adored by him | *under editing*

seventh year × 95

Nadia and Hermione sat outside, scanning through particular pages of Life and Lies but something was plaguing Nadia's mind.

"Listen, I know you're mad at him but Ron's little speech earlier was obviously a love confession." She stated with a small grin.

Hermione's head snapped up from the book, her cheeks turning a bright crimson. "What are you on about? He was just saying that to get back in my good books." She scoffed.

Nadia rolled her eyes playfully. "And it worked. No matter how long you want to fake it."

"I am not--" Suddenly, a string of shouts came from inside the tent. "What's going on in there?" Hermione scolded.

"Nothing!" The boys exclaimed in unison causing a giggle to escape from Nadia's lips but a huff to escape from Hermione's.

"Oh my god, Nadia, look!" All previous accusations were forgotten as Hermione pointed to the bottom of the page.

Nadia's eyes widened. "We've got to tell the boys."

They scrambled inside the mouth of the tent, already seeing Ron and Harry standing there. "We need to talk." Hermione stated.

Ron sighed, thinking it was about them so Hermione gave him a strange look and turned to Harry. "I want to go and see Xenophilius Lovegood."

"Sorry?" Harry's face contorted with confusion.

Hermione thrusted the book into his hands, jabbing a finger at the page. "See this? It's a letter from Dumbledore to Grindelwald."

Harry rose his eyebrows, eyes scanning over the letter. Nadia placed a finger by the bottom. "Look at the signature. It's the mark again."

Harry's eyes focused on the signature. The A in Albus had been replaced with the triangular eye.

"It keeps popping up. Here. In Beedle the Bard. In the graveyard in Godric’s Hollow -- what?" Nadia explained when, all of a sudden, Harry's eyes were staring incredibly hard at the page.

Then, he blinked. "Jesus. It was there too."

"Where?" Nadia asked.

"Outside Gregorovitch's wand shop, on the alley wall..." He trailed off.

"But what does it mean?" Ron spoke up.

They all looked down at the symbol etched in Dumbledore's fine handwriting.

"Harry, you don't have a clue where the next Horcrux is. Neither do we. But this, this means something. I'm sure of if." Hermione said.

"I think Hermione's right. I think we ought to go and see Lovegood. What say we vote on it? Those in favour..."

Ron's hand flew into the air whilst Harry and Nadia eyed him knowingly and Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron's hand slowly made it's way back down to his side after that.

•••

The sun hung low over the hillside gloriously free of snow.

Ron lead the way, far ahead of Harry, Nadia and Hermione.

"Not still mad at him, are you?" Harry asked with a low voice.

Hermione watched the red-head for a moment before giving a small smile. "I'm always mad at him."

As they continued on, a strange-looking house appeared in the distance, etched like a great black cylinder against the sky.