Harry's Nightmares

Harry had followed Madam Pomfrey's orders exactly. As soon as he reached Gryffindor Tower, he went straight to bed. He awoke the next day to a terrible aching pain in his side. He didn't really want to run to the Hospital Wing for the pain, but it was horribly distracting. He also knew that if Severus found out that he had been in pain all day, he'd be in trouble. Severus didn't seem to like it very much if Harry tried to stick it out for no reason.

In fact, Harry clearly remembered when Severus had found the bruises on his back over the summer. He had received the bruises during one of his sparing sessions with Severus. Even though, Severus would always heal any wounds or injuries Harry sustained during their sessions, Harry hadn't felt the need to tell him that he had got hurt that one time. After all, Severus had always lectured him during practice that the Dark Lord wouldn't let up. Harry thought he was doing what Severus wanted. He was working through the pain and learning to overcome it. It was precisely what Severus lectured to him about not doing in their sessions. However, he was wrong. In fact, he was dead wrong.

When Severus had found the bruises on his back the next day, he immediately lectured Harry on the importance of telling him if he was hurt. Harry had tried to plead his case. That failed miserably. Severus wouldn't listen to it. In fact, he grounded Harry for not telling him, but the grounding surprisingly didn't last long. The look on Severus's face did, though. Harry made sure that he would never see that look of disappointment on the wizard's face again.

Once Harry made it to the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey examined him. It actually didn't take long at all. She told him that it was perfectly normal for him to feel the pain because she couldn't heal him the magical way. Instead, she had sewn him up with some sort of Muggle device called 'stitches' or something, which she said would dissolve with time. The idea rather horrified him, but he guessed she knew what she was doing. She then gave him another dose of a pain-relieving potion and sent him on his way. He did as she instructed and went to the library to study. Nothing interesting really happened the rest of the day. Malfoy stayed clear of him as did everyone else.

However, when Harry was getting ready for bed later that night, he realized that he hadn't seen Severus or Aurora at all. Both chairs were empty for lunch and dinner in the Great Hall. He couldn't help but feel a particular sense of dread wash over him. He knew that he wouldn't see them all the time, but neither one of them had visited him after the panther attacked him. He didn't know if that was a good sign or a bad one. He hoped they weren't disappointed in him for flying. After all, he did have to serve a detention with Madam Hooch over the whole thing. For some reason Professor McGonagall was all smiles, though. He didn't really know why, though. He had broken the rules and lost points for Gryffindor. If anything, she should have been shouting at him. He then sighed and lay down in his warm bed. He knew it wouldn't help anyone if he dwelled on all the mysteries that surrounded him.

After three hours of restless nightmares of panthers mauling him to death, Harry figured sleep would be his enemy for the rest of the night. That was why he quietly crept downstairs into the Common Room and sat down on the couch around midnight. He stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace. Unfortunately, the flames lulled him back into sleep as he watched them dance in the darkness.

An hour later, Harry woke up in a cold sweat. His throat was slightly raw, which he guessed meant he had been screaming. However, no one seemed to be downstairs staring at him as if he was a lunatic so maybe he hadn't. He then sighed before wiping the sweat from his forehead. He glanced down at his hands and noticed that they were shaking horribly. After that dream, though, he knew nobody would blame him for being such a mess. It was utterly horrifying.

"Couldn't sleep?" Hermione softly asked as she walked up behind Harry. She quickly sat down next to him and watched him shake his head. "You know, it was rather nice of you to get Neville's Rememberall back for him."

"Yeah," Harry mumbled. He still had not glanced towards her.

"I've always found that when I can't sleep it helps to talk to someone about it. I'm willing to listen, Harry. All of my friends say I'm an amazing listener."

"Hermione, you don't understand."

Harry wasn't in the mood to talk. At least he wasn't in the mood after waking up from that particular dream. He knew nobody would understand why it had upset him so much. After all, most people never thought of things like that. He also knew it wasn't very likely that he could talk to Severus about it. While Severus would most likely understand and listen to Harry recite what he saw, he didn't want to disturb the man with something as trivial as that dream.

"Understand what, Harry? That you're not really Professors Snape and Sinistra's son?" Hermione then smiled softly when he glanced at her. "Like I said, it wasn't really that hard to figure out. I mean, they obviously care a great deal for you. However, you seemed to take great pride in that compliment from Madam Hooch yesterday." She then leaned closer towards him. "You're Harry Potter, aren't you?" He didn't respond, but she knew she was right. "Don't worry, Harry. Your secret's safe."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Hermione," Harry grumbled before glancing back to the fireplace. This night really couldn't get any worse.

"Do your parents know, your real ones, I mean?"

Harry slowly nodded. He then glanced towards the witch and sighed heavily. He guessed it wouldn't hurt anyone if he talked to her about it. After all, it was nearly one am. No one was up but them. However, he knew it wasn't safe to talk about it there. He quickly stood up and grabbed Hermione's arm. He softly smiled at her when she was surprised.

