Harry stared up at NiGHTS, confused, as he tilted his head adorably at her. "Home?" he asked.
"Yes. The dream world." The jester said growing worried. "I'm never been to the real world before, I don't know how to get back."
Harry blinked and then realized what happened. "The freaky stuff…" he spoke in horror.
"Hmmm?" NiGHTS asked confused by him. "What stuff?"
"I'M SORRY!" he bellowed now in tears. "I DIDN" T MEAN TO! PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!"
NiGHTS' eyes widened. "Harry! Harry I'm not blaming you for this at all!" She assured him.
"But it's my fault! It's MY FAULT!" Harry said, devastated that he had caused his new friend's suffering. "I brought you here with the fre-"
"Stop." NiGHTS tightened her hold on him with a firm tone. "No more of that...Relax."
"I...I...I'm sorry..." He whimpered. "So sorry..."
NiGHTS sighed and shook her head. "It's not your fault." She stressed. "Not your fault." She ran her hand through his messy hair to calm him down.
She looked around the room and sighed thinking. "Just have to figure out a way to get home is all." She explained trying to brighten him and to an extend her up.
Instead it seemed to make him sadder. He took her wanting to go home, wanting to leave him. He didn't want her to go, but he dared not say anything thinking he had done enough to her. He just whimpered softly and nuzzled into her wanting to be close to her for a little while before leaving him like all the rest.
NiGHTS while confused and concerned with his expression excepted the hug and held him close. "Harry?" She asked concerned about him. "Harry?"
His shoulders started to shake softly and she felt her shoulder start to grow wet. He was crying.
Now she was very concerned. "Hey, what's wrong love?" she asked.
He sniffled softly. "I...I..." He let out a sob.
"Harry, please tell me what's wrong." She asked, concerned. He looked at her with his huge, tear-stained eyes.
"I don't want you to go...I don't want you to leave me all alone..." He whimpered. NiGHTS' eyes widened in realization. Then she smiled. And then, she burst into laughter.
Harry was confused. "Wh-What's...funny...?" He asked softly.
"Oh, Harry...You don't think I'm going anywhere WITHOUT you, do you?" She asked, wiping a tear from her eye. "That's so silly!"
"H-Huh?" he was confused.
NiGHTS chuckled lightly and shook her head. "I'm not leaving you love." she replied back with a bright smile. "You're stuck with me." She stuck out her tongue at him to make him laugh.
He giggled lightly at her, feeling his spirits rise at what she said. She wasn't leaving him! He nuzzled into her holding her tightly as he could, making the jester chuckle softly and hold him close something she was finding very enjoyable.
"Thank you." he mumbled into her shoulder.
Her smile grew slightly as she felt her cheeks turn rosy. "Your welcome love." she whispered into his ear making him snuggle more into her.
However, their moment would not last, as there was a knock at the door.
Curiously she floated over to the door and held the child protectively decided to land on her feet as to not spook any more humans and opened the door with narrowed eyes only for her eyes to go bug eyed in surprise at the…interesting people on the other side.
An elderly man with a long white beard. A stern looking woman with glasses. A hook-nosed man with black hair. And a massive, towering giant of a man.
The group of four looked at her, and blinked, confused.
"Hello there!" NiGHTS greeted cheerfully with a small wave. "Lovely evening we're having, isn't it?" The old man smiled.
"Why yes, it most certainly is." He replied, eyes twinkling merrily. He looked at his companions. "Well, I do believe we've met young Harry's saviour."
"A jester?" The hook-nosed man asked. "Amusing." He commented giving the child a once over and when he noticed the scars his eyes softened slightly.
"Now, now." NiGHTS commented with a smile. " I'm no ordinary Jester." She said wagging her finger at the man.
"May I ask what you are then my dear?" the long bearded one asked kindly.
NiGHTS smiled at him and lifted her legs to show herself hovering in the air as a small flute melody played in the wind. "I am a nightmarion. But everyone calls me NiGHTS" She smiled down at the little child trying to hide. "And you seem to know this little one." She said running her hand though his hair softly. "It's alright love." She whispered softly.
The tall man sniffled slightly at the scene. "Y-Ye saved him, didn't ya...?" He asked softly. NiGHTS nodded.
"That's correct, my rather tall friend." She said with a nod. "What kind of person would I be if I let abuse like that slide?" The man burst into tears. "Oh. Have I upset you at all?"
"It's not you, dear. He's just rather...emotional at the moment." The woman replied.
"I can't thank ye enough, lass!" The giant man bawled out.
