A/N: Trigger Warning: Panic attack and Anxiety. I am referring to the panic attack as something I have experienced before... I try to only talk through topics I have some experience with so I try not to offend anyone! Please read with caution!

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It's been a week. A week since Ron and Hermione confessed their feelings and officially became a couple. It had been a good week being able to be more open about who they were together, but the nights were awkward now. Before, they were just best friends who comforted each other. Now, they were a couple who wanted to comfort each other. They crossed a line. A line they wanted to cross no doubt, but it was crossed. On top of these new feelings they couldn't quite figure out how to work through, Hermione's nightmares had increased. She was able to handle most of them fairly well, but tonight's was different. And a whole lot more dramatic.

The sleeping arrangements hadn't changed much. Ron and Hermione were shocked to find out that his mom was rather okay with it. I mean, as long as Harry was in there, too. She didn't need to know he snuck down to Ginny's room every night and came back up every morning before she woke.

Hermione spent most of the night tossing and turning. She tried to find comfort in just cuddling up to Ron's side, but she was struggling. Nothing felt comfortable and her mind kept drifting back to Malfoy Manor. Every dream was the same. She was being tortured, people she loved were being tortured or killed and she couldn't do anything about it. Tonight's nightmare though... it resulted in an experience Hermione had never known before. She had her first panic attack. Panic is an understatement.

The dream had started to feel too real. She started to feel the pain again. She could feel Bellatrix's presence as she screamed in her face. She could feel the knife scraping her arm. She could feel the blade against her neck she was weakly being held up by. She jumped up out of her nightmare, sitting straight up in the bed, gasping for air so loudly she woke Ron up with her. She grasped onto his arms, the bed sheets, anything she could get her hands on. She couldn't breathe. Everything was blurry. Her head was dizzy. Ron got up on his knees beside her, placing his hands roughly on her shoulders forcing her to make eye contact with him.

"Hermione! What's wrong?"

She was gasping for air, blinking rapidly. She felt herself getting very weak and light headed. She tried so hard to form words. She wanted to tell Ron what was wrong, but she couldn't breathe. She wanted to tell him she felt like was back in the room being tortured and that she was crying out for him. She was starting to lose all her breathe. She couldn't hold on anymore. With her hands still wrapped around his arm, eyes widened, she collapsed onto the bed, gasping for breathe even harder.

"Hermione! Baby! Please what's going on!" Ron was above her, holding her face gently in his hands, tears streaming down her face. He looked into her tear stained eyes, trying to figure out what to do. He looks up as soon as he hears Harry and Ginny come barging into the room.

"Ron! What's going on? Hermione! What's wrong?!"

Ron jumped off the bed, picking Hermione up, running past Harry and down the stairs. He needed more space. His room suddenly felt suffocating. Harry and Ginny come running down after him. Hermione was shaking in his arms, crying and gasping for breathe.

Ron runs into the sitting room and tries to place Hermione on the couch, but her grip on his arm got tighter, not letting him go. She didn't want to lose sight of him. Her breathing hitched when she felt him caressing her arm and for a moment she felt air go in her lungs, but it was gone quicker than it came.

"Hermione, it's okay. Look at me... hey, focus on MY breathing. In and out... it's okay... Harry is going to get some water" Ron glanced up at Harry to confirm and began rubbing lines up and down her arm with his finger tips trying to get her to focus on him.

Harry summoned a glass of water and immediately brought it to Ron knelt done beside Hermione's head.

"Ron, what happened?" "I don't bloody know. She woke up gasping and crying and I look over and she's... she fell over onto the bed... and I..." Ron's breathe now became shortened as he was panicking over Hermione. He looked to Harry and Hermione rapidly before he grabbed onto the couch to stable himself.

"Ron! No! Stop... Look at me" Ginny jumps down beside him and forces him to look at her. "Focus on Hermione, okay?" It was like his sisters words were a bucket of ice water. He immediately looks down at Hermione who's face is so red now it's almost impossible she's breathing at all.

"Oh God what do I do?!" He wrapped Hermione up in his arms, as he sat on the floor and held her as close to his chest as possible. He breathed in and out so she could mimic his breathing. Her hands tightly gripped at the neck of his shirt and he began whispering in her ear.

"Hermione... it's okay, baby. Just try to breathe with me okay. Just in and out. Close your eyes and focus on nothing, but my breathing." Hermione felt her head pounding and her chest hurting. Her heart was beating so fast she's surprised it didn't beat out of her chest. She closed her eyes and focused on Ron's breathing. She struggled for another minute or so when she finally coughed out everything she was holding and was able to finally catch her breathe. She felt Ron stop rocking her and look down at her with a scared look on his face. She began matching her breathing with his. He let out a shaky breathe he was holding and held onto her tighter.

"Oh god Hermione! You're okay! It's okay!"

