I was never afraid of sleeping. I liked sleeping. Though I was dead I felt like I could finally start living. I could really start dreaming the achievable dreams. Like a birthday party, Summer picnics, and Christmas mornings where there were real presents for me and not hand me downs from Dudley. I didn't have to wish for anyone to come and take me. Dream about the parents I should've had. I had them, and they were all I wanted. I loved this wonderfully twisted place. It was where I belonged and that was the best thing I could have asked for.

While I thought about the one ton weight of pain being lifted off of my chest by being here. I stared at the planetarium my dad, Jack Skellington, made just for me. His reason for it was that the moon over Halloween town was hazy and haunting here so that mean the only thing I would see was a hazing moon, and he made it clear I deserved to see a beautiful sky of stars and moons. I didn't argue I didn't want to. I loved them so much it wasn't anything they could do to change it. The only thing they could do was enhance it.

Tonight, however I couldn't figure out why I couldn't sleep, I was in the same beautiful setting I'd been in for the last few weeks. The same place I closed my eyes and heard laughter. Where my bed felt like it was made of clouds but tonight felt like needles. Mother Sally walked in my room with a glass of hot chocolate made of Butterfingers, milk, and cream. Sally was the mother I had always dreamed of, or wished for, sometimes I was half convinced if my mother made it here she'd be Sally. That was not true.. Sally was made for some weirdos fantasy. She was just the angel I had dreamed of my whole life just comforting me because the dreams I had of this were now in the planetarium somewhere.

"Harry?"

"Yes Mum?"

"Mom? Not mother Sally or... Sally?" She asked as if knowing that Mum meant something so much deeper. She was right. I never called her mom, or Jack Dad, because I was afraid that something might happen to rip me away from them. So I didn't want to get attached, but now I felt permanent here. I felt like this was really my home and I was safer than safe and that was all that mattered to me. To them. I was finally home.

"Yes... You're my Mum, and Jack is my dad. Nothings going to change that."

She kissed my head. "You're absolutely right.. Nothing in the world would change how I or your father feels. You're our son... I wish it would have happened sooner, but I knew I'd always have my boy." She smiled and kissed my head again. "So what is bothering you my dear why can't you sleep?"

I shrugged I wish I knew that myself. But I didn't. I just wanted to go to sleep and dream of my life. I lived it every day, but still the romantics of it were something I couldn't stand to lose. It almost felt like my brain was reconstructing my memories to just be the good times. I sighed and curled against her. "I.. I think it was something someone said to me today..."

"What?"

"They said I was the boy who lived.. And will again."

"Well you will." She smiled. "When your father goes to bless the earth on Halloween with fun and fulfillment of all things dark, scary, and hauntingly beautiful you will be in attendance. We all are. One night a year we live on the plane of the living."

"What if that's not what they meant?" I asked. "What if I have to leave you and dad?" The sentence tasted like rusty nails made of fire coming up my throat. Like I had told her I hated her and I never wanted to return to this wonderful place. I was afraid of how she would react, like always when I was alone, afraid, or scared I thought I would get a 'Shake it off you twit!' But Sally lifted my face to hers and stared at me. Her iris' showing and her smile was gone, she looked like she might cry. I was automatically devastated I'd hurt her.

"Harry... Harry James Potter Skellington. You will never leave me. You will never run from me. You will never be hurt by me, and if ever I can I will never give you a reason to run. There may very well be a day where your destiny will reach to the depths of our protection to get you, when that day comes you will be my son just as much as you are right now. You're home Harry.. What ever comes.. Comes, but don't take it too much to heart when a pretty ghoul tells you a future we're not sure will come true." She wiped my tears. "Rest my love. I'll see you in the morning my little Jack O'lantern." She used her fingers to morph my sadden expression to a happy one Then she stood and walked out of my room blowing me one last kiss,

I lay there staring at my planetarium when I heard Jack humming his way through the hall. It'd been an hour since Mum left and I still felt drifting. When I heard Dad open my door I closed my eyes. He sat by my bed I heard the chair give a slight creek when he settled in. "No son of mine will be haunted by nightmares alone. I may say unpleasant dreams, but I don't mean it." He yawned and wrapped himself in a blanket. Then proceeded to watch me. For the weirdest reason in the human dictionary of weird. I felt safe enough to go to sleep. So like a warm blanket of sand wrapped around me so tightly I closed my eyes and began to dream.

Dreaming... I know I am because I am walking through grand halls of a beautiful castle. I look at the stair case and it has changed. I inhale and could tell this place dripped with magic. Strong, painful, protecting, beautiful magic, I wonder why. Why is it here? Why is it lurking. I walk to the painting and it opens. I walk through the door and up the stairs and I wonder where I am the whole time. Where are my parents?! My real friends.. Where was Blythe? I opened the next door and see the olive skin girl with Chipmunk cheeks and frizzy dark colored hair. Her ears were pointed, but in an enjoyable way. She sat with her nose so deep in a book I was half convinced she would fall in. I watched her look up at a red headed boy who was wearing hand me downs and his hair was messy. Though he looked like he was an extra in a Oliver twist play he seemed courageous and kind A type of friend I could depend on. A friend I very much would need.

"What are you reading?"

"Monsters and Mysteries of Gryffindorr."

"Seriously?"

She nodded. "You know you should probably pick up a copy. Professor Mcgonagall is giving a test on it."

