Chapter 7
Months had passed since they'd moved to Forks. Harry was blissfully happy being Jasper's boyfriend. He didn't care that the entire town seemed to think that he'd broken up the perfect couple of Jasper and Alice. Jasper was his. His health was improving and he was actually beginning physical therapy to re-learn how to walk. It was hard but Jasper came with him to every appointment and that motivated him to do better than his best. Best of all he was talking again but not very well. His voice was still rough and it hurt to talk.
Teddy was now running around the house and getting into everything. He'd learned to go up and down stairs and climbed on everything. He was showing off more magic and babbling non-stop. He was learning a lot of words too. He was happy and healthy and loved being at Harry's side more than anything.
On Snape's birthday, Harry sent a bottle of Ogden's Best Firewhiskey and some unbreakable potion phials to McGonagall telling her that he knew that Snape was still alive and she'd better make sure that he got his birthday gift.
He was not prepared when on the seventeenth of January when Snape appeared on his doorstep.
"Severus?!" Draco cried staring at him in shock.
"Where's Potter?" Severus asked his godson.
He watched Draco call for a house-elf that he knew to be Winky and send her to Potter.
"SEV!" he was shocked to see Potter in a wheelchair. "I knew you were alive! Kingsley and McGonagall said you died that night but I knew that you didn't. Did you like your birthday gift? Can you still drink?"
"What do you mean can I still drink?" Severus asked walking over and taking Potter's chair from the vampire that was pushing it. He steered Potter to the spot where his chair obviously sat when he was in the room. He wondered what a family of Vampires were doing here. "Of course, I can. I've been enjoying a tumbler every night. It was a very thoughtful gift."
"Well, I know that you said that you could put a stopper in death but I was there and I saw your wound...I thought you might have turned into a vampire...." Potter explained to him.
"I did not." Severus informed sitting down. "I had a cure for the poison and thanks to you sending help so promptly I was able to survive."
"It was hours before I sent help."
"An hour at least any longer and I wouldn't have made it." Severus corrected. "It probably felt like longer. I have only just been allowed to travel...."
"And I was your first stop?" Potter was smiling at him.
"Miss. Lovegood called and said you were in need of my assistance as your Healer is a moron." he corrected.
"I have been trying my best to brew what Harry needs but I don't have the current skill to brew the more difficult ones yet." Draco sighed. "So, yes, we could really use your help. Luna and I have already set you up a room and a lab."
Severus couldn't believe it but Potter seemed happy to see him.
"If Mrs. Tonks doesn't mind....." he decided.
"I don't." the woman said giving a short laugh. "It would be nice to have other magical adult company around and you can help me. I've taken over Harry's Healing myself and I hear from him that you are talented in the area."
Severus felt a headache coming on. Potter clearly hadn't known that he was coming but had been talking him up. He glanced at the vampire who was standing next to Harry gently holding his hand and staring at him as if he were his world.
"This is Jasper, my mate." Harry informed Severus. "He's a vampire. He and his family live off of Blood Pops but before that they only ate animal blood. Jasper went off animal blood because it upset me that he was killing the animals. He realized that the Blood Pops filled him up more and made him feel at full power so now they eat them exclusively. That's his family. His "Father" Carlisle Cullen, his 'Mother" Esme Cullen, his "twin sister" Rosalie Hale, his "brother" Emmett Cullen, his "Sister" Alice Cullen, and then his other "brother" Edward."
"Your mate is a vampire." Severus deadpanned.
Harry chuckled.
"Yep, and I couldn't be happier." Harry informed him. "Jasper is great." he looked up at the vampire with love-filled eyes.
"She's here." Luna and Alice both interrupted.
Severus watched everyone tense except Edward who looked excited. He wondered what was going on. He kept a close eye on Harry and Draco. Harry looked miserable and Draco was furious as he glared at Edward.
"HAWWY!"
Everyone looked down to see the almost one-year-old bound into the room. He ran to the chair and pulled on Harry's jeans.
Jasper scooped him up and put him in Harry's lap. Harry hugged him and cuddled him.
The baby was off babbling happily and waving his plushie wolf around.
"Mooy! MOOY!"
"Yes, that's right, Moony." Harry told him gently.
Teddy nodded rapidly. He summoned his Stag Plushie and his Grim Plushie.
"Pwongs!" he said showing off his stag. "Padoo." he showed them his Grim.
"Good job, puppy." Harry laughed.
Teddy beamed brightly.
"Up! Up!" Teddy said to Jasper holding his arms up. "Up! Up!"
Jasper scooped him up.
Teddy pointed at the floor and was set down. He bowed and then ran to his playpen that opened to let him in then closed and locked behind him. He happily began playing with his blocks while babbling happily at his three plushies.
"Lupin's child." Severus said more to himself than to them.
"Yes, Teddy." Harry answered. "He'll be one in April."
Harry was nervous about going to school and meeting Edward's Singer. According to Luna and Alice Edward was going to pick on him even more now that Bella was here. They still couldn't see why and he was curious. He relaxed when he felt someone take his hand. He turned his head to see Jasper sitting next to his bed. Jasper wasn't allowed to spend the night so why was he still here? He was in bed.
"Jasper."
"I'll stay right here." Jasper told him. "If you want me to. I'll leave...."
"You'll spend the night?" Harry wondered. "You don't sleep...."
"I don't but I'd stay if you asked. I can get some reading done."
"Please?"
"Of course."
"Would.....would you......"
Jasper moved to sit on his bed and Harry snuggled into his side with is head in his lap. Jasper smiled down at his mate and ran fingers through his hair. His mate was so adorable. He sensed Draco checking on them and his disapproval but he left them alone and didn't say anything. He was glad because he'd wanted to do this for a while. He was craving Harry not as food but as a partner. He was controlling his lust because Harry wasn't ready or healthy enough for a physical relationship. He was willing to wait. He felt Teddy's emotions just down the hall he was upset and Jasper could guess why. Harry wasn't the one putting him to bed. He was getting better at reading the emotions of the baby and all babies. He'd never been able to do it before but since meeting Harry and his family it had gotten so much easier. He supposed because one of the keys to keeping Harry happy was to keep Teddy happy.
He picked up a book and began reading it. He didn't play on moving anytime soon.