"Harry?" a dreamlike voice called from behind him. Startled, Harry shot up out of bed.

"Everything alright, mate?" Ron said from beside him. Harry hadn't heard him come in. His bed was still made, but he was in his pajamas, sitting on his bed, facing Harry.

"Yeah," Harry said, already out of breath. He put his hand on his chest, only to discover he was drenched in sweat. "Ron?" he asked, hesitantly?

"Yeah?"

"What happened to me?"

"Can you not remember your dream, mate?" Ron said, standing up. He reached out his arm to Harry, helping his sit up properly in bed.

Harry slowly shook his head, trying desperately to grasp even a wisp of what had been plaguing his mind, but he couldn't.

"You were shaking and sweating when I came in. I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't. I even grabbed your shoulders and shook you." Ron sat down on the opposite side of Harry's bed. "Do you want me to tell McGonagall?"

Harry though for a moment, and then shook his head again. "I think we should keep this to ourselves for now."

"Hermione…"

"Has too much to deal with now, Ron. There is no sense in worrying her yet."

"Alright." Ron sighed.

Harry drew his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. "You still hate her, don't you?"

"No." Ron looked at the wall. "I never hated her. I was just… I don't know… How do you deal with the girl you love being in love with someone else? How could my brother double-cross me like that?"

"Ron, he didn't double-cross you."

"Yes, he did."

"No. He didn't." He sighed. "He saved her life, Ron. That's a bond between them that no one can break. That doesn't mean either party is in love with the other. It means that she trusts him above all others. Hell, she trusts him more than she does me." Ron began to fidget uncomfortably. "All you have to do is be there for her. This isn't easy for any of us."

"Should I just stay away?"

"I don't know. I know that your friendship will never be the same. Try something slow."

Ron took a moment to collect his thoughts. He knew he had been rash, and he knew that he'd hurt Hermione more than could ever be mended, but he wanted to try. "Thanks, mate. I will."

"Hey, Ron."

"Yeah?"

"It's good to have you back."

Ron smiled. "Thanks."

Hermione awoke, realizing that things weren't what she had remembered. She looked over and saw Fred lying there, still asleep. She reached out and gingerly place her hand of his bare shoulder. For a moment, she was completely happy. She had forgotten the summer and Voldemort's return. For a moment, she laid there with a man she loved. He had been so careful with her, not touching any delicate spots on her still bruised frame.

Her touch had woken him. Groggily, he turned to face her. "Morning…" he said, sleepily.

She looked down on him lovingly. "Morning," she replied, smiling.

Fred looked into her eyes for a moment. He didn't like the fact of what took place the night before. He hated himself for using a broken girl in such a manner. But, there was something different about her this morning. It was as if she knew she was going to be okay. "Hermione… I don't think we should do that again."

Hermione nodded, still smiling. She laid her head on his chest, and he began to stroke her hair. He couldn't help but do what she wanted. He knew that he was slowly becoming her puppet, even if she had no idea. "Can we just stay here, forever? Never having to leave… it would be perfect."

Fred laughed. "Like a princess locked in the tower?"

"With her knight to save her!" Hermione giggled. "How long until we have to be at class?"

Fred grabbed the clock off of his trunk doubling as a nightstand. "A little over two hours."

"Can we just lay here for a bit?"

Fred wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer. "Of course."

Hermione closed her eyes, subconsciously rubbing his chest.

Fred stared at the ceiling. What have I done?