Severus Snape looked blankly at the mirror. All the lines that showed on his face made him look old and tired. And he was tired indeed. He

splashed some cold water on his face.

"Isn't that what I am?" he muttered to himself. "Cold?"

He took one last look at his reflection in the mirror before he took off. The Dark Lord didn't like waiting, and he was already late...

On top of a hill stood the raven-haired boy. A different wand was in his hand, one that his best friend had captured from a fight when he was

attacked right after he left. Ron had shared the story few days back when Harry showed him his broken phoenix wand. Ron told them about the Snatchers.

They where the people hired by lord Voldemort to capture the boy who lived and they were everywhere. Harry wasn't thinking about any of this at the

moment. His hair had gotten long, now touching his shoulders and even messier than usual. He was looking at the forest below where he and Hermione had

been staying for the past few weeks. Then Ron had come back and destroyed Salazar Slytherin's locket and he had admitted to Ron that he was in love

with Hermione.

"I didn't admit anything," he told himself as soon as the thought came. He was frustrated with himself. They had finally figured out the symbol and

where they should head next, they were being normal again but all he could think about was Hermione... and what he had told Ron.

He ran his hand through his hair, messing it up even more if that was possible.

"Harry..." came Hermione's voice. "Harry, we should go now."

"'Mione..." Harry said softly as he turned around to face her. Hermione looked at her best friend, who was staring at her with an odd look on his

face. "D'you remember what you told me that day..."

"Yes," was all Hermione said.

Harry was surprised. 'She remembered!' thought, but Harry wanted to be sure.

"You do know what I'm talking about..." Harry stated rather than asking her.

Hermione nodded and Harry went on. "You told me that we could grow old together, in that place away from all...all the stuff that's happening

around us," Harry finished, not breaking eye contact with her.

"I did..." Hermione's answer was short, and Harry waited to see if she would say more.

"Maybe when all this is over we could... you and I and...and...and Ron could..." she began, but Harry cut her off.

"I don't remember you mentioning Ron before."

"But Ron is our best friend..." Hermione said bluntly and a bit too quickly.

"Yes, but you didn't...say his name then." Harry was looking at the forest again, a bit disappointed.

Hermione was confused now.

"What do you mean, Harry? I..."

"Nothing," Harry interrupted her. "Nothing, 'Mione. I was just thinking..."

"And what was it that you were thinking about?" Hermione folded her arms together and looked at him meaningfully.

Harry didn't know what to say. He thought that he could make Hermione realize... well, something!

"We should go...Ron! Oi, Ron!" Harry quickly began to shout after Ron, who was busy checking their food supply.

"I'm down here, don't shout your lungs out! Blimey! Harry, look, we don't have much to eat, but I reckon that old mad man could lend us

some. He is Luna's father after all."

As both of began discussing their upcoming trip to visit Luna's father (who was confirmed by Ron to have been wearing the symbol), Hermione was

staring into the forest. She was puzzled. When Harry had suddenly left in a hurry to find Ron, Hermione had been looking at his back quizzically.

She had only decided to look at the forest because Harry was looking at it before he said all that to her - perhaps some answer lay in its dark

green depth.

She knew Harry too well, and that's why she was puzzled. 'He seemed to imply...' Her eyes grew wide as the thought came. Her mind spoke

against it: 'Was the locket affecting his mind? No, no it's been destroyed and Harry's too strong for that...the locket didn't harm his judgment

when he wore it, so it can't possibly be that...but what then?'

"Oi, woman! Have you lost your mind lately?" came Ron's teasing voice. "Quit staring at whatever you're staring at and come down here already!"

"You seem to be in a good mood today, you git," Hermione answered in her usual tone as she walked to reach them.

Harry was busy repacking what Ron had unpacked in his little quest about the food supply.

"You were right, Harry!" Hermione's voice made Harry look in her direction as she descended down the sloppy road. "I didn't mention him then."

"What is she saying, mate?" Ron asked a wide-eyed Harry. "Something about You-Know-Who?"

But Harry didn't answer.

They were whispering to each other.

"I don't think he's inside," said Harry after knocking on the door a few times.

"Maybe he went searching for some mystical creatures that Luna mentioned last term," Ron suggested.

"We should call his name a bit loudly, maybe he's sleeping or doing something important," Hermione said.

"Yeah, like what? It's the middle of the night!" Ron yelled.

"Like reading!" Hermione said loudly.

"Will you two stop bickering for a second!" Harry finally said impatiently.

"Well, she started it," answered Ron stubbornly.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Shush...I think someone's coming," Hermione told them.

