| "We need to talk," she saidHe looked at the book still clutched in her handIt was * The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore "What?" he said apprehensivelyIt flew through his mind that there was a chapter on him in there; he was not sure he felt up to hearing Rita's version of his relationship with DumbledoreHermione's answer however, was completely unexpected"I want to go and see Xenophilius Lovegood"Sorry?"
"Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna's fatherI want to go and talk to him!"
"er - why?"
She took a deep breath, as though bracing herself, and said, "It's that mark, the mark in \iBeedle the Bard\iLook at this!"
She thrust \iThe Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore\i under Harry's unwilling eyes and saw a photograph of the original letter that Dumbledore had written Grindelwald, with Dumbledore's familiar thin, slanting handwritingHe hated seeing absolute proof that Dumbledore really had written those words, that they had not been Rita's invention
"The signature," said Hermione"Look chanel jumbo bag at the signature, Harry!"
He obeyedFor a moment he had no idea what she was talking about, but, looking more closely with the aid of his lit wand, he saw that Dumbledore had replaced the \iA\i of Albus with a tiny version of the same triangular mark inscribed upon \iThe Tales of Beedle the Bard\i
"Er - what are you \a150\a150 ?" said Ron tentatively, but Hermione quelled him with a look and turned back to Harry
"It keeps cropping up, doesn't it?" she said"I know Viktor said it was Grindelwald's mark, but it was definitely on that old grave in Godric's Hollow, and the
dates on the headstone were long before Grindelwald came along! And now this! Well, we can't ask Dumbledore or Grindelwald what it means - I don't even know whether Grindelwald's still alive - but we can ask MrHe was wearing the symbol at the weddingI'm sure this is important, Harry!"
Harry did not answer immediatelyHe looked into her intense, eager face and then out into the surrounding darkness, thinkingAfter a quilted chanel purse long pause he said, "Hermione, we don't need another Godric's HollowWe talked ourselves into going there, and -"
"But it keeps appearing, Harry! Dumbledore left me \iThe Tales of Beedle the Bard\i, how do you know we're not supposed to find out about the sign?"
"Here we go again!" Harry felt slightly exasperated"We keep trying to convince ourselves Dumbledore left us secret signs and clues -"
"The Deluminator turned out to be pretty useful," piped up Ron"I think Hermione's right, I think we ought to go and see Lovegood
Harry threw him a dark lookHe was quite sure that Ron's support of Hermione had little to do with a desire to know the meaning of the triangular rune
"It won't be like Godric's Hollow," Ron added, "Lovegood's on your side, Harry, \iThe Quibbler'\is been for you all along, it keeps telling everyone they've got to help you!"
"I'm sure this is important!" said Hermione earnestly
"But don't you think if it was, Dumbledore would have told me about it before he gucci g watch died?"
"Maybe maybe it's something you need to find out for yourself," said Hermione with a faint air of clutching at straws
"Yeah," said Ron sycophantically, "that makes sense
"No, it doesn't," snapped Hermione, "but I still think we ought to talk to MrA symbol that links Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Godric's Hollow? Harry, I'm sure we ought to know about this!"
"I think we should vote on it," said Ron"Those in favor of going to see Love good -"
His hand flew into the air before Hermione'sHer lips quivered suspiciously as she raised her own
"Outvoted, Harry, sorry," said Ron, clapping him on the back
"Fine," said Harry, half amused, half irritated"Only, once we've seen Lovegood, let's try and look for some more Horcruxes, shall we? Where do the Lovegood's live, anyway? Do either of you know?
"Yeah, they're not far from my place," said Ron"I dunno exactly where, but Mum and Dad always point toward the hills whenever they mention themShouldn't be hard to find
When Hermione chanel classic bags had returned to her bunk, Harry lowered his voice
"You only agreed to try and get back in her good books
"All's fair in love and war," said Ron brightly, "and this is a bit of bothCheer up, it's the Christmas holidays, Luna'll be home!"
They had an excellent view of the village of Ottery StCatchopole from the breezy hillside to which they Disapparated next morningFrom their high vantage point the village looked like a collection of toy houses in the great slanting shafts of sunlight stretching to earth in the breaks between cloudsThey stood for a minute or two looking toward the Burrow, their hands shadowing their eyes, but all they could make out were
the high hedges and trees of the orchard, which afforded the crooked little house protection from Muggle eyes
"It's weird, being this near, but not going to visit," said Ron
"Well, it's not like you haven't just seen themYou were there for Christmas," said Hermione coldly
"I wasn't at the Burrow!" said Ron with an incredulous see by chloe bag laug |
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