Summary: Hermione practices her newfound magic.

A/N: Thanks for reading and leaving comments.

Chapter 2

While the boys tried to figure out the Horcrux, Hermione had been trying to figure out Empathic Healing. She'd worked on concentrating her empathy, finding small animals in the forest, and reaching out with her magic to them. She'd gotten adept at centering herself and channeling her empathy into her magic.

They had moved locations twice now, and she was in the tent reading. The previous chapter had spoken about Legilimency. This one was discussing Transferency.

Like Legilimency, Transferency involves entering the mind and viewing memories. The difference here is that not only can you view others' memories, but you can also push your memories and feelings to others. It also allows communication between the parties while they are connected through Transferency.

When one uses Legilimency to transfer emotions, they ultimately need to use the spell for Tranferency by chanting "Transferi." Because of that, the preferred magic is to use Transferency initially when healing, as it encompasses more and saves the step of using Legilmency.

Hermione realized that she needed to learn Transferency. It would be best if she could practice on a human instead of small animals. Before speaking to the boys, she practiced the wand movements to cast the spell. Getting up, she went out to Ron and Harry, who were still trying to figure out a way to destroy the Horcrux. She ambled up to them.

"Hey."

"Hey," they both said back.

"How's it going?" she asked.

"We're at a loss," Ron said.

"Yeah," Harry agreed. "Nothing we've tried has helped us."

"I'll see if any of the books I have say anything," Hermione said as she looked at both boys. "Can I ask you both a favor?"

"Sure, Hermione. What is it?" Harry asked.

Ron looked on with interest.

"I've come across a type of magic—it's what I used to heal Ron—and it's got an aspect of it that's something like Legilimency. I want to try to master it, but I need someone to practice on."

"I can help," Harry said.

"Yeah, me too!" Ron agreed.

Hermione smiled at them. "Great! Who wants to go first?" she asked.

The boys looked at each other and shrugged. "Go ahead," Harry told Ron.

"You sure, mate?"

Harry nodded. Ron turned to Hermione and looked at her expectantly.

"Let's go back to the tent. That way nothing will disturb us."

Once they were settled at the table, Hermione looked at Ron.

"What exactly will you be doing to me?" Ron asked with a bit of trepidation.

"Well… I'm going to cast the spell and enter your mind. It's something like Legilimency, like I said, but I'll be able to send my thoughts to you as well. That's the point of this type of healing—to be able to send impressions to the patient."

"Will it hurt?" Ron asked.

"I don't think so. The book didn't say anything about pain."

Ron straightened. "I'm ready."

Hermione pointed her wand at Ron and looked into his eyes. "Transferi."

They waited, but nothing happened. Hermione frowned and consulted the book again. She made a slight adjustment to her wand movements and tried again.

"Transferí."

She was in his mind. The spell was a bit clearer than Legilimency. She wondered why this magic had fallen out of favor. It seemed to be a better way to read one's mind. She clearly saw Ron and Harry trying different spells to destroy the Horcrux. She decided to experiment and searched Ron's memories for Bill and Fleur's wedding.

She saw the three of them standing together. Harry was talking to Fred. Ron turned and looked at a woman who was standing with Percy. She could feel the attraction he had for the woman with her long, blonde, curly hair. His eyes moved to her chest, and she felt Ron's libido increase. The woman turned and Ron ogled her rear end.

"She'd be a nice catch," he thought.

Hermione felt her ire increasing the longer she sat within that memory watching Ron lust after the woman. She withdrew from his mind and tried to catch her breath. Ron looked at her sheepishly.

"Sorry," he said. "I tried to push you out of my head, but I couldn't."

Her research-centered mind pushed her anger back, and she looked at Ron speculatively. "Interesting. I'll have Harry try to push me out when we work together. He's got more experience."

Ron nodded.

"Shall we continue?" Hermione asked in a business-like manner.

"Hermione… I…"

"I'm ready if you are."

Ron frowned but nodded. She was in his head again. This time instead of trying to see his thoughts, she concentrated on pushing a memory into him. With intensity, she pushed the memory into Ron's head and withdrew.

"Do you see a memory of mine?" she asked him.

"I see you being sorted! The hat talked to you for a while."

Hermione smiled. "Yes, it did. How clear was the memory?"

"I could see everything. You sat, the hat was placed on your head, and then it began to deliberate where to put you. Hermione, that's amazing!"

Hermione smiled. "Could you feel how I felt?"

"You were super nervous, then happy."

She nodded.

"Okay," she said. Let me try one more thing. I'm going to try to communicate with you. I'll speak to you, and you should try to answer me in your head."

Ron nodded and got ready again.

With a swish she was in his mind once more.

"Can you hear me, Ron?"

Nothing.

"Ron, are you there? Can you hear me?"

No reply. She tried one more time.

"Ron? I'm going to cast a jinx on you."

No reply.

She withdrew from his head. "Could you hear me at all?"

