Hermione and Draco spent the next week staring at the symbol in Dumbledore's book. It had been inked in, and no matter how hard they searched through Hermione's books they could find no mention of it.

Harry felt restless. He hated returning to inactivity, especially after their trip to Godric's Hollow had not gotten them any closer to finding the remaining Horcrux, or to destroying the ones they had. Ron spent the majority of his time outside, pacing up and down in frustration under the guise of keeping watch.

Finally, Harry's frustration reached a bursting point.

"We can't do nothing forever!" he exclaimed. Hermione and Draco looked up from where they were hunched over a pile of books, debating where they could find more information on the mysterious symbol. "If we do nothing You-Know-Who wins without a fight!"

Ron poked his head through the door. "That's what I've been saying mate! You said Luna's dad was wearing that symbol. Instead of searching books let's just go ask what it means!"

Hermione chewed on her lip nervously. "I think you're right," she admitted. Harry and Ron looked at each other in surprise. "Draco and I can't find anything anywhere. I just hope Mr. Lovegood can tell us something."

Draco stood up from his place at the table and started stacking the books they had strewn around. "No time to waste then. Do we know where he lives?"
Ron nodded and stepped the rest of the way inside. "Its somewhere close to my parents. Everyone always points to the hills when they talk about the Lovegoods."

With practiced motions they packed the books and the tent into Hermione's beaded bag. She stuffed it down her sock where it couldn't be seen.

Ron grabbed onto Hermione and Harry's hands. Draco joined on.

"Ready then?" Ron asked. Without waiting for an answer he turned on the spot.

They appeared at the top of a hill overlooking the Burrow. Ron stared down at his family's house.

"It's weird to see it after so long," he mused. "I wonder if mum is down there."

"As wonderful as your family is, we really can't go anywhere near them," Hermione said gently. Harry noticed that her hand was still clasped tightly in Ron's. "It's too dangerous, for everyone."

They only walked for a few minutes before arriving at a strange house that Harry knew must belong to the Lovegoods. It was lopsided and rose up from the ground in a cacophony of joists and beams. It was almost certainly held up by magic.

Harry took a deep breath as he stepped up to knock on the door. It was only a moment before a man with long, stringy blond hair and bare feet, wearing a stained nightshirt, opened the door.

"Xenophilius?" Hermione asked. "Xenophilius Lovegood?"
"Who are you? What do you want?" the man demanded.

"Its- its me, Harry Potter," Harry introduced himself. "And my friends, Hermione, Ron, and Draco. Um, can we come in?"

A glint of something shone in Xenophilius' eye as he held the door open. "Of course, of course. I should have known. Harry Potter indeed!" he exclaimed as he ushered them into a cluttered sitting room. A great racket came from the corner as a printing press rattled off copy after copy of The Quibbler.

"Take a seat and I'll go to make tea," Xenophilius said as he tossed a stack of papers off a chair.

Draco leaned against a table and nodded towards the opposite wall. "Isn't that…"

"An Erumpent horn," Hermione finished in a whisper. "They're extremely dangerous. And illegal."

He probably thinks it's from a Crumple-Horned whatever," Ron said.

They sat in uncomfortable silence until Mr. Lovegood returned, carrying a tray of tea and cups as he bustled into the room. While he had been gone he had gotten dressed, replacing his nightshirt with a long magenta robe. His feet were still bare.

"Mr. Lovegood, we wanted to ask you about something," Hermione started as she accepted the teacup thrust into her hands.

"Of course my dear, I knew there had to he a reason for your visit," he said as he shuffled towards Ron. "What would you like to ask about?"

"You were wearing a necklace with a strange symbol at Bill and Fleur's wedding," Harry said. "A triangle with circle inside, with a line cutting through it. What did it mean?"

Xenophilius looked startled as he handed Draco a cup of tea and took one for himself. He settled into an armchair crowded with papers and cushions before answering.

"That's the symbol of the Deathly Hallows."

"The what?" Ron asked, scrunching his face up in confusion.

"The Deathly Hallows. Surely you know the story of the Three Brothers?"

Ron and Draco nodded their heads. Hermione pulled Dumbledore's book from her pocket. "I have it here. The symbol is drawn onto the first page of the story."

