Part II:
He saw Hermione sitting on a log. She offered a pathetic look as she sat there slumped He could see her shoulders shaking and he was sure the arctic temperature was not the reason.
Hermione did not hear him coming. As his shadow fell on her, she flinched. She looked up at him.
"Harry. I'm sorry, I did not see you coming". She wiped the tears from her reddened eyes.
Harry settled down next to her: "I... ", he began hesitantly: "I wanted to apologize to you. I was terrible to you ". He took her hands in his and squeezed them: "I was so mad from the locket that...". He did not manage to speak. A huge lump in his throat made it impossible.
Hermione looked at him and tears ran down her cheeks again: "Please promise me that you will never do that again". She sobbed and then continued: "You sounded just like he did".
It was the first time since Ron had disappeared that they mentioned him.
"I was really worried about you, that you would do something stupid, that you'll regret afterwards."
"Believe me, Hermione, I've already done that," he answered softly. He squeezed her hands again, "Can you forgive me, Hermione?" He asked sheepishly.
"Of course Harry, you were not yourself".
He was indescribably happy when he heard those words from her, but Hermione still looked deadly unhappy to him. Harry had never been good at talking about feelings, but he wanted to be there for her so he asked: "Hermione, what's up?".
She did not answer immediately but just looked in her lap: "I miss him so much Harry", she admitted.
Harry spread his arms, pulling her close and closed her in a tight hug. She snuggled against him, burying her face in his shoulder.
His answer was only a whisper, but she still heard him: "Believe me Hermione, me too".
Part of him was still mad at Ron, but a much bigger part yearned for his friend.
"I'm so glad you stayed with me, Hermione. You are my everything. All I have left". He kissed her lightly on the top of her head.
"I would never leave you Harry, you know that". Her answer was no more than a whisper as well. "You're my best friend. I would follow you into death".
Now it was Harry who had tears in his eyes. He could not express how happy he was to have her. He tried to hold back the tears, but his fight was in vain. He hugged Hermione even tighter and his tears fell on her hair. She stroked his back as her tears continued to fall into his lap.
So they just sat there on the log and found comfort and warmth in the presence of each other. When their tears finally dried up it was already deep night and freezing cold. A sharp wind announced a stormy night. , But both felt as free as since before their trip. Gone was the burden of the unspoken mourning for Ron's disappearance. Both knew that they could entrust the burden of the world to the other. Harry gently pushed Hermione back and wiped the dried tears from her cheeks. She gave him a faint smile. He pulled her to her feet and arms wrapped tightly around each other, they slowly went back into the tent.