Nightmares
Harry woke up screaming. Again. What he heard next made his heart drop. The stairs. Someone was coming upstairs. Harry didn't use his wand, but he knew what was coming.
"You woke us up! Again! Keep doing this and you'll wish you were dead!" Uncle Vernon shouted.
"I'm sorry.. It was a nightmare.." Harry said in a small voice..
"I don't care that you're having nightmares! Keep it to yourself, freak!" Uncle Vernon responded before shoving Harry to the ground and kicking him in the stomach and face repeatedly until Harry passed out. When he woke up, he began coughing up blood. He was too sore to move. Until he saw an owl. Remus's owl.
"Hello, Harry. I hope you're doing alright. I don't know how the Dursleys have been treating you, but I want you to know we miss you. I know I only saw you a couple weeks ago, but Sirius and I miss you. He's staying with me right now. I'll come and get you soon, I promise.
With Love, Uncle Remus."
Harry read it over. How soon was 'soon'? He got up and forced himself to right a short reply. A simple 'okay' should do, he thought. He picked up the glass shard he found a couple years ago, before Hogwarts. He put it to his wrist and cut repeatedly until he felt tired enough to sleep again. He used his wand to clean up the blood. He then laid down and fell asleep. He woke up when he heard the doorbell. He wasn't strong enough to get up, so he had Hedwig go outside with a note telling whoever it was that his Uncle and Aunt weren't home. Remus read it, and unlocked the door with his wand. Upstairs, Harry picked up the piece of glass and shoved it deep into his trunk and did a few Glamour Charms on his wrists. Someone knocked on his bedroom door. A soft knock. One Harry recognized. Remus.
"So soon, Remus?" Harry asked weakly. Remus heard the sound of his voice. Harry was weak, and the door was locked.
"Unlock the door, Harry." Remus said gently.
"Alohamora." Harry said, pointing his wand at the door. Remus rushed to Harry's side. Harry was covered in bruises and blood. And Remus noticed the Glamour Charms.
"Remove the charms. I can see them. I can tell." Remus said.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Harry answered with defiance. Remus countered the Glamour Charms himself instead. He saw the cuts. Harry covered his sleeves instinctively.
"When?" Remus asked. Harry knew there was no use denying it, so he just answered honestly.
"Few hours ago. After I read your letter. I had woken up screaming again. Full moon nightmares. Uncle Vernon.. Kicked me repeatedly after shoving me to the ground until I passed out. When I woke up I was almost too weak to move when I saw your owl. After, I couldn't sleep. So I picked up my piece of glass and cut until I was tired again. I woke up when I heard the doorbell but my door was locked and I was too weak to get up so I sent Hedwig out. How's Sirius?" Harry asked, changing the subject. Didn't work.
"Not so fast." Remus said. Harry sighed.
"I'm fine, it's just a few cuts." Harry said.
"Why about your injuries from the beating?" Remus asked.
"Nothing I haven't been through before. Don't tell Sirius." Harry said.
"As soon as we get home I'm doing a Diagnostic Exam. You're severely underfed and covered in bruises and blood. Sirius is home right now, and he's going to be told." Remus said.
"No! No, don't tell him. Please." Harry begged.
"Alright. But.. Let me know when you're ready for him to know." Remus said.
"I will. Can we get out of here? I'm hungry and in a hell of a lot of pain." Harry said.
Remus nodded and helped Harry pack what he needed for Hogwarts. Remus then picked Harry up and apparated with him and his luggage to the house he shared with Sirius. Remus took Harry straight to Harry's room and set him down on the bed before running a Diagnostics Check.
"Broken ribs, broken nose, a lot of bruising, cuts everywhere.. You're in bad shape, Harry. You haven't eaten in days. And you're severely dehydrated." Remus said when he was done.
"Okay. Can I eat now?" Harry asked. Remus nodded and got Harry some food. Harry ate quickly. He was so hungry. Sirius came upstairs. Remus hadn't healed Harry yet.
"Make him go away. He can't see me like this." Harry whispered to Remus. Remus shook his head, telling Harry that Sirius would find out sooner or later. Harry nodded, and Remus let Sirius in. He saw Harry and sprinted to his side.
