For Hermione had been so brow-beaten by Ron over the years that her confidence was on the floor ... and his mental abuses were easily the equal of any physical ones he might have visited on her. She could almost hear his voice in her head now, cruelly taunting her that she'd be too weak for something like this, and that it would lead Harry to realise that he'd made a huge mistake in rescuing her. He'd remember how worthless and pathetic she was, and send her packing within the hour. Then he'd move some pretty, younger witch into the beautiful bedroom suite, which Hermione now covetously called her own, and then kick her through the shield wards, leaving to fend for herself in the dark world outside the walls of the Blue Palace.