Chapter 26 - A Farewell and a Return

Although they didn't go any further than where they had left things off on Christmas Eve, it was clear that another wall had been broken down between Draco and Hermione. They had perhaps been overly playful and teasing in their interactions the previous night, but underneath all that was still the indication of how serious things could be between them. As such, neither of them was willing to compromise how special that had felt by talking about it, and much less act on it while Harry was still present. Christmas, in that case, was a "lukewarm" affair of friendship and little else.

Not that one couldn't feel the tension between them practically every time they looked at one another, of course; and though Harry wore glasses, he was far from blind. Once the Boy Who Lived had made up his mind that something was definitely going on between them, he went out of his way on more than one occasion to make himself scarce, only to have Hermione or Draco call him back as a kind of buffer between them. To an extent, they were both trying to make the upcoming departure easier on themselves, and part of that entailed not getting overly attached or emotional while they could help it.

If they only had more time, maybe they could act on things the way they wanted to.

As it was though, for now they had relaxed in their individual passions, and it wasn't until the following morning when it came time to say goodbye that Hermione and Draco were fully expressive about how they both felt. Once Draco came up to call Hermione while she was doing a last-minute check on her bag, she immediately got up and threw herself into his arms.

Draco returned the embrace forcefully, closing his eyes in an attempt to block out the world once more and focus just on her. Her scent, the feel of her in his arms, the absolute warmth and embodiment of everything he had ever wanted. Cheesy as it sounded, he already knew deep within himself that he was coming to rely upon her, even if it was just to hear word from her on what she was doing or what plans could be expected for the future. It was better than anything in his waking life, that was for sure.

"You'll send a patronus once you're settled?" he murmured, rubbing his hands in slow circles on her back.

Hermione nodded, closing her eyes and concentrating on the feel of him as well. Just...five more minutes, or even two, and then she'd force herself to let go. For a time, in order to focus on just surviving and picking up the pieces of their delayed mission from where they had left off, she would have to forget her own feelings and desires and just become "the most talented witch of her generation" once more. It was a flattering title and role that she never thought she'd come to dislike.

"And you'll let me know if anything happens as well?" she prompted.

"Of course. Once I find the cup—"

"You know I don't mean that." Well, partly she did, of course, but otherwise...

Draco sniffed, leaning head on the top of hers. "Yes, I know. And as soon as I get a chance to, I will." There was probably a long list of things he would have to do once he got back though, starting off with giving his mother (and therefore everyone else) an explanation as to where he had been the past few days. Right now, he didn't want to think about that.

"If I get a chance, I'll see if I can't come back here for an hour or two," Hermione added, even while realizing that it was only wishful thinking that prompted her to say it. With only her wand to keep her and Harry safe, it was unlikely that she could abandon her friend for even ten minutes with a clear conscience.

"Or I could come to you," Draco murmured.

It would be best, though of course their location would have to change frequently in order to stay away from the snatchers. They hadn't caught up to the news from the outside world just yet, but it was anyone's guess that after what had happened with Nagini at Godric's Hollow, Voldemort was going to increase the search for them tenfold.

"If anything happens..."

"I'll let you know," Draco finished for her, kissing her on the forehead as he finally let go.

Together, they walked downstairs to where Harry was waiting by the back door, facing the lake and looking out over the icy waters. It was a calming, beautiful sight, and yet also something that he wasn't looking forward to going back to.

"Ready?" he prompted Hermione, handed her back her wand. She grimly exchanged it for the locket she wore around her neck, which Harry put on without comment.

Facing Draco, they said their goodbyes and, for a moment, Hermione almost considered going against all reason and opting to stay, exchanging everything for comfort and the desire to stay by Draco, protect him from everything—including his own morbid thoughts—if she could. Of course, that all came down to her emotions—and Hermione Granger wasn't one to ever act on them (save for a few recent and harmless interactions). As such, there was no question of their leaving.

"Be safe," she said to Draco, to which he extended the same wish to both her and Harry. Then, in possibly the most difficult feat she had accomplished since first starting out on this mission, Hermione disapparated them away from the lakehouse, away from Draco.

Left alone, the young Malfoy already felt despondent; but then, with a tight clenching of his fists and masking his expression to its usual bored neutrality, he disapparated as well, heading to what was probably the worse place to be in Britain right now—and he'd be damned if he could bring himself to call it "home".

No one could have predicted the outcome of just how much could happen so soon after that. When Harry and Hermione had left the lakehouse, they thought it would be to resume a dull and uneventful trek through the woods, keeping one step ahead of snatchers and doing little else. Considering that they had little reason to hope for better results, it was thus with a great amount of nonchalance and almost lethargy that they set up camp in a new location—specifically, the Forest of Dean, which Hermione remembered from her childhood days camping with her parents. On the surface, it brought her a bit of pain at the nostalgia of everything, especially considering how her parents currently didn't remember that she even existed, but since it was a barren location that was easy to get lost in for who wasn't familiar with the territory, it was also ideal for setting up camp.

Later that evening though, things took an interesting turn, to say the least.

