~*Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling deserves all credit*~
When Nightmares Are A Good Thing
Chapter9: Farewell to familiar surroundings
When morning dawned, Harry Potter awoke fully aware of the pain his body was in. His head still throbbed with the after affects of his nightmare and alcohol, the welts and cuts on his back stung sharply from being lain on long after the numbing had dissipated, and his stomach seemed to be pulsating with spasms for some odd reason, unknown to him.
Harry completely skipped over the fact that he hadn't eaten practically anything over a large amount of time, seeing as he had been forced to do that to some extent as a child, as the cause for his abdomen discomfort. The teenage boy decided, instead, that the combination of aspirin, alcohol, pain numbing and dreamless sleep potions, and nightmares did NOT fare well together. In some aspects, he was right.
The boy allowed himself to lay in bed for an hour thinking perhaps the pain would pass, seeing as he did not want to take any more potions or medicines for many reasons. The first being he didn't want to be addicted to anything and the second being that was why he assumed he felt this way to begin with.
After a while he forced himself up and conjured his coffee (or rather the ingredients, waiting to be assembled) to drink before going about his typical morning.
Though his movements were slow, Harry did make it through his morning. He had brushed up on his potions book again to see what sorts of potions were addictive and which would not mix well with others. The pain numbing, he discovered, was not addictive but the copious amounts of aconite that were in it always reacted badly with any type of potion containing nightshade, the main component in dreamless sleep.
Following the uncovering of his potions mistake, Harry focused on memorizing defensive and offensive spells and curses from the DADA book he had received from Sirius and Remus for Christmas the past year. Some of them he was already familiar with, as he had taught them to the DA, but there a few the he felt were worth memorizing just in case.
Finally, Harry came across the incantation for the binding spell he had seen used by Dumbledore to keep the death eaters from fleeing the DoM. A little bit of practice was clearly required. Harry could cast the spell, efficiently stopping the book and pillow on his bed from apparating, but Harry was in a fix as to see whether or not it would stop a wizard from doing magic. He could try it on himself, but wouldn't wandless magic disable anyone's anti- apparation/magic bind? If so, he could prove nothing. Also, what if he COULDN'T undo the spell. He could just hear himself explaining to Fudge and the Order now...
"Honestly, it was accident! I just got spooked and thought I was death eater trying to capture myself so I cast a binding spell to stop myself from escaping! See, I've turned myself in, even thought I'm NOT a death eater!"
The imagery of that scene was almost enough to make Harry laugh before picking undoing the spell and retrieving his book for some more studying.
The sound of a plate being shoved through the flap in his door demanded Harry's attention. As soon as he jerked his head up, Harry realized how sore his muscles were from one thing or another. Reading with his head down had not helped any. Therefore, he decided a hot shower was in order. He hadn't even noticed, until then, that it had been about a week since he'd bathed.
Harry turned the doorknob to find the many locks on his room were all unlocked. He trudged down the hall to the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
Fifteen minuets later the green-eyed child was relaxing under the crystal droplets of water, mesmerized as they crashed onto his skin only to dance while they slid down his body.
When he reached up to wash his hair he was startled to feel something prickly scratch across the sensitive skin that covered the back of his hand.
"Perhaps I ought to shave when I-"
His thoughts were cut short when a shrill scream was heard from downstairs. Without a second thought, Harry shut off the water, grabbed a towel and ran out of the bathroom with his wand in hand and at the ready.
Using one hand he struggled to hold the towel around his waist as he ran down the hall, all the time thinking the worst.
In record time, Harry reached the top landing of the stairs and skidded to a stop, wand arm outstretched with his beloved wand level with his throat but pointing down in the direction of the sitting room.
A moment's glance was enough to utterly relieve Harry of the ill situation he had imagined. There below him, was his Aunt Petunia lying on the ground frozen with the leg-locking curse, with Mad Eye Moody standing over her. Near him stood Remus Lupin and Tonks.
Harry raised an eyebrow in question and was rewarded with the growled reply; "She was making a right racket when she answered the door, that one there!" from Moody.
