DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Harry Potter series.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: OMG!!! OVER A HUNDRED REVIEWS!!!! You guys are the best!!! Thanks so much!! Anyway I've been trying to update more frequently. So now instead of writing two drafts I just type it and check over the typed version and then I post it. It just helps in getting it to you guys sooner! Anyway, get ready for more parental comforting because we're off to chapter 12!

Chapter Twelve: Breakfast and A Talk

Harry awoke the next morning feeling oddly warm, as if his blankets had suddenly been heated. He also realized he was way too comfortable. Then, he noticed a rhythm. A slow steady beating sounded, like a drum. He opened his eyes, confused. Although the image was blurry, Harry could make out the figure of his mother beside him on his bed. Her eyes were closed in a peaceful sleep. He then realized the steady beating had been his father's heart and that his own head was lying across his father's chest. He couldn't see his dad's eyes, but judging from his slowed heartbeat, Harry assumed James was also in a deep slumber. His mother's arm was wrapped around the two of them protectively and his father's hand was rested on Harry's head as if he had been combing his fingers through Harry's messy jet-black hair.

Harry blushed a bit in spite of himself, as he remembered the happenings of the previous night. He had acting like a three year old, sobbing like that over a nightmare. He thought back to the nightmare itself. He shuddered. Then again it had been pretty terrifying. Besides, if he would wake up this comfortable every time he had a nightmare… well, let's just say he could get used to it. He smiled lightly and let out a contented sigh. He wasn't tired anymore, but there was no way he was going to compromise the comfortable position he was in right now by trying to get up. He remembered when he was younger he had dreamed of being able to crawl up into bed with his parents after a nightmare. He never would have thought that at the age of 16 his parents would climb up into bed with him. So, he decided to just relax in his parents' arms and wait for them to wake up.

He didn't have to wait long, though. A few minutes after Harry had decided to stay relaxed in his parents' loving arms, he felt his father's hand brush lightly through his hair as the man woke from his slumber. James took a deep breath and attempted to sit up. However, when he went to move he noticed his son on his chest and stopped. He glanced at his wife on the bed, and then back to his son. Harry's green eyes looked up at him surprised.

"Oh!" James whispered huskily. He hadn't realized Harry was awake. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you?"

Harry shook his head. "I've been awake for a little while," he muttered back.

"Are you hungry?" James asked quietly.

"A little," Harry admitted equally as quiet.

"Come on, then," James said, as he lightly lifted his wife's arm and laid it next to her on the bed. She stirred a bit but didn't wake. He then grabbed the two pairs of glasses off of the side table. He put one pair on his face and handed the other to his son. Harry clambered out of bed and followed James downstairs.

Once in the kitchen, James began to rummage through the pantry in search of breakfast. Harry took a seat at the table, trying to stay out of the way. James kept moving things out of the way within the food cupboard. This continued for a while before James pulled back with an odd look on his face.

"You know," he said, "I've just realized that I don't know how to make any of this stuff…"

Harry laughed. James looked at him strangely. 'That's the first time I've heard him laugh like that,' he thought. 'It sounded so natural.'

"Er… Hello?" Harry said. "Do I have something on my face or something?"

"What? Oh! No, it's nothing," James said smiling. "Don't worry about it."

"Uh… okay?" Harry said, thoroughly confused. "Anyway, you don't have to worry about not being able to cook. I can do it!"

"Are you sure?" James asked. "I mean I don't want you to feel obligated or anything…"

"It's okay," Harry replied. "I don't mind. Are pancakes with eggs and bacon all right?"

"Oh yeah! That'd be great!"

"I'm gonna make enough for mum too. For when she wakes up." With that Harry set off to start breakfast. He started the pancakes first. He added the milk and stirred the batter until it was creamy. Then he started up the stove. He placed eggs in one skillet, bacon in another, and the pancakes he did in a third. By the time everything was finished Lily had come down stairs.

"What is that wonderful smell?" she asked.

"Harry's making breakfast!" James exclaimed merrily from behind his Daily Prophet. "Pancakes, eggs, and bacon."

"Well if it tastes as good as it smells then it should be delicious," Lily said. "Wait a minute! Why is Harry cooking the meal while you just sit here?"

