:P

Harry and Theodore didn't miss Cedric in the least. He had been a complainer and annoying (apparently he had been enraged by being left out of the loop again and had finally decided to leave) and now that he was gone, they felt liberated and free to do...well, whatever they damn well-pleased. Of course, they focused on finding the Sword of Gryffindor since it, being goblin-made, had absorbed the Basilisk poison in Harry's second year and therefore was one of the few things they knew about that could destroy any Horcrux they came across. Finding it, however, was near impossible, much like their search for the Horcruxes. They had no idea where to look.

When their minds couldn't take much more of thinking, they would lie together in their sleeping bags on the floor and talk about anything other than Horcruxes. They found, as time wore on, they did this more often, which Harry knew was a bad thing. It was so tempting though. Their minds, even Theo's, were exhausted and strained and they were getting nowhere reviewing everything over and over again. Resting in each other's arms was the most comfortable thing Harry had ever done and him bathing in Theodore's warmth and smell and presence was all he wanted to do. He knew better than to let things go like this, but he couldn't help it.

Worse, he noticed that Theodore was studying the book Dumbledore had left him less and less. He wasn't reading his other books either. He was also the one suggesting they give it a rest sooner and sooner each day and Harry, vulnerable, kept agreeing. Something seemed off about Theodore. The other Slytherin could hardly tear his eyes off of Harry lately and he kept touching him like he had during their four days spent at the Burrow. While Harry was flattered, it worried him like it had before when he noticed it. Theodore wouldn't go anywhere alone, insisting Harry came with him. They always slept together, ate together, bathed together...Harry was feeling like the other was getting to know his body very well and they hadn't...done anything yet.

Not that Theodore hadn't tried. Several times the Slytherin had made moves on Harry, trying to get further than kissing, but Harry, nervous, self-conscious, and concerned about it being wrong given their predicament, kept pushing him away. He wanted to as much as Theodore, but his mind wouldn't permit him. Any explanations he made for denying Theodore were dismissed with a casual wave of the taller's hand, but Theo was angry and hurt and he didn't seem able to hide this. His own Occlumency was beginning to falter and Harry feared when the Death Eater would have to return to his master.

Knowing things were being left up to him, Harry started looking over the book Dumbledore had left Theodore, but it was in runes and he couldn't read it. Still, he kept looking for a sign, hoping it would point him in the right direction. He was stunned when he saw a familiar symbol.

"Look at this." He pointed it out to Theodore, who seemed only barely interested. "I've seen this before. Xenophilius Lovegood had it around his neck. Krum thought it was Grindelwald's Mark."

Theo shrugged. "No idea."

"No idea?" Harry's eyes narrowed and he finally voiced his growing concern. "You don't care about finding and destroying the Horcruxes anymore, do you?"

Theodore stiffened at the accusation, but he kept his cool. "I do..."

"Then what about this symbol." Harry pointed at it again. "Is it a rune? What does it mean?"

"Is not a rune..." Theodore whispered and then looked away. "Have no idea what it is. If it was on Lovegood's person then he may know more. If Krum believes it is the Mark of Grindelwald then maybe he is right."

Harry slammed the book on the table and Theodore jumped.

"I am tired of us not taking action." Harry glared at his friend. "I am tired of us sitting around doing nothing."

"Have a suggestion then?" Theodore asked coolly. "Because I was under the impression we didn't have any leads."

"I want to go to Godric's Hollow."

Theo stared at him for a long quiet moment before asking calmly, "Why?"

"I think Godric's sword may be there." Harry stated. "Both Dumbledore and I have lived there. Godric is from there. The Sword was Godric's...he may have left it there for me."

"Is a possibility." Theo whispered.

"Then we're going." Harry told him sternly. "As soon as we have gathered proper hair for our Polyjuice Potion. We have enough?"

"Got more from the Potions Classroom and Slughorn's stores." Theodore answered.

"Good." Harry straightened. "Let's get some hair."

"Is Christmas Eve..." Theodore peered around at the jovial Christmas setting and Harry's heart gave a great leap in his chest.

"Is it?"

"Fairly sure." Theodore gave Harry's hand a squeeze and the warmth spread like wildfire through him.

"Kiss me..." Harry whispered, heart throbbing painfully. "Please..."

"Are both men." Theo had pulled away to face Harry. "In a town comprising of Muggles as half its population...would be stupid."

"Who cares."

Harry, ignoring the fact that they were still men despite their disguises, wrapped his arms around Theodore's neck and gave him a firm kiss. The lips of the other were wrong though and the kiss felt strange.

He pulled away and stared at Theodore's face and was reminded they were in bodies that were not their own. While Theodore's new body was of a similar build to his old one, his face was harsher looking with cold dark eyes and silver blond hair tied in a ponytail. In a way, he reminded Harry of Lucius Malfoy, but meaner and gruffer.

"Don't do that again." Theo told him sternly, his face etched with disgust. "Hate to have to kiss that mug...don't want to kiss anyone but you."

"You are kissing me." Harry reminded him as his stomach tied itself in knots.

"Not the same." Theodore started moving towards a church and it's accompanying graveyard. "Come on. Is where you wanted to go first, right?"

Harry nodded solemnly and followed after him.

Though Harry wanted badly to find his parents, he kept gettind distracted, first by the War Memorial that turned into a statue of his parents and himself, then by Dumbledore's mother and sister's graves, and finally by the strange symbol that kept poping up, this time on a grave above the title "Ignotus". Theodore shrugged and made little comment about it. They eventually reached his parents' grave, but he felt nothing except cold bitterness at the sight of their names. Leaving flowers, he and Theodore abandoned the grave and began to wander the streets together. Theodore was getting nervous and he wanted to leave, but Harry wanted to make sure the sword wasn't here before they set off again. They found his house where he had been when Voldemort had attacked him. It was still in ruins, apparently left there by the wizards and witches to as a monument to the Potters. People had written on the monument in magical words, newer ones with encouragement, which lightened Harry's heart.

Then they met her...Bagshot. They were now under the cloak because Theodore had been so nervous, but she still seemed to sense them and beckoned to them.

"Unnatural..." Theodore whispered to Harry. "Shouldn't be able to see us..."

"She might have the sword." Harry said hopefully. "Come on..."

"No..." Theodore grabbed Harry's arm, but Harry shook him off and approached the woman, slipping out of his cloak as he did so.

"Are you Bathilda?"

She nodded and beckoned him again.

When he started to follow, she turned and led him to her house and Harry, not seeing anything to fret about, accompanied her while Theodore insisted they leave now.

They were still in the doorway and it seemed Bagshot was getting annoyed as she finally said, "Come!"

Theodore jumped and then he was pulling Harry out of the house.

"What are you doing?" Harry struggled against him, but Theodore wasn't listening.

He was talking and what he was saying chilled Harry to the bones.

"Parseltongue! Spoke it! Something's wrong!"

The woman was rushing towards them now, speaking quickly and Harry realized with horror that Theodore was right. The snake Nagini had burst from the woman's head, slithering after them.

"We need to kill her!" Harry told Theodore. "We need to kill her! She's..."

His thoughts were interrupted by the snake's as Nagini sent a message to her Master who ordered her to keep Harry there.

"No!" Harry screamed, completely not himself as Theodore Apparated them away a moment before Nagini could sink her teeth into them.

:P