Authors Note: I love all the reviews and story favorites coming in! Sorry it's taken so long to update. I own nothing in the Harry Potter universe. Without further ado; the next chapter.
Harry could hear Hermione moving about the tent, obviously not getting any sleep. He set the book down, and made his way to the tent entrance. He peered in and his eyes were drawn to the stack of books on the table where they ate and researched. The beaded bag that Hermione stored all of their belongings in was sitting open on the single bed they shared (they charmed the two twin beds together for more room).
He finally noticed her by the sink in their little makeshift loo. She seemed to be organizing.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" said Harry as he moved closer to her.
She looked up startled. "Oh, Harry! You scared me." She began making her way over to the bed.
"I just wanted to make sure we had everything together. You know, in case we need to leave quickly." She was wringing her hands as spoke.
Harry moved over to her and took both of her hands in his. "Mione, we're going to be fine. You need to get some rest. You got us out of Godric's Hollow, and had to take care of me when we got back here. Lay down and relax."
She allowed him to slip off her shoes and tuck her under the covers. "Harry?"
"What is it Mione?" He leaned in and moved a lock of her hair behind her ears, and let his hand drift down her cheek in a loving caress.
"Do you ever feel like it's just too much sometimes? Like, we could just stay here, and grow old together." A single tear slipped out of the corner of her eye.
Harry wiped the tear away with his thumb. "As much as I'd love to settle down here in the peace and quiet, and raise a little family with you. We have to make it possible for witches and wizards everywhere to get their happy ending."
"When did you get to be so romantic Harry James Potter?" Hermione let out a little giggle at this more positive thinking side of her best friend.
Harry took a deep breath and slowly let it out. He placed his hand on her cheek, and said "When I fell in love with you."
"Oh Harry! I love you too. So much." She reached up and placed her hand on the back of his neck, pulling him down for bruising kiss.
Harry pulled back, and pulled the covers a little tighter around her. "Now, I want you to relax and get some sleep. I'll be right outside keeping watch. We'll figure out what to do next in the morning."
As Harry made his way back outside the tent, Hermione rolled to her side and allowed herself to fall into a blissful slumber.
Harry made himself as comfortable as he could under the tree. He was wrapped up in a blanket, and reading what he could about Gellert Gridlewald. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a slight blue glow off in the woods.
Standing up with Hermione's wand at the ready, he saw a patronus in the form of a doe emerge from the woods. It couldn't be, could it? His mother's patronus was a doe. Without thought he began to follow the doe. The doe led him deeper into the woods.
After several minutes of walking, Harry noticed a frozen pond. The doe stopped, looked at Harry, looked at the pond, and then disappeared. Confused, Harry made his way over to the pond. He looked around briefly before noticing a shimmer from below the ice.
The sword of Gryffindor! There it was right below the ice. Harry stripped down to his boxer briefs, and laid his glasses on top of the pile of clothing. Pointing Hermione's wand towards the ice, he made a small hole large enough for him to slip through.
Taking a deep breath, he lowered himself into the frigid water. Not wasting any time, he swam down deeper and reached for the sword. Grasping the hilt firmly, he pushed off for the surface.
Suddenly he heard a screeching noise come from the locket as he was dragged across the ice under the water. He couldn't find the hole he made to resurface. Just as he began to panic, he noticed a splash and was pulled to the surface. Gulping in as much air as he could, he tried to identify his rescuer. Sputtering, he grabbed for his glasses.
"Ron?! What are you doing here?" Harry began hastily putting on his clothes as his teeth began to chatter.
"Rescuing you it seems." He stood near Harry holding the sword.
Now fully dressed, Harry stood to clasp the red heads hand. He reached up and removed the locket.
"Come on mate. We'd better destroy this thing as quick as we can." Harry said as he headed over to a large felled tree. Harry placed the locket on the tree and began to back away. Ron made to hand him the sword, but he held up his hand to stop him.
"No, mate. You do it. You got the sword out of the pond. I'm going to say something in parsletongue to get it to open, then you hit it with the sword. Hit it hard."
