seeing each other for a while now, causing Hermione even more of the emotional strain Jasper was trying to coach her through from afar. "Who is the package from? Your parents?"

"No," she said sharply, snatching the box away from her eyesight.

"Oh, it must be a boy, then," she squealed, craning her neck to get a look at the gift.

"That's a conclusion you seem to have pulled out of your arse," she snapped.

"Is it Krum?" Pavarti asked.

"Not hardly."

"So it is some mystery boy, then. Why don't you open it? Let's have a see."

"I just so happen to know what it is, and I'd rather not open it until Christmas."

"Aww... come on, Hermione. We're leaving for break soon, and we want to know what it is," Lavender groaned.

"You're just going to be disappointed, then," she shot back, stuffing the gift into her bag, then rushing from the room to the safety of the common room. She sat in one of the big chairs by the fire, first turning it so it faced away from everyone. She thought about the gift, about the book and music Jasper seemed to have so carefully chosen. She wanted to get something just as meaningful for him, but his family was rich and he seemingly didn't want for anything. She ran through all the shops in Hogsmeade and Diagon alley, trying to think of something, anything, for her friend from afar that wouldn't give her away as a witch, but drawing a blank. He had never asked anything of her, well, anything except...

She jumped up and looked around quickly, finding the subject of her sudden search sitting across the room, madly scribbling the last of his Potions homework on a piece of parchment so he could turn it in before the break.

"Oi, Colin!" she called.

XXXXXXXXXX

December 22nd

Dear Jasper,

I received your book and the music player. Thank you so much. I'll start reading chapter one on the first of January. I'm at home for the holidays, and I'll put a rush on this to make sure you get it by then so we can start together. Plus I want to make sure your Christmas gift gets there before February. Oh, yes, I got you something. Not quite as extravagant, but it's the only thing I could remember you asking for. Just do me a favor, and don't let it get into Emmett's hands. For some reason I'm afraid I'll wind up with a mustache or something horrid like that.

Do you know what's better than being a little rebellious every once in a while? Relaxing a bit without worry about when the next detention is going to come raining down on you. I guess you don't have to worry about that too much in community college, though, do you? Define your own destiny and all that. Let me guess, you were probably a good boy in school, always looking your best and having all the answers when you were asked. You looked very well put together when we spoke. And a little stiff. You may seem like the emotional Zen master, Mr. Whitlock, but perhaps there's something you need to forget so you can relax yourself. I guess that's why I decided to get you that thing you asked for. And I'm not aware if you knew that Emmett had added a post script on the letter in which you asked for it, but tell him that there's no way I'm sending you a picture of me in lingerie, and even if I did I wouldn't be sending said lingerie with the picture. Perhaps you shouldn't trust him to mail your letters anymore.

I cannot fathom how the boy who was so charming and sweet to me in Paris isn't able to find someone to charm in Forks. I've been in the situation where pretty much everyone in the school hated me. I know it is difficult during those times to find someone to be an ally, but those people who would be your truest friends are those who are willing to show themselves through during your darkest of times. And a good-looking guy such as yourself shouldn't have any difficulty finding a woman to sweep off her feet. Just put your heart to it, and you'll get what you want. I'll be here as long as you need moral support, your friend from overseas if you will.

I'm quite relieved for winter break. Ron and his new girlfriend have become insufferable. All they do is make out. I can't stand being in the same room as that. If I hear 'Won-Won' one more bloody time I might relieve Snape's greasy head from his shoulders myself just to help alleviate some of the stress. I'm home with my mum and dad for a while, and while I'm happy for the break, I'm using the time to get through as much homework as I possibly can. Anything to free up some study time for the end of the year. But I promise to free up some time every day to read my book. I'll even schedule it so I can keep with the same time when I go back to school. I have free time from one to two every afternoon. That would be around five to six in the morning your time. Probably too early for you to be getting up and reading.

