The note
Harry and Ron stared at the smoking pile of ashes on the kitchen table for a long second before exchanging an irritated.
"What about Merlin's sloppy underpants...", said Ron, bewildered.
"What was in the letter?", Hermione asked.
Harry opened his mouth, but found out without much surprise that he couldn't tell her. Next to him, Ron almost dislocated his jaw in a useless attempt to pronounce the name of the place.
"An address," Harry sighed, letting the ash pile disappear. "Written down by a secret keeper, so don't ask which one. We can't tell you.' He frowned. "But I can tell you that it has to do with the creator of the Philosopher's Stone."
"Nicholas Flamel?", Hermione asked, staring at Ron, who nodded eagerly. 'He's been dead for years. Hasn't he?"
"Why did Ollivander give you this letter, Luna?", Harry asked.
"To let you read it, Harry," she said perplexedly.
Ginny snorted.
"Ollivander told you Flamel's address?" Hermione muttered thoughtfully. "Why?"
"It must have to do with the case," Harry said with a shrug. "And it fits, that would explain why this wand is so ancient. It has not been passed on, but its owner is…was ancient."
"Dumbledore said that the Flamels destroyed the stone," Hermione said, biting her lower lip.
"Who knows what happened to their house," Ron said. "And their wands. Ollivander must know more than he told you."
"There's only one way to find out," Harry said with a shrug, standing up.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Hermione asked.
"Harry wants to go there," Luna said. "Isn't that obvious?"
"Are-you-crazy?" Hermione hissed. "You just want to chase a clue and go to a place where no one can follow you? What if it's a trap?"
"Why would Ollivander set him a trap?", Ginny asked, vanishing the pizza boxes with a snip of her wand. "Harry saved his life."
"Maybe it wasn't Ollivander who gave Luna this letter," Hermione said.
"Hermione," Harry sighed. "I have received a tip about a murder case. Should I just ignore that?"
She opened her mouth, but Ron was faster.
"Leave it, okay? He won't go alone. I also read the letter." He winked at Harry. "That should be more interesting than the raid this morning."
"It's not your case," Harry said half-heartedly.
"You can't tell Savage about the place," Ron said. "And Proudfoot would murder you when you go without a partner. So, can we leave now?"
"It's already dark," Hermione hissed.
"Lumos", Ron said, waving his shining wand.
"You know what I mean," she hissed angrily. "At night it's much easier to set a trap for you! At least talk to Proudfoot beforehand!"
"Nothing of this is in the manual," Ron said with a grin. "Or is it, Harry?"
"'Unless there is serious evidence of a strong threat to one's own life'-"
"There is no need to request further reinforcements to investigate a tip from the population," Hermione growled.
"You know the Auror Manual by heart?", Ginny chuckled.
"How can you be so calm?", Hermione asked, upset. "They're on the verge of just-"
"Doing their job," Ginny said. "And they can take good care of themselves, I think." She kissed Harry on the cheek. "I should go home before Mum gets upset again. Tell me about it tomorrow."
"I'm coming with you," Luna said, standing up with her as Hermione stared at the two in disbelief.
"Relax, Hermione," Ron said, squeezing a kiss on her forehead. "We'll let you know if we're okay, okay?"
"You have a quarter of an hour," she muttered. "Then I get Proudfoot."
"And where do you want to send him?", Harry asked drily.
She snorted.
"Come on, Ron," he said with a grin.
The two waited at the door until Ginny and Luna had disapparated.
"Do you think it's a trap?", Ron asked quietly.
"Maybe," Harry said. "But if it is, they only expect me."
He pulled the invisibility cloak out of his pocket and threw it at Ron.
"All right," Ron said with a grin. "What does it matter if you fail in Camouflage and Deceit, as long as you have this one, right?"
"Shut up," Harry muttered, reaching out his hand. As soon as Ron disappeared and he felt him grabbing his elbow, he turned on the spot and disappeared with a loud bang.