For one thing, Harry's restlessness, which prompted him to insist that he take on both guard duty and wearing the locket. Hermione was confused and had argued against it at first, but it was clear from just a minute's discussion with Harry that he was on edge about something. Hermione worried that it might be something negative with regards to Voldemort's actions, but it didn't seem that way.

"I can't explain it, Hermione," Harry had said. "I just...need to be up and about right now, maybe think things over. And you could use the rest, so try and get some sleep."

Truthfully, she was tired, the days at the lakehouse obviously not having been enough to revive her entirely. If and when this war ended, chances were that she would conjure up a relaxing vacation for herself, assuming that she lived through it. Well, that was the plan, anyway, especially seeing as she had a bit of something to look forward to.

Draco. How was he now that he had gone back to Malfoy Manor? It had only been a few hours since their parting, but a lot could have happened to him in that time, given where he was going and who he had to deal with. If only she'd had her wand, Hermione might have chanced contacting him via patronus.

Wait it out for now, Hermione. He'll contact you when he's ready, and besides, you won't want to risk anything for a few days—at least not until you're sure he's back at Hogwarts, and possibly not even then, she advised herself.

It was hardly a satisfactory or comforting thought, but it was, of course, logical, so she went with it.

Thus placated for the time being, Hermione went to sleep, unaware of what was about to happen just outside her tent.

Awoken by the sound of voices in conversation and approaching footsteps later on, Hermione bolted upright in her bunk, reaching instinctively for her wand before remembering that Harry still had it. Darn it—had they been found by snatchers, and now of all times when they only had one wand between them?!

Well, if so, then the wards should hold strong long enough for her and Harry to get away; and besides which, he surely must have heard them too. Hermione waited for him to come inside and let her know the details, but as minutes passed without a word or even movement from Harry, Hermione began to worry. Had he been captured already? Had snatchers gotten through their wards, or worse? Every instinct inside Hermione screamed for her to go out and ascertain the situation for herself, but she was blatantly aware that she didn't have her wand with her and thus would be a sitting duck if any enemies spotted her.

Of course, she was assuming the worst, when really it might be nothing at all. She listened closely, trying to pick out Harry's voice or at least the familiar sounds of his footsteps, but whatever it was, it was too far off for her to say for sure. The longer she listened, the more it became clear that the sounds were growing louder and coming closer, until Hermione was certain that they were past the wards and thus within sight and range of the campsite.

Hitching her breath in panic, Hermione decided that she couldn't wait anymore. Whatever limited wandless magic she knew would have to do.

Running to Harry's portion of the tent, she groped around until she found his invisibility cloak and slung it over her. At the very least, she could stay hidden until she knew more of what was going on. Calling out for Harry was a definite temptation, but not one that Hermione was about to succumb to. Slowly and carefully, she crept out of the tent.

The sight that greeted her wasn't a band of snatchers or death eaters; but nevertheless, it was enough to almost knock her off her feet.

Ron.

It was no illusion, especially not as she saw him help a limping Harry back into camp.

"Hermione!" Harry called, assuming that she was still in the tent.

Both boys stumbled back a step when Hermione cast off the cloak, staring at them both in abject incredulity.

"H-hey," Ron greeted, being the first to break the silence.

Everything about him was just wrong right now. Never mind that he had returned to them—somehow—weeks after she'd given up hoping. Never mind that there was the logic of two wands being better than one, now that Ron was back. Never mind that...wait a second, was he carrying...The Sword of Gryffindor with him?!

That last one was harder to ignore, but it did nothing to placate the anger that Hermione felt rising up in her. She wanted to do so much and say so much to Ron for everything he had put them—put her—through with his departure, but something else caught her attention: Harry's limp. Grateful for the distraction, she focused on that instead.

"What happened?" Hermione asked, stepping forward and brushing Ron aside, taking on the support of Harry by herself. Of course, her friend was heavier than she was, but she'd be damned if she accepted help from Ronald Weasley right at this moment. Ignoring him completely was a bit childish, but she didn't trust herself right now—he should be thanking whatever divine power there was that she didn't have her wand on hand just then.

Harry went through everything that happened as Hermione took him inside and bandaged his ankle. It was a bit twisted, but nothing that a few incantations wouldn't cure, though Harry noted that Hermione hadn't asked for her wand back yet. She waited until he went through the entire tale, not looking at Ron even once, not even when the redhead interjected with a detail or two.

So, now they finally and rather spontaneously had the Sword of Gryffindor, and already Ron had used it to destroy Slytherin's locket. One horcrux down, possibly countless others to go. It was good news, but not enough for Hermione to address Ron or be ready to forgive him.

Not even when he went over his own story of what had happened since he'd left them. The mention of Dumbledore's deluminator and what Ron assumed he'd heard "Hermione" say, calling out to him and whatnot, was almost enough to break through the haze of anger lingering over her. Almost. But then, she was no longer the same girl from weeks before, who had been trying so hard to keep her friends together and had cried over Ron's leaving; and nor was she the besotted sixth year at Hogwarts who wanted nothing more than for Ron to notice her as a woman and not just as a friend.

If she had been, perhaps it would have been as easy as that to forgive him.

