Who: Hermione and Ron (Harry, if he'd like to wake up) Where: Deep forests in Northern England, Their tent When: Late night December 16th What: Hermione waits up for Ron and gets a bit emotional at his late return Rating: PG13 for language, at least?
Hermione didn't know how many hours had passed since she put Harry to bed and promised she would take patrol. She wanted to stay up waiting for Ron anyway, goodness knows she wouldn't sleep while she knew he was out there, doing god knows what with the worst of muggle society. So, she was awake. Wrapped up in her old, old coat which had now seen four rough winters of use and running, she paced across the perimeter of their tent. She didn't even realize she wasn't shivering any more. Perhaps anger and worry were keeping her warm. Or perhaps she'd just truly gone numb.
But it was an hour after she thought he'd be back and he hadn't yet arrived. She avoided checking her journal like some obsessive freak, staring at the page every other minute for news of his arrival. It was not helping things. Times like these, Hermione wished she had picked up some horrid habit like smoking or drinking. Something that could truly calm her nerves. But no, she was still pretty much as pure as a young woman got. Thoughtfully, she pulled her wand from her pocket. Her patronus would help, right? He was always good for a bit of a laugh or a smile. "Expecto Patronum." She whispered, pointing her wand forward into the darkness of the night.
A few whisps of silver came out of the end of her long, elegant bit of wood, but no otter. Hermione Granger couldn't even summon her Patronus. She truly was heartsick distracted. When Ron arrived, he was either going to get a very stern talking to or a very long snogging if she got the courage up. She never had yet.