Disclaimer: The characters and places and stuff belong to JKR. But for now, they are at my mercy. *evil grin* I'll return them as soon as I'm finished…maybe.
Author's Note: The reason I'm able to get these chapters out so quickly is because I already have 23 chapters written for the story total. After that, it'll probably take more time to post. Also, for readers of "Finally," bad news: I lost my disk with the story on it, so until I find it, there won't be any updates.
Me3gogi: "The Puppy Who Wanted A Boy" is an adorable children's book written by Jane Thayer, illustrated by Lisa McCue. It used to be one of my favorites when I was little.
In this chapter: Back to school, a nightmare, a middle-of-the-night visit, and darkness
~~~
Chapter 15
The rest of the summer was pretty much uneventful. Harry recovered physically from his injuries and illness, and he and Draco finished their homework. Draco spent his spare time taking Harry shopping (he insisted on buying several pairs of leather pants) and trying to convince Harry to "make his move" on Severus, but Harry refused. He was still unsure as to whether or not Severus could get in any trouble.
After the Sorting at the feast, Albus stood to get everyone's attention. As usual, there was a sparkle in his eye.
"Another year begins," he announced. "I'd like to announce to everyone this year's Head Boy and Head Girl. Would Blaise Zabini and Hermione Granger please stand stand up?"
Hermione stood at the Gryffindor Table, and Blaise, one of the more reserved Slytherins, stood at his table. Both wore silver badges, but Hermione's face expressed her pride more than Blaise's did his. Everyone in the hall clapped politely, and Albus went on with the next announcement.
"After the events of last term, I thought that we could take some time this year to celebrate the downfall of Voldemort. Therefore, the staff and I have decided that we will have three school dances this year: a Costume Ball at Halloween, a Yule Ball for Christmas, and a Valentine Ball. However, these dances are for those students who are in fourth year and higher. First through third years, don't worry, for there will be activities for you to take part in as well. The details will be announced at a later time.
"And finally, I would like to welcome three new teachers. As our new Care of Magical Creatures teacher, we have Professor Charlie Weasley. Professor Remus Lupin has returned as our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and he would like to make a brief announcement."
Remus stood up from his seat and looked around the hall.
"For those of you who do not know, I am a werewolf. Rest assured, however, that precautions have been taken to ensure your safety during the full moon each month. If any of you, or your parents, have concerns, please speak with either myself or Headmaster Dumbledore."
Remus sat back down, and Albus spoke up again.
"Last, but certainly not least, Professor Sirius Black will be assisting Professor Lupin in teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, specifically when Professor Lupin is unable to come to class during the days before and after the full moon. And now, we may feast!"
~~~
After Harry finished eating, he went around to the back of the High Table and crouched down between his godfathers' chairs. Sirius and Remus turned to look at their godson.
"I just wanted to say good night," Harry told them, and he gave them each a kiss on the cheek.
"You know where our rooms are if you need us, love," Sirius told him, giving him a hug. Harry nodded.
"See you tomorrow at breakfast?" Remus asked.
"Probably," Harry replied. "Good night."
He gave them hugs, then made his way down to the end of the table, where Severus was sitting next to Charlie.
"Hi!" Harry greeted them.
"Hey, Harry!" Charlie exclaimed, reaching to give him a one-armed hug. "How're you doing, kid?"
"Fine, thanks," Harry replied. "I just came up to tell Sirius and Remus good night, so I thought I'd come and see you guys, too."
"What do you think of our choice for Head Boy?" Severus asked, smirking. "Everyone knew Granger would be Head Girl."
"Honestly, I thought it would be Draco," Harry replied. "But I'm glad it's Blaise. I like him; he deserves it." He changed the subject. "Well, I'm kind of tired, so I'm going to bed. Good night!"
He gave Charlie and Severus each a quick hug, then went up to Gryffindor Tower and into the seventh-year dormitories. Just as he finished changing into his pajamas, he heard the door open and close. Turning around, he saw that Seamus and Dean had entered the room, holding hands and talking quietly. When they noticed that Harry was in there, they grinned and waved.
"Have a nice summer, Harry?" Seamus asked.
"Didn't I tell you?" Dean said to his boyfriend. "He came into the restaurant a couple of weeks ago with Snape and Malfoy! How could he have had a nice summer?!" He turned to Harry. "You said you'd tell me about that when we got to school."
