Answering Accio14Anna's question: I usually get to updating every day or every other day. :)

So here we go. I also put in the scene where Ron comes back and destroys the Horcrux, so you won't be completely depressed after this Chapter!

Chapter 12 – Knife

Ron's POV

I ripped off the locket angrily and let it fall to the ground carelessly. Fury seared through my veins as if it had been injected through a shot. I was done. This was a stupid journey with a stupid purpose and a stupid, know-it-all, good-for-nothing leader.

Well, you know what? I gave up! Harry could have his fame and glory. He could have his sad, pitiful, lonely life. Heck, he could have my sister! I didn't give a damn.

But out of all the things he could have, there was still one thing I wanted.

I could hear her voice, pleading with me as I packed my few precious possessions. "Ron…" she said as if I meant anything to her. I knew I didn't. She was just trying to get me to stay because I would help Harry. The one girl I ever really like, and she fancies Harry. That low-life trouble-making Harry.

I hated him. I hated her. I hated everyone and everything. They could die. Voldemort could curse them. I didn't care. Maybe I should just go Muggle. Forget about Wizards and everything. Wouldn't that be easier?

A voice spoke in my head. Hermione. Ask Hermione.

But she likes Harry…

Ask her you lunatic!

I turned on Hermione, bag slung over my back. "And you?" I asked, trying not to sound like I was relying on her to come. "Are you coming or are you staying?"

Her eyes were beautiful brown. She seemed torn from my question. Her mouth gaping, she glanced at Harry as if expecting him to give an explanation and then back again.

I glanced at Harry, who was staring at me in a mix of anger and shock.

"Fine," I said. It took no effort to keep my voice steady. It was what I'd been expecting all the years I'd known them. I was the third-wheel; and no one likes a third-wheel. "I get it. I saw you two the other night."

That memory was just as painful. They'd come back to the tent, Harry complaining about Hermione wearing perfume. And not just any perfume; it was the perfume I'd gotten her for Christmas in fifth year. Why she was wearing it in the first place, I had no idea.

Hermione shook her head. "Ron, that's- that's nothing!" she breathed.

My anger was fading. But I didn't want it to; I was seeing clearly for the first time in years. I had to leave now before I was sucked back into some strange fantasy land where Hermione liked me. With that, I ducked out of the tent.

"Ron!" Hermione's voice followed me, but I didn't dare look back.

"Ron, where are you going?"

The then entrance flapped, but I kept walking. She'd had her chance to come with me, but she was staying with Harry where she could snog him all she pleased. Would probably toss my perfume while they were at it. Shag on my bed, why not? Who cared?

"Come back."

Her voice was so pleading I couldn't resist but turn and look at her. My resolve was thinning. I had to go quickly. I continued to move along.

"Ron…!"

Don't look back. You'll make it worse for yourself.

"Ron!"

This time her voice was harsher. Before she could try to grab me, I Disapparated.

/

Silence followed. No one seemed to want to break it. Hermione wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Rose and Hugo were staring at the floor sorrowfully. Harry looked like he would die of guilt at any moment. And I… let's just say that was not the proudest moment of my life.

"After I left, I almost immediately regretted it," I explained. "I wanted to go back, but I ran into some Snatchers and had to run. From there things went downhill. I was fighting with myself constantly, debating between what I knew and what the Horcrux had put into my head." I glanced up. "Speaking of such, I guess now's a better time than ever to tell you about when I was reunited with Harry." I forced a small smile. "It was a few months later, and Harry had a great idea to get himself killed."

/

Harry spoke in a mixture of hisses and spits. I braced myself, the Sword of Gryffindor held firmly in my hands. I will do this, I thought. I will prove my loyalty to Harry again. I will see Hermione… Gods, I've missed her so much… wonder if she's thought of me nearly as much as I've thought about her? She'd been my obsession in my absence; the haunt of my days and dreams. Was she okay? Was she alive? Was she hurt? Would she forgive me? All of those questions and many others had plagued me consistently.

Then, the Horcrux clicked open. A dark mass erupted and I was thrown back several feet. I was just lucky I didn't land on the Sword; that could've been BAD.

