Chapter Fifty-Three: The Divining Book
"Harry! This is so exciting!" Hermione exclaimed as her teeth chattered in the chilly weather.
"I know, I know! I just hope I can follow this map. It's old and rugged. Lupin lives far off!" Harry replied excitedly.
"Well, I'm sure we'll find our way. Let's walk to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. We should take off from there, don't you think?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded.
"Good idea," he said.
"Well, I'm always the brilliant one, right?" Hermione teased.
"Always and forever," Harry replied with a grin.
They found their ways to the edge of the forest. Harry climbed on the shiny Firebolt.
"Get on in front of me," he directed.
Hermione climbed on.
"Hold tight," he commanded.
She did. Then Harry slowly lifted up into the air.
"Are you sure no one will be able to see us?" Hermione asked slightly worried.
"I'm not positive or anything but I'll do my best to keep us out of sight," Harry replied as he concentrated on the path.
"Okay, that's fine," Hermione said.
For a few minutes no one spoke. Harry lifted them higher and higher into the air. They flew over hills and mountains. Hermione pulled her cloak around her tightly whenever it got colder. Then, after a few hours, Harry stopped.
"Anything wrong?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, my back's killing me," Harry replied.
Hermione giggled. They swiftly flew down. There was a large oak tree perched in a high hill. It led down to a quiet and small village. Harry landed there, and they both jumped off the broom.
"We can have a picnic!" Hermione said delighfully. "Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, a bit. Do you want to eat here or find a place down in the village to eat?" Harry inquired.
"Anything's fine with me," Hermione replied.
"Okay. Then we'll eat up on this hill. I'll spread my cloak out –"
"Are you crazy? It's freezing out here. We don't need a cloth. We'll just place all our things on my bag."
"Okay. And then we'll go to the village for a little bit and pick up some more food and other things."br
"Other things, like what?" Hermione pondered.
"Like stuff," Harry replied with a wry grin.
Hermione playfully slapped him. Then they opened up the food basket, put a maximizing charm on it, and began to eat.
"I didn't realize how hungry I was," Hermione said.
"Well, it's about three in the afternoon," Harry remarked.
"Really? Is it that late?" Hermione asked, shocked.
"Yes. But we have a long journey ahead of us, I'm afraid. Let me see the map real quick," Harry said.
Hermione pulled the rugged map out of her bag and handed it to Harry. He took it in his hands and carefully studied it.
"I think there may be a quicker way to go – if we don't follow the route Professor McGonagall told me to take," Harry said thoughtfully.
"No way Harry! We could get lost. I do not want to take that risk!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Oh come on! We'd still be following the map. It's just that we'd be going a lot faster. Anyway, I want to see Lupin and Sirius. I also want to get ready for battle. Don't you?" Harry asked with a pouty look on his face.
"Oh, alright. But if we get lost, then it's completely your fault!" Hermione decided.
"I can live with that. Will you hate me forever?" Harry asked.
"Not forever, but for an awfully long time," Hermione teased.
"Well then, I suppose it wouldn't be too hard..." Harry trailed off with a grin.
Hermione put her arms on her hips and gave Harry a 'look'.
They ate the few snacks they had with them quietly, and when they were all done, Hermione put her cloak back on and they walked down the hill to the village.
As they neared the village they saw a little stout boy of only four or five running about with a bucket of water and a mop following him. Suddenly his mother came outside of her house and said, "No mageek Harold! Pick zat bucket and mop up and come into zee house zis instant!" At that minute, Harold decided to throw a tantrum and the mother had to come out into the street and drag him back in, hollering like a little baby.
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances. Almost as Harold's mother closed the door to their house, she noticed Harry and Hermione walking down the street. She gave them a sharp look and pushed Harold back into the house as a way of protection.
"'oo are you and vhere have you come from?" she asked suspiciously.
Harry pushed his bangs up and revealed his scar. At that moment the mother bowed down graciously and apologetically said, "Oh my goodness! I zid not know! It iz no one but ze savior of us all!"
"Oh brother," Hermione muttered under her breath.
"I zid not know if you were one of ze people from the Dark Side or not. I could not tell, for there are ever so many of zem lurking around zeese days, that one can never be sure. Oh, but Sir, vat brings you to veese parts of Europe?"
Harry gave a quick bow and replied, "I'm in search of my Godfather and another one of my father's close friends. Myself and my friend are going to prepare for battle against Lord Voldemort."
Harold's mother dropped the rag she was holding and her jaw dropped.
"You speak ze name that no one ever duz. Come, come in quickly. It iz not safe for you to reveal yourself out here. You can come inside and rest. Of course you have had a long journey. You are from a place much South of zere."
Harry and Hermione followed her inside a homely and friendly house with charming pictures of cute little Harold all around.
"Vood you like summtheeng to dreenk or eat?" she asked.
"No, we're fine thank you. Thank you for inviting us in. May I ask you for your name?" Harry asked politely.
