Resentment

Chapter 21: The taboo

A/N: I own nothing except my mistakes. Warning: That I time jump should be a given by now. This chapter won't be an exception.

Also, this chapter has been written long beforehand and having taken your reviews into consideration, which mostly consisted out of you all being curious if Ron will let her off the hook so easily, I have changed my previous writing a bit. However, as much as I wanted to make it a bit more exciting between the two, I couldn't change too much or I would have to rewrite another six chapters that I've already written. I hope you can understand that I don't feel like having to change everything, so please do forgive me for the lack of excitement between the two of them.

Hermione tried to fight her tired eyes as she strained to read the letters on the page. Harry was taking watch outside at the moment, and in an hour they had agreed to both sleep so they could leave the place early in the morning. In the meantime she was just reading more into the book that she had gotten from Dumbledore in his will, trying to look for any clues. So far she hadn't found anything except for a peculiar symbol.

"Hermione!" Jolting out of her upcoming slumber, she closed the book and hurried outside. "Harry? Is everything okay?" It was difficult to see in the darkness, and the sudden wave of cold got her shivering like crazy. Harry came in sight, and wondering if her eyes were playing tricks with her or not, she could swear that another individual was right behind him.

As Harry and the shadow behind him came closer to the tent, she was soon able to distinguish the red locks on the individual's head. Ron had returned, and Hermione wasn't sure if she should feel happy or nervous. Surely he hadn't forgotten about their fight before he left.

Swallowing, she retreated back into the tent and sat on the wooden bench. Left quite speechless, she decided to just let it come over her and see how things go. "It's okay, Hermione. I explained everything I know to him in the woods." Harry said, having followed her inside quite soon afterwards.

"He saved my life, really." Harry went on, and from behind came Ron, a hesitant smile on his face. With that Harry explained everything that happened in the woods and the silver doe he had followed, only to end up finding the Sword of Gryffindor. Hermione was exhilarated to hear the good news, although she was still a bit awkward whenever catching Ron's eye.

At last Harry stopped talking, and Ron awkwardly cleared his throat before he began to speak. "Look, Hermione, I'm sorry about before. I know I shouldn't have doubted you. Of course you wouldn't stab us in the back." His voice came out a bit muffled, clearly not the best at apologizing, but she heard him just fine nonetheless.

Hermione was about to smile, tell him it was okay, but then he opened his mouth again. "However, you did have it coming, didn't you?" Harry released a deep sigh, trying to intervene but Ron brushed him off. "No, I mean it. I'm not mad, not anymore. But can you really blame me for lashing out on you? From what I've understood you're still friends with the git."

"If you've come back to start another fight, I suggest you leave." Hermione said, her glare hardening as she got up, ready to walk away. "No, wait." Ron sighed, scratching the back of his head as he tried to think of what to say. "I didn't come back to fight with you, but I did want it said."

Hermione huffed, folding her arms. "I think I already knew your opinion, Ron. Or did you perhaps want to rub it in once more?" She knew she was beginning to agitate him, but she really did want to know his motive for bringing it up again. "Look, all I'm trying to say is that things are okay between us now. Just.. don't ever mention his name when I'm around and we'll be good, okay? Because unlike you, I still don't forgive the git for anything." Pursing her lips, she was about to argue, but decided against it.

It was a miracle that she still had her two best friends, really, and they really couldn't afford to fall apart again. Having been on her own with Harry already made it much more difficult to survive, so it was important that they kept Ron by their side. Besides, she wanted her best friend back.

And here I was, hoping to never have to see the Weasel again. Hermione frowned, wondering why the usual teasing tone wasn't present in his voice. Can't you just be happy for me that I got my friends back? The boys suggested to get some good night's rest, and so they all went to their respective bunks.

Oh, I'm delighted, Granger. Absolutely thrilled to see the Golden Trio reunited. Draco's voice was bitter, the old stinging tone to it from his earlier years. Draco, what's wrong? Hermione focused her mind on his view, like she always did when he was acting strange. It hadn't happened a lot anymore lately, but in cases like this she really wanted to know.

