Disclaimer: Unfortunately, JKR owns everything and I own nothing


8th June 1998: Grimmauld Place

When Hermione slowly drifted awake that morning, she tightened her hold around the pillow in her arms and buried her face deeper, inhaling its comforting scent. But when the pillow suddenly moved under her grip, her eyes snapped open and widened in shock as she took in the sight of an unfamiliar covered chest.

Suddenly flashes of last night came back to her. Images of a crazed Bellatrix towering over her that were suddenly overpowered by the feel of someone engulfing her in their arms, so strong that she was shocked out of her nightmare, only to find herself in an unfamiliar embrace that felt strangely like coming home.

Remus.

With his arms wound tightly around her, holding her firmly to his chest, she remembered feeling safe and content in his arms, the smell of him giving her a comfort she hadn't known existed till now. He had smelt strangely familiar, yet she couldn't quite pinpoint what it was, and now it was bugging her insistently.

She felt confused with her actions last night. Never before had she felt so compelled to ask someone to stay with her. Previously all she had felt was shame and embarrassment and an overwhelming desire to block everyone and everything out. But there had been something about Remus that made her feel none of that. Instead, his scent had warmed her, his arms had comforted her, and she had felt completely safe and protected.

But now in the light of day, all she could feel was embarrassed at the way she had unashamedly asked him to stay last night.

Her breath caught when he suddenly nuzzled against the top of her head in his sleep, causing her to stiffen and hold perfectly still while she silently debated on her next course of action. On one hand, she could attempt to untangle herself from his grip and run away from the awkwardness that would likely occur if she didn't. On the other hand, she could stay right where she was and continue enjoying his warmth.

She was too immersed in her own thoughts that she didn't notice Remus waking and slowly shifting so that he could look down into her face. By the time she did realize, it was too late to feign sleep and instead, they both stared silently at each other, wide-eyed and cautious.

"Hi," he said softly, breaking the silence and smiling gently at her.

"Hi," she echoed back in a small voice, feeling heat flood her cheeks under his gaze.

He cleared his throat nervously. "I … uh … are you feeling any better?" he asked awkwardly, removing his arms from around her and sitting up.

Truthfully, she felt so well rested, it was completely unsettling for her. The fact that she was even able to fall back asleep was a surprise as usually she would lie awake after her nightmares, sleep having evaded her every night. Confused by all of this, she responded to Remus with a small nod.

"I don't know what came over me when I asked you to stay like that … I'm so sorry Remus," she rushed out. "I'm so embarrassed that you had to see me like that."

"No, Harry's right … you should let someone help you and I'm glad you let me be the one to do that last night," he said gently.

She stared at him for a moment. "You heard us … in the kitchen yesterday, didn't you?"

He shifted a bit in the realization of what he had just revealed. "Uh … yeah."

She sighed, feeling overwhelmed with sadness again. She brought her knees up to her chest, instinctively curling into herself, as though it could somehow protect her from everything. The war had left her feeling more broken than she was willing to admit, but she didn't know if she could hold up the facade any longer. She could feel his eyes on her, but he said nothing, and instead waited patiently for her to say something.

"I don't know what to do," she admittedly softly after a long moment, staring unseeingly at a spot on the bed in front of her.

She felt a cautious hand rest on her shoulder, as Remus shifted closer to her on the bed.

"Listen to Harry," he said softly. "Sometimes it's okay to admit you need a bit of help."

She looked up, only to meet his eyes and in them saw a deep, genuine concern that warmed her heart and made her feel a strange desire to get better.

"Okay," she heard herself saying, surprising herself with her willingness to listen to someone for once.

A big smile spread across his face, obviously happy with her response. In the next second, he was awkwardly looking down at his pajamas, as though catching himself showing too much emotion.

"I think I better go now," he said morosely, sounding like it was the last thing he wanted to do.

"Okay," she said as he gave her shoulder one last reassuring squeeze before moving off the bed.

"Remus?" she called out softly, just as he reached the door. He turned around expectantly, hand already gripping the doorknob.

"Thank you."

oOo

Remus was enjoying a strong cup of hot chocolate when Harry found him tucked away in a corner of the library.

"How'd you do it?" Harry said as he flopped down onto the sofa opposite Remus.

"Hmm? Do what, Harry?" Remus replied absently.

"Convince her to let you stay?"

Remus' head snapped up suddenly in shock at the question.

"What? But how did you …," Remus trailed off, thinking that either Hermione had told him or Harry had seen them himself. He couldn't decide which one was worse.

"Yeah, when she didn't answer to my knocking this morning … I opened the door to check in and well …," Harry trailed off, looking away awkwardly, making Remus flush at the realization that Harry had seen him wrapped around Hermione as they slept.

"Well er … she asked me to?" Remus said, though it came out sounding like a question.

Harry openly gaped at him. "You're joking right?"

"Er … no?" Remus replied uncertainly.

"Other than the first night it happened, she hasn't allowed anyone to stay the night with her since," Harry said, giving Remus an indecipherable look that had him feeling uncomfortable.

"Oh …," Remus said not knowing how to reply, though the wolf was feeling pretty smug about this admission.

"What happened after she asked you to stay?"

Remus shrugged. "We fell asleep."

At that Harry frowned, looking utterly confused. "I don't understand. I've been going to her room for weeks during her nightmares and it always ends with her insisting I go."

"Maybe it just needs to be the right person," Remus said, then winced at his choice of words, that he was implying that he was the right person.

Harry took no notice, however, his eyes lighting up suddenly. "The right person … you're right! I could easily get Ron to come stay the night … convincing Hermione might be a problem, though."