"Don't worry. I know where we can go where no one can overhear."

"Overhear what?" a sleepy voice asked from the stairs.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Harry squawked. He couldn't believe it. Ron had been asleep when he had left. He had made sure that he didn't wake him up.

"Had to use the loo," Ron replied groggily. He then rubbed his eyes before glancing at Hermione and Harry. "What are you two doing down here?" From the sound of his voice, he quickly had woken up before he glared at both of them.

"Honestly, Ronald," Hermione exclaimed before shaking her head. "We were just talking." She then glanced towards Harry. "I…Harry, I know it isn't my place to ask this, but Ron is one of our friends. Maybe we should include him on this?"

"Include me in what?" Ron harshly whispered.

"Fine," Harry replied grudgingly. "Come on, Ron." The trio of Gryffindors then quietly crept towards the door that led to the Entrance Hall. Harry led the way once they stepped out of the Common Room. It didn't take long before they reached their destination. He held the door open for the both of them while all three walked into the empty room. Almost immediately, the room transformed into Harry's bedroom at his real parents' house in Godric's Hollow. The three took their seats.

"Whoa…this is…"

"Yeah, Ron, it's the Room of Requirement. Professor Sinistra showed it to me when they brought me here." Harry then sighed softly. "My name's not really Harry Prince." He watched Ron's mouth drop. "It's—"

"Harry…Harry Potter…you're Harry Potter?" Ron clucked out shocked tremendously. "I'm friends with the Harry Potter? Wait till my brothers hear about this."

"Your brothers can't hear about this, Ronald. No one can," Hermione quickly said. She then sighed quietly. "It isn't safe for Harry."

"Wait, but isn't You-Know-Who gone? Didn't you like kill him or something?"

"Severus doesn't think I did. He thinks that You-Know-Who is buying his time before he comes after me again. Severus has been training me so that I'll be prepared if You-Know-Who tries again." Harry then glanced down.

"So that's why you're staying with Snape and Sinistra and acting like you're a family?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, it can't just be only that, Harry," Ron stated. "I mean, my brothers said that they've never seen Snape this…well…happy since they've been here. Snape's got to be getting something out of this."

"Maybe he is, but I don't know what it is, Ron." Harry then sighed heavily before hanging his head. "Is it wrong for me to be happy with Snape and Sinistra?"

"No, Harry. It's not wrong at all. Right, Ron?"

"Yeah, Mate, Hermione's right."

"I mean, I love my parents, but…I'm starting to love Severus and Aurora too. I mean, Severus taught me how to tie my tie. Is it wrong that I love them both?"

"No, Harry, it isn't. I'm sure your parents understand." Hermione then leaned forward towards her friend and stilled his hands. "Is that what you dreamt about earlier?" She watched his head slowly lift before he stared at her and Ron.

"It was awful, guys," Harry quietly said.

"Tell us, Harry. We're here for you."

"You're gonna laugh at me."

"No we won't, Mate. Come on. What was it?"

"I was still living with Severus and Aurora, but it was like I was younger or something. I mean, they were all taller, and I felt extremely short in comparison to them. We all were happy sitting at the kitchen table. I think we were celebrating something because there was cake on the table, but I don't know what. It then got dark outside. I mean, it got pitch black out, guys. Severus instantly went to the window and looked out. He had his wand out. He got this…look on his face. I don't know how to describe it. He then turned around towards Aurora and me. His face was pale, paler than usual, I mean. He told Aurora to take me and run. I didn't want to leave him because I knew something bad was going to happen. I don't know. I just felt like I knew that if I left, I wouldn't see him again." Harry then glanced towards Ron and Hermione. "I know it's stupid. It's just a silly dream."

"No, Harry, it's understandable that it would upset you," Hermione whispered. "There was more, wasn't there?" She watched him swallow harshly before nodding. "Tell us, Harry. Get it all out."

"I kept pleading with Aurora that we should stay. She wouldn't listen, though. She kept saying that we had to leave…that Severus would be fine. She yanked me towards the cellar. I mean, I kept fighting her. I kept trying to get back to Severus, but she was stronger than I was. Just before she got me downstairs, the front door opened. These—I don't know how to describe them—these masked wizards in black robes burst in. There were all sorts of hexes and curses flying around. One of them hit Severus. I cried out just as he hit the floor. He wasn't moving, but Aurora pulled me back. The cellar door closed, and she just kept carrying me forward in the darkness towards the back wall.

