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Hermione had tried to use this argument with herself, but she knew that it was weak at best. Ron didn't like this answer either and he sat up and looked at her with a defiant look in his eye.

'Well I can't just stay and wait. If I go to this training maybe I can learn something to find him faster.'

Ron got up off the bed and finished packing his last few items with a swish of his wand then turned to leave, stepping around Hermione. Hermione grabbed his arm and turned him to her. All anger had left her and now she was filled with a sense of despair. She couldn't let him leave her life like Harry did, she just couldn't.

'Ron, please don't leave me too…'

Hermione gazed into Ron's eyes, pleading for him to stay. As he stood there looking at her, she saw a look of regret flash across his face before it was hidden behind a look of determination. Desperate to make him stay, Hermione crashed her lips to his. She tried to put all of her hopes and dreams in that kiss to make him stay. Ron deepened the kiss and Hermione got lost in the sensation of his tongue running across her lips. Too soon, however, he pulled away and looked into her scared brown eyes.

'I'm so sorry Hermione. I have to go.'

And with that, he left Hermione standing alone in his room. She was so shocked and heartbroken to even run after him. Only after she heard the back door shut, did she finally realize he wasn't coming back. She slowly sat down on the bed and stared at the floor. Ginny then entered, too distracted to really see the state Hermione was in.

'Hermione, do you know why Ron just left? He stormed passed Mum and…'

As the youngest Weasley saw the stunned expression on Hermione's face, she stopped in her track. Hermione looked up at her as her tears started to fall.

'He left…he left me.'

That was all she could get out before she completely broke down. Ginny rushed to her side, as the older witch had done for her on so many occasions before. She still didn't understand what was happening, but for the time being, she just held onto Hermione as she sobbed.

4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

For the next two days, Hermione didn't say a word. She told Ginny that Ron had left for the training that first afternoon but since then she had remained quiet. She woke up, ate breakfast and went out to the Weasley's pond and sat staring out over the water. Her face held a slight frown and her eyes never seemed to focus.

Mrs. Weasley, who had found out from Kingsley and Ginny about Ron, was furious at her youngest son and deeply concerned about Hermione. She had always been like one of her own children and she wanted to help but she really didn't know what to do. Ginny, who was finally starting to recover, would simply follow her and sit beside her, not saying a word and not trying to make her talk. Besides being there for Hermione when Ron went out with Lavendar, she hadn't really been Hermione's support. Ron and Harry had. But now that they had both left them, she wanted to be there for Hermione, she had no one else.

On the third day, Ginny woke up and looked over at Hermione. Hermione was sitting up and staring at the far wall. Ginny sat up and wiped the sleep from her eyes.

'Good morning Hermione.'

Hermione jumped, startled and looked over at Ginny, almost surprised to find her there.

'Good morning Ginny.'

Ginny, who had been trying to stifle a yawn behind her hand, turned to look into Hermione's eyes, surprised to have actually been answered. What she saw in her friend's brown eyes, made her heart break. Hermione looked so dejected and lost and Ginny couldn't think of a single time when she had ever had that look before.

'How are you feeling?'

Ginny actually cringed at her own question, knowing it was stupid to ask. But Hermione answered anyway.

'Terrible.'

Unable to hold anything in anymore, Hermione broke down into sobs. Ginny quickly made her way over to her bed and hugged her to her chest, rubbing her back in a calming manner. Once able to speak again, Hermione was finally ready to talk about it.

'I can't believe he left, Ginny. Why did he leave me? Wasn't I enough?'

Ginny knew there was no real answer to these questions, at least not answers she knew.

'Hermione, I asked myself those same questions when Harry left. And do you know what I figured out?'

Hermione leaned back to look Ginny in the eyes, wanting the answer to her questions more than any other before.

'I figured out that he didn't leave to hurt me. He left to save us both from empty lives.'

Hermione stared at Ginny with a confused look on her face. This wasn't the answer she had expected nor was it an answer she wanted to accept.

