That bitch.
She had hurt Hermione – tortured her – just for the insane and disgusting thrill of it. Now it was all over, Ron was sick about it; Hermione had been screaming in terror and pain and he couldn't help her. He felt awful. After all they had been through together, after he had left Hermione and Harry – yeah, he knew he had been under the influence of the Horcrux and it hadn't really been his fault, or so they all said but he wasn't convinced – after all that, he couldn't even help her. He'd loved her for ages and he'd been an ass to her and to Harry and she'd almost died at the hands of the crazy bitch. He'd never felt so guilty in his life.
"Ron! Ron-ald Bilius Weasley, where did you get to? Ron!" He looked up as his mother shouted his name, spotted her familiar comfortable form, and waved. He couldn't help but grin; he was so proud of her. She looked like this dumpy little kitchen witch, and usually she was exactly that. It was easy to forget Mum'd been a Gryffindor, as brave and valiant as the rest. Until she'd destroyed the right-hand woman of You Know Who, single-handedly, at the threat to her daughter. Ron sort of envied Ginny; he wished Mum cared as much about him as she did about Ginny. Oh well, Ginny was the only girl, and at seventeen he was used to it. He didn't doubt Mum loved him, it was just that Ginny and Mum had this special no-chaps-allowed relationship.
Mum spotted him and waved back, then came marching up to him, scattering hairpins behind her. She grabbed his face between her hands and kissed him (aww, Mum, get off!) and then held him by his ears, looking into his face.
"Ronald Weasley, you're as bad as any two of your brothers put together! You're sitting here moping over whether you could've helped her, aren't you?" She didn't wait for him to answer, but plowed on. "You are just barely of age, not fully trained, and not responsible for what that… person… did to anyone. You are not responsible, do you hear me?" He nodded hesitantly, and she went on, a little more gently. "Ron, Hermione loves you. Go to her and show her you love her too, that you don't blame her for what Bellatrix did to her." She laughed as Ron gaped at her. "You're shocked that your mother would suggest you show her? You're of age, Ron, and so is Hermione, and after all the two of you've been through with Harry over the past seven years I think I can trust you to behave like adults. Now go." She kissed him on the forehead, turned him around, and shoved him gently in Hermione's direction.
He stumbled toward Hermione, who was facing away, talking with Ginny and Luna. Ginny glanced up, touched Luna's arm, and led the blonde away, reaching out to touch Ron's arm in a gesture of support as they passed. Hermione looked up as he neared her, hesitated for a moment… and then threw herself into his arms, holding him as tightly as if she'd never let him go.