Trip Through time

Nightmares

~Ron POV~

I watch Harry practically run from the common room the second we arrive.

I wonder what was wrong with him. “Moine?” I called as she looked at me, “Do you think something happened to Harry over the summer?” I asked worriedly.

Harry was my best friend. Every summer he would come back skinny and shy but never this bad. His eyes held so much pain, I could barely see the mischievous, defiant jade green eyes that would sparkle with wonder anytime we would do any new magic. I had been so excited to show him the expansion charm we had on our tent, but he never showed up. I tried sending letter after letter but they all came back to me unopened and with no response.

“I do not know, Ron. Something must have happened.” Mione’s eyes held a similar worry that mine did. “He was so reserved during the feast and he kept jumping.”

“Are we- the only- one who- noticed he- was using- his left hand.” Fred and George said, alternating every few words before finishing together.

My eyebrows furrowed as I thought back to the meal before realising they were right. “But that makes no sense!” I exclaimed loudly as I thought. “He has always been right handed.”

“So why is he suddenly using his left?” Moine asked herself as I sighed and sat on the couch.

“He’s so small…” I murmured to myself as I put my head in my hands.

“And skittish,” Moine added as we fell into silence.

“You know Fred, maybe the family guardian would protect him too.” One of the twins stated, though I guessed from the sombre tone he wasn’t joking and therefor George.

“Guardian?” Moine asked as I sighed and shook my head.

“Those are just stories mum would tell us so we would go back to sleep.” I stated in annoyance. I had always been told stories of the ‘family guardian’ who protected us in the war. Naturally, I used to believe in the stories we were told but now I found them a bit unbelievable.

“They are not just stories, Ron.” George, or at least the same twin as earlier, shouted at me as Fred shook his head.

“Sometimes you can be really rude.” Fred stated as Moine gave us a confused look. “The family guardian was a cat animagus who protected us during the wizarding war. The stories say that one, when Bill and Charlie were playing outside, a ball of gold light flashed through the sky and out of it fell him. A small black cat bleeding heavily. Bill and Charlie brought the small cat in and together with mum and dad helped save the cat’s life. Named Moon, the cat lived with us as the war continued. He would go around each room and help us sleep, he would look after us and keep us out of trouble. One day an old friend of dad’s came round, planning to hide with us for the rest of the war. However, the death eaters found them and started attacking the house. Moon, protected us by creating a huge magical barrier around the house that couldn’t be broken; it still protects us today,” Fred finished as I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, cause that worked so well with Scabbers,” I grumbled as Moine rolled her eyes.

“Is that true?” Moine asked with slight awe.

“Of course it’s true! We’ve seen the barrier. It was an incredible deep blue, and besides, Bill, Charlie, Percy and even Elijah and his family all say it’s true. You know Elijah, the one hanging around Bill over the summer, him.” George stated as Moine smiled.

“Maybe, a guardian is what Harry needs. At least he won’t get dragged into the chaos this year.” She stated as she got up. “I’m going to bed. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

We nodded as she left, the twins leaving soon after.

I was left alone. My thoughts ran marathons in my head.

I was worried for Harry, scared for him. I wanted to protect him. Keep him from harm. He has been through so much, sometimes it’s hard to remember that he is only 14. He always acted so strong. Never showing his emotions. I wanted to show Harry how loved he was. I wanted him to let down all his walls for me. I wanted to be there when he was at his best and worse. To comfort him when no one else could.

After all, he was my best friend. It was normal to feel this way for your best friend. To want to make him smile and laugh. Yeah, that was totally normal, right?

I forced away my thoughts as I stood up. I walked up the stairs and got changed.

I could hear the soft snores of the others in the room, the owls hooting in the night and the nightlife walking around the forest below. Everything was peaceful. Just like how I liked it. It was a nice change from my home and the chaos that came with it.

I collapsed in my bed as I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.

“Ahhhhhh!”

I jumped up at Harry’s scream as I quickly ran across the room. He was tangled in his sheets, sweat pouring down his pain filled expression. Loud screams ripped through his throat. His left hand thrashed and gripped the sheets tightly while his right only twitched.

“Harry! Harry!” I screamed as I shook his shoulders.

Neville, Seamus and Dean all came over to Harry, worry clear in all their faces. It wasn’t unusual for us to comfort Harry from a nightmare, but this seemed so much worse than any we had to deal with before.

“Harry! Come on mate! Wake up!” I screamed loudly as Harry let out a bloodcurdling scream. I brought Harry into a hug as he thrashed and kicked the air. “Harry! Please, it’s okay. It’s just a nightmare.” I gently stroked his hair as I tried to calm him. However, this seemed to have the opposite effect as Harry tensed up before begging me, “Please, no! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please, don’t hurt me!”

My heart dropped. Harry was afraid of me. Afraid of being hurt. Afraid of being touched.

“Harry, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you,” I whispered as I continued to stroke his hair. “Get McGonagall.” I ordered as Neville quickly ran off.

By the time she had arrived, Harry had resorted to crying desperately while begging me to let him go, promising ‘he would be good’ if I let him go. It broke me to see him like this, we all were wondering what he was dreaming off to get this reaction.

“Oh dear, what happened here?” McGonagall gasped as she spotted Harry.

“He had a nightmare.” Seamus stated as she looked at him. “He hasn’t come out of it.”

McGonagall walked towards us as she kneeled in front of Harry. “Harry. Harry, can you hear me?” She asked calmly as Harry cried harder and started to fight against my arms, digging his nails in, drawing blood.

Worry showed in McGonagall’s face. It was clear she didn’t know what to do but I asked anyway, “McGonagall, what do we do?”