AN: I have to say a few things. First of all. Very much thanks for all the reviews and favs and followers. Honestly sometimes I wonder what I do right to deserve this amount of attention but I am very thankful for your interest in my story. So the first thing I did today was finishing this chapter. But I have to say that finals are about to start in uni and I need to focus a little more on my study, so I will need a little longer for chapters than only two days from now on, I hope you understand and keep enjoying. Also I will rework chapter one and two when I got a little time.
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Chapter 19: Time for a change
Hermione calmed down slowly as the blond held her tight. She was smelling so good, like lavender and mint. "Are you better again?" Rosalie asked in a soft low voice it was nearly a whisper. Hermione only nodded she didn't trust her voice and she was ashamed. She should handle things in a more mature way.
Rosalie stood up and held a hand out to Hermione to get up as well. "Com I will show you something, that will cheer you up a little." Hermione dried her eyes and wiped her face quickly with her hands. As she took Rosalie's hand, the blond pulled her up easily. She followed her up the stairs and then she understood. Her room! They were going to her room.
Rosalie stopped in front the door that led to the empty room, Hermione was supposed to occupy as soon as it was done. She blocked the way. "Are you ready?" She asked conspiratorially.
"No way! It's finished?" Hermione got all excited and forgot her former sadness. How did they finish it so fast? There were so many pieces of furniture to get put together and she didn't hear any working-noise.
With a proud smile on her lips, Rosalie opened the door slowly, while Hermione tried to resist the urge to tiptoe in order to catch a glimpse of the room behind the door. When the door finally was completely open, Rose stepped aside to let Hermione in.
Her eyes were shining bright, as she stepped inside. Her room looked exactly as she pictured it when she was shopping for it with Esme. It had the weird smell of a typical new furnished room. The desk she picked took up a lot of space around one of the rooms corners and offered plenty of space to work on. Her bed above the dresser looked like a throne, from which she could overlook the whole room and to its feet was the soft fluffy rag she picked. Above, the big roof-window brightened the room even though rain was dripping on it. A more than necessary big TV hung at the wall opposite her bed. There was a big bookshelf in another corner along with the big armchair she picked for reading. It was perfect!
She walked into the room, turning around herself to see every Detail. Esme did a great job choosing decoration for the room.
Rosalie watched how Hermione explored her room for the first time. The Joy in her eyes was contagious. They spent the time left until dinner in her room and were talking about their school lifes.
….
The first few days after Hermione's shared Moment with Rosalie were a torture for Edward and Jasper. Rosalie's mood and thoughts were jumping between love, joy and frustration because she didn't want her siblings to get the wrong impression. She enjoyed to rule them with fear. Hermione was jumping from a warm nice feeling of home to embarrassment for her break down. She took pride in the fact that she took her parents death so well and didn't give her classmates the joy of seeing her cry. Now she did cry in front of her new sister.
Jasper just tried to solve the issue with focusing on Alice moods instead. It worked out fine, most of the time. Edward had a harder time getting along with his sisters. He decided to go stay at Bella's home as much as possible to avoid the situation. This contributed a big deal to Rosalie's increasing happiness, because it meant the human with the Deathwish wasn't around as well.
But neither Edward nor Jasper could really be mad at the girls, for one because they of all people could relate most to their struggles and secondly because they had a talk with Carlisle about the scene Jasper witnessed and all three of them agreed that this was something important to happen for Rose and Hermione. It would help both of them to deal with their problems better in the future.
On Wednesday, Hermione picked up the normal daily rhythm of the Cullens. Carlisle went to work at 6am, Esme stayed at home and got herself involved in various social projects to keep the family somewhat involved in the town's affairs. Her new older siblings were picking up Bella and went to school. This was nice the first two days, but then she noticed that she got so used to the house being full of people that she felt lonely when everyone else was out, doing their daily business. She was supposed to spend that time studying, which she did, but she never needed the whole time.
She would try to help Esme with some of her Projects or tell her about Hogwarts. The woman really wanted to understand the World Hermione was coming from.