'But why would your lives have been empty? You loved each other and didn't you want to have a life together? Wasn't that what you both wanted?'

Ginny frowned, knowing that that was what she had wanted and had thought that was what Harry had wanted.

'I do think that was what we both wanted, what we do want. But Harry had to deal with whatever was bothering him himself first, had to deal with it himself. I don't know why I couldn't help him with it but he needed to do it by himself. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been happy and neither would've I.'

Hermione frowned, too. This was not what she wanted to hear, but was starting to see what Ginny was saying. Angry tears blurred Hermione's vision.

'Ron is such a stupid git! Why wouldn't he let me help him?'

Ginny reached out and squeezed Hermione's arm in a calming manner.

'Because he didn't know what was bothering him. That's part of what he needed to figure out and only then could he begin to deal with it. It was beyond your help, Hermione, and as much as that hurts to hear, it's something you'll learn to understand.'

Hermione wiped her eyes and glared at Ginny but soon softened her expression, realizing that this is what Ginny had and has been dealing with. And if Ginny could start to accept it, then maybe she could too.

'I'm still furious at him for leaving. I don't know if I can forgive him.'

Ginny nodded understandingly.

'That's okay. I haven't forgiven Harry either. And I am about a hundred years from even considering forgiving Ron.'

A small smile crossed Hermione's face, knowing how much the Weasley siblings were on each other and knowing that Ginny really was serious about it being a hundred years. But it was quickly replaced with another frown, as she lowered her head and more tears came.

'I just don't know how much more I can stand to lose.'

Ginny couldn't take the defeated tone in Hermione's voice and tears welled up in her eyes.

'I won't leave you, Hermione. I promise.'

Hermione looked up, surprised at the definite tone in Ginny's voice. Looking into the brown eyes of her closest girlfriend and now her only best friend left, she knew Ginny meant it. Unable to hold it back, a true smile crossed her lips.

'I know.'

Hermione hugged Ginny, relieved to have one answer she knew she could depend on.

'I won't leave you either. I promise.'

Ginny leaned back to look at Hermione, a small smirk on her face.

'Good. I'd hate to have to show the mighty Hermione Granger my famous Bat Bogey Hex.'

Stunned, Hermione's jaw dropped before she closed it and made a dive for Ginny's wand that she knew she kept under her pillow. Upon grabbing it she proceeded to jump back from her, holding it high above her own head.

'Good luck accomplishing that without your wand.'

Ginny, who was surprised at Hermione's sudden movements, quickly realized what had happened and with the reflexes she had developed as a chaser, she too made a grab for a wand, Hermione's wand, which was actually laying on top of her blankets.

'That's easy enough to accomplish when one has the kidnapper's wand. Expelliarmus!'

Ginny's wand obediently soared out of Hermione's hand and Ginny caught it easily. Looking smug, Ginny held on to both wands and cheekily crossed her arms in front of her, waiting for Hermione's next move. Hermione just stood there, stunned; then she started to laugh. Soon Ginny joined in and they were both laughing hysterically, clutching their sides and sitting on Hermione's bed. After gaining control of themselves, Hermione picked up her forgotten wand and turned to Ginny.

'Thanks for being there for me, these past couple of days. I appreciated you just being with me even when though it might not have seemed that way.'

Ginny waved this off.

'It was nothing. After all you have done for me and my family these past few weeks, it's the least I could do. You're my best friend really, and I appreciated you comforting me all those times, I just wanted to make you feel like you had someone too, ya know?'

Hermione smiled, glad to hear she had actually helped Ginny in some way and touched to know Ginny thought of her as her best friend. The two sat in companionable silence for a moment. After looking out her window, Ginny realized others would start to wake up.

'Why don't we go down and see if my Mum needs any help, yeah? I think she'll be glad to know you're doing better.'

Hermione nodded but frowned again.

'Do you think she blames me for letting Ron leave?'

Not expecting that question, Ginny started. But she recovered quickly and with a very serious expression answered honestly.

'No. She knows Ron needed to go and she would never blame you for that. Never.'