Remus tried to hide his horror at these words, but it was difficult considering the way Moony was growling protectively, his presence strong with the full moon in just 2 days. Luckily Harry still wasn't paying much attention to him, too lost in his own thoughts and growing excitement of this new plan of his.

Harry suddenly leapt to his feet, clapping Remus on the back before rushing out of the library.

"Thanks, Remus!" he called over his shoulder as he went.

It was the second time he'd been thanked that day, but this time, he didn't feel too good about it.

oOo

As predicted, Harry easily got Ron to agree to stay over that night, and tactfully neglected to inform him of Remus' recent sleepover in Hermione's bed, knowing that Ron had the tendency to make a mountain out of a molehill.

However, when Harry had tried to convince Hermione, she wasn't as willing, once again claiming she didn't need Ron. She didn't need anyone. That was until she caught Remus' eye over the table, their shared silent moment reminding her of their conversation that morning. Hermione wasn't sure why she was so against the idea, but she acquiesced that Harry was just trying to help, and if it worked, then all the better.

Harry was in the middle of a long winded speech of the benefits of allowing Ron to stay the night with her when she cut him off with a simple, "Okay", shocking Harry into silence at her sudden willingness to cohere to his plan.

That's how she found herself entering her room that night to the sight of Ron standing awkwardly at the foot of her bed. She watched from the doorway, eyebrows raised, as he walked to the left side and stopped as though considering the bed from this new angle, before walking to the right. He did this twice before Hermione couldn't hold in her laughter any longer.

He whipped around at the sound of her laughter, smiling sheepishly and turning slightly pink at being caught doing who knows what.

"What on earth are you doing, Ron?" she laughed.

"Uh … I wasn't sure where … er … which side do I sleep on?" he said, stumbling over his words.

"Umm well … I sleep on the left, but it doesn't really matter …," she trailed off, her laughter fading as the mood in the room suddenly shifted.

"No! It's your room … I'll sleep on the right," he said hurriedly.

She didn't reply as he stumbled over to the right side of the bed and got under the covers. Everything about this situation felt awkward and forced, which completely baffled her because they were dating … weren't they? After the passionate kiss they had shared during the battle, they had tentatively admitted their feelings for one another and agreed to give a relationship a go. None of their post-battle kisses had been as emotional or as heated as their first, and it made Hermione wonder if she had been imagining the passion all along.

Hermione really was at a loss when it came to relationships, considering her experience consisted of a Yule Ball date that only went as far as a clumsy kiss where they had banged noses twice before landing their lips in the right spot.

Considering this, Ron's experience wasn't any better. His relationship with Lavender had been nothing but physical, with their severe lack of communication playing a huge role in their messy break-up.

As she settled in beside him, Ron took her hand in his but didn't move to hold her. She grimaced at the feel of his sticky palm against her own and grimaced even further when he rolled over to place a sloppy goodnight kiss on her mouth.

"Goodnight 'Mione," he muttered sleepily

"Night Ron."

Within minutes, he had fallen asleep, snoring softly next to her, while she lay wide awake waiting for sleep to come. She rolled over to watch Ron's sleeping form, and for the first time really thought about their relationship. The first month had been … strange, there was no other word for it. They had yet to find their rhythm, with their actions mostly being painfully clumsy attempts at acting more coupley.

Worst of all, she wanted to talk to him about her nightmares, but found every time she tried, she felt uncomfortable. Even the rare times that she managed to get something out, he always looked like a deer in headlights, not knowing what to do with his traumatised girlfriend and would just awkwardly hold her while mumbling gibberish that was of no help to her at all.

Eventually, she drifted off into a fitful sleep, her mind drifting in and out of the dream realm. Like every other night, the nightmares always began with her parents.

"Mum? Dad?" she would call out to them as they tended to their front yard. They would look up, their eyes blank and wiped of all emotion, appearing as though they were staring right past her, as though she didn't exist.

She'd begin screaming at them, begging them to acknowledge her. But they didn't. They never did. They were fading rapidly away into the darkness. Even as she reached out to grab them, there was nothing but air.

Then, of course, Bellatrix would make her appearance, and it was always just as intense and vivid as the first time.

Like clockwork, she woke up crying hysterically, drenched in sweat and shaking violently. Beside her, she heard Ron swear before he took her into his arms, hushing her and mumbling things like "you're safe" and "she's gone".

The comfort she had expected to feel with Ron's presence, didn't come and instead left her feeling confused and shaken. He continued to hold her as she cried, and when she quietened down, he drifted off to sleep, unaware of the witch lying stiff and awake in his arms.

She couldn't help but think of last night and how different it had been to this. Remus' arms had felt warm and safe. So very safe. Ron's however just felt like dead weight, wrapped so tightly around her that she was struggling to breathe and were much too warm to be comfortable.

She wriggled around in discomfort, attempting to loosen Ron's arms from around her. Unfortunately, he took this as a cue to press himself even closer to her, burying his face in her neck, making sure that hot air filled her ear with every breath.

Suddenly she felt like crying again and for once it wasn't because of the nightmares.

It was because she knew right then and there that the comfort Ron offered her wasn't what she needed.


A/N: Happy New Year everyone (and a belated Merry Christmas)!

I've been busy planning for my Japan trip next month so apologies if updates are slow. If you know any great things to do/places to see/things to eat in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto or Sapporo please help a girl out and send me recommendations! (Either here or tumblr: lumosunicorn31)

Also since the last update, this fic surpassed 300 followers, 100 reviews and 100 favourites .. 3 insane milestones so THANK YOU, you are all amazing and such lovely readers. *hearts*