Dawn to Dusk

Edward

When Hermione stepped out of Bella's truck on Monday morning, she was met with the bustling crowd of Forks High School students. As expected, the moment they caught sight of her, they started gawking and whispering to each other.

"That's the new girl."

"She came with Bella, the rumors must be true. They're sisters!"

"Wow, check out her ass."

"Man, she's hot."

"Yeah, I'd totally hit that."

Hermione's nose scrunched up at that last few comments. Damn her enhanced hearing.

Bella came to her side and patted her lightly on the shoulder. "Just ignore them. They'll stop talking soon enough."

Hermione nodded, tightening her sweater around her body. The crude comments made her uncomfortable. She wasn't used to people calling her pretty. Back in Hogwarts, she was always the nerdy bookworm with buck teeth and bushy hair. Only after the war did she realize that her physical appearance had started to change.

Her body had developed more curves, her legs grew a little longer and her breasts got fuller. Fleur Delacour had also taught her how to choose clothes that would compliment her body type and she had taken more care with her hair, so instead of a straw-like mess, it was now curling softly around her face. And of course, Madam Pomfrey had shrunk her teeth in her fourth year.

All in all, she knew she didn't look as bad as she was once. But still, she wasn't used to hearing men talk about her in such a sexual way. It was unsettling and it made her crave Jacob. For the feeling of safety and protection around him. Her eyes started searching the parking lot without her realizing, hoping she could spot him.

She knew it was ridiculous considering she didn't know for sure if Jacob went to the same school. Heck, she didn't even know if he was still in school. How old was he? Where did he live? At this point, the only thing she knew about him was his gender and his look.

Disappointment filled her chest when she didn't find Jacob among the crowd. But her eyes did find another familiar face, stepping out of a silver Volvo parked not far from where they were, along with a short, pixie-like girl with cropped, spiky hair. They had noticed her and Bella.

The short girl skipped toward them with Edward ambling behind her.

"Morning, Bella."

"Morning, Alice." Bella went and gave the girl a quick hug, so Hermione assumed they must be close.

The girl Bella called Alice then turned to her. "This must be Hermione."

"Yes." Bella nodded.

"It's very nice to meet you." Alice gave her a smile, but Hermione could detect a little strain in her voice and the wariness in her eyes -those same gold eyes as Edward's. She too was a vampire. She must be one of the Cullens.

After what happened with Edward in the airport, and her awkward meeting with Carlisle, Hermione understood that the Cullen would be cautious of her. But really, Hermione hadn't meant to come off so ... villainous toward their family. She only wants to make sure Bella, Charlie and the rest of the town was safe.

Yesterday she had done some digging through Charlie's old newspaper and some articles she found online. The crime rate in this town is fairly low, and none of them show any signs of vampire involvement. Combining that with the fact that the Cullens have gold eyes, meant that they didn't drink human blood.

She had stewed on the facts and came to the conclusion that she might have judged the Cullens too hastily just because they were vampires. This realization had shamed her. How could she, the girl who still had the words mudblood carved on her arm, the girl who preached about equal rights for all magical creatures, act like this?