Three
4th September 1971
Severus is running through the station in a blind panic. Crowds of faceless people and great clouds of steam obscure his view as he desperately tries to find the right platform. He doesn’t know how or why he is late, all he knows is that the train is due to depart at any moment, and if he doesn’t catch it he will not be going to Hogwarts, and he will be trapped in his dingy home with his fearful father for the rest of his life.
He cannot make his legs move as fast as they should, and every turn seems to lead only to another corridor or tunnel. Suddenly he hears a clear whistle from the other end of the station. Of course. There was another train he could take! He gives up on this fruitless search and runs in the direction of the whistle. But again he finds himself lost in a maze of people and passages, unable to direct himself toward his goal. Twice more he tries desperately to find the train – any train to take him toward his destination. If he could only reach Scotland he would gladly climb over mountains to reach the school.
Then suddenly he finds himself on the correct platform, the bright red train right before him, merrily chuffing out puffs of white steam. He has made it! As he starts toward the nearest carriage however the doors begin to swing shut with a deep clunk. He hastens up the platform, dragging leaden feet, and the steam parts to show a young girl with auburn hair leaning out of a window.
‘Come on Sev! Hurry up!’ she calls.
He races toward the door to her carriage, but a grinning boy closes the door and points to a sign on the outside.
‘Only Gryffindors in here, no slimy Slytherins allowed.’ He huffs haughtily.
Severus doesn’t mind that so much. He doesn’t want to be with a bunch of stupid Gryffindors anyway, though it pains him that Lily has somehow got stuck with them. He keeps running up the platform; the Slytherin carriages are no doubt at the front, but as he spots a tinge of green ahead another whistle blows and the train jolts.
Fear grips him once again as the train slowly begins to move. No, no, no! This can’t be happening! The emerald green Slytherin carriage is only a few metres ahead of him now, but the train is gaining momentum, and it is all he can do just to keep up. With a momentous effort he hurls himself toward the door, but he trips and falls…
Then a hand grabs him and pulls him aboard the train.
‘Hello Severus. Another bad dream tonight?’
The boy lies panting in the corner of the train corridor, his whole body shaking both from exertion and emotion. The Dream King crouches down, his long coat wrinkling into a black pool around them, and holds out a hand.
‘Shall we go and find a compartment?’ He suggests.
Severus takes the man’s hand and allows himself to be pulled upwards. So this was a dream. He had dreamt of the Sandman a few times now, though this is the first time he has become aware that he is dreaming whilst still within the dream. That was interesting.
A narrow door slides back on an empty compartment with bright blue seats and polished chrome luggage racks. Outside the window unfamiliar yet beautiful landscapes slip by in an endless stream. The small table under the window is little more than a shelf, but carries two short glasses filled with mint tea.
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ Severus huffs, curling up on the seat by the window.
Dream observes him in silence for a moment, before sitting down opposite.
‘Alright.’
They both look out of the window, watching mountains, forests, and lakes gliding past, sipping their tea in silence until the boy eventually speaks.
‘She went to Gryffindor.’ He says. Morpheus assumes this must be the girl Lily, the boy’s only friend. ‘She should have been in Slytherin with me.’ Severus bites out. ‘Instead she’s with that stupid Potter boy who thinks he’s Merlins’ gift to the world. It wasn’t supposed to be like this! It’s supposed to be… I’m supposed to be…’ His anger sputters out and he curls back in on himself, hair falling over his face. ‘They’re all dead posh.’ He mutters. ‘They’ve all got new stuff and speak all proper.’
‘You think they’re better than you?’
‘No!’ The boy snaps.
Morpheus’ lips twitch in amusement
‘They’re all just sand.’ Severus mumbles.
‘You are all… we are all but sand.’ Morpheus intones, spreading out his palm in front of his face. He blows the dust between them and it surrounds the boy in a soft cloud.
‘Sweet dreams Severus...’
~~*~*~~