Note: Chapter complete.

Chapter 9: No More Fun and Games

There it was. Were they all seeing things? Ron's eyes landed on the red shape near the fireplace in the Common Room. Was that red just the glow of the fire? No, it wasn't. It was a Phantom. No one spoke…All six of them just stood frozen in place, their eyes daring not to move away. It didn't seem to notice that anything had entered the room, it just continued whatever it was that it was doing, which was just staring into the fire. Seeing these things up close was much different then seeing them from out the train window. Ron could make out the shape better now…It was shaped just like a dementor, only it was the color of bright blood. A hood was over the face, so no eyes or a mouth could be seen.

"What…Should….We…Do?" Neville whispered. Ron swatted him on the shoulder, hoping he would keep quite. Had the Phantom heard Neville? No, it continued its trance with the fire.

"Should ?" Neville kept speaking. The Phantom started to turn away from the fireplace, and it seemed to freeze when it was facing them. They all took one step back, until Ron and Hermione were pushed against the wall, with the others pushed against them in front. The portrait hole was not that far away, but for some reason Ron couldn't seem to remember how far away exactly. A few steps? Just one step? Was the painting even still opened? Ron turned his neck, inch by inch, and tried to get a glimpse of the portrait. Yes, it was still open. He squeezed Hermione's hand twice and tried to nod his head in the direction of the opening without being too obvious.

"Yeah," Hermione said ever so quietly.

"W-What are you doing here?" Neville stuttered, taking a step closer to the Phantom.

"Neville!" Ginny hissed, trying to grab his robes and pull him back. Since when was Neville so brave anyway? The Phantom gave a hissing sound that sounded like the brakes on a Muggle car screeching after coming to a quick holt. Hermione also suddenly seemed fixed on the Phantom, and she too starting edging closer to it.

"You guys, don't look directly at it," Ron whispered, wrapping an arm around Hermione.

"Yeah, how did you get here?" Hermione asked, trying to break away from Ron.

"I have never seen this shade of red before," Neville muttered. "Can I touch it?" He was much too close now. The Phantom was staring right at him from only a few feet away. Something needed to happen now, and fast. Ron suddenly shoved Hermione out the portrait hole in one quick movement. Dean and Seamus took the hint and ran out after her. Ginny was trying to get closer to Neville without looking at the Phantom.

"Ginny, come on!" Ron yelled, trying to reach for her but not wanting to go any closer.

"We can't just leave him here!" She yelled back. Ron hoped that the others had run for help instead of just standing there, and he was relived when he looked out the hole and they were gone. Neville must have only been a foot away from the Phantom now, and the lights in the room dimmed as the Phantom seemed to glow brighter.

"God damn it you guys, come on!" Ron pleaded, half out the hole, half still inside. What happened next was one of those things you can only picture happening in your mind. The Phantom reached its long robed arm out and Neville floated into him, as if he was some kind of ghost…It looked like a replica was being made of him, and going right into the Phantom.

"Neville!" Ginny screamed, running right up to the real Neville's arm and trying to pull him from the Phantom. This made the Phantom mad, and he gave another loud hiss. As if a piece of it had broken off, a red fire ball shot from his hand and into Ginny, causing her to fly back into the wall.

"Ginny!" Ron yelped, about to run over to her limp body, but he did a double take when he saw Neville. More ghost forms were floating off of him and into the Phantom, and the real body of Neville had gone completely frozen and silent. The only thing Ron could do was to attempt the same thing Ginny had just done. He ran over and fiercely grabbed Neville's arm, pulling him slowly off the Phantom, which seemed to be in a trance as Neville's ghostly-selves were flooding into him. There, that was it. Ron had pulled Neville's body a few feet away, and the Phantom screamed. It was no ordinary scream…Finger nails on a chalkboard almost…

"Neville, come on, run!" Ron shook Neville's body, but it was limp and white as snow. He fell from Ron's grasp as the Phantom's long arm struck again, only grabbing Ron around the neck. It had different fingers of some sort…Fiery fingers. The instant they hit, Ron couldn't breathe…It was like all the air in his lungs had left, and his throat was dry and empty. Ron started to see a white light, and knew he was going to die…But wait, what was that? There was a man and a woman standing in front of him…They were both gorgeous people…The man had ruffled dark brown hair, and the woman had long hair and piercing green eyes…Very familiar eyes…They were both grinning at him, waving their illuminating arms at him….But what was it they were trying to say?