He was sitting in his drawing room – which he barely ever did – and to the left she could see a couple of Death Eaters huddled up together, holding what seemed to be an innocent person by the hair, their wands pointed at the woman.

Trying to look for a reflection of him, she searched the entire room but was disappointed to find no windows there, at least none that reached the reflection of his body. Trying other objects, she was relieved to at last find a vase that had seemed to be dusted off quite recently. Even though the reflection wasn't as clear and detailed as she would have liked, it would still offer her enough information on his movements.

I don't know, Granger. Perhaps it's because you're being a dumb emotional teenager who worries about losing her best friends while matters much worse are currently happening in the world? Yeah, I think that might be it. Hermione felt her eyes water and the happiness from getting her best friends back disappear.

You don't mean that. She said, referring to the first part of his bitter outburst. She saw his chest rise shortly again, only to be released in a long exhale. No, I don't. He admitted, the bitterness having left his voice, and a tired tone replacing it.

What's the matter, Draco? Glad that she didn't have to prod around that long until she finally got an answer out of him, she attentively listened as he spoke. It's just everything happening here, I guess. Muggleborns and Blood traitors getting killed at random really does take a toll on a person. Hermione sighed, wishing once more that she could be there with him to distract him for a while.

Why didn't you talk to me? Hermione fought back the exhaustion that was threatening to take over her body. Should I have? Biting back a groan, she rolled to her side as she stared into the dark. Yes, you should have. I told you I'd be here for you, remember? I meant that.

All of a sudden she was thrown out of his view – something she hadn't experienced before so far. Why did you do that? Hermione knew the only explanation for it was that he had purposely disconnected her, but she couldn't figure out what the reason for it was. You didn't need to see that.

See what? But then she remembered the woman she had seen earlier on, and she got the hint that he just saved her from witnessing the woman being murdered. Swallowing, she wondered how in the world Draco was coping with this. Thank you. Was all she could muster to express her gratitude for looking out for her.

When the silence remained, she finally allowed sleep to take over her body, until the next day she was awakened by Harry again. When she was awake and about, Harry had practiced with the new wand Ron had brought with him for a while, and then packed up their stuff and moved themselves to yet another location.

There at night they had agreed to go by Xenophilius Lovegood, who Harry said had worn the same symbol on a necklace as the one in her book. They didn't know whether they would get much information, but it was at least worth a try.

However, when the next morning they had left for his home and having gotten quite a bit of information on the Deathly Hallows, mister Lovegood seemed desperate enough to turn Harry, Ron and Hermione in to get his daughter Luna back, who had apparently gone missing.

With quite a bit of trouble they managed to escape, and they were now all seated on the wooden bench, a bit shaken up by what just happened.

In the midst of discussing what they just heard and what they could do with it, Hermione got ripped out from her vision as the cloud of mist appeared in her mind again, and the blurred imagines slowly took over and displayed themselves in full detail.

Hermione watched as Draco had been seated in the room filled with Death Eaters, one that she assumed was the same as she had seen in the beginning of the year. A woman had been hovering above the table, looking beaten up and scared to death.

Voldemort, seated at the head of the table, had been talking about their professor who taught Muggle Studies at Hogwarts. How she had thought they should mate with them and learn all about them. Naturally, this went into every belief Voldemort had, and even though death was expected for the woman, to see it actually happening in front of her eyes – or well, Draco's eyes – was a shock enough on its own.

As if the killing curse hadn't been enough, Voldemort had also let Nagini – his snake – feast on the now lifeless body, and Hermione was grateful when Draco had averted his eyes and the memory came to an end.

"Hermione? Are you okay?" Harry asked, his voice seeming miles away as she slowly returned to the present. Only now noticing that she was sweating like crazy, she quickly nodded and put a Drying Spell on herself, getting rid of most the sweat clinging to her body.

"What in the world happened?" Ron spoke up, and Hermione shook her head. "Just a memory." It was nice for a change to not having to cover it up with a lie. The boys took the hint that she didn't want to explain what she saw, and was thankful when they nodded and continued their conversation like nothing had interrupted it.