Sighing in relief that death eaters weren't outwardly invading him, the teenaged wizard thought it best to make sure they were who they appeared to be.
Keeping his wand in position, he tuned his attention to Remus Lupin.
"Um, Professor Lupin, may I ask you what type of creature you had in your office third year during a discussion we had during a Hogsmede trip?"
A weary grazed the worn man's face as he considered the question.
"Ah. I believe you would be referring to the grindylow. Or could you be implying the Bogart that I kept for our ...patronizing "study" sessions?"
Harry tilted his head in doubt. Perhaps he should ask another question to be on the safe side. "The grindylow. We were interrupted that day. Who was it and what did they want?"
The smile grew as Remus Lupin answered, with a hesitation. "That would be Severus, who was bringing me my goblet of wolfs bane potion."
In acceptance, Harry nodded his head. He glanced over at Tonks, who was staring at him with her mouth partly open. Moody, whose magical eye was inspecting the house for potential dangers, had his normal eye locked on Harry's face.
"Professor Lupin, are they who they appear to be?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry, they are Moody, Tonks, and Severus."
It was then Harry saw his potions professor step out of the shadows that belonged to the door connecting the sitting room to the kitchen.
The boy stared at the man for a moment before acknowledging that the man was in his relative's house.
"Potter."
"Snape."
"That's PROFFESSOR Snape, to you. If you are dense enough to still call the werewolf by the title surly we can get you to remember to give respect to those who...deserve it," Snape sneered as he glared at Harry and Lupin.
The werewolf took a tentative step forward as he spoke up, "Actually, he's right, Harry. You SHOULD call him Professor Snape, while I am not your professor anymore. I haven't been for almost three years now. I would prefer if you called me by my name. Remus, Lupin, or even Moony would be fine."
Once again, Harry nodded his head in acceptance. He glanced over to find that Tonks' eyes were still focused on him.
"Um, Tonks?"
With a jerk, Tonks snapped to attention. "Wotcher, Harry!" She blushed.
Harry rubbed a hand over his rough chin in confusion at the distinct coloring in the witch's face.
A silky baritone interrupted his bewilderment. "Potter, perhaps it would be easier for us all if we were to escort you back to a different location WITH clothes on."
The raven-haired boy started to retort some nasty comment back to Snape about being thankful it wasn't HIM who was naked, but the memory that he was wearing only a towel shocked him. It wasn't as if that were a hard thing to forget.
HE could feel heat in his cheeks as he started to mumble and apology only to hear his father's old friend chuckle lightly at his embarrassment.
"You are certainly related to Lily! If I know James, HE would most definitely would not have blushed like that!"
That was when Snape decided to join in. "I do believe that arrogant fool would have gone as far a masquerading around Hogwarts in a towel, if it would have brought him any attention whatsoever."
Moody cleared his throat roughly and loudly, as if to alert the two bickering that he had short patience.
"Right, well...Perhaps you should get packed then Harry," Remus said, while looking at the floor.
The distant look on his face told Harry exactly what he was considering asking. "So, its to um...that place, then?"
"Yes, "was the dejected reply.
A bright red Tonks added, "I would offer my flawless packing abilities but you seem to have other...requirements at the moment."
A snicker came from Remus as Snape shook his head in disbelief that the near naked body of a fifteen-year-old boy could embarrass a young female auror.
"Do hurry, Potter. You have approximately fifteen minuets to get prepared," Snape warned.
"Yes, sir. Do you think you could cast the counter spell on my aunt? I don't really want her all shook up. It's a good thing he had to drive Dudley somewhere. Other wise there would be many more...complications to work through," Harry explained.
Remus kindly agreed as he unbound Petunia from the spell. When she realized that she could move she jumped to her feet and ran to the kitchen, not looking back one.
Harry ran a hand through his hair as he watched the scene before him. The large maroonish-yellow scab on his wrist caught his attention, which reminded him of the pain in his back.
"Perhaps I should not let anyone see those," Harry thought to himself.
He began walking backwards down the hall, careful to keep his chest in sight and his back hidden, his wand still in his hand. When he was out of sight, he turned around and walked to his room quickly. He opened the door and shut with enough force to be certain it was shut, causing the pad locks on it to jingle against each other.
