QL, Wigtown Wanderers, Beater 1, Round 10. Theme: Cujo. Prompts: "Stay out of my room." - Lilac - With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts. Word Count: 1035. Beta: Aya :)

AU - Harry raised by his parents/Voldie doesn't exist.

Seven-year-old Harry sprung up to a seated position in his bed. Sweat dampened his forehead as he tried to control his laboured breath. His hair was even more wild than usual. The dreams were so vivid, so real. He knew that he had no reason to be afraid of any animal, especially with his Godfather being a dog, his father being a stag, and his uncles being a rat and a werewolf. That knowledge didn't stop the nightmares or make little Harry less scared of the dog in his visions.

This night, the seven-year-old was too scared to get out of his bed and walk to his parent's room like he had every night that week. Harry stared fearfully at his bedroom door - what if the dog was on the other side? Would he attack? Bite him? Would he be infected and die? Staying on the bed was the safest option for now. Besides, he didn't want to wake up his parents again.

Slowly - as if to not alert anybody of him being awake - Harry pulled a lilac blanket over his head. The blanket smelt of lavender and always helped him fall back to sleep. His mother had bought it for him when he was two after he fell asleep on it when they were shopping. It had yet to let him down.

A few long breaths were taken and Harry allowed his heavy eyelids to close. Unfortunately, the blankets magical powers didn't work this time. Harry's eyes flew open at the sound of a creak. It was here. The dog had finally arrived. He would never see his parents again. Nor his uncles.

The handle squeaked and pure panic filled the black-haired boy. "Stay out of my room!" he shouted suddenly, throwing the lilac blanket towards the door in hopes to stop it from swinging open and halting the dog in its tracks.

Once again, his beloved blanket failed to stop the door, however, it wasn't a dog who rushed over to maim him, but his father to comfort him.

Harry jumped into his father's arms and hugged him tightly. He must have been checking in on him.

"How about you sleep in our room," his father whispered holding him closely as he carried him out of the room.

Harry felt his eyelids close now that he was safe in the arms of his father. The last thing he remembered seeing was the lone lilac blanket on his bedroom floor before he drifted off to sleep.

The nightmares continued for the next few days. It was clear to Harry that his parents were worried. Recently his uncles seemed to be taking turns to sleep over. Tonight it was Peter.

"Uncle Pete?"

"Hmm," his uncle replied, seemingly caught off guard.

"Can I become an animagus like you and Dad and Sirius?" he inquired.

Pete shook his head. "No, not until you're an adult."

Harry sighed. "I wish I could now."

His uncle put an arm around his shoulders supportively. "To fight off your nightmare dog?"

He shook his head and looked up at him. "No. I want to be a rat like you. Then I could hide away anywhere I want. I don't want to fight him, I'd lose."

"Harry, you listen to me now," Pete said seriously. "You are one of the bravest people I know. You can fly on a broom above all of the houses without batting an eyelid. I've seen you running head first into the unknown. You've nearly given Lily a heart attack the amount of times she's found you on the roof."

Harry chuckled at that. He did find it funny how his father got in trouble for doing fun things like climbing onto the roof too.

"You are brave. Believe me when I tell you that you can do anything you put your mind to. Your nightmare dog cannot defeat you unless you let it."

"But what if it—"

"You cannot change the past and you cannot decide the future. What you can do is choose how to live in the present." He paused. "Do you want to live your life always afraid?"

Harry shook his head.

"Do you want to hide away forever?"

Another shake.

Pete smiled. "You can face your nightmares, then. I believe in you."

Harry nodded. "Yeah! I can!"

He gave Peter a hug in thanks for listening to him and encouraging him to face his fears. For the first time in the last two weeks, Harry was looking forward to going to sleep. This time, though, when the dog turned up in his dreams, he'd be ready. Tomorrow, he'd wake up stronger. He wouldn't be afraid of the dog anymore. He would think differently. It was not going to get the best of him any longer.

A few weeks later, a week before his eighth birthday, Harry was tidying his room. He picked up his lilac blanket that he hadn't used since the nightmares. It had lost its value. His door swung open and his younger sister walked in. "Stay out of my room, Tulip! I'm tidying up and you'll just make a mess."

The five-year-old pouted. "But I'm bored! Can't we play?"

Harry shook his head. "No. If I don't tidy up I won't get any cake."

Tulip sighed sadly and turned away from him.

"Wait," he said softly, looking at the blanket. "I have something for you."

Tulip turned around eagerly. "Really?!"

Harry nodded and walked over to her. "Lilac's your favourite colour, right?" She nodded. "I think you should have this then. It smells of lavender and helps you sleep at night."

The amazement on his younger sisters face knew he was making the right decision as he handed it to her. She instantly hugged it and buried her face. A very muffled "Thank you" was heard before she ran excitedly from the room with it.

He smiled and walked over to his window. It was getting hot. As he turned the handle he saw the same dog from his nightmares standing opposite his home. His nightmare was finally coming true. But he would not let it overrun his life. He thought differently now. Besides, he couldn't get in... right?