Did the same thing happen to you? Hermione wondered. She knew that in the beginning they would both get a memory to be viewed, but she wasn't sure if the other would get a memory as well whenever someone got one. Did what happen? Well, apparently not. That must have meant that from now on they'd only be triggered when one would think of a certain memory. If the connection deemed it important enough, it would be passed onto the other.

Never mind, then. Why is it you thought back to that? He remained silent for a bit, but when he spoke his voice hinted a certain sadness. I was just wondering when the killing spree on innocent people began. Hermione didn't know whether to be happy or sad that he was slowly starting to see the bad things that Voldemort was doing, and how he was a part of it. No matter if he was changing or not.

A voice over the radio caught her attention, and she turned her focus back on the boys as she listened attentively with the other two to what their friends had to say about what was happening out there and what they had to say to Harry.

It warmed her heart when Lupin's speech came up to Harry, and when Fred followed with a bit of humour, they all gave hearty chuckles. It felt good to laugh like that again, and it made the heaviness of the situation they were all positioned in seem a little less gloomy.

Of course that feeling would soon away vanish again, but it was a nice change to actually have something to laugh about after spending months in the woods; hiding from Death Eaters and You-Know-Who and secluded from their friends and families.

It's good to see you laugh again. The random comment caught her by surprise, and she tuned out as the boys' voices as the Potterwatch was coming to an end. Were you bored and watched me again? A smile appeared on her face, glad to hear he didn't sound as gloomy anymore. No, I was just checking up on you.

Even though he had said it a couple of times before, it still felt strange to think that this was Draco Malfoy who was bothering to check up on a Muggleborn. Who would have thought at the start of the year?

And here I was, thinking you meant it when you said you didn't care about me. Her voice was teasing, and she was glad to hear that he caught on to it and replied with an equally teasing voice. I don't, Granger. I just wanted to see if I could make fun of you with something. Hermione's smile broadened, knowing he didn't mean a word of that.

The teasing was more to cover up the slight awkwardness that his caring brought. Sure, it was nice, but Hermione wouldn't deny that it made her feel a bit shy, in a way. She was serious that she would have never thought that a Pureblood like him would care about a Muggleborn like her, but to see the events turn around was both a pleasant surprise but also something she definitely needed to warm up to.

When they turned into teasing, however, it made it feel more like old times where they simply bickered and didn't have a friendship yet. That made the shyness and awkwardness always quickly vanish, and made it feel like things were normal again.

Normal. It was silly how badly she craved those years at Hogwarts again. Where she, Ron and Harry would fight with Draco in the hallways as they made a move on to their next classes. It might not have been the best of times, but at least it was something that was normal at the time. Heck, it almost even became a routine; get to class, endure rude comments of Draco in the class, get out into the hallway and fight with Draco only to repeat the cycle again.

Well, she had to say that she rather wouldn't have those years of a bullying Draco back, but she would like her normal routine back. Where she would just spend her free time studying in the library and have fun with Harry and Ron on occasion.

But those times seemed like years ago right now as they were somewhere in the depths of the woods, camping in their little tent as their bodies were growing more tired and tired with the days as they kept on surviving.

Knowing that reminiscing on what they once had would bring her none other than sadness, she shook her head to get rid of the thoughts and focused back on the conversation Harry and Ron were having, who were still discussing the things that were said in the Potterwatch.

Then the Elder Wand was brought up by Harry, who seemed more excited than ever to have his suspicions confirmed that Voldemort indeed was after the Elder Wand.

"Harry-" Hermione tried to argue, telling him they really couldn't be all that sure that he indeed was. After all, it's not like their friends on Potterwatch had any clue on where exactly Voldemort was. Some had said they were abroad, and others had said he was still in the country.

"Why are you so persistent in denying the facts, Hermione? Voldemort's after the Elder Wand!" The moment the name rolled of his tongue Ron tried to shout in between, reminding him that the name was Taboo.

It was something Harry and Hermione had learned in Ron's absence already when Draco had bothered to tell her, knowing that Harry was the type to carelessly let the name slip off his tongue. But Ron's warning had been too late. Already multiple cracks were heard outside, and a following voice ordering for them to come out had confirmed that they at last had been found.