"It's okay, mum," Harry informed her. "I offered."

"Well… all right then… I was wondering if you where a good cook. I mean you mentioned that you cooked a while ago… but…"

"Well I don't really know if I'm a good cook. But you can let me know after you eat it," Harry said, smiling sheepishly.

"I'm sure it's fantastic! I mean it looks really good," James said, as Harry placed the meal on the table.

"Well dig in I guess," Harry said awkwardly. He was a bit nervous about seeing their response to his cooking, as he had never been complimented on it before. Not that the Dursley's would have bothered. He watched with apprehension as his parents took their first bites.

"Wow! Harry this is excellent!!" Lily cooed.

"It's right up there with your mum!" James cried.

"Er… Thanks," Harry replied self-consciously. He blushed yet again.

Throughout the meal the three of them chatted away. Lily and James were careful (much to Harry's delight) not to mention the undertakings of the night before. Harry's pride was still a bit fragile that morning. So, Lily and James stayed far away from the topic, as to keep Harry from further embarrassment; at least for now. They would all talk about it later. Lily and James both knew they were saving the touchy subject for later.

"Thanks for breakfast, love!" Lily said as the three of them finished.

"No problem," Harry replied. "I'm just glad you liked it."

"It was delicious, son," James chimed in.

"Thanks."

"All right, sweetheart, we've put it off long enough," Lily said after a long moment of silence.

"Your mother is right. Let's go out into the sitting room. We need to talk," James said solemnly.

Harry knew exactly what was coming and he felt the feeling of dread percolate through him. He decided to put on an act though. 'I'll just act as if I don't know what they're talking about,' he told himself. However, deep down he knew they wouldn't fall for it. 'Hey, it's worth a try!'

"Harry, we need to talk to you about last night," James informed him, as they got comfortable in the spacious room.

"W-what do you mean?" Harry asked, in what he hoped was a convincing tone.

"Harry, we know that you know exactly what we mean," Lily told him.

"You had a nightmare last night, Harry," James said. "You've got to tell us what happened that night or at least what your dream was about. It's the only way we can help you."

"I-I don't w-want to t-talk about it," Harry choked out. He was horrified to find that fresh tears had sprung to his eyes.

"I know, sweetie, but we want to help you," Lily said.

"W-well can I just… you know… start and… t-try to get as far as I can?" Harry asked, trembling.

"Of course, sweetheart. We'll listen to you no matter what, okay?"

Harry nodded and hesitantly began the story. However, as soon as he started, he found it hard to stop. He just kept going.

"W-well that n-night… A-aunt M-Marge was over… and I-I made dinner for t-them while t-the D-Dursley's were out. W-when they got h-home t-they… ate t-the dinner, a-and I thought that m-maybe I w-was in the c-clear… B-but then I heard U-uncle V-Vernon coming up the s-stairs," Harry started. The tears in his eyes leaked over. "A-aunt Marge was w-with him… H-he t-told me to g-get on the floor… l-like he always d-did… H-he undid h-his b-belt… a-and h-he l-lashed m-me l-like u-usual… M-Marge j-just sat there… o-on t-the b-bed… l-like s-she was w-watching t-the T-TV," He was sobbing now. So hard that his parents had to listen intently to understand what he was saying. "T-then –hiccup – h-he s-started t-to –hiccup – unzip h-his p-pants… W-when I-I f-finally – hiccup – r-realized w-what he w-was d-doing I-it w-was – hiccup – t-too l-late… B-but I-I – hiccup – t-tried," he told them desperately. "H-he w-was j-just – hiccup – t-too s-strong… A-and it h-hurt s-s-so b-b-bad – hiccup – I-I'm s-sorry… I t-tried…"

He finally gave way to sobs and buried his face into his mother's shoulder. She too was sobbing and his father not far from it. Lily held her son to her and rocked him gently, as James rubbed comforting circles in between his shoulder blades.

"W-we don't blame y-you, Harry," Lily whispered into his tousled hair. "No one blames you."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yay! That's the end of Chapter Twelve! I hope you all enjoyed it. If you couldn't tell I was feeling a bit sentimental when I wrote this chapter. There is a lot of bounding. Anyway tell me what you think!! Thanks guys, you're the best! R&R if you want: )