5. The Nightmare After Christmas
A/N: The title is a spoof of Tim Burton's 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Thanks to Cielita for letting me bounce ideas off her.
A cry from Harry's room woke Minerva and she lay still for a moment, confused. She wasn't in her bed and she wasn't alone. Clearing the sleep from her mind, she looked at her sleeping companion and felt heat rush to her face. She and Albus had managed to fall asleep together on the couch in her sitting room. Another cry reminded Minerva why she'd awakened in the first place and she hurried to disentangle herself from Albus without waking him. This proved to be a futile endeavor because he woke up anyway. "Minerva?"
"Shh, Albus," she whispered, finally gaining her feet. "Go back to sleep."
A third cry woke him fully. "Is that Harry?"
"Yes, Albus," she replied, already crossing to Harry's room.
He was by her side in less than a second and they entered the boy's room together to find him tossing and turning feverishly in the bed. It was obvious he was distressed and Minerva wasted no time gathering him to her. "Lumos."
"Thank you, Albus." Minerva smiled at him as the light fixtures emitted just enough light to see by.
He sat down beside her as she attempted to calm Harry, who was still caught in his nightmare. "You're welcome, Minerva."
"Shh, Harry-lad, shh," Minerva whispered, her attention now focused on the boy in her arms. "It's a dream, it's just a dream."
She sat and rocked Harry, trying to calm him and wake him at the same time. Albus helped by rubbing Harry's back in soothing circles and humming like a bumblebee. After a while, Harry slowly stilled and grew calm. "Mum?"
"I'm here, Harry-lad," she murmured, loosening her grip so he could sit back.
He looked over at Albus next. "What are you doing here, Mr. Albus?"
"I was with your mother when she heard you cry out," Albus replied, his voice gentle.
Harry nodded, scrubbing at his face, which appeared to be rather damp. Minerva produced her handkerchief and offered it to Harry. "Thanks, Mum."
"You're welcome, Harry-lad." She waited until he'd mopped his face. "Do you want to talk about your nightmare?"
He shook his head, cuddling close to Minerva. "No."
"All right, I won't push, but remember that I'll always listen, Harry-lad," Minerva whispered, resting her cheek against the top of the boy's head as she slowly rocked him. "Always."
Harry sighed deeply as he relaxed against Minerva. "I know, Mum. I know."
"Good." She kissed the top of his head. "Do you think you can go to sleep now?"
He shrugged. "Maybe."
"Are you afraid you'll have the nightmare again?" Albus asked quietly.
Harry nodded, his body tensing. "Mum, can I sleep with you?"
"Of course, Harry-lad," Minerva replied, holding him as she stood up.
He relaxed once more as she carried him into her own room, done in deep crimson with oak furniture. "Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia always sent me back to my cupboard if I asked."
"I'll never do that, Harry-lad," she assured him as she carried him over to the huge four-poster bed and put him on it. "For one thing, you don't have a cupboard here."
He giggled as Albus, who'd followed them, handed his teddy bear to him. "Thanks, Mr. Albus."
"Albus, would you mind helping Harry get settled while I change?" Minerva asked, feeling her cheeks heat up.
Albus nodded, pulling the covers back for Harry. "Of course, Minerva."
Slipping into the bathroom, she wasted no time changing out of the crimson robes she'd worn in honor of the holiday and into the emerald green nightgown she'd grabbed. It wasn't until she was splashing water on her face that she realized she'd forgotten something: her dressing gown. Come off it, Minerva, he's your best friend! The pep talk administered, she stepped out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.
Harry slipped under the crimson covers and pulled them up to his chin, cuddling his teddy bear to him. "Mr. Albus?"
"Yes, Harry?" Albus asked as he smoothed the covers around the boy.
After a few moments' hesitation, Harry asked, "Do you like Mum?"
"She's a very good friend of mine," Albus replied after deliberating how he should answer the boy's question.
Harry shook his head. "No, do you like her the way Daddy liked Mummy?"
"Oh." Albus considered the question. Did he like Minerva the way a husband should love his wife?
Before he could ponder the question fully, Minerva emerged from the bathroom and he could only stare. She wore an emerald green silk nightgown trimmed with matching lace along the hem, neckline, and cap sleeves. The silk clung to every curve and Albus was left speechless. "Wow, Mum!"
"Thank you, Harry-lad," Minerva approached the bed, her cheeks pink.
Albus hastily rose from the bed. "M'lady?"
"Thank you, Albus." Minerva let him help her into bed and Harry immediately cuddled against her.
He tucked the covers around the two and kissed Harry's forehead and Minerva's cheek. "Good night, sleep well."
"G'night," Harry mumbled, his head pillowed on Minerva's shoulder.
Minerva gestured for Albus to lean closer and, when he did, she kissed his cheek. "Good night, Albus."
