Early the next morning, they packed up and Disapparated to Boreray Island. Despite the fact that the island was uninhabited, Harry and Hermione set up wards over a much larger area than they usually did, just in case someone might be camping on the island. While they did that, Ron set up the tent and started breakfast. They'd brought wood with them since there wouldn't be much of anything to burn on the island.

"That smells fantastic," Harry said when he and Hermione came in. They both dropped on to the sofa.

"It'll be ready in a tic," Ron said. Hermione had gathered mushrooms yesterday. He tossed them into the bacon grease to fry. When the mushrooms were done, he fried the eggs. "One of you pour the tea," he said.

Hermione got to her feet and took care of the tea while Harry set the table. A few minutes later they were all happily tucked in to a full breakfast.

"This is so good," Harry said, stuffing bacon into his mouth. "Why can't we eat like this all the time?"

Ron looked at Hermione, but she didn't say anything and glanced away. "Because it's ridiculously expensive," he said. "And we only have so much money and who knows how long we might need it to last."

"Right," Harry said, sighing.

xXx

After breakfast they went outside to practice offensive and defensive spell work. They started with the blasting spell. Hermione went first, blasting a large crater into the ground.

"Now you, Ron," she said.

Ron stepped forward and raised his wand, making sure he had the hand position right. He cast the spell and a much smaller crater appeared.

"Good," Hermione said. "Give it another go."

He tried again and blasted a larger hole. "One more time," he said. This time he concentrated on the size of the blast and blew a crater as large as Hermione's had been. He stepped back, pleased. "Now you, Harry."

Harry stepped forward and raised the blackthorn wand. He cast the spell and all three of them were knocked down. A huge amount of dirt, sod, and rocks blew skyward.

"Protego!" Hermione shouted and a shimmering dome appeared over the three of them as the debris fell down around them. When it was clear, she dropped the shield and they all lay there for a moment in stunned silence.

"Maybe went a bit hard on that, Harry," Ron said.

They all chuckled and got slowly to their feet checking for injuries. Hermione's cheek was bleeding. Ron had a cut on the back of his hand. Harry was unscathed.

"I'm really sorry," Harry said. "I just don't have the control with this wand that I had with my old one."

"Yeah," Ron said. "We can see that."

"I'll get the Dittany," Harry said.

"I've got it here," Hermione said, pulling the beaded bag from her coat pocket. She took out the small bottle. "Hold out your hand," she said to Ron. He did and she let a drop fall on to the gash on the back of his hand. Skin immediately began to grow over it.

He took the bottle from her. "Tilt your head." The cut was bleeding profusely as facial cuts usually do. He let a drop of Dittany fall and watched as the skin began to knit over the cut. "That's got it," he said, his voice hoarse from the cold and her proximity. He reached into his pocket and handed her a handkerchief to wipe the blood off her face.

"Thanks," she said, and stepped back.

"Right. Anytime," he said and handed the bottle back to her. "So, who's up for stunning sheep?"

"Yeah, alright then," Harry said.

As they all started for the side of the island where there were some sheep grazing, Ron groaned. "Bloody hell, do you two feel like you've been hit by a Bludger?"

Harry stretched his back. "We were all knocked back pretty hard."

"I don't fancy spending all day walking about with a bruised bum," Ron said, he turned his back to them and began unbuttoning his trousers. "One of you cast Episkey."

Harry looked at Hermione but she turned her back. He sighed and pulled his wand and cast Episkey on Ron whose bum was bright red from the fall. Ron pulled his trousers and underpants back up and turned around. "Who's next?"

"I'll go," Harry said, and dropped his trousers and underpants just far enough for Ron to cast the spell.

"Alright, Hermione, your turn," Ron said.

"I don't think so," she said tightly and resumed walking toward the sheep. Ron could tell by the way she was moving that she was just as bruised as they had been. "Don't be daft," he called toward her, but she kept walking. He looked at Harry. "Why is she is acting like that?"

Harry shrugged.

"I mean really," Ron said as they followed her. "She probably took a harder fall than we did. It's not as though she has any padding back there anymore."

"Ron," Harry said.

"What? She used to fill out those jeans quite nicely and now they'd fall off her if it weren't for my belt," Ron said crossly.

"Stop commenting on her weight," Harry hissed. "You're going to give her a complex."

"Well, she shouldn't be so bloody proud," Ron grumbled. "Besides, she does too much magic and doesn't eat enough. Neither of you do. I try and I try but I can't put weight back on either one of you."

Harry sighed.

xXx

The rest of the day continued in the same vein. After practicing stunning spells on sheep, they moved on to shield charms before taking a break for lunch. They'd gotten a loaf of bread at the market and Ron had cooked all the bacon that morning and used the extra for sandwiches. Hermione dug them out of her bag and they sat down next to an old abandoned croft, or at least Ron and Harry sat. Hermione, to Ron's endless irritation, remained standing. Dark clouds were beginning to roll in and the breeze had picked up.

"It looks like we're in for some nasty weather," Harry said, in an obvious attempt to diffuse the tension between the other two.

Ron couldn't stand it anymore. "Just let one of us heal you," he said to Hermione.

"I'm fine," she said tightly.

"Bollocks," Ron said. "If you're fine, why don't you sit down?"

"I'm fine," she repeated through clenched teeth.

