Thankyou to Sinner's Angel, Ms. Padfoot, Barbara, noraseyes, luna699,
angeL_1215, ilo star, JerseyGirl03, RaistlinofMetallica, Melissa Lupin,
Moonlight, Morgana and Mikee for reviewing!
*A short chapter I know! Sorry guys!*
A Different Life
Chapter 15 - Bad Dreams
At the start of the year Severus normally ended up locking himself in his rooms so he could grade papers. There was always a lot too do when everyone came back because everyone had their holiday homework to hand up, well except the 1st years. Severus was always stressed out, all the teachers were. It takes a bit to adjust back into your old routine.
Harry knew that he was supposed to be in his room but he was so bored there. He had read every book there and he figured that Severus wouldn't mind too much if he were to go to the library and find a couple more to read.
He was about to turn the corner when he heard two familiar voices talking. He froze.
One half of him was screaming to get out of there, yet the other half was curious as too what they would be talking about. After a couple of minutes of inner debating, the curious side won and Harry slowly crept towards Severus and Dumbledore.
He hid behind a statue that was close enough to hear what they were saying, but far enough away to run if he was spotted. He tried to stick to the shadows.
He could see Severus leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
Dumbledore stood opposite him and they were talking in low hushed voices.
*****************************************
"It's just with Lupin gone now, well I see Harry a lot more then before..." Severus said, and then quickly continuing before Dumbledore could reply. "Not that that is a bad thing of course... but I am not used to having so little free time. Normally Harry's time is split up between Lupin and I, along with seeing a couple of other professors. And in the holidays its different because I have really no work to do, so its okay... but I'm having to stay up a lot longer then I'm happy with just to set up for classes and grade papers. I'm always feeling exhausted and it's only the second week! What do you think I should do?"
Dumbledore looked deeply at the man in front of him, he did look very tired.
"I could look after him for a while each night, I would love too. Though I can't assure him that it will be that fun, I could give him some things to do to occupy him."
"That would be great, I mean don't get me wrong I-I..." Severus seemed not to know the right words.
"Love him?" Albus asked teasingly, a silly smile lighting up his face
"Albus, your not helping" Severus said in a warning tone.
"It's just that I have a lot of work to do and sometimes I don't know what to do with him. I don't like the thought of him wondering around by himself, and I don't trust any of the students to look after him, even those Weasleys, they all attract trouble."
"I did say when I asked you to take in Harry that you would not be alone in this, and you aren't."
"I would ask Ron to come over more often to keep Harry company, since Harry is so fond of him, but that would just be another person to look after, and they seem to find themselves in a lot of trouble when they are together."
Dumbledore smiled
"Well you can tell Harry to come to my office after dinner tomorrow."
*****************************
Harry could hear them starting to walk off in the other direction and didn't dare follow.
He didn't know whether to be upset or what. Severus was trying to get rid of him.
But Harry had noticed that Severus did seem a lot more tired and stressed out. Maybe this was for the best.
Harry quickly headed back to his room, completely forgetting about going to the library.
He made a promise to himself, not to put any extra stress onto Severus, no matter what.
**************************************
A week later Harry's promise was put to the test, he was sleeping restlessly, having a terrible nightmare. He could see his uncle hitting him repeatedly. He could vaguely remember it happening to him when he was 4 years old.
Every time he saw his uncle's hand make contact with him Harry winced, remembering how much that had hurt. Tears were rolling down his face, wanting the dream or whatever it was to end.
After seeing his uncle roughly shove him into the cupboard, signalling the end of the beating for that night, Harry awoke, sitting right up in his bed and breathing heavily. His sheets were all on the floor and he was soaked in sweat. His first instinct was to go to Severus, but a second thought stopped him. He couldn't put do that to Severus, he was already stressed enough, let alone dealing with Harry's problems as well.
Harry kept telling himself 'It was just a dream' over and over again, trying to calm himself.
After about 15 minutes Harry had calmed down enough to try to get back to sleep, but it never came.
*****************************************
Once Christmas time arrived Harry was glad to have a break from his school work. As much as he loved learning new things, he was having problems. Every other night he was having nightmares and always woke up in cold sweats. Most of them were about the Dursleys, he would remember a certain beating he got there, but some he couldn't seem to be able to remember. And he was always having headaches. But he so far had been able to keep it all from Severus. He had put enough problems onto him and he didn't want to add to the list.
