AN - Sorry for the long time between updates. Halfway through editing this chapter, I fell ill. I was still working, but outside of that, I could do nothing but rest since work took all the energy I had. I am now recovering, and so over the space of a couple of weeks have finished the chapter. Its just taken longer then I would like. Thanks for being patient.

Chapter 27 - nightmares.

Saturday 27th February

In the week following his letters to his friends, nothing really changed. Harry did settle about the stares, taking the girl's word that it was just him. But he wasn't backing down. He did go to his now weekly check. And they cleared him again, with the word to come if he felt sick or he would be on twice-weekly checks. Harry wasn't sure whether to believe them or not. Sure the others said they would. But now, he was starting to wonder if they actually would do it.

Richard was still watching him. Though Harry was catching Agnar watching him more and more. He was starting to feel like an outsider in the dorm, which wasn't a comforting thought. More so, there wasn't anyone he could talk to about it. He was isolated. More than he had ever been at Hogwarts. He knew that now.

"Isur, can I talk to you?" Agnar looked around to make sure Harry wasn't around. He had been looking for Hia but had found Isur first.

"Agnar, what is wrong?"

"Harry"

"Is he sick?"

"No, his nightmares they're not going away. I don't know if they're the same or worse; I can't tell. But they wake him most nights, and he goes to the balcony for a bit. The only difference is now the doors stay open; he can normally get back to sleep."

"Now they are disturbing your sleep."

"I'm always a light sleeper. I don't think Harry noticed he woke the others the other night since no one left their rooms. But they told me. He's not talking to us either. Just stays in our room to do his work. I don't think he is talking to anyone. He's gone quiet on Ruby and Jessica as well."

"Alright. I will sort it. This has gone on long enough and far enough."

"Sorry"

"No, you did the right thing. We were going to start addressing his nightmares if they didn't go down."

"Alright"

"Just be careful and come find Hia or me if you need anything. You're a good friend Agnar. But you have your own issues as well. You are also only 12. You shouldn't have to deal with this yourself."

"I'm learning that. Faster than Harry, I think. Thanks"

"Go on" Agnar quickly turned and sped away before being seen. Isur sighed. This was not going to be easy.

Harry knew something was off the moment he arrived at the infirmary and saw Doctor White waiting for him. Usually, he would be shown to a bed and have to wait but apparently not today. He was instantly taken through to the exam room, and all three of his mentor family were waiting.

"What's going on?"

"Harry, take a seat on the bed. I'll draw the curtain around, and we'll get the normal exam out the way before we talk."

"Okay," Harry drew the word out but decided not to argue at that moment. Instead, the Doctor made quick work of the regular exam that now involved checking the lymph nodes in his neck. He had been told that's where antibodies were produced. The swelling was an indicator of illness.

"You're still putting on weight. That is good. Are you still eating healthily despite being off the potions and diet?"

"Yes", he had wanted off the potions for so long, and he wasn't stupid. If his weight dropped, he would be straight back on them. He also didn't want to end up on a feeding tube. Harry had seen someone with one of them at the OSS while still going there before school started. Sure the girl had been older, but Harry wasn't going to tempt fate. He wasn't going to complain about getting enough to eat. It was one less thing for them to harp on about.

"Good. When was your last purification bath?"

"Beginning of the month."

"Your due then. I'll let you arrange that with Isur and the others. All seems in order there then."

"So I can go back on two-week checks."

"Not likely. You'll need to come to us willingly when you're sick a few times to get that now." Harry scowled at that but didn't say anything. "Come on, we need to talk" Doctor White drew the curtain back.

"What about?"

"Your nightmares"

"What about them?"

"Have they gone down, changed at all?" Luke pulled up an extra chair that wasn't usually there for him to sit on.

"No"

"Very well. We have talked, and we have an idea you might like. So isur, this was your idea."

