Tick tick tick.

9:48

Hermione followed the library's wooden clock with her eyes, as if somehow all her glaring could stop time. The lights flickered softly on the shelves and made her eyes more tired. She'd been there for hours, which would've been enjoyable if she had actually learned something. The mystery behind Jasper reTurning was unheard of in the Wizarding world. If she could only uncover a possible clue as to why, then perhaps even werewolves stood a chance at a second life. Hermione closed her eyes and remembered Professor Lupin before he died. His orphaned son Teddy was a student of hers, both as bright as his father but with the same werewolf affliction. Vampires. Werewolves. These were people forced into becoming something they're not. Hermione sighed as she continued to mull over more encyclopedias. She couldn't give up. Someone above the wall sighed with her.

"Perhaps you are not looking for the right things, Ms. Granger" the frame that held Dumbledore's picture softly smiled down at her. Albus Dumbledore's portraits seemed to pop up whenever a Gryffindor was truly distraught. His bright spectacle glasses twinkled in the moonlight; as if he were really there. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. She'd gotten used to his cryptic messages but it didn't help at all considering their whole situation was cryptic. What 'right' things should she be seeking? As if Dumbledore could read her thoughts, he pointed his wand forward and simply said "look behind you."

She turned around and saw Jasper holding his own pile of books. Jasper was standing a few shelves away. He was waiting for her to somehow signal that it was okay for him to approach. She opened her mouth and closed it. A few books slid off the table. Hermione fought her instinct to tense as she fumbled to pick up her books. This was a clear opportunity to help. Jasper decided to walk toward her in seemingly controlled steps. Jaspers own jaw was slightly locked. They'd gone back to avoiding each other and this was their first true encounter apart from classes. He silently kneel next to her to pick up the leftover books that had clumsily dropped. They found themselves at eye level. Jasper could almost feel the warmth that emanated from Hermione. He was drawn to it. He didn't mean to, but he closed the distance between them even more. Hermione had gave a sharp intake of breath, willing her blush to keep from forming. He was utterly handsome in the moonlight. His ruffled hair gave way to such kind eyes.

"Hi." they both said at the same time.

Jasper's smiled weakly, the curve of his lips slightly upright. Besides hello, neither of them had much to say. They both stared at Dumbledore's portrait, who had fallen asleep. Jasper stood to look up at the wall "I've been talkin' to that old man in the portrait too. Well, lots of them seem are pretty friendly. So I say hi. There's tons of moving pictures to talk to around here. Everywhere I go there's hospitality" his voice trailed off. He was never good at small talk. He never had much of a reason to talk to anyone besides the Cullens.

Hermione cleared her throat and looked at the wall. She hugged her books a little closer to her chest.

"Erm, right. Well those pictures aren't really.. they aren't all that real. They're images that have been painted using dragon whiskers. A spell is cast to animate them and in a way it preserves the memory and mannerisms of the person." Hermione rambled. She fixed her eyes on Dumbledore as he conveniently staffed snoring. They were quickly running out of subjects. The clock struck 10.

"Dragon whiskers." Jasper let out a chuckle as an eyebrow shot up "Do you guys have unicorns around here too?" his golden brown eyes danced at the thoughts. Suddenly Hermione blinked. She jolted up and ran toward the semi secret hidden bookshelf where she, Ron, and Harry used to study. Her hands brushed over each book on the shelf until she found it. She pulled out "Care of Magical Creatures and flipped to the page about unicorns.

That must be it. Her very first year at Hogwarts Voldemort had tried to take over the school. He drank unicorn blood to sustain him. It kept him alive even though he was at the brink of death.

Hermione began reading the page aloud; a habit she never outgrew.

"The blood of a unicorn can sustain life forever as long as one keeps drinking it. The blood has properties of-" Hermione excitedly poured over the page until Jasper shut the book down that she'd been reading. He looked down at her. His face was both pleading and a bit commanding.

"Listen. If we have another conversation about blood, you'll probably use that magical stick of yours to..I dunno what but I know it won't be good. Point is I'd rather not talk about any of that stuff." Jasper disrupted Hermione's revelations. He was not about to get in trouble again.

Hermione closed her eyes and took a calming breath, and began again. She pried Jasper's hand off the book and flipped back to the page. This time she clutched the book just in case he tried to grab it again.

"It's here, in this book. What I am saying is that if a unicorn can provide immortality, then surely some other type of magical blood can..affect others in the same way." She crossed her legs and pointed her finger against the moon shaped scar.

"I think Wizarding blood makes immortals..mortal! Maybe when you bit me, some of my blood reversed and re-Turned you! I think I may well be a vampire's version of... a unicorn?" Hermione whispered to herself.

By this time she had stopped talking to Jasper and started talking to herself "This is not about turning you back. If my assumptions are correct then your whole family and many Cold ones have a new chance at life. I'm quite certain we can cast a blood replenishing charm out of just a drop of blood" Hermione breathed. She felt like Bathilda Bagshot herself, a witch at the verge of rewriting history.

"No." The answer came out rather bluntly. Hermione blinked a few times. This was getting exhausting. "Pardon me. Did you just say no?"

"No." Jasper shut the book again. He suddenly grabbed her hand and nearly practically dragged her out of the library. They briskly broke into almost at a run as if he were helping her flee from a dangerous place. Jasper ignored Hermione's protests. They arrived at the professors dormitory. The door shut and Hermione spun around, breathing incredulously. What had gotten into him?

Jasper let go of her hand and began pacing back and forth, trying to come up with a different strategy. When nothing else made sense in his mind, he stopped and looked down at her.

"Turn me back Hermione. I'm not looking to stay this way." Jasper tensely began. It was the first time he felt angry. All he knew was that this current situation would not last and he was done pretending that it would. She was giving too much of herself and she was asking too much of her.

"You're impossible." Hermione felt her cheeks burn. She sat down and opened a book, trying to get him to see that she discovered the solution.

"I'm not impossible. What you're implying is impossible" Jasper lowered his voice to almost a whisper. He was exhausted. He squeezed his temples hard. Hermione opened then closed her mouth. Her brows furrowed as Jasper wearily eyed her.

"Do you really think that I'd ever manipulate someone else's blood just to save myself?

God Hermione. I've been carrying this exact type of guilt for hundreds of years." He was expecting another fight. A long silence hit the room. Hermione's shoulders slumped slightly. She brushed past him and sat on the bed.

"I suspect we're both tired. A good night's rest might remedy..well maybe sleeping might help."

And with that she feel into her covers.

"Atrophasio" she whispered with her wand. The bed shrunk. "There. Might as well move something along than nothing." She snipped at the bed before falling asleep. Jasper's eyes widened. There was barely enough space for the two of them. He looked at the floor then back at the bed.

Hermione felt a shift and warmth against her back. She breathed in his scent. "Yeah. I guess this is better than nothin" she heard a distant voice before falling completely asleep.