Number Prompts

Ship: Romione

Prompt: I had a nightmare

Rated: K+ for violence

Summer after fifth year. Ron is having dreams that aren't his as a result of the brain attack.

"NOOOOO!" screamed Ron as he bolted straight up in his bed. He looked around frantically, feeling all over his chest. His face was dripping with sweat, and it wasn't because of the heat of the room.

He was relieved to see that he was in his room, but he couldn't help that his heart was racing. It had felt so real. So unfamiliar. So vivid.

He panted as he climbed out of his bed. He looked over at Harry, who was still sleeping soundly in the cot across the room. How he hadn't woken up from the blood curdling scream Ron had let out was beyond him. He walked out of his bedroom, closing the door quietly after him.

He crept down the stairs in the dark, careful not to step on the one that creaked next to Charlie and Bill's old room. He made it to the bathroom door and was just about to open it, when hit swung open almost by itself, causing Ron to jump.

He let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding when he saw Hermione on the other side of the door.

"Ron!" she squeaked, not even remotely expecting him to be standing outside of the bathroom. "I didn't...are you okay? You look like you've seen a acromantula."

Ron steadied his breathing. His heart had not stopped pounding since he woke up. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

"Oh Ron, I think you're in shock!" said Hermione, taking him by the hand. "Come on downstairs with me. We'll figure this out."

Ron nodded slowly as he allowed Hermione to guide him down the rest of the staircase and into the sitting room. Hermione sat Ron down on the sofa and went to the kitchen, coming back with a bowl of water and a rag. She sat the bowl down on the coffee table in front of the sofa, dipped the rag into the water, wrung it out, and then proceeded to gently pet Ron's face with it.

The cool snapped Ron from his trance. His breathing slowed, the beating of his heart lessened and went back to normal. He locked eyes with Hermione and sighed, feeling much more relaxed.

"Are you feeling better?" she asked, continuing her ministrations on Ron's face.

"A little, thanks," whispered Ron. "I didn't scare you, did I?"

Hermione shook her head. "I thought I had shocked you some kind of way. What happened?"

"I...had a nightmare" said Ron, suddenly feeling nervous and embarrassed. "Its nothing."

Hermione put the rag down and sat beside Ron. She took his hand into hers, surprising the both of them, and gave Ron her full attention.

Ron turned to her and sighed once again. He didn't want to sound like what the twins would call a "Nancy boy", but he felt that he could open up to Hermione at least, without the ridicule.

"Ever since the Ministry I've been having these...dreams," he began. "Dreams that I know don't belong to me. As if I'm living another life."

Hermione gave Ron a confused look. "Another life? Do you think maybe it's because of the brain attacking you?"

Ron nodded, holding up his bandaged arms. "Madam Pomfrey did say that these wouldn't be the only scars left by it."

"Could that mean that you actually have the person that the brain belonged to's thoughts?" gasped Hermione, her hands clamping over her mouth.

Ron nodded sadly. "Yes, and from what I have dreamt, his life wasn't all that good. I've been dreaming a lot about how he...well I'm guessing it's how he died."

Hermione felt as if she wanted to cry. It was heartbreaking that Ron had to carry around the burden of another person's thoughts.

"He must have been in some kind of trouble with some muggle men," said Ron, "because he didn't die by a spell. He died by those bang pop things."

"Bang pop...you mean a gun?" gasped Hermione once again.

"That's right, a gun. And whatever those things were, bullets? Yeah those. There were a lot of them. He was shot in his chest, and the last one I believe through the head because it was like watching it in slow motion come toward my...well his face."

"That has to be so awful, Ron." said Hermione, feeling a tear roll down her cheek. "How long has this been going on?"

"Since a couple days after it happened. I just didn't tell anybody. I didn't want anyone to worry."

"Oh Ron," said Hermione. She launched her body into his, latching her arms tightly around him. Ron was caught off guard, but recovered quickly, putting his arms around her in return, taking in the smell of the coconut shampoo she used in her hair. The smell of her always comforted him, though he wasn't sure why. He could lay his face comfortably in Hermione's hair all day if she allowed him to.

After a few seconds, Hermione pulled bac. Ron felt a sense of loss as she left his arms. Hermione felt it too, and cleared her throat, feeling a bit awkward.

"Sorry about all that," said Hermione, biting her lip, something Ron loved to see her do.

"Its fine. I think I needed that."

Hermione smiled, the awkwardness fading. "Just don't keep that from me, alright? I want to help you. I...I want to be there for you."

"I'm glad that you was here for me tonight," said Ron softly. "It felt so real. Every time it feels so real and I'm always surprised when I wake up from it."

Hermione scooted down the sofa and patted the top of her thigh. " Lay here. You still seem tense." she said.

Ron smiled as he stretched out as much as his long legs would allow. He ended up draping them over the arm of the sofa, while laying his head on Hermione's lap. She began to run her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes, enjoying the closeness of the two of them, and the feeling of her doing something so simple yet so calming.

"You're always watching out for me, Ron," said Hermione softly. "Let me watch out for you for once. Please?"

All Ron could do was nod his head. The sensation of her delicate fingers roaming around in his hair was too blissful to form words. He smiled as he thought about how wonderful she was to him, how beautiful she was inside and out, and how he could very well get used to nights like this.

At around 4 in the morning, Mrs. Weasley came down the steps to start on breakfast, as Mr. Weasley was scheduled to leave in an hour. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she looked over at the sofa and seen Ron, sleep with his body on Hermione's lap, and Hermione laying behind him, head resting on his leg. She smiled and laid a throw blanket over their torsos. She didn't know what had caused them to end up like they were, but she was happy to see that there was someone that from the looks of it, was taking care of her son.