"I did some research and talked to some people. Nightmares aren't healthy...look, I know you are mad at us still. Just listen, please," Harry scowled, looking at the Fae. He wasn't just upset with them. He was furious. "Right. What about a type of sleep study? Normally that means connected to wires, but I don't think that is needed right now. All we need to know is how bad your nightmares are. My proposal was you sleep here for two nights. Just sleeping. So the doctors could see. It would be next to a window, so that is no problem. Like when you were ill. If you had no nightmares those two nights, we would back off about them for a bit. If you do, then we go to the next measure."

"Which is someone being connected to your band to alert when you have a nightmare. While you are here, that would be the case just to record when you have a nightmare and how long it takes to get back to sleep. If it is proven that they are just a few nights a week. We would back off. If they were more than that, it would be stage 2. Which is counselling." Doctor White explained. "To be honest, your better doing this here as otherwise, you would have to stay at the OSS centre while it's done. This isn't something Erlendur can do for you at the hostal. There is an alert in the bedrooms. But it only says when someone has a bad one, not the more minor ones. There are too many people for it to be done effectively. So that's why we link in the mentors and use them, it allows it to be done here and people to still go to class."

"Whats stage 3?" Harry asked wearily.

"Increase in the counselling. Taking you off activities since it is sleep deprivation. The last resort is removal from classes, which is only down on paper. We've never got that far with a student before."

Harry sighed. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately.

"What if I don't want it?"

"You don't have a choice. It is one or the other. Normally we go straight to the alert, but I like this idea. Call it being the first for the trial" the Doctor gave a grim smile.

"What if I have one night with and one without?"

"Then you stay another till we have two with and two without. If it hits a week, we will re-assess. Honestly, Harry, I know you had nightmares all 3 nights you spent here when you were ill. But that was nearly 2 weeks ago. Things can change. But I had cause to do this then, but I wanted to give you a chance. This is your chance."

Harry scowled and looked away. He didn't like this. He didn't like any of this.

"Fine"

"We know you are not happy. We know you are not happy with us. You have made that very clear," Nymira spoke. "But we are not going to lie about being worried about you. You can't control other people, just yourself. But sometimes, things like nightmares are out of your control. They are your body's and mind's way of processing things. Sadly sometimes things you aren't ready to deal with."

"Can I go now" he blocked them out and looked at the Doctor.

"Yes, be here tonight, and hopefully, we can have this done by Monday morning."

"Fine", he stood and quickly left. Ignoring the fact they were talking about him behind his back. People always did. He could handle it.

Harry had calmed down a little by the evening. He had nearly all his homework done and had taken most of his frustrations out on his art and music. That evening he packed a bag with his PJs and martial arts uniform.

"Where you going, Harry?"

"They want to do a sleep assessment on me since I'm still having nightmares. I'm free during the day, but I have to spend the nights in the infirmary for at least the next two nights."

"Ouch. Alright. Hopefully, this works" Agnar nodded from where the group were around the table. Harry just nodded and left. He had been given a hall pass for the night by Isur earlier so he could go down as he was getting ready for bed. Harry had taken a book so he could read for half an hour first before settling down. It was what he often did anyway. When he arrived, Doctor White wasn't waiting for him, but Madam Wood was. She showed him down to a bed with an open window.

"Wrist"

"Really", he groaned, handing his arm out so she could tap it. Then, as she did, small thin black lines appeared. "I'm not going to run off."

"Your not locked in either", she laughed. "The black lines just mean you have an extra monitoring charm on. The think ones mean you are stuck and not to be trusted; there are a few spells that put them there. This is just a minor sleep monitoring spell. Records onto this parchment that will mark when you're awake and asleep. " Harry looked at the parchment seeing it was a graff set out with a quill next to it. "All I did was activate it and tie you to the quill. We'll take it off as soon as the test is done. You are free to leave as soon as you wake tomorrow. Now bed with you," she waved. Harry nodded and turned to settle for the night. He could live with that. Apparently, it wasn't an invasive charm since he didn't feel anything from it.

He slept fruitfully that night. It wasn't too hard falling asleep; that had never been a problem. It was sleeping through the nightmares that always woke him. The following day he glanced at the parchment seeing a strange up and down graff and wondered what that showed. He knew better than to mess with medical results after Madam Pomfrey did a talk to the school about it last year. Someone had apparently been wearing an intense glamour and ended up with magical exhaustion and a nasty infection. Then, turning away from that, he dressed and headed out down to breakfast.

