Hermione nodded her agreement. The kitchens were always a good place to go when looking for Ronald. They stepped through the door and looked at the fireplace. A man with a head of red hair sat on the floor there surrounded by empty platters.
"Ron?" she said softly as she approached. "Are you alright?"
The man didn't turn around to look at her. With every step Hermione took towards him, she could feel something coming off of him in waves. Disdain. Fear. Shame. "Ronald?" she asked again, her voice softer still, barely a breath, scarcely heard in the busy kitchens. He was disappearing! "Ron! Where ar-" She was cut off by his voice telling her to go away, that he needed help. Hermione frowned. He was leaving! He was disappearing, why was he leaving?
"RON!!" Hermione screamed, but he didn't turn to look at her as he faded from view.
Turning to Fleur, whom Hermione had never considered could simply leave, she broke into tears. "Why is he doing this??"