Chapter 14

He was looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite place, maybe a mixture of lust and literally hunger. I could smell him from across the room and the thought of him being anywhere near me was terrifying. I wasn't scared to die, that had been a realistic concept I had to accepted long ago however the thought of my life ending at the hands of that thing had brought my fears hurtling back full force.

I was trying to focus on Ron and Harry, they had to get out of here. I would sacrifice myself for them, they were more important, they needed to go on and finish this nightmare our lives had become. Harry had to live, had to go on, other wise we were all doomed anyway and Ron, Ron just had to live. He had a family that would miss him, I didn't, I wouldn't be missed so I could be sacrificed.

Just please make it quick, please don't let that creature have his way with me.

Why the hell is that physco so obsessed with that sword, I was just trying to wrap my head around everything going on when the boys got carted off. Ron was bleeding from the punch delivered to his face when he called out to me and I new that was going to be the last time I saw him.

My Ron.

The terror that I had felt from Greybacks glances was forgotten when I was dragged across the room by my hair and slammed into the wall. Bellatrix was in my face screaming questions about how we stole the sword. Maybe if I can stall her, Ron and Harry will have longer to get away. They have to get away.

"We found it."

"LIES!"

"W-we found it."

"Maybe this will convince you tell me the truth. CRUCIO!"

I chocked on the scream that I tried so desperately to hold back, I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of hearing my pain. However after what I'm sure to have only been seconds I couldn't help it, I let it out as if that was somehow going to ease the pain.

Maybe greyback wouldn't have been so terrible. It couldn't have been this painfull.

"It's a fake," I managed to weeze out when she let up on the curse.

This warranted a kick in the stomach before she put the curse back on me. I couldn't help but cry out in pain, I could taste vomit and knew that I was covered in tears and sweat. I was kicked again, hard enough to roll me over and I caught a glimps of Malfoy, the youngest one looking down on me.

Just watching.

"HERMIONE!"

"HERMIONE!"

Ron, I could hear him, doesn't make sense because they took him away. I let another scream when the curse intensified, I'm sure it's hurting worse than before.

"HERMIONE!"

"RON" I screamed into the floor, if I could hear him maybe he could hear me, maybe he wasn't so far away.

"I'm hear, Hermione, it's over."

"Ron?" I asked, when the pain suddenly stopped.

I focused on Ron; he was really close and smelt really good, much better than Greyback. I clung onto him and rode out the shakes and trembles that were ripping though my body. I stared up into his watering blue eyes while I tried to catch my breath and stop the tears.

It had been a dream.

I curled into him and allowed my arms to snake around his back, I held onto him so tight that it hurt my arms but I didn't want to let go.

"Hermione, take this," I lifted my head from Ron's chest and focused my eyes on Harry. He was handing me a glass of water.

I nodded in thanks and took it from him, however when I lifted it to my mouth I nearly spilled half down my front. I hadn't controlled the shakes as well as I thought I had.

"I got it," Ron mumbled and helped steady my hands.

"I got it," he then repeated to the room behind him. Maybe Harry wasn't the only one in the room with us.

I heard feet shuffling and estimated there must have been about four or five people that were leaving. Ron made himself a little more comfortable on the couch we were on, but never let his hold on me slip. As I pressed my face into his chest I silently scolded myself for falling a sleep in the first place. Last I remember Harry, Ginny, Ron and I were sitting in the living area after dinner, they boys playing wizards chest, Ginny cleaning her beloved quidditch gear and I had decided to get stuck into an old muggle romance book that once belonged to my mother.

"How long was I out for?"

"A couple of hours."

"You should have woken me up earlier, I won't sleep properly tonight now."

"I reckon we have nearly a years worth sleep to catch u on, I wasn't going to wake you for no reason."

I guess he's right.

I nodded against his chest and continued to take comfort from the steady pace of his heart and his natural aroma that I think I have always loved.

"Lets go upstairs," suggested Ron.

"Umm sure," I muttered in agreement.

"I reckon everyone would want to come back in here, so we'll go up stairs…if we don't my mum will fuss over you and I know you don't want that," he then continued.

He was right; I didn't want the extra attention I would surely get.

We walked right past Ginny's room and continued up to the next landing. When we got there Ron opened the door to his room for me and then followed me in, closing the door behind him. We both crawled into bed and I made myself comfortable using Ron's chest as my pillow, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

Would I ever get used to this? Being this close… being able to get this close. Each time he held me or kissed me it felt like the first.

"You can sleep now, I promise I won't leave, you shouldn't have any nightmares if I stay right here."

"I did before though." I said and then looked up at his face; I saw a pained expression there.

"I left…Dad wanted a hand outside with the marquee… I should have asked Harry to do it for me."

"It's not your fault, Ron, you can't be with me every minute I sleep."

"I can try. He said in a tone indicating I shouldn't argue with him about it.

