"Harry!" The door to his apartment banged open and Hermione grumbled, snuggling under the covers more to hide herself from the bright morning light and the overly loud voice of someone familiar. Sleep was still within her grasp and she shifted slightly, bumping into someone next to her. "Harry!" the voice called again, and Hermione, irritated snuggled against the warm body next to her, trying to block out the sound.

Hermione vaguely heard the door to the bedroom being opened, was almost lulled back into sleep, when a sharp voice cried, "What the hell!"

Hermione shot upright, heart racing. She knew that voice, knew it just as well as she knew Harry's or her own. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, staring dazedly at the man before her, his face blazing almost as brightly as his hair in his anger. "Ron?" she asked tiredly.

"What the bloody hell is this, Hermione?" Ron yelled, storming over and pulling her out of bed into his arms. It took her a moment to register what was happening. Ron was gripping her tightly, forcing her to look up at him. A quick glance to the side showed Harry groaning and trying to hide under the covers. It clicked for her just as Ron started yelling again.

"Oh shut it! It's not like we did anything that you're thinking. Harry's my best friend – your best friend, Ronald. How could you think so lowly of him, let alone me?" she retorted, wrenching free. "Now if you'll keep it down, Harry is obviously hung over." Hermione filled Harry's water glass with her wand before glancing at the clock on the wall, as Ron raged about the situation.

"Shit!" Hermione swore, temporarily surprising Ron into silence. "Look, I'll be late for work if I don't go. We'll talk later," she said crossly, shoving past Ron and grabbing her things. She Flooed to her flat without a glance backward, feeling guilty for leaving Harry, likely hung over and with a furious Ron, but she really was going to be late if she didn't hurry. At her place she jumped into the shower for a brief cleanse, then dried her hair with her wand in between pulling on her clothes. She made it to work with two minutes to spare, running through the Ministry to get to her department on time.

"Sorry I'm late!" she called as she ran into their small office, stopping by their little coffee pot and filling herself a mug before hurrying to her office.

"Not at all," Jasper said upon her entrance, causing her to nearly drop her cup in surprise. "Time is all I have."

"Jasper!" she cried, glancing around the office.

"I haven't eaten your co-workers," he said, slightly amused.

Hermione flushed lightly. "What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"You told me you'd have to keep an eye on me, didn't you? I'm here to make it easier for you."

Hermione narrowed her eyes at him, slowly walking around to her side of the desk. "Where is Carlisle?"

Jasper shrugged nonchalantly. "Around. Making sure I didn't leave."

Hermione sipped her coffee as she regarded him. He stared back unabashedly, his red eyes glowing. "Would you like something to drink or…?"

Jasper smiled at her then, a truly terrifying smile that showed the glinting sharpness of his teeth. "Have any humans you'd like me to drain, then?"

Hermione frowned at him. "Never mind then. You know I didn't mean it like that."

After a few moments of silence, Jasper finally spoke. "I can't drink or eat the things you do," Jasper told her.

"So only blood then?" Hermione asked.

"Only blood."

"Human blood?" she asked.

Jasper gave her a sardonic smile. "I could go vegetarian like the rest of my family, but what's the fun in that?"

"Vegetarian?" Hermione inquired, feeling herself piqued with true intrigue. She'd never before spoken to a vampire, and she hadn't quite had the heart to read about them since the whole Lockhart fiasco.

"My family drinks the blood of animals rather than humans," Jasper explained. She had the strange sensation that he was gauging her reaction just as much as she was scrutinizing him.

"Do vampires usually have families?" Hermione inquired.

"I thought you were the expert, darlin'," Jasper drawled, though his teasing didn't quite match his expression.

"You're not the only magical creature out there," Hermione responded, leaning back in her chair and sipping her coffee again. "I haven't the time to become an expert on every single one."

"Most vampires travel alone. Having a coven is unusual," Jasper told her.

Hermione nodded, thinking about the previous night. "You did something last night," she began. Hermione frowned, trying to put it in words. Jasper waited patiently, staring at her as she struggled. "I don't know how to…last night it was like you were influencing my emotions."

Jasper smirked. "What gives you that idea?"

"I could tell. I've seen things, awful things. I've fought with terrible wizards. I don't scare easily, but last night I was frightened." Jasper nodded, breathing deeply. All at once Hermione felt herself feeling more at peace, feeling the tension in her shoulders slipping away and being replaced by a warm, content feeling. "You're doing it again," she pointed out.

"I can manipulate the feelings of those around me," Jasper agreed. "Last night I merely amplified the natural fear that all humans have when they see us."

"Can all vampires do this?"

"No," Jasper said, reclining at last. "Some of us have special powers, but not all of us. Carlisle is peculiarly immune to the call of blood, my brother can read other people's minds and my wife-" Jasper stopped abruptly, clearing his throat.

Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise. There was no mention of a wife in his file. She opened her mouth to speak, but she saw how Jasper's visage turned dark. Instead she said, "Let's get out of here." She paused thoughtfully, glancing at the sunlight streaming in. "You won't burst into flames will you?"

Jasper chuckled lightly, some softness returning to his face, and didn't reply.