"There are those of us who believe that the tale is more than myth, that the three Hallows; the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone, and the Cloak of invisibility are all real."

"Sorry," Harry interrupted, "but I have no idea what you're talking about. What is the tale of the Three Brothers?"

"It's a lot like the Billy Goats Gruff," Hermione said. "Three brothers came to a river and crossed using magic, beating Death. Each of them received one gift from Death. The first asked for a wand that could beat all others, the second for a way to bring people back from the dead, and the third for a way to hide even from Death himself."

"Thus the three Hallows," Xenophilius interjected. "The Elder wand, the strongest of all wands," he drew a line on a nearby piece of paper, "the Resurrection stone," he added a circle, "and the cloak of invisibility." He finished the drawing with a large triangle.

"It ended quite badly for the first two brothers," Hermione said. "The first was killed for the wand, and the second went mad when the stone could only bring back an empty image of the woman he loved. But the third brother lived a long life, and only shed the cloak when he was ready to die. He gave it to his son."

Draco was staring at Xenophilius. "You think that story's real?"

Xenophilius nodded. "There are not many of us who still believe. Those who do believe that the bearer of all three Hallows will be the master of death itself."

"But a stone that brings people back to life? An all-powerful wand? Those can't possibly exist!" Hermione exclaimed.

"And Invisibility cloaks aren't exactly unheard of," Draco added. "My father alone has at least two."

"Ah, but such cloaks give only the illusion of invisibility," Xenophilius replied. "This cloak gave true, infallible invisibility to its wearer. It doesn't wear off, and it can't be negated. Such a cloak would be recognizably different from all others. Lucius Malfoy has nothing like that."

The other four occupants of the room shared a look. Lucius Malfoy may not have a cloak like that, but they knew who did.

Xenophilius continued. "The stone, we must admit, has been lost to history. The Elder Wand, however, is quite traceable. It passes by death, becoming loyal to the one who defeated its previous owner. It was last said to be in the possession of the wandmaker Gregorovitch."

A look of shock crossed Harry's face. He stared at Xenophilius.

"What about Ignotus Peverell?" Hermione asked. "We saw the symbol on his tombstone."

Xenophilius' eyes lit up. "I see you've heard of him! The Peverell brothers were the original owners of the Hallows, the brothers in the story. Ignotus was the owner of the Invisibility cloak. It has been said that the cloak is still in his family, passed down from father to son."

Hermione settled back in her chair, a look of contemplation on her face. Draco was fiddling with his wand in thought.

"How's Luna?" Ron's voice broke the sudden silence.

Xenophilius stood and turned to face the wall, hiding his face. "Voldemort took her," he croaked.

There was a loud yelp. Harry leapt to his feet. Draco accidentally flung his wand across the room. They scrambled to grab hands, to get Draco's wand, to apparate away. But it was too late.

With a loud crack the room filled with bodies. Harry felt his arms grabbed roughly and pinned behind him as his wand was wrenched from his hand. A man was standing over Draco, leering down at him. He bent down and picked up Draco's wand from beneath his boot.

"Hello, Draco," the man snarled. He pulled Draco roughly to his feet. Hermione and Ron were already bound tightly in magical ropes.

"Greyback," Draco said stiffly. Harry saw a flash of fear in his eyes.

"This lots not going to the ministry," Greyback announced. "HE'S going to want them. We'll take them to Malfoy Manor. It's about time this one got home anyways." He shoved Draco roughly towards Harry.

Xenophilius fell at the werewolf's feet. "My Luna," he begged. "Please, let my Luna go. Bring her back to me!"

Greyback kicked at the man grovelling on the floor. "You should'a thought of her before you supported Potter," he spat. "Don't think this changes anything."

Harry felt Draco being roughly shoved against his back. They were bound together with magical ropes. Greyback took a hold of them and with a crack they disapparated.


Hello everyone! I just wanted to pop in and say that I'm almost finished writing this story, and I'm going to be updating more often! It will most likely be Wednesdays and Saturdays, though that could change a little week-to-week.

I also want to thank everyone who's been reading this. Your support means the world to me, and I'm thrilled that so many people are enjoying this story. I honestly can't believe how many people have read it, and every review makes me do a little happy dance. Thank you!

-DollhouseDancer