"Ron? Ron?! Is he okay?"

Now who was that talking? What happened to the light? And that couple? Ron didn't know where he was, or what was going on. There was a pain at his neck, and he found it difficult to breathe.

"Ron, can you hear me? Can you give us some sign?" There was that voice again. Ron started to open his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a ruffle of hair in his face. He sneezed as some of it went in his nose, and it moved away.

"Ron! You're awake!" Hermione stopped leaning over him, and nearly jumped on the bed next to him. Wait, since when was Ron on a bed?

"Where am I?" Neville? Ginny? The Potters?! The Phantom?!" He started questioning quickly as the memories rushed in. His vision cleared, and he spotted Hermione right there next to him, Dean and Seamus where on the other side of the bed, and Madam Pomfrey was talking to Dumbledore a few feet away.

"We are in the hospital wing," Hermione replied with that fearful waver in her voice, and she scooted farther up on the bed.

"You sure have enjoyed getting hurt and giving me a fright lately," she said quietly, running her hand through his hair.

"First back home with the ball, and n-now here a-again." Why did Hermione sound so scared?

"Where are Ginny and Neville?" Ron said quietly, realizing that when he spoke loudly his throat ached.

"Ginny's in the next bed over," Dean nodded his head in the direction. "She's fine mate, just a little shaken up."

"And Neville?"

"Um…" Dean started. He looked over to the other side of the room and saw a bed that had the curtains wrapped around it. There was another at the far end of the wing, and Ron assumed that may have been Harry or maybe that second year boy.

"The Phantom got him completely…So now he's like Snape and Harry, only he hasn't woke up yet…Usually you are supposed to wake up," Seamus said.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"Like with Snape for instance, he woke up seconds after the Phantom let him go, but Neville has been unconscious since the event occurred in the Common Room."

"How long has it been?"

"You have only been out for twenty minutes," Dumbledore suddenly joined the conversation. His face seemed old and tired, and his eyes didn't have the usual shine in them.

"Your friends came and got me just at the right time," Dumbledore continued, as if reading Ron's mind for his next question.

"When I arrived the Phantom was about to take you like he had just done Neville. I'm afraid I wasn't able to capture it; it was gone before any of us knew it. I did place the Protectus Lomus curse on all the Common Rooms, so you all will be safe from now on."

"Whoa, I don't want to go up there, are you kidding me?!" Seamus exclaimed.

"Everything is secure, I promise you," Dumbledore raised his hand. "You can all rest easy."

"Do I have to stay down here for the night?" Ron looked down at the hospital pajamas on his body and knew that the answer would be yes. Dumbledore studied him closely.

"I suppose if you insist you can return to your House with your friends," he replied, much to Ron's surprise. "But take it easy for tonight, you understand?"

"Yes sir," Ron said.

"I'm afraid your sister on the other hand will have to remain here for tonight, she took quite a few bumps that Madam Pomfrey needs the night to heal. Goodnight then." Dumbledore returned to talking with Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall, who had just entered the wing in her maroon tartan.

"What did you say about the Potters before?" Hermione asked.

"Hmm? Oh, nothing, just mumbling," Ron replied, not wanting to bring up what he had seen, because he himself wasn't even sure what exactly it was.

"Should we head up then, Dean?" Seamus asked. "Are you guys coming?"

"Oh, we'll be up, I just want to see Ginny," Ron sat up slowly.

"Okay, we'll meet you in the Common Room then," Seamus touched Ron's arm and left with Dean.

"Hurts to talk," Ron rubbed his throat, trying to get his legs off the bed, but Hermione was in the way.

"Then don't," Hermione ran her finger along his lips. Why did Hermione always seem to get really romantic right after something really big like this happened?"

"I thought I may have lost you again," her voice teared up.

"You are never going to lose me, love."

"Promise me that Ron. Promise you will never leave me…"

"Hermione, you know I can't exactly promise something like tha-"

"Ron, please!" She said desperately, a tear falling down her cheek.

"I promise Hermione, I am not going anywhere that you can't follow," he said quickly, pulling her into his chest. She kissed his cheek, and he kissed her back on the head.

"You never know how much you need a person until you come close to losing them," her voice muffled into his pajamas.

"How exactly do you need me?" Ron said in a teasing tone. He heard her chuckle and she looked at him.

