The Boggart by TheRogueLibrarian

Chapter 7

"...You like that don't you?"

"Please stop! Please!"

"This is all your fault, bitch."

"No! NO! Stop!"

"Just take it. I know you love it. Take it."

"Ple- Please. I... No... Stop..."

"Fuck. You're so fucking sexy. So bruised and broken for me. So tight."

"No... No... Stop... Please..."

"I could fuck you all day freak."

"No..."

Harry woke up, drenched in a pool of cold sweat. The nightmares were still there. Always there. They never left him. They haunted him like the memories. He would never be free of them. He would never be free. He would never...

Why?

Why was he cursed to live like this? Cursed to stay in this putrid life? He wanted to go to heaven. To be free of the shackles that surrounded him. Why was it all so unfair?

"Harry? Harry are you okay?"

Paralysed in fear Harry recoiled slightly when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Harry! Oh no! Another nightmare!"

He clenched his eyes shut. Someone was touching him. His shoulder. He was being touched. And he couldn't stop it. He could never stop it. It would always be like this. He would always have to go back. And where was his reality? What was real? Was his freedom a lie? Would he be returning that summer? Was he-

The hands shook him.

"Harry! You've got to snap out of it. You're a Hogwarts! Its me Neville. You're okay. He can't get you here."

Harry opened his eyes slowly, taking in his surroundings. Sure enough. He was surrounded by elves. Sleeping on a tattered bed with Neville close beside him. He saw the worry shining out of his friends caring eyes. Why was he so weak? Always so weak. Always. He couldn't even get over his stupid past. He couldn't move on. Oh, how he longed to move on. But he was weak. And stupid. And hideous.

Why couldn't they let him die?

"Harry! Stop thinking like that!"

Harry tilted his head in confusion,

"Did I say that out loud?"

Neville shook his head,

"No. But I know what you're thinking and its not true. You're not weak. Its not your fault. And you need to live!"

Harry growled,

"No! No way! I'm sick of living, Neville, you know this. Quit all this... this... harassment. I can't deal with it right now. Or ever. Just let me die. The world will be better off anyway."

Neville shook his head, something akin to anger on his face,

"No Harry! You are the most amazing person I have ever met and if you need to die then I bloody well should already be six feet underground! You can get through this. I know you can. And I will be there for you. There's a reason why you haven't tried again Harry. Its because you're strong!"

Harry shouted,

"Its because I'm cursed!"

Neville misunderstood and thought it was a figure of speech.

Harry knew better.

He always knew better.

How he wished he didn't know better.