Ron stabbed the locket. He is literally shaking and his hands are trembling. He dropped his knees onto the ground threw the sword away covered his face with his hands and let out a loud sigh. He knows everything the locket showed him is false. Deep in his heart he knows his best friends will never do that to him. He looked at Harry, strangely Harry avoided his eyes. He is looking anywhere but at him.
Suddenly a fearful thought crossed Ron's mind, "Harry, is everything alright? Where is Hermione? Is there anything wrong with her? I'm really sorry for leaving Harry. Please tell me she is okay." Ron rambled with shaky voice.
"What are you doing here Ron? How did you find me?" Harry asked ignoring Ron's questions.
Ron surprised by his friend's reaction spoke, "it's a long story Harry. First tell me where Hermione is? Is she alright?"
Harry avoiding Ron's eyes, "Hermione is fine Ron, she is sleeping in the tent and there is something you need to know er- …that-" Harry stopped hesitatingly.
"Spit it out already Harry, you are making me nervous." Ron voice cracked a bit.
"Hermione and I, we are together Ron." Harry blurted out, "we are in love with each other, after you left we sort of discovered each other and I don't want you to join us again. I want you to leave right now and don't come back please."
Ron's mind is reeling. He never felt such intense pain in his gut not even when the locket showed him the horrible images. Even though everything the locket showed felt true it never hurt him this much because deep down he know it's not true. After hearing Harry, slowly the reality hit him. All his worst fears came true. He always thought that Hermione fancied Harry but when it came to reality he don't know how to react to that. He should have known it's always hero who gets the girl in the end not the sidekick. He loves her and she loves Harry. He can't change that but at least he can make sure that she gets everything she deserved. After all he is just a Weasley, what can he give her? Harry has everything he wished for himself, Harry can provide her everything he cannot. He just has to let her go. Ron came to his decision, quickly trying to keep his face straight.
"That's great Harry I am happy for you both, I-I understand you don't want me to come with you people. I know I have not been a good friend lately, but just remember I care about you and if you are in any trouble just tell Hermione to say my name aloud and one more thing don't say You-know-who's name there is a taboo on it as soon as you say his name all the enchantments will be gone and deatheaters will track you immediately." Ron's voice cracked slightly as he struggled to maintain the straight face.
Harry looked puzzled, "what will happen if Hermione says your name aloud?"
Ron continued as if he didn't hear him, "I m leaving the sword and I have a spare wand it will be useful for you to have an extra wand and take this bag you have some food in there it will be enough for a week and- oh I forgot to tell there is a program called potterwatch in the radio and it is for people who oppose You-know-who and I missed the last program I don't know the password for the next one you have to guess that one." Ron stopped not knowing what to say further.
Harry looked uncomfortably, "thanks for the information Ron, I guess that's it. It's goodbye then."
"Bye Harry." Ron looked dejectedly as Harry turned around and walked away without a backward glance. Ron dropped to his knees and cried his heart out.
Harry walked back towards the tent with a sword in one hand a destroyed locket and a wand in other hand, while carrying Ron's bag on his back. He never thought Ron would find a way to come back to them but he did. He fancied Hermione from fourth year but he never acted onto his feelings. Since he know how Ron and Hermione feel about each other. He ignored his feelings towards her and left them alone. Ron had his chances to make his move he royally botched them up in their sixth year because of his jealousy. Harry didn't make any move then, since he started fancying Ginny. He just was there for Hermione all the times Ron made her cry.
Ron didn't learn from his mistakes. He left them once again due to his unreasonable jealousy. This is the last straw he will never forgive Ron for this and he didn't deserve his and Hermione's forgiveness. Harry will make sure that he will not be back in his or Hermione's life.
Harry decided he is going to make a move on Hermione. Now he no longer in relation with Ginny and with Ron out of equation he need not to restrain himself now. He gave enough time to Hermione to cope Ron's leaving. Now it's time to move on. And with no locket hanging on their necks they will be less miserable and can think positively. Lost in his thoughts Harry reached the tent and peeked inside and saw Hermione's sleeping form.
He closed the entrance of the tent and started thinking the backup story he has to come up with destruction of locket and everything Ron has given him. He slowly dozed off and fell asleep outside the tent.
Ron apparated to Shell cottage feeling miserable than ever. The pain in his chest is eating him away. He felt like he has nothing to fight for. The beautiful view of the shell cottage and the cool breeze did nothing to decrease his sadness. He gently knocked the front door of Shell cottage.
Bill opened the door with his wand out, "what did you say to me while you were leaving from here?"
"I will not be back until I meet Harry and Hermione." Ron answered the security question without much emotion and went straight to the room where he stayed last time ignoring Bill's questions.
