Hidden Moments

Chapter 21 - Without You

Ron wrenched the chain from over his head and cast the locket into a nearby chair. He turned to Hermione. "What are you doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you staying, or what?"
"I…" She looked anguished. "Yes – Yes, I'm staying. Ron, we said we'd go with Harry, we said we'd help – "
"I get it. You choose him."
"Ron, no – please – come back, come back!" She was impeded by her own shield charm; by the time she had removed it he had already stormed into the night.

"Ron!" Hermione bawled, running inadvertently through the trees, trying desperately to find a streak of red hair. Tree after tree, there was no sign of the red-haired man - but Hermione still ran, her tears cascading down her sweet, broken face.

It wasn't until she past half a dozen more trees that she found Ron. He had turned around, his hair glued onto his face and his saturated apparel hugging his body tightly in the storm. He looked utterly bereaved.

"Ron, please!" Hermione sobbed, falling to her knee's in front of him. "Come back!"

Ron looked at her, his face full with misconduct and affection. He took her hand and helped her up onto her feet, keeping tight grip.

"I know where i'm not wanted." Ron said, his voice bitter but soft.

"You are-"

It was too late. He had let go of her hand and Disapparated with a dim pop.

ooo

Several days had past since Ron's abrupt departure, and Hermione had never felt so glum. She had isolated herself to her bedroom after a meal, and would only emerge when it was her turn to keep watch.

She had even blanked Harry, which only added more pain to her dreary state.

It was a calm night, and the bitter air had become stronger over the passing hours. She had even started to imagine she heard Ron's voice, though she knew it was only her mind.

"Hermione?" a voice spoke gently.

"Yes?" Hermione muttered.

"Go get some sleep, I'll keep watch." Harry emerged from the tents mouth, and sat beside her. His eyes glittered like emeralds in the twilit sky and his smile burned deep sorrow. He was missing Ron just as much, and she felt her heart sink.

"I'm sorry," Hermione sobbed, her body falling into his. "I'm really sorry!"

"Don't be, it's not your fault." Harry wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer to his temperate frame.

"I've ignored you," Hermione mumbled into his chest. "You need me, and i've ignored you."

She wept uncontrollably into Harry, who was choking back tears so as not to upset Hermione more. They sat like this for what felt like forever, both gripping onto each other emotionally. Hermione glanced at Harry's structured face, and saw that he was looking back at her, his eyes full of unshead tears.

"I didn't want you to see me cry."

Hermione hugged him tighter, her head resting on his shoulder. He placed his hand on her face and gently tilted it so it was facing his.

"We're in this together," Harry choked, his face blotchy and now tear stained. "I understand now."

She smiled genuinely and they hugged again, when something caught Hermione's eye. Something was poking out of Harry's back trouser pocket. She tugged it out gently, and saw that it was a picture of her, Harry and Ron in their first year.

"I was looking at it earlier," Harry pulled away and looked at her. "That's when I realised what you meant by 'in this together'."

Hermione smiled, got up and went inside her room without another word, the picture still in her hand.

She lay on her bed staring at it, and felt herself fall asleep, the picture burned into her mind.

"He'll be back," Hermione thought. "I know he will."