"You look tired this morning, Harry", Agnar noted as he bumped into them.

"Yeh. Not easy sleeping there" the other boy just nodded.

"Know the feeling. You joining us for breakfast. Seems like you've been avoiding us."

"Can do", he grimaced. Not avoiding so much as feeling out of place. Breakfast, he had to admit, was nice, even if he mostly listened to the talk and stories around him.

"Pair up; we are sparring today, so I hope you remembered your vests", Sensei Hyten called out. Harry grimaced; he hadn't remembered his.

"Here, Harry. I had to go back and noticed you didn't have it."

"Thanks, Agnar" he looked at his friend, feeling a pang. Here was Angar helping, and he was practically ignoring him. Then, without another word, he pulled the protective vest on.

"Potter, we're pairing" it was Barnabas Moonlord. The vampire had been leaving him alone, but that seemed to have come to an end.

"Your better pairing with someone more your level, Moonlord."

"Why too, chicken?"

"No, just know my limits."

"Chicken", the vampire hissed, causing the others to laugh.

"Moonlord, move. You are with Vesh. Potter is right. Go spar with someone your level. Your with Lessien" the Sensei walked over. Harry didn't comment, but he felt his peaceful time was ending. Just what he needed.

Harry joined Agnar and some others in a game of pick-up quidditch to end the morning before getting a shower. It was the first time he had done so, but it was nice to be back in the air. It was a pain to hand his broom in since he hadn't sorted that privilege out yet, and he made a reminder to. After lunch was music and then Arithmancy. Even if he was still mad with Luke, he would admit the vampire was an excellent tutor and didn't push the boundaries. Calligraphy and then History finished the day before dinner. Which left him with a choice of swimming or no swimming. He hadn't gone for the last two weeks and was missing the time, even if he was mad. There was also the fact he slept better after. That made his mind up, and he headed down.

Even if he hadn't been down to join them, the other three were there and didn't comment. They just let him join in and almost slid back into place. It was strange and weird. Nothing was said. It was just excepted that he would fight and make up without a word. Harry didn't know what to make of it. And thankfully, as par his thought, there were no nightmares that night. One of the rare times. Unfortunately, he had forgotten about the two nights in a row rule. So he also spent Monday night and Tuesday night in the infirmary. Sadly both were full of nightmares.

When he was released Wednesday morning without comment, Harry wasn't sure what to think. Nothing occurred the next few nights either. But his medical band was back to being plan Orange. After his regular check, he learned what was happening on Saturday morning. All three of his mentor family were there.

"Alright, Harry, I have gone over your results, and it seems being tired does help. Unfortunately, that isn't feasible all the time, so as per the steps, we are going to charm and link this band to yours" the Doctor held up a red and yellow striped band. "It will be rotated each day through your mentor family, and they will have a pass to come and see you each night. If you can, I want you to talk about the nightmare but not if you can't. Talking is the only way to get rid of them. Once a week, I will pay a visit to your dorm and give you and your roommate a sleeping drought. Both of you must be low on sleep, which will help" Harry could only sigh. He had known this was coming. Probably from the start when they mentioned it, but he hadn't wanted it. He had hoped, but... He remembered what the others had said about giving and taking with the OSS, and he was being reasonable. He would admit that. Fighting about it wasn't going to really work. Luke had already booked them in that night for a purification bath, and Nymira was joining them again this time.

"Alright", in some ways, he just didn't have the energy to fight this. Obediently he held his wrist out, and Doctor White put the two bands next to each other. Thin spidery black lines appeared on both like when he had the sleep monitoring charm on.

"That's not invasive."

"No, because it's primarily on the band itself. There are small surface changes when one has a nightmare, and that's what we are looking for. It's not 100% accurate, but we can't use the stronger ones with you." Harry nodded at that.

"Harry, I know you are not happy. I will admit I wouldn't be. But if this helps you sleep better, wouldn't that be a positive to come out of this."

