Hermione's POV

I blink away the tears

"...So I dissaperated, came to this hillside." Ron continued. As he spoke, I couldn't help but take in all the minor, insignificant details about him. The fact his hair, although still brilliant ginger, was a couple inches longer than it had been the day he had left, that his clothes were torn and dirty, he looked skinnier than I remembered and that his eyes were filled with true sadness.

Good.

"It was dark, I had no idea where I was, I just hoped one of you would show yourself...and you did," Ron glanced at Harry but a moment passed and his blue eyes moved back to mine. He was back. Ron was standing there, talking to me. But I couldn't have been angrier. My true love was back with me and all I could think about was punching him. I remained silent, listening to him with my arms folded tightly. He was quiet for a moment and when I realized he wasn't going to say anything else, I turned on my heel and stormed back into the tent.

For the remainder of the day, I barely spoke. To either of them. I was still outraged at Ronald and felt as if Harry had betrayed me for forgiving him too easily. I wasn't going to give up that easily, that was for certain. I did however, catch Ron glimpsing my way whenever he assumed I was reading and not secretly watching him too. He tried to bring up conversation every so often; of course Harry, the stupid chosen one, replied and had full on conversations with Ron as if their entire argument was a thing of the past, as if it had never happened actually. But it had! Ron and Harry had fought and Ron abandoned me, after declaring his unwavering love to me, he left.

When it got to sunset and almost turn to take my watch, I started wondering whether or not I was being too harsh on him. He did return after all. But only when he got lonely. Did he take my feelings into account? No. Did he take into account the overall mission, the end goal of what we've been spent months on end doing? No. Ron was jealous. I would never get that jealous when there are more important things to be dealing with.

Okay. Lavender Brown was an entirely different situation.

I had to show Ron that he had hurt me, bad. That I was angry with him now and I was going to be for some time. This meant angry glares, short replies and no cuddles. Not a single one. Not for a while at least. Despite my urges to sprint across the tent and throw myself into his arms, to force his lips upon mine. To make that dream I had on so many lonely nights become a reality.

But No. Not yet.

The sun was officially setting so I hurried over to Harry and held out my hand, 'I'll take the next watch. I need the fresh air," he looked a little confused and glanced at Ron. What's Ron got to do with this? "Hand me the locket, Harry!" I snap and he did so without another argument, and then he moved away from me like I was about to clip him across the ear. Ugh. Boys!

I stormed out of the tent and down a trench, making my way to a fallen tree where I'd sit and take watch. Thankfully, sitting in the beautiful forest of Dean soothed my dangerous mood. That was, of course, until I heard a twig snap. My wand was up, the tip an inch from Ron's panicked face.

"Whoa." he held up his hands, surrendering.

"You ought not to sneak up on someone like that, especially when they're on watch," I scolded, turning back to my log.

"Yeah. Sorry," he said. Instead of sitting back down, I begun walking away but he jogged to keep up with me. He was quiet until we were far enough away from the tent that Harry couldn't overhear us. Suddenly Ron grabbed my shoulders and moved us both behind the cover a tall and wide oak tree, then he held my face in his palm. Before I could tell him off, he kissed me.

It was as if he never left. For that moment, where our lips were pressed together, sharing one another's warmth and our love was shining as bright as it had done in the past; I had forgotten why I was angry with him in the first place. I wrapped my arms around his broad neck and let him hoist me up into his arms. My legs wrapped around his waist and he continued to kiss me while I breathed out his name. It was only when a bird took flight from the tree above us did I realize what we were doing.

"Stop." I said, dropping my legs and he let me go. When I say he let me go, he took a step back but still held my body up against his.

"I'm sorry. Truly, Hermione. I should never have left you." I could actually hear the pain in his shaky voice.

"No, you shouldn't." I confirmed and he smiled. "And you have no idea how much I want to tell you where you can shove your apology, Ronald." I failed. I smiled when he said that and he caught it. He begun laughing and he tilted my chin up so I could meet his eyes.

"I knew you'd say something like that." he said, "I know. I messed up. Do you forgive me?"

"Do I forgive you? You left us for months and months and I was alone. I know that I had Harry but I was alone inside. We finally told each other how we feel and then...you were gone. It felt like a broken promise, Ron. For a while I waited for you to come back, I even left my scarf wrapped around a tree for you just in case you returned and didn't know where we had gone. After a while I gave up, I stopped believing you were going to come back. But here you are and now I'm all conflicted about my emotions, Ron."

"Hermione..." he whispered my name and it made me weak, "You can't possible hate me anymore than I hate myself right now. Each second I was away from you...it felt like an eternity passed."

"Did you just quote Shakespeare?" I asked, recognizing the line,

His features clearly showed he had no idea what I was talking about but nodded anyway, "Uh. Sure."

"At least it wasn't from a comic book," I joked and he laughed with me.

"It's true, though. I hated it. I hated every second away from you and now I know...I know I'll always be with you. Until you order me away," He kissed me again then, a stronger kiss. One I didn't shy away from. I embraced the kiss and his love and accepted his apology.

"I'm so, so angry with you Ronald." I told him and he nodded, turning away. "But..." I said, making my way back towards him, "I think I'll be able to forgive you quicker than I thought." Then I forced Ron up against the tree and kissed the man I loved.

FanWriter's Note:

Hey guys! Next chapter is here. Hope you enjoy.

~FanWriter Harrison~