You Too

She watched as he stood in front of the pale, sickly looking man, blood red eyes staring him down as darkness pooled around them. His hand was raised and his face set, his glasses pressed firmly up his nose to keep his vision clear. Harry Potter seemed sure as he stood before the man that wished him doom. His mouth opened to speak, but his words seemed to be lost to the world. The light filled the room as the Dark Lords' voice filled the chamber and Hermione felt her body freeze as she watched in horror. The stream of pure energy hurled across the room, the space between it and its target was closing quickly and there was nothing Hermione could think of doing to stop it. Like a bullet, it flew through the air until it halted, landing dead centre between the shoulders of the boy who stood before the monster.

"Harry!" she screamed, her voice cracking as he crumpled, his body caving inwards. The sickening sound he made as his limbs connected with the stone floor almost made her wretch. A loud thud and the hall went silent. Everyone had their eyes on the heap in front of them, begging it to move.

Suddenly Hermione could not breathe; the air had been sucked out of her lungs as he took his finale breath. She felt her legs quake and arms wrapped around her as she fell, catching her weight before she too hit the stone. She could hear Ron's constricted words, and knew that he was holding back tears while she let hers flow, but his words were lost to her ears.
"Harry… no," her vision blurred as salty water swelled in her eyes. The cruel cackle of Voldemorts' laughter consumed her as his Death-eaters were quickly picking off the remaining defenders of Hogwarts, the few that were left. The Great Hall was filled with great cries of pain and screams of desperation and terror. Light flashed around them as the sun gently rose into the sky. Hermione watched as the rest of them fell around her. Ginny, Luna, Neville, Molly, her teachers, her classmates - all dead before her eyes.

Harry Potter was gone again, and his body was lying once more at Voldemorts' feet. Hermione had hope last time, but her heart had broken too completely to dream. Ron's voice became louder and louder as the flashes of light became more frequent around them. The circle of Death Eaters condensed in on them, their sneers and smirks almost filling her view.
"Hermione!" She looked around, and could not see him.
"Hermione, I'm here," his voice sounded strangely calm, as she searched for his face, panicked. She finally spotted him, his smiling face created a stark contrast to the looming face of Lord Voldemort who stood merely inches behind him.
"You're going to be okay," Ron whispered as Voldemort lifted his wand.
"AVADA-"

She screamed.

Her eyes flew open, her scream still ringing in the air. Ron's face held an expression of fear dulled by the compassion that filled him. His hands were held high in the air as he sat at the edge of their bed. It was then that she realised her wand was in her hand and pointed dangerously at his heart. She looked between the wood that was her protection, and the man that sat at its point.
"Hey, 'Mione," Ron laughed nervously, his eyebrow quirking up with a question, "you wanna put that down?" Hermione relaxed her fingers and left the wand slip from them, falling and landing on the bed below her. Her body was drenched in sweat as she collapsed into the sheets, tears wracked her entire being. She wasn't sad, no, that wasn't why she was crying. Her tears came from the fear that filled her as she woke from these horrid dreams. Almost every night she was plagued by terrible visions of her friends, her family, all those she cared about being thrust in dangers' way again, and again. This fear caused sleepless nights and deep blue bags to form under her eyes.

Ron's arms were around her again, his words smooth and comforting as she let them wash over her.
"It's okay, it's over," his voice was so soothing, as his hand brushed her sweat dampened hair. "We're all here, no one's going anywhere. Not while I'm here." Hermione clutched his shirt as she tried ground herself, to remind herself that everything was okay.
"I've got you," he whispered. Hermione curled into a ball as she shook off the dream, her heart beating fast in her chest. Finally her sobs subsided and she was able to whisper four words that Ron had heard almost every morning since the war.
"It was so real."
"I know," he replied.

They had developed a routine for whenever Hermione had a nightmare. She hated that it had become part of their life, that he had to wake to her screams, unsure if today was the day she attacks him in fear again. Every time she has to look into his eyes and see herself for what she was; a wreck, and a danger to herself and those around her. She wanted to get better, but did not know how. How do you stop Voldemort killing those you love in your dreams? How do you protect everyone from someone who no longer exists. Ron's words pull her back to the moment, and reassure her as he helps her to her feet.
"Let's go get some tea."

They walked down the stairs of Grimmauld place, passing creepy portraits and house-elf heads on their way to the kitchen. The place had become a refuge for them after they all became heroes. The world seemed to always know where to find them, their lives somewhat of a reality show for the regular folk. They would wait outside their houses, and watch them as they walked the street. When Hermione had cut her hair, half the woman of the Wizarding world had copied her 'style'. It was a nuisance. Harry had decided that if anyone needed an escape, somewhere that no-one could find them, Grimmauld place was open and every hospitality would be extended. This became useful after the nightmares Hermione had been enduring became public knowledge due to a conniving writing for the Prophet camped outside the young couples new home had heard her screaming. That had almost permanently moved in a few days later.

The couple walked slowly down the stairs. Ron was still supporting most of Hermione's weight as they past an open door. Inside Neville had his attention caught in a thick book, but glanced up as his fellow Gryffindors descended the stairs outside; a knowing smile on his face. He stayed in the hallowed halls of Grimmauld place during the summer weeks when Hogwarts was out, as he was studying to be a teacher and spent the school year shadowing Professor Sprout in her classes.

Reaching the kitchen, Hermione was quickly engulfed in her best friends arms, her red hair tickling Hermione's nose as it always had.
"Hey, Gin," she sighed softly and the Weasley woman smiled, squeezing her tight.
"Hey, 'Mione," Ginny returned the greeting with kiss on the cheek. "I'm making breakfast if you two are hungry?" Ron nodded viciously, but Hermione just shook her head. "Just tea then?" Hermione let a small smile fall across her lips and nodded.
"Tea would be great." Ginny gave Hermione one last squeeze and moved off again, to get started on the food, Hermione imagined. As she looked back at Ron, her eyes drifted towards the door they had just entered through. A new figure had come in and was stood in the doorway, a drowsy smile on his face. His hair was rustled on top of his head, but there he was - Harry Potter. His emerald eyes shining, heart healthy, and very much alive. Hermione threw her arms around the boy who lived and cursed her mind for ever believing that he could have died.

"Thanks," she murmured, her face buried in the crook of his neck. "Thanks for not being dead." She let the words fall from her lips as she always did, this interaction becoming almost a ritual. Harry just smiled wider.
"You're welcome."

Hermione breathed in the soothing smell of the tea as a warm cup was placed in her hand by Ginny, who was already talking about all the things she had to do to get prepared for her last interview with the Holyhead Harpies.
"I'm gonna get it," she was saying. "I can feel it in my bones." The boys began teasing her in jest as she told them how sure she was. Hermione watched them argue, her thoughts swirling with her dream. But it was now dulled with the excited faces of the people that meant the most to her in the world. They were all there, right in front of her, and they were all perfectly okay. She cursed again at the war, for what it had made her. As the minutes swept by, she let the memory of the dream fade until none of it was left. She noticed that Ron was watching her, his eyes analysing her. She smiled, and mouthed the three words that she would sit on her lips for the rest of her life.
'I love you.'
'You too,' he returned, then looked back at his best friend and his sister. Hermione knew she would get better eventually, or at least she hoped with all her heart. But until then, she would be okay because she had that man beside her, and with him she could do anything.

A/N: I do not own any of the Harry Potter universe, all rights belong to J.K. Rowling.