"Yes," and it would be. It was rare he had a nightmare-free night. He could only remember them from the days after late quidditch practice and now swimming. He did feel better those days.

It was strange that night having Nymira back in the bath with them. She wore a short-sleeved and legged bodysuit and thankfully didn't blink at his scars. This time while he was tired and sleepy, he made it back to his own room, primarily on his own power. That night was also nightmare free. The following night wasn't. Isur was the first to make an appearance. He was there a little out of breath but there when he woke. Thankfully this time, Agnar had slept through it. Isur pulled him out of bed and into the main room before getting him a drink.

"Hot Chocolate is what mum always used to give me after a nightmare as a kid. I cast a silencing spell when I came in. It won't last permanently with the Magic in the school."

"Least that is something", Harry noted. It was strange having Isur there, though he wouldn't admit that.

"What to talk about it?" that got a shake of the head.

"Alright, you don't have to if you're not ready. How about I talk about mine instead. Only fair, really" Harry looked up at that. "Like I said, only fair. Didn't mind you waking me up actually was getting a bit creepy. I was home with mum and dad, and everything was as it used to be. But then I went outside, and when I returned, the house was empty. I was looking through the house when the alert woke me. So you sort of woke me from my own nightmare."

"Least that was something" it did sound like a nightmare, and hearing that was strangely empowering. "I... it was about when the school closed. I was walking through the halls, and something was following me, but I couldn't see what."

"From the monster. You don't know what it is, so you couldn't see it."

"Mild how my nightmares are"

"Well, full moon tomorrow night, so we'll all be here besides Nymira. She had the band last night, but you slept through with the bath. Luke will primarily have it tomorrow and then Nymria the day after. Ready to go back to sleep."

"Okay," he nodded. Isur double-checked the balcony doors when they went back in and watched him back into bed before leaving. Harry found himself asleep within minutes.

Monday 8th March

Monday, Harry was once again aware of how tired Agnar was. Martial Arts before lunch seemed particularly hard on all the weres. But they refused to sit out and take it easy. Harry found himself respecting them all for it. That night Isur and Luke again joined him in the dorm. Once again, the other boys had left their doors ajar to help. Harry felt a little bad about it, seeing as he had been struggling to connect with people since he had been ill. He just wanted to be independent. Yet since he had been removed from the Dursleys, it was like he was anything but.

Before they settled to bed, Luke helped him finish his homework from the rest of the day off as Isur worked through his own. Harry hoped and prayed he didn't have any nightmares that night. It was wishful thinking.

"You stupid boy"

"Ungrateful swine just like your parents"

"Ignorant"

"Join me. You could be great."

"Brat"

"Worthless"

"Layabout nobody"

"Nobody wants you."

"Nobody cares for you."

"Should have died with your parents."

"Harry"

"Never achieve anything."

"Stupid"

"Why can't you be like your parents."

"Pathetic"

"Harry!"

"Harry!"

Harry woke with a start and looked around the blurry room. His breath caught when he couldn't feel the breeze. It was dark, and there was someone near him. That wasn't good. Turning, he tried to move away, only for that strange person to grab him. Voldermort had him. He was trapped.

"Harry"

"No. Get away. Leave me alone," he twisted, trying to escape.

"Harry! It's Luke; stop struggling. Your at Magere, remember"

"What should we do?" he heard a second voice. There were two of them. No. Harry twisted once again, trying to get away be he was trapped. There was something hard to his left, and the person was to his right.

"Open the door. It will summon help. If he doesn't calm, we'll need a calming draught."

Suddenly, the room seemed more extensive, and Harry froze. In that instant, the strange person grabbed his wrists, and he panicked again.

"Let me go."

"No, you need to calm down. You're safe. Your at school. Relax, it was just a nightmare. Your on the sofa in your dorm. I'm Luke, and Isur is here too. Calm down, and I'll get your glasses."

"Should I try turning the light on"

"Can't hurt."

The light was almost blinding for a moment, and as the dark left, Harry settled. It had been rare to have light in his cupboard as Vernon often took his lightbulb. They only put it in every so often. There had been light when he had faced off again Quirrel, but he hadn't been trapped against a wall then, and there were no hands near his neck.

