"Any luck?" Ron asked eagerly as Harry walked back into the drawing room the following morning.

Harry shook his head, sighing. "Nah, 'fraid not. I did find half a letter from my dead mum in Sirius's room, though."

Ron's face fell in disappointment.

"Oh," I said, looking between them curiously. "Were you searching for Horcrux clues, then?"

"Nah, porn," Harry answered as he strode over to the cabinet full of trinkets. "Although now you come to mention it, I do recall polishing an old silver locket the last time we were here."

"At least you got to polish something," Ron muttered grouchily.

Ignoring Ron, I leapt up from the sofa and immediately joined Harry, my heart racing. "You think it could be the missing Horcrux?"

"Could be," Harry shrugged nonchalantly as he rifled through the cabinet, "I mean, surely it's no coincidence that the note in the fake pocket was signed by a R.A.B."

"Huh?" I asked, furrowing my brow.

"R.A.B." Harry repeated slowly as though I was completely thick. "Regulus Black... Sirius' little bro. Just seen the same initials on his bedroom door. It had to be him that swapped the lockets over."

"Well, this is a merry little coincidence," Ron beamed, rubbing his hands together. "Keep up the good work, Harry, and we'll be done by dinner time. Wonder what Mum's cooking tonight?"

However, try as we might, we could not find the locket anywhere.

But, (after reminding Harry that a little kindness goes a long way) he asked Kreacher for help, and we discovered that Umbridge was now in possession of it.

"Not that bitch again," Harry seethed, scratching at the back of his hand where the words I must not tell lies still remained.

With careful planning, we organised a little excursion to the Ministry so that we could mug her in broad daylight.

It sort of worked, but Ron slowed things down by stopping to snog another man's wife.

As a result, we ended up in a forest with Ron almost bleeding to death after a bodged Apparation.

"ARGHHHH! IT HURTS SO FUCKING MUCH!" Ron roared as he writhed and wailed on the forest floor. "MAKE IT STOP 'MIONE! MAKE IT STOP!"

"I will if you just keep still!" I snapped sharply, my patience at an all time low.

"You were kinder to Malfoy when I Sectumsempra'd him," he sulked afterwards once I had successfully bandaged up his arm. "-practically snogging him to cheer him up. And what do I get? My head bitten off!"

"Well, if you weren't so wrapped up in your need for revenge and sticking your tongue into places, then maybe I would be a bit kinder!"

"SHE KISSED ME! IN CASE YOU HAD NOT NOTICED SHE THOUGHT I WAS HER HUSBAND!"

I could hear Harry tutting from his bunk at the far side of the tent, his eyes roaming over the Marauders Map. I could only guess he was searching for Ginny, and I was sorely tempted to rip it out of his hands, wanting to search for a certain name myself.

"He's not there," Harry murmured to me later that night when Ron left the tent to 'water the wildlife'. "Haven't seen him appear all term."

I froze from behind the Tales of Beedle the Bard.

"What do you think that means?" I asked, feeling suddenly fretful. According to the Daily Prophet, attendance to Hogwarts was now mandatory. If Draco wasn't there then it couldn't be a good sign.

"He's a Death Eater," Harry said, looking at me meaningfully. "He probably has more important jobs to do."

I nodded, my chest feeling tight.

"I can't help how I feel," I whispered. "I mean... I don't remember, but I do know that I loved him once."

"Maybe you still do," Harry shrugged. "And maybe he really does love you too. But can't you see - you and Malfoy... it's an impossible match."

"Yes, I do see that," I agreed, "which is why I was so surprised when I found out we had started a relationship. Although, don't you think people are capable of change? I can't imagine I'd have even contemplated him in a romantic way unless I believed he was truly genuinely sorry for all the hate he'd shown me in past."

Harry regarded me thoughtfully, frowning. "You were very upset by Ron and Lavender, though. Some might say that he was taking advantage."

"Oh what, like you with Cho, you mean?"

That shut Harry up. He sat back moodily in his chair, hiding back behind the map.

