All rights belong to JK Rowling.

Dreams

Hermione opened her eyes, panting. The nightmare of her torture flashed through her mind as she shivered, tangled up in her sheet. She could still feel the pain of the Cruciatis Curse rippling through her body. Tears sprang to her eyes and she leapt out of bed, careful not to wake Ginny. It had been almost a week since the battle was over and Hermione was staying with the Burrow, as well as Harry. She had had nightmares every night since she had been tortured, but none had been as bad as this dream.

She padded softly down the hall to Ron's room. She wanted to see him so badly, to feel comforted by Ron's arms around her, listening to him whisper that everything was going to be alright in her hair. Don't be stupid, Hermione. She scolded herself. Stop being a baby. She turned away from Ron's door and tried to compose herself. But more tears fell and she couldn't take it. She wiped her tears and lightly pushed open the door. She peeked inside and saw Harry sleeping on Ron's spare bed. His face was relaxed and he looked younger. Then she saw Ron sleeping on his bed. He was sprawled out like a small tot. He was sleeping soundly. A smile tugged at her lips and Hermione pushed the door open the rest of the way.

She tiptoed past the sleeping Harry and stopped by Ron's bed. He looked so peaceful. She cautiously reached out, and then decided that she was being a stupid baby. She pulled her hand back and turned to leave.

"Hermione?" said a groggy voice behind her. She froze and turned back around slowly. "What's the matter, love?" he asked, causing Hermione to blush.

"Nothing, never mind. I'm sorry I woke you." Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest. She felt a tad strange being in just her pyjamas, which were a matching tank top and shorts set. They were light purple and they were very comfortable, but she still felt incorrect.

Ron gave her a look that told her that he wasn't convinced. "I had a nightmare." She whispered, looking down. She had her hair in a bun and wished that it was loose and able to hide her face.

Ron's face took a complete look of worry and he sat up in bed. "Come here, Mione." He patted the spot next to him. Hermione glanced at Harry, but he was still knocked out. She sat on the bed and drew her legs up underneath her. Ron put an arm around her shoulders and drew her close. She curled up against him and rested her head on his shoulder. "It's ok. It wasn't real," he said over and over.

"I could feel it." She said shakily.

Ron knew exactly what she was talking about. Her torture had hurt him almost as much as it had hurt her. "I'm so sorry. I wish I could make you feel better." He said sadly.

"Just hold me." Hermione whispered. She shut her eyes and turned her face into the crook of Ron's neck.

"I'll hold you forever. I'll never let you go, if that's what will help." He held her hand with the hand that wasn't gently rubbing her shoulder.

Hermione said nothing, but she was truly touched by his words. She felt extremely comfortable and she could feel sleep creeping up on her. She murmured "I love you" just before she fell asleep against Ron.

Hermione woke up to birds' chirping. At first she didn't know where she was. Instead of seeing Ginny's girlish decorations with the quirks of her Quidditch things, she was surrounded by Quidditch things, and banners for the Chudley Cannons. Then she remembered falling asleep in Ron's arms last night. She then became aware of the hand on her shoulder, and the breaths ticking her neck. She was wrapped up in Ron's favourite Chudley Cannons blanket, sharing Ron's small bed with him. They were very close together.

She savoured this moment as he woke up. She turned to face him. He rubbed his eyes. "Morning." He kissed her forehead.

Hermione's face warmed. "Morning." Then she turned her face into Ron's pillow and inhaled his scent. She felt completely relaxed and she let out a deep breath which absorbed into the pillow. She kept her face hidden in it and tried to transition from being asleep to waking up.

Then she heard Harry's voice, deep with sleep. "Is it morning already?"

She felt Ron's voice through his body against hers. "Yeah."

Harry groaned loudly. Hermione heard him thump out of bed. She went very rigid as she realized that she was in Ron's bed with Ron. Harry was never going to let her live this down. She tried to wriggle further down in the blanket but it was too late. "Hermione?!" Harry said incredulously.

Hermione sprang out of the bed and tried to flatten her hair. Harry was in a gray t-shirt and boxers, and was unfortunately between Hermione and the door. She flushed and began twisting her hands, then dropped them and defiantly raised her chin. "Good morning, Harry. If you'll excuse me, I must be going now." She walked by him, as he stared after, his jaw hanging. As soon as she was out of the room she sprinted into Ginny's room. She shut the door behind her and then burst into laughter.

Ginny stood at the dresser, brushing her long flaming hair. She looked over at Hermione and set down her brush, bewildered. "What in Merlin's beard has gotten into you?"

Hermione's laughter slowed. "What do you mean?"

"Well I wake up and you're not in your bed, and I didn't hear anyone in the bathroom. And then you come streaming in here and then start laughing like a maniac!" She looked at her quizzically and tilted her head. "Are you ok?"

Hermione's laughs were gone. "I'm fine." She said pleasantly. "Last night… I had a nightmare last night and I went to go see Ron. I fell asleep in his bed." She looked down.

"Well then where did Ron sleep?" Ginny asked.

Hermione blushed. "In his bed."

Ginny gasped. "You slept together in his bed?!"

"WE JUST SLEPT! THAT'S ALL."

"Oh, phew." Ginny said, in mock relief. Then she smirked. "I don't know what you see in my git of a brother."

"He's not a git." Hermione said.

"Yes he is. He's my brother, I have to think he's a git." She began laughing, and Hermione laughed too. "Just like Percy and Bill, Charlie and George and Fr-" Ginny broke off sharply. Her face fell and she turned away from Hermione. She saw Ginny put her face in her hands and her shoulders began to shake as she sobbed. Hermione's heart broke.

No one liked to talk about Fred anymore. Nothing that had anything to do with him was ever spoken out loud. Everyone mourned silently and kept their grief to themselves, especially George. George had become much more reserved, no longer cracking his jokes and teasing anyone since the pass of his twin.

Hermione stepped forwards to Ginny and reached to put her hand on her friend's shoulder. Before she could touch her, Ginny said, "Please give me a minute." Hermione pulled her hand back.

"Sure." Hermione walked back to the door and opened it. Just before she left, she said, "Ginny, I'm here for you, if you ever need to talk. I hope you know that."

She saw a slight nod come from Ginny and then she left and shut the door behind her. She looked down the hall and saw Ron coming out of his room. He smiled brightly when he saw her.

"Want to go see if Mum's made breakfast?" He asked.

Hermione looked back at Ginny's door and then turned back to Ron, putting on a smile. "Sure."