It took Edward a few weeks to recover. Carlisle kept him updated on the condition of the twins and Hermione; all had been tortured and were lucky enough to still be alive. The weird part was that neither muggle nor magical medicine was working on them; they had to let nature take its course and heal their bodies themselves. After a few days of their screaming, Harry couldn't take it anymore and healed first Fred and then George. It had taken him longer than when he healed Edward, for now Carlisle was making him rest between each healings.
After he healed Edward he had gone into a sort of coma for days. Not wanting to risk that again, Carlisle told him not to overdo it and only heal one wound or broken bone at a time and so he gradually healed the twins.
Carlisle told the wizard that Hermione's condition kept getting worse and eventually Harry decided it best to heal her as well; she may have betrayed him in the past but that didn't change the fact that he still loved her. He learned that she had been taken from Hogwarts and tortured to get his location. Not once had she told them that she didn't know, she just kept saying that she would never tell them. Harry admired her strength.
The Diggory's had also been informed of what had happened and a week after Harry had woken up from his coma, they brought C.J. to him, knowing it would bring a smile to the wizard's face.
C.J. had been delighted to see his daddy again; he had missed him so so so so much. He also missed his papa and didn't understand why his papa wouldn't pick him up like he normally did, but then he felt the pain coming off of him and knew he was hurt. He would often kiss his papa knowing it would make him better.
Harry was lying in his mate's arms, with C.J. between them. Edward was finally able to move around again, and though it had taken him a while, he now remembered his family as well. Most of his memories were back, not all, but they would be with time.
"You are uneasy," Edward's voice brought Harry out of his musings.
The wizard turned his head, so he was able to look at his mate. "A little," he admitted. He had been thinking about Hermione. He was rather curious as to why she had betrayed him but never found the courage to ask her about it; afraid it would hurt more if he knew the truth. "I was thinking about Hermione."
"Hermione? Yes, she was kind to me," Edward told him.
"She was?" Edward hadn't told him much about what happened at the Death Eaters' camp; only that he had been torture for that was what he could remember.
"Yes, she often defended me, begging them to stop torturing me," Edward shook his head, "It didn't help. They used crueler spells on me and started torturing her too."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Harry answered and placed a gentle kiss on top of his lips. "It does sound like the Hermione I remember," he observed after a moment.
"You miss her," Edward stated, seeing the slight longing in his mate's eyes. If he wasn't so certain that Harry loved him, he would have been jealous, but he knew that Harry missed his friend, the friend Hermione once was to him.
"I do," Harry admitted.
"Why don't you talk to her?" Edward suggested.
"I…don't know," Harry was still a little uncertain. Also, he would be leaving Edward and C.J. alone. He wasn't sure if he wanted to do that…
"C.J. and I will be fine. Go," he slightly ordered him. "Go talk to her."
Harry took a moment to consider before he nodded. "Okay," he complied, giving Edward and C.J. a kiss before he left the room. Before he went to Hermione, he checked up on the twins and noticed that they were once more, back to their joking selves. They weren't allowed to leave the bed yet by Carlisle's orders but were often seen sneaking out.
"Good morning, Harry," Esme smiled at him when he almost ran into her.
"Morning, Esme," he replied, also smiling.
"Are you going to see Hermione?" Esme asked with a worried face. "The poor thing has barely eaten. No one to visit her. She's all alone."
Harry smiled at her mother instincts. "Yes, actually, I was going to see her."
An even brighter smile appeared on Esme's face. "Please, bring this tray to her and make sure she's eating. I do not want her wasting away."
"Will do," Harry answered before taking the tray from Esme and went to Hermione's borrowed room.
"Hermione?" he asked quietly as he saw the lithe figure of his once best friend curled up in a corner. He kneeled down in front of her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Hermione looked up into the eyes that once held her trust. "Hello Harry," she breathed and quickly looked away, unable to look at him.
"How are you feeling?" Harry gently asked but the witch didn't answer. Taking in her form he noticed the blood leaking into the bandage around her arm. "Let's clean that up, shall we?" He led her to the bed and kneeled in front of her as he gently took her arm in his own hand before removing the used bandage being careful not to hurt her any more.