"Most certainly! I am Veronica Zurfimer. My husband was once an auror, but he 'as passed away now. It was ze Death Eaters who has killed him, and we've been great enemies of zem since then. I live by myself with Harold. In order to support us, I have a shop down ze street. In fact, I vas just about to go down and open up ze shop when I saw you," Mrs. Zurfimer said.
"Well, don't let us keep you from your work," Hermione urged gently.
"You dear children are not keeping me from me work at all! In fact, I shall go down now, I suppose. Vood you care to join me? You can have a look around ze shop if you'd like."
"We'd love to Mrs. Zurfimer," Harry decided.
A smile lightened Mrs. Zurfimer's face. "Exceptional! Vell, follow me. It'z but a small little down and only a slight risk of getting lost, but you never know. We voodn't want ze Death Eaters to kidnap any of our little souls..."
Hermione and Harry followed Mrs. Zurfimer down the street for a few minutes until they reached a well furnished shop that read "Zurfimer Goods".
They all entered. It was a quite interesting shop. There was food products to one side, household decorations to another, and then an assortment of books at the far back.
"You have a very nice shop here," Hermione commented sweetly.
Mrs. Zurfimer smiled again. "Why, thank you dear child. I haven't ask you what your name is yet though."
"Hermione Granger," Hermione replied.
She nearly ran straight to the books and began lifting them up and looking at them eagerly.
"You like books I see," Mrs. Zurfimer said pleasantly. "My husband loved books. He lived off of zem."
"So does Hermione," Harry replied laughing.
"Well, I must open up the store. Enjoy yourselves, please."
"We will, we will!" Hermione exclaimed.
She picked up a book and turned it around in her hands. "Look at this Harry! It's a Divining Book!"
"I thought you didn't believe in that stuff," Harry said as he stopped fiddling with a antique clocks.
"Well, I don't. Not really anyway. But, let's see what happens. Just for the fun of it," Hermione replied.
"Okay," said Harry. Hermione lifted one of the ribbons out of the book and opened it up. There was a few lines if messy handwriting which said ~
You are facing hard times
Only the person you are closest to will be able to understand this
You will remain with this person for the rest of your life
But we do not know how long your life will last
Hermione blushed.
"Do you think that's for real?" Harry asked.
Hermione blushed harder yet. "It's silly, this Divination stuff."
"Right..." Harry trailed off.
They thanked Mrs. Zurfimer for her kindness and left.
"Harry! This is so exciting!" Hermione exclaimed as her teeth chattered in the chilly weather.
"I know, I know! I just hope I can follow this map. It's old and rugged. Lupin lives far off!" Harry replied excitedly.
"Well, I'm sure we'll find our way. Let's walk to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. We should take off from there, don't you think?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded.
"Good idea," he said.
"Well, I'm always the brilliant one, right?" Hermione teased.
"Always and forever," Harry replied with a grin.
They found their ways to the edge of the forest. Harry climbed on the shiny Firebolt.
"Get on in front of me," he directed.
Hermione climbed on.
"Hold tight," he commanded.
She did. Then Harry slowly lifted up into the air.
"Are you sure no one will be able to see us?" Hermione asked slightly worried.
"I'm not positive or anything but I'll do my best to keep us out of sight," Harry replied as he concentrated on the path.
"Okay, that's fine," Hermione said.
For a few minutes no one spoke. Harry lifted them higher and higher into the air. They flew over hills and mountains. Hermione pulled her cloak around her tightly whenever it got colder. Then, after a few hours, Harry stopped.
"Anything wrong?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, my back's killing me," Harry replied.
Hermione giggled. They swiftly flew down. There was a large oak tree perched in a high hill. It led down to a quiet and small village. Harry landed there, and they both jumped off the broom.
"We can have a picnic!" Hermione said delighfully. "Are you hungry?"
"Yeah, a bit. Do you want to eat here or find a place down in the village to eat?" Harry inquired.
"Anything's fine with me," Hermione replied.
"Okay. Then we'll eat up on this hill. I'll spread my cloak out –"
"Are you crazy? It's freezing out here. We don't need a cloth. We'll just place all our things on my bag."
"Okay. And then we'll go to the village for a little bit and pick up some more food and other things."br
"Other things, like what?" Hermione pondered.
"Like stuff," Harry replied with a wry grin.
Hermione playfully slapped him. Then they opened up the food basket, put a maximizing charm on it, and began to eat.
"I didn't realize how hungry I was," Hermione said.
"Well, it's about three in the afternoon," Harry remarked.
"Really? Is it that late?" Hermione asked, shocked.
"Yes. But we have a long journey ahead of us, I'm afraid. Let me see the map real quick," Harry said.
Hermione pulled the rugged map out of her bag and handed it to Harry. He took it in his hands and carefully studied it.
"I think there may be a quicker way to go – if we don't follow the route Professor McGonagall told me to take," Harry said thoughtfully.