She didn't know then, that on Saturday she would wish the boredom back…..
Saturday Morning she woke up to someone tapping on the Window above her bed. First she was annoyed, then she was confused. How could someone knock on that Window? It was on the roof! Hermione opened her Eyes and stared upwards. Above her head, on the outside of her Window, was Alice, smiling wide and waving happily at her. Then she motioned Hermione to let her in.
Hermione pulled the blanket over her head a little annoyed. Things you only experience, when living with vampires, she thought a little disturbed. She got up and tiptoed on her mattress to reach the window-handle and had trouble not to tumble over as she open the window. She didn't know how she was supposed to fully open it, usually you would need some kind of staffs to push the windows to the outside and set them in place, she was sure those were in the garage. But her worries were without reason, since Alice just pulled one half of the giant glasses open herself, once Hermione unlocked it. Without much noise, the vampire pulled off her shoes and jumped on Hermione's bed, slowly closing the Window above her again. Before the Witch could say any more, her new Sister shook her head violently, like a cat getting rid of unwanted wetness in it's fur. In general the whole situation reminded Hermione a lot of a cat. Her grandma used to let her cats into the house through windows. Hermione would have liked to make a similar comment, but she didn't know Alice well enough yet, to be sure this wouldn't be taken wrong. So instead she settled for "Why?...Where did you….." half, finished sentences. This girlfriend of Edward must already passed her inability of speaking full sentences over to her.
But Alice only smiled the biggest smile Hermione ever saw in such a beautiful face. Sometimes they looked so beautiful, that Hermione forgot they were actually alive and could move at any moment…..well alive in a wider meaning of the word, that is. "I was out for a walk. Me and Jasper like to see the sun rise" she explained excited as she stepped down from her bed. Even this simple thing, looked just beyond elegant. "And I thought now would be a good time to wake you. We have plans today!" she turned a pirouette and clapped her hands soundlessly.
Hermione sat down on her bed. "What kind of plans?" she asked a little suspicious "And with we, you mean?" she pulled her eyebrows together. "Why didn't you just take the door?"
Alice laughed "Slow down." As she spoke she stepped closer to Hermione's dresser and opened each available door on it. "It's Make-Over-day for you and with we I mean you and me and because, this was the shortest way to you." She searched through Hermione's clothes and Hermione hung her head over the corner of her bed, to see what the little woman was looking for.
At the words 'make-Over' she pulled back and wrapped her blanket around herself. This didn't sound like something she would enjoy. She watched Alice go through her things, sometimes she would pull a piece out of the dresser, look at it more closely and put it neatly back in.
What was the point in it anyway? Not like she would ever get close to this unhuman vampire-beauty. And she didn't have to anyway. She would not be one of those girls that only got through life with a pretty face. She had what she needed IN her head not ON her head. She didn't want to get changed, just to fit into the family better. A grumpy feeling spread through her belly.
"Don't worry!" Alice exclaimed "you will like it, I know it" she shot her a meaningful look and Hermione got the hint, even without that. But she still didn't really believe her.
"You make her uncomfortable, Love." Jasper was leaning against the doorframe. Hermione didn't even hear him opening the door. But as soon as she met his eyes a soft smile played around his lips and a wave of adventurous excitement washed over her. She couldn't wait to get dressed and see what Alice had in mind. She jumped off her higher positioned sleeping space and pulled a few clothes out of the dresser to get ready for the day. Alice giggled as she watched her.
The fun was interrupted as Edward walked by and slapped Jasper lightly on the back of his head. "Stop manipulating her, Jasper!" he scolded and kept walking towards the stairs "Carlisle, Jasper is messing around for Alice advantage again." Was all that could be heard from him, once he was out of sight. A few seconds later a "Play fair, kids!" in the soft doctors voice was the earned reply.
"What a fun-killer" Alice complained while Jasper laugh rumbled in his chest. Hermione blinked confused to the spot where he stood. As she slowly understood what happened her glare turned angry. "You manipulated my feeling!" she accused him and knew she was right.
