Harry found Edward in Regulus's old bedroom, which he and Alice had reclaimed. The room had been tastefully renovated in beige tones with modern furniture. The vampire couple were at the window, she standing, he sitting on the ledge, leaning against his mate's torso. Alice placed a kiss on Edward's head as Harry entered and left the room, giving her a sad smile.
"What did you see?" asked the wizard, sitting down opposite the telepath.
''You don't want to know," replied the vampire, whose voice hinted at rage and pain.
''How can I help him if I don't know? You see him Edward, is he back or is his vampire still controlling him?''
''He's not quite there, but his mind is fighting to regain control. He's stronger every day, but it's as if there's an invisible barrier preventing him from coming back.''
''What have they done to him?''
''The notes Percy found reported the results of experiments on him. They were trying to find out how he reacted to poisons. They chained him up and watched him suffer."
The rage was clear on Edward's face, and Harry wondered if he was going to go hunting for those who had tortured his brother. The wizard was ready to help, every fiber of his being screamed at him to make sure these tormentors tested their own potions, maybe he should go and see Draco, the former death eater owed him his freedom.
"There's no lack of desire," Edward admitted with a bitter laugh. ''But Jaz needs help to rebuild, not revenge."
Harry understood that the telepath had followed his thoughts and felt no shame.
"No, but they can't go unpunished.''
''Your friend the minister should be able to help you bring them to justice."
Animated by anger, the young man went back downstairs to the kitchen just before the Weasleys took their leave.
"Percy, Arthur, I want the identities of everyone who took part in his torture.''
''What do you intend to do?" asked Arthur, worried.
''Make sure they're brought to justice."
The older two were content with this answer and left by the chimney, but Ron and Hermione stayed.
"Do you want to go for a drink? Neville, Seamus and Dean are making the rounds of the bars.''
''Is your sister with them?''
''No, Neville dumped her last week.''
''Let's go!"
Harry had a thought for Jasper, but figured that going out would do him more good than rehashing what the vampire had been through. On the other hand, he thought it would be fun to have the Cullens with them. He exchanged a glance with Ron, who nodded, Hermione rolled her eyes and Harry smiled.
"Would you like to come along?''
''To a wizard bar?" asked Emmett excitedly.
''Yeah! Rosie, are you coming?''
''I'm changing."
Everyone laughed at this sentence, the blonde was likely to turn some heads. Edward and Alice accepted the invitation too, but Carlisle and Esmee declined.
It took the vampire women five minutes to get ready, and the wizards took charge of getting everyone to the bar. Heads turned as they made their way through the crowded room to their friends' table, whether it was the hero status of the wizards or the beauty of the vampires, all eyes were on them. Rosalie and Alice hadn't helped, dressed in very tight dresses and high heels, even Harry found them sexy, so he didn't dare imagine the thoughts of straight men.
"On the whole, they all went down in their boxers," Edward whispered in his ear.
The Survivor laughed and made the introductions between the vampires and his former classmates. All three had changed since the battle of Hogwarts, they'd grown muscular and the ghosts of the dead haunted their gazes, but the joy of being alive prevailed among them. Neville was training in herbology, Seamus in pyrotechnics and Dean was trying to make a living from his art. All three gladly welcomed the newcomers, and it was Neville and Harry who made their way to the bar to order their drinks.
"I heard about your breakup," declared the Survivor as they waited for their drinks. ''How have you been?''
''I'm fine, you know I don't think Ginny was ever one hundred percent with me. She kept talking about you, and I got tired of trying.''
''I'm sorry.''
''There's nothing you can do. On the other hand, you should ask her brothers to keep an eye on her. She wanted to go rummaging in the square to find out why you're so involved with these vampires."
Harry almost replied that it was because Jasper was his soulmate, but he restrained himself.
"Jasper, he was tortured, those who did that can't go unpunished."
Neville looked at him until their order arrived.
"I don't think I've ever seen you so alive since the end of the war, if it's this Jasper that brings you back to life, you should let yourself go with him.''
''Thanks for the advice, I'll think about it.''
''Is he handsome?"
Harry couldn't help blushing and was simultaneously embarrassed and amused to have been so easily outed by his friend.
"You'll see if it comes to something! What about you? Anyone in sight?''
''The blonde's hot!''
''Forget it, she's with Emmett. And Alice with Edward.''
''I figured as much, too bad, I'll fall back on someone alive."
Harry burst out laughing and the two friends brought back their drinks. He explained to the vampires that theirs were made from abraxan blood and a special alcohol. The whole group toasted, and the good mood carried them through the evening. The bar emptied out around 2 a.m., but they decided to head off to a witchy nightclub where the evening turned sensual. Rosalie and Emmett danced hotly against each other, Edward and Alice were less sexual in their movements but just as hypnotic, Ron and Hermione laughed as they linked awkward moves, Dean and Seamus tried to break the record for the longest kiss. Neville seemed to have found a young woman he liked, given the longing looks he gave her as he danced.
Harry felt a twinge of sadness as he watched them from the bar. None of the men who approached him made him want to dance. All his thoughts were on a beautiful blond vampire whose golden eyes were haunted by the years of horror he'd endured. This man who was fighting against himself not to become a monster and continue to exist as a human being. Harry wanted to touch him, to kiss him, to show him that human contact could be gentle and pleasant. He wanted to know him in his soul, in his head, in his heart and in his body. He had to force himself not to go back to the square and find him in his room. Their relationship hadn't reached that point. So he continued to drink until the world blurred around him.
A body pressed against his, a mouth pressed against his neck, but Harry didn't have time to protest as Edward stepped in.
"He's already taken."
The wizard wondered why he'd said that, but at the same time he didn't mind, his whole being wanted only Jasper.
He was vaguely aware of being carried by cold arms and fell asleep as soon as he recognized the smell of his bed.
It was a raging headache that woke him the next day. He called up an anti-hangover potion with a wandless spell and was relieved to be able to do so in his condition. His thoughts cleared as his headache disappeared, and he was finally able to sit up in bed without the risk of vomiting. He got up, showered, dressed and went downstairs. He was surprised to discover his friends asleep in the living room.
"We brought you all back here, you weren't fit to go home alone."
Harry turned and discovered Alice, the smile of one who knew something on her lips.
"They'll be waking up soon, Esmee has prepared brunch for you in the kitchen.''
''Thank you. Where's Edward?''
''In the kitchen."
Harry made a detour to his bathroom to get out a potion for each of his friends, placed them on the living room table and went into the kitchen.
"Thank you, for last night," declared Harry, who remembered the telepath's intervention.
''Don't mention it. Thanks for the evening, it did us good."
The wizard nodded and plunged into a cup of coffee. The silence was soon broken by the dribbling arrival of the rest of the young people. They honored the food and thanked Esmee. The group settled down for the rest of the day in the kitchen and introduced their four acolytes from the previous day to wizarding board games.