Harry entered Jasper's room, tense.
They had transferred the vampire the day before and Carlisle had estimated that the empath would need to drink blood every day, in small quantities, for at least two weeks before he recovered enough to be able to space it out. The normal vampire diet was to drink a large quantity of blood every month or so, but the doctor feared that being fed so much would make Jasper sick, if not kill him, after years of starvation. So it was decided that Harry, assisted by Edward and Carlisle in their death eater costumes, would go into Jasper's room every day.
The latter was in the corner where he had taken refuge the day before, his dark gaze fixed on Harry as soon as he passed through the door. The wizard was trying to reason with himself that he'd only been attacked the day before because he'd been disarticulated and was bleeding, but now his arm was healed and although it was still bandaged, not a drop of blood was escaping.
"Jasper," Harry whispered when he was in the middle of the room. "I know you're hungry."
"He thinks you set him up yesterday," whispered Edward, who was monitoring his brother's thoughts.
"I just want to help you."
The wave of hunger and pain that passed through the wizard's body brought him to his knees, but he rose, breathless, motioning to the others not to interfere.
"Harry, what are you doing?" whispered Edward.
The sorcerer didn't reply, but advanced towards the trembling vampire against the wall. Before he could reach him, Jasper was on top of him in the blink of an eye. He lifted him by the throat and slammed him against the wall.
"You don't want to kill me," Harry whispered breathlessly.
The skeletal face was inches from his own, lips curled over protruding teeth, yet it wasn't fear that overcame Harry, but fascination. His gaze fell on the black one with gold flakes facing him, and it seemed to him that he could make out the young Texan's soul trapped in this immortal envelope.
"I want to help you, Jasper," he breathed again. "I've got blood, in the bottle, for you."
Black eyes darted back and forth between the bottle in the sorcerer's hand and his eyes. His face was as menacing as ever, but Jasper rested Harry on his feet and took the bottle. His whole posture told the wizard not to move, to wait for his permission to leave, so he didn't move an inch, just like Edward or Carlisle, as he opened the bottle. His gaze darkened even more as the smell of blood reached him. He drank the red liquid greedily, wasted not a drop of the liter and a half offered to him, and returned his gaze to the only living person in the room.
It seemed to Harry that there was more golden glitter in the black eyes than a few minutes before, as the emaciated face drew closer to his own.
"Don't do this, please," the Survivor begged.
He didn't know what he was asking exactly, but he knew he didn't want Jasper too close to him, the vampire was closer to the hungry beast than the man at the moment and having him so close to him, ready to bite or kiss him, frightened him. The empath froze, stepped back, and returned to sit in his corner, his back to the visitors.
"I'll be back tomorrow with another bottle," Harry informed him, but got no reply.
Every day, for two weeks, they repeated the same ritual. Harry would enter the room with his two bodyguards, walk alone to the back of the room, sit opposite Jasper, hand him the bottle, lose himself for a few moments in his increasingly golden gaze, and leave again. The vampire didn't utter a word, but he was more serene in the young man's presence, less defensive as long as Carlisle and Edward kept their distance. His physical appearance changed from day to day, and by the end of the two weeks, he was a different person: a tall, handsome blond man with fine muscles and fair skin.
This change struck Harry on the first day he didn't go to bring him blood, Carlisle having felt that every other day would be enough. The wizard had spent a lot of time listening to the Cullen family's memories of Jasper during the days he'd shared with them, and he couldn't deny that what he was discovering about the vampire made him forget George, the war, his questions about himself. He came to observe more and more this blond man whose sad gaze made him miss a heartbeat.
Excited by the sight of the body barely concealed by the shreds of clothing, Harry left the corridor in a hurry when Jasper's indescribable gaze landed on him. He went in search of Edward, who had the closest build to his brother, and asked him for clothes for the empath. He went into his own bathroom, collected shower gel, shampoo and a towel and returned to Jasper's room. He was not surprised to see Edward and Carlisle arrive, dressed in their black capes, a few seconds after him and follow him into the room. The empath cast a surprised glance at the wizard, but said nothing, nor reacted when the young man took his hand and guided him into the adjoining, bewitched bathroom for his use.
"You've spent too long in those clothes, don't you think?" whispered Harry to him as he set his load down on a stool in the corner of the room. "I hope this helps you put that horrible place you were in behind you."
He turned to leave the room, but Jasper held him by the wrist. The wizard turned and their gazes locked on each other's. Harry swallowed as the blond-haired Apollo took a step towards him, excitement overtaking him and his opposite amber's eyes sparkling. The Survivor took a step back and Jasper let his wrist slip between his fingers, his eyes devouring the younger man's body.
"I'll see you tomorrow." breathed Harry before leaving the room, relieved not to be held back this time.
He left the room and also the house, he needed to be alone with his thoughts for a while. He realized the effect Jasper was having on him, and that it might not be as easy as he'd imagined to forget the vampire once he was back on his feet. The very idea of saying goodbye twisted his stomach, even though they'd never spoken, and he felt ridiculous. However, the sometimes sad, sometimes sparkling look haunted his thoughts, and Harry couldn't help thinking that the days must be long for this man who never slept and had nothing to do but lose himself in his memories.
The wizard then headed for the Muggle library, remembering that the Cullens had told him that Jasper was a history buff. He set up an account and borrowed five books, the maximum he could take at a time, on the history of England. He didn't know if Jasper would like it, but he hoped he would. In his heart, he also hoped it would allow him to exchange with the vampire, to establish communication between them.
Harry forced himself not to go and see Jasper until the next day, even though he was dying to, but the problem was, after the hurt he'd caused George, he didn't want to give in to his urges and risk hurting someone. Instead, he went to see Dr. Cullen to learn more about soul mates for vampires. The doctor explained that a vampire could have several potential soul mates in the course of a long life, but that once the bond with one was cemented, it would be the only one for the rest of his life. He added that the vampire was usually very protective of his soulmate, but could have a strong desire to transform it if it was still human.
"Edward said I'm Jasper's soulmate, so why isn't he trying to turn me? Or to complete the bond?"
"I think it has to do with your wizard status, your blood doesn't smell like muggle blood and doesn't appeal to us at all. I think the only reason Jasper attacked you the other day was because his need for food was stronger than the strange smell of your blood to us. As for the fact that he's not looking to solidify your bond, I'd say that's excellent news, it shows that Jasper hasn't disappeared in favor of the vampire. He's always been a gentleman, who respected the Texan education he received before his transformation, and has always refused to take a lover or mistress other than his soulmate, I also think that for him it's out of the question to force you to do something you wouldn't want to, even if your emotions scream at him to the contrary."
"His control is impressive," Harry marveled.
"Yes, especially considering what he's been through. On the other hand, I wouldn't try to let a Muggle into the room."
The wizard thanked Carlisle for the chat and went to bed, trying hard not to think about the muscular body and golden eyes that had been so close to him earlier in the day.