Ron's POV

CHAPTER THREE

Take these words

Don't let them go unheard

This is me reaching out

I hope you can hear me now

Cuz baby my heart's at stake

Take it, it's yours to break

I'd rather try and lose

Than keep this love from you

There I said it.

I told them about the Deluminator, the tiny ball of light, the snatchers. Everything.

And what does she do?

Walks away! Just like that.

Honestly, I come back with the bloody sword of Gryffindor, and a destroyed horcrux and all she thinks of doing is beating me up.

That night, I lied on my bunk, a smile etched on my face. I was back. I got to see Harry and Hermione again.

I turned my head to look up at Hermione's bunk. Her body was the facing the other way, so all that was in my view was her long, slender body, and her bushy brown hair.

She had no idea how happy I was to see her again.

She thinks she's the only one who was worrying? I was worrying as well. Bloody snatchers, if it wasn't for them I could have gone back earlier. She was still mad at me.

I sighed.

I turned my body and faced the other way. I tugged my blankets around me and dosed off.

The next morning I woke up to the sounds of Harry and Hermione whispering about horcrux locations.

I got up from my bed and looked at him. "Mornin'…" I said softly.

Hermione looked up at me for a moment then just looked away. Harry looked from Hermione and me and just pursed his lips.

I did as well and walked into our little kitchen, I grabbed a cup and started pouring tea into it. I remained quiet throughout the morning. I didn't think it was safe to speak. Not with Hermione in the room.

I was genuinely happy and every time a smile seeped into my face, Hermione would give me one of her death glares and the smile would automatically disappear.

Hermione and I were never left alone.

She made sure of it.

Whenever Harry would leave, I had to go with him, and though Hermione's excuse was because Harry was the most wanted wizard in the entire world, I knew better.

She didn't want to be alone with me. And I couldn't blame her. I left her for Merlin's sake.

But those times I spent alone with Harry were really comforting.

Why?

Well, first and foremost, we spoke. I could be as enthusiastic as I wanted when I was with Harry. And we could talk about things that I felt were a little too sensitive to talk about with Hermione right now; like Godric's Hollow.

Harry told me everything that happened, how You-Know-Who's snake just attacked them, and about how they returned back into the campsite.

I felt a jab on my chest. Guilt filled my heart. I had left them. I knew it was stupid. And I couldn't keep blaming it all on the Horcrux. I knew that, I mean, it could fool Harry I suppose, but I know it wouldn't fool Hermione one bit. She knows me too well. So does Harry, but he's a bloke, just like me. He understands. And besides, he saw what came out of that Horcrux. He knows how I really feel.

And that's another thing; he forgave me for leaving them. Hermione didn't.

"I came running after you! I called you! I begged you to come back!"

That's what she shouted at me when I came back.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. Oh, Hermione… if only she knew.

I told Harry about the Taboo, and about what's been happening.

We talked about Rita Skeeter, and her blasted book as well. And we even had a small row which made him, enlarge a spider in front me.

Though it wasn't that fun for me, it was good to know I could row with someone and still be forgiven by that someone!

It was later that night when Hermione spoke to me. (Well, sort of.)

I was trying to get a hold of that radio station, the one that requires a password. But I missed the last one, so I didn't know what the password this week was.

I tried muttering random words, anything that had to do with the Order usually worked.

"Fred."

"George."

"Arthur."

"Lupin."

"Nymphadora."

"Gryffindor."

"Hermione…"

As I mumbled out these words, I looked up at Hermione, who was reading her book. I didn't know why I was so paranoid.

I felt like she was going to shout at me any moment now. But nothing every happened.

"Mad-Eye."

The moment whispered this; Hermione suddenly closed her book and climbed off her bed.

"If it's annoying you, I'll stop!" I shouted out of the blue.

She didn't even notice me.

She walked towards where Harry was seated and the next thing I heard was, "I want to go see Xenophilius Lovegood."

Hermione spent all night convincing Harry that going to see Mr. Lovegood was a good idea. Honestly, I didn't think it was a brilliant idea either. And I decided to agree with Hermione for two reasons:

One, we were desperate.

And two, she would forgive me faster if I was on her side.

Harry shot me a glare. He knew why I was being so supportive of Hermione's idea. But he wasn't budging and I knew that he wouldn't unless I did something.

"I think we should vote on it." I said, "Those in favor of going to see Lovegood—"

I made sure my hand was up in the air enthusiastically, just like Hermione's was during class. I hope she didn't think I was mocking her or anything. I looked at Harry first, his lips pressed together, then I looked at Hermione, her hand slowly coming up.

"Outvoted, Harry, sorry."

We talked a little more about the Lovegood's and where they lived, when Hermione suddenly decided she was exhausted and went to bed.

Harry then stood from his seat and came up to me.

"You only agreed to try and get back in her good books." He hissed at me.

My lips turned into a small smirk. "All's fair in love and war."

