The morning after their close encounter, Harry had decided it would be best to stay moving to avoid the presence of any foe that might cross their path. Crossing windy beaches and abandoned trailer parks, it seemed as if the the colors of the world had been sucked out, leaving nature grey and cold. The quartet had resumed their journey once more, this time on foot.

From crossing vast plains and fields to resting at wherever they could find shelter, Ellie could see the toll it was taking on the group, especially Ron. The area under his eyes had bruised to a deep purple, giving him a grave and swollen look. Ellie would often catch his menacing look as he despised the friendship between Harry and Hermione.

The quartet decided to retire for the day, setting up their tent on the barren land in the middle of nowhere.

Ellie sat at the table, watching as Hermione cut Harry's hair. It was quiet, though the silence was calming. Ellie's lips curled into a small smile as she admired her girlfriend, the furrowing of her brows from concentration being the Hufflepuff's favorite nature.

Suddenly, Hermione stood up abruptly, her expression showing realization. Ellie raised an eyebrow at her girlfriend, wondering what she could be thinking about this time.

"Oh, my God," Hermione exclaimed as she hurriedly made her way to the table where Ellie sat.

"What," Harry asked plainly, seeming to be brought out from his daydream.

"I'll tell you in a minute," Hermione responded as she frantically flipped through the pages of her book that rested in front of Ellie.

"Maybe you could tell me now," Harry suggested as he stood up to face the girls.

"The sword of Gryffindor, it's goblin-made," Hermione announced excitedly, glancing between Harry and her girlfriend.

"Brilliant," Harry said as he brought his hands to form a thumbs-up.

"Oh, stop lying," Ellie giggled, knowing all too well he had no idea what Hermione was up to.

"No, you don't understand," Hermione exclaimed. "Dirt and rust have no effect on the blade."

Hermione slid the book in front of Ellie, Harry leaning over her shoulder and pressing a hand to the table to get a closer look.

"It only takes in that which makes it stronger," Hermione continued.

"Okay," Harry said softly, still not understanding her words.

"I don't have a clue what you're talking about," Ellie admitted honestly, giving a blank look to her girlfriend.

Hermione began to pace around the table. "Harry, you've already destroyed one Horcrux, right? Tom Riddle's diary in the Chamber of Secrets."

"Am I supposed to know who Tom Riddle is?" Ellie questioned, now looking up to find her girlfriend standing next to her.

"You Know Who," Hermione replied as she took a seat next to her girlfriend.

"With a Basilisk fang. If you tell me you've got one of those in that bloody beaded bag of yours..." Harry trailed.

"Don't you see? In the Chamber of Secrets, you stabbed the Basilisk with the sword of Gryffindor. It's blade is impregnated with Basilisk venom," Hermione explained.

"So you're saying the sword can destroy that dreaded locket..." Ellie realized, earning a smile from her girlfriend.

"It only takes in that which makes it stronger," Harry came into realization as he took a seat in front of the girls.

"Exactly, which is why..."

"It can destroy Horcruxes," Harry finished.

"That's why Dumbledore left it to you in his will," Hermione concluded.

"You are brilliant, Hermione. Truly," Harry complimented as he scanned the book in front of Ellie.

"She is, isn't she?" Ellie confirmed as she wrapped her arm over Hermione's shoulder, a blush forming on the Gryffindor's cheeks.

"Actually, I'm highly logical, which allows me to look past extraneous detail... and perceive clearly that which others overlook," Hermione replied in a springy tone.

"Yeah, there's only one problem, of course," Harry pointed out , turning the book to face the girls.

The lights in the tent suddenly seemed to get sucked from its sources as Ron emerged from behind the tent's flaps.

"The sword was stolen," Ron's shadow announced as he flicked his Deluminator to return the lights. "Yeah, I'm still here. But you three carry on. Don't let me spoil the fun."

Ellie and Hermione gave a look to one another all too knowingly. Harry closed the book and swung his leg over the bench, turning his body to face the red-head.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Wrong? Nothing's wrong. Not according to you, anyway," Ron replied menacingly, the lighting only worsening the dark circles under his eyes.

"Look, if you've got something to say, don't be shy. Spit it out."

