Chapter Twelve
"Are you all right?" Ron turned around and asked Hermione once they got into the hallway.
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but for once, her voice failed her.
"Here, sit down." Ron led her back into her room and they sat on her bed, "What's the matter?"
"I didn't realize I-I would have to t-turn into her." Her voice trembled.
Ron's heart broke for her, "Oh, yeah, I didn't think of that either. I guess we got so caught up in the excitement of finding a solution to the problem that we didn't think about what else it would take to get to the answer." He paused and put an arm around her shoulders. He joked, "Just because I had a moment of genius doesn't mean that brain of yours can take a holiday."
Hermione gave a tight-lipped smile, "A holiday would be very nice."
"Well Harry and I will try to give you a short break, right Harry?"
"Yeah, I don't know how long that will last though."
"Okay, we might need some help…but once we're done with this whole thing…you can take as much time off as you want! How about that?"
"That sounds nice."
"So what are we going to do?" Ron asked Harry.
"I guess I'll take the potion."
"But you should stay under the invisibility cloak with Griphook." Ron gulped, "I'll take the potion."
Hermione spoke up, "Do we have to make a decision right this second?"
"No." Harry admitted, "How about we sleep on it?"
Ron and Hermione nodded.
"Okay." Harry saw Ron continuing to look affectionately at Hermione and decided to leave them alone and mumbled, "I have to go…check something…"
Ron gave him a nod in understanding and thanks. He turned his attention back to Hermione, "How are you feeling?"
"Better, it's a bit stifling in here though."
"Are you still up for that walk?"
Hermione's features brightened up, "Of course."
She stood up and took a step towards the door but Ron stopped her, "Will you be warm enough?"
"Oh." She blushed. "I completely forgot the reason this whole thing started." She then went over to her small bag and started rummaging through it. It looked like she just took out the first thing she could find because she quickly grabbed what appeared to be a light cardigan and was on her way to the stairs in no time.
Ron lingered for a moment and picked up the now evil sweater. He recalled what happened the last time Hermione wore pain. He thought about Hermione's reaction to seeing it again and the hair found on it. The sorrow. He wanted to rip it to pieces.
He was about to when Hermione called from downstairs, "Ron, aren't you coming?"
"Yeah, I'll be down in a second!" Maybe he should get rid of the sweater for her. Or maybe they could burn it together. That could be a good idea. He would take it with him but keep it out of her sight until he asked her if it was all right.
He saw Hermione waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. As he came down the steps he said, "You can head outside. I just want to tell Bill something."
Hermione nodded and left.
Once, Ron reached the bottom of the stairs, he went over to Bill, who was in the kitchen with Fleur. Bill was bent over his radio, trying to guess to password.
"No luck?" Ron asked.
Bill stood up straight, "No. I'm not trying that hard though. Harry is pretty much the only thing they talk about and well, he's here, as are you and Hermione. And if anything really big happened they would have let us know by other means."
"Right. Well I just wanted to let you know that Hermione and I are going for a walk. I pretty much know where your protective enchantments stop but I don't think we'll be going so far that we would risk going outside them." Ron stopped because he noticed Bill and Fleur giving each other weird looks. He hastened to finish. "My point is, you don't have to worry about us. Okay?" Ron left the room before either of them could say anything.
Ron saw Harry sitting in one of the armchairs in the living room, talking to Dean. He went over to him and whispered, "Can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"A few minutes after I leave, can you just place this outside the front door?" Ron held out the sweater.
Harry looked at him quizzically, "What do you plan on doing with it?"
"Something for Hermione." He mumbled.
Harry lifted his eyebrows in understanding, "Ah, yeah. I suppose."
Ron smiled and handed him the sweater, "Thanks mate."
As Ron left the house, he could have sworn he heard Dean ask, "What happened to the old Ron and Hermione, you know, the ones that bickered all the time?"
Ron imagined Harry rolling his eyes at the question. A lot has happened. He smiled, a lot has happened indeed.
He spotted Hermione waiting for him. She was looking out towards the water and there was a gentle breeze playing with her hair.
When he reached her he said, "Shall we?"
"We shall."
"Here, let's head up there." Ron pointed to a spot where the cliffs were slightly elevated not too far away. "If you're up for it that is."
"I'll be fine, let's go."
"Okay good."
They were quiet for the rest of the walk up the up. They were allowing each other to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the world around them, and just relax.
It wasn't until they reached the highest point and they took in the beautiful view of the sea and the land in the distance when Hermione said, "It's really nice here."
"Yeah. It's a great place. There's the seclusion, the water, and all the trees. A private getaway."
"It truly is a getaway."
"I have to admit I am jealous of Bill and Fleur. They just got married, they live here, and they're happy, even with this damn war. "
Hermione turned to him, "They're a part of the reason why we must fight Ron. They represent the countless others that can't enjoy their lives because they live in fear. Fear of losing love ones. Fear of being oppressed. Fear of suffering. It's not just Harry's life we are fighting for, it's everyone else who is negatively affected by You-Know-Who and his quest for immortality and power." She paused and looked back out at the water, "It's why I have to become the woman I hate."