"I don't need to study!" The red head said as if he were triumphant in winning. He even gave her a coy smile "To hear you tell it I know everything."

"Really Ron! You are impossible!" She stood.

"Aw c'mon Hermonie we were having such a good time."

"You know... You're an idiot! You don't invest in anything! You're always joking! Like this isn't serious!"

"Hermonie it's only going to get harder.. And if you're this hard on yourself as a first year... You're going to be dead by the final year."

"Why would you say something like that?!"

He looked at her and took her hand "Because you're my friend and I care about you... You deserve to relax and be a free spirit. What Draco says is bullocks. You're better than any wizard your blood matters about as much as mine does."

Hermonie, that was the wild haired beauties name, hugged her friend Ron. And I felt like I was missing. I felt like I had lost something even though I had gained everything. What did this mean? I had friends, I loved my friends we were going to play broom ball tomorrow. Why did I miss two people I'd never seen before?

I couldn't get the answers to the one million questions I asked myself. The scene before me was melting like Popsicle on a sunny day. A man stood in front of me, and I knew I was dreaming, the guy looked like he had walked off the Wizard crunch cereal box. He had robes of blue and silver on and a pointy hat with a beard that touched his stomach and thick glasses. I was more afraid when he walked through me, and I felt it. He looked at a man who was dressed like he was an outcast in school. All black robes with black hair and pale skin. His eyes weren't empty or rat like, but he looked like the villain from a Die hard film. I thought he looked cool.

"The only person to stop this monster is dead Albus."

"Yes that is a mighty hiccup in our plan."

"Mighty Hiccup!? He was the only plan we had against him! There is no plan.. No... back up.. Nothing.. Just him! And he's dead."

I felt bad for overhearing this conversation. I didn't know who they were talking about or why I was here to hear about it, but I knew I didn't want to be. I had this sick feeling that this wasn't going to end well for anyone involved. What if... What if it was me? What if I had to leave my home, my family, anyone I cared about and be someones plan? No. No I wanted to stay home. Live with the people I loved and never look back on the life I could've had if I didn't die.

"Well everything dies. Even us... Doesn't mean we're gone forever."

"You're talking in riddles."

Albus smiled and looked at him. "Severus... You're a doubting Thomas... It's not healthy."

Severus shrugged. "I hope you've got something else brewing up there."

"You're kidding me. I am head master for a reason."

"Because you're ancient." He said as if he was saying the sky was blue.

"Well when you put it that way it's just true isn't it." He looked at the large clock on the wall. "We've got 125 days to figure out something."

"That's a bit specific."

"Why yes... It's the only day our white horse is allowed upon the living."

"You're telling me in one hundred and twenty five days there is a chance that..."

He nodded. "Until then I suppose we should start finding a plan B. "

A woman walked in and put a tray of tea and cookies on the table. "Severus I hope you're not listening to Albus ramble on about the night of Halloween."

"You've heard these?" He asked

"Yes... I have and I keep telling him he's out of his mind."

"So you don't believe him?"

"Oh I do.. Doesn't mean he'd come back."

Severus stood. "Oh this is nonsense! You both are out of your bloody minds!" He stormed out.

Then like a brick to my skull I was slammed with a pain that could bring the strongest man down. With the blinding pain came Haunting whispers "Soon." Was the only thing the whisper said and then the pain jolted me awake.

I was in the embrace of my dad when I woke up. Jack was patting my head with cold compresses and trying to get me to stop shaking. "D-Dad.." I said my voice was weak and depleting.

"Shhh your mothers coming.."

Sally ran in with more ice and more love than I could ever thank her for. She kissed me and held my hand "Perhaps Butterfingers isn't the best thing for cocoa."

"You've fixed it for him every night since he's got here." Jack said more concerned. "Harry, son, I need you to tell me what happened to day that would put you into such an uproar."

"I met Blythe... She said I was the boy who lived and would live again, but I don't want to. I don't want to leave you guys! I'm happy here why would I have to go back I just seen myself happy now I have got to go back!"

Jacks eyeless sockets got dark with a squint. "You are not going anywhere Harry. You're our son. No one can take you from us. You will live again. On Halloween with me and your mother. Just twenty four hours of pure fun. You don't have to go anywhere."

Halloween just made my stomach turned. I was so excited before. I was in a special class for it and everything. Sam and I were the best of friends and the protectors of the Halloween Spirit. Sure he took it to the extreme sometimes.. (Stabbing someone with a lollipop is a little much.) But that wasn't to take away from how much I'd learned and how happy I was to be a part of my fathers legacy. I never knew what James Potters life was about, and maybe I never would, but I knew Jacks. Jack and James to me seemed like the same person. From what I was told of my father he was brilliant, a tad arrogant, and adventurous. So was Jack. So my father wasn't a king, I would never be alive and a part of a royal family, but being dead I was and I seen no reason to change it.

"Jacks right. Honey you're safe here.. We've got no need to give you away you've got no need to go anywhere.. I think you over thought this whole thing.."

""You do?"

She just nodded at me. "I do.. You're so afraid something is going to tear you away from us." She kissed his head and then handed me tea. "Drink."

I did as she said and drank the whole cup. As soon as I finished I laid down. I closed my eyes and then like a light switch I went back to sleep. Maybe Mum and Dad were right. I was over reacting. Over thinking. I knew what I had to do, and that what was talk to Emily.