"Harry. Are you alright? Why are there Glamour Charms on your wrists?" Sirius asked. Remus was about to answer when Harry shook his head, telling Remus to let him answer.
"You sure?" Remus asked.
"Yeah. I'm sure." Harry said.
"When you're ready, Harry." Sirius said.
"I woke up screaming again. Nightmares. Full moon, Remus had transformed without the potion again. Killed you, Sirius. Uncle Vernon came upstairs. Pushed me to get ground while yelling at me for waking him up again. He kicked me over and over again until I passed out. When I woke up the Dursleys had left the house. I was too weak to get up until I saw Hope. I read Remus's letter. But I wanted to sleep. But I couldn't fall asleep. So.. I took out a piece of glass I found a few years ago, before I started Hogwarts. And I.. I cut over and over until I was tired enough to sleep again. I used my wand to clean up the blood. When I woke up again Remus was there. Before he got in the house I did my Glamour Charms. But he didn't fall for it. He could tell. He threatened to tell you. I asked him not to, I asked him to wait until I was ready for you to know. When you came upstairs I asked him to make you go away, told him I wasn't ready for you to know yet. He told me you would find out sooner or later. So I let him let you in. He was actually just about to heal my injuries before you came up. He just got me something to eat and was about to heal my injuries." Harry said.
"How bad?" Sirius asked.
Remus looked to Harry. Harry shook his head again, telling Remus to let him tell Sirius.
"I can tell him, Remus." Harry said. Remus nodded.
"Broken ribs, my nose is broken, the rest is mostly minor cuts and bruises but a few of the cuts are pretty deep. Remus can probably heal my cuts easily too, given that they're muggle injuries not caused by Dark Magic." Harry said.
"Let me heal him, Padfoot." Remus said. Sirius stepped aside and healed Harry completely.
"Thank you." Harry said politely. He felt his scar twinge. Remus noticed.
"Impossible. He can't be here, that's not possible. This house is well hidden and under the Fidelius Charm." Remus said, panicking.
"Harry, your scar hurts?" Sirius asked.
"A little. It's been doing that all summer, and I've been having nightmares about him occasionally. Usually they're about Remus, but I've had a few of him. And if Dumbledore is right about my scar, and I share a connection to Voldemort's mind, it's more than possible these nightmares are really happening. And if they are.. He making a plan to come back. This year. I don't know what he's planning, only that it's this year. He's using Wormtail and Bart Crouch Junior." Harry told them.
"First things first, if you share a connection to Voldemort's mind we need to teach you occlumency. You have about a month before school starts up again, and we can get a place in Hogsmead to stay close and teach you during Hogsmead weekends." Remus said.
"Good idea. When do we start?" Harry asked.
"As soon as you eat a little bit more." Remus said before leaving and returning with another plate of food. Harry ate quickly and felt stronger. Remus then made Harry eat about five chocolate bars. Remus then started the lessons.
"This.. Isn't going to be pleasant. And I won't always play happy memories." Remus told Harry.
"Stay near him, Padfoot." Remus told Sirius.
Sirius nodded. Remus pointed his wand at Harry.
"Ready?" Remus asked Harry. Harry nodded.
"Legilimens." Remus said. Remus played happy memories first. Then bad ones. It hurt Remus, seeing all that but he had to do it. For Harry. Harry tried to fight the memories but Remus was too strong so Harry let himself watch until Remus withdrew himself. Remus had seen enough, and Harry was on the ground shaking. Remus didn't realize he had been so rough with Harry.
"Harry?" Remus asked gently.
"Pr.. Protego.." Harry said. Remus tried to comfort Harry, but the shield prevented Remus from getting within a few feet of Harry. Then Harry summoned his piece of glass. The shield charm was still up. There was nothing Remus could do. Harry touched his wrist with the glass shard and pressed down as hard as he could and dragged the glass down his wrist until he was bleeding freely. He still didn't remove the shield charm.
"Harry. Please, let the shield charm down. I don't want to watch you bleed out. Please. Let.. Let me help you." Remus begged. Harry kept the shield charm up until he passed out.
