Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Understanding

by Ydream08

Chapter 9

"It's a lie! Harry and Hermione would never-"

Harry knew it wasn't the best time to tell Ron that he and Hermione were a couple very much like the Horcrux depicted, minus the conceited and rubbish way the Horcrux Harry and Hermione treated Ron, but Harry felt torn about talking.

They were in the middle of putting the Gryffindor Sword through the damn Locket.

When Ron lodged the sword into the heirloom, its glass case shattered and the dark magic exploded on them. Harry hit the ground, and felt the sticky and sinister residue of Tom Riddle's soul passing through them.

"Disgusting," Ron muttered, picking himself up. He went to retrieve the sword. The Locket came with it, simply skewed. Ron eyed the Locket in distaste. "Bloody disgusting."

Harry got to him and patted his back. "One down," he said.

Ron nodded, finally smiling. "One down."

There was a silence as they picked a pace to go back to the camp. Ron didn't need to point out what an arse he had been. Harry hadn't been above him.

"I'm sorry," Harry wanted to say even though both were at fault, but Ron beat him to it.

"I'm sorry."

Harry echoed the sentiment and the duo smiled.

"I don't know what got into me, Harry. I really don't. I just wish-"

"No, Ron. It's fine. You came. If it weren't for you-"

"No, no, listen Harry. It was really hard on my own. I can't imagine how it must have been for you. And you should see how the rest of the world survives. It is up to you to fix this, and I want to help anyway I can. I shouldn't have… I shouldn't have left, you know… I mean, I just spouted nonsense that you and Hermione... I mean, you'd never... because you know I lo-"

Harry felt the fire roar in his belly and his ears rung with anger. "We're together."

This silence was awkward.

Ron met with his gaze but whatever he saw there, Harry understood, made Ron think again.

"I shouldn't be surprised."

Harry cursed. "It doesn't mean… Look, Ron, I'm not sorry. I love Hermione. I'm in love with Hermione. Have been for sometime. But it's...it's not like the way the Horcrux showed you… we don't think those things about you..."

"That's embarrassing," Ron informed. His deprecating laughter saddened Harry. "That must have looked pathetic to you."

"I don't think of you like that, Ron. Nor does Hermione. We would never- you are our friend, Ron. Best friend. My first friend."

Ron sincerely grinned at that. "I am, ain't I?"

"Yes, you are. You always had my back, as I had yours. Just like you did a moment ago."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. He patted Harry's back and smiled. "Yeah, we're mates. And… and I'm happy for you, if that's what you want. The two of you want. I mean, you are both my friends, obviously."

"Thank you for making that clear," Harry shot with a smile.

Ron returned it. "Well, don't mention the Horcrux to Hermione, then. I want to remain friends without screwing up anything. Before the world ends, that is."

Harry snickered, "Good idea."

"Hermione? Hermione, can you hear me? Hermione!" Harry was on his knees, Hermione in his arms. He shook her, desperately wishing she would open her eyes. Harry wanted to make sure she was fine- the word sounded ridiculous even in his mind knowing his beloved had endured hours of torture from the woman who had also killed his godfather.

They had made it out alive from the skirmish in the Malfoy Manor. His knees digging to sand and a salty breeze from the sea hitting his face, Harry knew they were free. It was just that- Hermione had to open her eyes. Her face tear-stricken and bruised, her lips cut and no colour to her skin, she didn't look like she has simply fainted.

Oh, God, Harry panicked. She can't be dead. All their efforts would mean nothing if he lost her. He can't lose her. World be damned, Harry couldn't even bare the thought of not having her by his side. He whispered, caressing her cheek, "Hermione, please." It should have been him. Him who should have been brought to attention. Crucio'ed. Killed. He should have died first, then any harm to come to Hermione.

"Harry! She's fine, but-" he heard Ron shout but Harry didn't respond till Ron grabbed him by the shoulder.

That's when Harry saw Dobby, barely standing, long fingers clutching at something by his abdomen…

"No," Harry gasped. Not Dobby! But his eyes saw correct: there was a knife -the dagger Bellatrix LeStrange had used to threaten Hermione's life- lodged to the stomach of the small house elf.

Harry glanced back to Hermione, but turned again to meet with Dobby's pleading eyes. The squeaky voice of Harry's loyal friend said, "Harry Potter."

Harry quickly lowered Hermione down and rushed to Dobby. The house elf smiled, but Harry couldn't find it in himself to reciprocate. There was so much blood.

"Ron, take Hermione's beaded bag. There has to be Dittany!" Harry ordered. From his peripheral vision he was aware Ron didn't move.

"Ron, NOW!" he shouted to his friend while Dobby crumbled to his embrace. "It is going to be fine, Dobby. I'm here. I'll help you- like you helped us." Harry covered Dobby's hand where it rested near the knife. The other had fallen to the sandy ground. "I can't thank you enough for saving us. Dobby, hang in there. Please."

The longer Harry waited for Dittany to come, the slower and weaker came Dobby's breath. He hardly heard the ghost of a whisper, "Harry Potter."

Harry turned back to Ron, and saw him shake his head: There was no Dittany.

"Take Hermione inside," Harry called to Ron. Heaving because of the burning in his chest, Harry forced himself to look back at the tiny elf who weighted nothing in his arms. Harry blinked against crying but the motion freed tears nonetheless.

Watching the single drop of tear hit Dobby's cheek and travel along, Harry bit his trembling lips. The elf's big hazel eyes now reflected the sky and nothing else.

"Hey," he whispered as her eyes fluttered open in a daze.

They were in the Shell Cottage. Hermione was recovering. Harry would have argued the contrary if not for the colour coming back to her face and her wounds healing over time. This was the first time she had opened her eyes, let alone saying anything.

"Hey," she whispered in difficulty.

Harry smiled. Hearing her voice made him giddy. And warm. And full of life.

"You're okay, safe and getting better." Harry realized he wasn't explaining enough. He should say where they were, what happened with everyone else, and what had happened to her to begin with. But he couldn't get himself to explain those.

She was beautiful. Her hair messed up and cushioning her better than the pillow, her lips curled in the slightest of smiles, the light bathing her just so that she became the center of his world. Not that she wasn't without the evening sun.

She was his everything. She was his Hermione. So beautiful. So her.

"I love you," he stated. Instead of everything else, he said the simplest. "I thought I lost you."

Harry would have been mortified to make Hermione cry, she was crying, few drops trickling down her cheeks but he was no different.

Removing his glasses, Harry wiped away his tears. Hiccups would come, maybe he would heave.

Looking at her now, though, there was a smile on his face while he cried. "I thought I lost you!"

Thank Merlin that he had been wrong. These were happy tears, exactly for that reason. He hadn't lost her.

Hermione snorted. She said something, Harry hardly heard. Then she repeated again. "Marauder's map."

Harry snorted too, then laughed, understanding the joke. "Unbelievable."

Hermione cracked a smile. "I try to be."

"That was a Ron-joke, you know. And he picked that up from McGonagall, at our first year."

It all sounded so far away, and the thought must have occured to the both of them as the joyous atmosphere dissipated in the blink of an eye.

"How's Ron?" Hermione asked, and Harry knew then that everything would be alright.

"Let me get him, don't go anywhere," he said with a snicker.

He didn't miss the way she rolled her eyes.

I'm feeling productive today! Hope you liked the chapter ;D

Ydream08