NiGHTS smiled slightly and floated up to the large man surprising everyone and tapped his forehead slightly. "Now, now. No tears." She said with a grin. "He's safe and sound now." She gazed down tenderly at the child who now peeked out to gaze at the giant man.
The large man gave a watery smile down at the small child and for some reason he was not afraid of the large man.
"Still thank you for what you have done. Ms. NiGHTS." The long bearded man said with a twinkle in his eyes.
The jester winker at him and continued to rock Harry gently in her arms making him relax more into her.
The older man cleared his throat. "I do believe we need to introduce ourselves."
NiGHTS nodded her head. "Yes, I WOULD like to know the names of the ones who care for my new charge." She nodded.
"New charge, hmm?" The hook-nosed man asked.
"I am Albus Dumbledore." The man introduced with a smile. "My female companion is named Minerva McGonagall."
"Good evening." Minerva nodded.
"I am Severus Snape." The black haired man said with a nod.
"Name's Rubeus Hagrid!" Hagrid chimed in. "Pleased to meet yeh!"
She smiled and did a light bow. "A pleasure." She curtsied. She stood strait again. "Where you all stopping by to have a drink? Or was there another reason?" she asked with a tilted head.
The older man sighed softly and he looked like the old man that he was. "Rectifying a mistake." He clarified.
She blinked at him confused before gazing back down at the content child who was resting in her arms. "Mistake?"
The older man nodded with a sad sigh. "We would love to tell you all we can. If you will follow us that is."
"Albus!" the man named Snap hissed out in warning.
"It is fine Severus. She is his new guardian; we should treat her with the respect she deserves."
NiGHTS placed a hand on her him while her other held the child to herself. "They sure like to talk to themselves don't they?" she whispered to Harry making him giggle lightly at her.
Snape quirked his brow. "Ah yes, she DID claim she's his new guardian, didn't she?" He asked dryly.
"Yes, that's right." NiGHTS replied.
"Is there a problem with that, Severus?" Minerva asked.
"Oh, I'd just like to know if she's truly up to the task." The man replied.
"Well, of course I am." NiGHTS interrupted. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Oh, it just seems you wouldn't take it entirely...seriously." Snape replied. NiGHTS smirked.
"Sir, I'll have you know I can be VERY serious when I need to be. And besides, who else will raise him? You?"
"Hmm...You're a mouthy one, aren't you?" Snape said, smirking slightly.
"I am, sir. I don't take nonsense from anyone."
"An admirable trait to be sure. Do be sure the boy understands respect towards his elders, though."
"Where would the fun be in that?" she teased lightly getting the man to scowl at her. She giggled lightly and waved him off. "He will learn…he most likely understands that too well." She commented softly with some bitterness in her voice.
Harry looked up at her worried that she was sad again. He saw her give him a small grin and he relaxed slightly but was still concerned when her eyes did not shine as bright as they once did.
Dumbledore seemed to notice as well. "Let's continue this conversation at a much more comfortable location." He said as he lifted up a glass.
NiGHTS rose an eyebrow at that. "What will that do?"
"Portkey" Minerva stated. "It's safer to travel with guests." She explained.
NiGHTS tilted her head. "A portkey, hmm? And what, pray tell, will it do?"
"I hate these things..." Hagrid grumbled. "Always makin' me feel dizzy..."
"Yes, I agree with Rubeus." Snape nodded. "Do be sure to keep a firm grip on the boy."
"So...It's some sort of odd teleportation thing, is it?" NiGHTS asked, raising a brow.
"I suppose you could say that." Dumbledore replied with a grin.
The jester shrugged and placed a hand on the glass holding it and the child tightly. It was then she felt a strange sensation of being pulled from her nose.
Soon the sensation faded and NiGHTS giggled lightly at the rush. "That was fun."
A small whimper however made her smile fade as her head snapped down to the child who looked in pain and almost sick. "Harry. You okay, love?" she asked softly.
"No…likely…glass…" he mumbled slightly his voice slightly slurred as he now saw two NiGHTS before him making him close his eyes before he passed out.
A soft chuckle made her turn to glare lightly at the older man. "I do apologies Harry."
"M'sfine." He mumbled softly nuzzling into NiGHTS to held mend his now aching head.
NiGHTS smiled and took a reclining position in the air. "Not used to it, are you, love?" She asked. He shook his head.
"And you are?" Snape asked with a raised brow.
"What, you think I have the power to fly around and just use it to float or something?" She asked. "I fly in all sorts of different ways, I've grown accustomed to wild rides like that one."
