"George, swear to me that you didn't put one of your spells on him!" Ron muttered fiercely, staring at his older brother before glancing back at the prone form of his best friend that was currently lying on the spare bed his mother had conjured for him. He had quite a time keeping everyone distracted while George was off doing who-knew-what that took him so bleeding long.

After a while, the rest of the family actually listened to Ron for once and decided to let Harry be for the time being. Breakfast carried a tenseness as they continued on as usual, everyone pretending that they didn't notice their mum resisting the urge to go and grab Harry herself. Once it was over, Ron waited anxiously as he paced around the living room until the back door finally opened softly. He had turned to witness his older brother carrying his best friend, bridal style. Ron was, of course, floored by the sight but they had managed to make it upstairs without anyone seeing as Ron acted as lookout, only immediately helping without question because he knew Harry would've hated for anyone else to witness him that way.

"What?! Of course not! Why would I do that?" George responded, feeling a rush of indignance at Ron's question. His younger brother merely raised his eyebrows at him pointedly. George sighed exasperatedly and gave a small eye roll.

"Alright, well…not this time!" He said, turning away from Ron to look at Harry's sleeping form. Ron paced in front of his brother, forcing him to look him in the eye.

"Then what the hell is wrong with him?" Ron asked in a fierce whisper, "Why is he unconscious?! What happened?" George hurriedly shushed him, took him by the shoulder, and ushered him away from Harry's bedside. Ron tensed but allowed himself to be steered away and into the corner of his room while George pulled out his wand. He watched as he waved it above and around Harry's sleeping form, recognizing the movements for a silencing spell. Once it was cast and he ensured that they wouldn't disturb the sleeping boy, he finally turned and spoke quietly to the floor beneath Ron's feet.

"He's just…exhausted, Ron." George began carefully, looking up at his brother gauging his reaction, wondering how much he should tell and how Harry would feel about it. Ron merely gaped at him silently for a moment before shaking his head at his George a bit disbelievingly.

"And – that's why he's out cold and won't wake up when we're talking in his ear?!" Ron asked in a rush, looking frustrated, "I want to know what happened, George!" And for the first time in his life, Ron saw his older brother hesitant to reveal something to him. At any other time, George would be eager to spew the details on anything to him simply for the sake of stirring up trouble, but now he shuffled uncertainly from foot to foot as he looked at anything except Ron.

"George," Ron said, feeling a bit of fright worm it's way into his stomach at the sight of his brother so uneasy. George ran a hand through his hair as he sank down heavily onto Ron's bed, eyes shut as he sighed out a breath. Ron watched him with furrowed brows and slowly came forward to sit next to him carefully. He waited, feeling disconcerted because he never had any reason to tiptoe around George before and he wondered what possibly could have occurred to cause the need for it now.

"Well…" George began quietly, rubbing his hands together anxiously, "Err…I thought I could help. Just me, you know? Cause I knew he wouldn't be too happy if the whole family came trotting out to get him. So, I ended up finding him in the shed… And he was just –" He paused as he seemed to be recalling the incident vividly, "He was…in an odd state, Ron. I've never seen him like that. It was like he was – stuck. Panicking. Couldn't breathe, couldn't speak, couldn't do anything to tell me what I could do to help him out of it." Ron felt shock roll through him, as all of George's words set in he turned to look at the subject of conversation currently lying motionless a few feet away from them. He was about to ask a question when George gave a small scoff with a minute smirk.

"I'll tell you what he was capable of, though. His ability to express how much he didn't want me to get you or Mum or anyone else," he spoke with a mixture of amusement and sadness, "In fact, it seemed like he didn't even want me there. Until he started properly panicking, and after that, he wouldn't let go of me." Ron couldn't believe that Harry would want to go through that alone and simply let himself feel all that with absolutely no aid. He shook his head disbelievingly, but when he glanced over at Harry he realized he actually wasn't that surprised after all because that was so utterly Harry that he felt a bit stupid for believing he would ever want it any other way. George was beginning to speak again but Ron shushed him quickly, feeling his eyebrows knit together in concern as he looked at his best friend.

"What?" George asked confusedly, turning to follow Ron's gaze, then noticing the tensing of Harry's arms and how his breath seemed a bit laboured. Ron immediately stood and started heading toward the other bed with purpose.

"He's having a nightmare," Ron muttered, looking intent on stopping it. George, however, stood quickly and caught Ron by the arm, holding him back from disturbing the younger boy. Ron looked back at him, confusion all over his features as he extracted himself from his grip.

"You didn't see what it was like, Ron," George breathed, looking at him imploringly, "I really think you should just let him rest." Just then, Harry emitted a little noise somewhere between a gasp and a whimper and they turned to see his fingers twisting in the bedsheets. Ron held a hand out in Harry's direction as he raised his eyebrows at his brother.

"Look at him. He's not resting," he said derisively, "He's just suffering! Believe me, you weren't there when we were finding those bloody Horcruxes… He tried to hide it, but me and Hermione noticed, we're not thick. One of us was always awake, and we would hear him nearly every night with visions of You – Know – Who or someone being attacked or something!" He hadn't noticed his tone steadily rising until George glanced away at his last words. He let out a tiny breath and paused a moment before continuing in a much gentler voice.