"Let's just say in more ways then I feel like sharing with everyone here," she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the lips. He kissed her back, and for a moment everything seemed perfect.

"Are you guys always going at it, even in a place where sick people are?" A light voice asked from the bed next to them.

"Ginny, how are you feeling?" Hermione climbed off the bed, and helped Ron over to see her. She was propped up on three pillows, in the same type of pajamas Ron had on. Her face was paler then her normal complexion and the bags under her eyes looked as if they could use a few days of sleep.

"I'm fine, how are you Ron? I heard about the tumble you took."

"It wasn't nearly the tumble that you took!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah well, I am considering going into stunt work," Ginny shifted and moved her bandaged arm to the pillow on her side.

"Poor Neville…I hope he pulls out of this," she said sadly.

"He'll make it," Ron tried to sound confident.

"You can use some sleep Ginny," Hermione fluffed one of her pillows for her.

"I think we could all use some naps," Ron yawned. Even that made his throat hurt.

"Is there some kind of mark on my throat or something? I have this incredible constant pressure there," Ron craned his head upward.

"Yes, there….Wow," Hermione edged closer.

"What?"

"The Phantom left some kind of hand print on your neck, almost like it was burned in there or something."

"That explains it. So you're sure that you're all right?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Ginny yawned.

"I'll stop by tomorrow, do you know what time they are letting you leave?"

"No idea, but I'd assume in time for the start of classes." Ginny gave a small wave, and closed her eyes. Ron and Hermione went back over to Ron's bed to retrieve his clothes.

"Are you really going to leave wearing that?" Hermione couldn't hide a grin as she looked at the pajamas.

"Bad idea," Ron responded with a grin, taking his wand off his folded clothes from on the chair. He flicked it once at his body, and his clothes rearranged in a quick flash so he was now wearing his robes again, and his pajamas were folded on the chair.

"That's better," she wrapped an arm around his waist and tried to kiss him.

"Wait, can we not do this now? I mean, here. Kissing around sick people just kind of gives me chills up my back," Ron shivered.

"No one is watching," Hermione looked over both shoulders.

"Ginny has seen plenty of it already."

"Yeah, but it's just the feeling of the whole thing. Can it wait until we reach the Common Room?"

"You just don't want to kiss me now that Harry kissed me," Hermione crossed her arms and sat on the bed.

"What? No, that's not true. I kissed you before!"

"Then why won't you kiss me now?"

"I told you why, it just makes me feel funny."

"Yeah, right," Hermione didn't budge.

"Fine, you stay here then. I'll see you later." Ron walked away from the bed and caught Ginny grinning before leaving through the double doors. The halls where all quiet and deserted. It was a creepy feeling as Ron walked up to the Common Room. Even the paintings on the walls seemed quieter then usual, and they weren't visiting each other like they usually did, just sitting in their own frames with a worried look. Even the fat lady at the entrance to the Gryffindor House wouldn't let him in until he said the password twenty times with his eyes closed.

It seemed that every Gryffindor was gathered in the Common Room, sitting close together and talking quietly. The new first years seemed the most alarmed, and they stayed together in a bunch by the window. Ron spotted the twins, Lee Jordan, Seamus, and Dean sitting together over in the corner and he hurried over to them.

"There you are!" George bellowed.

"It's about time you got up here," Fred said

"What, were you worried about me or something?" Ron teased, sitting down on the floor.

"Of course not," George cleared his throat. "We are worried about Ginny!"

"Thanks a lot," Ron rubbed his neck. "She's fine anyway. She's just getting some rest."

"Watch this," Lee said, picking up a pencil and throwing it at the wall near the first years. They all jumped and looked ready to run out of the room. A few even screamed in surprise. One of them went over and inspected the pencil, and they all gave a nervous laugh.

"Poor blokes," Lee shook his head, laughing.

"What, aren't you the least bit nervous of those things coming back? I mean, there was one in this room!" Ron exclaimed.

"Little Ronnie, are you scared? Are you going to have nightmares? Maybe I should call mum so she can come and sit up with you tonight," Fred said with a baby lisp.

"Fuck off," Ron kicked his brother in the shin. "You get attacked by that thing and see just how much you like it!"

"I'm sure I'd be able to scare the living shit out of the thing," Fred puffed his chin out.

"I don't think it really has any living shit," Lee pointed out.

"I think the Phantom would kick the shit out of you," Ron argued back.

