The picture that you see is a prompt for this story.

Disclaimer: do not own Harry Potter

Running.

Hermione was running in the forest and she didn't know why. The forest she was in was dark and foggy. Spells were shooting at her from all over directions.

Why am I here? She thought. I thought the war was over.

Lost in thought, she was almost hit by a spell.

Panting, she woke up. It was yet another nightmare. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. When she turned, she saw Severus who had a concerned look written all over his face.

As he reached over towards the nightstand, he grabbed the calming drought and handed it towards her.

Hermione shook her head. She was adamant not to use calming drought after the war. She didn't want to become addicted to it.

"It will help." He said calmly.

"But you said - " Hermione was about to finish but he had interrupted her.

"I know what I said, but the nightmares are tearing you up inside." Severus paused to caress her. "You were muttering in your sleep."

That surprised her. She hadn't muttered in her sleep in years. She sighed then picked herself up to sit up on the bed. "I was in the forest again." She frowned. "My dreams always start there and always end right before the incident." She shivered.

When Severus noticed her shivering, he rubbed her shoulders in hopes that it would calm her.

Next thing they knew, Crookshanks jumped on the bed to sit in between them. He began purring loudly.

Hermione giggled and started to pet Crooks when Severus sighed.

He too decided to pet the furry beast, "we need to talk about this."

"There is nothing to talk about," Hermione said as she was scratching behind Crook's ear.

"Your nightmares are getting more intense." He glared at her and stopped petting the cat.

It was her turn to stop petting Crookshanks. She got up from the bed and rushed towards the bathroom and slammed it shut.

She heard Severus getting out of bed and walked over towards the bathroom.

It was Hermione's turn to sigh, "as I said before there is nothing that will help. These nightmares are my burden." She sniffled.

She heard him shuffling near the door. "I made a promise to you when I married you. Do you remember that promise?"

Her eyes went wide. "Of course I do, how could you ask me that?"

"I promised that I would keep you safe and protect you. Then, this is me trying to help you, I see that you're struggling. You helped me in my time of need, please, let me do the same for you."

She could hear the trembling in his voice.

Hermione walked over towards the door and slowly opened the door. She finally gave in for his help, so she rushed over towards Severus and hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry for my stubbornness," she blushed.

"It's one of the reasons why I married you," Severus smiled then kissed her forehead.

"Come, let's get back to bed and try to get some sleep…"

The End