"You scared me," Hermione sobbed. "I thought you were gone... forever."

Ron squeezed her hand, in an effort to say sorry.

"You were gone. I nearly went mad."

He pressed his lips into a firm line to keep them from quivering.

"Nothing was going on between Harry and I. I love you. And only you."

His hands started shaking.

"You left! How could you leave?!"

Now the tears flowed freely down his flushed face.

"I didn't know what to do! You weren't there to make me laugh! To make me feel loved!"

He winced at her angry cries.

It hurt him to see her like this.

But inside, he knew he deserved it.

"You left for weeks! Weeks!"

Sobs racked her body, her eyes showed her pain.

Pain.

Being away from her meant pain.

The greatest pain Ron had ever felt.

The pain of longing.

He shuddered,"Sorry."

"Sorry? That makes me feel a hell of a lot better!"

"I'm sorry, Hermione."

"You could have been dead."

"I'll never leave your side, ever again."

"You better mean that."

"I do."

He reached out and felt her warm face.

And with a final "I'm sorry" he kissed her.

A kiss.

Filled with nothing but pain and longing.