Chapter Thirteen: Time Changes Everything

It had been almost a year since Harry and Luce solidified their relationship with a kiss. Within that time, the couple had grown closer to one another than they ever had with anyone else. Unfortunately the closeness failed to last. As Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Luce searched for the remaining horcruxes, the two raven haired teens began drifting further apart. There were more than enough reasons to excuse their suffering relationship, yet none of them made their circumstances any more bearable. The undeniable space that had been wedged between Harry and Luce put more of a strain on each Gryffindor than Voldemort himself.

What makes that last statement true?

Luckily, the duo knew what needed to be done in order to take down the dark wizard. Not so luckily, neither of them had the slightest clue as to how to fix their damaged relationship.

What used to be open conversations, random bursts of affection, and complete trust had turned into meaningless words, touching only for apparation purposes, and a lack of trust as a result.

Sitting beside Ron in the tent that stormy night, Luce's heart sank as she once again pondered those facts. It wasn't until her companion left her side with an unnerving look spread across his face that she was pulled from that depressing state of mind.

"Yeah," she heard Ron hiss, "I'm still here."

Getting up from her seat, she hastily strode to his side, feeling anxious.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry questioned, his mind too clouded to note the gleam of red in his mate's eyes or the cursed locket still dangling from his neck.

Hermione, however, hardly missed the two factors and quickly discovered why he was behaving oddly.

"Ron," she walked over to him, "take the locket off," Hermione attempted to unlatch the chain only to be swatted away. "Ron, please," she tried again, still to no avail.

"Quit it," seeing the other girl being handled in such a way had irked Luce. She wasted no time in taking the horcrux off him the proper way. Instead, she harshly yanked it from his neck.

The enraged redhead didn't even notice.

He and Harry argued for at least ten minutes, each shouting words Hermione and Luce knew they couldn't possibly mean. They had tried intervening on more than one occasion, but were fruitless in their efforts each time.

It wasn't until Harry lunged for Ron that things seriously got out of hand.

"Stop it!" Luce cried. She shoved herself between them just as Hermione had put up a charmed barrier. It left the previous prefect and Harry on the opposite side of Ron and herself.

"Go then," Harry directed the other boy towards the tent exit that stood behind him.

"You can't possibly mean that," Luce stared at her boyfriend in disbelief. She had never seen him behave this way and it had terrified her.

Hermione, who clearly felt the same due to her frightened expression, couldn't believe it either. "Ron," she begged for him not to take Harry's silent challenge.

"Are you coming or are you staying?" he asked the brunette rather than acknowledging her plea.

"Ron…" her eyes began filling with unshed tears.

"Just relax," Luce placed an arm on his shoulder as she was the only person on his side of the barrier. "You aren't thinking clear-" she attempted to explain calmly when Ron shoved her off just as he did to Hermione earlier.

"Don't touch her," Harry stood as close to the enchanted wall as possible, his wand drawn and his face red.

This peeved Luce more than anything Ron had said since the whole situation started.

"You've said nothing to me since this trip began," she got as close to Harry as Hermione's magic would allow. "All of the times I've been injured so far, you never said a word," her eyes narrow, "but Ron barely shoves me and you suddenly lose it?"

"Lu-" he felt instantly guilty. Harry hadn't meant to ignore her. This journey of theirs had simply put too much stress on him. Focusing on anything other than their main objective became nearly impossible.

"Don't," she cut him off then and there. "You have no right to call me that," Luce's eyes mimicked Hermione's as they began shedding tears of their own.

"Are you coming?" Ron asked the girl he'd grown to love one last time after several moments of silence had surpassed them.

When Hermione kept to the quietness, he took that as an unspoken rejection.

"And you?" he turned to Luce now, no longer wanting to face the other two. In his eyes, Harry had betrayed him and Hermione had broken his heart. Ron could no longer stand the sight of them.

Staring deeply into Harry's eyes for a moment, Luce made her decision.

"I'm going," she took Ron's offer and stormed from the tent.

"Luce!" Harry tried going after her, but was refrained from doing so by Hermione's barrier.

"Finite," she took it down frantically, thereafter chasing after Ron.

Harry followed not even a second later, his mind trained on Luce.

"Ron, come back!" Hermione called out sorrowfully, running as quickly as she could.

"Luce!" Harry could see her in the distance. "Luce, don't-" he had been so close to her when it happened.

Ron had latched onto Luce's hand and disapparated just as he nearly made it to them.

"Ron," Hermione fell to her knees from her place behind Harry, sobs wracking her body.

Reviewer Responses:

Le Diablo Blanc2: Alright, alright, you convinced me! Thank you so much for it, though, because I truly love this story and am grateful for the chance to continue it. So...what did you think? Thanks for reviewing again!

Hm910ya: I'm glad that it does being that your reviews do the same for me. Hopefully you will continue to enjoy the story. Thank you so much for the review!

BecauseImClever12: You were right in what you said about Luce. She would never fall for someone easily or blindly, for that matter. The 'love at first sight' stories are too stereotypical to be interesting, aren't they? Oh, and it looks like you won't have to go through the trouble of favoriting a new story since I decided to continue it here. Hope that doesn't bother anyone. Anyways, thank you for the review!

Snowfur09: I went back and changed all that I said about that being the end as you've all persuaded me into continuing. Thank you for that and for reviewing! I really hope you continue to enjoy it.

Colors of the World: Everyone seemed to have the same reaction about the ending, so here I am, continuing the story in spite of saying we'd already reached the end. Still, it's not as if I even remotely mind. I love this story and love that you all seem to as well. Keep me updated on your thoughts, yeah? The journey hasn't ended just yet, afterall. Hope you like it!

Penny is wise: I'm glad that you think so and really appreciate the review. Thank you!