Chapter 11: Loss of control

It was only when the group of wizards had left and the house had calmed down that Harry appeared in the attic, in front of Jasper's bedroom door. The latter seemed agitated, pacing back and forth along the walls, his hands opening and closing spasmodically and his eyes looking in all directions at great speed.

"He's picked up the scents of your friends, it's worrying him, the memories are going round and round in his head." whispered Edward covered in his death eater outfit.

Harry didn't answer, waiting for Jasper to see him. He was angry with himself for not going to see him sooner and for putting him under so much stress. He knew he had to reassure him, but he also had the intuition that going in without Jasper seeing him first would be suicide.

Minutes passed, but the empath never looked at him. Harry began to worry and acted without thinking. He broke through the magical barrier blocking the prisoner in the room and called out to him. The vampire glared at him and was on him in less than a second. Harry winced in pain as Jasper slammed him against the wall, but stopped himself from being frightened. He saw Edward and Carlisle preparing to intervene as the face of his mate hid in his neck. He thought it was going to bite him, but nothing came except a muffled growl.

"Jaz, nobody's going to hurt you. They were my friends, they spent the evening with me and then they left."

A feeling of jealousy strangled him and he couldn't hold back a small smirk. He placed his hands on those holding his shoulders and slid them over the fabric covering the strong arms, until they settled at the nape of his neck and began to play with the silky hair.

The feeling lightened, the tension lessened in the immortal's body, but it didn't disappear.

"I'm still a prisoner," he growled angrily.

Harry didn't recognize the voice he'd heard the day before and wondered if it wasn't the vampire instead of the man addressing him.

"It's because of the spell that's making you lose control," gasped the wizard as the breath on his neck drove him mad. ''We haven't figured out how to undo it yet.''

''What for?''

''Because I want to find out about Jasper, the Texan gentleman I've heard so much about.''

''He's not protecting us.''

''He and you can live in balance, without fear, no one will torture you again. Let me talk to him."

The tension lowered in the marble body and the grip on the wizard's body eased.

"Harry."

The warm, soft voice sent shivers through the denominated man, who couldn't suppress his pleasure at the touch of lips on his skin. He continued to play with the hair between his fingers as Jasper let himself be drawn against him. All his forearms were pressed against Harry's chest and his mouth against his neck.

"I'm sorry to have put you in this state," whispered the wizard.

''Not you."

Time seemed to stand still, but the tension suddenly returned. The three vampires turned towards the door and Harry followed their gazes, before collapsing under the angry onslaught aimed at Ginny, face uncovered, but was trapped in the room.

The wizard felt as if his body had been crushed in a vice, his heart crushed by a mountain, and he would never be able to get up again. His breathing stopped, black dots began to dance before his eyes and he lost consciousness.

He was in a cloud of pain, his whole body aching as he came to. A voice he never thought he'd hear grumbling about him again reached him.

"I didn't think I'd ever be in the hospital wing again," he declared in a broken voice.

Movement was heard beside him and a glass was pressed against his lips. He drank the liquid without protest, knowing he could trust Madam Pomfrey.

"You're not there, Mister Potter, Miss Weasley has come to fetch me in a hurry."

The mention of his ex turned his stomach, it was her fault what had happened, was she there?

He opened his eyes, worried to find her in the same room as him, but was relieved to see only Carlisle.

"Jasper? How is he?"

The Muggle doctor grinned.

"You need to rest, Harry, we thought you were dead.

''Really Potter, you're going to have to stop that!" the Hogwarts nurse snapped, handing him a dozen vials with colorful contents to drink.

''Jasper?" insisted the convalescent, who had a bad feeling about this.

''He thinks he killed you. Edward's trying to tell him otherwise, but he's not well.''

''I want to go and see him. Madam Pomfrey, may I leave the room?''

''I know you'll leave regardless of my answer, Mr. Potter. Let me scan you one last time."

After casting several spells to make sure he had recovered from his injuries, the witch gave him permission and Harry leapt out of bed. His whole being was screaming at him that he had to see Jasper as soon as possible. He climbed the stairs four by four and found Edward on the landing, his face worried.

The inside of the room was ravaged, as if a hurricane had passed through. Six full bottles of blood stood in the doorway and Jasper was nowhere to be seen.

''How long have I been unconscious?" wondered Harry.

''A week, he refuses to eat. He thinks he killed you and hates himself for it. He hates what wizards have done to him and wants to die."

The statement twisted the wizard's stomach as he couldn't fathom Jasper taking his own life.

"Is he the one in control or the vampire?''

''Him, but his control is weak."

Harry waited no longer and entered. He grabbed a bottle of blood in one hand, his wand in the other, and made his way through the rubble and wooden beams. The path was tortuous, requiring him to step over chunks of wood and under planks, but by dint of searching, he discovered the one he wanted to see. His heart raced as he saw him folded in on himself, his knees against his chest, wrapped in his arms. His head, resting on his legs, lifted as Harry discovered him. The stunned look and the backward movement hurt the younger man, who didn't understand this reaction.

"Jaz, I'm all right.''

''I'm dangerous.''

''You didn't mean to hurt me, it's all right."

The empath looked at the ground again, ashamed.

"Don't just stand there.''

''I'm not leaving, not until you've fed and this room is put back in order."

The vampire looked around as if he hadn't noticed the carnage around him before, but didn't move. Harry approached him gently, as on the first day of their meeting, except that this time he had something else in mind. As on his previous visit, he placed his hand on Jasper's, moved up his arm, over his shoulders and down his neck, but this time, he took his face in his palm.

"We'll find a way to free you, I promise. But, even today I can see what a good man you are. I'd just like to get to know you."

Harry moved his face towards the motionless body - Jasper wasn't even breathing anymore - and put his lips under the vampire's ear before sliding them along the jaw. He didn't have time to reach his mouth before his mate threw himself on top of it, knocking him to the ground. The marble body rested on his, the white hand exploring the younger man's torso beneath his shirt as they kissed fiercely. However, Harry gradually calmed the kiss, until Jasper rested his forehead on his, eyes closed.

"We'll work it out.''

''We will.''

''You need to feed."

Jasper then stood up, sat down and picked up the bottle. Harry needed a few seconds to catch his breath, then pulled out his wand and, as he'd seen Dumbledore do three years before, twirled it, muttering the formula "pack" and smiled at the vampire's look of wonder as the objects reassembled and returned to their places.