Chapter 12 - Line dancing

Hermione lay with her quilt off of her, she stared up to the canvas above her, her arms thrown back and tears brimming her eyes, clouding her vision. They really were no longer safe. Who knew that Dumbledore, such a great wizard, could be killed so...so...easily? Hermione couldn't believe it, couldn't fathom it. No one was safe now, they had to end this. And by 'they' Hermione meant her, Ron and Harry. More specifically Harry. Anxiety rose in her as she thought about just the mererities of what they were going to have to endure. If Dumbledore's death proved them anything, it was that no one was promised safety. Death didn't care who you were, death didn't discriminate, death didn't prioritise. Anyone could be lost during this war. Her, her friends, Ron…

And with her mind sauntering down that traitorous path, Hermione jumped out of bed and headed for the Common Room. As expected, it was deserted, much like her dormitory. Most students had gone home after Dumbledore's funeral so Gryffindor tower was even more eerily quiet this nighttime than she was used to.

She sat in the silence, weighing up everything that had happened and what was about to happen. Her mind trailed back to Dumbledore's funeral, how she sobbed whilst he held her. Hermione truthfully had no idea what on earth she would do if Ron wasn't there to look after her. They had to get through this, she wouldn't live with herself if something happened to him. He was her everything, and right now he was the reason she was so determined to win and reach the other side.

Several minutes which felt more like hours passed before Hermione jumped out of her skin as someone clambered through the portrait hole. Her heart rate calmed considerably as she saw a flash of red hair. "What on earth are you doing, Ron? You frightened the life out of me!"

"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, equally as surprised to find someone else down here at the dead of night. "What are you bloody doing here?" He asked as he staggered to the sofa that Hermione was sat on.

"I couldn't sleep, but I believe I asked you first." She maintained, folding her arms across her chest.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Nor could I. Went for a walk to clear my mind."

Hermione gaped at him incredulously. "You went wandering outside at this hour on your own?!"

"Yes, Mum." Ron replied exasperatedly.

"Don't you understand how dangerous that is, Ron?" She asked frustratedly.

"Alright, alright. I'm fine, aren't I?"

"Well that is hardly the point. Anything could've happened to you out-"

"Hermione, please. I'm knackered." Ron held a hand up to silence her, which only infuriated her more but she just huffed in reply, rolling her eyes and looking away from him. Why couldn't he understand she only cared?

Ron's eyes were shut and his arms were folded as he leant back against the red sofa. He opened one eye lazily and noted that Hermione was clearly in a mood. She was so stubborn, he assessed. "You must be shattered yourself." He attempted to make conversation.

"No, that's why I'm down here." She replied icily. Ron rolled his eyes. Hermione had always been prone to stubbornness, he wished she would just relax and not stress over every little thing.

"Come here." He said casually.

"Sorry?" Hermione wasn't quite sure if she had heard him properly.

"Come here." He repeated slower but just as casually.

"Come where?" Hermione asked.

"Here." Ron answered, opening his arms. Hermione rolled her eyes at not only him, but herself for still allowing him to have such an effect on her. Tentatively, she moved closer to him, studying his sleepy expression before wrapping her arms around him, letting her eyes flutter shut as she lay her head against his chest. "I like your jumper by the way." He commented.

Hermione blushed furiously as she realised that the first thing she pulled on when she left the dormitory was his jumper. "Sorry. You can have it back if you like."

"Nah, keep it. I have loads and besides, you look better in them than I do." Hermione couldn't see him but she could visualise his smirk. A warmth filled her as he tightened his hold on her, but not too much so for it to be painful. This really wasn't in the bounds of friendship, she thought. Ron yawned, "what time is the train tomorrow?" He asked, groggily.

"About nine, I believe." Hermione answered, Ron groaned. "Why don't you go and get some sleep for a few hours?" She suggested, hoping her voice didn't convey how much she really didn't want him to go.

"Too tired to walk up the stairs." He answered. Hermione giggled and then sighed, realising that from tomorrow it started. They had a mission to see to and there would be no time for petty tiredness. "You alright?" Ron asked, concern in his voice.

"I'm just...scared." The mere word hardly covered how many things she was worrying about, but she had no other idea how to express it.

"Same."

"You don't seem all too scared." Hermione observed.

"Cause I know we'll be alright." Ron answered plainly.

Hermione lifted herself off of him and was met with his confused expression. "How can you be so sure?" She asked.

Ron shrugged his shoulders and looked away from her. "Cause we have Harry. And we have you."

Hermione's nerves only rose at this. "But, but Ron, I have no idea what we're dealing with. I had never even heard of Horcruxes before, there's not a word about them in the whole library. How are we meant to go looking for his? Where do we even begin? And how long will it be before he realises what we're doing and… and…" She couldn't finish the frightful sentence. "And what about everyone else, what about our families, how are they going to be safe? How are we going to be safe? How is an-"

"Hermione." Ron said firmly as he gently grabbed her wrists and stared intently at her. She finally turned her gaze to him, which was afore looking frantically around the room as she rambled on. "I know that so much is uncertain right now. But you can't control everything. And you're not the only one doing this, you won't be doing it alone-"

"I know, I know, but-"

"So just breathe. You won't do this alone, I'll be there with you. Every step of the way." He said firmly.

