The Yule Ball was so very boring. Apparently, Hogwarts professors were only allowed one dance before taking on the task of herding magical teenagers. Unfortunately for Jasper, a herbology Professor by the name of Longbottom swiftly claimed Hermione for her first and only dance. Jasper nodded toward the dashing man in the merlot wizarding robes as he clumsily led Hermione to the dance floor. Her pale golden chiffon robes easily matched his deep red ones. The music started as Jasper's eyes widened. Snow started falling and disappeared before it hit the ground! More impossible, a woman taller than even Hagrid zeroed in on him. She walked in large strides as Jasper slowly backed away. The woman lined in purple fur towered over Jasper. She daintily extended a hand as large as his face. Jasper almost hit the punch table trying to avoid being knocked unconscious.
"I am Headmistress of Beauxbatons." The half giant batted her eyes. Jasper smiled at her nervously. He knew exactly what the big lady wanted. Jasper quietly cleared his throat before he straightened his posture and plastered on a handsome smile.
"I'm Jasper." He kissed her hand and held out his arm. There was no avoiding it. The music reached a crescendo as they made their way to the dance floor. With surprising grace Jasper easily whirled and twirled the woman twice his size. They danced as if he was waltzing with a petite young damsel. Everyone was mesmerized as he managed to make a graceful dip that didn't end with the 8 foot headmistress on the floor.
"How 'vonderful zat Hogwarts has hosted a muggle professor! Our own school 'az adopted Ilvermorny's stance on muggle-equality!" The giantess cooed. Jasper cocked his head to the right.
"M'am, I'm no muggle." Jasper ended the dance with a bow. She froze momentarily as she regarded him. Apparently he was serious. If he waz not muggle, than vat?
"Of courze not." She smoothly replied; concealing her confusion as she walked away.
Hermione returned from what was probably a more pleasant dance. Jasper took a moment to regard the gentleman with a 5 o'clock shadows beard that followed her. This Mr. Longbottom was tall, fair skinned, and boasted an an angular face with undeniably handsome smile. If Neville were Turned, he'd still look the same. Aside from Jasper himself, Professor Longbottom was the only other Professor that students completely fawned over.
"The names Neville, Herbology. My classes are usually in the greenhouse. You're welcome to drop in." Neville warmly smiled and extended his arm. Jasper returned his smile with a nod of respect.
"Jasper Whitlock..Hale." Jasper offered a solemn greeting. So is this the Gryffindor boy that defeated a giant snake? He didn't look anything like the goofy history pictures of his younger self.
"Yes. It's really me." Neville smiled, responding to Jasper's thoughts. "Everyone asks...when they first meet me. Grams always did say my dads looks would kick in. Someday." Neville smiled as he anticipated an attack from a gang of witches.
Hermione laughed as a flock of Gryffindor girls herded him away.
Then the real work began. Hermione began systematically adding and deducting points from various students over every house. She's glanced over once in awhile toward a distressed Jasper.
Jasper took on the duties of nodding, bowing, shunning away students, and kissing the hands of teachers that seemed to line up to say hello. He decided to take a tactical position '90 degrees from from Professor Longbottom. This would redirect some of the witches away, and they would split the burden of their ever growing fans.
"Is it over yet?" Jasper spoke through his smile.
"Not til Winter break, mate." Neville chuckled, seeing the hidden pain in Jasper's charming face. The night ended as Hermione led Ravenclaw and Gryffindor students back to their Houses. Neville half-guided, half ran from the Hufflepuffs. Jasper herded off the Slytherins. He was the only professor they really answered to.
It was past midnight when Jasper and Hermione finally made it to their professorial quarters. In one loud thud they both fell onto the very small sized bed. Maybe they both ignored it. The shrinking bed was something the two never spoke about. Hermione was too embarrassed and Jasper too much a gentleman to broach the topic. After all, there were far too many other topics to discuss. For example, they could stare at each other's scars: the one on her ankle, and the one on his everywhere else. They could chat about the Great Halls selection of breakfast items.
The now, less-than twin sized bed forced them to either address each other, or fall on the floor.
"Your hairs' in my way." Jasper chuckled as he swatted a few curls away from his face.
