Chapter 8

For the rest of the day, Ron avoided Hermione, afraid to face her. And in turn, Hermione avoided him. All day the two were never together except in hurried passing. At meals, one was present with Harry and Ginny and the other was who-knows-where. When Harry and Ginny wanted to play Exploding Snaps, only one could be found. When Ginny asked what was going on with them, both would reply with nothing. By the end of the day it was driving Ginny up the wall and she actually yelled at her brother. Ron just shrugged and walked away from her. But while they tried avoiding one another, they could not avoid each other forever.

At 8 o'clock that night, Madam Pince finally kicked Hermione out of her hiding place in the back of the library behind some book shelves. And so Hermione took her collected pile of books and headed for Gryffindor tower.

In the common room, Ron sat in an arm chair near the fire reading a copy of The Evening Prophet. When he heard the portrait open, he lowered the paper and looked over. He knew it couldn't be Harry or Ginny because they were up in his dorm playing chess. It either had to be one of the second year boys that had stayed behind or a Professor. When he saw who it was, he felt his cheeks begin to burn. He had forgotten about one other possibility.

Ron jumped up immediately, noticing Hermione's arms full of books. He threw the paper aside and hurried to her aid.

"Here let me help you with those." He said taking some books from the top of the pile. When he could see her face, he smiled at her. "We're on break Hermione. What do you need all these books for?"

Hermione looked up at him, a slight blush coming over her. "Just a bit of light reading you know for when I get bored or if I can't sleep." She replied making her way toward the girls' staircase. Ron followed her, a few steps behind at first but catching up quickly because of his long strides.

"And you're going to read all these tonight?" he asked in a joking manner.

"Maybe," she replied, smiling to herself. Ron gave a small chuckle.

When she reached the stairs she stopped and turned toward Ron to take her books back from him.

"Thanks for your help." She said grabbing the books from him and adding them to her pile. "I think I can handle it from here."

Ron looked at her and the leaning pile. "Some how I don't believe that but you're going to have to manage just the same." Ron said referring to the trick steps to the girls' dorm that turned into a slide if I boy stepped foot on them."I would help if I could."

She grinned at him. "Yeah too bad. Now I'll just have to be strong." She said putting a foot on the first step, getting ready to climb.

"Hermione?" Ron asked. She turned around to look at him.

"Yes Ron?" Hermione replied.

Ron opened his mouth to speak, closed it, then finally opened it again. "I... I want to a... wish you sweet dreams," he mumbled. He then stepped forward and awkwardly hugged her and the stack of books.

When they parted Hermione smiled at him. "Sweet dreams to you, too, Ron," she said, her face full of sincerity. Ron smiled back at her, standing there with his hands in his pockets, almost as if embarrassed. Hermione gazed at him for a moment then put her books down on a stair. She stepped over to him and gave him another little hug and a sweet kiss on the cheek.

"Good night Ron." She whispered as she turned, picked up her books, and disappeared up the stairs. Ron watched her go, feeling let down that she had gone.

As he walked back to his chair, he touched the spot where she had kissed him. Maybe she does like me. He thought as he picked up the paper and went back to reading it.

Just after one in the morning, Ron was woken with a start by a cry coming from one of the dorms. He sat up on the couch where he had fallen asleep reading, knocking his book to the floor. He looked around for a minute taking in his surroundings as his brain became clear.

Suddenly a voice came from the girls dormitories screaming "No." Ron jumped up and rushed over to the stairs. He knew it was Hermione who had screamed. There weren't any other girls left up there. He immediately became worried about her and wanted to rush to her to protect her from whatever was distressing her but he couldn't go up the stairs.

"Bloody stupid school and their stupid gender rules." Ron grumbled as his heart beat began to rapidly get faster as he began to worry about her more. Was she alright? Was she being attacked? What was wrong? His mind set shifted back to the days when they had been at war and were unsure of everything. He wanted to get to her, to help her like he had during battles, but he couldn't.

"Hermione?" Ron called up the stairs hoping she would reply. When no response came, he became even more anxious. "That's it! I have to go to her." He shouted. As he lifted his foot to rush up the stairs, he heard Hermione yell his name in terror.

That was the last and final straw. He rushed up the stairs and burst into her dorm room. Hermione bolted up as Ron thrust the door open, having just awoken from her night terror. She immediately looked into his face, tears streaming down her cheeks. Ron looked at her and knew the pain was caused by another nightmare. He walked over to her bed and sat down next to her. She looked at him with pain in her eyes.

"Come here. Everything is fine." He said opening his arms to her. She immediately climbed over to him and he wrapped his arms around her.

Hermione snuggled close to his body, resting her head against his chest. Her heart beat was slowly returning to normal and she was breathing easier.

The nightmare had been awful. Worse then any other she had had.

It had started off nice enough. It was a year or two after the war. People were still frightened that the Dark Lord would return but life had been returning to normal.

