"Where do we go first?" I asked, turning to Malfoy outside the door at Godric's Hollow. Somehow, we'd all thought of leaving the house, getting dressed, taking those steps. But now we were standing on the doorstep, utterly clueless.
And I wanted to do something. They weren't dead yet, and they wouldn't be dead. Ever. Ginny and I have talked about this, I go first, if she has to kill me herself, I go first. I couldn't take losing her, and once I know our sons, I won't be able to stand the idea of losing them either. I can't even stomach it now.
"Well, we've both been over the Burrow," Malfoy said, "that only leaves everywhere else on earth."
"Not everywhere," said Hermione, logically. "I don't think we need to check in Madagascar." When it was Ron, Hermione and I, our way of reacting to tragedy was to act tragic. When it's Hermione, Malfoy and I we react by being fantastically sarcastic for long periods of time. I think it satisfies our needs to insult each other, and also to get things actually done instead of moping about them for months on end.
"OK. Africa's out then."
"So's Scotland, no one's that stupid," Malfoy said. "Well, you are, Potter, but we're not looking for you." It would be idiotic to do anything in Scotland; as soon as the Order was formally disbanded most of us headed either back home or to Scotland to rebuild Hogwarts. No one is ever going to try anything anywhere where Remus Lupin has decided to raise a family, there simply aren't people that dim.
"What about Parkinson House? Aren't Pansy's parents dead?" Hermione asked Malfoy.
"I burnt it down, actually, it's probably not one of their top choices," Malfoy said. "I had too," he added when Hermione glared at him. "Gorgeous library, though." She continued to glare at him. "Would you prefer I saved the books or killed the evil people?"
"Killed the evil people, I suppose. Malfoy Manor is completely out of the question, isn't it? Is there anywhere else? It needs to be symbolic, I suppose, to make it easier for us to find them," Hermione sighed. "Why do you insist on having such a complicated history, Harry?"
"It's not my fault!" I defended myself.
"He's right, actually. No one can orchestrate Potter's life," Malfoy said. "But let's blame it on him anyway. Now, there's the Shrieking Shack, but I'd kill myself stuck in there with three infants, and Severus despises children. I would know, he's my godfather."
"Also, it's in Scotland," I pointed out.
"How do you feel about children, Malfoy?" said Hermione, looking anxious in that way that shows she knows exactly what she's saying and wants to make sure he and I don't figure it out. I think it's funny, but she doesn't, I suppose.
"I'd always thought I'd like them," Malfoy said, "and now I've got one, and I'm not letting Pansy keep her, would you?"