"Problem" came a voice from the door.

"Nightmare"

"More like a flashback, I think. Glass's Isur" Harry blinked when his glasses were slid onto his face a moment later. Looking around, he flushed red at the site of Lærer Merrows, the Potions master standing at the door.

"You can let go now" he looked at Luke, who had a hold of his wrists.

"Not for a moment, I don't think. Your still breathing pretty heavy" Harry took a shuddering breath, trying to calm it. He hadn't experienced something like that before. Where his nightmare almost bled into the real world. He had always been able to tell before when he was awake and dreaming. Though the wizarding world sometimes felt like a dream.

"Has this happened before?"

"This is the worst nightmare I have witnessed."

"Same"

"Mr Potter?" the question was aimed at him. Harry looked up at his teacher and shook his head.

"This is why you need counselling Harry."

"When is he due to start?"

"When we can find someone Harry is comfortable enough with. We have a list to go through"

"The timing as well. Next term may be more feasible than now, and then a month off" Lærer Merrows nodded.

"It's a thought" Isur nodded. Harry took a deep breath at that before letting it out.

"You also have to be ready for therapy" the teacher looked at him. "If you are not ready and receptive to it, therapy can worsen things. You have to want and accept the help. That it is needed to get to where you want to be."

"You don't think Harry is quite there yet."

"I do not" Harry took another breath, nodding at the teacher's words. He didn't need help though he was starting to admit his nightmares were becoming worse and a problem. But he wasn't yet convinced that talking about them was the solution. Not when he had been taught his entire life not to complain or talk about things. Everything in his nightmares was things he had been told to keep secret.

"Alright"

"Do you want a calming draught, Mr Potter?" Harry took a shuddering breath and nodded. It was hard to admit just that. But he was struggling to get his breathing under control. Luke still hadn't released his wrists. But the longer he held them, the more secure he felt about it. He wasn't about to complain right now.

"Here", Lærer Merrows went to hand it over. Luke did release one wrist, and Harry quickly took the Potion and drowned it. As soon as he had passed the Vile back, Luke retook his wrist. Harry sighed and relaxed as the Potion took effect. As it did, there was a knock on the door, and Isur answered it.

"Is everything alright? Is Lærer Merrows still here?"

"Yeah, he is Headmistress. Come in." Harry went to stand only for Luke and the Potions Master to prevent him. Harry was horrified. This was two full moons now that his nightmares had awakened the Headmistress.

"Everything is fine; Rosaland, Mr Potter needed a calming draught. When it has fully kicked in, he should be able to get back to sleep."

"Very well. Please, next time, just send word."

"I'm sorry", Harry whispered.

"Don't apologize. You never need to apologize for waking any of us. We all take it in turns having the ward activation. I just insist on having it every full moon."

"Your nightmares seem worse on the full moons. Almost as if you can't stop repressing them on those nights," Isur spoke, and Harry's head snapped around to him. "You are repressing them somehow, at least somewhat. But they're getting worse. Harry, you have to at least admit that somewhat. I've met your hostel head. He has wards all over that building. They would have activated, and he would have done something. He doesn't seem like a man to let this sort of thing go."

"They are", he muttered. After tonight he had to admit that.

"Well done" Harry looked at the Headmistress at her words. "It takes a lot to admit things like that, Mr Potter. We need to have a conversation, just the two of us. When we are both more awake. You are not in trouble, but I believe I can help you. Come see me when you are ready and comfortable. My door will be open. This is not a conversation I can force on you. It has nothing to do with school. When you are ready."

"Okay", Harry frowned, wondering what that was about. Only Lærer Marrow's face showed any understanding of what she was on about.

"Get some rest Mr Potter" Harry nodded, and the two teachers quickly left.

"Come on, let's get some more sleep. We can talk more in the morning."

"Sorry"

"You can't help nightmares, Harry, even I know that", Isur laughed. "The fact you are somewhat suppressing them is impressive, actually. Wish I could"

"Shows you have a natural gift for mind magic."

"I can't meditate, though, like the others can."