Harry smiled, shaking his head, as he carefully placed his uniform over his chair. He loved the guys in his dorm, he really did. They were like brothers to him.
"Actually, I had a mostly-good holiday, thanks," Harry told his friends. "I stayed with the Dursleys for most of July and was nearly killed by them, before Sev--Snape came to get me out. After staying in the hospital wing for several days, I moved down to Snape's quarters because Dumbledore didn't want me to go out on my own too much before I was completely healed. Shortly after I moved to the dungeons, Draco moved there as well, because his parents died, and Snape's his godfather.
"I kept on having flashbacks and nightmares about the abuse from the Dursleys, and Hermione and Madam Pomfrey found out I had a sickness called Ecilam. The treatment for that was quite painful, and I had to take a potion every for hours for nearly a week after that. I was supposed to testify at Sirius Black's trial, him being my godfather and all, but before Snape could intervene, I was given Veritaserum, which reacted very, very badly with the Ecilam Potion, and again, I almost died.
"So all in all, I had a great summer. Sure, I was sick and in a great deal of pain for the majority of it. But hey, I got to spend more time with people who loved me and cared about me than I have since my parents died."
At the end of Harry's tale, he found Seamus and Dean, and Neville as well, to be staring at him in utter shock. Ron was in the room, too, but he didn't look shocked at all, of course. Finally, Neville spoke up.
"But Harry...a month with Snape and Malfoy?"
"They're not really that bad, once they got over the fact that I'm not the kind of person they thought I was. Draco ended up kind of being like a brother to me, and Snape..." Harry gave a soft sigh. "Snape took care of me. He made sure I wasn't in too much pain, I got enough sleep, I ate enough, hell... When I had that Veritaserum-Ecilam reaction, he and Draco rushed me out of the courtroom and to Snape's lab so he could make the remedy potion, and God, they exhausted themselves, trying to keep me alive..."
"It's true," Ron admitted. "I came to visit the next day, and Snape and Malfoy were both out cold with exhaustion. It's surprising, and slightly disturbing, but I think they really do care for Harry."
All was silent for a moment, and then Harry gave his friends a forced, bright smile.
"Well, I'm quite tired, so I think I'll go to bed. Good night!"
~~~
Harry bolted upright in bed, tears and sweat streaming over his cheeks as he gasped for breath.
Not another nightmare, he sighed to himself.
He peered out of his curtains and looked around to see if he'd made any noise to wake anyone. Ron was sleeping soundly in his bed, and Neville snored in his. It seemed as though Dean and Seamus had opted to crash together, and they were curled up in one another's arms in Seamus's bed.
Harry looked at his alarm clock and saw that it was nearly one o'clock in the morning. He sighed and lay back down, but soon found that he was too shaken to go back to sleep.
I wish Draco were here. Or Severus... I could go to Severus's rooms. I shouldn't, but I could. It might make me feel better. I don't want to go back to sleep...
Finally, Harry carefully climbed out of bed, so as not to make any noise. He went to his trunk and opened it, kneeling down on the floor. After pulling out his Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map, he grabbed a scrap of parchment and a quill. He scribbled a note and left it on his pillow.
Ron,
I'm okay. I haven't been kidnapped or anything, so don't worry, in case I'm not back here when you wake up. I had a nightmare, and I don't want to go back to sleep, so I'm going for a walk or something. If it turns out I'm not back here by the time you get up, you probably know where I am. I'll see you at breakfast.
Harry
Harry then pulled the cloak over himself and the map and left Gryffindor Tower. He walked through the school, expertly dodging Mrs. Norris and Filch (though over the summer, he'd grown to quite like the man and vice versa; Filch probably wouldn't have given him any trouble). Eventually, Harry ended up in front of the portrait to Severus's suite. He whispered the password and quietly entered the room, pulling the cloak off.
Severus was sitting on the sofa, sipping at a goblet of wine and looking over his lesson plans. He hadn't even noticed Harry's entrance. Harry slowly made his way into the living room, draping his cloak on a chair, and then sat on the other end of the couch. Severus glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, then looked back at his plans.
"You're supposed to be in bed," he stated. "Not coming down here in the middle of the night. I should remove points." But I won't, if you have a good reason.
"I had a nightmare," Harry said, quietly, as he hugged his knees to his chest and watched Severus, who put his parchments on the coffee table.
