"He can't do that." She thought. "He just can't hurt me like that and get away with it."
When Ron left Harry and Hermione while searching for the horcruxes, she felt a stabbing pain in her chest. The pain never really went away during those months alone with Harry. He was her brother, her best friend. But he was not her lover. He was not Ron. He was Harry.
Harry was also in unspeakable pain when Ron left. He had already lost so many of his loved ones-some, like Ginny, the love of his life-given up by choice. She pretended not to notice when he pulled out the map just to stare at her name, reliving the memories, making silent promises that even he didn't know he was making, and couldn't guarantee he wouldn't break. Ron was his closest companion, his brother-from-another-mother. She was certain he would die of grief when he left. Sure, Ron had been difficult to deal with, but that didn't mean he wanted him gone. Now, she was sure Harry was just waiting for her to grow frustrated and give up on him too. But she couldn't do that to him. They needed each others support; he would die without her here.
Yet, Hermione couldn't stop hurting. She tried, tried ruthlessly to get over him. But it just wasn't enough. She loved the little prat. Would love him till she died. Even if she married someone else, it would be Ron in her heart.
But how could he leave her like that?! How could he just throw a temper-tantrum and leave, completely destroying her already fragile heart? And then have the ordasity to come back?! To say that he heard her voice calling him? Who the bloody hell did he think he was?!
He can't know how much pain he put her through. He didn't go through it, he's the one that left-that actively chose to leave her and Harry, knowing the pain that would be caused. He has the emotional sensitivity of a teaspoon!
And when he did leave, her mind was constantly spinning, asking itself questions, What did I do wrong? Why did he give up? Could I have done something differently? Is it all my fault? He was probably just feeling useless and taking it out on us-I should have spent more time with him, given him more things to do. I should have told him how I felt when he left, instead of the meaningless drabble that came out of my mouth. I should have...I should have...Why...?
"He can't do that." She muttered to herself. She glanced at the red-head, sleeping in the bag next to Harry. "He can't cause me so much pain and get away with it."
The anger in her heart was more than even she knew! How could he betray his friends?! How could he make her fall for him, and then decide that it wasn't enough?! And why was Harry expecting her to give him a free pass since Ron had saved his life? What if it was Ginny that hurt him so badly?! What if it was Ginny that caused him to cry himself to sleep every night, missing everything about her, from her red locks to her quidditch playing to the awkwardness that was just...okay, that last part was Ron. What if it was Ginny that made him wonder why, why, why was he not good enough? That she couldn't have just stuck it out and tried for the best? What if it was Ginny that had hurt him so badly, that made him love her, only to yell at him, accuse him, and leave, and there was nothing he could do to stop her? When that happens, then he will feel her pain.
Tears began to slide down her face. How could he just waltz back up here and demand forgiveness?! You just can't hurt somebody like that and get away with it.
One thing is for sure, though. He has a long time and a lot of work to do before he could even consider being her acquaintance again! Hermione never took betrayal very nicely.
"He can't cause me so much pain and get away with it." She muttered to herself, knowing her thoughts were unheard, and probably always will be.