Chapter 42: verdict

"All defendants are found guilty of the crimes with which they are charged. I will now proceed to the reading of the sentences assigned to each of the defendants."

The relief felt by Jasper and Harry, each on their side of the room once again full of journalists and spectators, was short-lived, as they still didn't know what would happen to the vampire. The defendants were all sent to Azkaban for between ten and thirty years, depending on the acts they had committed.

Each time a sentence was handed down, the condemned man was escorted out of the courtroom by an auror and taken to the prison. Harry was pleased with these sentences, but he couldn't rejoice, too worried about what might happen. He could see in his soulmate's eyes that it was the same for him, and he felt guilty for knowing how things were going to turn out, without being able to stop them. It wasn't until they had all left that the president of the Mangemagot asked Jasper to stand up.

"Mr. Hale, the Mangemagot considers that you cannot be held responsible for your actions in the ranks of the Dark Lord during the First War, however, it condemns you for biting Mr. Potter here, which constitutes a breach of Muggle vampire law."

"What?" gasped Jasper, looking around.

"You are therefore sent to Azkaban. Please follow the aurors unopposed or your sentence could turn into a conviction at the stake."

Harry couldn't stand the look of terror on Jasper's face at the prospect of going into the wizarding prison, and saw him panic when handcuffs appeared around his wrists and begin to flail. Without thinking, Harry pushed through the crowd in front of him, jumped the barrier separating him from his soulmate and kissed him full on the lips before anyone had time to react. With his hand on the back of the vampire's neck, he kept a firm grip on it as they ended the kiss.

"I'll keep my promise, just stay calm and follow them. I'll find you very soon," Harry whispered so low that only his fine vampire hearing allowed Jasper to hear him.

Jasper closed his eyes, trying to suppress his terror at the thought of being locked up again and pushing away his memories.

"I love you," Harry whispered again as the aurors grabbed Jasper's arms and pulled him out.

The Survivor glanced round at the crowd, some of whom were sad, others shocked or disgusted, but he didn't care, he felt so much hatred for those old fogies who would have found any excuse to separate him from Jasper, that he had to restrain himself from casting a spell on them. His gaze met these of his best friends, who nodded before leaving, then he turned to O'Murray, who seemed very disappointed with the verdict.

"I don't want your excuses, master," Harry declared, cutting him off. "I want to be able to go to Azkaban right away and see Jasper, one on one. Can you do that?"

The lawyer nodded and motioned for him to follow. He led him to a special office, responsible for handling such requests. Skillfully, he managed to convince the receptionist that they could both go there, even if they didn't have written authorization.

An hour after Jasper's departure, they were in the prison's arrivals and departures area. Harry suppressed a pout of disgust at the stench wafting from the brick walls oozing with moisture.

"I'm here to make sure that my client Mr. Hale is treated properly and that Mr. Potter, his chalice can visit him regularly to feed him."

"Mr. Potter will be able to come every three days and spend twenty minutes alone with Mr. Hale." replied the prison officer.

Harry tensed, these twenty minutes might be just enough for him to carry out his plan, but he knew he shouldn't push his luck. He signed the visitors' register and, accompanied by the lawyer, followed a guard to Jasper's cell.

The sight he saw was heartbreaking; Jasper was huddled in a corner of the cell. Dressed in a prison uniform, his wrists cuffed, he held his head in his hands and was shaken with tremors.

"I'll make sure no one disturbs you," O'Murray whispered in Harry's ear before the guard closed the cell door behind him.

Harry untied his cloak, shuddered as he felt the detractor fluids reaching him, and rushed to his companion. He covered him with the cloak and drew him against him.

"Jaz, Jaz, you need to feed, now." he urged him, guiding his mouth to his neck.

He was relieved to feel the sharp teeth penetrate his skin and the sucking begin. He sensed that Jasper was acting out of survival instinct, but that his mind wasn't quite there, which saddened him, but at the same time, might help what came next. He glanced at the corridor and saw that it was empty. Without interrupting Jasper, he cast an illusion spell over the room, picked up the golden snapper and activated it.

"Carrot", he whispered.

The portkey activated. Harry thanked Percy for having managed to find one of the few portkeys that could be used to travel to and from Azkaban. The Ministry had a handful in stock, heavily guarded, but the young man had fooled everyone. They landed awkwardly on the floor of a forest, Jasper had relaxed his neck during transport and was lying on the ground, his eyes empty, his mind far away in his memories.

Blaise arrived at their side and, with Harry's help and encouragement, made the vampire drink a purple potion. As soon as this was done, Hermione gave Harry an enchanted dummy and Carlisle and Alice came to their son and brother.

"Take care of him, with the potion, he should come to his senses in twenty-four hours maximum."

"He's not going to like not having you by his side," Alice confided.

"I'll find you as soon as I can, but I've got to give you time."

The vampires nodded, Carlisle took Jasper in his arms and they sped off. Harry ignored the knot forming in his stomach and turned to his friends.

"I'll meet you back at the manor later," he told them, before reactivating the golden snitch. "Scissors."

He returned to the cell, the illusion evaporating as he laid the dummy in a ball under his cape. No sooner had he finished than the guard returned.

"Mr. Potter, you must go."

Harry bent down to kiss the dummy's cheek, pretended to speak to it and stepped outside.

"The cape," said the guard.

"It's mine, can I leave it with him please? I won't forget..."

Harry wasn't used to playing up his status and was relieved that it worked. The guard closed the door behind him, without removing the garment.

Feverishly, he left Azkaban with O'Murray and went to the lawyer's office to ask him to use any means possible to get Jasper out of prison.

He then went to Zabini Manor to collect his belongings, Jasper's having been taken by his family. He then met up with Percy, Ron, Hermione, Blaise and George at the home of his best friends. He returned the portkey to the eldest, who went back and forth to the Ministry to put it back, while Hermione forgot about everyone except Harry. She made them forget their contribution to Jasper's escape. Harry took care of casting the spell for his latest friend, then played the desperate lover with them all evening. He didn't like lying to his friends like that, but he had no choice if he wanted to protect them from the repercussions.

The next day, he met Luna to write an article about the injustice he was suffering and the way Britain's wizarding community, through its representatives, was trying to control his life. The article made more noise and sold more papers than any that had covered the trial and Harry's desperate act of jumping over fences to embrace his companion. Kingsley received him in his office to assure him that he would do all he could for Jasper, but the following evening, the vampire's disappearance from the cells of Azkaban made the headlines.

Harry spent many hours explaining that he didn't know where his lover was, or his lover's family, and his every move was scrutinized when they released him.