"How can you stand to touch me after what I've done to you?" The witch asked in amazement. "Or be so gentle?"
"No one should be tortured because of me," was his answer as he cleaned the wound with a charm. The wizard worked in silence as he applied a clean bandage and felt the witch's eyes on him the entire time. He didn't say anything about the wound looking self-inflicted.
"You should have left me there after what I did to you," she whispered so soft Harry was afraid he'd imagined it.
"No one deserves this," he replied. "I couldn't have left you there and neither could my family."
"You always had a saving people complex," Hermione smiled but it quickly left her face when she realised who it was she was talking to.
"I guess I do," Harry replied with a gentle smile. He had missed her.
"You have an interesting family," Hermione went on when she noticed the wizard's gentle smile. "Something you always wanted."
"Yeah, I've been lucky," Harry answered as he stood up and sat down in one of the chairs that were placed next to the bed.
"And you have a son," Hermione told him with a knowing smile.
"How did you…?" Harry was astounded. He knew that she hadn't seen his son, so how did she know?
"If I hadn't figured it out from his name; C.J. stands for Cedric James, I believe? I would have found out by his looks. He looks a lot like you."
Harry nodded; Hermione had always been too smart for her own good.
"I know what I told you is unforgivable, but I hope one day you'll find it in your heart to forgive me," she began.
"I just want to know why you said that?" Harry asked, this was one of the questions he had wanted an answer on.
Hermione stood up and walked to the window. "You know I've loved Ron since Fourth year," she began softly. "Maybe even before that. When he finally started to notice me I was ecstatic. There were times when I knew Ron was treating you like a jerk but then again he's been doing that since we've known him. There were times that I thought that if I agreed with him that he wouldn't leave me and in turn I treated you as he did.'
"It's true that even in the Wizarding World being gay isn't accepted by all and most of the time those who are against it will treat it as if doesn't exists. I never expected Ron to be one of those narrow minded people.'
"Part of me accepted you for what you are but part of me also thought you belonged with Ginny. I guess I just listened to the wrong part…"
"What made you change your mind?" Harry asked after swallowing the lump in his throat.
Hermione sighed before she turned back to face Harry. "The moment I found out Ron's been dosing me with a Potion of Will," she answered.
Harry nodded his head. He knew all about Potion of Will; the receiver of the potion was bound to follow the will of the administer. Whatever the administer thought about something, no matter if you didn't agree with it before, you would now.
"And that is why you agreed with Ron on this matter?" The wizard asked.
With a guilty look she turned away. "As much as I would love to tell you yes, I cannot," she confessed before answering his question. "No, I agreed on my own merit."
Again Harry nodded his head; he was grateful she was telling him the truth but that didn't mean it hurt any less. Still he could see she was trying to make it up to him. He gave her a nod in thanks before standing up. "I've got to go, eat something, please," he said before leaving Hermione alone not yet ready to forgive her for what she's done to him but he knew with time he would.
As he closed the door behind him, he bumped into Esme. "How is she?" She asked concerned.
Harry took C.J., who she was carrying from her before answering her question. "As well as she can, I suppose." He smiled down at C.J. who squealed happily and threw his arms around his father's neck. "I'm going to spend some time with him, will you watch Edward?"
At her nod he left to go outside. C.J. was delighted. He was going to spend some time with his daddy! It had been awhile since he and his daddy had spent some time together. Before he had gone to grandpa and grandma his daddy and his papa would often do things together but never just his daddy and him. It didn't mean that he loved spending time with his papa less but he had missed spending time with only his daddy.
"What do you want to do, little man?" His father asked him when they stepped outside, knowing it was too busy inside.
"Dada, play!" C.J. answered, happily.
"Play, huh?" Harry asked and pretended to think about it before he started to tickle his son's sides making him squeal in delight, gently laying him down on the floor before tickling him again. "Okay, get up," Harry said when he stopped tickling his son and helped him to his feet. "I'm gonna get you," he smiled as he watched C.J. run away, squealing in delight.
