May - Harry, age 11

Harry sat up with a start, gasping as his breathing came harsh and quick. His eyes scanned the dormitory, noticing that he has at least not woken anyone else. With a shuddering sigh, Harry rested his right hand upon his chest, closing his eyes tightly. It was so vivid. Seeing Voldemort's face screaming and rushing right at him- the red slits of eyes.

The child opened his eyes, swallowing as he looked around again. He enjoyed being in the tower for the final days of the school year... but now... now he just wanted away. That form was out there. It had to be.

As quiet as he could, the child stood from his bed and bent over to grab his cloak from underneath. He blinked several times, quickly wrapping it around himself and slipping on his trainers. He was sure Snape wouldn't be mad. Not this time at least.

Harry turned quickly as the curtain moved slightly, sighing before he slowly made his way out of the tower.

Snape sat in his armchair, a book in his hands. It was late, just after one in the morning. The man made a mental note to go to sleep after he finished the chapter he was currently reading.

He turned a page as he heard thunder rumble in the distance. His eyes moved to the window, the water of the lake churning violently.

His eyes slowly went back to his reading as the clock on the mantel chimed for a quarter after the hour.

Harry's breath quickened as he passed through the main corridor, lightning flashing through the windows and illuminating the walls. Quickly he descended down the stairs and into the dungeons.

His steps slowed, pulling the cloak off himself and holding it to his chest.

Harry swallowed, approaching the door to Snape's quarters and opening the door without a second thought. He closed it behind himself, leaning against it heavily.

Snape looked up from his book as he heard his parlor door open. He wasn't sure who he was expecting to see however, his child was on the very bottom of that list.

"Harry?" He shut the book, setting it on the table beside him. "What's wrong?" Instantly he noticed the look of fear on the boys face.

Harry felt his shoulders slouch as he stepped into the parlor, holding his cloak tightly before letting it draped over the arm of the couch. His chin quivered faintly and he shrugged a shoulder in response.

It seemed so silly now. Running to Snape because of a bad dream.

"I woke up," he whispered softly, moving over towards the man.

"You woke up?" Snape raised an eyebrow as he waved a hand calling the boy closer to him. "Did something wake you up?"

Harry moved closer, no prompting needed as he wrapped his arms around Snape's neck and leaned into his shoulder. Harry's face turned to rest against the crook of his guardian's neck. "Voldemort," he muttered softly, tightening his hold just slightly as the lake rumbled with the storm outside.

Snape sighed softly as he carefully pulled the child up onto his lap. "You had a bit of a nightmare?"

Harry shifted his head up as he was moved, adjusting his arms before resting his head back onto Snape's shoulder. "Yeah," he breathed softly, closing his eyes

"You are very safe." Snape's tone was soft as his hand moved to rest on Harry's knee. "You know that correct?"

Harry remained silent for a long moment before shrugging a shoulder slowly. "I guess." His grip lessened, blinking and staring into Snape's hair.

"That does not sound very convincing." Snape's fingertips tapped against the boys knee. "I do not intend to let anything happen to you."

Harry kicked his trainers off, allowing them to thud to the floor as he shifted his legs. "What if he's somehow still here?" He looked down to Snape's hand, swallowing.

"I do not believe that he is." Snape's hand gently rubbed the boys knee. "That was only a small form of him Harry. He is gone now."

The child dropped his hand to rest upon Snape's, curling up the best he could. A shiver ran through his back as the storm echoed through the castle, only sounding faint due to the lake. "How do you know?"

"I do not know," Snape admitted in a soft voice. "I can only guess." The man bent his neck, leaning his head down to place a kiss on the top of Harry's head. "I do however, know that you are safe."

Harry closed his eyes at the action, nodding once. His stomach still twisted at the thought. If that was only a form of him, what if there were more? Or that same form came back? His grip subconsciously tightened at his thoughts.

"What happened in this nightmare that you had?" Snape questioned softly as he adjusted the child on his lap.

The eleven year old hummed softly in response as Snape shifted him. "He was chasing me in that... form." Harry shuddered at both the memory of the night and the sound the castle made from the storm.

"He is gone Harry." Snape's hand moved to rest gently on the small of the boys back. "You are perfectly safe here."

Harry nodded once more, sighing softly as his shoulders slowly relaxed. "Okay," he breathed, shifting his head against Snape's shoulder.

Snape's fingertips softly tapped against the child's back. "Perhaps you should head back up to your dormitory? I can walk you up if you like."

"I can't stay down here?" Disappointment started to well within the child as he looked up towards the man.

"You would not rather be in your dormitory?" Snape looked down at the child. "There are only two more nights before you will be home and in your bed for several weeks."

Harry shook his head, tucking his head forward and under Snape's chin. "I want to stay down here," he breathed softly. "Please."

Snape was silent for a long moment before he gently patted the boys back. "You are nearly twelve years old. Surely you would rather be up in your dormitory."

That same feeling of disappointment and fear, started to rise up within him once again. "I won't sleep up there."

Snape was silent for another long moment before he nodded. "Very well. You may sleep down here."

"Thank you dad." He sighed, relaxing fully at the words. His arm moved up, wrapping them securely around Snape's neck once more.

Snape hummed softly as his hand brushed across Harry's back. "Do you wish to discuss your nightmare further?"