"Hey, who do you think the shit would get kicked out of first - Phantoms or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" Pondered Dean.

"I'd still say Voldemort is the all-time best shit kicker," Ron said, and they all gasped.

"You said his name!" Seamus exclaimed.

"I did?" Ron gasped at himself.

"I didn't know you had the balls mate," Dean said.

"I think I picked it up from Harry or something."

"I agree with the idea of V…Vol…I can't say it!" George sighed. "But I agree with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named winning."

"Ron, where's your girl?" Seamus asked.

"Hermione?"

"No, Lavender Brown!" He said sarcastically. "Well, yeah Hermione!"

"I don't know, she got one of her attitudes again," Ron shrugged.

"What's it about now?"

"I wouldn't kiss her in the hospital wing. It just gave me a funny feeling to know that Neville was lying across the way, and that Harry probably wasn't far off either."

"She's a bit emotional I assume?" Lee said.

"No kidding," George replied.

"That's women for you," Fred sighed. "But you should have seen the two of them this summer!" They all whistled, and Ron's cheeks reddened.

"You never did tell what happened this summer," George threw a pencil at his brother.

"And I am never going to," Ron threw it back.

"It's really hard to accept that our little brother is no longer a virgin!" Fred sniffled.

"Would you guys just stay out of my sex life?" Ron stood up.

"Ooh, so he is admitting he has one!" Fred declared. Ron had turned just in time to see Hermione standing a few feet away, an offended look on her face. What was she angry about now? She hurried off up the girls' dormitory stairs, and let the door slam after her.

"You guys just can't shut up about it, can you?" Ron slapped his own face in annoyance.

"It's not like we are strangers," George pointed out. "I don't see why she would take offence to you talking to us about it."

"Oh, right, I'm sure she wants me talking about it to people like you two!" Ron pointed at the twins, who both just grinned and shrugged.

"Well, you might as well go after her then," Seamus nudged his shoulder in the girls' dormitory direction.

"I think they took the charm off that doesn't allow guys up there."

"Go up there?"

"I don't think she's coming out, so go for it."

"Let us know what it's like up there!" Fred called after him.

"I'm sure you've seen it for yourself," Ron said extra loudly. Fred blushed and shut up with the smart remarks. At least for the evening.

"Um…That is for the girls," a small first year girl informed Ron as he was about to step in.

"I know, I just need to find my girlfriend," Ron replied, hurrying up the stairs and into the 6th year girl's room. Hermione was sitting on her bed, untying her shoes.

"Ron! You are not supposed to be up here," she said angrily, standing up and walking over with just one shoe on.

"I need to talk to you."

"I don't want to talk to you very much right now," she tried to push him out of the room. Ron took her small hands in his and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You know what you were saying before about me not wanting to kiss you, maybe because Harry did?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, I'm not even close to thinking of Harry right now. All I want to think of right now is…This." He leaned in and kissed her. She seemed a bit surprised at first, but was soon kissing him back. It was getting pretty heated as they fell back onto Hermione's bed.

"See, there was no Harry in that," Ron lay on his side facing her. Hermione still looked a bit flushed and lost in the kiss still.

"I don't think there was either," she smiled.

"I want to tell you, that I wasn't…You know, telling everyone about our, uh, relationship. The twins were just being nosey."

"I know, I totally over reacted. But I don't want some of our little memories to be made known everyone, you know? I want them to just be our little secret forever."

"I agree with that, I'm not telling them anything," he kissed her nose. "Besides, we ourselves never really even talked about it."

"What do you have to say about it?" Hermione wondered.

"Aren't you supposed to, I don't know, talk about it after you've done it?"

"Maybe?" Hermione looked confused. "We've only done it twice…Well, once technically, there is plenty of time to talk."

"We could make it three times," Ron said as a joke more then a serious comment.

"Not tonight," Hermione laughed. "There is too much going on, and the mood just doesn't feel right, with Neville and your sister and Harry and all."

"I was just teasing," he kissed her nose again.

"But we will."

"Soon?" He asked quicker then he intended.

"Yeah, soon," she laughed again, kissing his lips softly. He kissed her back lightly, and then kept giving each other little pecks back and forth.

"Wait, did you hear that?" Ron asked, sitting up. There it was. Sounded like a whistle or something.

