A/N: First huge thanks to all of you for showing interest in this story. It really makes it worth the effort.

Secondly, some of you have told me you are shocked at the way Ron behaved and I know many of you reading it would have felt the same. You just have to be little more patient to know why. I would have got that bit as a part of this chapter but I still have some loose ends to tie up on that front so you'll have to wait a little longer.

I really hope you like this chapter though it is a little shorter than the others but fear not the next update will be soon.

Enjoy and Please don't forget the review!

All Characters belong to JKR.

Chapter 4:The Night Watch

They took up the biggest bedroom in the second floor Harry had asked Kreacher to clean up.

The beds were yet to get sorted and hence the boys had decided to sleep in the sleeping bags Harry had brought down from the Burrow. As they changed into their pyjamas, Harry noticed that Ron had gone even more silent than before, having not spoken a word since he had come down. Kingsley had left by then and Tonks had appeared with a bag of clothes which Ron flat out refused to take upstairs till next morning.

"How did it go?" Harry asked carefully once they both had tucked themselves in.

"Horrid, just as expected," replied the redhead.

Harry really hoped Ron would continue but when the latter didn't elaborate further, he was forced to question him directly.

"Did you tell her about her parents?"

"Yeah. She thinks I'm lying," he replied without any emotion.

"And about the Order keeping her here?"

"I told her that she was rescued by our side but seems like she would have been happier to be with her own lot."

It was hard to miss the deep loathing Ron carried for the girl and Harry wracked his brains to think of a reason good enough. Hermione Granger was in Slytherin so they had had frequent classes together since their first year. She was the one who was the top of their class and Harry couldn't deny that her superiority complex did annoy him a tad bit too. But at least she was better than Malfoy and his cronies, and also Pansy Parkinson or Millicent Bullstrode for that matter. Apart from that, their interaction with Granger had been minimal. Sure they saw her almost every single time they landed in the library for notes, and she was a Prefect so that would mean Ron would have met her during the Prefect meetings...

And then it clicked!

"Did something happen between the two of you when you were doing your patrols together all of last year?" he asked quickly, eager to find out if he had guessed it right.

Ron was silent for such a long time that Harry concluded that either the boy had dozed off or he had got it right. Surprisingly, Ron had not mentioned it before even in passing. Sure they were busy with the DA meetings while hiding away the whole episode from Umbridge, and with Harry practically flicking in and out of Voldemort's thoughts he hadn't really noticed much. And now it seemed like Ron wasn't keen on sharing it either.

"Ron?" he asked again just to check if his best mate was awake, although the absence of his mild snoring should have been an indication enough.

"I was wondering why Dumbledore gave me this task?" Ron asked finally.

"Think about it, Harry. Why not you? Okay, he said that you'll be busy with something else, but then, why not someone from the Order, Tonks perhaps? Heck, even Fred and George would have been a way better choice! Why me?"

"Come on mate, you are being much too hard on yourself," he provided. "He must have had his reasons. There are hardly things that man doesn't know," he added. Ron did have a bit of a confidence problem but there was no dearth of bravery in there.

"Exactly, he must have his reasons. And that is why I am all the more confused," murmured Ron almost to himself.

"So, care to tell me what's got you all riled up about her?" he asked again.

"Well let's just say, I've seen enough of her to know that I would have done much better without having to see her day in and day out. And hell be damned, that's what I have got to do for Merlin knows how long," he responded grumpily, still skirting over the true reasons.

Ron rolled over to face the other side and Harry knew there was no chance he was getting any truth out of him, at least not tonight. It made him all the more curious. He couldn't help wonder if Dumbledore knew what Ron was holding back. How likely was it that Ron had been allotted this duty for the exact reason why he wanted to avoid Hermione Granger in the first place? He yawned aloud in the silent room.

"Night, Harry," came Ron's voice muffled from within the covers.

"Night, Ron," he replied, still feeling a tad bit annoyed with his best mate.

...

Loud screaming woke them up in the dead of the night.

It took Ron a while to figure out where he was and then as he saw Harry scrambling to get out of the sleeping bag next to him, it all fell into place. The boys caught each other's eyes exactly at the same time.

"Granger!" they exclaimed together and grasping their wands, jolted up the stairs as the screaming continued. Ron crossed the barrier in a rush and the door gave away easily at his touch.

The room was just as dimly lit as before, with his heart beating madly in his chest, he looked carefully at the bed. She was there, thrashing around with her eyes shut tight. He looked around frantically for any intruder and even checked the washroom just to be sure. But just as expected, there was no one so he quickly made his way to the sleeping girl.

Bending over her curled form he called out loudly.

"GRANGER!"

She continued to scream and fling her arms around as if throwing off invisible assailants.

"GRANGER! WAKE UP!" he called louder. When she continued to thrash around still, he sat down in the small space next to her. Dropping his wand to the side, he placed his arms on her shoulders and gave a shake.

"WAKE UP!" he called.

She opened her eyes for a spilt-second, and even in the dim light he could see her eyes fill with terror as she began to struggle harder. Assuming she was still in some kind of a sleep induced trance, Ron shook her harder and in return, she cried out aloud scratching and clawing at his face and hands.

"LEAVE ME! NO!" she yelled while sobbing continuously.

