Harry Potter: The Forgotten Chronicles- Book 7

Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

Evelyn sat quietly on one of the bunks with Harry, her back leaned against his shoulder as she read. Ron sat at the table, absently fiddling with his wand. The atmosphere was calm, each of them lost in their thoughts.

"We need to talk," Hermione said, breaking the silence.

Ron wheeled around, seeing Hermione standing at the mouth of the tent, The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore in hand, her eyes locked on Harry.

"All right," Ron said, looking expectantly at her, but Hermione ignored him, still focused on Harry.

"I want to go and see Xenophilius Lovegood."

"Sorry?" Harry blinked, his mind struggling to catch up with the abrupt shift in conversation.

"See this?" Hermione held up the book and pointed to a letter. "It's a letter Dumbledore wrote to Grindelwald. Look at the signature. It's the mark again." She turned the book toward Harry, and Evelyn leaned in closer, her curiosity piqued. Dumbledore had replaced the "A" in Albus with the triangular eye symbol they had seen before.

"It keeps cropping up," Evelyn said, her eyes narrowing as she tried to piece together the connections. "Here, in Beedle the Bard. In the graveyard in Godric's Hollow—" She paused, noticing the intense look on Harry's face. "What is it?"

Harry blinked, as if coming out of a trance. "It was there too."

"Where?" Hermione asked, leaning forward, her interest piqued.

"Outside Gregorovitch's wand shop. On the alley wall," Harry explained, his voice tinged with realization.

"What does it mean?" Ron asked, joining the group.

"Harry, you don't have a clue where the next Horcrux is. And neither do I," Hermione said, her eyes flicking to Evelyn for just a moment before continuing. "But this... this means something. I'm sure of it."

"I think Hermione's right. We should go and see Lovegood. What do you say we vote on it? Those in favor..." Ron said, his hand shooting into the air, his eagerness almost comical in contrast to the seriousness of the moment. Harry and Evelyn exchanged a knowing look, a small smile playing on their lips as they watched Ron's enthusiasm. Hermione rolled her eyes but lifted her hand as well.

"Sorry, Harry. Looks like it's Hermione and me this time," Ron said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Evelyn, unable to resist the light-hearted moment, raised an eyebrow playfully. "I don't get a vote?" she teased, her voice softening the tension.

Harry's serious expression softened as he looked at Evelyn, nudging her with his elbow. "You always get a vote, Evelyn," he said, his voice warm and reassuring.

"To the Lovegoods it is, then," Evelyn replied, already standing to pack up her things with a determined efficiency. Hermione and Ron exchanged an awkward glance as they began to prepare for their departure.

Once everyone was ready, they joined hands and apparated to a sunny hillside, a welcome relief from the cold and snow. The warmth of the sun was a small but comforting change. They walked up the gentle slope to a peculiar house perched at the top, its structure unlike any they had seen before. The house stood tall and cylindrical, its design reminiscent of a giant, intricately carved tower. It seemed to rise out of the earth like a monument, with strange symbols and patterns etched into its surface, giving it an otherworldly appearance.

As they approached, the house seemed to shimmer slightly in the sunlight, casting strange shadows that danced across the ground. The unusual architecture was both enchanting and slightly unsettling, adding an air of mystery to their already uncertain mission. The path leading to the front door was lined with an assortment of odd, fantastical plants that seemed to glow faintly, adding to the magical ambiance of the place.