A/N: JKR says Harry and Hermione didn't talk at all about Ron leaving. But the way I see it they must have had at least one conversation. Comments are love.
Hermione sat staring blankly at the sea of oak and birch in front of her. Harry's low snores could be heard echoing in the tent behind her, but she hardly recognized them. She'd hardly recognized anything really since the moment yesterday when he'd gone off. Everything was more of a blur then it had ever been for Hermione Granger, brightest witch of her age. Thus she hated it and hated him for causing her logic to dissolve for forcing her to become this emotional wreck. She'd thought those hugs and those moments and those compliments had had some meaning, if only that they were moving forward from last year, moving forward from jealously and pain. Apparently not. Apparently Ronald Weasley just enjoyed leading on naïve little Hermione, laughed at the way she ran after him, smirked at her pain. She sniffed, wiping a tear from her eye. She was being silly. This shouldn't bother her so much. He was just a boy and she was just a girl and her and Harry had work to do. The world was at stake- her parents, her friends, her school. As she turned around, telling herself now was not the time the time to cry, she heard a stirring come from the bed behind her. Harry was awake and he was staring at her, looking positively distraught.
"Hermione…" he said softly, "Hermione…I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault Harry, don't be silly."
"Yes it is. I should be a better leader. You heard him. And besides he thinks…that we…"
Hermione bit her lip, "That we what?"
"You heard him he said you chose me and all that."
"And? I did choose to stare here with you."
"Don't be dense Hermione." Harry was getting irritated now, Hermione heard it in his voice, "You two had something going on. I saw you fall asleep holding hands and whisper to each other when you thought I wasn't looking. And I've ruined it, that's all."
"You're the dense one!" If asked, Hermione would claim she didn't have a temper, but her voice was loud and shrill and Harry would object to that statement, "He's never cared that's all. He wouldn't have left if he had any feelings at all. If he cared for me…if he cared for me at all…he would have stayed." Hermione's voice got soft and she looked like she was going to break down crying again. Harry looked at her pityingly. "Oh don't look like that Harry. It's alright. I know. I'm just plain old Hermione Granger. I'm not Lavender Brown. I'm not blonde or beautiful. I'm just plain old stupid ugly Hermione Granger and I'm not good enough for him."
"Don't you ever say that again!" said Harry, surprising them both with his sharpness, "You aren't ugly and you're the smartest witch I know. R…" Harry froze, he couldn't say his name, not yet, it was too painful. He thought it was a bit ironic. He'd told Ron so many times not to be afraid of names. We'll let Ron laugh at him then. In fact, he wished more than anything that Ron was here to laugh. "He left because…well he's the dense one. And because he thinks…well I've told you what he thinks, I can't help it if you don't believe me. Not because of you! He's in love with you!"
"No he's not."
"He told me so."
"Really?"
"No but I know."
"Don't be thick, Harry."
"You'll see." Said Harry. With that he put an arm around his friend and she broke down. They sat like that Harry silent, Hermione softly crying into his shoulder, until the sun came up. Then Hermione went off to make breakfast and Harry went out to look for any signs of danger. They wouldn't speak of Ron again for weeks. Not because they didn't care, but because they cared too much to even contemplate. Much more than silly words and half hearted conversations could ever express.