"Didn't McGonagall say she was going to use a whistle to get our attention at night when she had an announcement to make and needed us all in the Common Room?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, I think that is what this is. We should go check it out then."

"Yeah," Hermione kicked off her other shoe and slipped her slippers on, and then the two of them went back down stairs. Ron was right, McGonagall was there waiting for the Gryffindor's to all gather.

"Gather around, I have some very important things to tell you all," she waved her arm around her. The seats were filling fast, so Ron quickly plopped down on one, and Hermione shared it with him, half on his lap and half on the actual chair. Every Gryffindor was now gathered around McGonagall, some looking annoyed that she had interrupted them (The twins, Lee) and some like they were glad she was there and hoped she never left them (The first years).

"First off, I am sure you have all heard of the incident that occurred in here earlier this evening. I want to assure you that Professor Dumbledore has locked off all the Houses from the Phantoms, so you are all going to be perfectly safe," she began, looking primarily at the first years.

"Second, is that the absence of Mr. Potter, Ms. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom has been noticed by you all, I'm sure. I want to tell you that they are all doing well, and are spending some time at the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey can tend to them. There are some rules that I need everyone to follow. First, is that you are to stay in your Houses at all times during the night. There is no reason to leave, and anyone that does will be punished for it. We are doing this for your own protection, so no more games," she continued, with a direct look at the twins for that last part.

"Ron, Hermione, I am sure you will be on the look out for occurrences of this?"

Ron and Hermione just nodded in reply.

"If you see a Phantom, we advise you all to get away, don't waste anytime. You cannot fight these, they are much too powerful. You all understand that?" Everyone nodded silently.

"That's all for now. I hope you all enjoy the year, even with everything that has happened. I'd like to wish us luck for when Quidditch comes around, that cup deserves to be back with us!"

"You said it!" Fred pumped his fist in the air, and a few students laughed now that the tension was broken. McGonagall left, and a first year girl followed her all the way to the door, as if hoping she would stay.

"How motivational," George joked.

"You should listen to her," Ron replied. "We don't need anymore Weasley's in the hospital wing."

"Maybe we should go for a world record and see if we could all get in there at the same time!" George said enthusiastically.

"Why don't you go jump out the window, and we'll all follow?" Ron replied with fake enthusiasm.

"I may just do that one day, and then you'll be sorry!" George called after Ron and Hermione, who had moved away from the twins and got seats near the fire. Hermione yawned and stretched out her arms, and Ron couldn't help but watch the curves in her body as she did.

"I'm quite tired," she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Me too, I could use a good night sleep. It's going to be weird without Harry and Neville there."

"I can't imagine what that's going to be like."

"I should just come up to bed with you," Ron joked.

"I want my bed all to myself, sorry," Hermione joked back. "I have a bad back and all."

"Oh, that's right," Ron smiled. "When do our Prefect duties start?"

"Not for a week after the first day of classes, the 5th years have it until then, so I guess in a…week!"

"Marvelous," he kissed her head. "We are going to get some major alone time in."

"With Draco."

"Ah, screw that wanker. He'll probably be on the other side of the grounds," Ron said. "So I hope." He started rubbing Hermione's shoulders, and she gave a sigh of pleasure.

"You have great hands for massages," she said.

"You know what my hands can do," he teased.

"My, my, you are quite the rowdy git tonight aren't you?" Hermione giggled, and turned to face him.

"How can you blame me? Look at you." He spoke the truth. The fire was casting deep shadows across her face, making here eyes shine and her skin glowing.

"You're so sweet," she kissed his neck, and he winced.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yeah, the whole area is sore now," he rubbed the area she has just kissed.

"My poor baby," she cooed, getting up on his lap, facing him. Ron realized how this must have looked to anyone that may have glanced their way, especially that group of second years that kept sneaking peeks at them. She started to kiss all the areas of his neck, running her cool hands along his warm flesh.

"That makes it all feel better," Ron sighed, closing his eyes.

"There you guys go!" Ron's eyes flew open as he heard Seamus' voice. He was standing there with Dean, huge grins on their faces.

"Ah, just go away," Ron couldn't help but grin.

"Sure thing mate, we'll see you in the room," Dean said and the two of them left. The twins and Lee had also disappeared somewhere, probably to put some stink bombs in the toilets or something. Hermione gave another yawn as she rested her forehead against Ron's.

"Should we call it a night?" Ron couldn't help but let his own yawn out.