"I am sorry!" a lopsided smile told her he was not. "I just didn't want to let you feel bad." Was his excuse. It was a weak one in Hermione's opinion. She contemplated to throw a piece of cloth at him, but given their reflexes and rock-hard sin this would have been a pity try. So instead she just walked over and gave the door a good push to let it fall close, leaving Jasper locked out.
She turned around to get dressed, when Alice already was next to her, took the clothes Hermione held out of her hands and gave her something else. A dress in a pale dirty pink and some leggings along with a thin cardigan. Something Hermione might would have worn for a Birthday-party nut not for daily living. Then she felt Alice hands on her shoulders. "Trust me you will like it."
Hermione couldn't help but feel like she had to believe her, the way she said that didn't sound like pure excitement to go shopping, but as she was convinced of it. So the witch gave in and went to the bathroom to get ready.
When she returned to her room, she heard Esme call her down for breakfast. This was actually something she got used to fast. She walked down the stairs a little faster than was wise and slipped on the last view steps. She took a shard breath, as she prepared for the impact with the wooden floor. But she collided sooner than expected with something similar hard. "Woah there! I thought you guys need a broom to fly." It was Emmett who caught her. Her face must have hit his chest. It was still better than kissing the floor. He put her down on her feet again and pinched her cheek laughing. "Don't hurt yourself or Rosalie hurts me."
With a blush on her cheeks she mumbled her thanks and went to the kitchen-counter. Esme was standing behind it and was chatting with Bella, who already sat on one of the stools, munching on a toast. She must have slept here last night as well. Hermione somewhat doubted that she came over early just for breakfast.
She climbed on her own chair, while leaving one free in between her and the other girl. She didn't have the feeling that she particularly liked her and somehow felt like she was returning those feelings. To be fair she didn't know her at all. But somehow it wormed Hermione that Bella was here all the time, while her dad obviously wanted to spend time with her. The fact that Hermione herself wouldn't have a chance to do such a simple thing as having breakfast with her father, made her mad about this fact even more.
"Good morning" she mumbled. And watched as Esme put a place in front of her. There was a sliced Apple, a golden Toast and some scrambled eggs. She smiled happily. Nearly as good as breakfast at Hogwarts.
"You look pretty today, dear…..Alice?" Esme asked with a sympathetic expression on her beautiful face. Hermione nodded a little resigned. Seems like the case already was well known and she wasn't the first of Alice victims.
"She said today is Make-Over-day" the girl explained and bit into her own toast, before glancing at Bella. She only ate half her breakfast and didn't seem to intend eating the rest of it. "Did you sleep over here, Bella?" Hermione asked, trying to hide her disagreement, which didn't work out that well. She stared at the older girl as she waited for a reply. She had to admit Bella was a pretty girl. She just didn't look very healthy and if she would have been able to answer in full sentences without ten minute breaks between question and answer, Hermione might would have liked her. Professor would have wen crazy, with her as student.
"Uhm….yeah." she started, slowly "I came over last night….I didn't see you around though" Was Bella's full answer.
"Oh yeah I was in my room with Rosalie. She helped me studying" Hermione just discovered a new part of herself, that she didn't really dislike, but she was well aware it was not a good character trait that she developed right there.
Alice joined them, danced over to hug Bella and then looked at Hermione expectantly. Jasper followed right behind but kept a distance to them. He and Esme exchanged a meaningful look, that Hermione couldn't really interpret but she felt like she was intruding, as she watched it, so her eyes went to her nearly finished plate. "Can we go?" Alice asked now a little hyper again.
Hermione was still chewing, but felt like she has to answer right away so she tried to speak with a full moth "Chan I pwease finif eatin fift?" was the gibberish she got out, which caused a melodic laugher from Esme.
