A/N: I want to thank you guys for your kind words for the last chapter. I was pleasantly surprised to find some of you liked it, as I wasn't really thrilled with how it ended up. Nevertheless, I'm proud to say that my heart was definitely in this chapter and I just can't wait to see your reviews! Enjoy =)

Don't go, don't leave me now

Cause they say the best way out is through

And I am short on words knowing what's occurred

She begins to leave because of me

Her bag is now much heavier

I wish that I could carry her

But this is our ungodly hour

-"Ungodly Hour"-The Fray

The great, careless, night the three shared that night was long forgotten. Routine set in once again and misery followed a close second. They were far off into the country now. It was hard to decipher what was colder, the weather or the gloom that hovered over them ever so menacingly. Things were getting progressively worse. It was evident that locket was affecting them even harder than it had before. It was like having a constant Dementor inside the tent. Harry was aggravated, Ron was bitter and Hermione was as dejected as ever.

Harry was outside, keeping watch for the night while Ron and Hermione attempted to conjure up some sleep. It was harder to fall asleep when each of their minds were racing and their stomachs growled fiercely at the lack of a well-balanced, home-cooked meal. They were in calming silence, forcing their eyes to sleep, when Ron turned over and looked at Hermione's bunk.

"Hermione…why haven't you been wearing the perfume I gave you lately?" Ron asked abruptly.

"Oh…well it's really strong." said Hermione sheepishly. "I love it, don't get me wrong but, the Snatchers sensed it. I don't want them tracing us down because of a silly frivolity."

"Right…" Ron nodded. "What about that gold locket you hide under your jumper? Who gave you that?"

"How do you know about that?" Hermione asked reproachfully.

"I saw you fidgeting with it the other night." Ron explained. "I don't remember seeing it before."

"My parents gave it to me, for my seventeenth birthday." Hermione replied. "Anything else you want to know? Who bought me my knickers?"

"Don't be ridiculous." Ron scoffed.

"Well then stop acting like a jealous boyfriend." Hermione exclaimed. "Honestly, what is wrong with you?"

"I have to find out about your stuff somehow!" Ron argued. "Merlin knows Harry is the only one you tell anything to."

"Are we seriously still playing this game?" Hermione asked outrageously.

"Yes, and we will continue to do so until you start including me in your things Hermione!" Ron said. "How long were you going to keep the fact that you're having nightmares about your parents from me?"

"I didn't want to trouble you." Hermione enlightened. "I know we all have enough madness in our minds."

"Yet you could tell Harry?" Ron prodded.

"Can we take this up later?" Hermione moaned. "I'm really tired."

"Sure….goodnight."

Ron turned over and gathered his legs into his arms. The cold was getting harder to keep at bay, even with Hermione's jarred fires and heating spells. He stared blankly to the canvas as he felt the coldness of the locket on his chest. It was clinging tightly near the region of his heart, sharking violently. Ron had noticed this happen at night. The shaking and the unnatural attraction it made with his skin. He felt invincible and at the same time miserable. There was something in that locket; something dark and twisted that preyed on his already corrupted thoughts. There was a negative voice, a voice that gave him the most horrible and vicious suggestions that made him question everything. With great difficulty, he silenced them for the night as he gave in to his now sudden overwhelming exhaustion.

The next morning, Ron woke up alone. Hermione was not in her bunk and he could hear voices outside. He could hear laughter.

With a frown and feeling of abandonment, he strode outside and was enraged at the sight before him.

Harry was sitting in the lookout chair, his back facing Ron. Hermione was behind him, kneeling down with a pair of some odd muggle object in her hand. Strewn on the floor, were locks of jet black, hair. Harry's hair.

"Hold still!" Hermione laughed as she tilted Harry's head.

"I swear Hermione if you give me some odd cut-"

"Do you trust me or not?" Hermione asked.

"Of course I trust you!" Harry replied without hesitance.

It was enough. Ron couldn't bear looking at it any longer. Making his presence known loud and clear, he strode off past him.

"Hey Ron where are you going?" he heard Hermione ask. "I was going to give you one next!"

"Don't bother!" Ron replied.

He disappeared into the forest, consumed in anger.

Harry looked at Hermione in confusion.

"He doesn't sound too happy." He commented.

"No he doesn't does he?" Hermione agreed.

"I think cutting my hair was a mistake." Harry said shamefully. "It was a stupid idea."

"I have to go and talk to him." Hermione sighed.

"Yeah, I understand." Harry reassured.

With one last, shared apologetic look, Hermione went off into the forest in search of Ron.

Three hours had passed and Ron had still not reappeared. Harry and Hermione were starting to get worried it wasn't unlike Ron to disappear when he was upset. However, it usually only took him two hours at most to calm down and join them. The night was looming and the fact that they weren't in a friendly forest didn't help matters. They had spotted a pack of wolves not far off from the campsite and that more than anything made them even more anxious.

Then, just as they were about to search for him again, they heard footsteps that thankfully belonged to their ginger friend.

"Ron where have you been?" Harry asked.

"We've been so worried!" Hermione added.