Hermione felt tears dazzle her eyes. "Really?" She asked nervously.

"Of course I bloody will." He assured and wrapped his arms around her again. "You'll probably be sick of the sight of me by the time we finish it."

Hermione smiled at his levity. "I doubt that."

He subconsciously moved his hand up and down her back, oblivious to how quickly it ignited a roaring fire inside of her. He yawned again after a few moments. "I really think you should just go and sleep." Hermione said despite herself.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Well, are you gonna be able to sleep up there?" He asked worriedly.

"I'll be fine. It's quiet up there all alone, quite peaceful actually." She reasoned.

"That is single handedly the saddest thing I have ever heard." He laughed.

"Hey!" Hermione said, feigning offence as she chuckled.

"Seriously, though, you can come up with me if you want." Ron suggested. Hermione felt her flush instantly at his words. Did he really just suggest what I think he did? She was in disbelief. Ron seemed to realise how his suggestion sounded. "Uh - um - I mean, there's a few - uh - spaces free in our dorm."

Hermione chuckled at his verbal stumble. She didn't know what egged her on to say her next piece, possibly fear, possibly just how nicely he smelt. "And how much space is there in your dorm?" She whispered.

Ron furrowed his brows at her. Hadn't he just said that? "Well, Dean and Seamus went home, so-"

Hermione rolled her eyes at how he had misunderstood her insinuation. "No, Ron." She interrupted. "How much space is there in your dorm?" She asked again in a small voice.

Ron blushed ferociously and his eyes widened as he realised what she had actually meant. "Well, there's a bit. Didn't think you liked my snoring though?" He joked, still not really believing what they were both talking about.

"It's not that awful." Hermione assured, secretly it was the only sound she wanted to fall asleep to.

"Well, come on then." He jumped up, much to Hermione's surprise. He held her hands to steady her.

"And where has this sudden burst of energy spurred from, can I ask?" She laughed, finding it quite sweet how enthusiastically he was to go with her.

"Dunno," Ron shrugged. "Didn't realise I was having a guest tonight, did I?" Hermione laughed and took his hand as they made their way up the stairs. Her heartbeat began to quicken as they drew nearer to the dormitory. Were her nerves really in check enough for this? She highly doubted.

"Harry and Neville are asleep." Ron whispered as he entered through first. He led them to his four poster bed, closing the curtains as she came behind him. "Right, don't look." He said as he motioned at his trousers.

Hermione chuckled but looked away, pulling off his jumper to leave her in her vest and pyjama bottoms. She turned around and felt her own breath catch in her throat. He was only wearing a t-shirt with some tartan bottoms but her stomach still fluttered. Quidditch did agree with him, she thought as she nearly drooled over how muscly his arms looked and how his top fitted his tight chest. There were a few advantages to slightly smaller clothes, even if Ron couldn't appreciate them.

Ron was just as in awe as Hermione, possibly even moreso. Due to the bloody school uniform, Ron never got a chance to appreciate how beautiful Hermione's figure really was. He cursed himself for being such a randy git, but he couldn't help it.

"You can - uh - have any side you want." He became suddenly very nervous.

"Thanks, Ron." She laughed, although her nerves were just as high. Hermione waited for him to climb in before she did the same.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked nervously.

"Yes." She answered confidently and moved closer to him. "Are you?"

"Definitely." He nodded sheepishly. Hermione smiled and rested her head and right hand against his chest. Ron pulled his arm around her waist and she grinned, contently. This was definitely crossing the line of friendship, but the sound of his heartbeat was far too comforting for her to second guess now whether or not it was clever that they do this. Clearly, Ron had been thinking much the same as he said, "I don't know why I was so nervous about this."

"Me too." Hermione agreed.

"Just feels kind of...natural, y'know?" Hermione smiled at his words, she was suddenly shy.

"Yes." She replied. "It does."

"Wonder if it feels like this for Harry and Ginny." He asked with unease.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the discomfort in his voice. "Well it probably does or, it did at least." She sighed, her heart went out for Ginny. Harry had only broken up with her a few hours before, they were both upset but Ginny had reacted a lot worse which Hermione couldn't blame her for - she was as surprised as Ginny was. But Hermione also understood Harry's decision, although she wasn't sure if she'd be able to do the same thing if the roles were switched. The thought made her hug Ron tighter and she became very grateful that throughout everything they could face she would have him.

"'Night." He mumbled half-sleepily.

She smiled to herself as she realised that Ron's breathing had become consistent and steady, indicating that he had fallen asleep. Hermione loved the sound of his breathing, it was a rather odd thing to enjoy so much, she thought, and her past self would definitely mock her for how vulnerable she had become by him. But in such uncertain times, something as peaceful as the sound of his breathing gave her hope that they would get through this. Although she hadn't been able to sleep at all in her own bed, somewhere she had slept in for the last six years of her life, Hermione could feel her eyelids droop and it couldn't have been more than a half hour later than when he fell asleep. Her last half-wakeful thought was that she hoped this wouldn't be the final time his presence helped her get to sleep.