I was propped on my elbows, skittering away from the shape that appeared to be forming. Then, the creepiest thing happened. It spoke.

"I have seen your heart and it is mine."

Oh no. This was it. It was going to remind me of why I'd left… and I'd believe it.

"I have seen your dreams, Ronald Weasley, and I have seen your fears."

At least it had my name right. And then… SPIDERS! I crawled away as fast as I could, fear nearly freezing me on spot.

"Least loved by a mother who craved a daughter. Least loved by the girl who prefers your friend."

I stopped struggling. With those few words, all my energy was drained. The first thing I was used to. Mum had always given me maroon jumpers, after all. The second… it was a painful truth I didn't want to think about.

"Kill it, Ron!" Harry yelled. Easy for him to say!

Two shapes formed in the fog. One was Harry. The other was… was Hermione. More beautiful but not at the same time, as it was not the real Hermione. But even the fake Hermione was enough to send my heart skittering.

"We were better without you. Happier without you." Said Harry.

"Who could look at you compared to Harry Potter?" asked Hermione, making a large lump form in my throat. "What are you compared with the Chosen One?"

Nothing. I was nothing.

"Ron, it's lying!" I heard Harry yell, but paid no heed to him.

"Your mother confessed she would have preferred me as a son." Harry sneered. I choked. Dear Mum… even she wouldn't think that… would she?

"What woman would take you? You are nothing. Nothing. Nothing, compared to him."

I forced myself to stop and think. This wasn't Hermione… Hermione would never say that!

And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the images mixed. Harry and Hermione were kissing; their arms entwined as they kissed softly with passion. I could handle that… I could handle that… maybe if I said it enough times I could handle it…

But then Hermione started kissing rougher and more fervently. She pushed further into Harry, making a big show about it. She kissed him in a way that made me angry. No, that wasn't right. Hermione had never even kissed Harry on the cheek! She'd given me one kiss on the lips, one kiss on the cheek, and one on the forehead. The Horcrux must have been lying!

Anger pulsed through me. Standing, I grabbed the Sword of Gryffindor. Yelling, I ran through the image of my best friend and Hermione and slammed it into the locket so it cracked with a blinding light.

In the moment of silence that followed, I sunk to my knees. The sword fell to the ground. My whole body was trembling, but I was not the least bit cold. I vaguely noticed when Harry knelt beside me and put one hand on my shoulder. His voice was low and reassuring when he spoke.

"After you left, she cried for a week. Probably longer, only she didn't want me to see. There were loads of nights when we never even spoke to each other. With you gone…" he broke off, as if lost in thought and emotion.

I had nothing to say, but apparently Harry still did. "She's like my sister. I love her like a sister and I reckon she feels the same way about me. It's always been like that. I thought you knew."

No, I hadn't known. If I had we might've avoided this whole incident. And now that bloody Horcrux had poured out my whole heart in front of my best friend; my deepest fears and most valued wishes.

And then I realized something.

I wasn't the third-wheel.

/

Dear Diary,

Ron's gone. I was right… I'm in a grave and the hole's starting to fill up. There's no way out, no way I'm going to escape. I'm trapped and it's only a matter of time.

Harry doesn't talk. Understandable. What's there to say? He sees me crying and knows that there's nothing he can do about it; he'll never be the same. It's worse than when Ron was poisoned because this time I had to watch him leave. I had the chance to stop him, but he's still gone. And he might not be coming back.

Is he even alive? So many things could've happened to him already… I hope he regrets this. I hope he is haunted with guilt by the very thought of us. I hope… I hope… I hope that if he dies it isn't painful.

There's nothing more to say. The journey's not going great, so why pretend? I'm not going to. Ron took me with him when he left and if he ever returns… I'm going to beat the crap out of him.

~Hermione Jean Granger.

So I decided to write Ron with the Deluminater (because that's so sweet) and Hermione beating the crap out of him (because it was just plain fun to write XD) so next Chapter, you have a lot to look forward to! Reviews appreciated!