She and Ron had been sharing a quiet afternoon tea with Ginny and Harry in the backyard of a small quiet house. The sun was shining and the four were laughing and talking.

Suddenly a gust of wind had blown, bringing with it a dark cloud filled sky. The four had looked around at each other, confusion obvious in their faces. Then, out of no where, a man in a dark cloak appeared in front of them. Before any of the quartet could reach for their wands, the cloaked figure raised his wand and shouted the awful killing curse three times, pointing his wand at Harry first, then Ginny, and finally Ron. Hermione had screamed as the flash of green had fallen upon Ron. He was dead in an instant, the breath taken from his lips and the heart from his eyes.

She turned to the cloaked figure expecting to be next. But the cloaked figure was no longer hidden, no longer unknown. Instead a horrible, pale, snake-like face looked down at her. It was the Dark Lord, Voldemort himself.

"Let me die," she pleaded, from her knees in front of the chair she had been sitting in. She gave a whimper like cry, knowing she was next. But the Dark Lord lowered his wand and stepped forward. Hermione looked up at him, more scared and frightened then she ever had been. Her voice shaking, she asked, "What are you going to do with me?"

A hiss of a cackle came from the man looming over Hermione. "I have special plans for you," the voice hissed.

Forcefully, Voldemort grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. He threw her on to the grass and with a wave of his wand, roots had sprung out of the ground and tightened around Hermione's arms and ankles holding her to the ground. She twisted and turned but could not get free. Anxiety and fear had rushed through her veins. What was he going to do to her?

The Dark Lord slowly sauntered over to her and knelt on the ground next to her. He reached down to touch her cheek and Hermione tried to move away from his touch. Voldemort grinned satanically and leaned his face to rest just above Hermione's.

Suddenly Hermione's eyes had widened and her heart began to race as she had realized what it was the Dark Lord had planned for her. As the thin, cold, pale lips had fallen over hers and her clothes had vanished, Hermione screamed with all of her might 'No'. Before the Dark Lord had had a chance to get too much farther, she had been awoken by Ron bursting into her dorm room.

Hermione shook her head, trying to throw the nightmare out of her head or at least blur it to the point of not recognizing it. Ron held her close and rubbed her back with his right hand. Together they sat for near on ten minutes before Ron made a move. "Hermione?"

Hermione moved regretfully out of his arms, looking away, knowing he would ask about her nightmare.

"I don't want to discuss it Ron."

Ron swallowed and finally nodded. He too knew what it felt like not to want to share one's dark dreams. "That's fine Hermione."

Silence fell fast between the two. Hermione would not look at Ron and Ron would not take his eyes off of Hermione.

Finally, Ron took her silence and unwillingness to look at him as his sign to leave. He stood up. Hermione felt his weight leave the bed and she looked up.

Ron looked down at her, his eyes full of concern. "Hermione, I want you to know that I would do anything for you. Anything. If you ever need me, just ask. I'll be here faster then you can cast any spell." He said sincerely, a hint of sadness in his voice. With one last glance, he turned and headed for the door.

Hermione watched him as he walked away from her. She didn't want him to leave; she wanted him to stay with her, to keep the nightmares away. To keep her safe.

"Wait Ron," she called. Ron stopped just this side of the door and turned.

"Yes Hermione?"

"Will you ..." She stammered, unsure if she should even suggest it. "Sleep with me?"

Ron looked at her, eyes widened slightly as he took her words the wrong way. Hermione quickly corrected herself when she saw the look on his face.

"I mean sleep next to me. Stay with me. I don't really want to be alone after that nightmare," she rambled, trying to hide the second reason she wanted him to stay.

Ron said nothing for a minute then nodded. "Of course Hermione," he replied and walked back over to her bed. Hermione scooted to the left side of the bed and made room for Ron to sit down. She clambered under the blankets, feeling slight anxious. Ron kicked off his shoes and grabbed the folded maroon blanket from the end of the bed. He threw it over himself and lay down next to her.

He looked over at her. "Goodnight Hermione. Sweet dreams." He whispered, leaning over and kissing her on the forehead.

"Thank you Ron. Goodnight and sweet dreams to you too." Hermione murmured in return.

The two lay there, upon their backs, staring up at the canopy, unsure of the situation they had put themselves in.

Suddenly Hermione had flash of her latest dream. She rolled over on to her side and snuggled up to Ron's arm. Ron looked down at her, and could tell that she wasn't okay, no matter what facade she put on. He moved his arm and encircled her with it. He pulled her closer and she rested her head in the crook of his shoulder. Hermione sighed and closed her eyes.

It took but a moment and the two fell into a dreamless sleep. No nightmares to haunt them, no visions to remember, no deaths to relive. Just wonderful, dreamless sleep.

AN: Chapter edited 6-5-07