Disclaimer: Same as prologue

Chapter 20

Aidan's mask didn't work for Minerva gasped when he opened his eyes before drawing him off the chair and hugging him tightly. Aidan's eyes fluttered shut and he leaned into Minerva's embrace before he could stop himself, his shaking subsided slowly.

'We're not going to stop caring about you,' she whispered repeatedly, holding him close.

The rest of the Court were shocked by Minerva's words. Aidan thought they were going to leave him? For showing weakness? They wondered what had made him think that. They were both angered and saddened by his reaction but held themselves back from going to him not knowing how he would react to being crowded around by them.

Dorea was feeling guilty for making Aidan feel like he would be abandoned by them. She had been the one to insist that the rest of the Court needed to know about his nightmares. She knew about his panic but didn't realize he would react so badly to everyone else knowing.

Tom was furious, he wanted to harm the person or people that had caused Aidan to react like he had. His knuckles were white as he gripped the armchair to stop himself from going to Aidan and holding him. He didn't like that sad, lost look in Aidan's eyes. The members of the Court, excluding Minerva, sent occasional glances his way.

He lost that battle and stood. He ignored the warning looks he received and went over to Aidan and Minerva who had separated from their previous embrace. Tom saw Aidan stiffen slightly when he noticed Tom approaching him.

'Aidan,' was all Tom said before he gathered Aidan into another hug. He felt Aidan's muscles tense slightly but waited until Aidan relaxed until he let go. Tom noticed Minerva move away vaguely, concentrating on the boy in his arms.

'Aidan, you don't have to hide your weaknesses from us,' Tom said gently as if talking to a scared animal. 'We will not judge you on your weaknesses but try and help you whenever we can. However, you need to tell us if you need anything or have problems so we can help you.'

Aidan looked at Tom wide eyed, obviously not expecting the words that had come from Tom's mouth. Aidan was reluctant to believe Tom's words, it was never that easy. Was it?

'Trust us, we may be Slytherins but we protect our own, even if we have to protect them from themselves,' Tom continued upon seeing Aidan's disbelieving eyes. 'Are you willing to trust us?'

Aidan thought it over, carefully searching the faces of every person that surrounded him, watching him closely. He saw their honesty, their hopefulness and their desire to help him. Slowly he nodded.

Tom smiled at him widely and the Court looked relieved. 'Do you want to tell us about your nightmares?'

Aidan knew he couldn't give details on the nightmare and was reluctant to tell them. Minerva and Tom both knew him in the future, Min as a teacher and Tom as the man that wanted to kill him. Most of the dreams were memories that had something to do with Tom as Voldemort. He could tell them, if he was vague enough, he decided but what if he told them too much? Would it even make a difference? Minerva wouldn't expect him to live through those things in the future, Dumbledore knew already or at least suspected but he already knew Aidan was from the future. There really was nothing to lose as long as the names were not the same, no one would realize anything.

'The nightmares,' Aidan shivered slightly at the thought of them, seeing the flash of green light in his mind's eye. Thankfully the Unforgivables had not been invented yet, or so the books had told him. They may not have been recorded yet, hopefully they had not been invented yet. 'are of my friends and family dying.'

Aidan looked up at Tom, eyes sad and pained. He could see shock and horror in Tom's eyes and tried to move away but Tom only held Aidan tighter. There were a couple of gasps but Aidan didn't recognize who they had come from nor could he look as Tom blocked his vision.

'I'm sorry you had to go through that. I cannot say that I know how you feel, I've never lost someone I care about but I can sympathize with you. Just thinking of loosing someone is painful enough,' Tom said softly, eyes still on Aidan's face.

'It will be easier if you get it off your chest,' Xeno said gently, coming up to the two silently reminding Aidan of Luna in that moment, something that helped Aidan start speaking. Luna had always been there to listen when Aidan had needed someone who would not judge him by his weaknesses. She always knew what everybody needed somehow, something Aidan saw she had inherited from her father.

