dows： Riddle's eyes were gone； and the stained silk lining of the locket was smoking slightly。 The thing that had lived in the Horcrux had vanished； torturing Ron had been its final act。 The sword clanged as Ron dropped it。 He had sunk to his knees； his head in his arms。 He was shaking； but not； Harry realized； from cold。 Harry crammed the broken locket into his pocket； knelt down beside Ron； and placed a hand cautiously on his shoulder。 He took it as a good sign that Ron did not throw it off。
〃After you left；〃 he said in a low voice； grateful for the fact that Ron's face was hidden； 〃she cried for a week。 Probably longer； only she didn't want me to see。 There were loads of nights when we never even spoke to each other。 With you gone。。。〃
He could not finish； it was now that Ron was here again that Harry fully realized how much his absence had cost them。
〃She's like my sister；〃 he went on。 〃I love her like a sister and I reckon that she feels the same way about me。 It's always been like that。 I thought you knew。〃
Ron did not respond； but turned his face away from Harry and wiped his nose noisily on his sleeve。 Harry got to his feet again and walked to where Ron's enormous rucksack lay yards away； discarded as Ron had run toward the pool to save Harry from drowning。 He hoisted it onto his own back and walked back to Ron； who clambered to his feet as Harry approached； eyes bloodshot but otherwise posed。
〃I'm sorry；〃 he said in a thick voice。 〃I'm sorry I left。 I know I was a a150a150 a a150a150〃
He looked around at the darkness； as if hoping a bad enough word would swoop down upon him and claim him。
〃You've sort of made up for it tonight；〃 said Harry。 〃Getting the sword。 Finishing off the Horcrux。 Saving my life。〃
〃That makes me sound a lot cooler than I was；〃 Ron mumbled。
〃Stuff like that always sounds cooler than it really was〃 said Harry。 〃I've been trying to tell you that for years。〃
Simultaneously they walked forward and hugged； Harry gripping the still…sopping back of Ron's jacket。
〃And now；〃 said Harry as they broke apart； 〃all we've got to do is find that tent again。〃
But it was not difficult。 Though the walk through the dark forest with the doe had seemed lengthy； with Ron by his side； the journey back seemed to take a surprisingly short time。 Harry could not wait to wake Hermione； and it was with quickening excitement that he entered the tent； Ron lagging a little behind him。
It was gloriously warm after the pool and the forest； the only illumination the bluebell flames still shimmering in a bowl on the floor。 Hermione was fast asleep； curled up under her blankets； and did not move until Harry had said her name several times。
〃iHermione！i〃
She stirred； then sat up quickly； pushing her hair out of her face。
〃What's wrong？ Harry？ Are you all right？〃
〃It's okay； everything's fine。 More than fine； I'm great。 There's someone here。〃
〃What do you mean？ Who a150a150？〃
She saw Ron； who stood there holding the sword and dripping onto the threadbare carpet。 Harry backed into a shadowy corner； slipped off Ron's rucksack； and attempted to blend in with the canvas。
Hermione slid out of her bunk and moved like a sleepwalker toward Ron； her eyes upon his pale face。 She stopped right in front of him； her lips slightly parted； her eyes wide。 Ron gave a weak hopeful smile and half raised his arms。
Hermione launched herself forward and started punching every inch of him that she could reach。
〃Ouch a150a150 ow a150a150 gerroff！ What the a150a150？ Hermione a150a150 OW！〃
〃You a150a150 plete a150a150 iarsei a150a150 Ronald a150a150 Weasley！〃
She punctuated every word with a blow： Ron backed away； shielding his head as Hermione advanced。
〃You a150a150 crawl a150a150 back a150a150 here a150a150 after a150a150 weeks a150a150 and a150a150 weeks a150a150 oh； iwhere's my wandi？〃
She looked as though ready to wrestle it out of Harry's hands and he reacted instinctively。
〃iProtego！i〃
The invisible shield erupted between Ron and Hermione。 The force of it knocked her backward onto the floor。 Spitting hair out of her mouth； she lept up again。
〃Hermione！〃 said Harry。 〃Calm a150a150〃
〃I will not calm down！〃 she screamed。 Never before had he seen her lose control like this； she looked quite demented。 〃Give me back my wand！ iGive it back to me！〃i
〃Hermione； will you please a150a150〃
〃Don't you tell me what do； Harry Potter！〃 she screeched。 〃Don't you dare！ Give it back now！ And YOU！〃
She was pointing at Ron in dire accusation： It was like a malediction； and Harry could not blame Ron for retreating several steps。
〃I cam running after you！ I called you！ I begged you to e back〃 〃I know；〃 Ron said； 〃Hermione； I'm sorry； I'm really a150a150〃
〃Oh； you're isorry！〃i
She laughed a high…pitched； out…of…control sound； Ron looked at Harry for help； but Harry merely grimaced his helplessness。
〃You came back after weeks a150a150 iweeksi a150a150 and you think it's all going to be all right if you just say isorry？〃i
〃Well； what else can I say？〃 Ron shouted； and Harry was glad that Ron was fighting back。
〃Oh； I don't know！〃 yelled Hermione with awful sarcasm。 〃Rack your brains； Ron； that should only take a couple of seconds a150a150〃
〃Hermione；〃 interjected Harry； who considered this a low blow； 〃he just saved my a150a150〃
〃I don't care！〃 she screamed。 〃I don't care what he's done！ Weeks and weeks； we could have been ideadi for all he knew a150a150〃
〃I knew you weren't dead！〃 bellowed Ron； drowning her voice for the first time； and approaching as close as he could with the Shield Charm between them。 〃Harry's all over the iPropheti； all over the radio； they're looking for you everywhere； all these rumors and mental stories； I knew I'd hear straight off if you were dead； you don't know what it's been like a150a150〃
〃What it's been like for iyou？i？
Her voice was not so shrill only bats would be able to hear it soon； but she had reached a level of indignation that rendered her temporarily speechless； and Ron seized his opportunity。
〃I wanted to e back the minute I'd Disapparated； but I walked straight into a gang of Snatchers； Hermione； and I couldn't go anywhere！〃 〃A gang of what？〃 asked Harry； as Hermione threw herself down into a chair with her arms and legs crossed so tightly it seemed unlikely that she would unravel them for several years。
〃Snatchers；〃 said Ron。 〃They're everywhere a150a150 gangs trying to earn gold by rounding up Muggle…borns and blood traitors； there's a reward from the Ministry for everyone captured。 I was on my own and I look like I might be school age； they got really excited； thought I was a Muggle…born in hiding。 I had to talk fast to get out of being dragged to the Ministry。〃
〃What did you say to them？〃 〃Told them I was Stan Shunpike。 First person I could think of。〃 〃And they believed that？〃 〃They weren't the brightest。 One of them was definitely part troll； the smell of him。。。。〃
Ron glanced at Hermione； clearly hopeful she might soften at this small instance of humor； but her expression remained stony above her tightly knotted limbs。
〃Anyway； they had a row about whether I was Stan or not。 It was a bit pathetic to be honest；