Hermione half-walked half-jogged after Ron as he stormed out to the edge of the camp.
"Look, I'm sorry, alright? Ron, come on! Just let it go!"
"Let it go?" Ron roared, finally turning to face her.
"We are at war, Hermione, and you were gone! I woke up," he lowered his voice a little, and his ears had turned an interesting shade of pink, "and you were gone!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "So, what, you assumed that the lackeys of Lord Riddle had, after all these years, inexplicably managed to locate our camp, sneak past our guards, find my tent, kidnap me without you or anyone else noticing and be back on their merry way before daybreak?" She put her hands on her hips. "Honestly."
Ron looked a little sheepish. "Well... still. Going out into the forest, by yourself, who knows what could have happened."
"I was alone when you found me, remember?" Hermione retorted.
"Yes, and if we hadn't saved you you'd have been overpowered by that... snatcher!"
"Outlaw, Ronald," Hermione corrected automatically.
"Looked like he was ready to snatch you up to me," Ron murmured.
"What was that Ronald?"
Ron threw up his arms in frustration. "That is not even the point, Hermione! You... you just left!"
"Yes, I believe we covered-"
"No, Hermione," Ron said more intently, stepping closer to her. "You just left me."
Oh, that was what it was about. Hermione sighed, and closed the distance between him, linking her arms around Ron's neck. He tried to pull away, leading to a short and half-amusing tug of war which Hermione won.
"I just left you," Hermione echoed quietly. "And this upset you." It wasn't a question, yet she waited for his reply.
"Yes," he said simply.
She sighed. "Look, Ron..." she began, but before she could continue, Ron had ducked out of her arms, and was moving backwards.
"No," he said, looking a little panicked. "No, I get it. I don't want to hear it."
Okay, now Hermione was confused. "Get what, exactly?"
"I get it, alright? Last night was a mistake, you don't feel the same way, you are in love with Harry! I can see why, he is all dark and handsome. But whatever, I don't even care!"
Well... what could she do but laugh? Ron looked positively affronted at her reaction, which only made her laugh harder. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, and tried to take deep breaths to steady herself.
"Ron," she finally managed to stammer out, "First of all: I am not in love with Harry - though it sounds a little bit like you are. 'Dark and handsome'?" she giggled again. "Second of all," she moved towards him again and was inwardly relieved he didn't resist, "You are an idiot."
And she kissed him, softly. At first he resisted, then he began kissing back, and it was all Hermione could do to keep her focus. She pulled away slowly, amused at how it was Ron who now didn't want to let go.
"But," she said quietly, taking Ron's hand in hers and beginning to move back into the camp, "I did leave without you." When he only looked at her, she took that as consent to listen to her side before he jumped to conclusions again. "Look, Ron... I have been alone for a long time. Always, even. I've been with Minerva, sure, and Lupin is like a father to me... but when it mattered, I was the only one I could count on." She paused, and took a deep breath. She looked away from Ron, letting her eyes roam across the camp. "Until now."
She didn't dare look back at Ron, scared at the rejection she might find there. But he only squeezed her hand tighter, and once again she felt tears well up in her eyes, for a very different reason. "It just... takes a little getting used to. My habits are very set, you know. I'm sorry," she finally whispered.
She couldn't see him clearly for the tears that clouded her vision, but she felt strong arms wrap around her, and pressed her face into his chest.
"I get it, Hermione," Ron whispered into her hair, "believe me, I do. Until I met you, I only ever had two people who I... loved. That's different now."
Hermione pulled away, and once again their lips met. She hoped her kiss could convey her feelings, since words were failing her just now.
When they eventually pulled away, Ron smiled, and cupped her cheek.
"But Hermione," he said seriously, and she raised her eyes to meet his, "we are heading into battle today. We are going to be fighting for our lives, for Harry, and for our freedom. I need you to promise me, that if you need me... you call me. Don't be a hero."
Hermione laughed weakly. "Well, I can't promise that." She paused. "But I promise, that we are in this together. If you promise too."
"I promise."
…
It was not long before all the preparations were made, and the camp was ready to move. Remus looked around at the anxious faces - some were old, and some were weak. Men and women alike had pledged their allegiance to him and the cause, either out of loyalty to Albus or James, or pure hatred of Lord Riddle. And they all looked to Remus to lead them, in the place of other, greater men.
Ever since Remus had heard of Lily and James' murders, he knew that he had to be a part of the rebellion against Riddle - but leading it? That had come sneaking up on him, like a wolf in the night, and Remus had been powerless to resist the current of change which had swept him along, to the front. There was a lot of resistance and unease in the people of Hog, and Remus had quickly gathered that not only did they need someone to unite them, but he could be that person.
And here he was.
He tried to catch the eyes of every single rebel who had trusted him, who was trusting him now to do the right thing. Was he? Sure, the rebellion was long overdue... but it was hardly a secret that the trigger was Harry's capture. Was Harry that important? Remus of course felt strongly for the boy, as he did for his sister, because of who their parents had been, but the others...
Looking around the camp, Remus suddenly realised something: the people there were not being led anywhere; they had chosen to be there, and they were choosing now to take a stand for the kingdom, and for Harry.
Harry was not only a likeable, strong young man... he was a symbol. In a lot of the same ways that Remus was. People were willing to fight and die for him because the coming of Harry was like the coming of hope. Remus had seen the change in the camp since Harry and Ron's arrival - of course they had not known that a Godricshollow heir had been in their midst all along - people had become more aware, trained harder, there had been a fire in their eyes that had not been there before. For the first time, the rebels started to believe that they could win.
He looked out over his camp with pride. He saw the faces of those he knew well; Seamus of Fin, Dean Thomas, little Luna who had just wandered into the camp one day and had stayed with them ever sine, his old friends Shacklebolt and Hestia. Lady Charity, the girls Alicia and Angelina, whose parents Lord Riddle had murdered personally... and their newest recruit Neville. A boy so touched by the rebellion, so willing to fight for what was right, not out of any loyalty but simply because of a desire to do the right thing. For all these people, Remus would fight today. For all of them, and all the rest, and James and Lily too. For their children.
Speaking of... where had Hermione got to now? He sighed. He was truly happy that she had found Ron, but this was not the time to lose her focus.
He had spoken to Hagrid - dear old Hagrid, how he had been missed! - and he had known, without Remus having to explain, who Hermione was. Remus was surprised, and yet he was not. Harry and Hermione were truly so much alike, and not just in terms of their archery skills. They had the same heart, the same passion, and the same ability to keep cool when it mattered. And Hermione was so much like Lily... and James, too. Of course Hagrid, having raised her twin brother, would realise it.
And they had gained a powerful new ally, too. It would ruin the element of surprise, for sure, but... Remus had a feeling that was not an issue anymore anyway. Riddle was too clever, they were in a race against time.
He took a deep breath.
"Above all this is for your freedom, Sirius," he whispered.
It was time.