Understanding Ginny's serious tone, Hermione nodded.

'I still feel like I could have…should have done something though.'

Ginny grasped Hermione's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

'It'll get better, Hermione. Just let yourself accept that some things, especially things to do with Ron, are out of your control. And know you're not alone.'

Hermione nodded again and even though she was only starting to heal, she knew she would be okay. She still had herself, her parents, and Ginny to depend on and maybe that would be enough.

Mrs. Weasley was glad to see that Hermione was beginning to heal. Additionally, it looked like Ginny was coming around too. Seeing their progress made her feel better and she started to feel more like herself as well. A piece of her heart would always be missing after losing Fred, but she felt the hole beginning to heal with the renewed atmosphere of the Burrow.

A few days later, Hermione came into the kitchen as Mrs. Weasley was cooking dinner. Upon hearing the floor creak, Mrs. Weasley looked up from the dish she was making and ushered Hermione to take a seat at the table.

'Come in dear, take a seat. Would you like a cup of tea, juice, water?'

Hermione sat down at the table and smiled at the older woman.

'No thank you, Mrs. Weasley. I would like to talk to you, though.'

Mrs. Weasley put a self-cooking spell on the food and sat down across the table from the young witch.

'What is it? What can I do for you?'

Hermione looked down at the table, gathering her thoughts. When she was ready, she took a deep breath.

'Well, I want to go get my parents. I know where they are and what to do, that's not the problem...'

Slightly surprised, Mrs. Weasley reached across the table and took Hermione's hand reassuringly. Hermione had told her about altering her parents' memories in an effort to keep them save after the battle. She'd been surprised and a little concerned but realized Hermione wouldn't have done anything beyond her capability, especially when it came to her parents.

Hermione looked up into her encouraging gaze and continued.

'I would just really like some company on the trip. I know you are all still recovering from everything and you've been so generous to let me stay here, but I think…no I know I really need my own parents right now. And I was hoping you would come with me because you really are like a second Mum to me and I can't think of anyone I would want more to be with me when I find them.'

This all came out in a long breath and now Hermione was holding what breath she had left in anticipation of Mrs. Weasley's answer.

Mrs. Weasley sat still for a moment, simply trying to process what Hermione had just said. Once she realized what she was asking, she couldn't help but get up and come around to the other side of the table to embrace the young witch.

'Of course, I will go with you! Anything you need you just let me know, okay? Anything. We'll get everything planned and we'll go as soon as possible.'

Hermione smiled and returned the embrace, grateful for her support. As they parted, she had one more question to ask.

'Would it be possible for Ginny to come too? I know she's not of age yet but she's been so helpful and….she's the only friend I've got left…'

Mrs. Weasley could barely hear the last part of her sentence and it broke her heart to hear the sorrow in her voice. In a different circumstance, she knew she wouldn't have even considered taking Ginny so far away, but now….

'If Ginny wants to, I think that would be just fine.'

At that moment, Ginny came rushing into the kitchen, obviously eavesdropping from the other side of the door.

'Really Mum? I can go?'

Surprised, Mrs. Weasley just stared at her daughter. Then realizing that she had been spying, the classic Weasley glare appeared on her face.

'Ginevra Weasley, did you plan this already?! It would serve you right if I said no.'

Hermione, realizing the situation was getting out of control, quickly stood and got in between the two witches before Ginny could respond (which she was fully intending to do by look on her face.)

'It was me, Mrs. Weasley. I had already asked Ginny if she wanted to go but I knew that I needed to ask you because she is your daughter.'

Mrs. Weasley calmed down and realized she had probably over-reacted just a tad.

'Oh. I'm sorry dear, I should have known you had it all planned out. Ginny can come but only if she agrees to do as I ask.'

The last sentence was directed to Ginny, who looked like Christmas had come early.

'Oh Mum! I'll do anything, please just let me go! I just want to be there for Hermione. Really, Mum I promise I will behave.'

Mrs. Weasley looked into the eager face of her youngest and saw she meant it. So all that was left now was to get ready and go.