"All the first term of the first year is learning to meditate. If I remember right, this term will be all about the laws and such."

"Yeah"

"It's all-new material. We'll work on meditating and getting you along. What part are you struggling on?" Isur frowned.

"The clearing your mind bit. I can't make my mind quiet."

"Nymira", Luke smiled. "Ask Nymira; she had the same problem. One of my friends helped her with it. She struggled as well. We'll ask her tomorrow. The next term is all the same; laws, practices and such. Important things to know. Next year you work more on building complicated shields. The second and third terms of the first year are building basic protections. Needed in a school like this. Nymira will help. Once she got the meditating sorted, she got it very quickly. As will you."

"Sure" Harry nodded and settled back down.

"I'll tell Dr White to bring the sleeping draught around tonight. You're going to need it" Luke finally released his wrists as Isur turned the lights back out. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Class the next day was almost torturous, especially Mind Magic. They did a little meditation at the beginning of each class. But Harry could never get it and understand. Susan didn't seem to ever have problems. Thankfully there were no seminars that night, and he was ahead with his homework. Harry only had that day's work to do. After sleeping most of the day, the others were awake and trying to work when he returned from sledging.

"Alright, Harry"

"Yeah", he nodded.

"Want to join. Bet you'll be able to help us after being in class today."

"Don't be so sure", Harry snorted, but for the first time since he had been ill, he felt comfortable enough to join them. It was nice, actually. Harry had forgotten how good it was to work and help each other. Luke had spoken to Nymira apparently, and she had arranged to meet him after Martial Arts on Thursday. When she had told him, Nymira had sounded almost excited, as much as she ever did.

He made quick work of his Charms, Herbology and Latin work with the others. Mind Magic was a bit slower, and they were halfway through History when there was a knock on the door.

"What?" Richard looked over. Emberi was the one that answered the door to show Dr White. Harry groaned; he had forgotten about Luke saying he would send the man around tonight.

"Forgot, did you, Harry."

"Bit", he muttered.

"What?" Angar looked at him. Harry didn't know what to say.

"Bed all of you; you are all exhausted. The simple answer is I don't think Harry is getting enough sleep, so I am giving him a sleeping potion one night a week. Agnar as well since I know you have been waking up" Agnar flushed at that as well. "Hia has been a little concerned, and we will talk about that soon. We'll see how this goes. Tonight though, I am going to dose you all. So bed all of you now."

"Yes, sir" Arghama and Valerio didn't hesitate to stand. Harry quickly followed and ran back to his room.

"Sorry", he muttered when Agnar entered.

"Not your fault. You can't help nightmares. The others get that too. We're always tired the day after the full moon. I get my own nightmares; they just never seem to wake or disturb you."

"Alright," he nodded, turning to finish getting ready. "That's strange, though. I am normally a light sleeper." He was climbing into bed when Dr White walked through the door.

"I believe we will just have to keep repeating things to you, Harry. There is no shame in nightmares; the only way to get rid of them is to talk. When you are ready till then, we'll do what we can. Have a look through the list and see what you think of the people on there." Harry didn't say anything as the Doctor held the vile out and drank it. It was a blissful, nightmare-free night.

Like after every other nightmare-free night, he woke the next morning raring to go. He found his lessons more effortless, and he was less tired. But it never lasted. The next night it was Nymira getting him up out of bed.

"Here", she handed him a drink while they sat down.

"How do you and Luke not seem tired at all."

"Because Vampires only sleep to rest their minds. We don't need as much as everyone else and will need less and less as we age. Vampires do get nightmares, but it isn't as often as Humans. When we do, it means we seriously need to talk and sort it. Nightmares are a product of the mind trying to cope with what has happened. For yours to be this bad."

"Lots of things happened" Harry nodded.

"We already know you have had a rough life so far, Harry. We don't know everything, and unless you tell us, we never will. You don't have to talk to us; I'm fine with that. Find someone you are comfortable with. That can take time" Harry nodded, drinking the hot chocolate she had given him. It was comforting, actually.