But for what he had put her and Harry through, weeks of dealing with his attitude on top of everything else they already had to put up with, and then to just up and abandon them like that to face the world in harsher circumstances than before...that wasn't something she could just forget.

By the look on Harry's face, it was clear that he had already forgiven Ron, perhaps in no small part due to the fact that Ron had just saved his life and destroyed a horcrux. For both those things, Hermione was grateful, but she wasn't ready to express that just yet. After all, whether he'd wanted to come back to them right away, whether he had found his way back to them now, whether any number of things that should make him welcome had just happened...

Was Ron Weasley at all changed? Did he regret what had happened for the right reasons, and could they possibly put their trust in him to have their backs yet again? Before, like Draco, Hermione hadn't doubted the trio's friendship for even a second, not after all they'd been through; now though, after their "friend" had abandoned them and someone who was meant to be their "enemy" turned out to be someone she cared deeply for, nothing was as it seemed and Hermione wasn't going to take anything for granted.

If Ronald Weasley was sorry, then he had to show it, not just say it, and if he wanted her forgiveness, then he damn well better earn it!

That being decided, Hermione was in no position to turn Ron away when she and Harry still needed the help. One thing that Harry hadn't mentioned, after all...

"Does he know what you've done?" she asked, fixing her eyes intently on him.

Harry, catching on to what she meant, nodded. "Yes. I felt it when he did. He knows what we're up to now, I think."

That was bad news, but maybe worth the cost of destroying a horcrux. They certainly had no reason to keep it on them for a longer time now that they had the sword as a means to destroying it, especially not after all the grief it had already caused them. Nevertheless, Voldemort would be on guard now, so she would have to warn Draco—that is, assuming he still intended to go after the cup.

This consideration aside, Hermione didn't want to think about him now—if she did, she'd retreat into herself and just make herself depressed.

Instead, finally, she turned to Ron, looking him full in the face. "Harry, give me my wand," she said calmly.

"I, uh, don't have it," Harry lied, glancing between his two friends nervously.

Hermione shot him a glare, but didn't insist.

"Wait, why's he got your wand?" Ron asked, confused.

Hermione looked back at him, shutting him up with a look alone. Settling for her finger instead, she pointed it at him sharply, holding the redhead petrified at the malice in her eyes. "I'm not forgiving you, Ronald Weasley," she warned. "In fact, I'm not sure if I can forgive you anytime soon, but even when I do, I won't ever forget what you've done. Harry might, but you've got a lot to prove before I can trust you again. Right now, I'm only accepting that you've come back because we need you, but don't think that that means I'll welcome you back as a friend. You've forfeited that when you left us.

"Right now, all I'm interested in is finishing this war and destroying all the horcruxes. That's all I want you to remember about me, no matter what happens."

Then, shooting Harry a look that warned him to keep quiet about any and all of her affairs since the time of Ron's departure, she hastened back to her own portion of the tent, settling down in her bunk and turning away from the opening.

From Ron's stricken look, she knew that her words must have hurt him, but she didn't care. To an extent, there had also been disbelief mixed in there, a clear indicator of the reception Ron had expected to encounter upon coming back. Hermione fully expected him to try and "reason" his way around her reaction, perhaps even declare that it was unjustified considering what he had done since he'd come back. Maybe he was right, partly; but now that Hermione knew what a real apology was like, what a real friend did to help one in times of danger, with risks much greater than any Ron Weasley had to face, she couldn't accept the redhead's easy nature about everything.

This was war, and it changed people. Until now, she had been certain that it changed Ron, and not for the better; likewise, it had changed Draco Malfoy in her eyes, much in the opposite way.

The only question that remained was...just how had it changed her?

A/N: As usual, I was debating with myself just how to handle this. My first instinct was just to go all out, have Hermione swear at Ron, hit him, maybe even retrieve her wand from Harry and send a hex Ron's way. I can't see any fans arguing with that, and I myself had a personal preference and inclination to see Ron actually receive physical pain for all the pain he's put Harry and Hermione through. And yet, in the end, I opted against this, because I feel that Hermione's just too controlled and practical to let her temper get the best of her. The punishment of Ron for her actions though, as I hope I communicated, is still very much a thing, and furthermore I decided to keep him in the dark about the Draco situation until he's redeemed himself to his friends. Now, just when this will be, I haven't decided, but let me warn readers ahead of time that I intend to have some more Hermione-Ron interactions in the future alongside the Hermione-Draco interactions. At this point, I think we can assume that there isn't going to be any romance down the Hermione-Ron avenue, anyway, so you can rest assured as far as that goes.

As a quick note on the beginning of next chapter, there will, yet again, be a time skip. The next big event to happen in Deathly Hallows is, of course, the trio's visit to Mr. Lovegood about the Deathly Hallows, wherein we get the sequence explaining the story of the Three Brothers, and so on. About this, I'll be changing absolutely nothing, so my timeskip and thus the beginning of the next chapter will be after the trio have been to see Mr. Lovegood and some of the aftereffects of that. Be encouraged that I intend to include Draco more in that as well.

Anyway, please do review, follow, and favourite, as always!