Chapter 13 – Beat the Crap Out of Him

Ron's POV

Christmas morning.

There had been many great Christmas's in my life. Looking back now, I found myself even appreciating the maroon sweaters that I always knew I would get every year. But now there was nothing to look forward to; no family or gifts or even friends.

Yeah, I'd blown that, too.

You're a bloody idiot, Ron, I told myself for the quadrillionth time in the last few months. You know that, right?

Yup, I know. I know all too well.

I had made the biggest mistake of my life, and that was saying something considering I made a lot of mistakes. I had left my best friends out in the middle of nowhere to find the Horcruxes by themselves after I'd promised to help them. I was despicable.

Christmas was a bad memory, now. I could remember back in fifth year when for Christmas I'd given Hermione perfume. Last time I saw her, she'd been wearing it. She'd been wearing it often lately; at least since the Horcrux journey.

Hermione… how I missed Hermione. I knew she probably didn't like me, but that didn't make my feelings for her any different. Honestly, the only time she'd admitted to liking me had been when I woke up after being poisoned… and I'd been pretty boggled then.

I ordered a drink, only a Ginger Ale because I wasn't old enough to have a beer in the Muggle world. I'd find a way to pay for it… or maybe I'd simply never leave the pub. Why would I? It was a Muggle residence; the chances of Snatchers coming in here was very slim.

I took a few sips from the can, pretending it was a Butterbeer instead of a Muggle soda. That made me feel a little better. It was at that moment – just as I set the can down – when I heard it.

"Ron."

My head shot up. I stared over the counter attentively. It had just been a whisper… but I'd heard it clear as day. It was Hermione. Hermione was calling for me.

"Ron."

I stood up, looking frantically. "Hermione?" I called, causing a few people to stare at me strangely.

A few minutes later, I sat down again, disappointed. Hermione wasn't here. But I hadn't been imaging it… I wasn't drunk for Merlin's sake! Maybe I was just nostalgic and delirious.

"Ron."

Now I was certain I'd heard it. I sat still, listening carefully.

"Ron."

Huh? Was it coming from my pocket? I put my hand into it and pulled out the only thing in it – the Deluminator Dumbledore had left for me. I glanced around to make sure no one else was watching me before I clicked it.

A tiny ball of light appeared from the Deluminator. I gawked at it in confusion. I hadn't used the Deluminator since… since… since that one night. The ball of light floated toward me, straight at my chest. My eyes followed it as it hit my chest and disappeared right where my heart was.

Maybe the warming effect it brought was my brain playing tricks on me. "Hermione," I mumbled, turning my eyes back to the Deluminator. Something – a sixth sense – told me they needed me, and that the tiny ball of light would lead me to them.

"I'm coming, Hermione."

Abruptly, I stood up from my seat and walked into the bathroom. Once I was in the stall alone, I Disapparated with only one thought in mind.

I had to find Harry and Hermione.

Hermione's POV

"Hermione, Hermione!"

I was woken by Harry's voice. Oh no, what was wrong?

"Is everything alright?" I hurried out of the tent. Harry was on the crest of a hill. He looked alright.

"It's fine," Harry responded calmly. "Actually, you know, it's more than fine."

Then why had he woken me?

And then I saw what he meant. There, just about ten feet away, was Ron. He looked well, but awfully dirty. He smiled when he saw me, as if the whole world were revolving around him. "Hey," he grinned.

After a moment's hesitation, I was finally able to understand what I was feeling. I was soooo pissed at him! How dare he? Seriously, he left for weeks and weeks and now he's back… and what greeting does he give me?

I stalked forward. My arms reached up and yanked the backpack off his shoulder. "You, complete," – I shoved him and then bent over to grab a handful of leaves. "ASS Ronald Weasley!" I flung them at him. I needed another way to hurt him… ah! His backpack.

I grabbed the backpack. Using it to hit him, I yelled. "You show up here after weeks," – I dropped the backpack – "and you say hey?!"

Ron stared at me like he didn't understand. Had that been enough? Nope, I'd promised myself to beat the crap out of him. I turned to Harry. "Where's my wand, Harry?" I moved toward him rapidly. "Where's my wand?"

Harry was backing away, looking suspicious. "I don't know…"

The Boy Who Lived, huh? Not by the time I got my wand.

"Harry Potter, you give me my wand!" Oh, good. He was now cornered against a tree.

"How come he's got your wand?"

I turned on Ron. "Never mind why he's got my wand!" Then I noticed something in his hand. I took a few steps forward. "What is that?" He held up the Horcrux. "You destroyed it." I glared from Ron to Harry and back. "And how is it that you just happen to have the Sword of Gryffindor?"

"It's a long story," Ron replied.

I glared at him. "Don't think this changes anything." I moved to go back to the tent.

"Oh, of course not," Ron said sarcastically. "I only just destroyed a bloody Horcrux, why would that change anything?" He must've seen the look I was giving him because he continued quickly. "Look, I wanted to come back as soon as I left. I just didn't know how to find you."

"Yeah, how did you find us?" interrupted Harry.

"With this," Ron pulled the Deluminator from his pocket. "It doesn't just turn off lights. I don't know how it words, but on Christmas morning I was sleeping in this little pub, keepin' away from some Snatchers… and I heard it."

"It?" Harry asked.

Ron hesitated for a moment, making me curious. "A voice…" he looked at me. "Your voice, Hermione, coming out of it."

I crossed my arms. "And what exactly did I say, may I ask?"

"My name," Ron took a deep breath. "Just my name, like a whisper. So I took it, clicked it, and this tiny ball of light appeared, and I knew. Sure enough, it floated toward me – the ball of light – went right to my chest and passed straight through me." He put his hand over his heart. "Right here. And I knew it was going to take me where I needed to go, so I Disapparated. I came to this hillside. It was dark, I had no idea where I was. I just hoped one of you would show yourself." He grinned. "And you did."

Oh… how hard he made it to stay mad at him.

/

Dear Diary,

Ron's back. I want to be mad at him and after years of practice, I'm pretty good at it, but at the same time the world's a little brighter. I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Right now, there's nothing I want to do more than throw my arms around him and never let him go.

I'm not going to give in to these childish wants, though. I'm stronger than that. And maybe someday when the war is over I can think about getting together with Ron. But that's later. Right now we need to keep focusing on the journey.

~Hermione Jean Granger

School tomorrow. Yay. Ugh... I'm exhausted so let's just says reviews appreciated and have a good day. :D