He shook his head.

"Hmm. I'll need to do more research. I tried three times, but you never responded."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out, Hermione. About that memory at the wedding…"

Hermione lifted her hand up to stop him. "Don't. It's not important."

She stood and headed for her room. "I've got a bunch of research to do, Ron. I'm going to stay in my room until I figure out what went wrong in my attempt to communicate with you."

With that, she turned and left him alone at the table.

Entering her room, she waved her wand to close the privacy flap. Flicking her wand quickly, she cast a Muffliato so that Ron couldn't hear anything, and she wouldn't be disturbed. She frowned as she threw herself on her camp bed. She'd thought that Ron had possibly grown up some—that he was done playing around, but that was obviously not the case. She knew she'd invaded his private thoughts, but that didn't excuse his actions.

She felt defeated at what she saw. He'd been showing interest in her around that time, but he still had a roving eye and who knew if he would still ogle a sexy arse in the future. Would he always have thoughts about other women, even if Hermione and he were involved?

She grit her teeth as she recalled several times Ron had gotten angry with her because he thought she was looking at other men. She was not happy with his double standard, and the truth was that in her case, she'd not been looking at anyone. That wasn't who she was. If she was interested in someone, that's the only person she wanted to think about.

Throwing her hands over her eyes, she evaluated what she wanted from Ron. She liked him, and she had for a while. He'd hurt her horribly, though… multiple times.

Why am I letting him walk all over me? Shouldn't someone I care about have the same regard for me? Shouldn't they not do things… even mentally… that would be hurtful to their partner?

A tear involuntarily fell from her eye. Hermione sighed. She was done. She'd given him multiple chances to show that he cared for her. Every time she thought they were getting closer, something like this would happen. No more. She was tired of his back and forth. One day he was interested, the next, he wasn't.

Deep down he didn't have respect for her, or didn't truly care for her. A man who cared for someone didn't ogle other women or act jealous constantly. It was most evident that he only saw her as a pastime, not someone who he truly wanted to be with. It was obvious what Ron really felt about her, and it wasn't love. He was too busy watching every nice arse that waved in front of him. She had had enough. Ron Weasley would fool her no more.

oooOOOooo

"Hey, Harry," Hermione said as she approached him. "I've done some study, and I think I know what I did wrong with Ron in trying to communicate with him. Can I try it with you?"

"Of course, Hermione. What do I need to do?"

Ron looked over at them, and his eyes narrowed. He grabbed at the locket that was around his neck and excused himself. Harry and Hermione watched him storm out of the tent. Hermione pursed her lips but turned back to Harry and shrugged.

"Okay, just sit there. I'm going to cast the spell. The first thing I'd like you to do is to try and push me out of your mind by using Occlumency."

Harry nodded and got ready. She cast the spell and was in Harry's mind, watching his memory of them gathering mushrooms earlier as he scowled, not happy to be doing it. She felt a gentle nudge, but it wasn't strong enough to push her from his mind. She continued rifling through his memories, watching him with Sirius, his feelings of kinship warming him. He kissed Ginny, and she felt his passion for her. He was running after the Death Eaters, trying to catch Bellatrix Lestrange. Murder was the only thing in his mind and heart in that memory.

Finally, he cast her out. He looked at her as he gasped for breath.

"Wow, Hermione, what is that? It was really hard to get you out of my mind."

"The spell uses feelings to help with healing. I think it's because it deals with emotions that it's harder to push me out of your head."

"Well, it's good that Riddle doesn't know how to do that!"

"Yeah, you're right. But at least we know that Occlumency does work on it. I would think someone who was good at Occlumency would probably be able to throw me out of their mind faster."

Harry snarled. "Like Snape!"

Hermione nodded. "Probably." She shook her head. "Let's try the other two aspects of this spell."

Harry easily received several of Hermione's memories, then it was time for her to try to communicate with him.

"Harry, can you hear me?" she thought.

"Hermione?" Harry thought back at her.

"Yes, try and send me a question."

"Do you think we can eat something other than mushrooms for dinner?" he thought.

Hermione burst out laughing and the connection was lost.

"Oh, Harry, you're too much!" she cried. She shook her head. "But it worked!"

"Yeah, that's brilliant, Hermione. This may come in handy in battle."

"You're right," Hermione said as she thought. "Would you do me a favor… turn around and let me try it again without making eye contact."

Harry turned dutifully, and she cast the spell again.

"Mushrooms are good for you," she thought at him.

"Not every day! We need to go hunt some squirrels or something," he replied haughtily.

She withdrew from his mind again. "Excellent. We can communicate without even looking at each other. I wonder how far it works?"

"I can Apparate to the edge of the wards and you can try again."

"Yes, let's try."

It had worked. She tried connecting with Ron too.

"Ron, can you hear me?"

Ron burst into the tent.

"Blimey, Hermione! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" he cried as he ran up to her.

She grinned at him like a loon.