"Harry, I don't think I can. You saw how this think affected me the most." Ron began backing up looking white as a ghost.
"Ron, you've got this. I know you can do it. Now, strike at it when I say go." Harry leaned close to the locket and whispered Open in parsletongue. A huge cloud of smoke came billowing out of the locket. The smoke took on the form of a very naked Harry and Hermione.
Harry could hear the smoke versions of him and Hermione begin to taunt Ron. "We were better off without you. Who could love you when they have the great Harry Potter?"
"She chose me. She will always choose me." Then smoke Harry and Hermione began kissing passionately. Ron charged at the locket with sword raised over his head. For a moment, Harry thought Ron meant to take his head off.
The sword descended and the locket was destroyed with a deafening blast. Seeing Ron's worst fears, Harry was nervous about returning to the tent with him. He leaned over and gave Ron a helping hand up. Ron was panting and a little pale.
"You going to be all right mate?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, just don't like seeing one's worst insecurities barred like that for everyone to see." Ron straightened himself up, and the two friends made their way back to camp.
On the trek back, Ron explained that he did not send the patronus. He just followed the light, and found Harry as he was under the water.
Hermione stepped out of the tent only to stop short at finding herself alone. She wondered if maybe Harry stepped away to relieve himself. So, she called out for him.
"Harry! Are you the out there?" She began walking the parameter of their camp calling for him. "Harry!"
She was began to think the worst. That he wondered off and was grabbed by snatchers, when she heard voices walking towards the front of the tent. Running, she pulled up short when she saw Harry walking with their long absent best friend.
Noticing Hermione first, Harry called out "Look who I ran into in the woods."
"Hey, Hermione." said Ron not knowing how his bushy haired friend would welcome him back.
He was right to be cautious. Hermione ran up to him and began hitting him in his chest. Throwing curses at him that made his ears turn red. She bent and picked up a handful of leaves to throw at him before turning and stomping into the tent without a backward glance.
Ron turned and gave Harry a look that insinuated Has she gone crazy, mate?
Harry just shook his head and made his way to the tent entrance. Feeling Ron following behind him, he turned and stopped to give his friend warning.
"Ron, I just want to make something clear. Things have changed since you left. The dynamic may feel different between the three of us now. We were both hurt when you left. I'm asking that if you can't accept these changes that you leave before hurting her again."
Ron looked at his friend in confusion. They were the Golden Trio. What couldn't they get through together? Nodding his head, he followed Harry into the tent. Hermione was standing next to a chair in the middle of the room with a towel in her hand. Harry moved to take a seat in the chair, and Hermione began toweling his hair dry.
"Ron, there's a towel there on the table for you. Get yourself warmed up before you catch cold."
Ron moved over to grab the towel when he heard a choked sob come from Hermione, and turned to see tears begin to roll down her eyes. He felt he was intruding on something extremely personal, but couldn't look away.
"Harry, I was so worried when I couldn't find you. I thought the snatchers had grabbed you. I thought I'd lost you." She stopped drying his hair as her hands were shaking too badly.
Harry reached up and took one of her hands, and pulled her closer to him so she was standing between his legs. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and she pulled his head to her breast.
"Shhhhh, Mione. I'm here now. I'm sorry to put you through that. Please don't cry. I've got you now." Hermione placed a light kiss on the top of his head, then pulled back.
"Don't ever do that to me again. Understand?" Harry had to hide a slight smile as he nodded and answered, "Yes ma'am."
Ron felt a crushing weight in his chest at the sight before him. This was his fault. He lost on the girl he believed he was meant to be with, because he had to be a prat and leave the two of them alone together. Every fiber in his being wanted to lash out and accuse Harry of stealing his girl, but he fought hard to keep it cool.
He could see the way they looked at each other. He would never have that with Hermione. He knew he had to make it up to them for leaving, and having a meltdown now would just ruin it.
Hermione looked up at Ron and said "Well, tell us how you managed to find us, and why the bloody hell the two of you are soaking wet."