They apparated to the edge of Godric's Hollow. Harry squinted as cottages came into view on either side of the narrow street.
"It looks so peaceful," Hermione remarked as she stepped into a shadowed area. "But we can't let our guards down."
Ron stepped forward to take her hand. "We'll be fine, Hermione. We all know how to take care of ourselves."
Harry stared down the street. "There's a chapel up there," he whispered. "I can see it. I wonder…"
Hermione turned back to him with a small smile. "Let's go look."
Slowly they walked up the deserted street, past a small pub from which drifted the sound of laughter. A fence surrounded the chapel, walling in the small graveyard that could be seen beyond it. With a glance over her shoulder Hermione spelled the gate open and they stepped silently through.
"Where would they be?" Ron asked as he began to walk up and down the neat rows of headstones, still clasping Hermione's hand. Draco walked towards a cluster of stones that looked particularly old.
Harry wandered up and down the rows of graves, searching desperately for his parents. They must be here, he knew it. He paused as he reached a dark, lichen-covered stone. Kendra Dumbledore. Beneath the dates of her birth and death there was a small inscription: and her daughter Ariana. So it was true, Dumbledore had lived here.
"Hermione, look," Draco called out. Harry snapped his head in the direction of the voice.
"What is it?" Harry asked as he peered at the stone Hermione and Draco were staring at. It was old, possibly one of the oldest in the graveyard.
"This symbol," Draco pointed at a strange triangular shape. "Isn't this what you were showing me the other day? In Beedle the Bard?"
Hermione nodded slowly. "Yes, I think so. A circle in a triangle, with a line pointing through it. Why is it here?"
"I think I've seen that somewhere before," Ron mused.
"Luna's dad was wearing it at Bill and Fleur's wedding," Harry said. "I thought it was just a strange necklace. What could it mean?"
Ron shrugged. "Who knows. Let's keep looking. I was getting close… to the right date. Over there." He pointed as he led Harry away from the ancient grave.
Finally, they found them: the graves of Lily and James Potter. For a moment Harry mourned silently, regretting that he hadn't brought anything to leave for them. As if she had read his mind, Hermione waved her wand, producing a beautiful flower bouquet for Harry to lay down. Silently he turned and left the graveyard, his friends trailing behind as tears streamed down his face.
Draco ran to catch up and put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "Where to now?"
Ron came up on Harry's other side. "My parents brought me here years ago," he said. "The house - your house, Harry, is still here. They've left it as a memorial. Do you want to see it?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that."
"I think it's this way."
Harry took in Godric's Hollow; the narrow country lanes, the war memorial that changed to a statue of his family as he passed, the house that his parents died in. He felt that his heart would burst as he read the messages written on the plaque outside the decrepit cottage.
Be strong Harry.
Fight for all of us.
You give us hope Harry.
"Should we write anything?" Ron asked.
"If we left a message You-Know-Who would know we've been here," Hermione said. "We can't risk it."
Harry heard a sound behind him and whirled around, his wand springing to his hand. Beside him Draco did the same. Both boys peered intently into the darkness.
From the shadows a figure emerged, beckoning towards them. It was a woman, stooped with age. Harry exchanged a quick glance with Draco.
"Bathilda?" Draco asked, "Bathilda Bagshot?"
The woman nodded and beckoned again before turning and walking back up the street.
"Follow her," Draco hissed quietly.
"We're right behind you," Hermione affirmed.
Harry followed the woman down the street towards a small cottage. As she stepped into the doorway she turned again to beckon towards him.
"You knew Dumbledore, didn't you?" Harry asked as he stepped into the house. "You gave Rita Skeeter information about him."
The woman nodded slowly and turned towards the stairs. Ron stepped inside after Harry and grimaced.
"It smells bloody awful in here," he observed in a low voice.
Draco wrinkled his nose. "Something doesn't seem right."
"I think she has something to tell me." Harry started towards the stairs.
"I'll come with you mate," Ron said, stepping forwards.
At Ron's voice the old woman turned around and hissed. She pointed towards Harry.
"I guess she only wants me," Harry said.
"Be careful," Hermione said, her face screwed up in thought. "Draco's right, there's something strange going on here."
"I'll yell if I need help," Harry promised. He followed the woman up the stairs.
"This way," the old woman said as she stepped into a room. Harry followed, his hand shoved deep in his pocket as he played with his wand.
"Have you got anything for me?" Harry asked as the door swung shut, plunging them into darkness. He pulled out his wand and lit the tip of it.
The woman was standing disturbingly close to him. He took a step back as her eyes bored into him. The smell that seemed to permeate the house was stronger than ever.
"Are you Potter?"
Harry nodded. "Yes. Now, have you got anything for me? From Dumbledore?"
The woman closed her eyes, a look of intense concentration coming across her face. Harry shifted as he felt his scar prickle. A strange sense of elation swept over him.
There was a bang from downstairs, followed by a shout. Harry backed away from the woman as he heard footsteps racing up the stairs.
"Do you have anything to tell me?" he asked, his voice higher than usual. "I know Dumbledore trusted you. I know you knew him, and I know you talked to Rita Skeeter about him." The footsteps reached the top of the stairs.
"Harry!" Draco's voice was sharp with worry. "Harry, get out!"
Harry reached back and turned the doorknob, keeping his eyes on the woman. Draco barrelled into the room, his wand drawn. Ron and Hermione followed, confused looks spreading across both their faces.
"He is coming" the woman hissed. With a shock Harry realized that she truly had hissed, in Parseltongue. A moment later he felt a sudden urge to vomit, as the skin of the old woman peeled aside to reveal a giant, scaled snake.
A burst of light shot past Harry as he stared at the creature in shock. He lifted his wand.
"Confringo!" The snake reeled backwards to avoid the curse.
"It's You-Know-Who's snake," Draco shouted. "We have to get away!"
"Kill the snake!" Ron screamed. "We have to kill it!"
Harry's knees buckled as his scar burned. He couldn't see straight. He felt a hand grab onto him, then everything went black.
Harry woke to find himself lying on something soft. Groaning, he turned over and opened his eyes.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice asked. A moment later she came around the edge of the bed and into view. "You're awake! How do you feel?"
"Awful," Harry answered. "What happened?"
Hermione fiddled with her wand. "It was all a trap. You-Know-Who sent his snake, Draco says it's named Nagini, to watch your parents' grave. It killed Bathilda Bagshot, probably a long time ago from the smell. And… I guess it had been wearing her skin ever since."
"How did you know what was happening?"
"Draco felt his Mark, and realized something was happening. He ran up to find you. Then of course you saw what happened. The snake came out of the skin, and you passed out. Ron grabbed all of us and Apparated us here. We think You-Know-Who almost caught us."
Harry sat up, clutching his head in his hands. "Is anyone hurt?"
Hermione shook her head. We're all fine. We wouldn't have been if Draco hadn't realized what was happening. He saved us all."
"Where is he?"
"Outside, keeping watch. Ron is in a muggle town getting us some should be back soon now, and then I'll make us all something to eat."
Harry fell back into the bed. "That sounds fantastic."