A wave of Albus' hand turned out all the lights except one. He returned to his rooms via the door in Harry's room and went to bed himself. He didn't fall asleep for several hours, pondering Harry's question all the while.
Minerva lay awake long after Albus had left, her cheek tingling where he'd kissed it. There'd been a look in his eyes that she couldn't quite identify and it had set her heart pounding. She didn't know what would have happened if Harry hadn't reminded her that he was there. She sighed and her arms tightened around the little boy in her arms. No matter what, he was her first priority now. She was not going to fail him like she'd failed his parents. With that resolve running through her mind, she finally fell asleep.
He woke to find himself snuggled against someone, his teddy bear between them. Opening his eyes, he sighed in relief when he saw that he was with his mum. She was sleeping peacefully for the moment and he pondered whether he should leave or stay put. That was when he realized he needed to go to the bathroom. Grimacing, he carefully extricated himself from the bed and padded into the bathroom. When he emerged several minutes later, Mum was sitting up in bed, waiting for him. "Good morning, Harry-lad."
"Morning, Mum." Harry padded over to the bed and climbed up.
She pulled him to her, kissing the top of his head. "Did you sleep better?"
"Yep." He nodded, snuggling into her comforting warmth. "No more bad dreams."
She rocked him silently for a few minutes before asking softly, "Are you ready to talk about it now?"
"I'm not sure." For some reason, he didn't feel right talking about it without Mr. Albus.
She didn't stop rocking him, her cheek resting against the top of his head. "It's up to you, Harry-lad."
"I know." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Where's Mr. Albus?"
He felt her body tense for barely a second before relaxing. "In his own room, of course."
"Do you like him, Mum?" he asked, leaning back enough to look up at her.
She ruffled his hair, smiling. "Of course, Harry-lad. We've been friends for years."
"Not like that." He shook his head. "I mean the way Mummy liked Daddy."
She blinked and stared at him. He wondered if he'd said something wrong and dropped his head to hide the tears that had sprung to his eyes. She quickly hugged him. "Don't worry, Harry-lad, you just surprised me."
"So Harry can surprise you as well, can he?" Mr. Albus' amused voice startled both of them into looking around.
He stood in the doorway, wearing a woolly purple and gold dressing gown. "Albus!"
"Mr. Albus!" Harry bolted from the bed and greeted him with a hug while his mother scrambled for her dressing gown.
Mr. Albus chuckled as he hugged the boy back. "Good morning, m'boy, Minerva."
"Albus," Harry's mum returned the greeting, tying the belt of her dressing gown tightly. "What brings you here?"
Mr. Albus picked Harry up before replying, "I came to see how Harry's doing after his nightmare last night."
"I'm fine, Mr. Albus," Harry chirped, resting his head on the man's shoulder. "Didn't have another one!"
Mr. Albus swung the boy around so they were face-to-face. "Really? Well, now, that's excellent news!"
"Yes, it is," Mum added, walking over to kiss Mr. Albus' cheek.
Harry noticed that Mr. Albus' smile brightened as he kissed Mum's cheek. "Can I tell you about it now, Mum?"
"Of course, Harry-lad," Mum answered, her cheeks pinker than before. "Let's sit down."
The three of them settled on the sofa in front of the fire, Harry comfortably ensconced between the two adults. "Whenever you're ready, m'boy."
"I dreamt that I was back with the Dursleys," Harry told him after a long moment spent gathering his courage. "You'd taken me back there and told me to 'stay here and rot'."
Unable to say anything past the lump in his throat, Harry fell silent. That was his worst fear, that they would grow tired of him and send him back. Mum was the first to react, gathering Harry into a warm hug. "Never, Harry-lad. We'll never send you back."
"Promise?" Harry asked, his voice thick with the tears that wanted to fall.
Mum kissed his forehead, right on the odd scar he'd had for as long as he could remember. "I promise, Harry-lad."
"I'm sorry I sent you there in the first place, m'boy," Mr. Albus added, his voice grave and somber.
Harry twisted to look at him. "You didn't know, Mr. Albus."
"Albus, we've discussed this already." Mum's voice was brisk, but she never stopped rubbing Harry's back soothingly. "You're not all-powerful, all-seeing. You're a man, but our world insists on making you out to be so much more than that."
Harry looked from one to the other. "What's that mean, Mr. Albus?"
"It means, Harry-lad, that Mr. Albus is beginning to believe his own publicity." Mum's voice had softened now.
He was still confused and he said so. "Mum? I still don't understand."
"You will when you're older, Harry-lad," Mum told him softly.
Harry was skeptical, but let it be, turning his attention to Mr. Albus. "Don't be sad, Mr. Albus. I'm fine now."
"I know, m'boy, I know." Mr. Albus smiled when Harry scrambled from Mum's lap to his, giving him a hug.
Moments later, Mum joined in, hugging both of them.