Gone Missing: Sleepless Nights

by: Love Seth

Hey guys. Thanks for the reviews.

Now, about Sam. I won't tell you nothing more then this- Sam isn't really a 'bad' guy. He and Harry won't be bestest buddies. But he won't bring much good to Harry in the future of the story.

Please read and review and I'll write another chapter soon. Thanks, you're the best!

The next morning Harry was far past being tired, but physically and mentally was too exhausted to do anything more then to stumble up the stairs at the crack of dawn, grab a bite to eat before collapsing on the living room couch to watch the muggle television. It felt like his eyes were sinking in. If his parents or Seth started yelling at him today he would be too tired to do anything more then just sit there.

"I can't stay awake any longer..." Harry thought. Thinking how much easier it was to stay awake the first couple days. Now, a week or so later, he had lost all energy to move. Afraid if he relaxed his brain in the least his eyes would close and he would sleep for days on end.

"How nice that would be." Harry thought, thinking of how it felt to sink into his warm covers and close his eyes.

"Harry? Honey?"

Harry looked over his shoulder to see Lily standing there in her night robe. Her hair back in a pony and little strands sticking up in various spots from sleeping on it.

"Yeah?" Harry whispered.

Lily walked over and examined her son closer, "What are you doing up?" she asked, crouching down to Harry's eye level.

Harry shrugged, "Couldn't sleep." he said, looking at her with his eyes half open.

"You look so tired. Want some sleeping potion to help you sleep?" Lily asked.

Harry shook his head, "I am fine, just need to wake up a little," he said, rubbing his face and stretching.

Lily narrowed her eyes and stood up again, "Okay, if you are sure. But I am going back to bed for a little bit. I just got up to get some water. Your dad should be up soon. Maybe you should talk to him," Lily suggested in a hopeful voice.

Harry shook his head.

"Harry it would make me feel a lot better if you would just keep us out of the dark. I'm asking you to please, please talk to you father or me. Even Sirius. Anyone would be good," Lily said, setting her hand on Harry's head and rubbing his hair, "Just think about it."

Harry listened as Lily got herself a glass of ice water and went back up the stairs to their bedroom.

"Where'd you go?" James mumbled in a half-sleep. His face in the soft pillow and the covers up under his chin when Lily came back into bed.

"Just to get some water. Harry's up," Lily said, tucking herself back in.

James's eyes were closed until Lily said Harry was up, then he looked at the clock. Seeing it was hardly seven in the morning he closed his eyes again.

"What's he doing up?" James asked.

"Says he couldn't sleep. I think he's been up for a long time," Lily said, "He seemed so tired,"

"What, you mean all night he's been up?" James asked.

"I don' t know. I don't think so. He probably was sleeping but woke up and didn't go back to sleep. That's what he made it seem, that he just couldn't sleep any more," Lily said, resting her eyes shut.

"Hmm." James muttered.

When the show he was watching grew to an end Harry turned off the TV and numbly walked back down to his room. Stopping at the door and looking over at Seth's Harry thought about going into his brother's room.

Figuring he had to kill the time somehow Harry walked over and slowly opened his brother's door. It creaked a little but Seth slept with a fan on at all times. He didn't budge from his spot on the bed.

The sun shined on Seth. He was lying on his back, half undressed with the blanket covering one leg up to his stomach. One hand rested on his chest and the other arm was covering his eyes.

Harry felt ashamed for how he had been treating Seth. And even more ashamed of his nightmares about Seth dying. Maybe he would write Seth a letter. Explaining why he didn't want to talk to him, and why he didn't even want to look at him.

Even the thought sounded stupid, but he wondered if he'd be going back to Hogwarts this time if he didn't make peace with his loving and adoring family.

Closing Seth's door quietly behind him Harry stumbled back to his own room to wait for the hours to go by.

"Watch it," Seth said as he pushed past Harry.

"You're the one who ran into me," Harry said.