"They're not just run of the mill nightmares, George," He said softly, shifting on his feet, "And now… Who knows what the hell goes on in his head, but I know for certain they're still hell for him." George seemed to understand this on another level entirely as he nodded knowingly.

"Okay," he whispered, giving a small nod to Ron who looked grateful as he turned to see Harry beginning to toss and turn, tiny beads of sweat sprouting on his forehead. Ron cursed lightly under his breath and he hurried over to his bedside, intent on waking him before the dream got any worse. He called his name softly, knowing he couldn't startle him awake or it would only make his distress worse. When Harry didn't respond, Ron tried saying his name a bit louder but to no avail. He felt worry creep in his mind until he heard George's quiet noise of realization before he came in front of Ron.

"Silencing charm," he muttered as he extracted his wand to undo the spell, "He still can't hear us…" Ron felt a bit of relief once he knew that Harry wasn't in too deep to hear him. Once George had taken the spell down and backed away Ron cautiously approached the dreaming boy, knowing he could sometimes get violent when waking abruptly.

"Harry. Harry, wake up," he called softly, leaning towards him slightly, hoping it wasn't a particularly bad dream. He squirmed a bit, but still didn't rouse so Ron sighed and reached out a hand to gently shake him. He hated doing it because he knew how much it startled Harry to wake with someone's hand on him, most likely a remnant instinct from living at the Dursleys'.

"Harry," Ron repeated as he carefully shook his shoulder, hoping he wouldn't lash out upon awakening. It seemed that luck was on his side in that regard, for Harry merely flinched away with a sharp gasp and looked around blearily.

"It's alright," Ron spoke quietly, glancing back at George who was hanging further back with a worried expression. Harry looked shaken and dazed as he looked up at him slightly unseeingly.

"W…where –" Harry tried speaking, his voice hoarse and shaky, and paused to swallow before attempting it again, "Where's Remus?!" Both Ron and George inhaled sharply and the silence that followed could have been cut with a knife. Ron felt his heart sink as looked back at George with what he was sure was a shocked and horrified expression. They shared a moment's look, full of fear and emotion before Ron turned back to look at Harry again, as if to confirm that he had really just spoken aloud what they thought they heard.

"Harry…" Ron began defeatedly, shaking his head at his friend, "Remus is…gone." Harry blinked slowly as he appeared to process the meaning of Ron's speech.

"W-where'd he go?" Harry muttered weakly, rubbing at his eyes, "Is – is he coming back?" Ron looked at Harry helplessly, having no idea how to respond to Harry's apparent amnesia. He was rendered utterly speechless at the moment and looked back at George for desperately needed aid. He quickly came forward and approached the bedside before speaking cautiously.

"Harry… d'you really not remember?" he inquired with incredulity; eyebrows furrowed worriedly. Harry released a breath in a huff as he squinted and looked around the room confusedly.

"I – what did he say?" Harry asked, voice slightly higher than usual, concern and confusion evident in his tone. He still seemed unable to get his limbs to function properly for he had made no attempt to get out of bed and was merely peering at them with a slightly vacant look. Ron turned away, unable to face Harry, covering his face with his hands in disbelief.

"Oh, Merlin…" he sighed sadly, unable to believe this was actually happening. He could practically feel the similar emotions emanating from George as well, for he was standing there speechless as he stared at Harry brokenheartedly. Ron turned back around, his hands now twisting anxiously for he was dreading having to tell Harry this all over again. He could feel his heart rate beginning to pick up as he took in a breath to break the news to his friend, but Harry spoke before he could say a word.

"Please, Ron," He spoke, desperation in his bleary voice, his hand shooting out to grasp at Ron's sleeve, "I – I need to tell him…I need to say…oh, but…I'm – tired" But it seemed that speech was getting more and more elusive to Harry with each passing second, for it looked like he was slowly being pulled back down into unconsciousness. Ron felt his heart sink even further, not knowing what to do about this. Harry looked as if he were about to attempt speaking once more, but it appeared that George had had enough of this torture and was intent on telling Harry himself.

"No, Harry…" George began, barely keeping his voice from trembling as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and averting his gaze sadly, "Remus…he -" George struggled for words as he met Harry's expectant gaze. In the pause that George took, Harry's grasp on Ron's sleeve tightened and he pulled Ron down closer to him.

"I…I need to tell him I'm sorry," he whispered pleadingly, and Ron felt as if Harry were breaking his heart all over again and the healing that it had done was now dashed away. He heard George taking in breath to tell him the truth of the matter, but Ron heard himself speaking softly as if from another body.

