The Safe Wizards

19: Meeting

The knocking on the door startled Harry, who grabbed his wand. Naoil and Kreatur stood on either side of Teddy's playpen, ready to take him away if necessary. Andromeda went to the front door. This was the position they had decided to take when someone knocked. The tension was not too high, however, as they were expecting visitors.

Andromeda cast a quick spell to see who was behind the door and opened it with a smile. Harry lowered his wand and watched the vampires enter with a smile. Carlisle and Esme greeted Andromeda warmly and then came to him, followed by Emmett and Rosalie, who continued on to Teddy. Edward and Alice entered and exchanged small talk with Harry, blocking his view of the front door. Suddenly a deep voice with a strong accent came out, sending shivers through his body.

"Jasper Hale, Ma'ame, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Call me Andromeda."

"With pleasure, Andromeda."

Alice and Edward shifted slightly and finally Harry could see him. His breath caught at the beauty of the man he saw. He was tall, almost the tallest of the family, only Emmett was slightly taller. Contrary to his brother, he had a fine musculature, which was guessed under his clothes, but without being exuberant like the one of the brown-hair. He had blond, medium-length hair that fell just below his jaw and amber eyes like the rest of his family. There was a lot of emotion in his eyes: sadness, doubt, and love for those Harry could identify. Jasper locked his gaze with the emerald ones. For him too the encounter was intense. He felt drawn to this young wizard whom he found beautiful and was torn apart by his vampiric intuitions. A part of him wanted to kidnap him on the spot to transform him and be at his side for eternity. The other part wanted to protect him from everything and especially from himself. However, he could not help but move towards him when their eyes met. Like every time he saw those intense green eyes, he felt soothed. He walked over to Harry. He had forgotten all the people around him, except for this young man.

The few steps Jasper had to take to reach Harry seemed both too far and too close. It took a great deal of control for Jasper to just reach out his hand to Harry.

"Jasper," he breathed in his deep voice, his eyes lost in the intense green pupils in front of him.

It took Harry a few seconds to remember how to respond and that he needed to breathe to do so. He took a breath and took the offered hand.

"Harry," he whispered.

When their skins touched it was as if everything disappeared around him, the emotions of everyone around him disappeared, only a beautiful feeling of well-being, love and calm remained. Harry also felt this calm, but above all the shivers that ran through his body. Panicked by the connection he felt like he could touch it, Harry hurriedly withdrew his hand and looked away, breaking the magic between them instantly. They both regretted it immediately, but Harry couldn't bring himself to let the bond build like that, the image of Charlie flashed through his mind and he found the motivation to pull away from the vampire. Jasper didn't protest, he was well aware that it would take time for the wizard to accept him into his circle, but he was still hurt. He said nothing though and watched his soul mate walk away from him with a twinge of pain.

"Give him time." whispered Edward low enough for Harry not to hear.

Andromeda gave them a stern look, but the telepath merely gave her a charming smile. The witch shook her head in annoyance and returned to her conversation with Carlisle.

"I know, it still hurts." Jasper thought, hurt. "Can you read his mind?" He had seen something change in the green eyes before Harry walked away from him.