Harry Potter One-Shots

Nightmares (RonxHermione)

A/N: I was really tired when I wrote this and I havent edited it so please excuse any mistakes or just generally bad writing! GMA x

Ron was yanked out of sleep, not for the first time, by the shrill screams of someone down the hall. Seconds later he was out the door, his wand already in hand thanks to the quick reflexes he’d gained during months on the run from death eaters. The screaming stopped just as he reached the door to Ginny’s room. Palms sweating and pulse racing he turned the door handle and slowly pushed it open, peering into the room. He was half expecting to find death eaters or something just as awful and was quite relieved when he found the room empty, save the huddled and shivering form of Hermione. He stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him, and padded across the floor to where Hermione sat leaning against her bed. He took in the dishevelled sheets as he sat down next to her and placed his arms around her shoulders for comfort. Immediately she curled into his side and gripped his t-shirt as sobs wracked her body. Ron knew better than to speak before she was ready so he sat there and let her cry herself out, rubbing soothing circles on the back of her shoulder and murmuring comforts. This had been a regular occurrence since the end of the war, and even before then, after they had escaped from Malfoy Manor. He knew what it was she was dreaming of; the faces of those lost, the smell of blood and burned flesh, shouted spells and the cries of those they hit. It was enough to wake anyone in terror, including himself. Some nights he found himself waking to a damp pillow where he’d been crying into it, or he’d be so tangled up in his sheets that he didn’t know if he was awake or still dreaming.

Eventually, she her sobs had subsided and her body had stopped shaking she looked up at him, eyes shining and red faced.

“Sorry.” She sniffed, wiping her eyes.

“For what?” Ron looked at her, confused. She didn’t usually apologise.

“Crying on your shirt. Waking you up every night. Not being there for you.” Now he was really confused.

“What do you mean?” She was sat up more now, but still refused to let go of his shirt. She pointed to the wet patch on his chest and he shook his head. She sighed.

“I know, you meant the last part. I just mean that I know you have nightmares too. I can see that you’re exhausted and I’ve heard you shouting in your sleep. I know you think about Fred a lot and I just… I want to help you, but I don’t know how.” She bit her lip, waiting for his response. When he didn’t reply straight away she began to get flustered. “God I’m so stupid, I’m so sorry, I-” She was cut off with a finger to her lips.

“Hey, it’s all right. I’m alright, see? Are you? Can you go back to sleep?” He watched her eyes widen in response and rubbed her shoulder reassuringly. “It’s okay, I’ll wait with you. Do you want to talk about it?” She shook her head in response, even as words fell from her lips.

“It was the Manor. Malfoy Manor, I mean. And Bellatrix.” She shivered. He remembered vividly the night at the Manor and his helplessness when he’d heard Hermione screaming. That night featured in many of his nightmares and he often felt the need to check on Hermione afterwards. “I can still feel it sometimes.” She whispered, rubbing her arm where the scars were. Ron placed his hand over hers, then lifted her arm to kiss where he knew the scars were, hidden beneath one of the long-sleeved shirts that she tended to wear these days. She blush slightly.

“That was one of the worst nights of my life.” Ron admitted, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the echoes of her screams in his ears. He felt a soft hand touch his face and opened his eyes to his girlfriend’s face and sad smile.

“I know.” She leaned up and lightly kissed him on the lips before pulling away and curling into him once more. “Could you… I mean, it’s fine if you don’t want to but… Could you stay with me tonight? Just in case.”

“Of course, whatever you need.” He kissed her forehead before standing up and pulling her with him. He righted the sheets on her bed and climbed in, pulling the quilt back to give her space to join him. She did, head against his chest and an arm across his stomach. Ron stayed awake and listened to Hermione’s breaths until they slowed, telling him that she’d once again fallen asleep. Only then did he close his eyes, his girlfriend wrapped safely in his arms.