Sweet Dreams

'Hermione!' Ron dashed down the corridor towards her after break the next morning, a scrap of paper clutched in his hand. 'Are you going to the library at lunch time today?'

'As a matter of fact I was Ron, why are you so excited?'

Ron was quite flushed around the cheeks, 'Oh nothing' he said dismissively. 'I just had an idea and ran all the way from the astronomy tower so that I'd catch you before you went to Advanced Transfiguration'

'Oh?…'

'Well,' Ron looked at her for a while, taking in pallid cheeks and the patches of badly applied concealer under her eyes 'I'll see you then...'

'Yes, see you Ron' she said as she strode into transfiguration, ignoring the giggles coming from behind her.

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Hermione had already completed translating and summarising her second Ancient Runes paragraph when Ron dashed into the library at lunch time.

'There you are Mione. I thought you'd go to lunch first'

'I wasn't hungry'

She could feel Ron's eyes boring into the back of her neck so somewhat irritably she snapped

'Are you going to sit down Ron?

'Wha'? Oh, yeah, I was'

Plonking himself on the chair opposite her he pulled out the scrap of paper he had with him earlier and dragged a heavy tome from his shoulder bag. It must have easily weighed 5 pounds thought Hermione, staring at it. When Ron said nothing she decided it was time to speak.

'Well do introduce us Ron, what is it?'

'This' Ron said, pausing here for dramatic effect 'Is the all-rounded, comprehensive, wide-ranged Guide to Dream Interpretation Aid…'

Hermione was not impressed 'Your divination book?' she said sceptically.

'Well no actually, this is a side book I thought I should get to help me interpret the interpretations from The Really Comprehensive All-rounded Wide-ranged Guide to Dream Interpretation'

Silence.

'Are we going somewhere with this conversation Ron?'

'Yes, this is the good bit. We interpret your dream, figure out how it relates to your life currently and then you can forget about it and get a good night's sleep'

How could anyone resist those eyes, thought Hermione. Outwardly she sighed, closed her runes book and pulled out a fresh sheet of Parchment.

'Okay Ron, hit me with it…'

0-0-0-0-0-0

After checking their re-written account of Hermione's dream Ron flicked though the pages of the massive book and read aloud,

'Hallway: As an entrance to the building, the hallway is most likely to symbolise the woman's … well... you know…'

'No, I don't know. What is it Ron?'

'Well… you know...' He lowered his voice 'her private part.'

'Oh for Merlin's sake! Here, give me that.'

'Sound or lack thereof: Is the person in your dream surrounded in real life by people who give into arguments all the time? Sound in dreams is often a metaphor for sexual- Really Ron! Who wrote this book?'

'Emm… A wizard called Freud the Second I think… I heard that he was obsessed with sex …'

'I would never have guessed,' said Hermione dryly, before picking up the book again and flicking through another few pages.

'Beam of light (directed at the viewer): The dreamer should examine their own shortcomings more closely. Perhaps they do not like the spot light to be on them. This can also refer to sexual relationships and –'

Hermione slammed the book shut. 'This is useless Ron! I'd be so much better off studying for ancient Runes.'

'No wait! What he says about the appearance of your mother is interesting.

'Mother: Every woman becomes her mother. According to Jungian dream principles the mother is an archetype in which part of the dreamer's personality is portrayed. You can tell the condition of that personality trait by looking at her.

If you faced her perhaps you are facing into your own future. If she stood behind you, you feel you have turned your back on some part of yourself or possibly a close friend-

'Harry', Hermione whispered.

Ron glanced at her and continued reading from the book

'-If you know she is there but is concealed from view then you have, so to speak, stashed part of yourself away. (See also: closet).'

A moment passed…

'Perhaps there is something in this dream interpretation theory after all', conceded Hermione, 'I might talk to Professor Firenze about it after classes.'

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'I shall certainly meditate on it Ms.Granger' spoke the deep-throated voice of Firenze. 'Yet it was probably a mere dream. You humans tend to dream to forget and can go mad without REM for days in a row. Centaurs have always dreamed to remember and a rare talented few can even dream to see the events of the future. You would do well to take us more seriously.'

Hermione flushed slightly pink, she had been wondering whether or not to trust this half horse, hidden in the shadow of his indoor forest. 'I'm sorry Professor; I didn't mean to be insulting'

'Do not worry child, no insult was taken'

Firenze turned heel (or hoof) and trotted back into the gloomy depths of his supply cupboard.

'You may go now Ms.Granger; I will contact you when the work is done'

0-0-0-0-0-0

'And that was it!' said an incredulous Ron 'Just, I'll get back to you on that!'

'Yeah', Hermione laughed 'That was it'

They sat on the big plushy sofa opposite the fire and stared at its iron hearth for a few minutes. The Gryfindor common room was almost empty apart from a small group of fourth years sitting worriedly in a corner, each finishing a two-foot scroll of what looked like potions. Eventually even these went to bed leaving the pair alone on the sofa. It struck Hermione just how long it had been since she last sat here in the common room. At least six months she figured… before Harry left anyway.

She opened her mouth to say something at the same time Ron opened his to do the same.

'You go first' she said

'No, you'

'It's nothing really; I was just thinking how long it has been since we were here last'

'Me too…'

Once again quiet fell. The glowing embers of the fire gave off only a little heat and soon Hermione felt herself shiver. Ron noticed

'Are you cold?' he asked (somewhat naively)

'No, not re-'

Ron already had his jumper halfway over his head, exposing his torso to the firelight as his t-shirt rode up with it. All Hermione could do was stare. Ron moved closer to give it to her. Stammering thanks she took the proffered jumper and pulled it over her own head. The blue wool was soft and smelled of Ron. When she had pulled her arms and head through she noticed Ron staring at her as she sat back beside him and turned to gaze at the red coals.

'You're very pretty you know' he said quietly 'Even when you look like you haven't slept in a week'

He was staring at her still. She felt the couch move as he got up to leave and heard herself say 'no… don't go… yet'

The springs relaxed as he settled back down again. She was consciously aware of his arm resting on the chair behind her. Very gradually his hand came to rest on her shoulder. Just as apprehensively she moved until her head was tilted onto his chest.

He looked down, surprised, but she was already asleep.