Work Text:
Are You Kidding Me?
“I've known for a while, and I think you have too,” Harry said quietly. “I’m the final horcrux. Voldemort and I are connected. That's why I can speak to snakes.”
“I'll go with you,” Hermione’s voice cracked as she stepped closer.
“Excuse me?” Ron scoffed. “You'll do what? "
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” Hermione yelled, eyes furious at the redhead. “Even now? Harry is walking to his death and even now, your jealousy and insecurities come first?”
“Hermione... It's okay, he just…” Harry said, pulling away.
Hermione’s grip tightened on the boy’s hand. Meeting his gaze, she said, “Harry Potter, if you don't come back, I'll bring you back and kill you myself." Hermione takes a deep breath, she tried to smile for Harry’s benefit. “I'll be here for you when you return. Don't think about this right now, leaning on me, like you've done for the last seven years, is exactly what you should be doing.” Feeling a lump begin to form, Hermione paused. “I know you Harry, you're worried about coming between me and Ron or losing us because of whatever. You don't need those thoughts right now. You come back to me.” Looking over her shoulder, the young Granger glared. A glare that threatened pain if the other boy was to utter a sound.
“Goodbye, Hermione.”
Before Harry could descend the stairs, Hermione grabbed his wrist and kissed his cheek. “I'm sorry it has to be you,” she whispered, holding him tightly.
With a nod that said what no words could, Harry walked towards his death willingly.
Minutes passed and Hermione hadn't turned to look at Ron. Deciding that things had cooled down, he reached for Hermione’s hand. “Hermione.”
Never turning to look at him, she immediately pulled away. “You'll never grow up,” Hermione said, voice cold as ice.
“Wait…”
“You'll always blame me or someone else,” she sneered.
"Hermione hol-,"
"Your needs come first, your drama takes first place," Hermione growled.
"NOW HOLD ON-,"
"He was walking to his death!” Hermione yelled. “I wanted to hold his hand as long as I could and even that was too much for you. I wasn't offering to bear his children. I didn't want him to be alone. And you couldn't even give him that. We had a lot of time without you Ron, plenty of chances to do something, and we didn't.” By now, the emotion Hermione tried to hide bubbled to the surface causing each sentence to grow louder. Without looking, Hermione began to walk away, stopping to say, “It's best that I found this out now, before I did something stupid and let you actually come between us. Goodbye Ron.”
"HERMIONE STOP!” Ron stepped forward. “List-,"
"Do you know why I keep not letting you talk?” Hermione asked, turning on her heel. “Because your first words aren't, ‘I'm sorry.’ We are done, Ron. If Harry survives this, I'm going to take care of him, make sure he's not alone, and most likely take him to Australia. He'll need to be surrounded by people who actually care, who don't see him as a hero or a threat to their dwindling masculinity. I won't let him forgive you for ruining his death. I hope someday you grow up.” Taking a few steps down, she added, “And Ron.”
“What?” he asked, finally finding his voice.
"If Harry doesn't make it, if this is the last memory he dies with and I ever have of him, run.” With that, Hermione Granger walked away, leaving Ron Weasley for the final time.