Hermione woke up and groaned. She didn't know their beds would be this uncomfortable. She sat up quickly, and looked around her before walking out. She closed the door slowly and, when she did, she felt someone breathing in her neck, or was it her ear? She braced for it, but the sound moved away.

"You know," – Said Lupin's soothing voice. – "I'm used to getting a reaction when I do that."

Hermione put on her best and brightest smile before turning around.

"Sorry, it's just – I'm a very brave Gryffindor, I guess…" – She said sheepishly.

Lupin chuckled, but he didn't look too convinced. Hermione skillfully changed the subject.

"I didn't know you were coming, too. It's so nice for all of us to be back at the Burrow."

"Well, I got the owl yesterday, so I thought about giving you, Harry and Ron a surprise. My plan seems foiled now, though, since I don't seem to be able to even get a flinch, but I couldn't help myself."

Hermione's faced paled. She tried to laugh it off, but Lupin noticed and stretched a hand to hold her arm. As she felt him coming near, she started feeling panic coming up her stomach and settling somewhere in her chest. Her heart went cold and she moved away. Her face changed to utter terror, while his had concern drawn all over it. Then everything happened so fast: She was hyperventilating – He tried to take her wrist to check her pulse – She hit the wall and tripped – He held her by her shoulders –

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

She was trembling from head to toe, trying hard not to cry, as she said it for the thousandth time to the sea of redheads, plus Harry, that had assembled itself around her in worry.

"I'm sorry – I lost it – I didn't wish to wake you up – I'm so terribly sorry…"

Lupin had gone downstairs (Sirius tagged along to keep him company) to sulk in the living room.

"It isn't even close to full moon! And you know I'd die if I ever did anything to anyone, EVEN AS A WOLF!"

"I know, Moony, I know. Maybe she was sleepwalking, or maybe –"

"Maybe nothing! She looked as if I was about to bite her head off or something! And I'd never –"

"REMUS LUPIN!"

Dumbledore stood out of the fire, with his wand pointed at Lupin's chest, looking as if he would murder him on the spot. Lupin felt like he was glued to the floor, but Sirius jumped in front of him with his wand raised, too. The ones above ran downstairs to see what was happening in the living room, and found a pleading Sirius in front of a fully enraged Dumbledore. Still looking at Remus, Dumbledore bellowed Hermione's name. She walked to his side, trembling like a leaf, like she was going to her own execution.

"Is he the one that –"

"No! I just flipped out! I swear! I –"

Dumbledore waved her silent. His face eased, which made Sirius lower his wand, and before the latter could react, the headmaster said "all the same" and everyone except him and Hermione, were enclosed in the light that emerged from his wand after he said a spell. Hermione sank to the floor, overcome by tears. He look at her calmly, like nothing had happened.

"I promised I would make it stop, and I intend to keep that promise, no matter who is in the way. Take a couple of deep breaths, and dry your tears, dear child, for they will wake up in any moment."

With that, he flooed out of the Burrow. Hermione tried to soothe herself, but she couldn't, so she just wailed louder until they started twitching.

"Oh, you're alive! You're alive!"

"What happened?"

"I don't know, I just came down and you were all thrown like this – and – and I – I thought you were all dead!" – She wailed louder.

They reacted just as she expected, and, while recovering from their 'obliviate', tried to comfort her. She noticed no one would know, no matter what happened, until Dumbledore had figured everything out, and felt unsafe for the first time. What if it happened again? Would he be there to stop her suffering? He promised so. So she'd have to help him in his quest, and continue acting out whatever part she had to play in the situation…