The first thing on his agenda was to alter his appearance where Moody would hopefully not be able to see through it. His eyes trained on the mirror in his wardrobe, he concentrated on changing his skin so that it appeared normal.
Opening the eyes that he hadn't realized he'd closed, Harry could see flawless skin with the exception of little pink lines that weaved a pattern on his back. He could still feel the cuts and welts, although.
Harry started to alter the appearance of his wrist, but changes his mind. The scab that promised to be a scar was like a reminder of his fallen Godfather, as it came from his mirror. Yes, that mark was important for Harry to see, to use as a memento from the mistakes he had made and the harm he had done to others and himself.
The dark circles under his rhiane colored eyes were a different story. They clearly told that he wasn't sleeping like he should. He most certainly did not want anyone's sympathy over his nightmares. Therefore he changed his purple bags into even skin that matched that of the color in the rest of his face.
Now that Harry had hidden pretty much everything that gave away his despair, he turned his attention to his clothing. Inside his trunk's first compartment were his new cloths. Harry quickly pulled out a pair of the new boxers, and socks to put one. Then he considered what would cover his wrist wound the best. He picked up long, black button up collared shirt and one of the tight coal colored t-shirts.
Rummaging carefully as not to upset the order of his trunk, Harry finally came across what he was looking for. The black dragon leather pants and boots.
The spell that Fred and George had explained about went into effect immediately when Harry had them on and buttoned in place. The first thought that had popped into his head after the leather had deceased shrinking, was that they had shrank too much. They were a great deal tighter than any of the pant he had been used to wearing! He sighed, as he laced the boots up, which also shrank to his size.
Now that he was dressed Harry scooped up all of the extra items from his desk and beside table only to them in the respective trunk compartment. When he was sure that everything that belonged to him was in his trunk, save the extra hand-me-down clothing from Dudley that now resided in the bottom of his wardrobe, Harry ran his fingers through his still wet hair. He placed his wand in the inside of his right boot where he could reach it if needed. A glance in the mirror told Harry that he was all set to leave.
Harry heaved up the heavy trunk and struggled to carry the weight down the stairs with Hedwig's cage (Hedwig of whom Harry had released out the window to meet him at headquarters) balanced on top of it and into the quiet sitting room. When he placed his belongings at the feet of his father's best friend, he glanced up to find that they were all eyeing him funny.
"What?"
"Well, Harry, if you don't mind me asking, what's with the uncharacteristic outfit?" Remus asked him.
"Oh, um, I figured if we were flying like last year the dragon's skin might come in handy, if we were ambushed that is," Harry answered, an embarrassed look upon his young face.
"CONSTANT VIRGILANCE! That's what I like to see boy!" Moody yelled suddenly, startling everyone in the room, save Snape who was very skilled at guarded his emotions.
Harry gulped and nodded. Snape uncrossed his arms as he walked over to where Harry stood. He sneered down at the youth as he reached into his robes only to pull out an empty Bertie Bott's every flavor bean box.
"Unfortunately for you, Potter, we are not flying but are coming the way we came; by portkey. We have about two minutes before it reactivates."
"Well, I erm, guess I should explain to my aunt," Harry said as he trudged into the kitchen where he found her sitting at the table, staring into space.
"Aunt Petunia, they have come to pick me up, okay?"
Nothing was said so Harry walked back to the door. As he opened it, he muttered a "Bye," over his shoulder. A soft, "Sorry," was barley audible, but Harry heard as he stepped back into the room with the other wizards.
Sorry? Why did his aunt say "Sorry,"? He was interrupted in his musings by Snape's "Hurry up, insolent brat!"
Harry hastily jogged over to the group of wizards and witch. He placed one hand on his trunk, as Tonks grabbed hold of Hedwig's cage. Harry winced as he reached a shaky hand out to touch the candy box. Memories of the tri wizard tournament and Cedric flashed through his mind. He forced a wall up around his mind and focused on breathing levelly. In a matter of seconds a jerk was felt behind his navel, and he was instantly gone.
