Chapter 13: Loves past and present

Harry woke up late the next day, he wasn't usually a late sleeper, but his six days in a coma and watching Edward and Emmett play until very early hours had taken their toll on his morning. Despite the late hour, he spent a long moment thinking about Jasper, the memory of their exchanged kisses was enough to make him harden, but Carlisle's words about the commitment about them coming together calmed him at once.

When he had remembered the empath's body on his for the third time, Edward's voice rang out.

"Please Harry, block your thoughts!"

Emmett's thunderous laughter rang through the house and Harry felt like disappearing, but he decided to assume his thoughts and play the telepath a little. He replayed the moment when Jasper had tackled him to the floor to kiss him passionately and caress his chest, except that instead of calming the vampire as he had done, his imagination went further, undressing them both.

"Harry!" growled Edward before leaving the house as Emmett laughed louder.

The wizard, proud of himself, went for a bite to eat before leaving for the library. He took his time on the road thinking about Jasper, his feelings for him, without ever coming to a conclusion, except that he should discuss it with Hermione. She had always been able to enlighten him about his feelings. So he decided to send her an owl on his return.

Once in the library, he hesitated and decided to make a more heterogeneous selection than the previous time, choosing several books on world events of the last twenty years, as well as two on the history of the United Kingdom. It was as he was leaving the library that he remembered that the Cullens, and especially Jasper, knew nothing about the magical world. So he went to Diagon alley and bought a book on the most famous witches and wizards through the ages, one on the history of magic, one on magical creatures and one on magical sports.

His gaze fell on the joke store as he left the bookshop. His eyes fell on the figure of George tidying up the store and his heart sank. He could see from his posture that he wasn't well, but he was no longer welcome to support him. He spent a long moment watching his former lover through the shop window, guilty of having hurt him unintentionally.

"Harry?"

The young man turned, surprised, and saw Hermione further down the street. He then realized that the sun's rays were licking the roofs of the buildings and realized that he must have been lost in thought for several hours. He kissed the young woman, who huffed after seeing what store he was in front of.

"Would you like to go for a drink?" she offered.

''I was planning to send you an owl to suggest it."

They smiled at each other and Hermione apparated them home.

"Ron's not here?''

''Molly asked him to help clear the garden. He went today as he didn't have class. He's having dinner at the Burrow."

Although he would have allowed himself to discuss his questions about Jasper in front of Ron, his absence allowed him to bring up George as well. Indeed, it was with his guilt towards him that he began with, and as he confided, he realized that he was afraid the inventor might seek to join his twin. Hermione didn't reassure him, saying she had the same fears, but that she and Ron spent as much time with him as possible. Harry regretted not being able to support him too, but his friend confirmed that it would be easier for George to get back on his feet without him. This statement was painful for the Savior, but he would do his best for his former lover.

Hermione changed the subject of the conversation to Jasper and Harry's mood lightened a little. He recounted the kiss they'd shared, his desire to spend all his time with him, but also Carlisle's words and his fear of breaking another man's heart.

"Harry, you're his soul mate, but he's yours too. The bond forms both ways.''

''Carlisle seemed to be saying I might decide to leave him.''

''Carlisle is a Muggle vampire, he may have immense knowledge, but he knows nothing about wizards. He doesn't know that all magical beings are sensitive to soul mates, unlike Muggles."

The young man pondered his best friend's words for a moment.

"So if I keep letting myself go with him it'll be definitive.''

''Yes, and for eternity in your case."

Silence fell again as Hermione refilled their glasses.

"Why do I have to never do anything like the others? "

The young woman exploded with laughter, followed by Harry after a few seconds. It was in the midst of their laughter that Ron found them.

"Did I miss something?''

''No, just Harry not knowing how to do anything like everyone else.''

''I see. Sorry to break the mood, but we need to talk about Ginny."

This sentence cut short their hilarity. They watched apprehensively as the young man sat down at the table with them and poured himself a drink.

"You need to talk to her. She thinks you two are just taking a break and getting back together. She kept repeating earlier that Jasper is manipulating you, using his empath powers to seduce you.''

''Her theory doesn't hold water; if he was trying to make Harry feel in love, it would disappear as soon as he was no longer within reach of his powers.'' answered Hermione.

''That's what Mom told him, but Ginny didn't care. She repeated over and over that you're straight and there's no way you could be attracted to a tortured vampire."

Harry clutched his head in his hands; he had no desire to argue with Ginny.

"She can have whoever she wants, why won't she let go of me?" he lamented.

''Being the only girl, she always got what she wanted.''

''Great, now there's no point in me talking to her," Harry concluded bitterly. ''Either she won't want to hear it because she thinks Jasper's manipulating me, or it's not what she wants!"

Ron toasted this statement, Hermione shook her head looking dejected and Harry let his head fall on the table.

"As long as she doesn't put her nose back in the square, it should be fine," he muttered without raising his head.

''Have you forbidden her access?" asked Hermione.

''Not yet, but I'm going to."

They dined together and Harry returned home two hours later. The first thing he did was to pick up the book he'd lent Carlisle, then go upstairs to find Jasper, without worrying whether his bodyguards were following him or not.

His heart quickened when he saw him dressed in the clothes his sisters had bought him. He was wearing tight black jeans and a purple T-shirt that hugged his body to perfection. However, his face was still sad and closed, which made Harry fear that the vampire was on the surface.

"Don't come any closer," Jasper growled as soon as he'd crossed the magical barrier.

The wizard stood still, waiting for the empath to speak again, but nothing came. It seemed to him that the sound of his heartbeat filled the room, and that Jasper's Adam's apple moved in rhythm with the music he was creating. While neither of them initiated any movement, Harry felt Edward and Carlisle slip into the room, and the tension in the prisoner's shoulders increased.

"I've brought some books for you," Harry tried.

''Put them on the floor."

The closed, authoritative tone snapped through the air and let the wizard know that their exchange was over. Heartbroken, Harry decided not to push his luck and to do as he was ordered. He left the room with one last look at the figure from behind and returned to his own.

It was only a few seconds before Edward, stripped of his mangemort garb, joined him.

"He's been thinking dark thoughts all day," he declared before Harry could ask anything.

The wizard sat on his bed, worried and curious as the telepath elaborated.

"Memories?''

''One in particular. A wizard who used to enter his mind to make him suffer."

Harry decided it would be pertinent if those working to lift the curse could all see this memory and asked Edward if he could collect it.