Ellie dropped her arm from Hermione's shoulder, more intent as to what Ron had to say.

"All right, I'll spit it out. But don't expect me to be grateful because there's another damn thing we've gotta find," Ron spat.

"I thought you knew what you signed up for."

"Yeah, I thought I did too."

Harry stood up from the bench to walk past his best friend. "Well then, I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand. What part of this isn't living up to your expectations? Did you think we were gonna be staying in a five-star hotel? Finding a Horcrux every other day? You thought you'd be back with your Mum before Christmas?"

Ellie and Hermione stood up cautiously to witness the showdown, making their way closer to the bickering boys. Ellie could sense a hint of fear within her girlfriend's eyes, naturally placing a palm on the small of her back in reassurance.

"I just thought, after all this time we would've actually achieved something. I thought you knew what you were doing. I thought Dumbledore told you something worthwhile. I thought you had a plan," Ron confronted, his voice raising in volume with each word.

"I told you everything Dumbledore told me. And in case you haven't noticed, we found a Horcrux already," Harry defended.

"Yeah, and we're as close to getting rid of it as we are to finding the rest of them, aren't we?"

"Ron. Please, take..." Hermione approached the red-head, trying to removed the locket from his neck. He only swatted her hand away, earning a scowl from the Hufflepuff. "Take the Horcrux off. You wouldn't be saying any of this if you hadn't been wearing it all day."

Ron ignored her and refocused his attention to Harry.

"Do you want to know why I listen to that radio?" Ron started as he glared at Harry. "To make sure I don't hear Ginny's name, or Fred, or George or Mum."

"You think I'm not listening, too? You think I don't know how this feels?" Harry snapped, the sudden tone of his voice making the girls wince.

"No, you don't know how it feels!" Ron screeched. "Your parents are dead. You have no family."

Harry suddenly lunged at the red-head, though it quickly turned into a heap of twisted grunts of fighting each other off. Hermione tried to pull Ron off as Ellie attempted to pull Harry.

"Stop! Stop!" Hermione pleaded, her voice breaking.

Ellie managed to pull Harry from Ron, his body tense from anger.

"Fine then, go. Go, then!" Harry offered, pointing to the tent's exit.

Ron paused for a moment, his breaths ragged and heavy. He hastily pulled the Horcrux over his neck, throwing it down to the ground.

"Ron..." Hermione called out, but Ellie grabbed her hand to silence her.

Ron began gathering his belongings, shoving them into his bags. He stopped right before the tent's exit, focusing his attention to Hermione.

"And you? Are you coming or you staying?"

Hermione turned to Ellie, then to Harry.

"Fine. I get it. I saw you two the other night," Ron admitted, glancing to Harry.

"Ron... that's nothing," Hermione pleaded.

Ellie suddenly stepped forward to face Ron, a new sensation coursing through her body.

"Ron, are you that oblivious?" Ellie scoffed, the tone of her voice raising slightly. "You'd have to be bloody stupid if you haven't already noticed!"

"Care to tell me? Or are you keeping secrets too?" Ron spat sarcastically.

"Harry and Hermione have nothing going on. It's Hermione and I, you blithering idiot. Her and I are dating, for Merlin's sake! Four damn years and you haven't noticed. It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out," Ellie snapped, her fingernails digging into the palms of her hands.

Ron shifted his attention to Hermione, who merely nodded reluctantly through the tears brimming at her eyes.

"Guess you haven't figured that one out, eh? And to think a girl as amazing as her could ever love you... that's impossible," Ellie continued, her words making the red-head wince in retaliation. "Well, in case you haven't figured it out, she's not into you! And never will be!"

Hermione stepped up to grab Ellie's arm, pleading for her to back off. Ellie obliged, though her face still expressed that of spite.

He took one last look at the three of them, taking a deep breath. He opened the flap of the tent and ducked his head, exiting the space.

Hermione ran after him, stopping at just outside the tent's entrance.

"Ron, where are you going?" Hermione cried out. "Please, come back. Ron. Ron!"

Ellie glanced to Harry, whose eyes contained mixed emotions. He huffed his breath, turning away from the Hufflepuff. Ellie stood there in shock, not realizing what she had done. Once again, she let her emotions get the best of her.