A/N: Seventh in my missing moments series. Ron and Hermione have a talk after visiting Xenophilius Lovegood.

Dedications: Emma. 'Cause she gave me a line that applies. She'll know which one :)

Also to Flo, RuthLongbottom, HPLives, and every other R/Hr fan out there who read Three Reasons, even though it was completely blasphemous.

"Harry was barely listening to her. He was turning the Snitch over and over in his hands, half expecting it to break open, to reveal the Resurrection Stone, to prove to Hermione that he was right, that the Deathly Hallows were real.

She appealed to Ron.

'You don't believe in this, do you?'

Harry looked up. Ron hesitated.

'I dunno ... I mean ... bits of it sort of fit together,' said Ron awkwardly. 'But when you look at the whole thing ...' He took a deep breath. 'I think we're supposed to get rid of Horcruxes, Harry. That's what Dumbledore told us to do. Maybe ... maybe we should forget about this Hallows business.'

'Thank you, Ron,' said Hermione. 'I'll take first watch.'

And she strode past Harry and sat down in the tent entrance, turning the action into a fiece full stop." (DH, pg 351 - 352, UK edition)

Just the Sidekick

Hermione sat at the tent, twirling her wand between her fingers, sparks occasionally flying from the tip.

'Whoa. Bad timing?'

Hermione gave a little snort as Ron sat beside her. They were still for several seconds before Ron reached out and gently placed his arm around Hermione's shoulder. She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder as he stroked her hair.

'What do you really think about the Hallows, Ron?'

'Exactly what I told Harry.'

'Come on, Ron. I know you better than that,' said Hermione. 'There's something missing from your statement.'

Ron peered down at Hermione and grinned.

'You know me too well, Granger,' he whispered.

'Spit it out, Weasley,' said Hermione, grinning slightly.

Ron sighed.

'I think we should look for the Hallows. But only after we get all the Horcruxes and finish off You-Know-Who,' he said.

Hermione nodded.

'So you think they exist.'

'Yeah.'

Hermione lifted her head fully and looked at him.

'Are you being serious?'

Ron removed his arm from her shoulders and shifted slightly to look at her.

'Yeah, I am. Like I said; bits of it fit! Have you ever seen an Invisibility Cloak as good as Harry's?'

Hermione looked away.

'Well, no. But it could be a really good charm!'

Ron snorted with laghter.

'C'mon, Hermione. Open your mind a little! It's completely possible. You didn't believe in the Chamber of Secrets, either, and look what happened! You're not always right, luv.'

Hermione slowly turned her head to look at Ron again.

'Am I right about you?' she asked gently.

Ron nodded.

'You always were,' he whispered.

They were quiet for several moments; Hermione had placed her head back on Ron's shoulder and Ron had laced their fingers together.

'Why me?' Ron asked.

Hermione looked up at him, raising her head slightly.

What do you mean?'

'Well, why do you want me? Why not Harry?'

'What do you think?'

'I think that you're barking mad to want me and not Harry,' said Ron, playing with Hermione's fingers.

'Well, Ron, there's always something cute about a hopeless case,' she said gently.

'So now I'm a hopeless case?' Ron asked, trying (and failing) to hide a smirk.

Hermione kissed his cheek.

'You always were. You always looked like you were missing out on something,' she teased.

'Gee, thanks,' he replied. Ron looked at her again. 'You know what you're getting into, right? I'm just the sidekick.'

Hermione smiled.

'So am I,' she breathed before kissing him.

Fin