"You can keep saying that but it's not going to make it true. You're being ridiculous," Ron said. "Perfect Hermione can't admit she needs help. How thick is that?"

Her face flushed crimson and she flung her sandwich at him stricking him on the chest. She turned and stormed off toward the tent, but as furious as she was, she still moved like she was hurting. "You're bloody impossible!" Ron shouted after her, but he took her sandwich that was still partially wrapped with only two bites out of it and carefully rewrapped it.

"That went well," Harry said.

"Shut it, Harry," Ron grumbled.

In an unspoken agreement, they gave Hermione enough time to get back to the tent before they set out. About halfway there, the sky opened up. They cast umbrella charms but the wind was whipping the rain in all directions and the charms were useless. They were soaking wet by the time they got back to the tent.

Ron pulled off his sodden jumper and looked at the curtain that separated Hermione's sleeping area from the rest of the tent. The curtain was closed, and there was absolutely no sound from that part of the tent, leading him to believe she'd cast a silencing charm, which meant she might be crying or possibly screaming expletives at him. Could be anything. He sighed and walked over to her curtain, he went to open it just a smidge to say her name and tell her he was sorry, but she'd sealed it. That was a very bad sign. He looked at Harry.

"Well, that's just great," Harry said crossly.

xXx

As the day wore on, Hermione didn't emerge. The rain came down in buckets and Harry resumed brooding over the Hallows and Ron picked up a spell book and flipped through it while vacillating between being angry at Hermione and angry at himself. He felt that it all boiled down to her being too bloody stubborn for her own good. When he had dinner on the table and she still didn't appear, he said to Harry, "This is ridiculous. You can smell through a silencing charm. You know she knows dinner is ready. She's got to be hungry. Not to mention, we could be dead out here and she wouldn't know it."

"She probably cast a one-way charm," Harry said.

Ron gaped at him. "Well, that's just rude!" he shouted at the curtain. "And way more magic to cast than a regular one, which is a stupid use of energy!" All he got in return was more silence.

"Brilliant," Harry said sarcastically.

"Just eat your dinner," Ron grumbled.

xXx

The rain finally let up enough that Harry felt like he should sit watch. Ron moped around for a bit in the sitting room, thinking Hermione might come out and shout at him once Harry had gone outside, but she remained sealed inside her room. His anger had almost completely collapsed into despair. They'd been going along so well and now he'd bollocksed it all up again. Typical. After waiting for an hour, he reluctantly went to bed and stared at the bottom of Harry's bunk until he finally fell asleep.

The dream was a good one, made all the more vivid for being somewhat based in real life. In it, he had just won the Quidditch match, but instead of Lavender kissing him in the common room, it had been Hermione and it was brilliant. Even better, she had taken his hand, as Lavender had done, and pulled him through the hallway looking for an empty classroom so they could snog in private, but instead of Lavender's lips, Hermione's lips were against his, Hermione was in his arms, and his heart soared. A cold breeze blew through the classroom and across his face. Ron opened his eyes and saw Hermione step out of the tent in her dressing gown.

xXx

When Hermione could finally hear Ron's breathing even out and grow heavy, so that she was sure he was asleep, she pulled on her dressing gown, dropped the charms around her room and eased out from behind the curtain. Her back and bum were killing her. She slipped through the tent flap to find Harry sitting watch in front of the fire.

"Help," she said quietly.

He sighed and got to his feet pulling his wand. Hermione lifted the back of her dressing gown. She hadn't bothered with knickers, since she knew she'd have to pull them down anyway. Ron's bum had only been red, but the bruise had had plenty of time to form on Hermione and she was black and blue from the small of her back to the top of her thighs. Harry cast Episkey and the bruises immediately started to fade. She sighed with relief and dropped her dressing gown back into place.

"Thank you," she said, turning around.

"You should've just let Ron heal you earlier," Harry said.

"I couldn't."

"Why not? I thought you guys were doing better. I thought you'd forgiven him," Harry said.

"I have. It's not about that," she said quietly.

"What's it about then?" Harry said, frustrated with her.

"Oh please, as if you don't know," she grumbled.

"Hermione—"

"It's not fair," she said angrily. "I get that he's not attracted to me, but he knows I fancied him. It's just cruel of him to keep commenting on my looks. I don't know why he has to be so mean. It's not as though," she waved her arms around, "all this is exactly helping me look my best."

Harry shook his head. "Hermione, you've got this wrong. He keeps commenting on your weight because he's worried about you. You work too hard. You don't eat enough. You're very thin."

"So are you," she snapped back. "I don't hear him commenting on how your jeans fit."

"That's just because he's been watching your bum for years now," Harry said in exasperation. He didn't understand how she could miss how barmy Ron was about her.

"Well, he should stop," she said, her voice cracking as tears threatened. "I put my cards on the table and we see how that worked out. He should keep his bloody opinions to himself."

"Okay, okay," Harry said, raising his hands to try and calm her down before she woke Ron. "Do you want me to say something to him?"

"No," she said. "I can handle it myself. Maybe the next time he decides to comment on how my clothes fit, I'll cast Mimblewimble and he won't ever be able to mention it again."

Harry grimaced. He knew she was quite capable of that curse and powerful enough to make it last a long time. He knew better than to argue with her when she was this upset. "Look, go back to bed, yeah? You don't have watch for hours yet."

She sighed. "Yeah. Thanks again."

"Any time," Harry said, and watched her go back inside.