"Yeah, mate, 'course you can tell him. Just – just go to back to sleep for now, alright?" Ron said gently, nodding at him before he realized what he was promising Harry. He could feel George gape at him disbelievingly as his best friend nodded heavily and let his head drop back on to the pillow where he was unconscious once more within mere seconds. Ron knew that George was whispering fiercely in his ear but all he could hear was a loud, encompassing rushing as he stumbled away from Harry's bedside. His back hit the farthest wall and he felt himself sink down against it. Somewhere in the back of his clouded mind, he registered the quiet mutterings of silencing charms being put back up, but he didn't want to pay any attention to it at the moment. His head was spinning and he couldn't seem to get it to stop.

George came and sat on the floor next to him, a hand coming to rest on his shoulder. He thought perhaps George was speaking to him, but he still couldn't make it out. Ron's throat was beginning to feel very dry and he couldn't seem to get his vision to focus.

"You alright?" George's voice became clear, and it wasn't until he looked up at his brother that he realized he had begun to tremble faintly. He swallowed a few times until he felt that he would be able to speak properly once more.

"It's just that…what if he thinks that everyone is still okay?" Ron said in a low rasp, clearly shaken from witnessing Harry in the state he had been. He felt George shuffle into a more comfortable position, letting his head fall back to rest against the wall as he let out a breath.

"What do you think he'll do?" George asked quietly, despite the charms preventing Harry from being able to hear them, "If he does, and we tell him?" He fixed his gaze upon Ron and saw the lost look in his eyes.

"I dunno…" he said truthfully, "I – I don't want to tell him about everyone again. I can't." His words hung heavily in the air and George was silent for so long that Ron had to look up to see if he had fallen asleep. When they met gazes, George drew in a deep breath, heaved himself up to his feet, and held out a hand to help Ron do the same. When he gave him a questioning look, George merely nodded at the door and began to usher him toward it.

"Come on," he spoke, his hands on Ron's shoulders as he led him, "We should let him sleep. And probably explain to Mum and Dad." At these words, Ron's shoulders slumped, and he turned on his heel to look George in the face.

"You really think Harry would like it if we told them?" he asked incredulously, eyebrows furrowed at his brother as if he were wondering how thick he really was. George looked back at him in much the same way as he let out a small scoff.

"You really think they'll let us continue on our merry way without filling them in?!" he threw back with just as much incredulity. Ron made a noise of frustrated defeat, knowing he was right and there was no way around it.

"Fine…" He began to turn back around to start making their way downstairs once more, then quickly added, "but I get Dad." This earned him a small shove, threatening to throw him over the side and grant a much faster trip downstairs.

"Oh, no you don't!" George said, his eyes narrowed, "We're telling both of them together." Ron gave a noise of disappointment as he glanced back at George begrudgingly. They became silent as they continued their trek downstairs, both of them growing more and more nervous about the conversation they were about to have. When they reached the end of the stairs, Ron entertained the split-second thought of turning and bowling over George to make for his room but quickly dismissed it. He had faced a great deal of things more difficult than talking to his parents. He could survive.

When they made their way over to the living room and they heard their parents' worried whispering, however, he suddenly felt as if this were the most difficult thing he's ever had to do. He whipped around to look at George pleadingly, who merely shook his head silently and pointed in the direction of their mum and dad. Ron lead the way defeatedly, hoping they wouldn't tear them apart without questions.

"Oh!" Mrs. Weasley said the moment she saw them, but then quickly attempted to look as if she wasn't bursting to know about the breakfast incident. Ron and George took their seats on a sofa across from where their parents seemed to have been having a discussion.

"Has – Has Harry come back? Is he alright?" their mother quickly inquired, apparently unable to hold herself back any longer. George seemed to sense Ron's utter nervousness at the moment, so he steeled himself to answer.

"Er…well I went after him earlier and he seemed to be having some sort of, I dunno, panic fit." he spoke quietly, not wanting it to become common knowledge. They could see the worry bloom in their mother's eyes and George hurried to continue.

"Mum, please don't ask him about it or anything alright? You know, Harry… He's not gonna be thrilled about it and it would just make him feel embarrassed if anyone asked." he said pleadingly. At this, Mr. Weasley looked a bit affronted as well as concerned.

"Well, why would he be panicking? Does he feel like he's unsafe here?" he asked, glancing between the both of them as he waited for an answer. Both boys were silent, neither knowing the exact cause for Harry's panic but not wanting to leave that up in the air.

"Er…he's just got a lot on his mind with the nightmares and all," Ron finally spoke up, throwing out what he believed would be true. "He…he's sleeping right now and – and he..." He trailed off and George looked at him searchingly, thinking he was going to reveal Harry's sudden bout of amnesia about who made it out of the Battle. Ron looked down at the rug and his gaze unfocused a bit as he took in a slow, deep breath. He met the gazes of his parents once more with a different look in his eye, a sort of stiff resolve.

"He needs us to be there for him," he spoke firmly, glancing at George for a moment, both knowing that the mention of Remus was to be kept quiet for now.

"Then that's exactly where we'll be," Mr. Weasley said in a resolute tone, nodding at his sons. Ron nodded back, feeling a rush of gratitude that his parents were always there in matters of importance.

A/N – Please review and let me know what you think. Reviews always help new chapters come faster.