"Let you sister eat, Alice! Then you have all day to torture her." Hermione felt weird, that Esme called them sisters. Yes she did it herself in her head, but more to get used to the whole idea of family rather than anything else. This felt different. This felt as if she always had been here and a part of them. If harry could see that, what would he say?
Alice turned around in her Chair, back and forth, back and forth. It made Hermione nervous in a annoyed way. "Do you want to come with us Bella?" Alice asked and this didn't help Hermione. She knew she had to jump over her own shadow and get to know Edwards girlfriend at some point, but right now this was a little hard and she didn't want to face this issue right now.
This was when she discovered a new favorite thing about her new family. Jasper was a savior! "I don't think Edward would be happy if you kidnap Bella." He threw in before the same could answer herself. "I think he has plans for the two of them today." Hermione felt relieved and when she looked at Jasper, he shot her a little wink. He knew she didn't want to spend time with Bella and just punched her out of the dilemma. Her mouth formed a soundless 'Thank you'.
Hermione's plate was finished. But she wasn't really full yet, at least not if a day full of shopping was ahead. She glimpsed at Bella's plate. "Are you going to finish this?" she asked, knowing fully well that she would not. As expected Bella shook her head, while she spoke to Alice and the girl pilled her half-finished plate over.
Alice watched this action with impatience, but didn't complain. "I could have made some more food for you" Esme sounded a little hurt, but Hermione didn't want to accept that.
"No why waste food, that's already prepared." Was her argument, which earned a little proud nod from Esme.
Once hormone was done, she took the dishes, jumped from her stool and put them into the dishwasher. "Thank you sweetie" Esme hugged her briefly and kissed her head. "Don't let Alice torture you too much."
"Finally we can go!" Alice bright smile could have lit up the whole room.
….
They took Carlisle's Car, since it had a little more storage room, than Alice'. The ride would take a while again, something Hermione came to dislike about living in Forks already. They were just heading out of town, when Hermione started to break the silence. Well it wasn't silence in the literal meaning of the word, since Alice was humming along a song in the Radio, it was just a state of no-conversation.
"So why are we doing this?" the witch asked a little curious. She really didn't know what to think of Alice yet. She was nice, without any doubt and the first of her new siblings that was not afraid of including her into the family right away, after all she hugged her right at their first encounter. On the other hand, they hadn't spent time together yet and Alice seemed to be really fond of everything extreme. She was never afraid to do things the vampire way, while the other often tried to act human. She also obviously was a fan of excessive Shopping. Hell, even her gift was extreme in some way. I mean seeing the future was extreme. Sure Future telling was a subject at Hogwarts too, but Hermione always had her doubts, that any of those obscure prophecies had any value. Without any doubt, Alice' visions were reliable. "It's not like I actually will blend in with out vampire-perfection" Hermione grumbled. She always disliked the Slytherin girls, that cared more about their looks than their grades, but during the past few days, she grew more and more aware of all her little flaws. Only having vampires around, make you camper yourself to them at some point.
"That's nonsense!" Alice threw in. "That's not at all my Intention or even necessary. You fit into the family just fine!" She pouted her Lips and turned the volume of the radio down. "I just got a new baby sister and want to spoil her with new things." She defended herself and Hermione thought she could hear some actual hurt feeling out of it.
"Uhm….Thank you?" Hermione was at a loss how to react to this. "But as you probably noticed, I am not exactly the fashion-kind-of-girl." She bit her lip. No she clearly wasn't. She was glad that she had to wear her school uniform at Hogwarts and didn't have to worry about clothing. A much bigger issue each morning, was taming her hair anyway.
"Doesn't matter." Alice voice had a serious sound to it, that Hermione didn't hear like that before from her. It was somehow good to know that she had a serious side to her character. "That's what you have me and Rose for now. We are good with such things, trust me." An evil little smile spread on her lips "Just imagine how they will react in your new school, when you turn out smart and stylish."
Hermione's first attempt was to criticize this and lecture her about how a smart girl never needed to be stylish. But a nagging voice inside her head told her that this actually would be cool and she wanted it. A little shy she nodded. She didn't really believe that Alice could make her promises come true, but maybe it was worth a shot.
