Hermione awoke with a start, sucking in her breath. From the shocked look of her eyes and the pain in her expression, she seemed tormented. Fingers clutching at her duvet, digging deeply into it, betrayed some inner hell, and curled up tightly beneath her covers, the girl seemed as rigid as the dead. Her wild hair twisted into and around itself, as if Hermione had been spiralling and flailing in battle ... as if her dreams had been a war.

It must have been one heck of a nightmare, Ginny figured, as she lay smothered in blankets, still half-sleeping but rising quickly from the edges of her own dreams at the sight of Hermione. She wanted to call out to the other girl, but felt she must be silent in the face of what Hermione's frightened eyes next did. Hermione's gaze, previously locked on the ceiling, slid down and traversed the room. It seemed to fixate on the sleeping form of the ever graceful, always composed...

"Fleur..." Hermione breathed. The name rose from her lips, seeming to float upward against the downward drifting world beyond the window. She held that gaze upon the blonde, so framed by moonlight and glimmering in the dark as to grasp even the little redhead, so hostile towards her, in awe. A glimpse of Hermione after stunned seconds of Fleur revealed no change in expression. Hermione was still in shock. Some realization seemed to be coursing through Hermione's veins, unfathomable to the little Weasley in its power over her friend.

Finally, Hermione's eyes returned to the ceiling. Ginny, tensely observing, felt Hermione's prolonged study of the air above her suggested her gaze had actually turned towards examination of her own mind in the aftermath of ... something. Finally, Ginny chanced it.

Whispered timidly, "Hermione?" hung in the air. Ginny waited, holding her breath as a long pause washed over her. No answer. She struggled with this ... had Hermione not heard her? Had she heard, but ignored the calling of her name? Again, she dared to speak.

"Hermione?"

More insistent and more plaintive came the little cry, but nothing was said in response and now Ginny gazed inward, surprised by her friend. A little while longer and still without answer, she fitfully tried to push away the silence and will herself back into the dark.