"Can I talk to Hermione?" Ron asked. "Alone."

"Of course." Harry conceded.

Ron tilted his head in the direction of the tent as he walked passed Hermione. Getting the hint, Hermione walked behind him and into the tent nervously, knowing that his irritation of a few hours ago was not yet gone.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked concernedly.

"What are you playing at exactly?" Ron asked angrily.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked confusedly.

"The other night I saw you talking very animatedly with Harry, coming back from Merlin knows where." He argued. "Don't think I don't know what's going on."

"First of all, Harry and I were looking out for the snatchers." Hermione explained. "Just like we told you! And second, what is with this third degree? You and I aren't together remember?"

"So you don't deny it." Ron challenged. "There IS something going on isn't there?"

"I'm done talking about this." Hermione scoffed, turned on her heel, and left him.

Ron looked on furiously as Hermione walked away. He was fed up with everything. They had been on the run for months and had nothing to show for it. He was cold, hungry, and angry and his patience was finally starting to wear out. It also didn't help matters to see Harry and Hermione talking together all the time. Had it always been like this? Had he been blinded by school and other distractions about what was going on before his very eyes? How long had Harry and Hermione been this close? They were always comforting each other. He was just now realizing why Krum, Cho, and Ginny had doubted that Harry and Hermione were just friends. Just looking at them was sickening. The way he helped her up to stand, the way she handed him her fire in a jar while she took a turn being cold. Then, he suddenly remembered the confession Harry had made back in the summer. He fancied her. Had he told her? Were they secretly dating behind his back? He clutched angrily at the cold locket around his neck and walked back inside before he let the anger get the best of him.

"So…what was all that about?" Harry asked as Hermione slumped onto a log dejectedly.

"Oh…" said Hermione sheepishly. "You know how he gets when he wears that locket."

"Well, I don't think it's fair to blame it all on the locket." Harry said reasonably. "He's my friend and everything but he can be very irritable to be around when he's hungry."

"I know but… out of the three of us; I think it affects him the most." Hermione admitted. "Maybe it would do him well to look at the Marauder's map. He hasn't mentioned Luna in months. Maybe that'll cheer him up."

"I guess it would be worth a try." Harry agreed.

"How are you holding up?" he asked her in concern.

"I'd be lying if I said the nightmares were getting better." Hermione said confided. "But, I realize now that I would've heard something on the news if they were coming true."

"I never wanted this for you." Harry consoled.

"I know," Hermione agreed. "Harry, I don't want you for one second to blame this on yourself. I told you that the night I told you what I did."

"You wouldn't have to if you weren't so stubborn and determined to come along on this suicide mission." Harry ranted.

"And leave you with all the fun?" Hermione teased. "Not a chance."

Harry remained stony-faced despite Hermione's attempt to loosen him up.

"Oh, Harry." Hermione sighed. "I know this is hell. We haven't accomplished anything, we're cold and hungry and going mad without knowing anything about the outside world."

"When we told you we were with you, we meant it." She breathed. "I meant it. I'll never forget that you were the one who noticed I was missing that night on Halloween. You were there when I didn't think I had anyone. I can handle this and much more because I want to be there for you like you were for me."

"Why?" Harry asked desperately. He really wanted to know what made him so special.

"Because I…care for you." said Hermione blushing. "You're my best friend."

"I care for you too." Harry acknowledged.

Hermione gave him a watery smile and it was with a lot of restraint that she did not let herself give away what she was truly feeling. It was bad enough that her heart and mouth had almost let her slip up. Behind Harry, the switching of the lights within the tent stole her attention. Then all of a sudden, her rush of warm feelings evaporated. Ron. She couldn't shake off the guilt she felt when he had spoken to her earlier. It appeared that he had finally learned to read her. Had it been too obvious that the feelings she had developed for Harry in the summer had only managed to strengthen? Was it terrible of her to have moved on so easily when Ron was obviously still not over her? It's not like Ron wasn't insecure about Harry already. Yet here she was, his ex-girlfriend suddenly falling for Harry Potter, the chosen one.

"Hermione, are you okay?" Harry queried.

"Oh, yeah!" Hermione forced a smile. "I just zoned out a little."

"Okay." Harry nodded.

"Uhm, why don't you go show Ron the Marauders map?" she suggested. "I'll heat up the kettle."

"Okay sure."

Ron lay on his bunk playing absentmindedly with his Deluminator. The lights inside the tent flickered on and off as he alternated opening and closing the clasp. His overwhelming, burning anger had disappeared momentarily. Now he was just left with the same cold feeling he normally had. It had been ages since he had heard any news from his family. What if they were dead? What if they were being held captive or locked up in Azkaban. Months ago, he knew the sacrifice of deserting his family would be worth it to finally finish Voldemort once and for all. Yet here they were, months later with the same bloody, indestructible Horcrux and nowhere near close enough to finding the other ones. It was day after day of misery. Ron's patience was finally running thin. Even deep in his thoughts, he could vaguely hear the sounds of footsteps coming close. He was still not in the best mood so he chose to ignore whoever had entered. He soon saw that it was pointless, as he felt someone come close and cloud his vision with battered parchment. He looked up to see the owner of the hand that was thrusting the marauder's map in front of him. Harry.