Happy Christmas, Jasper. I can't wait to hear back from you. If I don't get a reply before I go back to school, my parents will be sure to send it on to me. They're quite interested in my penpal, but I'm just going to have a bit of a secret. Secrets are good to have sometimes, don't you think?

Love from Hermione

He placed the letter down on his desk atop his open textbook, which was sitting next to the unopened copy of the Civil War book. The box was torn open with ease, revealing the one thing he had asked of her- a picture surrounded by a beautiful silver frame. She was standing in front of a large, stone fireplace, the last embers of the night threatening to go out behind her. She looked into the camera and smiled, a genuine, warm smile that seemed to send a tingle down his spine the moment he saw it. He ran his fingers over the picture, remembering the feeling of her emotions surrounding him and the intoxicating smell of her, and not just her blood, in the air. His eyelids closed as he imagined the beautiful girl standing in front of him for real and not just in the picture. He imagined being in that red and gold decked room, feeling the warmth of the dying fire, being completely surrounded by her...

That last thought made him remember something. Forgetting to put the picture down he rushed out of his room, slamming the door, making sure everyone in the house knew he was on the warpath before they even saw him.

"Emmett!" he shouted so loudly the windows rattled.

"Jasper, dear, what's wrong?" Esme appeared first, Emmett and Rosalie close behind, the largest Cullen family member wearing a stupid grin across his face.

"When I asked you to mail that letter, did you tamper with it?" he growled dangerously, ignoring his adoptive mother.

"What, about asking your little girlfriend to send you a picture in her unmentionables?" Emmett chuckled.

"I should rip your bloody head off..."

"Ah, the little English girl is rubbing off on you. 'Bloody' doesn't sound right coming from a Texan."

"If you ever speak to her or about her like that again, I will tear your head off, Emmett Dale McCarty."

"Oh, three names. I must be in trouble," he rolled his eyes. "I did it for the good of this family, man. Every time you get one of those damn letters you go all sappy on us, and I feel like I'm stuck in a fucking chick flick until you get a chance to write back, and then I'm all jumpy and anxious until you get a letter back. This isn't like if it was Edward or Carlisle who was ga-ga over some girl, because I don't have to feel every little emotion that goes through them. I'm a vampire, not a fourteen year old girl. I shouldn't feel this damn hormonal. If you're so crazy over this girl, why don't you go change her?"

"Emmett," Carlisle cautioned.

"What the hell do you suggest I do?" interrupted Jasper. "Just go bite her and hope she forgives me? Or should I tell her what we are first, so she had the choice to turn or die? I won't do that to her. She's too good for that."

"Then maybe you should cut off communication. It's been five months. If she's as smart as you say she is, aren't you worried she's going to catch on?" Rosalie asked.

"Now stop, both of you," Esme ordered. "Jasper has made this choice, and we should support him no matter where this leads. I see no harm in writing to the girl."

"Esme's right," Carlisle added. "If Jasper thinks about taking this to a different level, then we will have a family discussion about it. But let it lead where it may for now."

Jasper looked down at the picture in his hand, realizing for the first time the full ramifications that his communications with Hermione might mean. What if she did discover his secret? He had a very limited time frame in which to meet her again face-to-face before his lack of aging would make it obvious something was up. But he couldn't stop writing. As much as Emmett complained about the 'drama' their letters caused it was the only thing keeping him going recently.

"Is that her, Jasper?" Esme asked cautiously, motioning towards the picture in his hands.

"Yes," he replied, reluctantly holding it out so she could take it from him. She held it was if she were holding a delicate first-edition of a very rare book, studying the picture carefully, Carlisle doing the same over her shoulder. Rosalie and Emmett both craned their necks to see the picture.

"At least she's cute," Emmett muttered.

"She does look quite lovely, dear," Esme smiled, handing the picture back. "I'm sure you'll make the right decision, whatever it may be."

"Thanks, Mom," he muttered, holding the picture to his chest as he ran upstairs to start his reply.