Harry stood up as well and walked after his son before he caught him, raised him in the air and gently planted him back on his feet. Then he would watch C.J. run off again only to repeat the process.
At one point he was a little too energetic and had to balance himself as he let out a small "oomph".
"Dada hurt?" C.J. asked with big grey eyes full of concern. He could feel the pain roll of his daddy.
"No, little man. You're just getting too heavy for me," he answered, honestly. There were few times when he lied to his son.
C.J. cocked his head, as if he was trying to understand what his father was telling him, before he laughed and threw his arms around his father and give him a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you, little man. Don't you ever forget that," Harry breathed into his son's hair and hugged him close.
"Luf Dada too," C.J. replied and gave his daddy another kiss on the cheek. The young empath smiled as he felt the waves of love rush over him, proving his daddy's words – not that he needed the proof for he knew how much his daddy loved him.
"How about we fly around a little bit?" Harry suggested and seeing the big smile on his son's face he knew it was the right suggestion.
"Fly!" C.J. exclaimed rather loudly and jumped up and down as he clapped his hands. His daddy had taken him flying twice before and he had loved it so much; he wanted to do it again and again and again. Once he even tried on his own but the broom had been too big and too heavy he wasn't able to pick it up.
"You're going to be one hell of a Quidditch player some day," Harry mused and summoned his broom which he easily caught in his hand when it came to him.
"Hang on tight," he told his son as he helped him mount before mounting the broom behind him. He flew over to the part of the garden where he had placed cushioning charms for cases like this so C.J. wouldn't be hurt too much should he fall off the broom. He made sure not to go any higher than one and a half meters from the ground; not wanting to risk his son breaking any bones should he fall off.
Although he didn't go fast his son was enjoying himself and so was he. The freedom he felt whenever he was flying was overwhelming and he was enjoying every minute of it. With his son's laughter in his ears and the wind in his hair he steered the broom back towards the house. Something was calling him back inside.
Harry didn't want to disappoint his son, he had promised to spend some time with him and was not about to break it. Fighting the urge to find his mate, he dismounted the broom and helped C.J. off. "You all right, little man?" He asked his son as he saw the slight worry on his face.
"Papa hurt?" C.J. asked as he felt the pain coming from the house.
Harry focused on the half completed bond, which had been growing again as Edward healed, and nodded his head. "Yes, your papa is still hurt." Although most of his physical injuries had been healed, he was still unconsciously battling the pull of the bond. So much so that it was hurting him.
"Dada help?" The question wasn't so much as a question, more of a stated fact. The young child knew that his father could help his other father.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment; his son was way too bright for his own good. "Yes, C.J, I can help him." He wasn't sure if the help required was welcome but that was beside the point.
"Cee Dee help?" The question was hopeful.
"I'm afraid this time you won't be able to help, little man," he saw his son's face fall. "But why don't we go check up on your papa and see if he needs anything?" The bright smile was back on his son's face and gathering a small hand in his own they walked back to the house and up the stairs.
"Edward?" Harry called into the room but he didn't find his mate on the bed, where he usually was. The vampire was staring out the window but turned when he heard his name being called out. "C.J. would like to know if you wanted anything?" he asked once his eyes met those of his mate.
Edward looked from his mate to their son and kneeled down on one knee. "Maybe you could get me something to drink," he gently asked C.J. after reading his thoughts that he wanted to help his father.
Nodding eagerly C.J. let go of his daddy's hand and ran to the stairs, calling for Meme and waited for a second for he wasn't allowed to go down the stairs alone. He didn't need to wait long for Meme to help him downstairs and fix his papa something to drink. Knowing his papa was different than his daddy, he knew that he'd need the special drink but he didn't know what it was. It was something his daddy had brought home one day that made everyone in the house smile when they found out what it was. C.J. had wanted to taste it, wondering what was so special about it, but every time he tried to take a sip someone would take it away from him.
Meme helped him pour the drink before she walked him back upstairs. His daddy and his papa were sitting together on the bed. Walking over to them he held out the glass. "Drink papa!" C.J. smiled happily as his papa took the drink from him.