The next morning, we Disaparated to Ottery St. Catchpole. I was so tempted to go down that hill, and go to the Burrow. It killed me. I wanted to know that everyone was alright. But I knew that I would be saving them more by not visiting. Harry and Hermione felt the same way as well. We all looked longingly at the place.

Once we got to the Lovegood's, we asked or Luna. Mr. Lovegood said that she wasn't home and so we went back to business.

Mr. Lovegood told us that the strange symbol, it was called the Deathly Hollows, and that it originated from the story The Three Brothers. Mum used to always tell us that story. It was the twins favourite, because it was about being clever, about outsmarting someone.

I frowned. I thought of the Burrow once again.

Hermione read the story to us and explained the symbol even more.

Then nervously, Mr. Lovegood went away to prepare dinner while we sat there. Hermione decided to walk around, until she found a copy of the latest Quibbler.

That's when things started getting rough.

Long story short; Mr. Lovegood owled the Ministry, people came, Hermione thought of a plan, and we made out alive.

After we escaped Lovegood's house, I praised her and she finally spoke to me! And if that wasn't good enough, for the first time, since I returned, she beamed.

An idiotic grin was plastered on my face for a while there. As ridiculous as it sounded, I still had something to smile about after everything. Hermione spoke to me, and best of all it wasn't because we were on our deathbeds.

Harry went outside, clutching his wand, it was his watch. Hermione then climbed into her bunk and opened another book. This was the first time we were alone. I had to take advantage of it.

The night was silent. I tried keeping myself busy, waiting for the right time to talk to her. I muttered random words to the radio but nothing worked.

The more I tried, the more irritable I got.

I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to talk to her.

I immediately turned off my radio and walked towards her bed.

"Hermione." I said.

But she didn't look up from her book.

"Hermione." I called again.

Nothing.

"Hermione!" I hissed. Then suddenly, her book just magically closed. I gulped, I was pretty sure that was my fault.

She looked down at her book, bit her lip, crossed her arms, and looked up at me. "What do you want Ronald?"

"I want to talk to you." I said.

"Alright, fine." She said coldly.

"Look," I started, "I'm sorry."

Hermione scoffed, "You've said that a million times already Ronald, It doesn't change the fact that you left us."

"I'm aware of that Hermione. And I came back here to make it up to you."

"Make it up to me?"

"Yes," he said, "I told you everything. I told you I wanted to come back but there were these snatchers and—"

"Snatchers!" she exclaimed, "Amazing how you made it through Ron, really, when will you stop blaming other things and take responsibility for what you did? Do you have any idea how pathetic you sound right now? I mean-"

"MERLIN'S PANTS HERMIONE! WILL YOU PLEASE JUST SHUT UP?"

Hermione's eyes widened and her mouth went agape.

"I'm sorry okay? I don't know what else there is to say to you. I'm sorry that I blame other things other than myself, but that's just me, and you know that! Yes, I left but I came back. I told you I wanted to come back the moment I left. And fine, you want me to be honest with you? It wasn't the horcrux's fault that I left, it was mine! I left willingly and I came back willingly!"

Hermione's body started to shudder, then she slowly opened her mouth and whispered; "I thought—"

"You thought it was all the Deluminator's doing? Are you mental Hermione? Of course not! It may have helped me find you but it was my feet that moved! It was my choice to follow that blasted ball of light back into the woods!

"You think I wasn't worried about the two of you? You think all I was just thinking about myself? You think I would have heard your voice if I was just concerned with myself? Bloody hell Hermione! Why do you think I left? Because, I noticed that I was just making things worse, that I was no help!"

Hermione started shaking her head and whispered: "Ron…"

"I wasn't 'The Chosen One', I wasn't the brightest wizard of our year. What in the world could I contribute? Nothing! That's why I left. I thought that it would be better if I did! I was just pulling you down!"

"You really want to know how I felt those weeks I was alone? Fine." I said, the rage finally coming towards its climax, "I was angry for leaving you, frightened that you would be in grave danger… or worse…"

I looked at her, as I was talking, my eyes began to sting, and Hermione just looked at me. Her eyes started to soften, lips started to quiver.

"I was confused for leaving, and to top it all off, I felt guilty because I didn't get to tell you how in L—" I stopped myself and looked at her. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"I-in what Ron?" she asked.

Tears were flowing down her eyes now. "I-in-in-insensitive I was towards you." I finished, "A-a-and Harry."

I looked at her intently. Tears had finally escaped her eyes, and so did mine. I wiped away the one falling down my cheek, and walked away.

I opened the entrance of the tent, and put on foot out, but before leaving I turned back, tears still spilling from her eyes.

"You still think I've got the emotional range of a teaspoon?"

And before she could reply, I walked out of the tent, told Harry it was my shift, and spent the night thinking about what I said.

A/N: Hey guys! I'm just wondering if I did Ron's character appropriately. This is the first time I've actually done a guy's POV. :D

Thanks to all of you for reading. I really appreciate it. :)

Comments are appreciated as well. I'll see you guys soon! :D

~rascal