…
Alice pulled and dragged her through so many Stores. Some of them were obvious to spot as such, some were so hidden and small, that Hermione wasn't sure that they were public at all.
Through half the marathon, the witch got the Feeling, that Alice wanted to replace her whole wardrobe. So just to be sure she picked a few clothes that weren't to different from those she usually would wear. A lot of them looked similar to her school-uniform. She just liked that kind of style. It always was warm and practical. Alice made sure a certain level of style wasn't missing though.
After what seemed like endless hours to Hermione, they needed a break. Well she needed a break, Alice was a different matter.
After a little begging, Alice gave in to Ice-cream for the young girl instead of an actual Lunch. Usually Hermione would have never denied a healthy full meal for something silly as ice-cream, but she had plenty of breakfast and the ice-cream shop they walked by had her favorite flavor, Honey-Mint. It was a rare thing and she didn't want to miss the chance.
All in All she couldn't deny that she enjoyed the day with Alice and she would never have it said, but she loved the collection of clothes, the adorable vampire got for her. If she would have had such a sense for fine clothing back in Hogwarts, the nasty Slytherin-girls wouldn't have picked on her as much, she was sure. They kind of respected such things.
The Trip back home came with a fulfilling feeling of tiredness, stratification and joy about the new things, now in her possession.
Alice was driving even faster than Esme, but on the way back it didn't bother Hermione as much, since they were engaged in a rather emotional talk.
"But why can't you just pick the house you want to live in at Hogwarts?" Alice whined a little frustrated, they discussed the matter ever since they got into the car. "I mean, what if you just made friends before school and then lose them due to the whole house thing?" She obviously didn't like the system.
Hermione was passionate about it though. "But the hat knows better!" she countered "he sees the character-traits, you didn't discover yourself yet. He knows exactly, where you would grow most!" She was convinced of this, as soon as she bonded with Harry and Ron.
"Which house was yours?" Alice still didn't want to drop the topic.
"Gryffindor. Gryf-fin-dor" she repeated for the 5th time. "The house of the proud and brave!" She stated a little annoyed but with amusement.
"Dear I don't see red and gold being your colors! And I don't thin brave and proud are your strongest traits!" Alice chuckled, she knew she just pushed a button there.
"They are not my strong traits YET" Was Hermione's answer. The hat knew best, after all. "Before the sorting I thought i become a Ravenclaw, to be honest. The smart and wise"
Alice still shook her head. "No! Blue isn't your color either. I see you more in green!"
Shocked Hermione shook her head. "NOOOOO! Never a Snake! " she protested desperately.
Alice let out a melodic laugh. It was nice to see the girl so excited about a topic. "So what house would I be in, what do you think?" She asked a little curious. Her Siblings discussed this topic already, when Carlisle wrote letters, telling them about the Houses at Hogwarts. But who would know better than the little witch in their family?
"Only the hat knows for sure!" Hermione didn't want to give wrong directions. But it still was an interesting thought "But I would think you would be a Slytherin!" she said a little whispered. As if the hat could hear her and get mad, for taking his job.
"But you said they are evil!" Alice looked rather disappointed. Carlisle described the house as proud of history, smart and with a good touch of realism. Hermione however described it as cunning, mean and wayward.
"Well maybe not all of them are evil…." She gave in "They also have the qualities of thinking ahead, plotting and some high level understanding of style and taste." Hermione had to admit a little against her instincts as Gryffindor. "But they are still our worst enemies!" She added like a threat.
"Oh if we are enemies, I fear you have to repay me for all the clothes." Alice said in fake hurt.
"Maybeeeee I can be friends with ONE Slytherin." The girl retorted cheeky.
They spend the rest of the way discussing the different qualities of each house and guessing how the hat might know how to sort the kids.
Only when they were near Forks, Hermione slowly started yawning and turning a little tired. It was an exhausting day after all. A good, exhausting day.