Disclaimer: The end of this chapter contains a scene and dialogue that comes directly from HPatDH, Chapter 22, The Deathly Hallows. JKR gets the credit.

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The chill of the surrounding air was kept at bay by the small blue flame in the bowl next to her. She was perched on a large rock that was situated on the edge of the boundaries to their protection spells, pretending to read to keep any unwelcome visitors from wandering too close. Things were still tense between her and Ronald, even though it had been more than a month since his return.

Hermione didn't try to hide her distrust towards the wizard. She knew that it was unfair, considering none of them had to wrestle with the effects of the horcrux anymore. There was nothing to compound their negative feelings and cause petty arguments. But still, she waited for something to break his sunny disposition and make him run back to the comforts of home again... Leaving her and Harry to their shared misery.

Her dour mood did little to curb the excitement shared by the two boys. Euphoric after the destruction of the locket, they were able to find joy in the most benign chores. Joking over the dishes or gossiping about the juiciest tidbits Ron was able to pick up on his jaunt into society. An onlooker wouldn't have had the slightest inkling that the redheaded wizard had abandoned the other in the recent past.

Nor would they notice the more insidious thoughts that ran behind her blank stare whenever she looked in the pair's direction. The deserter was just another mouth for her to figure out how to fill… He only returned because he was worried about disappointing his family… He would run at the first hint of danger…

Harry was the only one who hadn't left her… Yet.

There was still plenty of time for that.

It was with that depressing thought, she blinked and tried to concentrate on the words that were printed on the page in front of her. They wouldn't come into focus for more than a few seconds at a time and she quickly grew frustrated. She glared at the jumbled mess of letters and was about to give up and head inside the tent when a tiny white flower was thrust into her face.

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

Hermione looked up from the snowdrop bloom and articulately asked, "Huh?"

"Happy Valentine's Day!" Ron repeated with his classic lop-sided grin. "Be mine?"

"I would rather eat glass…" She hissed, jerking away from the proximity of his hand.

"Come on 'Mione!" He whined, the grin slipping from his freckled face. "What more do I have to do to prove myself?"

"Oh, I don't know Ronald. Why don't I leave for a couple of months and then come skipping back one night like nothing happened? Then you could give me some ideas…"

The stem of the minuscule flower bent under the added pressure from the wizard's pinched fingers. "If it would mean you'd forgive me, you could go until this is all over. I'd prefer it, actually… At least I'd know you are safe."

"You think it is that easy? Out of sight, out of mind?" She asked, glaring at his hand, refusing to make eye contact with him. "Like I wasn't worried about you every second that you were gone because you might have been safe? Something I had no way to verify!"

"I… I know. I am sorry."

A heavy sigh lifted her shoulders and she wrapped her arms around her middle. Guarding herself from the guilt that usually followed her snide comments. "So am I."

"Can we start over?"

Hermione scoffed, "And how do we do that?"

"Well…" He dropped his gift and the white bud fluttered down to land on the page she had been in the process of trying to read. Suddenly, his hand was shoved into her face in a farce of offering a handshake. "I'm Ronald Weasley. I have 'the emotional range of a teaspoon'. I don't think before I speak most of the time. I hate broccoli. I get jealous easily. I have an issue apperciatin' what is right in front of me. And… I can't give you much, but I would be grateful if such a pretty girl would give me a chance and be my valentine."

She set aside the book in her lap, stood up, and took his hand into hers. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Weasley. I am Hermione Granger. I hold onto grudges. I have recently developed a slew of abandonment issues. I don't like lima beans. I am still working on my temper. And… I don't want or need anything from you, but I would be honored to be your valentine, even though you are an evil broccoli-hater."

Ron's responding smile lit up his blue eyes and he pulled her for a hug. "I wish I had chocolates or something…"

"Maybe next year…"

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March brought rain, which meant they spent the majority of the month inside the canvased walls of the tent. Harry obsessing over the possibility of the Deathly Hallows, while she and Ron kept to more realistic subjects. Mainly figuring out and tracking down the rest of the horcruxes… The divergence of goals led to more than one heated argument. No matter how she begged for his focus, he was distracted by the lure of power. The same as his nemesis.

As the month came to a close, Ron's attentiveness towards brainstorming began to wane and he started to spend his nights attempting to connect to the infamous Potterwatch. Night after night he sat hunched over his radio. Muttering random words like a madman and cursing when he didn't find the correct one that unlocked the only station reporting the truth.

It was on such a night that Ron's luck turned and he broke the silence with an excited yell, "I've got it, I've got it! Password was 'Albus"! Get in here Harry!"

In seconds all three of them were crowded around the metal box listening to the familiar voices that solemnly listed off the names of the recently deceased, magical and muggle alike. Ron continued to interrupt to explain obvious details as the program continued. First, imploring their listeners to protect the ignorant muggles around them in spite of the danger. Then Lupin joined and reassured of Harry's continued survival and gave updates on other supporters. Finally, it wrapped with the surprise arrival of Fred's humorous take on Voldemort's whereabouts.

By the time that the radio's dial twirled and the lights behind the tuning panel went out, they were all beaming. Hearing the voices of Lee, Fred, Remus, and Kingsley was like a salve for their prolonged isolation. A wonderful reminder that others were resisting the new regime and they were not alone in their ridiculous quest. Regardless of how it felt sometimes…

"Good, eh?" Ron asked happily.

"Brilliant," Harry agreed, his green eyes bright with appreciation for the four wizards.

"It is so brave of them… If they were found…" She acknowledged.

"They keep on the move, don't they?" Ron pointed out. "Like us."

"But did you hear what Fred said?" Harry interjected, nearly vibrating with his excitement. "He's abroad! He is still looking for the Wand. I knew it!"

She sighed, of course, his mind would be on his new fascination. "Harry…"

"Good Gods, Hermione, why are you so determined not to admit it? Vol-"

"HARRY, NO!" Ron's desperate scream didn't stop their friend from finishing his sentence.

"-demort's after the Elder Wand!"

"The Taboo!" Ron bellowed, leaping to his feet as multiple loud cracks sounded outside of the tent. "I told you, Harry! I told you we can't say it anymore. We've got to put the protections back around us. Quick! It's how they find…"

The panicked rant was interrupted by the Sneakoscope on the table lighting up and beginning to spin. They could hear rough exhilarated voices approaching the entrance to the tent. Ron pulled the Delumintor out of his pocket and clicked it, causing their lamps to go out.

"Nice try… Come out of there with your hands up!" Came a deep raspy voice through the darkness. "We know you're in there! You've got half a dozen wands pointed at you and we don't care who we curse."

Hermione bit her bottom lip as her mind raced… Trying to concoct some sort of plan in the seconds they had left…