"Who is it?" came a grumpy voice, clearly not pleased. "You'd better be somebody important-" Mr. Lovegood said the last words as he opened

the door. And then his jaw dropped he looked at them for a long moment clearly taken aback and then Xenophilius Lovegood fainted.

"Mr. Lovegood! Mr. Lovegood!" Hermione was shaking him, and Ron suggested to splash some water on his face (which they did, resulting in Mr.

Lovegood jumping to his feet).

"You! You're Harry Potter! You came!" Mr. Lovegood was frantic. "You must help me, you must help me -" He was almost jumping up and down.

He looked as if he knew he would be having a heart attack in a few moments. Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other, clearly concerned.

"Mr. Lovegood, please control yourself, tell us why you need help," offered Harry.

"Please calm down! Here, drink some water," Hermione said.

He finally sat down on the sofa, exhausted after accepting the glass of water from her. He looked pale and extremely weary. Mr Lovegood was calmer than

before but he was still breathing heavily."They got her!" He said desperately. "They took her away! I couldn't do anything, I had to watch them take her away

from me, my Luna-!"

Hermione gasped and took Harry's arm in hers. Although concerned at what he heard, Ron took notice of it and offered to go outside and watch to

see if anyone suspicious was lurking around.

"No, stay here Ron," came Harry's voice.

"Where did they take her? Did they say anything?" Harry asked, concerned. 'It's my bloody fault that Luna was taken- it's because of me, if

they torture her or hurt her, I...'-His frantic thoughts were interrupted by Mr. Lovegood as he suddenly grabbed Harry by his collar.

"They want you, Harry, they want you in exchange for her." he hissed in Harry's ear as Harry tried to shook him of.

"Mr Lovegood I said leave Harry alone, release him at once" Hermione yelled while pointing her wand at the two struggling figures.

"Get off him you overgrown elf"-bellowed Ron he too held his wand. For a brief moment Hermione glared at his comment, but she let it go.

" You must understand I must take him too them or else they will kill her" Mr lovegood was desperate now as he tried to grip harry more

firmly.

" Leave me and I'll go with you I promise" shouted Harry as he body-slammed Mr Lovegood on the ground , but he immediately regretted it as the elder

man lay motionless on the ground.

" Is he dead?"- asked a frightened Ron to a visibly stunned Harry but movement of the man's eye lids after few

moments made Harry release the breath he was holding back. He was suddenly very angry now , not at the man in front of him but with the Dark lord. He was

trying desperately to contain his rising temper. Harry was shaking violently.

" Mr Lovegood listen to me and listen very carefully"- Harry said through greeted teeth. "We'll all go together but before that we need you

to tell us something now"

There was something about Harry that seemed to cool the elder man off, he also looked a lot scared. Then they all noticed it.

Harry was somehow making all the furniture of the house to rise up in air including Hermione and Ron's hair. He felt anger as if there was no other emotion

known to him,or perhaps at the moment it was the only emotion he wanted to feel. Harry had let one of his friends down once again, so he thought.

"Harry! stop it... stop doing that" came Hermione's frantic voice and suddenly everything fell in place with loud crack's.

Harry looked at Ron, Mr lovegood and then at Hermione who was looking at him with concern while the others were still looking at him wide

eyed.

"What?" was Harry's response to their looks. He stepped back a bit from Luna's father, then sat down upon a old wooden chair.

Hermione ignored him for the moment and faced Luna's dad, who had just got up from his slumber " Mr Lovegood as you can see that we are more that willing to go

with you tofind Luna and bring her back, we'd like to ask you something" finished Hermione

"Ron the book, hand me the book, Ron!"- bellowed Hermione as Ron quickly recovered from his state and gave Hermione the book.

"Now Mr Lovegood tell us what you know about this symbol and why are you wearing it proudly even now!" Hermione almost

threatened the elder man. who finally looked at her and then to the certain page in the book where Hermione's finger was pointing.

His eyes immediately narrowed in recognition-" Where did you find this, this symbol and how did you know about it?" asked Mr Lovegood.

"We don't, that's why we're asking you to tell us, we saw you wearing something on my brother's wedding day that had this symbol

drawn on it, and your wearing it now too "-Ron finally joined the interrogation.

All three of them looked at him expectantly, but Xenophilius Lovegood was still looking at the book oddly.

He finally looked at them then fixed his eyes on Harry. Then he whispered to Harry- "That is the symbol of The Deathly Hallows, The Cloak,

The Stone And The All Powerful Wand"

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