"Want to try sleeping again", she stated when he had finished. Harry nodded and left the mug going back to bed. Nymira followed and stood as he climbed up. Her head just reached level with him. It was amusing since he was much shorter than everyone else. "Sleep, Harry. Hopefully, we can keep to one nightmare a night."

"Hopefully", he clung to that. So far, it was just one nightmare a night. He hoped it stayed that way.

Thursday was tiring, and one of the last things Harry wanted to do that evening was more work. But he had agreed to meet Nymira. Lærer Ironmark, the Mind Magic teacher, had consented to let them use the room so Nymira could help him.

"Come on, Harry." Nymira pulled some of the cushions from one of the cupboards and settled on them in the middle of the room.

"First-year rooms are always set up like this. Will next year as well when you focus on building more barriers and getting to know your mind. Now what everyone else does is focus on calming their minds. Minds, as you know, are full of thoughts, and they keep popping up. The technique most people use is to dismiss their thoughts. Either to push them away or get rid of them. Many use a candle; they focus on it and use the candle to burn the thoughts until there is nothing left."

"But that doesn't work."

"For those like you and me, no, it doesn't. I tried the candle, and thoughts kept coming; my mind never went blank. One of Luke's friends had the same problem and helped me. He told me to instead focus on an image. Don't try to get rid of the thoughts; instead, centre them on that image and focus only on that. I had to learn using martial arts so I wasn't sitting still and had something physical. In the end, everything centred on that moment and I was resting and as calm as possible. It was enough for me to then build a box and shut everything away, protecting the box. So over time, we evolved that box as the years went on. Later stages of mind magic and Occulumency help you order everything to help with memory."

"So I'm not useless and using a different method, I will get it."

"Yes, and I'll work with you once a week until you do. After tonight you will be able to do some yourself. But working with me will help guide you; this way, I can answer questions without others poking their nose in." Harry laughed at that.

"Now think of an image that is calming. Try something neutral with no bad memories attached, and just focus on that. I used one of me reading on my bed. Like I said; eventually, I narrowed things down. The person who helped me said he started with a picture of the beach. It's different for everyone."

Harry closed his eyes and breathed. Something calming. A few things popped to mind, and Harry decided to go with his broom. But then thoughts and memories crept in about his different quidditch matches. Opening his eyes, he shook his head.

"Easy, it takes a few tries. Either try again or pick a different picture. Remember, it isn't about not thinking about anything. But instead, focus on one thing. One moment in time that is peaceful and just feeling at peace."

"Right" he closed his eyes again and focused on his room at the hostel. But again, thoughts crept in. Unwanted and disturbing his peace. Thoughts of the cupboard and the Dursleys. His eyes shot open.

"No, that's not a good one. Breathe Harry. One more go tonight, and then we stop till next week."

"Right", he breathed, trying to calm down. After several minutes he managed and closed his eyes again. Right so not his room but the hostel. He had been happy there. Slowly his thoughts drifted through everything that had happened. Christmas, Yule and feeling at home. The outings such as the caves and the Lagoon. He paused on the Lagoon. It had been fun there. Laughing and talking with everyone. The only thing missing had been Ron and Hermione. But it had been a peaceful day. He had felt normal for once. Not someone on medical watch, not the boy who lived. Not the scared, abused kid. With the mists and everything, no one had noticed. With muggles, no unawares, around nothing about Magic had been said. It had been a perfect few hours he wanted to go back to.

"Harry. Harry, listen to my voice. That's it. Focus on my voice and come back" Nymira's voice started to break into his focus. Harry blinked as awareness returned and became aware his legs were numb.

"You did it that time, Harry."

"Really!"

"Yes, you dropped into a semi-meditative state. Once you can reach that state quicker, I'll guide you through narrowing it. Then you can get to the same point as everyone else. But that was brilliant for tonight. Now let's get back to the dorm."

"Is it safe to try on my own"

"I wouldn't without anyone near you or when you need to be somewhere soon. But if you wanted to before bed, you could, yes."

"Sure", he nodded with a smile. That night it was Isur there to wake him from the nightmare. But that was okay; after the progress, he had made, he wasn't going to let it get him down.