Thank you so much for all the reviews, particularly for the filler chapters! I was so worried that I didn't portray the characters well enough, but, it seems that I did!

Chapter 5

The room fell silent immediately. It appeared that news travelled fast at 12 Grimmauld Place, as not only were Mrs Weasley, Ginny, Ron and George staring at Hermione, and Fred when he entered the kitchen, still complaining about Crookshanks, but Sirius, Mr Weasley, Bill and Charlie were all ominously silent as well.

Hermione took a hesitant step backwards, away from the occupants of the room and towards the safety and comfort she felt around Fred. "They're all yours Fred. That was the agreement, and you can't deny it. I won, hands down. Now, explain."

Fred sighed but, seeing that there was no getting out of the extremely awkward conversation that was about to occur, started to speak.

"Last night, I was on my way back to my bedroom from the bathroom when I passed Hermione and Ginny's room. There seemed to be a sort of crying coming from inside. So I went in. Ginny was dead to the world, as usual. A bombardo could have been cast and she wouldn't have stirred-"

"-A typical Weasley trait" interrupted George, smirking at Ginny's scowling face.

"George! Be quiet!" admonished Hermione, understanding what Fred was doing. It was clear to her that he really didn't want anyone to find out just how scared he really was. The story he was creating was plausible enough though. Hermione was sure that, if she hadn't been having the dreams she was having, she would be plagued by nightmares. "I'll carry on the story from here Fred, if you want." She shot him a quick smile to let him know she understood, and prepared to narrate a nightmare.

"I had a nightmare. I was at the Burrow, in Ginny's room. There was no noise, nothing. I had no idea where Ginny was, and when I looked out the window, I saw the dark mark in the sky. That was when I knew something was really wrong. I-I headed downstairs and I saw everyone – Harry; Ron; Fred; George; Ginny; Charlie; Bill and Mr and Mrs Weasley, all dead. All of you just lying there on the floor, unmoving." Tears welled up in Hermione's eyes as she was forced to recount a nightmare that she had, in fact, had before.

Seeing this, Fred hastened to Hermione's side, pulling her to him, kissing the top of her head and murmuring reassurances to her.

"Anyway Mum, all that matters is the fact that we didn't do anything, surely?" Fred questioned, glancing up from Hermione, who was drying her eyes and recovering. "All that happened was that I got into Hermione's bed to hold her so as to let her know someone was there – as Ginny wasn't being much help. I just couldn't leave her like that Mum, I just couldn't. What would you have had me do?"

Molly Weasley frowned, then conceded the point. "Fine. But if I ever catch you two in a situation like that again. If I ever catch any of you-" She glared at all of the students assembled in the kitchen "-in the same bed as someone else, you will regret it." She smiled and bustled over to the stove, acting for all the world as if the conversation in which she had just participated in had never occurred. "Now, who wants bacon?"

This got everybody's attention, and there was a scrabble for seats around the table. Hermione ended up in between Fred and George, with Ginny and Ron sitting opposite, across the table.

Underneath the clatter of plates and cutlery, Fred seized the opportunity to talk to Hermione. "How often have you actually had that nightmare, love?"

Upon hearing the word love directed towards her by Fred, Hermione fluttering in her stomach, like a million owls all trying to get out. This warm glow inside was quickly extinguished by the thought of her recurring nightmare, the one that frightened her, the one which contained the dead bodies which had been her true boggart, which she hadn't wanted to admit to Harry and Ron, the one she had just told everyone.

"I've had it quite often since You-Know-Who's return – except for the past week or so – I don't know why. I also had it in 3rd year, when Sirius was on the run and we all thought he wanted to kill Harry. But it doesn't matter Fred, it's not important."

"Not important! Hermione, it's clearly upsetting you." Fred exclaimed, putting his hand against Hermione's cheek and gently forcing her to look at him.

Suddenly they both felt as if they were being watched, and they glanced across the table to see Ron glaring at them with jealousy in his eyes. Fred quickly moved his hand from Hermione's check, much to her disappointment and shifted uncomfortably in his seat,

The awkward silence that had descended upon the three of them, unnoticed by the rest of the table, was broken by Mr Weasley clearing his throat in preparation of making an announcement.

"If I may have everyone's attention please. I've just received a message from Dumbledore. Harry will be coming to stay here from tonight until school starts again."