A/N: Requested fic by Banshee1968, for you too. I hope this is what you wanted. I don't own Harry Potter.

Warnings: Language.

Summary: Nightmares. We all have them. But the boy-who-lived can't seem to wake from his.

Nightmares

Chapter 1: Christmas Eve

Outside the wind was chilly, the snow thick – a pair of lone footsteps led to the chicken coop; someone must have braved the iciness and went out into the dead of winter to save the poor animals. Most probably it was Arthur or Bill – sent out by a fierce Molly.

Inside the wind was banned, as all windows were shut and a fire crackled merrily in the inglenook. A large tree – possibly a gift of one Rubeus Hagrid – stood proudly in the living room, decorated in many bells, balls, angels, faeries, tinsel and the stupefied gnome at the top of the tree – painted gold again, stuck into a tutu and left to watch his surroundings. Gay laughter filled the air as another joke was told, or as little Teddy turned his hair a different shade with a sneeze.

"Harry, dear, would you please fetch the fruitcake?" Molly asked him. She was exiting the kitchen, her wand pointed at the many foods floating in mid-air. He was nearest to the kitchen door, having withdrawn himself again – as he'd done for the two years since the war. Harry got up absentmindedly and floated to the kitchen. At first he glanced around, confused, then he spotted the fruitcake. Of course. He scooped it up and carried it to the stretched confines of the Burrow. It seemed as though everyone and their neighbors were there, when in actuality it was the large Weasley family, plus Teddy and Andromeda. They were considered family too.

Harry had always loved Christmas – before the war. Before he learned that for nearly eighteen years, his soul hadn't consisted of just his own. Christmas, to him, was a miserable time. One where old nightmares revisited him. Ones of men in cloaks, filled with cold laughter, high voices – he relived his friends' death again and again… and always on Christmas. No one knew, of course, he didn't tell them. He felt they needn't worry, he was fine. He could handle it.

With a heavy sigh he put the cake down on the table.

"You seem to have the world on your shoulders." Ginny mused from behind him. He jumped at her voice. "Are you all right, Harry?"

He grinned – it was a very forged grin.

"Just fine." He replied, steering her out of the way so he could pass.

"Are you sure, though? You're quiet."

"I'm fine, Ginny." He said, knowing he should tell her, but not being able to. Only one person knew of these dreams, and only the ones he had in earlier years. Hermione. The two of them had been alone for so long whilst hunting Horcruxes, it was hard for her not to know. She'd always awakened him. The first time had scared her immensely. She'd heard his screams, worried that he was under attack; she rushed in, only to find him tangled in his bedding.

But that was years ago. According to her, the dreams had stopped. Harry didn't have them in the months that followed – or so she thought. Truth was: Harry had become apt at Silencing Charms. He didn't want Hermione to be worried about him, and everything else on top of it.

He'd find a way to deal with it. And he had, except on Christmas Eve. When he'd let his guard down, only to visit his parents. The result? They'd been attacked by a snake that was almost as murderous as her master.

Harry started from square one. His dreams for nights on end had contained a hurt Hermione, the bloody remains of Bathilda Bagshot, the fangs aimed at him… horrid images that had him jerking awake for a long time after.

Except those dreams seemed almost like heaven now.

"What do you say, Harry?" He hadn't realized that Hermione was speaking to him.

"Excuse me?"

"I was asking you about Teddy's present." She said; her eyes a millimeter more narrowed than they were a second ago. Of course she'd suspect something – and Ron would follow too. Ron was never entirely daft, just not as fast on the uptake as Hermione or Ginny was.

"It's a sweet idea." He said in a toneless voice. He had no idea what his two friends had gotten his godson.

They seemed satisfied with his answer, though, for they carried on with the conversation as though nothing had happened. Soon the meal started, and he had no need to think up an excuse for not talking. He took his bites whenever the others didn't, making sure they couldn't talk to him, and if they did, he just nodded or shook his head. There was no reason for him to talk much, though, there were a lot of people.

After dinner Percy and Audrey, his girlfriend, left, followed soon by Bill and Fleur (and their baby). George would be spending the night, as would Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione.

"Andromeda, you're welcome to stay too." Molly said to the older woman. Andromeda gave her a small smile in reply.

"I would love that, Molly, but I promised Cissy I would sleep over there."

"It's great that you and your sister sorted everything out." Molly smiled, putting a hand on the taller woman's shoulder.

"I must say, it's a big relief."

Harry hugged his godson goodbye, placing a sweet kiss on his forehead. He walked them to the outside before handing him over to his grandmother.

"Are you all right, Harry?" She asked. Harry grinned his artificial grin again and nodded. "I can see through that, you know."

"I'll be fine, Andromeda." Harry said after a few seconds of silence.

"Of course you will." She said softly. "Just know that you are not alone."

"The same goes for you. We'll all help with Teddy. I would take him myself if…"

"You weren't busy, I know. But as I've told you, I want to raise him. It's all I've got left of my family."

Harry frowned.

"Excuse me for asking this, but what exactly was your problem with Remus? He once said you and Ted don't approve of his marriage to your daughter."

Andromeda laughed a throaty laugh.

"The only thing that irked me was the fact that he was a werewolf. I had no objections to Remus himself; he was a fine, fine man. And I want Teddy to know that."

"It's a sweet gesture, but we're all here for you. I'll help where I can."

"I know, Harry." She said. "Now, dear, go get some sleep. You're obviously tired."

Harry watched them apparate before returning to the Burrow. Molly was collecting all of the dirty dishes, Harry quickly helped her and together they got it done soon.

"Thanks, Harry, dear." She patted his shoulder clumsily. "I don't know where Ginny is, otherwise she would've helped me, but now you can go up to bed."

He nodded again.

Once inside his room, or his and Ron's room, he thought about the night ahead of him. Perhaps he could stay awake? Maybe Ron would stay up with him? Or Ginny?

The thoughts were selfish, but he knew they would do it – and they would all fail at staying awake. Leaving Harry alone, without company and doomed to doze off.

What to do?