"Why are you giving that to me?" Ron muttered.

"It still works, even outside of Hogwarts." Harry explained. "You can check up on Ginny, our friends, Luna…"

"I can?" Ron asked brightly.

"Yeah, I only just discovered it a few days ago." Harry laughed. "Don't know why I hadn't thought of it earlier."

Ron grabbed the map and muttered: "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!"

Harry watched intently as Ron's face lit up at the familiar names and places that appeared on the map. He was pompously pleased with himself until he watched Ron's face fall.

"Ginny's not on here." He said breathlessly. "Neither is Luna."

"Well…maybe they're gone for winter term?" Harry suggested.

"It's too early." Ron rescinded. "This is just as useless as the news."

Ron angrily tossed the map to the floor and sunk deeper into his bunk.

"I wonder what it would be like…" He said bitterly.

"What what would be like?" Harry asked.

"Be carefree and unattached to anything like you and Hermione are." Ron spat.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry asked starting to feel aggravated.

"I have hot tea read—" said Hermione walking in with the kettle. "Is something wrong?"

Ron was shooting daggers at Harry who was still lost in confusion. There was tension in the air. It was thick and suffocating. Outside, they could hear small pellets of rain hitting the canvas of the tent.

"No, not according to either of you apparently." Ron fumed. "The world is all fine and dandy isn't it?"

"Ron, I think it's time for you to take off the locket." Hermione said patiently.

"No." Ron said defiantly.

"Well then have some tea." Hermione said, gingerly handing Ron a cup.

Ron glared at the tea before he swung his arm and knocked it to the ground.

"Ron what the hell?" Harry yelled.

"I'm tired of keeping this all to myself." Ron said shakingly. "I'm tired of this. Of all of this!"

"I haven't heard anything about my family!" he screamed. "I don't know if they're dead or being held captive."

"Ron If you haven't—"

"No Hermione!" Ron interceded. "I'm tired of these 'maybes' or 'I'm sures'. I want certainty. The certainty that my family is all right, the certainty that we're going to find these entire God damned Horcruxes and be able to destroy them."

"Ron, I know what it feels like." Harry solaced.

"Like hell, you know what it feels like." Ron spat. "Neither of you two have any family."

"Ron please, think of what you're saying!" Hermione cried. "This isn't you."

"What the bloody hell do you know?" he asked angrily pushing her away as she had tried to remove the locket from him. "You don't know me. You never did. You never gave me a chance."

"It was always him wasn't it?" he yelled.

"Ron please!" Hermione pleaded.

"Then make your choice right now." He demanded. "Is it me or him?"

"We promised we would stay." Hermione said trembling. "Why are you doing this?"

"I guess I have my answer." He nodded irately. "Should've known you were always looking for fame. First Krum, now Harry. Skeeter was right; you're only in it for the glory. I guess you are a scarlet woman after all."

Harry couldn't take it any longer and rushed forward to hit Ron, however his fist made contact with an invisible force. Befuddled, he looked around to see Hermione had cast a protecting charm merely seconds before. Both Harry and Ron were thrown to the floor due to its force. They both looked at each other with corrosive hatred. There was no hope of mending the divide this time. The trio was broken.

"Leave." Harry said menacingly.

Ron threw his bag on his shoulder, yanked the locket off of his neck, and threw it on the ground. With one last glare, he walked through the flap and disappeared into the rain. Even despite the loud noise of the rain hitting the canvas, they could hear the familiar pop sound of apparition. Ron was gone. He had really gone.

"Ron!" yelled Hermione running past Harry. "Come back!"

"Please!" she beseeched.

Harry remained rooted to the spot where he had fallen, still unable to comprehend what had just happened. How much of the venom Ron had distilled was the locket? Where did it end and Ron begin? At this point, he sincerely didn't care. Ron had said some horrible things. His walking out didn't hurt him, it certainly didn't surprise him. He had always bailed when things were too hot to handle. It was his words that had cut him deeply. The words themselves were evil and hurtful, but it was the way they had also been directed at Hermione that wounded Harry the most. No parents. How could he have muttered such spiteful words? He could never forgive him for that. Never.

Harry walked out to find Hermione. She was standing off-center to their now extinguished fire. Her shoulders were shivering, a telltale sign of her sobs. Her back was to him and for once he was thankful it was because he would not be able to control himself if he saw what he imagined was happening on her face. Her eyes knit together in despair, the crinkle of misery on her forehead as she shut her eyes tight to stop the tears. He hated seeing her cry. It killed him.

He walked up closer, right behind her. He knew she had sensed him. They were that in tune.

"He's gone." She sobbed wretchedly. "He's really gone."

Instinctively, Harry grabbed her right fist in support. However, instead of it being a soothing touch, he felt her tense up and pull away.

"Don't" she whispered.

Without a look, she turned around and left him alone in the rain.