Bill followed his youngest brother to the room and sat beside him. He never saw so much pain on his face and he never thought he will see so much emotion on his brother's face.
"What happened Ron?". Bill asked gently placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.
Ron who was trying to keep his emotions in check lost his self control and cried on his brother's shoulder. He never told his brother why he came alone to the Shell cottage a few days back without Harry and Hermione. But now he told everything to his brother without mentioning Horcruxes. He told about his insecurities and moment of weakness when he left his friend in the time of need. Harry telling him that he no longer was needed. He also said about Harry and Hermione being together. Bill listened to everything patiently and while patting his hand consolingly and then he said,
"Ron, I don't know what to say, everybody makes mistakes but what we learned from the mistakes is very important. You abandoned your friends in the middle of the forest and you can't accept their forgiveness immediately. You have to make up for your mistakes. I know you three are up to mission that Dumbledore gave you. Harry and Hermione don't know much about the wizarding world as much as you know. You can work on the mission by yourself and I can assist you as best as I can. About Hermione you are the one who left her and now she is with Harry you can't go for her now. If you love her all you can do is make sure she survives the war and that's the best you can do."
Ron listened to his brother intently. They both remained silent for a while until Ron spoke,
"Bill, I want you to train me with all the offensive and defensive spells you know "
Harry woke up with a start from yet another nightmare. He walked into the tent to see Hermione still sleeping with the Ron's blanket. He suddenly regretted throwing Ron's blanket over Hermione when he was gone. Hermione slept in those since that day. With a heavy heart Harry grabbed the bag he got from Ron and opened it. Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes when he saw bacon in a box. He took some bread slices and started to make sandwiches.
After many days they got to have a good breakfast so Harry wanted to have breakfast together with Hermione. He went in with a plate full of sandwiches to see Hermione already got up and reading the book that Dumbledore gave her. She raised her head to acknowledge his presence but it turned into a surprise when she saw what is there in his hand.
"Harry, how did you get those?"
Harry realizing how much news he had to tell her, "Hermione, something happened last night, when I was on the watch yesterday I saw a silver doe and I followed it and I found Gryffindor's sword in a lake and I destroyed the locket." He stopped waiting for a reaction.
Hermione looked in shock and surprise, "Harry, you should have taken me with you. What if it was a trap? And what if the locket has some curses in it to throw at who ever try to destroy it. You should have called me and I definitely would have wanted to see its destruction. It is the reason he- he is not there with me- er- us." She finished lamely.
Harry unable to stop himself, "I don't think the locket is the reason Hermione he would have left even without it. And that is not important here. I destroyed the locket and while coming back from there I ran into a group of snatchers and they are dumb actually I overpowered them and got this bag of food and an extra wand."
Hermione looking hurt by his implications defended Ron, "you can't say that Harry, he was just affected more than us and I have a theory for that. You remember what Madam Pomfrey said thoughts could leave deeper scarring than almost anything else. It is due to the attack of brains locket was able to affect him more."
"Whose fault is that, he was stupid enough to summon the brains."
"Don't degrade him like that; it was because of you he was there at department of mysteries. You didn't listen to me you thought Sirius was in danger and you wanted to go. I objected you. I resisted you to go there, but he just followed you without questioning you and you call him stupid, shame on you Harry."
Harry thought he might have crossed few lines. He wanted to make Ron to appear less in Hermione's eyes but it backfired to him. He back peddled quickly.
"Listen Hermione, I was just sore about all the words he said about my parents. I didn't mean what I said."
Hermione demeanor changed, she spoke softly, "it's alright Harry, we were in lot of stress. Now with the locket gone, everything will return to normal."
Ron is practicing the spells with Bill and is working very hard. they were doing it for two hours and both were exhausted and decided to end it for that day.
Ron decided to ask Bill's help without giving away about Horcruxes. In between the chatting he casually asked, "Bill, if you want to hide something which is very much like a life to you, where will you hide it?"
Bill looked thoughtfully and said, "Is this anything related to your mission?"
Ron cursed under his breath for not being subtle enough and grinned sheepishly at Bill indicating that he is not going to answer to that question.
Bill waited for the answer and deciding that he is not going to get one, he said, "well if you ask me, I will carry it around with me or I will keep it in a safe place with full of safety enchantments or I better will keep in Gringots since it is second safest place other than Hogwarts in the entire country even though it was robbed once. But now I don't think any place is safer to hide with ministry under You-know-who's contol. Now you are going to tell me what is that you wanted to hide or else what you want to find."
Ron shrugged his shoulders and said, "maybe some day."
