Harry's eyes flew open and his body went ridid, throwing him out of the nightmare he had been living in his sleep. His muscles un-tensed as he realized that he was staring at his ceiling. A ceiling painted with stars and a moon that changed its phase to match the real, more striking moon outside.
Harry sighed.
He rolled out of his bed like a man held down by many weights. He went to reach for his glasses, and realized he could see perfectly fine. Once again, he had fallen asleep with them on. At least this time, he thought to himself, I got out of my clothes. Harry didn't bother with the satin robe thrown on the floor, shimmering in the fake moonlight like a dark pool. Harry got up and pulled the white curtains back from the glass doors that kept the world out. Blue-white light spilled into the room, paling the fake light from the imposter moon on the ceiling. Harry opened the left door and felt the cool night breeze flip his hair back away from his warm face.
A flash of red light and a scream on his right.
Harry jumped, muscles ready to fight, adrenalin pumping. There was nothing there. There was never anything there. But he knew that scream, and couldn't understand why each time he heard it he looked. Harry knew the owner of the scream was long gone. Had been since she had last screamed that scream. And yet he looked every time.
Harry ran his fingers through his hair.
He stepped out on the balcony that led off his room. The cold tile sent a calming shock though his feet as he walked to the wrought iron chair and sat down. Even though he was only in his boxers, he didn't shiver. He pulled his arms into himself, crossing them, for comfort more so than warmth.
Harry's eyes fell on the almost full moon as he leaned back relaxing into the chair.
His eyes did not leave the moon, or the place on the horizon where its soft glow finally disappeared, for a long time. And for those few moments, which were truly hours, Harry saw nothing but the moon and the horizon. He felt nothing, heard no screams or words. And he was free from the constant nightmare that his life had been. He was found in the light, and free from his mind. Even if only for that short time.