"Thank you, Ceej," Edward said before kissing one tiny cheek making the boy's smile brighter. The vampire took a sip of the drink, knowing it was a potion made with blood Harry had brought him before, not wanting to disappoint his son. "Now, isn't it time for your nap?"
The bright smile quickly disappeared from the young face and Edward couldn't help but chuckle. "Why don't you go with Esme, little man," Harry suggested as he held out one of his hands for his son to take before he pulled him onto the bed in a big embrace. "And let me help heal your papa," he whispered but knew the two vampires in the room heard him.
Considering the words, C.J. nodded his consent before he hugged his daddy again and then his papa before jumping off the bed and running over to Esme.
Smiling gently as his son was led away before turning his attention on the vampire who was staring at him. "Heal me?" The vampire asked once his mate's eyes locked with his own.
"C.J. can feel that you are still in pain. I told him I would help heal you," Harry explained.
"How did he know I was hurt? He wasn't here when I felt the pain," Edward asked as he turned on his side.
"His ability is growing, I'm afraid," Harry answered and turned on his side as well facing the vampire. "He's now able to feel our emotions where ever we are," shaking his head as he tried to deny it. "I'm just grateful he isn't picking up on the emotions of the others."
"Yes, I believe at this point it would be too overwhelming for him to pick up on the other's emotions. Even our own seems to be too much for him from time to time," Edward replied.
"Yes, I sometimes want to take an emotion dampening potion but then I fear I'll be too harsh or something. If you take such a potion you won't care about anything. Love has no meaning and I don't want to subject C.J. to me like that."
"You should never hide your feelings, it will do you no good," Edward replied as he reached up and pulled a stray of hair behind the wizard's ears.
Harry turned his head and kissed the palm of the vampire's hand before covering the hand with his own. He closed his eyes and licked the hand. Feeling rather than seeing the vampire shudder, he gave a slight smile before opening his eyes again.
Scooping closer, he leaned in and licked the closed lips. Once they parted in invitation, which he accepted, he entered and engaged the tongue he found in a duel. The hand that was covering the vampire's, left to settle on a narrow hip and pulled him closer. Moaning as their bodies met.
The hand on the hip rose drawing circles on the now naked skin of the vampire's hip. They broke the kiss and stared into each other's eyes as their hands roamed the other's body. Their eyes silently communicating with each other before, as one, they sat up and reached for the other hem of the shirts and pulled them up over their heads before tossing them away.
Harry quickly latched onto Edward's lips again before he travelled down, licking and kissing every inch of skin his lips found. He started playing with one of the pink nipples before turning to the other.
Edward was writhing in pleasure as his mate played with his nipples. His hands strayed up to play with his mate's hair. Sucking in much unneeded breath as Harry moved down and started to undo his jean's button before unzipping them. He raised his hips as he helped Harry to remove his own jeans and boxers.
Harry sat back on his knees and took in his prize. His mate's black eyes fell on his own before he sat up and undid the wizard's jeans. Giving his mate a smile before standing up to remove his jeans. He felt his mate's eyes roaming over his body. Slightly embarrassed about his physical appearance he blushed and looked away, knowing what his mate saw; a skinny, underweight boy, with too many scars (the most famous of which; the lightning bolt shaped scar on his forehead, the one on his stomach from the c-section Poppy had to perform on him and many more he had acquired over the years).
He couldn't understand what his mate saw in him though; he was no beauty not like his mate. Edward was beautiful. There was no scar on his perfect body, nor was he skinny. Harry looked up when he felt his mate in front of him.
Edward stood up, in front of Harry, when he looked away. "You're beautiful," he whispered before claiming the lips again and guiding him back to the bed. Falling down with the wizard on top of him.
A blush graced Harry's features but it didn't stop him from claiming his mate's lips in a hungry kiss before he started exploring his mate's body. Making a mental memory of every moan his mate made wherever he kissed him and storing it somewhere for future use. By the end of the night he would have mapped Edward's entire body and would know what made him moan and writhe beneath him.