But he was happy to say that he had kept his promise to Severus so far. He hadn't been alone once with Professor Quirrell, though it had sometimes been hard, since he did a lot of work in the staff room. A few times he just ran out of the room he was in to avoid being alone with him.
Severus had been helping him with DADA since Harry couldn't go to the lessons to learn. But he didn't get to work on it much since Severus didn't have a lot of time to keep teaching him it.
Spending time with Dumbledore was a lot of fun for Harry, he was told stories not only about his parents, but also about Severus when he was growing up. And when Dumbledore was too busy to tell stories, Harry was free to explore his office, and Harry had been able to find a lot of interesting things that he had never seen before there.
Harry still kept in good touch with Remus. Remus hadn't had a clue why Severus would be acting the way he was towards Professor Quirrell but he had said that when he came back he would ask Severus.
But right now it was 3 o'clock in the morning and Harry was desperately trying to stay awake. He woke up a little while ago from a nightmare which he could vaguely remember happening to him, just another beating from his uncle. As bad as it was to live through it, it was just as bad to have to watch it all over again.
But Harry knew he was losing the battle, his eyes were drooping and it was getting harder and harder to try and open them again.
Soon he was in another fitful sleep. Dreaming of a past that he wished he could forget.
*************************************
Severus had noticed that something was off with Harry. He didn't seem to be as happy as he usually was. The smiles were getting few and far between, sleep was always under his eyes and he was always unusually quiet most of the time.
It wasn't until Christmas Eve that Severus got his answer. He awoke to screaming, immediately thinking the worse, he ran into Harry's room, wand pointed out, ready to attack.
What met his eyes was Harry thrashing on his bed, still asleep. His bed sheets all on the ground looking like they had been thrown off.
Harry was screaming like he was in pain, lashing out. Sweat was all over his face.
Severus ran over to Harry, shaking him and trying to wake him up from the nightmare he seemed to be having.
*************************************
2 hours earlier...
Harry tried his nightly routine of trying to stay awake, knowing that it was only a matter of time before he fell asleep. He was getting used to seeing the beatings every night.
Soon after, he hit his pillow, already asleep, little did he know that this night would be different from all his other dreams.
*A short chapter I know! Sorry guys!*
A Different Life
Chapter 15 - Bad Dreams
At the start of the year Severus normally ended up locking himself in his rooms so he could grade papers. There was always a lot too do when everyone came back because everyone had their holiday homework to hand up, well except the 1st years. Severus was always stressed out, all the teachers were. It takes a bit to adjust back into your old routine.
Harry knew that he was supposed to be in his room but he was so bored there. He had read every book there and he figured that Severus wouldn't mind too much if he were to go to the library and find a couple more to read.
He was about to turn the corner when he heard two familiar voices talking. He froze.
One half of him was screaming to get out of there, yet the other half was curious as too what they would be talking about. After a couple of minutes of inner debating, the curious side won and Harry slowly crept towards Severus and Dumbledore.
He hid behind a statue that was close enough to hear what they were saying, but far enough away to run if he was spotted. He tried to stick to the shadows.
He could see Severus leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
Dumbledore stood opposite him and they were talking in low hushed voices.
*****************************************
"It's just with Lupin gone now, well I see Harry a lot more then before..." Severus said, and then quickly continuing before Dumbledore could reply. "Not that that is a bad thing of course... but I am not used to having so little free time. Normally Harry's time is split up between Lupin and I, along with seeing a couple of other professors. And in the holidays its different because I have really no work to do, so its okay... but I'm having to stay up a lot longer then I'm happy with just to set up for classes and grade papers. I'm always feeling exhausted and it's only the second week! What do you think I should do?"
Dumbledore looked deeply at the man in front of him, he did look very tired.
"I could look after him for a while each night, I would love too. Though I can't assure him that it will be that fun, I could give him some things to do to occupy him."
"That would be great, I mean don't get me wrong I-I..." Severus seemed not to know the right words.
"Love him?" Albus asked teasingly, a silly smile lighting up his face
"Albus, your not helping" Severus said in a warning tone.
"It's just that I have a lot of work to do and sometimes I don't know what to do with him. I don't like the thought of him wondering around by himself, and I don't trust any of the students to look after him, even those Weasleys, they all attract trouble."
