Ron groaned and turned over trying to go back to sleep. The sun was just starting to rise and he knew that everybody would be getting up soon. He did not sleep well last night. He had a terrible nightmare that robed him of another good nights sleep. He was getting them more frequently now than he used to. Hermione told him to start a dream journal. However, he seemed to forget them almost immediately after waking. But he did know they were bad. Because he would wake up sweating and breathing hard and fast as if he had been running. He had not gotten good nights sleep in weeks and it was starting to show. He had dark circles under his eyes and he was always tiered. Once he fell asleep in potions. Fortunately, Hermione woke him up before Snape caught him. That would have gotten him a month's worth of detention and he could not afford less sleep that he was already getting. He was brought out of his thoughts by a noise.
"Ron you awake?" Harry whispered trying not to wake the others.
"Yeah. I'm up." Ron replied turning over to face Harry.
"Another bad dream?" He asked sadly.
"Yeah." Ron replied pulling the covers off him and sitting up on the bed.
"Did you remember this one?" Harry asked looking down at Ron with concern in his eyes. He knew that Ron was having nightmares. He had been woken up a couple of times by Ron yelling in his sleep.
Ron shook his head. "No. I don't know if that's good or bad." He said standing up and walking over to his dresser. He pulled some clothes out of the draws and turned to face Harry.
Harry saw the dark circles under Ron's eyes and the look of a boy who desperately needed some sleep. "Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey for a sleep potion. You are not going to last much longer if you don't get some sleep soon."
"Yeah. Maybe. But later. I will do it over the Holiday break." He replied as he changed clothes. He walked back over to the bed and sat down on it to put on his shoes.
Harry had been Ron's friend long enough to know not to argue with him. But he was really worried about him. Holiday break was still three weeks away and he did not think Ron would last that long without some sleep. He looked like he was ready to keel over at any moment. His face was pale and it looked like he was losing weight. After getting ready, they both walked down to the common room. Hermione was sitting on the sofa reading. They walked over and sat beside her. She was not surprised to see them up so early. She to knew that Ron was not sleeping well.
"Oh, Ron you need to do something. You look so tiered. Was it really bad this time?" she asked putting down her book.
"Yeah I think so. I don't remember them." he said laying his head back against the sofa and closing his eyes.
"They are getting worse and more frequent." She said looking over at Harry. "We need to do something. He needs to get some sleep."
"I know I told him to go see Madam Pomfrey. About a sleep potion." Harry replied.
"I'm sitting right here you know. I can hear you." Ron said from his spot on the sofa. He keep his head back and his eyes were still shut. "I said I would see her daring the Holiday Break."
"But that's still three weeks away. I don't think you will last that long." Hermione said. She moved his long hair out of the way so she could see his face better. "If you don't get some sleep soon you are going to collapse from exhaustion."
"I have handled it for this long. I think I can do it a little longer." he replied.
"But Ron I…" Hermione started.
"Look I said I would see her during Break. Now would you two just drop it?" Ron got up off the sofa and started for the portrait hole. "I'm going down to breakfast. Ill see you there." He left without even looking back.
"Do you think we should tell Dumbledore about his nightmares?" Hermione asked looking over to Harry.
"I have already. He said he was going to watch Ron closely." Harry replied.
Hermione looked at him a little confused. "Why would he watch Ron closely? What are you not telling me Harry." She asked narrowing her eyes at him.
Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "We think maybe Valdamort is involved some how."
"What?" she yelled. Harry told her to quite down. She looked around to see if anyone was looking, then lowered her voice. "You think he is getting in Ron's head the way he did yours?" She asked with concern in her voice.
"We think maybe he is. Valdamort knows you two are my best friends." Harry was looking at the flames in the fireplace. However, turned to look at Hermione and said with sadness in his voice. "He knows I would do anything to protect you two. I would lay down my life to save ether one of you. We think that Valdamort is working on Ron to get to me. If that is what is happening he knows I would do anything to help Ron."
"Oh Harry I'm sorry." Hermione said sadly.
Harry was fighting to hold back tears. "I can't just sit back and let him do that to Ron. I have to help him if I can."
Hermione reached across and put her hand on Harry's arm. "We." She said with a small smile. "We will help him. Do you think I would let you do this alone?"
Harry looked up into her eyes. "Thank you." Was all he could say.
"Come on lets go find Ron and have some breakfast." She said standing up and holding her hand out to Harry. He took it and they both headed out the portrait hole.