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Hermione jolted awake as Ron gave a great shout and pulled the duvet from the bed, flinging it across the room. "Wha-" she began to say, groggily reaching for her wand. Then she realised that he was still sleeping.
"No…no…sp…car…Harry!" he yelled.
"Ron" said Hermione, shaking him awake. "Ron?"
She gasped as he bolted upright, flailing his arms around madly.
"Ron, what's wrong?" she cried, grabbing his arms and pushing him back down. He looked around, breathing deeply.
"Just a nightmare" he said, blushing.
Hermione sighed, smoothing back his hair fondly. A frown creased her brow as she considered all of the times that they had lain in bed, comforting each other as they had relived moments of the war. However, in the past year they had dwindled to a mere trickle of fearful encounters with the worst moments of the past.
"What happened?" she sighed.
Ron just shook his head, his ears reddening. Hermione bit her lip. They had always shared every nightmare in the past.
"I thought that we could share anything?" she said, trying to keep the trace of hurt from her voice.
Ron reached for her hand. "Of course we can," he said "But…promise you won't laugh."
Hermione frowned slightly in confusion, but nodded, squeezing his hand in reassurance.
"It was… Remember Second Year, when me and Harry went into the Forbidden Forrest?"
Hermione nodded, the light of realisation beginning to dawn.
"Those spiders" Ron whispered, his face taking on a new shade of red. "It was horrible, when the all came at us and lifted us up. We were surrounded by the horrible, 8 legged, clicking things. And in my dream, they all surrounded me and began to move towards me."
"And then…" whispered Hermione.
"I woke up." concluded Ron.
"Oh Ron," said Hermione, smiling.
"You said you wouldn't laugh!" exclaimed Ron.
"I'm not!" retorted Hermione, defensively. "I know how terrified that you are of spiders."
Ron reached over and kissed her.
"What was that for?" asked Hermione, smiling.
"You were there when I woke up" he replied.
"Always." said Hermione firmly
There was a minute of silence as they held hands, gazing into each other's eyes.
"Hermione?"
"Yes, Ronald?"
"You know what will make me feel even better?"
"No" said Hermione, the picture of innocence.
"I think you do" he replied, smiling, as Hermione reached a hand across his chest "And you'll need to warm up" he added, gesturing at the duvet which lay on the floor.
Hermione laughed, and pulled Ron towards her.
A/N Please review, I know that I need lots of pointers for future work. I've enjoyed writing this but I feel that I could improve in lots of ways. Thank you for reading.