"I did say when I asked you to take in Harry that you would not be alone in this, and you aren't."
"I would ask Ron to come over more often to keep Harry company, since Harry is so fond of him, but that would just be another person to look after, and they seem to find themselves in a lot of trouble when they are together."
Dumbledore smiled
"Well you can tell Harry to come to my office after dinner tomorrow."
*****************************
Harry could hear them starting to walk off in the other direction and didn't dare follow.
He didn't know whether to be upset or what. Severus was trying to get rid of him.
But Harry had noticed that Severus did seem a lot more tired and stressed out. Maybe this was for the best.
Harry quickly headed back to his room, completely forgetting about going to the library.
He made a promise to himself, not to put any extra stress onto Severus, no matter what.
**************************************
A week later Harry's promise was put to the test, he was sleeping restlessly, having a terrible nightmare. He could see his uncle hitting him repeatedly. He could vaguely remember it happening to him when he was 4 years old.
Every time he saw his uncle's hand make contact with him Harry winced, remembering how much that had hurt. Tears were rolling down his face, wanting the dream or whatever it was to end.
After seeing his uncle roughly shove him into the cupboard, signalling the end of the beating for that night, Harry awoke, sitting right up in his bed and breathing heavily. His sheets were all on the floor and he was soaked in sweat. His first instinct was to go to Severus, but a second thought stopped him. He couldn't put do that to Severus, he was already stressed enough, let alone dealing with Harry's problems as well.
Harry kept telling himself 'It was just a dream' over and over again, trying to calm himself.
After about 15 minutes Harry had calmed down enough to try to get back to sleep, but it never came.
*****************************************
Once Christmas time arrived Harry was glad to have a break from his school work. As much as he loved learning new things, he was having problems. Every other night he was having nightmares and always woke up in cold sweats. Most of them were about the Dursleys, he would remember a certain beating he got there, but some he couldn't seem to be able to remember. And he was always having headaches. But he so far had been able to keep it all from Severus. He had put enough problems onto him and he didn't want to add to the list.
But he was happy to say that he had kept his promise to Severus so far. He hadn't been alone once with Professor Quirrell, though it had sometimes been hard, since he did a lot of work in the staff room. A few times he just ran out of the room he was in to avoid being alone with him.
Severus had been helping him with DADA since Harry couldn't go to the lessons to learn. But he didn't get to work on it much since Severus didn't have a lot of time to keep teaching him it.
Spending time with Dumbledore was a lot of fun for Harry, he was told stories not only about his parents, but also about Severus when he was growing up. And when Dumbledore was too busy to tell stories, Harry was free to explore his office, and Harry had been able to find a lot of interesting things that he had never seen before there.
Harry still kept in good touch with Remus. Remus hadn't had a clue why Severus would be acting the way he was towards Professor Quirrell but he had said that when he came back he would ask Severus.
But right now it was 3 o'clock in the morning and Harry was desperately trying to stay awake. He woke up a little while ago from a nightmare which he could vaguely remember happening to him, just another beating from his uncle. As bad as it was to live through it, it was just as bad to have to watch it all over again.
But Harry knew he was losing the battle, his eyes were drooping and it was getting harder and harder to try and open them again.
Soon he was in another fitful sleep. Dreaming of a past that he wished he could forget.
*************************************
Severus had noticed that something was off with Harry. He didn't seem to be as happy as he usually was. The smiles were getting few and far between, sleep was always under his eyes and he was always unusually quiet most of the time.
It wasn't until Christmas Eve that Severus got his answer. He awoke to screaming, immediately thinking the worse, he ran into Harry's room, wand pointed out, ready to attack.
What met his eyes was Harry thrashing on his bed, still asleep. His bed sheets all on the ground looking like they had been thrown off.
Harry was screaming like he was in pain, lashing out. Sweat was all over his face.
Severus ran over to Harry, shaking him and trying to wake him up from the nightmare he seemed to be having.
*************************************
2 hours earlier...
Harry tried his nightly routine of trying to stay awake, knowing that it was only a matter of time before he fell asleep. He was getting used to seeing the beatings every night.
Soon after, he hit his pillow, already asleep, little did he know that this night would be different from all his other dreams.