Warning: Mushiness ahead!
Chapter 6
Dinner was incredible. His mum's cooking is hundred times more delicious than the House Elves's and Harry eats until he feels sick.
Sirius and James had laughed seeing Harry's greenish face. Lilly looked at her son with concern and ordered him to stop eating. Too bad, because the dessert was Tiramisu. Harry groaned. And everyone laughed.
Now, Harry is sitting contently on a sofa, watching his dad plays chess against Sirius who is clearly oblivious to the fact that he will be checked in few more moves. Harry smiles. Sirius certainly doesn't have a tenth of Ron's skill.
Ron. How he misses him. Harry sighs. Is Ron okay now? Is he still grieving? Or is he celebrating their freedom from a dark lord's clutch, forgetting Harry who has sacrificed his life to kill Voldemort?
Harry thinks that it is better for Ron to celebrate with the rest of Wizarding World and be merry. Yet, deep down Harry wants his friends to grieve for him, to remember him, and to feel sad because Harry isn't with them anymore.
"Brooding?" Harry looks to his side and sees that Severus sits down beside him.
Harry nods, feeling a bit loss of how to respond to nice!Snape. His former professor's attitude has changed a lot since he saw him in this afterlife. He is a lot nicer. Severus doesn't scowl, or say anything scathing.
"What have you been thinking, if I may ask?" Severus says.
"I am just wondering of how my friends are doing now," Harry replies sadly.
"I see."
They sit in companionable silence for a while, sipping hot chocolate Lilly has given them, and watching Sirius and James with amusement. Lilly herself has resigned to bed earlier, saying that she feels tired. Remus is nowhere to be seen. Harry wonders of where his former professor is going in this night. As if answering Harry's question, Remus enters the house not long after that.
"Where have you been?" ask James.
"Outside. Watching the full moon." Remus smiles. He looks so joyful. It is to be expected, Harry thinks, after spending almost his entire life fearing the full moon, now he can enjoy it without fear. Remus must be very happy to be free of his lycanthropy, but I still have my nightmares, Harry thinks. He is very tired and sleepy; it is past midnight already, but he dreads sleeping.
James' rook smashed Sirius' last bishop to pieces. Sirius yawns. "Let's continue tomorrow," he says.
James chuckles. "You only say that because you'll lose soon."
"I won't," Sirius protests indignantly.
"You will," retorts James.
"I won't!"
"You will!"
"I'll win!"
"You will! No! I mean you won't!" And everyone sans Snape bursts into laughter; the former professor merely rolls his eyes at their childish behavior.
********
Harry looks around the room anxiously. His room is very big, and so is the bed. Although there are some candles and a hearth to light the room, it is still too dark for Harry's liking. And the dancing flames makes creepy shadows everywhere. Some of them look like the black robes that was usually worn by Voldemort. Harry starts to tremble.
"Harry?" A voice calls him, causing him almost falls out of bed in surprise.
Harry looks at the already opened door and sees Sirius and Remus standing there wearing pajamas. He exhales in relief. "You frightened me," he says.
"Sorry kiddo," Sirius says. He yawns and sits on the bed besides Harry. "Move a little," he says.
"What?" Harry asks, confused.
"Remus and I will sleep here tonight."
"Why?"
Remus smiles. "Little kids like to climb to their parents' bed when they're having nightmares. So, Siri thinks it will be a good idea if we sleep with you tonight."
"But I am not a kid anymore," Harry says, rather indignantly, although inwardly he thanks every God in heaven that he won't have to sleep alone.
"I know, and we're not your parents either. But we think you won't want to be alone, at least not tonight. And you're not too familiar with James and Lilly yet, so…" Remus shrugs. "We'll go if you don't want to," he adds.
"No! Don't go," Harry replies quickly. "I mean…. I mean… yeah, I think it will be nice."
"Yep. And tonight, we're gonna have a *lot* of fun." Sirius grins mischievously. "Pillow fight begins!" he announces and hits Harry with a pillow.
***************
Not long after they began their pillow fight, Severus opens the door to tell them to shut up because he is trying to get some sleep. Unfortunately for him, a pillow which is intended for Remus flies out from Sirius' grasp and strike Severus on the face and explodes. Luckily, Severus isn't knocked out by the "death blow".
"Honestly, Black," Severus says in a very annoyed tone. "You're the most infantile person I've ever met." He pulls out a white feather from the corner of his mouth and sighs exasperatedly. Sirius, Remus, and Harry are laughing hysterically at the sight of the stern Potion Master clad in black pajamas with white feathers all around him.
Sirius grabs a pillow and tosses it to Severus again.
Who becomes so furious that he throws back the pillow to his former nemesis.
**************
Somehow four of them end up falling asleep on the large bed, in the midst of white feathers and exploded pillows, their limbs entangled to one another's.
*************
Harry wakes up with a start. Nightmare again, though it wasn't too bad. But Harry knows that he won't be able to sleep again. Carefully, he moves Sirius' arm from his chest and slides down from the bed.
He drinks some water and curls on the couch near the hearth, hugging his knees.
The couch dips a little and Harry turns to see Severus sit beside him.
"Can't sleep?" he asks softly, as not to awaken the two occupants of the bed.
Harry nods.
"Nightmare?"
Harry nods again.
"I had one too," Severus says.
"About what?" Harry whispers.
"Voldemort," Severus answers, not revealing that he has dreamt about *Harry's* torture in the hand of the monster and not his own gruesome experiences. "You?"
"The same," Harry says, shivering slightly.
"Was it that bad? The dream, I mean."
"No. Not as bad as before." Harry thinks this is the most bizarre experience; talking about nightmares with Severus Snape, of all people. Severus isn't particularly nasty anymore, not since Harry's 5th year, but not nasty doesn't equal nice and thoughtful, not like this. However, Harry will not complain for this change of demeanor from his former stern teacher.
"What did you dream tonight?" Severus probes more.
"Well, I dreamed… I dreamed… about the time when…when Voldemort cast Avada Kedavra at Cedric… and when Malfoy was about to kill you. I wanted to stop him, but I couldn't… I couldn't…, then… Malfoy… he waved his wand. And I woke up," Harry says, not noticing two streams of tears flowing down from his eyes.
Severus brushes the tears away with his thumb, astonishing Harry with the tenderness of the gesture. "I am here now, aren't I?" he says.
Harry nods again.
Severus scoots over to his young love and wraps an arm around Harry's shoulder carefully, not wanting to invoke any terrible memories or forcing him to accept the gesture. To his immense relief and joy, Harry doesn't flinch. Instead he lies his head on Severus' shoulder while sobbing quietly.
"Shh…," Severus whispers as kindly as he can, holding Harry with his two arms. "Everything will be fine now," he says. "I will never leave you again, Harry. Never. Never…"
Harry cries himself into sleep on Severus' shoulder. The older wizard keeps holding him tight, murmuring soothing words to his ears until Severus too fall asleep, his chin on Harry's soft black hair.
(tbc)
*************
Next chapter: Harry meets the Guardian.
A lot of thanks to Pandora for beta read this. *hugs you*
And to all readers and reviewers! *hugs all of you*