"Well, I pray you don't try to get Harry used to the sensation of a portkey by taking him flying in such a manner."
"Oh please." NiGHTS replied with a smirk. "Surely you must have SOME faith in my parenting skills."
The man gave her a flat look. "When one dresses like a clown. I question everything about them." He commented dryly.
NiGHTS felt her eye twitch as she placed a hand on her hip. "What is that supposed to mean?" she asked. But got no response as the man. She scoffed and held the still dizzy child close. "He is grumpy." She commented making the child smile lightly.
"Now then. Ms. NiGHTS, let me welcome you…to Hogwarts!" Dumbledore stated waving his hand slightly and to the jester's shock and awe as large castle materialized out of the mist.
"Oh wow!" she gushed flying a little higher to get a better look. "It's so big…" she said in awe then giggled lightly making Snape role his eyes.
The older man smiled at the young jester. "It is indeed. Now shall we?" he asked begging his walk to a large gate that opened like magic for the older man and the others.
NiGHTS followed with excitement shining in her eyes. Harry gazed up and felt a small grin return to his face seeing her happy look. He closed his eyes again and nuzzled into her more wanting to sleep.
NiGHTS smiled and stroked his head. "That's right, love, you rest now..." She whispered softly. He cooed and snuggled even closer, eliciting a soft giggle. Snape noticed and quirked his brow.
'Well, she's certainly an improvement. Though I'm still worried how he'll turn out...'
"So...Where are you leading me, anyway?" NiGHTS asked, tilting her head.
"To my office." Dumbledore explained.
NiGHTS nodded slightly and gazed down at the sleeping child contently getting lost in his sleeping face.
Soon the small group arrived at the large room where everyone took a seat while NiGHTS floated comfortably in the air slightly rocking the sleeping baby in her arms.
"So, mine telling me what this horrible mistake was now?" she asked.
"The mistake was sending him to that household in the first place" Snape commented darkly.
NiGHTS nodded her head. "Yes, that much is true." She said.
"I told him. I said 'Albus, these are the worst sort of muggles, we should't send Harry there.' But no, Albus sends him anyway." Minerva agreed, looking at Dumbledore, unamused. He grimaced.
"Yes, yes, I've made a grave error in my judgement..." He agreed, looking down.
"You sent him there?" NiGHTS asked shocked.
The older man nodded gravely. "Yes. It for his own good…"
"His own good!" NiGHTS snapped. "That large man was hurting him along with his stick of a twig wife!"
"I know…I know…" Dumbledore looked down his eyes looking cloudy.
The jester glared at him one more time before sighing softly at the sleeping child. "The last time he slept he had a nightmare." She commented.
"Nightmare?" Snape asked. "I would imagine so...After what he's been through..."
"How do ye know this, girlie?" Hagrid asked, tilting his head. NiGHTS smiled.
"Well, I DO live in the land of dreams, after all." She replied.
"You...live in a dream world." Snape said bluntly, looking at her with a raised brow.
"That's right, my hook-nosed friend." NiGHTS playfully booped the man's nose.
Snape glared at her with a scowl making her smirk at him. She floated away and gave the large man a small grin. "I am what is known as a Nightmarion. A creature that resides within dreams." She explained.
"Fascinating." Dumbledore stated his eyes sparkling again.
"So how did you enter into our world?" Minerva asked.
NiGHTS sighed softly her smile fading into a small frown. "I'm not sure. Based on Harry's expression however, he thinks he must have done something." She said sadly. "He blames himself for it, the poor dear."
"So your trapped?" Snape asked.
The jester sighed and nodded. "At the moment yes."
Dumbledore nodded. "I see..." He said calmly. "I'm terribly sorry..." NiGHTS waved her head.
"It's all right." She assured. "Don't worry about me. Harry here will be needing me around anyway."
"But don't you wish to go home?" Minerva asked.
"Well, yes...But only if I can bring Harry along with me."
"You care a lot about him don't you?" The old man asked.
NiGHTS gave the child a tender smile moving some hair out of his face gently. "He grows on people. His dream self was being talked bad to by his own mum. It must have hit home I guess."
"Lilly would never-" Snape breathed with wide shocked eyes.
"It wasn't really her. Just a lone nightmare exploiting a little boys fear." She stated sadly. "He thinks that his mother hated him I suppose."
The room grew more silent and cold. NiGHTS noticed this and gazed at the wizards and witch. "Something I said?"
"Lilly and James Potter where heroes along with their son. They died protecting him to a dark wizard who wanted him dead." Dumbledore explained.
