Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.

Written for; Colours of the Rainbow; White 3.

The First Snowfall

Wandering the castle after nightfall was no longer considered dangerous, though he probably shouldn't be doing it. As an eighth year, Harry had been given a fair amount of leeway when it came to curfew, but he rather thought being out at three in the morning still warranted a detention. Regardless, nightmares had woken him up, and the fear of their return had kept him up.

He kept his cloak tightly wrapped around him, serving a double purpose of hiding his pyjama's and keeping the winter chill off him. Pausing by a bay window on the fifth floor, Harry leant against the wall, looking out over the grounds.

"I should have known you wouldn't keep to your dorm, Potter."

Glancing behind him to find the resident Potions Master stalking towards him, Harry simply nodded and turned back to his observation of the grounds. Now he'd been caught, he didn't see any hurry in getting back to bed. He could only be in trouble for the infraction once after all. Surprisingly, Snape didn't seem in any hurry to send him back to bed.

"Nightmares?"

Harry smiled lightly. "Every night," he admitted. "But I'm used to it. It's not really an excuse for being out, Professor. I was just feeling restless."

"I imagine so. Being back here must be an adjustment after a year on the run."

"Of course. It's difficult to remember that I don't have to worry about being seen sometimes. Or one of the younger students will tap me on the back from behind and it takes everything I have not to curse first, ask questions later. I've managed so far, but the paranoia isn't abating at all. Poppy assured me it would just take time but..."

"But you fear you'll never be normal again," Snape muttered, surprisingly insightful.

"Right."

"It will get better, Harry. It takes time, and there will probably always be a small part of you that retains the paranoia, but it will stop being so... debilitating to your every day."

Harry nodded before he sighed. "I should go back to bed."

Snape squeezed his shoulder gently, then shook his head. "You will not go back to sleep. Why bother? Besides... look Potter. The first snow."

Turning back to the window, Harry blinked in surprise as he saw that snow was indeed beginning to fall over the grounds of the first place he'd ever considered home.

"Life goes on, Potter. Snow falls in the winter, the sun blazes in the summer. You have your whole life to live. Take a moment to enjoy the purest natures of the world."

"... Thank you, sir."