Harry reached his mate's throbbing need and gave it a curious lick. When his mate bucked up from the mattress, he couldn't help but smirk. Taking the head in his mouth, he twirled his tongue around it before taken in a bit more. Needing to get used to the feeling, he took only part of his mate's member in his mouth. Bobbing his head, he delighted in his mate's moans. Each time he took a little more in his mouth until he had taken him in completely. Bobbing his head a few more times had Edward erupting into his mouth without warning.
The wizard swallowed as much as he could before he sat back, licking his lips and wiping the remaining semen away with the back of his hand. He gave his mate an arrogant smile.
Edward watched his member disappear into his mate's mouth and wasn't able to hold back the groan that erupted from deep within his throat. Closing his eyes as he gave himself over to the pleasure his mate was giving him, he couldn't help but moan aloud and buckle his hips. Afterwards he lay there for a moment, opened his eyes and saw his mate's smile before he pulled him up and claimed his lips.
"Where did you learn that?" He asked after he broke away from the kiss and started licking away the spilled semen.
"Just now," Harry replied as he rocked against the vampire, searching for friction.
"By the gods, you are amazing," Edward replied before claiming Harry's lips with his own again and turning them around. "You want this?" He asked as he pushed down against Harry, making him moan.
"God, yes!" Harry exclaimed as his mate moved against him. His whole body felt as if it was on fire and he needed…he just needed! His mate's hand moved lower until it held him in his hand making the wizard hiss out loud when the cold hand touched his enflamed member. Moving his hips in time with his mate's strokes, he reached up to crash their lips together again.
Edward broke the kiss and moved downward to take one of his mate's nipples in his mouth, gently sucking on it before blowing against it only to suck on it again. He repeated the action a few times and was about to move down when the door opened and two identical boys stood there looking shocked.
"Whoops, sorry, we didn't know," one of them began.
"…that you were engaged in these kinds of activities," the other added.
"Especially not with a child in the house and…" the first one again.
"We figured you'd put up wards or something if that was the case…" Both of them were grinning brightly.
Harry was grateful his mate's body covered his own not wanting the twins to see him in his birthday suit. He reached for the blanket and quickly covered his mate and his own body with it before turning his head back to the twins.
"Aren't you supposed to be in bed?" He shot at them.
"We should," Fred answered.
"And we should be going back," George added, with a smile before he pulled his brother back into the corridor and closing the door behind them
Embarrassed that he was caught in the act, Harry looked up at his mate who was still staring at the door. A feral look on his face and his eyes as black as the night. "Edward?" he carefully asked, raising a hand to turn the vampire to face him.
"You're mine," the vampire growled before his hands reached up and pushed the wizard into the mattress by his shoulders. He lowered his head and claimed the lips as his own in a bruising kiss, marking him.
"Yes, yours," Harry answered against the lips, slightly wincing at the hard grip his mate had on his shoulders.
With those words Edward regained his mind and quickly loosened his grip. "Forgive me," he whispered at he raised himself on his elbows.
"There's nothing to forgive," Harry replied and guided the lips back to his own. "I should have put wards on when Esme left. I can't believe I forgot," he added as he shook his head.
"I did not like them seeing you like this," Edward confessed.
Harry laughed out loud. "That makes two of us," he replied before pulling Edward down next to him. "Hold me."
Edward's arms immediately went around his mate. "What about…" he nodded his head towards Harry's privates but he just shook his head.
"I had it shocked out of me," he replied, sheepishly as he gave his mate a grin before turning his head toward the crook of his mate's neck. He licked the skin he found there before settling down.
"I think I should go and find out what Fred and George want," Harry said after a moment, smiling as his mate's arms tighten around him. "I take it you don't want me to go?"
"Never," Edward whispered before claiming his lips in a sweet long kiss.
"I love you, Edward," Harry told him with a sigh in contentment.
"And I love you," Edward replied before claiming his mate's lips with his own again. The bond, which still wasn't completed, was now as strong as it used to be. The vampire could feel the link he had with his mate again and that give him strength to heal completely.
TBC
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