"There was lots of shouting upstairs," Harry continued. "They kept shouting that Aurora should just give up. That it was futile to run because he'd find her and kill her. Someone then yelled that if she didn't come up right then, he'd kill Severus. The next sounds were of glass breaking followed by loud howls of pain. The minute I heard it I knew it was Severus. They were hurting him. I knew it. I could feel it. Aurora just kept holding me and whispering that everything was going to be all right. She was crying as she held me. Her tears were soaking my jumper. The screaming then stopped, and it became deathly quiet. A few seconds later, we heard a loud thump as something hit the floor above us. Aurora's grip tightened around me before she whispered again that everything would be fine. She then quietly pulled me back into the revolving bookcase to the secret entrance to the manor. She picked me up and carried me as if I was a small child. I guess it would make much more sense that I was in the dream. She ran down the hallowed out passageway. We got outside, and she turned back towards the manor. It was about three miles away. There was this big funny cloud in the sky. It was almost as if it was a snake coming out of a skull."

"That's the Dark Mark, Harry," Ron shouted. "You know, one of You-Know-Who's symbols?"

"Really…?" Ron slowly nodded. "Then this could be true? I mean, I could be dreaming of something that might actually happen."

"I don't know about that, Harry. I mean, that's extremely rare."

"Well, how else could I have known about that? I mean, my parents didn't really like to talk all that much about the Wizarding World. They especially never told me about that."

"Maybe you're right then," Ron conceded quietly. "After all, you are the Boy-Who-Lived."

"Yeah, don't remind me," Harry muttered.

"What happened next, Harry?"

"I take it then that the guy's I saw were Death Eaters?" Harry asked Ron. Ron nodded again. "Well, then the Death Eaters started to burn down the manor. Flames pretty much engulfed the entire estate. Aurora whispered that everything was going to be fine, but I could feel her trembling as she stared at the flames in horror. I couldn't stop crying. She tried everything to hush me before we turned around to leave. However, just as we were about to, four Death Eaters stood in front of us. We hadn't even noticed them. It then got dark for a bit. I think they stunned us. Either way, when I woke up again, one of the Death Eaters had me kneeling down and had his wand in my neck. Aurora and Severus were in front of me. Tears filled Aurora's eyes, and Snape was just staring at me. They both were fighting to get free, but the Death Eaters seemed to have a good hold on them. They had done a rather good job blooding Severus. His nose was broken. He had deep gashes to his face. He looked positively like hell." Harry then sighed heavily. "Aurora kept telling me to be strong. That it'd be all right. Somebody laughed at her, though, and told her she was pathetic for thinking that. I can't be sure, but I think it might have been…you know…"

"Whoa! You dreamt about You-Know-Who, Harry," Ron asked with his mouth dropped. "Mate, I think you need to talk to Snape about this dream of yours. You know, see what he says."

"Ron, shut up," Hermione snarled. She then glanced back to Harry. "What else, Harry?"

"Maybe I should just talk to Snape."

"While I agree wholeheartedly with that, Harry, I think you need to finish telling us. It'll help."

"Fine," Harry mumbled. "Well, there isn't really much more to tell you, though. I mean, if it was You-Know-Who, then he's one scary blonde guy. Severus seemed to know him, though, as if they were old school friends, you know. I think…I think he might have called him 'Lucius'."

"As in Lucius Malfoy?" squawked Ron. "Mate, that's Draco's father. What happened then?"

"Well, the blond guy asked Severus if it was worth it."

"What was?"

"See…I haven't got a clue, Ron. I never learned what that meant in the dream. Either way, Severus replied that it was worth every bit. The blond then walked over to me and ran his slimy hands down my cheek. He told Severus that I was such a beautiful boy and that it was such a shame that it had to come to this. Severus only spit back at him and said some choice words. The blond guy wasn't amused, though. He…he told Severus that he would enjoy breaking him before he killed him." Harry then took a big gulp of fresh air. He really didn't want to talk anymore, but he knew Hermione was right. He needed to get it off his chest. "He kept glancing over at Aurora and would get this creepy grin on his face. He walked over to her and let his hand trail down her. She was fighting even harder to get free then, but it didn't work. The blond guy…he said that he…he liked the feisty ones and that he couldn't wait until he could enjoy her. I'm sure you guys know what he meant." Ron and Hermione slowly nodded. "Yeah, well, the blond guy went back to me and told me to tell Severus that I loved him. I did, and then I saw a green flash. That's when I woke up."

"Oh, Harry," Hermione cried before she threw her arms around him. She hugged him for at least two whole minutes while Harry stared at Ron helplessly.

Harry honestly didn't understand what had gotten into the witch. Of course, he got the fact that his dream sounded horrific. That didn't explain why Hermione was trying to hug him to death. She then pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"Ron and I are coming with you when you tell Professor Snape."

"Why?"

"Because we're not letting you go in there alone. You shouldn't have to face that evil alone."

"Severus isn't evil," Harry immediately replied.

"No, of course not, Harry. That's not what I meant. I just mean that Ron and I aren't going to let you go in there by yourself. We may not be your real family either, but we're still here for you. Wherever you go, Ron and I will follow. Isn't that right, Ronald?" Ron dumbly nodded before he glanced back at Harry. Both boys shrugged. "I think…I think we should go down and talk to Professor Snape tonight, Harry." At the look of confusion on Harry's face, she quietly said, "I have a hunch."