"You can't come down here every time you have a nightmare," the other man said, firmly. "This can't become a habit. We're back in school now, and you need to remember the difference between 'teacher' and 'friend.' I'm not going to change my teaching methods just because we became close over the summer, so I can't treat you like a friend in class."
Harry sighed and lay down with his head in Severus's lap. Severus instinctively began to run the fingers of his free hand through the younger wizard's hair. It had become their little ritual of sorts every time Harry was upset.
"I woke up, and I was crying and sweating, and I couldn't breathe," Harry said, his voice barely a whisper. "And Draco wasn't there to calm me down and help me go back to sleep, and I was too scared to go back to sleep... Please, can I stay down here? Just for tonight?"
Severus sighed inwardly and didn't answer for a moment as he thought to himself.
I really shouldn't let him. I'm his teacher now, and it wouldn't be right to let him stay in my rooms. But he's upset, and I don't like for him to be upset... Oh, why didn't he just go to his godfathers' and save me from this debate?
Finally, Severus sighed again when he realized that Harry was shaking like a leaf. He gently tapped him on the head, as the sign to get up, and they both stood. Severus rested a hand on Harry's shoulder and lifted his chin with the other hand, so that he could look into the younger man's eyes.
"Just for tonight," Severus said, firmly. "Like I said, this can't become a habit. If people find out you're staying in my rooms every night..." He sighed, shaking his head. "The Hogwarts Rumor Mill would go crazy." Thought I wouldn't mind if the rumors were true. "Go, get in your bed. I'll be there in a minute."
Harry obeyed, and when Severus came into the bedroom, Harry was curled up in his bed, under the blankets, and clutching his teddy bear. Severus sat next to Harry on the bed, raising an eyebrow at the bear. Harry smiled sheepishly.
"I forgot it when I packed my stuff."
"What was your nightmare about?" Severus asked, softly. Harry looked down at the blanket, absently picking at an invisible thread.
"I don't really remember," he replied, quietly. "I haven't been able to remember much of my bad dreams lately, but I know that they're bad by how I wake up."
"Well, hopefully, you won't have another one," Severus said, standing up. He headed for the door. "I'll be right across the hall if you need anything." With that, he flipped a magical lightswitch, and the candles in the room went out.
Immediately, Harry felt an overwhelming panic in his chest, and he suddenly let out a terror-filled shriek.
"Turn on the lights, turn on the lights!" he begged, gasping for breath as tears dripped from his eyes.
Severus had been out of the room, but as soon as he heard Harry scream, he rushed back in and put all the candles back on. He found Harry curled up on the bed, his face pale and tear-streaked as he rocked back and forth. His breath was coming out in short, erratic gasps, and his eyes were squeezed shut. Severus saw the younger man's lips moving slightly, and as he moved closer, he could make out what he was saying.
"Seven...eight...nine..." Harry was whispering.
Severus quickly sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around Harry, breaking him out of his daze. Harry then proceeded to bury his face in Severus's chest, trying to breathe properly.
"Shh, Harry, it's okay," Severus murmured.
He Summoned a Calming Potion and helped Harry to drink a little bit before just holding him. Harry crawled into Severus's lap as he stopped trembling and began to breathe more easily. Severus gently rubbed his back, deciding not to say anything until Harry spoke. Finally, he did.
"Don't like dark," Harry whispered. "It was dark in the cupboard... They took the light out..." He took a deep, shaky breath. "Draco... He always kept two candles on for me..." Severus nodded in understanding.
"Harry," he said, softly, after a moment. Harry slowly looked up at him. "Why were you counting? Draco said you did it when you had the flashback at Hagrid's, too."
"It was a game..." Harry murmured, emotionlessly. "To pass time... I called it 'How High Can I Count Before I Pass Out?' Don't think I ever made it past twenty-nine..." There was a pause, and then Severus spoke again.
"Would you like for me to sleep in here tonight? I can sleep in Draco's bed."
Sure, we'll be in the same room, but I just don't want him to be alone. Any other teacher would do the same thing, if they were in my place. Then again, no other teacher would be in my place.
"Would you?" Harry asked in a small voice. Severus nodded. "Thank you."
"I'm just going to go and change, but I'll be back in a minute."
True to his word, Severus returned in one minute, dressed in his nightclothes. He turned out all but two of the candles and lay down in Draco's bed.
"Good night, Harry," Severus said, softly.
"Good night, Sev..." Harry murmured.
Severus just watched him fall asleep for a few moments.
God, Harry, I want to kill them for what they did to you...
