Chapter Nine: Friendship broken
"Harry, I need to talk to you," Ron said when they were taking a lunch break. They had taken a little nap, and then continued on flying for three more hours. They were only a few miles away now. Hermione was somewhere in the woods, looking for any signs of Godrics Hollow.
"Yeah?" Harry said as a big knot formed in his stomach.
"I know you were kissing Hermione last night. I watched you. When you thought you weren't being watched, I was there, the whole time. I pretended to go to the bathroom and made up that stuff about Percy. Then when I was tired of watching you, I tiptoed across the floor and made it sound like I was coming up the steps. I watched you through the keyhole, and heard every thing you said."
Harry felt ready to puke. "So?"
"Why did you steal my girl?" Ron demanded his eyes full of anger.
"Well, if you heard what we said this morning, you would know," Harry answered indignantly.
"Oh? So that's what that was about? Yes, I did hear you talking this morning, too, and knew that you were a traitor. Just like Peter Pettigrew. You filthy—"
"If you heard what I said this morning, it was for your sake, Ron!" Harry interrupted angrily. "I told Hermione our love couldn't be possible if I still wanted to be friends with you! You're a—"
"What's going on?" Hermione cried. She had returned.
Both of them fell silent. Neither had noticed her arrival.
"What's going on?" Hermione demanded again.
"Ron found out about us," Harry replied dryly.
Hermione's mouth dropped in surprise. She made a motion as though to grip Harry's shoulder, but thought the better of it. "Oh—oh Ron! I'm so sorry! I didn't want to disappoint you! I wanted you to think that I liked you so you would have a date! If you're not going to be friends with one of us, please don't be friends with me. Harry wants your friendship. It was my entire fault, Ron, don't blame Harry!"
Ron paused for a minute, looking surprised. "Well, I have made my choice. I'm not going to be friends with either of you! You're pathetic, evil, foul, and in love, so I'm going on to find my dad myself! If either of you try to follow me, I will kill you, I swear! I hate you both! So you can just sit here and…I don't even care what you do!" Ron strode over to Hermione's bag, ripped out the map, clambered on his broom, and flew off.
"Oh Harry!" Hermione screamed. She hugged Harry and cried so hard that Harry was afraid for her. This can't be good for her, Harry thought. Harry couldn't help it. He started to sob, too. They were both sitting there, on the grass, crying about someone who used to be their friend but now could care less about them.
"Harry," Hermione said, trying to gain control of herself, "We have to go after Ron! I don't care if we're killed—or at least if I am—but Ron will die!"
"Ron doesn't care about us, so why should we care about him!" Harry said angrily. Harry wiped back his tears, stood, and went to get his broom.
"Please Harry! Please let us go after him! We have to! He'll get killed! Please!" Hermione sobbed.
"Fine, we'll go after him. But if he tries to kill us, we've got to use self-defense Hermione, or he will succeed," Harry said. He collected his Firebolt and bag, and soon they were off again, looking for Ron.
