Title: Past, Present, Future

Summary: The past will come back, the present will change them, now what will the future hold?

Disclaimer: I do not own them, sad but true

A/N: Yes this is an AU fic. Reviews are welcome, flames are shared with friends for amusement.

Chapter 18

Harry was trying to fight off the demons in his sleep, but they were always there. They took the form of those he had loved, and those who were supposed to love him. Draco told him he was making a mistake by befriending a Weasley; Mr. Malfoy tried his best to kill Harry; but the worst was always his aunt and uncle. In his dreams, they would tell him how worthless he was, that he was nothing but a burden, that no one loved him.

Harry tried to fight off the images flowing inside his mind, and as he dreamed on, began to toss and turn in the bed. No amount of Severus' soothing words could wake him. He was lost in the nightmare.

You bring this upon yourself, boy. You must like being punished, for you disobey me every chance you get. You were told to have all the rooms clean, not half of them, all. Don't just stand there looking at me, get to your room, and don't come out. There will be no meals for a week.

Harry had gone to his room and cried himself to sleep. It wasn't a room, really. It was a dark and creepy place for a seven year old. Harry held his knees and wept, muttering to himself. Why didn't anyone help him? Why didn't anyone care?

He had gotten his answer when his uncle's voice oozed through the small grate. "No one is coming because no one cares or loves a burden like you. Now shut up, I am trying to watch the news."

Harry spoke the words he had heard his uncle say time and time again. "No one loves you, no one cares." Even in his sleep, the boy muttered them, and Severus, not being able to take his son's torment any longer, picked him up and held him tight.

"I am here for you, Harry, and I do care. I love you, Harry." He stumbled over the words, but he had said them and knew he meant them with every fiber of his being.

Harry woke from his dream, tears still fresh on his face. He did not speak, and no words were said, no explanations given, or questions asked. It was merely Harry clinging for dear life to his only lifeline at this moment. For many minutes they sat there, until Remus came over and laid his hand on Severus' shoulder.

"He should get more rest. Why do you not rest as well, Severus?"

"I will not leave him, Remus. He thinks no one cares about him. He has been abandoned all his life, and I will not allow him to feel that way again right now."

"Severus, do you plan on sitting up all night in his bed holding him in your lap? There is not even room for you to sleep. "

Severus waved Remus off and pulled Harry into his lap. "Such trivial things matter not to me right now."

Remus sighed and went to exit the room, but he turned at the door and pulled his wand from his robe. With a quick flick of it, the bed expanded to twice the size. Then he walked out the door, closing it behind him.

Severus did not miss what Remus had done for him and lay his head down on the bed, closing his eyes for just a minute, his grip firm on the blanket surrounding Harry. He did not realize he had fallen asleep until hours later, when he awoke. Gripping the blanket, he went to pull Harry closer to check his head for fever, but found he was holding nothing more than the blanket. Severus sat straight up in alarm. Rising, he was about to search every nook and cranny in the house till he found him when he came face to face with Harry.

"Did you mean it?" Harry asked, his green eyes boring into Severus' very soul.

Severus wondered what the child was asking him. He was about to admit that he was clueless as to what Harry was asking.

"Did you mean you care, that you love me?" Harry asked again, saving Severus from wondering.

"Of course I meant it, Harry. I may not have been around all those years, but I intend to make up for it by being the best father I can be. I am new at this, however, and when I am wrong, you will have to tell me."

Harry smiled at this. "I do not know what it is to have a father, either, so we will learn together."

Severus and Harry sat talking about life, and Harry told him about his and Ron's trip to the shopkeeper. He did not tell Severus why he had gone, but felt he already knew the reasons. It was late in the morning when they finished talking, and Harry's yawn told Severus that he was again tired.

"Get some rest, Harry. I will be here with you, for I think I shall get some sleep, too."

"Don't you have classes to prepare for? The students will be returning from holidays soon."

"None of that matters right now. Those are trivial things compared to you and can wait until later, now hush and go to sleep."

Harry obliged. With another yawn, he closed his eyes. Severus did the same, and soon both were asleep, only this time Harry did not have any nightmares.