"Dammit. Padfoot, I need a blood replenishing potion and a sedation potion. I want to sedate him for a bit." Remus said. Sirius complied. Remus went to work to heal Harry. Within the hour, Harry was healed but sedated. Remus and Sirius went downstairs for some tea and to talk.
"He.. He did it right in front of us.." Sirius said, still in shock.
"It was my fault. I went too fast, he tried to fight me. I was too strong, I made him relive some of his worst memories.. Maybe.. If I had been more gentle.. Played more happy memories for a little longer.." Remus said, blaming himself before his voice trailed off.
"Hey. Hey, no. No. Don't do that. You warned him. You couldn't have known he was going to cut if you were too harsh." Sirius responded sternly.
"Like you wouldn't start drinking again if I used Legilimency and made you relive your years with your parents." Remus retorted.
"Fair point. He'll be okay. He's a fighter. Always has been." Sirius responded. And with that, they drank their tea and went back upstairs to Harry. He began to stir a few hours later. Remus took his hand apologetically.
"Moony.." Harry moaned softly, barely audible. But Remus heard him.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so harsh, especially since that was the first time. Are you okay?" Remus asked.
"I think so. And it's okay, I'm not upset. I just needed a way.. To cope." Harry said.
"I'm sorry." Remus said again.
"How long was I out?" Harry asked.
"A few hours. I sedated you after I healed you. Sirius and I.. We needed time. To.. To talk. And I wanted to prepare myself if you tried anything again." Remus said.
"I'm sorry." Harry said.
"Hey, don't do that. It's okay, cutting is the only way you've ever known to cope." Remus replied softly.
"Can.. Can we wait? Before we do it again? I'm not ready yet.." Harry said.
"Of course. I'll be more gentle next time too. I'm sorry." Remus replied.
The next day, Legilimency Lesson 2
That morning, Harry ate breakfast with Remus and Sirius. Then they went upstairs. Harry was nervous.
"Tell me if you need to stop, okay? In your thoughts, I mean. Just think that you want to stop and I'll stop. Just tell me when it gets to be too much." Remus said.
"Okay.." Harry replied nervously. Remus pointed his wand wand at Harry. Harry nodded, signalling that he was ready.
"Legilimens." Remus said. He started with the happiest memories of Harry's he could find. Then he moved to ones about the Dursleys. Harry's first beating by the Dursleys. Harry fought it with all his might, making himself think of happier memories. Remus fought a little harder. Harry fought until he couldn't fight anymore and let himself see the memory while begging Remus to stop. Remus heard Harry's thoughts and withdrew himself.
"You alright?" Remus asked Harry.
"Yeah. I fought for as long as I could.. But you were to strong.." Harry said softly, almost crying.
"I know you did. I'm sorry if I was too harsh again." Remus said, full of remorse.
"It's alright. Let's go again." Harry responded. At the start of the new year, Harry had almost completely mastered Occlumency. His nightmares, the ones about Voldemort at least, were gone. And his scar didn't hurt as often. Harry also began researching in the restricted section of the library for a reason Voldemort survived in 1981. He found something. Horcruxes. He thought back to the Diary. Harry wondered how many Voldemort made. And.. If he read it right.. Harry himself could be an accidental Horcrux. We went straight to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore confirmed Harry's fears, but told him there could be another way. Harry nodded, and Dumbledore did a Diagnostics Check in Harry. The piece of Voldemort's should inside Harry was very small, suggesting Voldemort had made at least six horcruxes before Harry. Dumbledore cleansed Harry's body of Voldemort's soul and started hunting the horcruxes. By the next week, he had found and destroyed every single one except Nagini. The snake. Dumbledore eventually found the snake. And where Nagini was, Voldemort was too. So Dumbledore killed Nagini and then Voldemort. Harry didn't have to worry about Voldemort anymore. Everything was as it should've been without the Prophecy. Other than the fact that Harry had still lost his parents and been abused for years. Harry continued to recover, Sirius and Remus got back together and Harry actually started dating Draco Malfoy. Everything was okay again, or it would be anyway.
The End.