Hermione and Ron live in the same small flat, but they hardly acknowledge the other's presence. On the rare occasion that they happen to be in the same room, they avert their eyes. Looking anywhere but at each other. They know what they'll find there.
There is disappointment in her eyes. Disappointment that he had been the one to live. That Harry had sacrificed his life to save his best friend. Ron dies a hundred terrible deaths every time she closes her eyes. Draco catches him with the Killing Curse. Voldemort breaks his neck with one swift movement. Draco and his father take turns stabbing him to death. But Harry is there. Rushing towards her, the relief that she's alive clear on his face. He kisses her passionately, as if to make up for all the times that he never paid more attention to her.
Then she awakes to Ron's apologetic frowns. He knows what she thinks and can't help but wish it himself. It had been a stupid mistake, turning his back on Draco. The Curse had left Malfoy's wand before he had time to react. Harry jumped in front of him, taking the full brunt. Protect her being his very last words.
He is bound to her by those two words. Bound to move her from place to place as the Death Eaters get closer to their hide-out. The first few days there had been tears, both his and Hermione's. Angry words followed. This uncomfortable silence had evolved from that, shortly before they had moved here.
There's an unspoken agreement that they'll continue this charade until news of Ginny arrives. With most of Dumbledore's Army either long dead or captured, they know that they are her last hope. If she's still alive.
Hermione hopes that soon they'll get word of her death. She'll be able to surrender herself that day, surrender herself to that happy oblivion. Part of her also relishes in the fact that the death of his sister will hurt Ron almost as much as the pain of losing Harry.
Her wand makes scorch marks on the wall as she counts the days.
There is disappointment in her eyes. Disappointment that he had been the one to live. That Harry had sacrificed his life to save his best friend. Ron dies a hundred terrible deaths every time she closes her eyes. Draco catches him with the Killing Curse. Voldemort breaks his neck with one swift movement. Draco and his father take turns stabbing him to death. But Harry is there. Rushing towards her, the relief that she's alive clear on his face. He kisses her passionately, as if to make up for all the times that he never paid more attention to her.
Then she awakes to Ron's apologetic frowns. He knows what she thinks and can't help but wish it himself. It had been a stupid mistake, turning his back on Draco. The Curse had left Malfoy's wand before he had time to react. Harry jumped in front of him, taking the full brunt. Protect her being his very last words.
He is bound to her by those two words. Bound to move her from place to place as the Death Eaters get closer to their hide-out. The first few days there had been tears, both his and Hermione's. Angry words followed. This uncomfortable silence had evolved from that, shortly before they had moved here.
There's an unspoken agreement that they'll continue this charade until news of Ginny arrives. With most of Dumbledore's Army either long dead or captured, they know that they are her last hope. If she's still alive.
Hermione hopes that soon they'll get word of her death. She'll be able to surrender herself that day, surrender herself to that happy oblivion. Part of her also relishes in the fact that the death of his sister will hurt Ron almost as much as the pain of losing Harry.
Her wand makes scorch marks on the wall as she counts the days.