When Nightmares Are A Good Thing
Chapter9: Farewell to familiar surroundings
When morning dawned, Harry Potter awoke fully aware of the pain his body was in. His head still throbbed with the after affects of his nightmare and alcohol, the welts and cuts on his back stung sharply from being lain on long after the numbing had dissipated, and his stomach seemed to be pulsating with spasms for some odd reason, unknown to him.
Harry completely skipped over the fact that he hadn't eaten practically anything over a large amount of time, seeing as he had been forced to do that to some extent as a child, as the cause for his abdomen discomfort. The teenage boy decided, instead, that the combination of aspirin, alcohol, pain numbing and dreamless sleep potions, and nightmares did NOT fare well together. In some aspects, he was right.
The boy allowed himself to lay in bed for an hour thinking perhaps the pain would pass, seeing as he did not want to take any more potions or medicines for many reasons. The first being he didn't want to be addicted to anything and the second being that was why he assumed he felt this way to begin with.
After a while he forced himself up and conjured his coffee (or rather the ingredients, waiting to be assembled) to drink before going about his typical morning.
Though his movements were slow, Harry did make it through his morning. He had brushed up on his potions book again to see what sorts of potions were addictive and which would not mix well with others. The pain numbing, he discovered, was not addictive but the copious amounts of aconite that were in it always reacted badly with any type of potion containing nightshade, the main component in dreamless sleep.
Following the uncovering of his potions mistake, Harry focused on memorizing defensive and offensive spells and curses from the DADA book he had received from Sirius and Remus for Christmas the past year. Some of them he was already familiar with, as he had taught them to the DA, but there a few the he felt were worth memorizing just in case.
Finally, Harry came across the incantation for the binding spell he had seen used by Dumbledore to keep the death eaters from fleeing the DoM. A little bit of practice was clearly required. Harry could cast the spell, efficiently stopping the book and pillow on his bed from apparating, but Harry was in a fix as to see whether or not it would stop a wizard from doing magic. He could try it on himself, but wouldn't wandless magic disable anyone's anti- apparation/magic bind? If so, he could prove nothing. Also, what if he COULDN'T undo the spell. He could just hear himself explaining to Fudge and the Order now...
"Honestly, it was accident! I just got spooked and thought I was death eater trying to capture myself so I cast a binding spell to stop myself from escaping! See, I've turned myself in, even thought I'm NOT a death eater!"
The imagery of that scene was almost enough to make Harry laugh before picking undoing the spell and retrieving his book for some more studying.
The sound of a plate being shoved through the flap in his door demanded Harry's attention. As soon as he jerked his head up, Harry realized how sore his muscles were from one thing or another. Reading with his head down had not helped any. Therefore, he decided a hot shower was in order. He hadn't even noticed, until then, that it had been about a week since he'd bathed.
Harry turned the doorknob to find the many locks on his room were all unlocked. He trudged down the hall to the bathroom and closed the door behind him.
Fifteen minuets later the green-eyed child was relaxing under the crystal droplets of water, mesmerized as they crashed onto his skin only to dance while they slid down his body.
When he reached up to wash his hair he was startled to feel something prickly scratch across the sensitive skin that covered the back of his hand.
"Perhaps I ought to shave when I-"
His thoughts were cut short when a shrill scream was heard from downstairs. Without a second thought, Harry shut off the water, grabbed a towel and ran out of the bathroom with his wand in hand and at the ready.
Using one hand he struggled to hold the towel around his waist as he ran down the hall, all the time thinking the worst.
In record time, Harry reached the top landing of the stairs and skidded to a stop, wand arm outstretched with his beloved wand level with his throat but pointing down in the direction of the sitting room.
A moment's glance was enough to utterly relieve Harry of the ill situation he had imagined. There below him, was his Aunt Petunia lying on the ground frozen with the leg-locking curse, with Mad Eye Moody standing over her. Near him stood Remus Lupin and Tonks.
Harry raised an eyebrow in question and was rewarded with the growled reply; "She was making a right racket when she answered the door, that one there!" from Moody.