"Your hair sir, is in my way." Hermione teased back, choosing to swat away Jasper's honeyed bronze locks.
They both looked at the ceiling as they lay shoulder to shoulder. Hermione faked a yawn so she could cover a creeping blush and signal some sort of end to this awkward night. Everyone had seen them stealing glances at each other and Hermione was more than happy to sleep the embarrassment away. Right then Jasper had to go and make it more awkward. He wasn't used to being human. He couldn't filter out his movements. He shifted just the slightest bit and almost knocked Hermione over to the floor. Jasper grabbed Hermione's waist and lifted her with such agility that she accidentally landed on top of him. Before another breath could connect them Jasper pried himself off and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Us. On this bed. This is crazy. The way you-...I have someone. Her name is... Alice." Jasper ranted, shutting his eyes. Hermione must've blinked a hundred times. She looked like she had sand in her eyes. Of course you do. How could you not? There was a silence where they just sat together, listening to the distant sounds of the wind. Hermione sighed before gathering her bearings. She lay back down, rolled over and stayed perfectly still. Jasper sat up and held his forehead.
"I'd care for you to slap me." Jasper kept his eyes shut, betraying mild annoyance that she really didn't get it. Hermione didn't move. Her voice had taken on a numbing neutral tone. In many ways that hurt more than a slap.
"I'm a muggle as I am a witch. You're every bit of muggle as I am. You didn't tell me, and I certainly never asked." Hermione reassured them both with logical facts. Jasper cringed at the point she was trying to make.
Humans made mistakes.
And this was all one big mistake. It was too much. Jasper stood up and began to pace the Room.
"Being what I am isn't an excuse for what I do." He argued. It was the same argument Jasper has grappled with since he was Turned. Now he was finding out it didn't matter what he was..he'd still be rowing the same boat! He was still responsible for his actions. And most of those actions were stupid.
"Being what you are is not an excuse at all. But It's a reason. One reason of many reasons for the many things we do: right or wrong." Hermione met his panic with controlled responses. Jasper looked so downtrodden that Hermione sat up to watch him pace.
"Be reasonable, Jasper. When our reasons are wrong, then we learn." she mumbled, bringing out the best of her teaching mode. It was all she had left. Jasper stopped his pacing. He looked at her as his expression changed to something between calm and oddly expressionless.
"So we should learn to stop.. whatever it is.. that we need to stop." Jasper whispered without having a clue as to what, and, or, how. Jasper was somehow expecting a bright, optimistic, and extremely spritely response. He anticipated a response like Alice, who would've sparkled glittering encouragement his way. Hermione was so different. She was a realist, almost haunted. She saw the world in the eyes of a soldier; appreciating both beauty and the chaotic mess of humanity.
"Right. Let's stop." Hermione suddenly threw her pillow on the floor, gingerly following it. She'd deal with this good mess after a full night's rest. Hermione curled up on the ground like a perfectly stubborn cat. Somehow being on the floor cooled her threatening hot tears. Jasper was as gentleman as he was handsome. She had gotten used to being appreciated, listened to with interest, and even little things like holding doors open for her were things she secretly cherished. No. It was time to hit the ground running. That ground would be something she'd sleep on even if it killed her hopes. It was Jasper's turn to blink a hundred times. An argument was about to ensue.
"You are not sleeping on the floor." Jasper commanded.
"So I take it you're coming down here with me?" Hermione huffed.
"I will if you keep staying there." He warned.
"Oh?" Hermione glared back.
In the end Jasper pitched a tent from their bed sheets and they both stubbornly slept on the ground, a good few feet away from each other. It was an exhausted dreamless sleep. It was the kind of sleep that was quite opposite from their emotion packed day. Morning time came only to find the two on top of the bed again. Jasper still missing his shirt.
"Merlins beard why are we up here again?!" Hermione panicked as she rolled over, only to be firmly held by her waist.
"Easy, easy." Jasper held her steadily against him before she could fall. He'd fallen off the bed enough times to know the ground wasn't the most pleasant wake up call.
"Engorgio." Hermione aimed her wand at the bed.
"Um." Jasper blushed the brightest red.
That had no effect on the bed. Whatsoever.