It was nearly noon. Harry was up in the kitchen waiting for James to get back from seeing Remus when Seth came up to get a snack and walked a little too close to Harry. Close enough to push Harry to the side a little.

"What are you doing? Just standing there?" Seth sneered.

"You know, you are sounding more and more like Malfoy every day. Have you been hanging out with him?" Harry asked back, in the same snotty tone.

"Oh, yeah. Every day. Like you would notice, though," Seth stated.

Harry shook his head and kept his eyes on the magazine he was looking at. Leaning against the counter and ignoring Seth the best he could, who was standing to his right.

"Why are you standing there?" Seth repeated, his tone making him sound more and more annoyed.

"I'm waiting for Dad! Now go away!" Harry shouted, walking to the living room with his magazine.

"Why are you waiting for Dad?" Seth asked.

Harry didn't answer but laid on the couch with his feet up on the arm rest of the couch.

"Are you going to tell him how you stopped sleeping at night? Actually how you stopped sleeping all together?" Seth asked.

Harry bolted up, "I have too been sleeping! What do you think I do at night?"

"Uh, I dunno. Sit in your room, read, watch TV. I dunno! But I know you don't sleep! And you are on thin with Mum and Dad and do you think they won't believe me when I tell them? I don't think you will be going back to Hogwarts till after Christmas! Wait, wait, Dad has been trying to find any reason to keep you under his nose. I say you won't go back till next year if they find out whatever this thing is going on with you is resulting in your staying up every night on end!" Seth shouted, standing up against the wall with his arms crossed.

"You little-," Harry started, going over to Seth, so close to him their noses were almost touching. Seth seemed very satisfied with himself.

"What's going on here?"

Both Harry and Seth turned to see James standing there with Remus at his side.

"Oh, Harry's got something to tell you," Seth snickered.

"What is it?" James asked, looking at Harry.

"Nothing," Harry said, panicking and looking at Seth with narrowed eyes.

"No. Go on, Harry. Tell him. Tell him why you look so tired. You'd think I hit you again. Those black marks under your eyes," Seth mocked, rubbing his finger against the bags under Harry's left eye.

"What's he talking about Harry?" James asked.

Remus raised his eye brows before he snuck out of the room.

"Nothing. Are you really going to listen to anything he has to say?" Harry said, looking back over to James and backing away from Seth.

"I don't know. I'd like to hear what he has to say so I can judge for myself and we still have to talk about that boy you were off with last night," James said, crossing his arms.

"I wasn't off with him. I talked to him out in the street for less then five minutes!"

"Well, I'd like to hear what Seth has found out about you,"

"I can't even believe this! You're going to listen to him?"

"Go ahead and tell him, Harry. He's going to find out anyway. I heard he was going to give you a truth potion," Seth said.

"That's not true. We weren't going to do that," James said.

"See! How can you trust him?"

"Because it's true! I've heard him talk to Mum about it! He's lyin to you!" Seth shouted.

Harry put his hands through his hair, starting to breathe heavier in attempt to relax and stay as calm as possible.

"I can't trust you, either of you!" Harry shouted.

"Just tell him! Tell him how you aren't sleeping!" Seth yelled then turned to James, "He hasn't slept! For I don't know how many days!"

"That's a lie!" Harry shouted, putting a threatening finger up at Seth's chest.

"Harry? You haven't been sleeping? How long has this been going on?" James asked, his face having a look of surprise across.

"He's lying!" Harry yelled, but it was pointless. He was losing the battle.

"Just forget it! I'm going to my room." Harry said, walking past James.

James stood there looking at Seth until they heard Harry's door slam.

"Are you telling the truth?" James asked.

"Yes! He's been up every single time I wake up in the middle of the night. Ron doesn't think he's been sleeping since he had that really bad nightmare. He woke up getting all sick," Seth said.

"Oh, Jesus. Go, Seth, just go. Just go find your mum and tell her. I'm going to go get Harry to sleep," James said, leaving the room and making a pit stop in the bathroom and grabbing the whole bottle of sleeping potion from the cabinet before heading down to Harry's bedroom.