Sighing in relief that death eaters weren't outwardly invading him, the teenaged wizard thought it best to make sure they were who they appeared to be.
Keeping his wand in position, he tuned his attention to Remus Lupin.
"Um, Professor Lupin, may I ask you what type of creature you had in your office third year during a discussion we had during a Hogsmede trip?"
A weary grazed the worn man's face as he considered the question.
"Ah. I believe you would be referring to the grindylow. Or could you be implying the Bogart that I kept for our ...patronizing "study" sessions?"
Harry tilted his head in doubt. Perhaps he should ask another question to be on the safe side. "The grindylow. We were interrupted that day. Who was it and what did they want?"
The smile grew as Remus Lupin answered, with a hesitation. "That would be Severus, who was bringing me my goblet of wolfs bane potion."
In acceptance, Harry nodded his head. He glanced over at Tonks, who was staring at him with her mouth partly open. Moody, whose magical eye was inspecting the house for potential dangers, had his normal eye locked on Harry's face.
"Professor Lupin, are they who they appear to be?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry, they are Moody, Tonks, and Severus."
It was then Harry saw his potions professor step out of the shadows that belonged to the door connecting the sitting room to the kitchen.
The boy stared at the man for a moment before acknowledging that the man was in his relative's house.
"Potter."
"Snape."
"That's PROFFESSOR Snape, to you. If you are dense enough to still call the werewolf by the title surly we can get you to remember to give respect to those who...deserve it," Snape sneered as he glared at Harry and Lupin.
The werewolf took a tentative step forward as he spoke up, "Actually, he's right, Harry. You SHOULD call him Professor Snape, while I am not your professor anymore. I haven't been for almost three years now. I would prefer if you called me by my name. Remus, Lupin, or even Moony would be fine."
Once again, Harry nodded his head in acceptance. He glanced over to find that Tonks' eyes were still focused on him.
"Um, Tonks?"
With a jerk, Tonks snapped to attention. "Wotcher, Harry!" She blushed.
Harry rubbed a hand over his rough chin in confusion at the distinct coloring in the witch's face.
A silky baritone interrupted his bewilderment. "Potter, perhaps it would be easier for us all if we were to escort you back to a different location WITH clothes on."
The raven-haired boy started to retort some nasty comment back to Snape about being thankful it wasn't HIM who was naked, but the memory that he was wearing only a towel shocked him. It wasn't as if that were a hard thing to forget.
HE could feel heat in his cheeks as he started to mumble and apology only to hear his father's old friend chuckle lightly at his embarrassment.
"You are certainly related to Lily! If I know James, HE would most definitely would not have blushed like that!"
That was when Snape decided to join in. "I do believe that arrogant fool would have gone as far a masquerading around Hogwarts in a towel, if it would have brought him any attention whatsoever."
Moody cleared his throat roughly and loudly, as if to alert the two bickering that he had short patience.
"Right, well...Perhaps you should get packed then Harry," Remus said, while looking at the floor.
The distant look on his face told Harry exactly what he was considering asking. "So, its to um...that place, then?"
"Yes, "was the dejected reply.
A bright red Tonks added, "I would offer my flawless packing abilities but you seem to have other...requirements at the moment."
A snicker came from Remus as Snape shook his head in disbelief that the near naked body of a fifteen-year-old boy could embarrass a young female auror.
"Do hurry, Potter. You have approximately fifteen minuets to get prepared," Snape warned.
"Yes, sir. Do you think you could cast the counter spell on my aunt? I don't really want her all shook up. It's a good thing he had to drive Dudley somewhere. Other wise there would be many more...complications to work through," Harry explained.
Remus kindly agreed as he unbound Petunia from the spell. When she realized that she could move she jumped to her feet and ran to the kitchen, not looking back one.
Harry ran a hand through his hair as he watched the scene before him. The large maroonish-yellow scab on his wrist caught his attention, which reminded him of the pain in his back.
"Perhaps I should not let anyone see those," Harry thought to himself.
He began walking backwards down the hall, careful to keep his chest in sight and his back hidden, his wand still in his hand. When he was out of sight, he turned around and walked to his room quickly. He opened the door and shut with enough force to be certain it was shut, causing the pad locks on it to jingle against each other.