"No way Harry! We could get lost. I do not want to take that risk!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Oh come on! We'd still be following the map. It's just that we'd be going a lot faster. Anyway, I want to see Lupin and Sirius. I also want to get ready for battle. Don't you?" Harry asked with a pouty look on his face.
"Oh, alright. But if we get lost, then it's completely your fault!" Hermione decided.
"I can live with that. Will you hate me forever?" Harry asked.
"Not forever, but for an awfully long time," Hermione teased.
"Well then, I suppose it wouldn't be too hard..." Harry trailed off with a grin.
Hermione put her arms on her hips and gave Harry a 'look'.
They ate the few snacks they had with them quietly, and when they were all done, Hermione put her cloak back on and they walked down the hill to the village.
As they neared the village they saw a little stout boy of only four or five running about with a bucket of water and a mop following him. Suddenly his mother came outside of her house and said, "No mageek Harold! Pick zat bucket and mop up and come into zee house zis instant!" At that minute, Harold decided to throw a tantrum and the mother had to come out into the street and drag him back in, hollering like a little baby.
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances. Almost as Harold's mother closed the door to their house, she noticed Harry and Hermione walking down the street. She gave them a sharp look and pushed Harold back into the house as a way of protection.
"'oo are you and vhere have you come from?" she asked suspiciously.
Harry pushed his bangs up and revealed his scar. At that moment the mother bowed down graciously and apologetically said, "Oh my goodness! I zid not know! It iz no one but ze savior of us all!"
"Oh brother," Hermione muttered under her breath.
"I zid not know if you were one of ze people from the Dark Side or not. I could not tell, for there are ever so many of zem lurking around zeese days, that one can never be sure. Oh, but Sir, vat brings you to veese parts of Europe?"
Harry gave a quick bow and replied, "I'm in search of my Godfather and another one of my father's close friends. Myself and my friend are going to prepare for battle against Lord Voldemort."
Harold's mother dropped the rag she was holding and her jaw dropped.
"You speak ze name that no one ever duz. Come, come in quickly. It iz not safe for you to reveal yourself out here. You can come inside and rest. Of course you have had a long journey. You are from a place much South of zere."
Harry and Hermione followed her inside a homely and friendly house with charming pictures of cute little Harold all around.
"Vood you like summtheeng to dreenk or eat?" she asked.
"No, we're fine thank you. Thank you for inviting us in. May I ask you for your name?" Harry asked politely.
"Most certainly! I am Veronica Zurfimer. My husband was once an auror, but he 'as passed away now. It was ze Death Eaters who has killed him, and we've been great enemies of zem since then. I live by myself with Harold. In order to support us, I have a shop down ze street. In fact, I vas just about to go down and open up ze shop when I saw you," Mrs. Zurfimer said.
"Well, don't let us keep you from your work," Hermione urged gently.
"You dear children are not keeping me from me work at all! In fact, I shall go down now, I suppose. Vood you care to join me? You can have a look around ze shop if you'd like."
"We'd love to Mrs. Zurfimer," Harry decided.
A smile lightened Mrs. Zurfimer's face. "Exceptional! Vell, follow me. It'z but a small little down and only a slight risk of getting lost, but you never know. We voodn't want ze Death Eaters to kidnap any of our little souls..."
Hermione and Harry followed Mrs. Zurfimer down the street for a few minutes until they reached a well furnished shop that read "Zurfimer Goods".
They all entered. It was a quite interesting shop. There was food products to one side, household decorations to another, and then an assortment of books at the far back.
"You have a very nice shop here," Hermione commented sweetly.
Mrs. Zurfimer smiled again. "Why, thank you dear child. I haven't ask you what your name is yet though."
"Hermione Granger," Hermione replied.
She nearly ran straight to the books and began lifting them up and looking at them eagerly.
"You like books I see," Mrs. Zurfimer said pleasantly. "My husband loved books. He lived off of zem."
"So does Hermione," Harry replied laughing.
"Well, I must open up the store. Enjoy yourselves, please."
"We will, we will!" Hermione exclaimed.
She picked up a book and turned it around in her hands. "Look at this Harry! It's a Divining Book!"
"I thought you didn't believe in that stuff," Harry said as he stopped fiddling with a antique clocks.
"Well, I don't. Not really anyway. But, let's see what happens. Just for the fun of it," Hermione replied.
"Okay," said Harry. Hermione lifted one of the ribbons out of the book and opened it up. There was a few lines if messy handwriting which said ~
You are facing hard times
Only the person you are closest to will be able to understand this
You will remain with this person for the rest of your life
But we do not know how long your life will last
Hermione blushed.
"Do you think that's for real?" Harry asked.
Hermione blushed harder yet. "It's silly, this Divination stuff."
"Right..." Harry trailed off.
They thanked Mrs. Zurfimer for her kindness and left.