Hermione could see Harry and Ginny talking to Molly and Arthur who at some point came down. She didn't even know who all was around her, but she suddenly felt embarrassed. She hadn't told anyone aside from Bill and Fluer what happened to her at Malfoy Manor. She didn't want to burden anyone. She felt immediate guilt and shame for having a panic attack. She finally choked up some words.

"I'm so sorry.. I..." Molly stepped in now, rubbing Hermione's arm up and down, while Ron rocked her on the floor. "Dear, what are you apologizing for?" Molly gave her such a motherly smile it made Hermione begin crying harder at the mere thought of her own mother. She was across the world right now, oblivious to her child and she was having a panic attack.

"I'm sorry... for this... for all of this... I'm sorry I'm a mess" Hermione waved her arms around her indicating she was talking about what just happened. Ron, shocked, looked down at her and cupped her face. "Hermione, do not apologize for... this... whatever just happened clearly wasn't your doing. You were... well... I don't quite know what that was"

"It was a panic attack" All heads turned to Harry and Ron sighed in knowing. Of course. He'd never had any experience with them, but he's heard many of his friends talk about them at Hogwarts. It only makes sense after everything they've been through. Molly helped Ron up, sitting down on the couch beside Hermione who was sniffling and laying on Ron's shoulder. Harry was now bent down in front of Hermione.

"Do not apologize for having a panic attack. Okay? I mean, you've been through more than all of us" Molly and Arthur shared confused looks while Ginny shifts knowingly to an open seat. Hermione tenses up knowing where the conversation is leading.

"Hermione, dear? What happened?" Molly asked so sweetly and sat down in one of the chairs across from her. She felt Ron tighten his grip, letting her know she was safe and okay. Talking about it could be good. So she began. She started with where they were found in the forest, leaving out any indications about Ron having left them. It was his story to tell. She didn't feel right saying anything. She could tell he appreciated it because any time she glossed over some details, he'd kiss her forehead and tighten his grip. She took in a deep breathe as she finished with when they disapparated to Shell Cottage. She waited for anyone to speak. Everyone just stared apologetically and so caring. Hermione's throat felt tight. She hated the attention.

Arthur was the first to speak, having not said a word thus far. "Hermione, dear. You need to seek a healer. A mental healer. Maybe a physical one, too, just to get checked out" She glanced at Ron who she could tell was pleading with her.

She knew she needed to get checked. The physical and mental effects of the Cruciatis curse were unknown and sometimes the symptoms can delay. This panic attack started with her feeling the pain all over again. The actual pain Bellatrix inflicted on her. She had no choice, but to agree. Also so Ron would stop staring at her like a puppy dog. Godric, she loved him.

"I will... I promise.. I actually want to talk with you, Mr. Weasley, about locating my parents first though. Ron and Hermione had told his parents about what Hermione had to do for her parents safety and while they were shocked and not so quick to understanding, they eventually came around and gave Hermione the time to figure out when she'd like to start.

"I mean, of course I'll meet with a healer before going just to clear me of anything" Hermione said before Molly and Ron chimed in with what she knew to be an argument about delaying seeking help. She wasn't trying to delay it, she just wanted to bring it back up since everything else seemed to be pouring out in the open. She could no longer hold back the yawn that was making its way out. Everyone chuckled including herself.

"Well, dear. All of this can wait until morning. Well, it is morning, but it can wait a few more hours. Go right back up to bed and I'm sure Ron can manage from here" She gave Ron a pat on the shoulder and smile. He still wasn't used to how okay his mom was with Hermione sleeping in his bed with him. "Harry, you should go back up to Ron's room as well" Yep. There it is. Ron just chuckled to himself as he summoned another glass of water and helped Hermione up the stairs. The three of them get to his landing and Ron notices Ginny standing beside Harry, holding his hand. She gives Ron a pleading look and Ron glances at Harry's awkward stance. "Oi! The two of you get in here. One big slumber party, I reckon?" Hermione chuckles against Ron's chest and his heart skips a beat. Please laugh forever.

"You two over there... keep the snogging to a minimum alright?" Ginny chucks a pillow at Ron, causing Harry and Hermione to laugh out loud. Ron is too lost in Hermione's laugh to retort. He grabs the thrown pillow off the ground and shoves it behind his head. "Mine now" "That's okay. I have a better one" Ginny lays her head on Harry's chest and cuddles up under the blanket, giving Ron a smirk.

"Oi! That was lame. Even for you"

"Whatever. Goodnight ya git. Hermione, it's going to be okay, alright? I love you..." Ginny glances at Hermione who is also laying on Ron's chest, giving her a reassuring smile. Hermione smiles back and it warms Ron's heart. "I love you, too, Gin... you, too, Harry" Harry smiles back then leans into Ginny and closes his eyes.

"And what about me?" Ron gives a little half smile, half pout and Hermione looks up, places a hand on his neck and brings his lips down to hers. She slowly brushes her soft lips against his in a slow and gentle kiss.

"I love you most of all..." They both give each other cheeky smiles before cuddling together and finally having a restful few hours of sleep.