Losing his brother had changed Ron in a way that Hermione couldn’t quite put her finger on. She couldn’t blame him for that – nor was that the reason she left; but it was if he couldn’t be serious anymore. Every moment had to be a joke, as if he was proving to the world that he was okay. He wouldn’t admit his mistakes, he would only deflect them. He couldn’t even apologize. Their relationship became hard, strained – and eventually, they both realized that they were better off friends. She loved him still, in a familial way, a brotherly way. The way she felt about Harry. 