“And what if he isn’t?” Hermione shot back, her voice trembling. “What if he’s not coming back? What if he’s hurt or... or worse? We can’t just wait here, doing nothing! We’ve been doing nothing for too long, and look where that’s gotten us.”
She felt her throat tighten as the enormity of their situation settled over her like a heavy weight. It had been gnawing at her for days, ever since Ron had left, but now it felt impossible to ignore. The truth was, they had hit a dead end. There was no way forward, no clear path. They had no idea how to destroy the Horcrux, and without Ron, the trio felt broken—fractured in a way that seemed irreparable.
A sharp pang of worry shot through her as she imagined him out there, vulnerable, with Death Eaters and dark creatures lurking at every corner. What if he didn’t come back? What if he didn’t want to come back?
Content Set to Go Live: Oct 3rd, 2024 on Ao3
With Ron gone and no sign of him returning, Hermione and Harry are left to pick up the pieces, struggling with the uncertainty of what comes next. As tensions rise, Hermione pushes for action, determined to find Ron and escape the hopelessness that has trapped them.
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Finally, Harry let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Okay,” he said quietly, his voice strained. “We’ll go.” Relief washed over Hermione so quickly it almost made her dizzy. She had half-expected him to refuse, to argue that they should stay put, but Harry had always been willing to act when the situation called for it. And now, more than ever, they needed to act. “But we have to be smart about this,” Harry added, his tone serious. “No unnecessary risks. We keep low, and we don’t stay out there for too long.” Hermione nodded, already feeling her mind shifting into planning mode. “I’ll pack some things,” she said, her voice steadier now that they had a direction, a purpose. “We’ll need to be quick, but we have to be prepared for anything.” Harry stood, watching her for a moment as she moved around the tent, gathering supplies. “Hermione,” he said softly, and she paused, turning to face him. His eyes were filled with the same worry she felt deep inside, but there was also something else—something unspoken, but understood between them. “I know,” she said quietly, answering the unasked question. “We’ll find him, Harry. We have to.”
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With Ron missing and their hope fading, will Hermione and Harry’s search lead them to answers—or further into danger?
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