Chapter 2: Irrational Deterrence

Harry started to walk towards their portable home, extending his left hand to open the flap of the tent. His eyes immediately began to search for her. They finally settled on Hermione sitting on the stairs outside the bedroom, looking ever so sadly down at the ground, hugging her knees, a scowl fixed on her face.

She looked at him downcast as he settled into the chair, but did not acknowledge him verbally. Aside from their missing companion, the only difference in the tent was the music playing in the background instead of the depressing voice that would call out names of those killed.

He took a seat diagonally from her. Just being in Hermione's presence made all the negativity of the reality they were in subside, even if for a few minutes. Harry was drawn to her in ways he could not fully understand. A part of Harry hated it of course because they were in the midst of a war with a Dark Lord who was out for blood – if he knew Harry's true feelings, Hermione would only serve as a target. Harry took it upon himself that she had to remain safe. It was his duty, especially in light of all she had done for him.

Harry was stuck in a trance. He was transfixed by her beauty, and even with her slightly disheveled look, Harry thought she was absolutely beautiful. Harry looked at her sad demeanor and could not stand to see her this way any longer. He wanted to take her sadness away as she had done for him on many occasions.

He stared intensely at Hermione with this raw need - a desire - a need to be honest with her. Yet, he realized what could happen if that honesty was exposed. Both between them and to Voldemort. Yet, he did not seem to dwell on the latter part, instead he was transfixed by her as he had been on so many previous occasions.

He let out a sigh in an attempt to calm himself down, to deter the feelings of nervousness and anxiety that bottled up in the pit of his stomach. Finally, Harry stood up from his chair, and made his way across the room towards Hermione.

He knew she was in the middle of her thoughts, but he wanted to interrupt them for the sake of putting her at ease with the burden she decided to take on with him. He stood there quietly for a few seconds, finally deciding to extend his hand as the song began to change. Harry waited patiently for her to respond. Ideally by placing her hand in his. He knew that Hermione sensed his presence, the shadow his presence created; it slightly covered the side of her face.


Hermione did not know what would happen now that only two remained. She always thought they were lucky in their previous adventures because they were a trio, each fulfilling a special role.

What if we miss something that Ron's simple brain would have guessed at? Will we manage to find the rest of them in a timely manner? What if Voldemort gains more strength while we brainstorm more ideas behind these Horcruxes? she thought.

Her mind was ransacked by such negative thoughts of failure, which was completely unlike her. Hermione was the logical one - she prided herself on this well known fact. She did not succumb to such unreasonable doubts. But the moment Ron left, something that was hidden within Hermione was unleashed. Up until that point fear failed to get to her. She was focused.

The moment Ron left a Pandora's Box of emotions bled out. Hermione could not understand what would cause Ron to just abandon his two best friends. Did loyalty mean nothing to him? Was he that much of a child?

This journey was not a selfish attempt at proving a hypothesis right – it was about saving their world from the darkness that had once enveloped it. This journey was about saving their families and friends. Was Ron so blinded by jealously that he failed to realize this? They were doing it for the Weasleys as well, not just for themselves, not to prove anything. It was to save the innocent and future generations of this sort of mess.

Ron insinuated that he left because 'he saw them the other night,' a night that was purely innocent, Hermione thought. Her and Harry had done nothing more than talk about decreasing the amount of perfume she was wearing since the Snatchers could detect her scent.

However, during this innocent conversation a certain thought did enter her mind.

I wonder if Harry has noticed my perfume. Does he like it? Granger, have you gone mad? Now is notthe time to be having these sorts of thoughts about Harry!

Hermione realized that her thoughts had centered around Harry for quite a while. When it had started, she did not know. Harry constantly seemed to be out of reach, only interested in a friendship with her, pining away for the likes of Cho Chang or Ginny Weasley.

But Hermione could not deny the electricity between them – the stolen glances, the impulsive hugs, that sense to reach for each other first, to conspire their thoughts together. Platonic friendships did not seem to follow this pattern of activity, Hermione thought. Or did they? Maybe she as so far removed from reality that she had no idea what she was thinking anymore.

Hermione had entertained the thought of being with Ron, but the thought had never truly settled with her. While she did love Ron, she knew that that love was directed towards a long friendship, not a potential partner. She tried to look at Ron through the lens of romance but that was just a curiosity as no one really paid her any attention.

Yet, Harry Potter was her best friend, but in the shadows of that loyal and precious friendship lay something more…this she was certain about. Nevertheless it did not make sense to her to unleash those feelings at the risk of losing him, of him not being in her life, of altering their relationship. Being logical, Hermione thought the risks outweighed the positive outcomes of the situation and decided that her feelings remain buried.

Hermione did not want to lose focus or for him to lose focus and allow Voldemort a victory. She would remain steadfast in her goals for this Horcrux hunt – find them and destroy them and ultimately help Harry destroy Voldemort. That was the plan and she was going to stick to it.

The only positive of this entire situation was that they were spending a ridiculous amount of time together. Hermione was so caught up in her melancholy and thoughts that she did not realize a certain green-eyed raven-haired wizard standing before her, with an extended hand waiting to meet hers.

She saw him standing there, with such a sad but warm, intense gaze in his eyes. Ron's departure had hurt him as well, she knew this to be true. He looked at her with a warmth that no one else could expel upon her. It was special, a special bond between the two of them. She was scared of what would happen now that it was just the two of them.

Would they have more luck in discovering the Horcuxes? Or would they miss something? Hermione was trying to determine the best course of action, now that their trio had dissolved into a duo. She knew Harry was standing there, waiting patiently for her to accept his hand. Hermione looked at him and at his offer. She wanted to stand up and reject him, not succumb to the intensity of the moment, but she faltered. With a sad sigh, teary brown eyes and frown on her face, she decided to accept Harry's offer. She placed her hands in his, as he began to pull her up.