"We need to talk." Hermione said that night, walking into the tent after checking the border. Ron wheels, sees Hermione standing in the mouth of the tent, Life and Lies in hand, looking at Harry.
"All right." Ron nods, trying his best to give her all the attention. Hermione ignores him.
"I want to go and see Xenophilius Lovegood." I look back at her confused.
"Why is that?" I ask, moving from the edge of my bed to stand closer to the group.
"See this? It's a letter Dumbledore wrote to Grindelwald. Look at the signature. It's the mark again." Hermione turns the book in Harry's direction. Dumbledore replaced the "A" in Albus with the triangular shape that we had become familiar with over the last few weeks. "It keeps cropping up. Here. In Beedle the Bard. In the graveyard in Godric's Hollow... what?" Hermione looks at Harry, who is staring hard at the book.
"Merlin. It was there too." We all look over at Harry.
"What? Where?" I ask him, trying to get a better idea of what we are talking about.
"Outside Gregorovitch's wand shop. On the alley wall..." Ron and I share a look.
"But what does that mean?" Ron asks as we all look down at the symbol etched in Dumbledore's fine writing in the book.
"Harry, you don't have a clue where the next Horcrux is. And neither do I. But this, this means something. I'm sure of it." I look over at Harry, unsure.
"I think Hermione's right. I think we ought to go and see Lovegood. What say we vote on it? Those in favor..." I glance at Ron with a knowing smirk. He was trying too hard to win back Hermione. Ron's hand flies into the air. Harry eyes him knowingly. Hermione rolls her eyes, then lifts her hand as well. Despite me not raising my hand, Harry sighs.
"Fine." Harry submits to the idea. I shrug.
"Ok, I guess I'll start packing."
♡☽
It was late in the afternoon, the sun hanging low over a hillside gloriously free of snow. Ron leads the way, far ahead of Harry and Hermione. I was behind the lot of them, wanting to make sure that Harry, at least, was in between me and someone else. Hermione was staring off at Ron and Harry looked back at me with a smile and a shake of his head. As we trudge up the hill, a strange-looking house appears in the distance, etched like a great black cylinder against the sky. "Luna?" Ron shouts back with a grin. Of course this is where she would've grown up.
"Luna." We all reply with knowing smiles. In a way, the house reminded me of the Burrow. As we made our way up to the front door, a sign read: "The Quibbler. Editor: X. Lovegood". Hermione knocks on the door three times and we wait. Just then, the door swings open and Xenophilius Lovegood appears, barefoot, wearing a soiled nightshirt.
"What is it? Who are you? What do you want?" The man looked absolutely terrified and immediately I started to look around for possible danger.
"Hello, Mr. Lovegood. I'm Harry Potter. We met a few months back?" Lovegood's eyes drift to Harry's scar. "Would it be okay if we came in? It won't take long, sir. I promise." I wasn't feeling good about this decision. The man let us into his home with reluctance, his hands shaking. Great tottering towers of Quibbler back-issues rise to the ceiling while an old-fashioned wooden printing press chugs away in the center of the room, spitting out new ones. As Lovegood steps to the wheezing press, we glance at past Quibblers laying about: MUGGLE MURDERS RISE, DOZENS DIE AS DEATH EATERS ATTACK, HARRY IN HIDING, WHERE IS THE CHOSEN ONE? YOU-KNOW-WHO CLAIMS ANOTHER VICTIM: QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP CANCELLED AMID DEATH THREATS. Abruptly, the press goes silent and Lovegood turns. The title made me nervous. If it was true, the truth of what has been going on is terrifying.
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Daughter of Black
FanfictionShe was named after both her parents. On her father's side of the family, it was tradition that they were named after stars - Mira. Her mother's name was Arabella so her father gave her part of her mother's name as well. He wanted part of both of th...