"You know what, Hermione?" He said after a few silent seconds, lowering the map again. "Forget Malfoy, he Obliviated your memories when you were supposedly in love. That's far worse than kissing another person when you're not even together. Ron and you make sense, you always have. And he really does love you, even if he has a funny way of showing it."

"HERMIONE! PASS US THE BOG ROLL WOULD YOU?! I'VE JUST DROPPED A BIG ONE!"

Harry and I exchanged a look as I clicked my tongue disdainfully.

"JUST ACCIO IT!"

"I LEFT MY WAND INSIDE! HURRY UP BEFORE IT DRIES!"

Giving an exasperated sigh, I slapped down my book, took out my wand, and did the honours myself.

*****

The weeks went by at a slow and torturous pace. Nothing seemed to be happening.

Both Ron and I kept glancing at Harry expectantly every time he went to open his mouth, but he never usually came out with anything more useful than 'Sounds like rain again'.

"I'm going to say something," Ron declared brusquely to me one evening when Harry was out on night-watch.

"No, you mustn't!" I rushed at once, keeping my voice low. "Harry knows what he's doing, we just need to be patient."

"It's been almost two months, Hermione," Ron hissed, narrowing his eyes, "half my family could be dead for all I know, and here we are out on a camping trip with Mr Weatherman! What happened to all these Horcruxes we were supposed to be hunting? All he ever seems to do is look for my sister on that fucking map and mope about!"

"I know," I said fretfully, "but perhaps he's biding his time, you know, making sure your arm is all better before going out there to fight."

"My arm is fine!"

"Great, then maybe for once you can be on dinner duty tomorrow."

"Well, it's still a bit tender-" he back tracked pathetically.

"Guys!" Harry yelled excitedly upon dashing back into the tent. "Guess what?!"

"It's raining again?" Ron remarked dryly.

"No, even better! I just overheard a goblin talking about Ginny!"

This caught Ron's attention. Harry went on to explain that it sounded as though Ginny and some others broke into Snape's office and tried to steal Gryffindor's sword but it turned out to be a fake.

"Don't you see?" Harry went on enthusiastically when neither Ron nor I said anything. "The sword! It's Goblin made! If we find the real one we can use it to destroy the locket and other Horcruxes once we've found them!"

"So, another thing we have to find, then?" Ron muttered. "What's that, another two months of sitting around listening to you commenting on the weather?"

Harry blinked, slowly removing his glasses. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I'm getting a little fucking fed up. And so is Hermione. We were just saying."

"Ron!" I hissed, feeling mortified.

"Oh, is that right?" Harry smarted, glaring at Ron. "You think it's easy having this responsibility on my shoulders, do you?"

"MY SISTER IS PROBABLY CHAINED TO A WALL SOMEWHERE GETTING TORTURED AND ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS ADDING YET ANOTHER THING TO THE ALREADY LONG LIST OF CRAP WE'VE GOT TO FIND! WE THOUGHT WE KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING!"

"Well, I'm sorry if saving the world is not living up to your expectations!" Harry scoffed, immediately replacing his glasses so he could wildly gesticulate in Ron's furious face. "How did you think it would be? This is real life, Ron - not some sort of crappy movie with over the top special effects! And if you're that worried about your family then go home, no one is stopping you."

"Harry- no!" I cried.

"Fine, I will!" Ron snarled, jumping off his bed and ripping off the locket from around his neck which he chucked at Harry's face. "I wouldn't expect you two to understand anyway, what with both your parents safely out of the way."

"MY PARENTS ARE DEAD!" Harry roared, spit flying everywhere.

"And mine could be going the same way... not that you care." Ron hovered at the flap of the tent, turning to me aggressively. "Coming?"

I looked from him to Harry, torn.

"Please, Ron," I begged, my voice trembling, "we need to help Harry. We promised."

"Whatever." Ron muttered bitterly. "Have a good life."

"Ron- stop!"

But ignoring me, he turned around and disappeared into the night.

And, not knowing what else to do, Harry and I danced the night away.

*****