"Sure, we can do that." She climbed off him, and they got to their feet. She wrapped her arms around him tightly in a hug, and he hugged her back. He kissed her, then again. Then she kissed him, and one more time. They giggled as they parted.

"I love you, Ron. Sleep well."

"I love you too. Get some rest." She disappeared up the girls' dormitory, and Ron headed up the stairs, still lost in the moment. Harry and Neville and all those Phantoms weren't even on his mind, it was all Hermione.

"Someone is in a good mood," Seamus teased. Ron was sure he probably had a big, goofy grin on his face, and he nearly ran into his bed post.

"Oops," Ron steadied himself.

"Careful there," Dean gave a snort of laughter.

"I'm just tired," Ron replied, searching for where his pajamas were.

"And in love."

"That too. It's so weird up here," Ron changed the subject, looking at Harry's bed then over to Neville's.

"I know, it's kind of scary," Seamus got onto his bed and pulled the blanket up to his chin. "Neville is usually jabbering about something in his sleep, and now there is going to be no jabbering!"

"Jabbering?" Ron laughed. "I think it's more like snoring. You will fill the silence with that, Seamus."

"I don't snore!"

"Yes you do," Dean and Ron replied together. Seamus chucked his slipper at Dean as he started to do impressions of loud snoring.

"If Ron starts moaning about Hermione or whatever in the middle of the night, then I will get up and put my pillow over his face," Seamus declared.

"Thanks a lot, but I'll try to keep it all in my mind," Ron replied, changing into his pajama bottoms. Dean was laughing to himself about something as he got into his bed and rearranged his pillows. Ron was in his shortly after, and the lights were all off.

"Um, you guys…Does anyone else want to sleep with a light on tonight?" Seamus asked quietly.

"I was just thinking the same thing," Dean said quickly, getting back out of bed.

"I can't complain with that idea," Ron followed him up. They turned on one light that was near the door and the other that was in the center of the room.

"Well, goodnight," Ron fell back onto his bed and pulled the blanket passed his nose.

"Night," came Seamus' muffled voice from under his blanket.

"If those things return, remember do not fight it, just get away!" Dean did an impersonation of Professor McGonagall.

"Just save yourself," Seamus said.

"Take the twins' advice and jump out the window," Ron suggested.

"What would you really do?" Dean asked seriously.

"Wake you guys, and THEN jump out the window, Ron replied.

"But only if it was blocking the door. I think taking the stairs might be an easier route, Ron," Seamus chuckled.

"You're right. Wake you guys…Get out of the bed…Run like bloody hell out the door, down the stairs, and all the way to the other side of the school."

"Perfect!"

"I was serious you guys," Dean said softly.

"Dean, you sound like Neville," Seamus replied. "Besides, Dumbledore put a protective charm on all the rooms, remember what McGonagall said?"

"How did they even get here in the first place? If they could get through the first time, I am sure they could get through another!"

"Just turn your brain off and go to bed," Ron yawned. "Everything is going to be fine." Since when was Ron so calm and collected? He was still in a dream about Hermione, that's why. The three boys were quiet for a moment.

"I guess your snoring would scare them off anyway," Dean said with less fear in his voice.

"And Ron's jabbering about Hermione," Seamus said back.

"Oh shut up," Ron couldn't help but laugh with them. Then they were quiet. Ron lay on his back, his eyes still wide open. Dean's breathing became shallower as he fell to sleep, and Seamus' light snores started. Ron felt happy to have the friends he had. He never really thought about how lucky he was to know people like Dean and Seamus, he was always just close to Harry. It was nice to have male friends to laugh with. His thoughts became cloudy as his eyes heavy. The world was silent and Ron fell into a peaceful sleep, his mind suddenly clear of all thoughts. Hours passed without any interruption, each boy lost in his own dreams….

"Ron," whispered a voice. Ron was still in a dream about Quidditch, and he figured the noise was just part of the dream.

"Ron." There it was again. He felt himself being shaken, and snapped out of the dream.

"Hmm?" His eyes opened slowly, but his vision was too blurred to see who it was standing next to his bed. He brought his hands up to his face and wiped his eyes. He nearly jumped out of the bed when he saw who it was…

Note: Haha, I like to end like this, don't I? This chapter was full of danger, but it was also to show how close everyone is with each other, and how painful it would be if something where to happen to break that bond that they all have….But that's all I'll say for now.