Promises are Broken

Hermione sat in the tent, watching Ron and Harry face off and thought of how the locket had changed Ron. He complained about everything when he wore it. The food was bad, he was trying to sleep, they weren't getting anywhere. Comfort, which he had been rife with before, was never in his words. Never would his touch, on the rare occasions when he did touch her, make her feel more assured.

Now that she thought about it, she hadn't had a really close, comforting moment with him since the night they had gotten the locket. He'd been cold and distant with her, never acknowledging that he'd ever comforted her or made his promise. The promise was technically intact, but she never felt that Ron was truly there when he wore that dreaded piece of jewelry.

His expression was glazed over and cold, and when he looked at her, she never felt the warmth and joy in his gaze. He had, though it wasn't intentional, left her in a way. But she knew he was alive and by her side, and that was just as important.

But as her love fought with her brother, occasionally bringing her into it, she wondered if there could possibly be an end to their friendship here, in this tent with that damned gold locket.

Then he might as well as given her an ultimatum. "Are you staying, or what?"

The question caused her more grief than she could ever describe. Conflict raged inside her like the storm outside. She loved Ron more than anything. She would give the world for him. But the world needed her to help Harry for the it to ever survive. So, for a brief moment, though it pained her to do it, she put away what her heart screamed wildly and said, "I...yes - yes, I'm staying. Ron, we said we'd go with Harry, we said we'd help - "

"I get it. You choose him." The look in his eyes was something she hadn't expected: hurt and defeat.

"Ron, no - please - come back, come back!" She tried to run to him to reassure him that she was choosing to help save the world for them to be together in. She wanted him. But she was impeded by the Shield Charm she had used to stop Harry and Ron from hurting each other. By the time she had removed it, Ron had disappeared into the storm.

Hermione ran out into the torrent, trying to catch Ron. She was sobbing freely, thinking only of catching Ron in his hurry to leave the tent. Her legs carried her swiftly to his stomping form.

"RON!" Hermione screamed over the storm. "COME BACK! DON'T LEAVE ME! YOU PROMISED ME, RON, YOU PROMISED!"

Ron turned around and looked at Hermione, and then shook his head as if he were imagining her.

"I'M HERE, RON! COME BACK TO ME! DON'T LEAVE ME! YOU PROMISED! I love you."

He disappeared with a crack that she could barely hear over the dense rain and she fell to her knees, sobbing on the ground and screaming his name into the wind which immediately carried it away.

The rain used to make her happy, rain used to make her want to run around in happiness and shout to the world, getting soaked by the downfall. Now, she felt the rain a curse, hexing her with every drop that fell. Her sopping clothes clung to her tightly, which used to make her feel natural and free, but now it was a testimony to that condemnation and made her feel suffocated. Everything was all wrong. Tears fell fast and hot, burning her face with each that slid down her face. Emptiness reigned and allowed her to stand and travel back to the tent. But the second she opened the flap to the tent, and the lingering smell of Ron hit her like an exploding grenade, the tears that had been flowing smoothly became hard and fast again.

"He's g-g-gone! Disapparated!" she sobbed, wishing for the numbness to return, allowing her to let go of the pain of his broken promise and the loss of his safe presence. The sobs were unceasing and she soon fell asleep of the tiredness of her weeping.

Her heart was rent almost in two. Ron's close proximity being the only thin thread holding it together.