He was lucky I was so exhausted and didn't have the energy to fight back and defend myself. I had always prided myself on how independent and capable I was, how I didn't need anyone to take care of me. But lying here with Ron made me realize, maybe it's not such a bad thing…having someone to take care of you. We'd been doing a lot of that the last few days, taking care of each other… the last seven years really, but more so since it all ended. Ironic really, we'd been looking out for each other for so long… Harry, Ron and I, yet since it all ended it seemed we needed more emotional support then ever.

I was beginning to drift off and felt Ron place a kiss on the top of my head and as my heart nearly beat its way out of my chest I sleepily slurred, "I love you, Ron."

"I love you too, Hermione," Ron said loud and clear before I had a random sleepy thought.

"Ron, did Kingsley write? Or the Aurors? They should have found them by now." My panic and stress was pulling me out if my sleepy state.

"Shhh, no they didn't, but it'll be okay, they'll find them, go to sleep."

"I can't sleep here again… your mum." I said, trying to explain I didn't want to get in trouble.

"You won't have proper sleep if I'm not here and I'll tell her just that if she has a problem with it."

"She does have a problem with it, she wouldn't have made the rules otherwise."

"Hermione, go to sleep, I couldn't give a shit about the rules. If I can prevent you from reliving that night in your sleep then I damn well will."

"Do you think I'm weak or there is something wrong with me? It's so real, so much worse than I nightmare."

I was extremely embarrassed about the nightmares, Harry didn't have those kinds of nightmares and he's been under the curse before. It had also been used on Luna but I never heard her have any nightmares when we were at shell cottage.

"There is nothing wrong with you and you are the strongest person I know. That bitch did horrible shit to you for a long time, the fact you remember it is actually a sick kind of relief to me." Ron said in his serious voice.

"I don't remember half of it, I passed out." I admitted quietly.

"I know, but I thank Merlin everyday for the fact that you somehow woke up… woke up still Hermione, still your brilliant self. You are not weak."

"I know I've said it before but thanks for saving me," I said, and then moved in to give him a kiss.

Once again, was I ever going to get used to the feel and taste of him? Quickly, our snogging got frantic and our hands peeled away clothes in search of flesh. I desperately wanted to get lost in a world where nothing but Ron and I existed. I ran my hands up and down his strong back and marveled at how such soft skin covered such hard muscle. Ron moved himself over me and ducked down to take my nipple into his mouth, as he licked and sucked one he moved his hand over the other… it was amazing.

I reached out and waved my wand locking the door before Ron took it out of my hand and performed the contraceptive charm. Oh my god, we were actually going to do this again. I reached down and pulled his pants down his legs as far as I could reach, he then kicked them off and got to work undoing mine.

"You'll make me forget now?" I asked.

He answered with a thrust that resulted in us joining in the most intimate of ways. He had known what I meant, I didn't want to think about my parents or the torture I had experienced.

"I didn't cast a silencing charm, can you reach your wand… its, its really hard to keep quiet," Ron whispered heavily in my ear.

"I don't know where it is, you had it last, where is yours?"

"Dunno."

Sweet baby Jesus!

"How do muggles do this?" he then panted.

I giggled then answered his question, "I'm sure they do it exactly the same way as we do."

"No," he said laughing, "how do they keep people from hearing?"

"I guess they just have to be quiet," I whispered back, while trying with all my might not to cry out.

Ron buried his face in my hair and I filled my mouth with the flesh of his shoulder as he continued to slowly move over me. His old bed was squeaking as it was but I had the sudden need to feel him plunge into me with more speed and power; I bucked my hips harder hoping he might understand… he did. Within seconds of the stronger movements I nearly lost myself, I leaned up and took his lips with mine, using his mouth to muffle the moan that erupted from my mouth. Ron didn't break the kiss and a second later I felt his groan vibrate on my lips as he also lost himself.

"Are you going to go get into some PJ's?" Ron asked me when I started to pull my clothes back on.

"No, I don't want to bump into anyone and then have to try and sneak back up here."

Or talk about the nightmare I thought to myself.

"Then why are you putting all that back on?" he asked indicating towards all my clothes.

"Incase someone walks in, Harry will come up eventually, he sleeps here too. I don't want anyone finding me naked."

"Harry won't come up, he'll see you're not in Ginny's room and figure it out."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better, Harry knowing we were just doing…what we were just doing?"

"No, I'm just saying he wont come up. I see your point about someone else coming up but surely you're uncomfortable sleeping in that."

He was right, sleeping jeans and a bra certainly wasn't comfortable.

"What if we just make sure the blanket covers you?"

"You just want me to stay naked," I said with a small smile on my face. It was my lame attempt at flirting.

"Of course I want you to stay naked," he replied also grinning at me, " lets just hide these and get you under the covers."

He unclasped my bra and began to tug on the pants I had just pulled up; I didn't fight and let him take them off. He stuffed them in one of his draws so that if someone came in they wouldn't find my clothes on the floor and crawled back into bed. It was much better, just being left in my shirt and underwear, Ron was just in boxes and it felt surprisingly intermit sleeping, literally, with him while wearing so little.

"Good night, Ron," I said on a yawn, as my previous tiredness quickly returned.

I heard Ron's good night before drifting of into a peaceful sleep.