"Not much to tell." A shiver ran through the child's spine. "I woke up when he caught me." He blinked, staring at his lap with a frown. "Felt real..."

"Dreams can feel very real." Snape tightened his hold on the child. "It is important to remember however, that they are not."

Harry hummed softly, glancing towards the window that looked out to the lake, he could faintly see the water light up with lightening. He grimaced, tucking his head back into Snape's shoulder as he allowed his eyes to shut. "I can't wait to go home."

"Oh?" Snape hand gently tapped against the boys back. "Here I thought I would have to drag you home kicking and screaming in two days time."

Harry grinned softly, shrugging his shoulders. "It's been a rough end of the year. I'd like to be home."

"Perhaps I can speak with Albus about leaving tomorrow." Snape's hand moved to gently rub between the boys shoulder blades.

"Please." Harry nodded, his smile fading. "You're really sure he's gone? I mean... what if he is still around in the castle?"

"He is not in this castle." Snape looked down at the child with a serious glance. "However, I will speak with Albus."

Harry nodded slightly, keeping himself curled up against Snape's front. He blinked several times before sighing softly. He wanted to be tired. He knew that he should be. But now he felt just as awake as he did at dinner.

"Perhaps we should get you into bed?" Snape's fingertips gently tapped the boys back once more. "It is quite late."

The child only shrugged, his voice soft. "I guess. I'm not that tired now." He raised a hand, rubbing at his face with a small sound.

"You can not stay up all night." Snape looked down at his child. "Perhaps something to help you sleep?"

"Mn... I don't want a potion." He shook his head at the thought, frowning deeply. "Can I lay out here?"

"You know how I feel about that." Snape's hand moved to gently tap Harry's side. "You belong in your bed little boy."

Harry's shoulders slouched down, his frown remaining. "I sleep better out here though," he attempted softly, looking up to Snape as he nestled his cheek against the man's shoulder.

Snape was silent for a long moment before he tapped his hand softly against the boys side once more. "Go fetch what you need from your room."

Harry grinned softly at the words, opening his eyes and shifting down from the man's lap to stand. "Thanks," he breathed quickly, moving down the hall and to his room before Snape could change his mind.

Snape hummed softly to himself. He was absolutely sure that he was spoiling the child rotten.

A loud clap of thunder caused the lake to stir violently as Snape waved his hand causing a fire to roar to life.

Harry took in a breath as his head shot up to look at his window, watching the lake churn as the storm roared on. Gathering his blanket and pillow, he held the items close to his chest before quickly leaving his room.

He stepped into the parlor, swallowing as he stared down to his pillow.

"It is just a storm," Snape said knowingly as he stood. "You are perfectly safe." The man moved towards the couch as he cleared his throat. "Come lie down and I will rub your back for you."

The child moved over to the couch, placing his pillow down with a slight nod. He laid down with a small sigh, pulling his blanket over himself and pulling it up to his chin. "Still hate it."

Snape sat down on the edge of the coffee table, carefully tucking the covers tightly under the boys chin before his hand moved to gently rub Harry's back. "You will be miserable tomorrow if you do not get back to sleep soon."

"I can't help it," Harry muttered softly, looking over to Snape with a frown. "It's not a good night."

"I did not say that you could." The man's hand moved to rub between the boys shoulder blades. "Just try and relax."

Harry glanced towards the window, watching the lake continue to move roughly and light up with the storm. He frowned, closing his eyes and turning to hide his face in his pillow. Easier said than done.

A soft sigh escaped Snape as he watched his child carefully. "Would you like to sleep in my room?"

"I'm not a child," Harry whispered softly, his arms tightening around his pillow. He rubbed his cheek against pillow, giving a soft hum. "But... maybe."

"Forgive me Harry, I have forgotten that at eleven you are fully grown. We will go out tomorrow and find you your own house to live in." The man's fingertips tapped against the boys back. "There is nothing wrong with sleeping in my room if it would help you to sleep better this evening."

Harry blinked before rolling his eyes while pushing himself up. "Can I then? Please?"

Snape gave a nod as he stood. "Get your things." The man started towards the hallway.

Pushing himself up fully, Harry quickly gathered his pillow and blanket into his arms once more. He stood from the couch, rushing over to Snape before the man moved too far away. "Thanks," he breathed, following the man down the hall.

"You needn't thank me for such a thing." Snape led the way to his bedroom, holding the door open and allowing his child to enter first.

Stepping into the bedroom, he moved across to the large bed and placed his own pillow at the top of it. A yawn finally won its way out and Harry raised a hand to rub at his eyes.

"Go on and lie down." Snape moved across the room to his side of the bed. "You are exhausted, just as I suspected."

Pulling the blanket down, Harry crawled up and under it before reaching and pulling it over himself. With a sigh, he tossed his own blanket over the top before lying down completely. His eyes shifted to the window within the bedroom, frowning.

Snape settled in beside the child, his hand resting gently on Harry's back. "Just try and relax. It is just a storm. You are safe and need your sleep."

Shifting around, Harry tucked his arms under his pillow and sighed softly. "Okay," he finally breathed, curling up slightly as his eyes closed. "Love you."

Snape's hand gently brushed across Harry's back. "I love you very much little boy."