I open at the close.

"Hermione!"

I raced from the tent, adrenaline pumping at my new discovery. I found her sitting not far away, looking over her books, as usual. She looked up as I said her name, setting them aside.

"You were right!" I said. "Snitches have flesh memories, but I didn't catch the first Snitch with my hand, I almost swallowed it!" I handed her the Snitch, then sat across from her, waiting anxiously, my heart thudding beneath my ribs.

"'I open at the close,'" she read.

"What do you think that means?" I asked.

"I don't know," she shrugged. She looked up at me then. "I've found something, as well." All the more excited, I moved next to her, as she grabbed the book she'd been reading. No surprise, it was the copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard she'd gotten from Dumbledore. She opened it to the title page, pointing to a symbol written at the top, above the title.

"At first, I thought it was an eye," she explained, "but now I don't think it is. It isn't a rune, and it isn't anywhere in Spellman's Syllabary. Somebody inked it in. It isn't part of the book. Somebody drew it."

Finally, I recognized it. "Luna's dad was wearing that at Bill and Fleur's wedding."

This only seemed to confuse her more. It confused me, too. "Why would someone draw it in a children's book?"

I didn't know the answer to that any more than she did. And I was sure we wouldn't get anywhere by staying here. I'd had an idea a while ago, and was liking it more and more. Hermione probably wouldn't, but I was determined.

"Look, Hermione," I said, "I've been thinking. I want to go to Godric's Hollow." She looked up at me, and I could see she was hesitant. "It's where I was born, it's where my parents died."

She sighed. "That's exactly where he'll expect you to go," she countered, obviously talking about Voldemort, "because it means something to you." She stood up then, and I started to panic. But I still had more fight left in me.

"Yeah, but it means something to him too, Hermione. You-Know-Who almost died there!" I stood up, as well. "I mean, isn't that exactly the type of place he'd be likely to hide a Horcrux?"

"It's dangerous, Harry," she protested. Then, a look of defeat crossed her face. "But even I have to admit, recently, I've been thinking we'll have to go there." I couldn't help it; I clenched my fists and pulled them toward myself in a gesture of triumph (which Hermione couldn't see, as she was walking away). She went on, "I think it's possible something else is hidden there."

"What?" I asked.

She paused, turning to face me. "The sword," she said simply, then kept walking. "If Dumbledore wanted you to find it, but didn't want it falling into the Ministry's hands, where better to hide it than the birthplace of the founder of Gryffindor?"

Once again, I was left in awe of her brilliance. She stopped walking, turning to me again, and even more, I felt that "keen sting" of love. She was so beautiful. And she was here with me, when nobody else was. Suddenly, I couldn't fathom living even a second without her. I had to tell her.

"Hermione . . ." I began, but the words became lodged in my throat. That same fear gripped me, forcing me back into silence, and I just stared at her. She smiled slightly and lifted a hand, gently stroking my hair. I held by breath, relishing the sensation that spread through me at even this innocent form of contact. All too soon, her hand dropped to her side.

"Don't ever let me give you a haircut again," she said simply.

I smiled, grateful for her attempt to lighten the mood. Grinning in return, she turned and walked away. For the first time in many months, I felt warmth seeping into the crevices of my heart. Voldemort was at large, our friends and family were in danger, the world as we knew it seemed to be coming to an end. But for that moment, at least, I allowed myself to be happy.

A/N: Lame ending, but what can you do? Lots more to come! Review, please!