Hermione's POV

Instant fear.

"He-He could smell it," I told Harry who had appeared at my side moments ago, "My perfume..." Together we stood watching as Scabiour and his band of Snatchers hurled the bodies in their arms over their shoulders and made their way further into the deep dark woods.

After allowing myself to finally take a breath, I turned to Harry with a hand pressed to my lips. He nodded and simply put his arm by my waist, leading me back towards the tent. Foolish! It was foolish! I could have just exposed us all and gotten Harry and Ron killed because I wanted to smell pretty while hunting Horcruxes! Fool! After a moment or two Harry turned to me,

"We have to move, as soon as tomorrow."

I slumped down the hill by his side and tried not to swear at him, "Harry! I told you Ron isn't strong enough to apparate!" I had been repeating this line continuously for days now, I knew Harry was eager (Wouldn't we all be if we were the undesirable, a public enemy. Most Wanted Man in our world.) But he didn't seem to understand the extent of Ron's injuries. True that my feelings towards Ron were clouding my judgement and I guess it is true that I am mothering his now scratches like they were open wounds, but he isn't physically well enough to apparate. He's not himself.

"Then we'll go on foot," he replied with a wave of his hand, "And next time Hermione, as much as I like your perfume, don't wear any." I didn't reply to Harry's comment for two reasons. The first was that it was obvious that I wouldn't wear any perfume from this night on; the second was that Ronald stood at the entrance of the tent. My god did he look handsome. Since Ron's and my confessions of love to one another a couple of days back, we have been incredibly risky. Making out when Harry was taking a nap or holding hands while on watch, we'd tried to be discreet but it proved to be a challenge, a test I couldn't study for.

Every time I saw him, I wanted to shout his name in glee and throw myself into his awaiting arms, to have him brush my hair out my face the way he does and have him kiss me with a strong, burning force. It was like that now except this time...something was different. He wasn't smiling at me like he usually did, he instead just glanced down at the locket around his neck, grimaced and shook his head as he made his way back inside.

Later that night when I was one hundred percent positive that Harry was asleep, I crawled out of my bed and rushed my way over to Ron's. I raised my wand to the jar by his bed and rested the tip on the edge. "Incendio." a small flame spilled from my wand like a droplet of water and hovered in the centre of the glass, illuminating this corner of the tent. Ron was facing the wall but not snoring...

Ron always snored. He wasn't asleep.

I sat by him and put my hand on his shoulder yet he refused to roll to face me. Why?

These past few days we had jumped at the chance to hold one another without worry of being caught by Harry, a moment like this when Harry was sock on, I though Ron would have come rushing over to me?

"Ron?" I whispered, "Ron?" Louder. Without speaking, he finally rolled onto his back and looked me in my eyes, his own were the same as always but they were like they had been outside the tent eelier. Emotionless. "Is anything the matter?"

"No. I'm fine,"

Well it's quite obvious he's lying, "Ron?" I moaned, he shrugged.

"I just don't...feel right. Tonight. I'm not feeling so good." I nodded and grabbed my bag,

"Oh, I'll see if I have anything to help but-" He cut me off by taking my hand and shaking his head,

"I'll be alright." he told me,

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." That was a very final yes.

"Oh, um? I can sit with you and-"

"I'd really rather just try get some sleep."

Ouch.

"Okay. Yeah, alright. That's probably what's best." I nodded, sniffing up and rising from his bed. I leant down then suddenly to kiss him, a final kiss I just had to steal but as I did this..He titled his head. I caught his lips yet only at the edge but it was enough of a movement for us both to notice. He closed his eyes like he regretted it but then rolled back over and folded his arms around himself.

I made my way back over to my bunk and slipped beneath the covers. It was pretty obvious there was more wrong with Ron than any ordinary stomach bug. He was angry. He was angry with me? I could sense it. But why?

With one last glance in his direction, I flicked my wand and the flame went out.

FanWriter's Note:

Hey guys, not a very long chapter but enough to get across what I needed to. Hope you enjoyed.

~FanWriter Harrison~