The first thing on his agenda was to alter his appearance where Moody would hopefully not be able to see through it. His eyes trained on the mirror in his wardrobe, he concentrated on changing his skin so that it appeared normal.
Opening the eyes that he hadn't realized he'd closed, Harry could see flawless skin with the exception of little pink lines that weaved a pattern on his back. He could still feel the cuts and welts, although.
Harry started to alter the appearance of his wrist, but changes his mind. The scab that promised to be a scar was like a reminder of his fallen Godfather, as it came from his mirror. Yes, that mark was important for Harry to see, to use as a memento from the mistakes he had made and the harm he had done to others and himself.
The dark circles under his rhiane colored eyes were a different story. They clearly told that he wasn't sleeping like he should. He most certainly did not want anyone's sympathy over his nightmares. Therefore he changed his purple bags into even skin that matched that of the color in the rest of his face.
Now that Harry had hidden pretty much everything that gave away his despair, he turned his attention to his clothing. Inside his trunk's first compartment were his new cloths. Harry quickly pulled out a pair of the new boxers, and socks to put one. Then he considered what would cover his wrist wound the best. He picked up long, black button up collared shirt and one of the tight coal colored t-shirts.
Rummaging carefully as not to upset the order of his trunk, Harry finally came across what he was looking for. The black dragon leather pants and boots.
The spell that Fred and George had explained about went into effect immediately when Harry had them on and buttoned in place. The first thought that had popped into his head after the leather had deceased shrinking, was that they had shrank too much. They were a great deal tighter than any of the pant he had been used to wearing! He sighed, as he laced the boots up, which also shrank to his size.
Now that he was dressed Harry scooped up all of the extra items from his desk and beside table only to them in the respective trunk compartment. When he was sure that everything that belonged to him was in his trunk, save the extra hand-me-down clothing from Dudley that now resided in the bottom of his wardrobe, Harry ran his fingers through his still wet hair. He placed his wand in the inside of his right boot where he could reach it if needed. A glance in the mirror told Harry that he was all set to leave.
Harry heaved up the heavy trunk and struggled to carry the weight down the stairs with Hedwig's cage (Hedwig of whom Harry had released out the window to meet him at headquarters) balanced on top of it and into the quiet sitting room. When he placed his belongings at the feet of his father's best friend, he glanced up to find that they were all eyeing him funny.
"What?"
"Well, Harry, if you don't mind me asking, what's with the uncharacteristic outfit?" Remus asked him.
"Oh, um, I figured if we were flying like last year the dragon's skin might come in handy, if we were ambushed that is," Harry answered, an embarrassed look upon his young face.
"CONSTANT VIRGILANCE! That's what I like to see boy!" Moody yelled suddenly, startling everyone in the room, save Snape who was very skilled at guarded his emotions.
Harry gulped and nodded. Snape uncrossed his arms as he walked over to where Harry stood. He sneered down at the youth as he reached into his robes only to pull out an empty Bertie Bott's every flavor bean box.
"Unfortunately for you, Potter, we are not flying but are coming the way we came; by portkey. We have about two minutes before it reactivates."
"Well, I erm, guess I should explain to my aunt," Harry said as he trudged into the kitchen where he found her sitting at the table, staring into space.
"Aunt Petunia, they have come to pick me up, okay?"
Nothing was said so Harry walked back to the door. As he opened it, he muttered a "Bye," over his shoulder. A soft, "Sorry," was barley audible, but Harry heard as he stepped back into the room with the other wizards.
Sorry? Why did his aunt say "Sorry,"? He was interrupted in his musings by Snape's "Hurry up, insolent brat!"
Harry hastily jogged over to the group of wizards and witch. He placed one hand on his trunk, as Tonks grabbed hold of Hedwig's cage. Harry winced as he reached a shaky hand out to touch the candy box. Memories of the tri wizard tournament and Cedric flashed through his mind. He forced a wall up around his mind and focused on breathing levelly. In a matter of seconds a jerk was felt behind his navel, and he was instantly gone.