'There are many nightmares. Sometimes many join together, sometimes they repeat themselves over and over again,' Aidan began softly. Tom and Xeno leaned on the arms of Aidan's armchair, offering silent support. Aidan was grateful for their presence.

'There's one of my best friend's sister being kidnapped because someone wanted to kill me, then it was the dementors attacking me and being unable to defend myself. Another is thousands of dementors swarming around my godfather and myself, sucking out happy memories without remorse. Another friend dying because someone wanted to get to me, and my godfather dying in front of my eyes,' Aidan said, giving them a short summary of the last five years of his life as quickly as he could in an attempt to prevent the memories from rising. He shivered again when he remembered the shock on Sirius' face as he fell through the veil.

Silence filled the room when Aidan was done. If Tom and Xeno hadn't had their hands on Aidan's shoulders he would have fled back to his dorm and spelled his curtains shut.

'I'm sorry Aidan. I shouldn't have pushed you into letting me tell everyone,' Dorea said finally, her voice wavering slightly as if she wanted to cry. Aidan looked up and saw that there were tears in many of the Court's eyes.

'It's fine,' Aidan said with a small smile. 'Xeno was right, it is slightly easier knowing I'm not carrying all of this by myself.'

'Glad to hear it. I hope you will be more open with us after this,' Tom murmured from his side.

'Of course, when have I ever been wrong?' Xeno said in mock outrage, an attempt to lighten the atmosphere. It worked for the most part but there were still some undertones of sadness.

'I can think of many times,' Abraxas retorted. 'Like the time you went up to Olivia and thought her name was Sue or something.'

Olivia giggled. 'It was Mary, he thought my name was Mary!'

'Oi! That wasn't my fault! You look like a Mary!' Xeno complained. 'I'm usually good with people's names.'

'You asked me if my name was Daniel,' Christopher said pointedly.

'Urgh! It's only you people! I'd swear your parents were drunk when they named you!' Xeno burst out frustrated, folding his arms childishly.

Aidan burst out laughing at their arguing. The Court looked relieved at being able to get Aidan out of his morose mood and soon joined in arguing with Xeno over his "naming" skills.

'It's almost curfew,' Tom said finally, looking amused at the annoyed look on Xeno's face. They seemed to pointedly send looks Dorea's way at Tom's words.

'Oh yeah, I almost forgot,' Dorea said. She gained a couple of sighs and rolls of eyes before she pulled out something from her pocket. 'I found a possible solution for your nightmares. I got the idea when you told me you had to fight against people you love, why not allow you to fight the nightmares with people that care about you. It is a complex piece of magic but we managed it.'

She opened her hand to reveal what looked like a small gemstone in the shape of a diamond. Aidan looked up curiously at her.

'We each put a piece of our magic into the same spot making sure it came together and this is what formed. Min transfigured a chain so you could wear it and Tom put a couple of charms on it, I'm not entirely sure what they do though,' Dorea said with a slight frown.

'It's to make sure it can't fall of or harm you while you sleep and the other is so no one can remove it but you. I'm sure you can hide it yourself if you want,' Tom said easily.

'Thank you,' Aidan said, taking the necklace and putting it around his neck quickly.

'Great. I hope you don't think I'm rude or anything but we really have to dash. Curfew is in about five minutes … no wait, make that four,' Christopher said standing up. His words caused a ripple of panic as more than half the Court rushed out of the Slytherin Common Room, shouting good nights as they left.

Thank you to everyone who followed and favourited this story.

Guest: I plan on it having a happy ending. I have to write a chapter daily or within two days of writing the previous one or my mind gets bored with the story. It happened a couple of times. I reckon I should finish it within the next six months at the most. I have a short attention span.

delatrix: It will be a while getting there (I think) unless Tom (or Sebastian) gather enough guts to actually tell Aidan. The others don't seem to want to take on that responsibility.

Larisya: Thank you

D. Akisira R.T.M.S: Tom does realize it but only in the future after Harry leaves his time.

Ash-Bookworm113: I know how you feel …

rentamiya: I guess it was a bit mysterious … I had to read the chapter to figure that out … hehe