Harry had been standing at his parents' grave for hours when someone apparated behind his back. He'd long since dried his angry tears and spent the day wondering when he'd have a say in his life. Everything he'd experienced from birth to his seventeenth birthday had happened because of a prophecy uttered by a crackpot, the next year had been spent rebuilding himself after the war, after the deaths, through the filter of guilt, with the fame he didn't want, and now here he was discovering that even the person he was to fall in love with had been decided in advance. He was also furious that everyone always seemed to know more about his life than he did; this had been the case during his childhood with the Dursleys, who had hidden from him that he was a wizard and lied about the death of his parents; once he'd arrived at Hogwarts, he'd discovered that everyone knew who he was even though he wasn't sure why; Dumbledore had known for years that he'd have to sacrifice himself for their side to have a chance of winning, but Harry hadn't found out until the last minute; he'd been lied to all through school about Snape's role in his life; and now the Cullens were playing with fortune-telling to decide the most opportune moment to tell him that the vampire they were looking for was his soulmate. His life was nothing but a puppet theater and the puppeteer loved to torture him, it was the only explanation he could find to give some meaning to the joke that was his life.
Hermione, it could only be her to look for him there despite the nightfall, sat down beside him and drew him into her arms. Her presence did him good, and they remained in silence as thoughts continued to swarm in the young man's head. Suddenly, George's behavior the day before came back to him and a doubt seized him.
"Does he love me?" he asked his friend.
¨Who does?¨
¨George.¨
¨I think so, he's never told me, but the way he looks at you speaks for itself."
Silence settled again, Harry felt miserable, he'd been selfish, he hadn't seen that George was attached to him and would now break the heart of an already broken man. He wouldn't return his friend's feelings and knew he never would, he liked him, he loved him, but not like this, not love.
"The Cullens told me about your meeting with Jasper," Hermione resumed after a moment.
¨I feel manipulated again," he breathed.
¨And with good reason, but put yourself in their shoes for two minutes. You've seen the state Jasper's in, knowing that, wouldn't you have done anything to get him out of there, even if it meant withholding important information?"
Harry thought about those words, but he'd already spent hours thinking about them, so he knew she was right. It was right that they'd acted the way they had, but that didn't help the young man feel any less pain.
"You were touched by him.¨
¨ 'Mione, you would have been too, you... you know those pictures of the Jews who came out of the camps after the Second World War?¨
¨Of course, I would.¨
-This is pretty much what he looked like, worse if possible, and he's a vampire. He hadn't been fed for six months, can you believe it?"
The horror painted on his friend's face answered for her.
"Believe me, soulmate or not, it was just showing humanity to be touched by his condition.¨
¨Will you continue to help him?¨
¨Yes, I will.¨
¨In that case, there's a meeting at the square that's just started, we should join them."
With a heavy heart, Harry stood up, imitating his friend, and hugged her. Talking with her had made him realize that he didn't blame the Cullens, but fate, that he had to stop his business with George and that only when Jasper would be better he could question giving his soulmate a chance to be happy together. They apparated one after the other and joined the group chatting in the square's kitchen. Kingsley, Flitwick, Arthur, Percy, Ron and the Cullens were waiting for them, all silent as Hermione and Harry entered the room.
"Are you going to take me points for being late, Professor?" asked Harry as he entered.
This sentence made the assembly laugh and relaxed everyone. Ron came to hug him for support, Molly smothered him in a hug, Arthur and Percy shook hands with smiles, Kingsley and Flitwick nodded with a smile and the Cullens were uncomfortable.
"I..." began Harry shyly. ¨I don't blame you, I understand your choice, the news isn't any easier to digest, but I understand."
The vampires' faces lit up and Alice rose to take him in her arms.
"If you've had other visions, I'd like to know about them," he whispered.
¨Not right now, but I'll keep you posted."
They all sat down and the meeting could begin, led by Kingsley, who began by informing them that the unspeakable who'd been with them that morning was with aurors who specialized in such matters. The Minister had ordered an inquiry to find out what had happened to Jasper over the years in the cells of the Ministry and to ensure that those who had tortured him would be brought to justice for it.
The Cullens thanked Shakelbot before he took the floor again to inform Percy that he was aware of his research into Jasper's case and had instructed him to liaise between the various departments that had been in contact with Jasper, the archives, the aurors and himself.
The honor made the young man's chest swell with pride, but all wizards knew that he would kill himself to achieve it in the best possible way.
Flitwick then explained that the room for Jasper was ready, but that he would have to allow Harry and one or two other people in, who would be the only ones allowed through the door. It was decided that it would again be Carlisle and Edward who would have this power, the first one for his medical knowledge and as clan leader, the latter for his ability to read minds. The professor then informed them that he could come and help them work on the spell when he didn't have class, and that Percy and Hermione had already shared their notes with him so he could start studying them.
Carlisle asked if they had to put on the morning cloak and mask or if they could try without. The professor agreed that Harry should visit Jasper without the death eater disguise, but the two vampires would have to put it on first. Shacklebolt offered to supply them when they went to find the empath, but it was on this last point that there was debate. The Cullens felt that Jasper had spent quite enough time in that horrible place, but the wizards weren't convinced that going to the Department of Mysteries in the middle of the night was the best idea. It was Harry who decided.
"Jasper is an empath, if it's up to me to apparate him here, I'd better be calm and tonight I'm not. Let's finish preparing the square for his arrival and pick him up first thing tomorrow.¨
¨If we meet here at six-thirty, I'll be able to help you," confirmed Flitwick.
All the wizards confirmed their presence the next morning and left, with the exception of the Professor of Spells and Harry, who went to Jasper's room to finalize the spell.
Once that was done, Harry set off in search of Esmée. He didn't really feel like talking to Alice, Carlisle or Edward just yet, but found them all with the vampire he wanted to see. He got rid of the telepath by sending him to Flitwick, but couldn't do the same with the doctor or the seer.
"Harry, we're really sorry you felt manipulated," apologized the clan leader.
¨As long as you leave me alone with this story, we'll be fine."
The vampires looked doubtful, but nodded.
¨Esmée," Harry continued. ¨I know you and your family have moved into the house, but would it be possible for me to move into one of the bedrooms?¨
¨Of course, darling! Come with me and tell me how to renovate it for you!¨
¨Thanks, Esmée, but I have to see someone tonight.¨
¨We'll do it tomorrow, don't worry."
With a heavy heart, Harry left the square and headed home.