The Safe Wizards

26: Awakening

When Harry woke up, he felt heavy, aching and out of sorts. He felt a glass against his lips and a man's voice telling him to drink. Alarmed that he did not recognize the voice, the young man opened his eyes. The light assaulted him and he quickly closed his eyelids, but he had time to recognize the figure of Carlisle. He let the vampire sit him down and drank the glass when he presented it to him again. His mind suddenly became clearer and he could try to open his eyes again. His gaze fell first on Andromeda who was arriving with Teddy in her arms.

"Daddy! Daddy!" his little boy called out to him, holding his arms out to him.

Andromeda put the child in his lap, making sure he had enough strength to hold him, and sat down beside him on the sofa.

"How are you feeling?" she asked seriously.

Harry realized that Carlisle was also watching him, making an initial diagnosis with his overdeveloped senses. The wizard lost himself for a moment in the contemplation of Teddy playing with his fingers before answering.

"I am well."

"What do you remember?" asked the doctor.

"Everything, I think. Bill's visit, Andromeda telling me she was going to call you, your arrival and the sleeping potion. How long did I sleep?"

"A good day," said Andromeda.

"A day?" exclaimed Harry. "Well, I'll be damned. And you've been by my side all this time?"

Harry looked a little closer at Carlisle and saw how concerned he was about his condition.

"Is it because of Jasper that you stayed?"

"Not just that, I care about you, but it sure was reassuring for Jasper to have me around."

Harry realized at that moment that it couldn't have been easy for the empath to be kept at a distance.

"Did he take it badly?"

"What?"

"That I asked him not to come."

"It wasn't easy for him, but it's important for him to keep his word to you not to come back until you ask him to."

Harry remembered at that moment that the reason he had refused the vampire's presence by his side was because he hoped Charlie would come back. He turned his gaze to Andromeda.

"Charlie?"

"He came, he slept here with you. He had asked Bill to leave you alone, but... you already know. Charlie should be back in a few hours."

Harry was relieved to hear that the dragon rider had returned, even though he was anxious to know his decision. They really needed to have a quiet talk, both of them. The dark-haired man became aware of the eyes on him and turned his head to Carlisle. Bill's words came back to him.

"Do you also feel that I am torturing them both by not choosing and that I should make up my mind?"

The vampire and Andromeda exchanged a look, surprised by the question and uncomfortable. It was the witch who answered first.

"You know I care about you, Harry. You have sacrificed so much for others. What I care about today is your happiness, no matter how long it takes you to choose the person who will make you happy."

Harry gave him a weak smile and turned his head to the man Jasper considered his adoptive father.

"I sure don't like to see Jasper look bad the way he has since Charlie has been here, but I see how happy he is every time he has the opportunity to spend time with you. It's sure I'm afraid you won't choose him, but each of us will respect your decision and especially whether you make your decision today or later won't change the pain you'll cause him if you don't choose him," the man replied in a soft voice.