the hallows - f. weasley

- c h a p t e r - f o u r t e e n -

 Gemma really did wish that Hermione was quicker to let go of her grudges. Still, she also understood where the Granger girl was coming from with her frustration with Ron.

Gemma herself was still partially frustrated that Ron had decided to just leave, but he was back, and it was really hard to be mad at Ron when he brought back a part of the brightness to the quest. He even told Gemma and Harry his jarring and frightening adventures in a way that made Gemma feel like she was reading a storybook.

"...and how did you find out about the Taboo?" Ron asked the two curiously as the three searched the bushes around the campsite for berries that were definitely not in season.

"The what?" Harry questioned–furrowing his brows.

"You two and Hermione have stopped saying You-Know-Who's name!"

Gemma chuckled a little bit, "We didn't know about this Taboo you're talking about. It's just a habit we developed after you asked us not to say his name."

"But I haven't got a problem calling him V—" Harry started to say when Ron roared, "NO!"

Gemma flinched back–staring at Ron with enormous eyes–while Harry fell into the bush in shock.

"Sorry," Ron coughed–pulling Harry back out of the brambles as he explained, "but the name's been jinxed, Harry, that's how they track people! Using his name breaks protective enchantments, it causes some kind of magical disturbance—it's how they found us in Tottenham Court Road!"

Gemma's brows shot up, her jaw slackening a little bit, "They found you just for saying his name?"

"Exactly! You've got to give them credit, it makes sense. It was only people who were serious about standing up to him, like Dumbledore, who ever dared use it. Now they've put a Taboo on it, anyone who says it is trackable—quick-and-easy way to find Order members! They nearly got Kingsley—"

"You're kidding?!" Harry exclaimed.

"Yeah, a bunch of Death Eaters cornered him, Bill said, but he fought his way out. He's on the run now, just like us." Ron scratched his slightly scruffy-looking chin with the end of his wand. "You don't reckon Kingsley could have sent that doe?"

"His Patronus is a lynx, we saw it at the wedding, remember?"

"Oh yeah..."

The three unconsciously moved away from the tent and Hermione, who had been glaring after them every time Ron spoke.

"Harry, Gemma...you don't reckon it could've been Dumbledore?"

"Dumbledore what?"

Ron lowered his voice–looking a little sheepish, "Dumbledore...the doe? I mean, he had the real sword last, didn't he?"

Gemma could hear the distant hope in Ron's voice, and she bit her lip solemnly as Harry shook his head and murmured, "Dumbledore's dead. Gemma and I saw it happen, we saw the body. He's definitely gone. Anyway, his Patronus was a phoenix, not a doe."

"Patronuses can change, though, can't they?" Ron looked at Gemma pointedly, "Tonks's changed, didn't it?"

At the mention of her stepmum, Gemma's throat seemed to swell, and she looked away from him to hide the tears brimming in her eyes.

"Yeah," Harry continued on. "But if Dumbledore was alive, why wouldn't he show himself? Why wouldn't he just hand us the sword?"

"Search me," Ron sighed heavily. "Same reason he didn't give it to you while he was alive? Same reason he left you an old Snitch and Hermione a book of kids' stories? Not to mention the phoenix tears and feathers Gemma has?"