Chapter 18
Harry, Ron and Hermione had been searching for Horcruxes for months now, although to them it felt like years. They had managed to find one but were no nearer to destroying it that they were to finding the rest of them. They had been walking for the past few days but had finally come to a clearing in the woods. It was nearing night, so the three decided it was probably best to set up camp for the night.
Hermione left the boys to set up the tent as she went off to enchant the area around them. She took out her wand and waved it, muttering spells under her breath, making sure no one would be able to see or hear them.
Hermione heard the buzz of the radio as she walked back towards the now finished tent. She knew Ron was just curious to hear knews about his family, but it was getting annoying. They were all worried about the ones they loved, but there was nothing that they could do.
She stepped inside the tent, it wasn't huge, but it would do.
Harry and Hermione were sat at the small table of their tent, discussing where they should go next. Ron was laid in his bed, the locket around his neck, the small radio still buzzing.
'I think we need to go to Gringotts,' Harry told Hermione, 'I'm sure that there is something in one of the vaults. Do you reckon Voldemort has his own vault? Or maybe he's hidden it in the Malfoy's? I don't know but we definitely need to get in there.'
'Yes Harry, but it's just too dangerous. What if someone where to see us? We're wanted by the whole ministry. Even the muggles are looking for us.' Hermione replied.
It was just so infuriating, Harry thought to himself. All the places that he wanted to go and he couldn't. If he was alone, he would be able to go where ever he wanted to and no one would be able to try and stop him. Actually if he were alone, he would probably be dead by now. Maybe that would just be easier for everyone. He hated the idea that people were dying because of him and he was trying his hardest to change that but seeing as Dumbledore hadn't left him any clues, they were stuck.
Hermione reached into her bag, taking out her copy of 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard' and turned to the page with the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. The two leaned over the book and were wondering what on earth it could mean, when they felt a shadow looming over them.
'Having fun?' Ron asked looking very annoyed about something.
'What's wrong?' Harry replied.
'Oh no. Nothing's wrong, not according to you anyway.'
'If you've got something to say Ron, then just say it.'
'Alright, I'll say it, I thought you knew what you were doing when we set out to find these bloody Horcruxes. But clearly you don't.' Ron had turned bright red.
'I though you knew what you were signing up for. Did you think that we would be finding Horcruxes every other day. Did you think you would be home by Christmas?'
'I just thought, that after all this time we would have actually achieved something.'
'Fine then go, we don't need you. We can do this on our own.' Harry was shouting now.
'Boys please, stop,' Hermione didn't know what to say. She felt the same although she would never admit it. She had secretly hoped that they would have achieved something by now but she knew it wasn't Harry's fault. They would just have to keep looking and hope that something eventually came along. She turned back to look at Ron.
Ron. The boy she had loved for so long, saying all these horrible things. She tried to block it out, pretend that this wasn't happening, that it was all a dream. But it wasn't. This was her life, and she would have to do something about it.
'Ron. You wouldn't be saying all of this if you weren't wearing the locket.' Hermione pleaded.
'Yes Hermione I would.' Ron argued back, 'I know you feel the same way, you're just too afraid to admit it. Hermione could feel tears forming in her eyes, but she couldn't cry.
'Please Ron just take off the locket, come back inside. Just sleep on it, things will seem better in the morning I promise. Please Ron.'
'Don't just stand there. Are you staying or are you going?' Harry asked.
'Goodbye Hermione.' Ron walked towards Hermione and kissed her cheek. Ron took off the locket from around his neck and threw it down on the closest bed. Hermione tried to grab his arm to stop him from going, but it was too late. And with that Ron was gone leaving the two of them standing, staring after him. Shocked by what had just happened.
Hermione ran out of the tent to follow him, but Harry grabbed her arm and the two of them stood and watched him walked away.
'Ron!' Hermione cried out into the darkness. 'Ron! Please come back.'
But it was too late. Ron had gone and neither Harry or Hermione knew where. Hermione sat down at the porch of the tent, put her head in her hands and started to cry. Every part of her had wanted to run off after Ron. They could be together, like before this stupid war had started. Everything would be perfect once more. She could easily have just left Harry alone to find the Horcruxes, he would manage without the two of them. Wouldn't he? But she knew she couldn't. She knew that she had made the right choice. But still, everything was going wrong. They didn't know what they were doing or what they were going to do, and every minute Voldemort was growing stronger, gaining more followers. Everyday there were more people on the hunt to find Harry, Ron and Hermione. Everyday they were one step closer to being found.
And it was only so long before someone got killed.
