Talking to the Moon
JKR owns everything, it's her world I'm just playing in it
Chapter 6: Hope
As an only child Hermione Granger knew what it felt like to be alone. She didn't make any friends in primary school, so she was quite used to the feeling. But then she went to Hogwarts. While she didn't make friends immediately, she did end up making two great ones. Deep in her heart Hermione knew she'd never be lonely again.
But if that were the case, then why did she feel this way know? Yes, Harry was here and he was doing everything he could, but it wasn't enough. There was a giant gaping hole where Ron should've been.
Just thinking his name brought tears to her eyes. Why'd he have to leave? Between the three of them, they had often gotten into fights, but Hermione always knew they'd get over them. They were best friends. But this time is different.
This time they happened to get into a fight in the middle of nowhere while in the middle of the war. Ron left them, he left her. How could he just walk out? Didn't he realize what he meant to her? It might have hurt less if he physically ripped her heart.
Hermione isn't stupid. She knows that Ron didn't go back home. He couldn't with his family being watched. How would they suddenly explain away his spatteegroti? He couldn't go back to school. Not with the Death Eaters roaming the halls. So that meant he was out here, in the wild and one his own. Death Eaters, Dementors, and who knows what else is just out there looking for them. If they found Ron, Hermione was sure they'd kill him and hide his body, then she'd never see him again. How was she supposed to go on knowing she'd never see him again? What would she say to his family? He left, but she let him. She felt like she didn't fight hard enough for him to stay. She should have know the the horcrux was affecting him more than it was her and Harry. Plus he was already injured.
Oh there was so, much she wishes she had done differently. So much for Gryffindor courage. There were many times where she could've told him what she was feeling but she just let the moment pass her by. They'd always have later, she told herself. Now, there was no later and all that was left was regret.
A rustle in a nearby bush had Hermione sitting straight up. She checked her surroundings. Could it be...? He could have found them. Highly unlikely, but not impossible.
Hermione waited on baited breath as the rustling continued. Then a squirrel came darting out of the bushes.
Hermione let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding and it quickly turned to sobs. To think for just one second she had hope...
A dark shadow fell over her. It was Harry, it had to be, no one else could get past the wards. Not even Ron. He could be out there right now with no way to reach them, just like she had no way to reach him. Oh this was so stupid. Why weren't they better prepared? Why didn't school make them more prepared for this? What good is turning a matchstick into a needle? Who's that going to help? They should have been learning how to survive. The evil forces of the world have taken over and Ron could be dead. He could be out there right now murdered in the middle of no where and no one knows. No would would be able to find out until the end of the war. How many missing people were found after the last war? And when would this one end? This horcrux hunt was taking forever. Hermoine never felt so lost in her life. This could take years, decades even. What would be left at the end? Would it ever end? Will she ever see her family again?
Harry placed a hand on Hermione's shoulder and she fought herself to not shrug him off. They had to be in this together or things would get worst. So they switched places without a word. Hermione went into the tent knowing the sobs wouldn't stop and she wouldn't be getting sleep. She'd never be able to sleep not unless she saw Ron with her own eyes. She just had to make sure she didn't give up. She had to have hope.