"WAKE UP, GRANGER ! YOU ARE DREAMING! IT'S ONLY JUST A FUCKING NIGHTMARE!" he yelled, hoping he wasn't scaring her further, all the while trying to save himself from her attacks but keeping his hold on her shoulders none the less.

Finally, she opened her eyes and stopped struggling.

"W-What h-happened?" she managed weakly.

"You were having a nightmare," he provided, watching her carefully to ensure she was actually awake this time.

She gulped audibly, breathing heavy while he watched her chest rise and fall rapidly. The minute he realised where he was staring, he looked away and dropped his hands from her shoulder as if scorched by her touch. Picking up the wand, he left the bed in a rush.

She saw him look around as if searching for someone and then step towards the door and lean out partially.

"Hey mate! You there?"

"Yup!" came an instant reply. "Wards keeping me out for some reason."

"Great!" remarked Ron sarcastically.

"Could you arrange for the little guy to get some more candles and a goblet of water up here?" he asked aloud.

"Sure," replied the same voice and was followed by the sound of footsteps descending the stairs.

Hermione watched him turn around. Almost instantly half a dozen candles appeared on candle brackets that were invisible till a while ago. These way much lower on the wall and showered the room in much-needed light. A pitcher and a goblet appeared on the side table as well.

Ron moved to the table, careful to keep his wand tucked deep inside his pocket. He picked up the phial of Calming Drought. The bottle was still sealed. He showed it to her and then, poured out a goblet of water. With her still watching him, he poured a few drops of the potion into it. Corking the phial and placing it back, he came around and handed the goblet to her, careful not to touch her.

She took in the goblet wordlessly, noticing the many fresh scratches on his face and hands. Lowering her eyes she took a sip and then drank deeply feeling the potion work it's magic instantly. Placing the empty goblet aside she turned at the tall figure who stood a little distance away with his arms folded at his chest.

"Are you alright?" he inquired, and Hermione was surprised to notice that he sounded genuinely concerned.

"Yes," she whispered.

"You might want to take the other potion as well. Will give you better sleep," he suggested in a flatter voice this time.

She nodded slightly and picking up the other phial, opened the cork and swallowed a mouthful. She noticed he was still watching her. The effect of the two potions was almost instantaneous. She was feeling warm and cosy and pleasantly drowsy.

He watched her adjusting herself back on the bed and was almost at the door when she called.

"Will you stay here for the night?"

Hermione had no clue why she said that, and she was sure the shock that reflected in his eyes would be mirrored in her own. She wanted to say it didn't matter, wanted to say he could leave but she was feeling very sleepy, and somehow, for reasons unknown, she felt safer with him around. Just before she closed her eyes, she saw him pull out the chair and stretch his long legs on the low stool.

...

She was sleeping peacefully now, curled up on her side when Ron tiptoed out and the door closed behind him. Making his way to their bedroom he found a drowsy Harry waiting for him.

"What happened?" croaked the bespectacled boy.

"Nightmares," he replied scratching his face unconsciously before he winced out.

The sound seemed to wake up Harry a little more and he squinted.

"Are those scratches? Blimey, Ron! What the hell happened?" he asking noticing the deep red marks that were in stark contrast to Ron's pale skin.

"She thought I was attacking her. I gave her the potions, she is sleeping now."

"Okay, but what about those?" Harry asked indicating Ron's face.

"Nothing. I don't suppose we have anything stocked here. We both can't do magic without bringing ministry to the doorstep. Kreacher will probably take the chance and injure me even more. So I guess we leave it, Mum will sort it out in the morning."

Harry looked at Ron curiously. For all the hatred he bore towards their new guest, Ron had not wasted a second to go to her aid. Maybe that was what Dumbledore saw in him, the selflessness and the dedication to do the right thing no matter what.

"Should we go back to sleep then?" he inquired and was even more surprised when Ron turned to walk out again.

"You do that. I'll keep watch," he said and walked back upstairs leaving a shocked Harry behind wondering where this new assignment of Ron's would lead them to.

...

Hermione woke up as the effect of the potion faded. In the few minutes between opening her eyes and remembering her surroundings, she felt the tears begin to well up in her eyes.

"You're up," came a deep voice from somewhere close by, and she scrambled to cover her exposed calf by pulling the gown down. Weasley looked tired like he hadn't slept all night. Lifting his tall form up, he walked to the window and pulled the drapes away. Sunlight streamed in flooding the room with its dazzling light that shone off his bright hair. She almost exclaimed aloud as she saw the scratches that marked his face, visible despite the faint copper stubble that had appeared overnight.

He didn't bother to say anything as he made his way to the door before he stopped and turned.

"Wash up, we've got some clothes for you to change into, and I'll see if I can get your breakfast up here without me having to come back and invade your privacy." His voice was throaty with the lack of sleep and it was evident he wanted to get out as soon as he could.

"You hate me don't you, Weasley?" she asked although it was more of a declaration of what they both knew was the truth. "And yet you stayed," she added. He was like a puzzle she couldn't figure out and it bothered her.

"Yes, I hate you, Granger, and you know perfectly well that you have given me more than enough reasons to do so. I stayed because watching over you is a part of my assignment which I have to fulfil irrespective of my personal feelings." The ice in his words mirrored in his eyes. With that he left, shutting the door roughly behind him.

A/N: A huge round of thanks to all my lovely reviewers. You guys made my day.

nirdoodle and recks: Guys I won't answer just yet to avoid spoilers. :)