"But I love you."

Four words. That's all she'd said to him. She hadn't meant to and didn't know why she did, but, she didn't regret it either.

He came back out of the blue. Sitting in the tent, staring at the dull fabric walls, she was hoping Harry would find something. Praying that they would find more evidence and have somewhere new to go. Even an idea of where to head next. Something that would cheer them up and lift the dark mood that had plagued them for the past few weeks. Anything.

And that's when she heard it. Harry's excited voice beckoning her outside. She'd hastily dropped her books and leapt out of the tent, unsure whether there would be danger or if it was a trick. Knowing she didn't have her wand, she looked around cautiously, but she didn't really care. Nothing really mattered now, after months of endless searching and after... he'd left, there was no point anymore. Most of what they'd done had been in vain and the only thing to cling onto now was the faint pinprick of possibility her and Harry would find that information, a new thread, and be led a little further on their seemingly endless quest to destroy The Dark Lord.

She stumbled into the open and ran forwards but, when her eyes locked onto what was outside, her heart stopped. Just for a second, but that second was one of the most important she'd ever experienced.

He was there.

He'd come back.

She felt a powerful wave of relief and happiness flood over her as she saw his sheepish grin and flaming ginger hair. She saw his bright eyes and his freckles and had never been happier to see him safe.

However, the feelings soon faded. Replaced by a surge of burning anger that hit her like ten bullets all at once. No, not anger it was worse than that. It was a fully ignited white hot fury. He left, she told herself, No, no he didn't just leave... he left you.

Pain welled up inside of her again as she remembered all of the nights spent in the tent, sobbing quietly. Praying that he was safe, praying that he'd come back to them. Come back to her.

Suddenly, not being able to take it anymore, she threw herself at him, shouting and letting him know what he'd done. How much he'd hurt them. How dare he? He left Harry, he left his best friend, he left his...

Tears fiercely burned in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She would not look weak and she would not cry, not yet. He had to know she was angry and know how much walking away from her, so easily, had hurt.

"Hermione! Stop!" Harry shouted, frantically trying to stop her yelling and punching Ron any more than she already was.
"Get off of me, Harry! Don't act like you're both best friends again, you know what he did! He walked away from me, and from you! His... friends!"

Ron desperately tried to reason with her, tried to stop the furious girl from pushing him further away. The broken and burnt locket that swung in his hand was suddenly insignificant. It didn't matter that the Horcrux was destroyed, Hermione was too livid to notice it. She hadn't even noticed Harry holding the sword of Godric Gryffindor in his hand.

"Hermione, I'm sorry! I am, I swear! I don't know why I did it, I just had to get away, but I regretted it straight away. Please stop! Ouch! Look, I came back and I've looked for you and I've tried an-"
"Don't you see! It's not about that, Ron! How could you leave? How could you just walk away? From Harry? From me?" She stopped and stood still, staring at him, her chest rising and falling heavily. The pain was evident as she shook on the spot, the tears finally beginning to fall.
"I didn't... look, Hermione, I am sorry. So, so, sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you but the way you and Harry were acting... I just thought that I was better off gone! I didn't think you'd care!" Her jaw fell open and it was as if she had been shot.
"Didn't think I'd care? Didn't think I'd care!"
"Well... no." He mumbled, biting his lip as he saw her expression change.
"RON! How could you say that! Why would you think..."
"I don't know, okay! I just thought that you didn't care about me and you wouldn't miss me if I went!" He shouted, his own eyes beginning to sparkle as his face scrunched up.
"I do care!"
"Well, funny way of showing it! Bloody hell, Hermione! If I'd have known this is what I was coming back to I wouldn't have come back!" He was regretting his words more and more by the second but he couldn't stop himself. He'd expected some anger, a cold shoulder maybe, but not this. He hadn't realised he'd hurt his friends this much...

Hurt Hermione this much.

"Ron. Don't say that..." The tears spilled down her reddened cheeks once more and Harry watched helplessly as his two best friends tore each other apart.

"Do you want me to leave again? Is that it?"
"No!" She cried, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
"Well, I should! What's the point?" Ron snatched up his tattered backpack and stormed away. Harry opened his mouth to protest but as he did Hermione screamed to Ron, desperation, pain and hope tainting her voice-

"But I love you!"

A flock of birds fled quickly at the sound of her voice but after the trees had stopped rustling, and the bird's calls had faded, It was silent.

Ron stood still and Harry didn't move. Hermione began to sob, standing there, her shoulders quivering as she whimpered.
"What?" Ron whispered. She didn't say it again, just stood with her head bowed to the frosty floor and eyes closed, crying. Why had she said it? Made a fool of herself? He obviously didn't feel the same way.

"Did you... did you really just say that?" Ron asked quietly but he knew there would be no reply. He looked at Harry who stared back with an undecipherable expression on his face. He dropped the bag on the floor and ran to her, closing the distance Hermione had put between them, pulling her shivering body tightly into his arms.

"Oh, Hermione! I didn't think you felt that way too!" He mumbled. Hermione pulled herself out of his grip.
"Too? You love me too?"
"Of course I do you stupid woman! Wasn't it obvious for all these years? I thought being so clever you'd see right through me!" His ears turned pink as he admitted his feelings and Hermione furiously wiped her eyes, letting out a strangled sob that was softened with a weak laugh.
"Really? ...Oh my goodness, I'm sorry I hit you! And that I shouted it's just that I was so-" she was silenced when Ron's chapped lips touched hers in a sweet and loving kiss. Ron held her close as he silently swore he would never leave her again.

Harry frowned and glanced around at the trees.
"I meant what I said, Ron."
The bark of the tall bare oaks that surrounded the clearing had suddenly become very interesting...
"I love you too 'Mione."
And the twigs that littered the floor were just so... Fascinating.
"Oh, Ron, I can't believe everything I just said to you..."

Slowly he shuffled backwards and slid discretely into the tent. This isn't awkward at all... he thought. He loved Hermione like a sister and watching her and Ron, his best friend, declare their undying love for each other and suck each other's faces off was... A little weird to say the least. He shook his head to clear the images from his mind and tried to think of something else.

Suddenly a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth and he chuckled.

Now he knew how Ron felt about him and Ginny.

Please tell me what you thought and if you liked it. :) Thank you!