It had been a turning moment in their hunting, to have it figured out that the sword of Gryffindor had the ability to destroy horcruxes because the sword only took in that what made it stronger, and Harry had used it to kill the Basilisk in the chamber of secrets back in 1993. The sword was imbued with Basilisk venom, making it as powerful as using a fang itself.
However, no one aside from Hermione, Ron, and Harry knew that Albus had bequeathed Harry the sword in his will. Just like no one knew Ron had the Deluminator until now, when Ron had apparently woken up at some point during the reveal and took out the lights, then put them back and made a comment about still being here.
"But you two carry on, don't let me spoil the fun." Ron added to his first statement of I'm still here.
No one really understood the ginger teen's behavior, so they stayed quiet. But Hermione and Harry, however, had known Ron a lot longer so the two shared a quick glance before Harry closed the book and turned on the bench to face his friend.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked.
"Wrong? Nothing's wrong. Not according to you, anyway." Ron replied.
"Look, if you've something to say…Don't be shy. Spit it out." Harry told him.
"Alright, I spit it out…But don't expect me to be grateful that we've got another damn thing to find." Ron's tone began to rise.
"I thought you knew what you signed up for." Harry commented.
"Yeah, I thought I did too." Ron retorted.
"Well, I'm sorry. I don't quite understand," Harry now stood up and walked down to Ron's level. "What about this isn't living up to your expectations? Did you think we were going to be staying in a five-star hotel, finding a horcrux every other day? Thought you'd be home with your mum by Christmas?" Harry inquired.
"I just thought, after all this time, we would have actually achieved something!" Shouted Ron. "I thought you knew what you were doing. I thought Dumbledore would have told you something worthwhile. I thought you had a plan!"
"I told you everything Dumbledore told me. We were all there, Ron, during the meeting when it was revealed how Tom managed to survive through his own backfired killing curse. And in case you've forgotten, we have found not one…But two horcruxes already." Harry stated.
"And we're about as close to destroying them as we are finding the rest!" Ron glared.
"Ron…" Hermione tried to touch him. "Ron, please?" She attempted to get to the horcrux hanging around his neck and he swatted her hands away. "Please take the horcrux off. You wouldn't be saying this if you hadn't worn it all day." She pleaded.
"Do you know why I listen to that radio every night?" Ron looked at Harry. "So I don't hear Ginny's name. Or Fred's, or George's, or mum's."
"You think I don't know how this feels? You think I'm not listening too?" Harry was yelling now.
"No, you don't know how it feels! Your parents are dead, you have no family!" The room went quiet, eyes widening that Ron went there.
Even if he was under the influence of the horcrux, it only increased negative feelings the wearer had. Before anyone could say anything else, Ron lunged forward and tried to attack Harry. It took everyone to separate the boys, Draco eventually getting between them and shoving them apart.
Harry went into Severus's arms as Hermione tried to keep Ron back with Sirius and Lucius having their wands out to keep the boys from fighting again. Harry never struck Ron, but the ginger-haired boy had socked Harry in the face and split his lip.
"Alright, that's enough…" Lucius tried to calm everyone down. "Why don't we just relax?"
"I don't need this…" Ron seethed.
"Then leave. Go on then…" Harry invited.
Ron tore off the horcrux and tossed it at Harry's feet. "Ron…Ron," Hermione tried as Ron grabbed his bag off the floor and hurled it over his shoulder.
"And you," Ron faced Hermione. "Are you coming or staying?" He asked her. Hermione looked back at Harry, then she looked at Ron again. "Fine. I get it…I saw you two the other night."
"Ron…That was nothing. We were paired up for guarding camp…You know Harry is with Severus and they're married!" Hermione argued softly.
Ron ignored it and left the tent as Hermione ran after him. "Ron…Ron, please. Come back." A pause. "RON!" She yelled out through the storm and then the definite sound of apparition echoed through camp. Ron was gone.
"I'll get Hermione," Draco offered as he grabbed the umbrella by the tent flap and stepped outside to open it and walk out to find the distraught muggleborn.
"Harry, are you alright?" Sirius inquired.
"Just fine…" Harry responded as Severus swiped his thumb over the cut to heal it closed.
"It was heated. He had the horcrux all day and most of tonight…We didn't even realize," Narcissa stated gently. "I'm sure he'll calm with time and return."
"That's a problem because we're due to move tomorrow…" Lucius reminded.
"We can't risk staying in one place too long." Severus agreed.
"He'll find us," Harry sighed as he picked the locket up off the ground.
"Hand that here, it's my turn to take it." Sirius stated as Harry gave it to him. "It would grab hold of your anger right now anyway, Harry."
Draco finally came back in with Hermione, his arm was around her and he got her to sit down on the bench, then grabbed the blanket off Ron's bed to cover her up because she was wet and cold. Without much anymore they could do, everyone got ready to settle in for the night. Draco and Narcissa took the first watch while the rest got ready for bed. Once Severus and Harry were alone, the potions master knew Harry needed the room silenced.
He waved his wand around and then just like that, Harry sat on the bed, lowered his head, and he started crying. Severus adjusted to hold Harry against him, pulling him down and giving whatever comfort he could. Harry knew the locket was to blame for the anger, he had gotten pissed over nothing, but hearing things from Ron just hurt. Eventually, Harry fell asleep against his husband, and Severus was right behind him. Hopefully, tomorrow would be better.
. . .
Seven days had gone by, Ron still hadn't returned. Hermione was miserable and everyone could see it. The group had moved, and it was only a hope Ron would be able to find them when he was ready and if he wanted to return. Aside from working on discussions of places with meaning to Tom Riddle, now there was wondering of where the sword of Gryffindor ended up.
Harry said the last place he knew of it was Dumbledore's office after he'd brought it up from the chamber. Harry and Hermione also explained the things they had been bequeathed from Dumbledore. Ron got the Deluminator, which could remove light from lit things, and put it back and that it had been a creation of Dumbledore's.
Hermione got a copy of The Tales of Beedle Bard, it had notes throughout it. Then Harry got the snitch he caught in his first Quidditch match, and also Dumbledore left him the sword of Gryffindor. Now, no one understood the book Hermione got, but Draco mentioned that a lot of the stories in the book were based on real things from history. And it threw everyone for a loop about the snitch, but it had been determined why Dumbledore left Harry the sword. Because it could destroy horcruxes.
It was now a quiet night, they'd just moved again and set up. It was getting colder, especially perched up on a high peak, so it had been the group vote to from now on stay inside except for collecting wood and guard shifts. Harry was usually the one who didn't have a partner when he stayed up to protect camp and he told everyone that was fine. It gave him his alone time to think, so no one argued because Severus had mentioned as long as Harry wasn't closing himself off, he didn't care if Harry took time to himself.
Everyone else, though, guarded in pairs and those shifts didn't start until everyone was about to go to bed, when everyone was awake; it didn't matter because they were all alert to watch for danger. It was funny, Ron had left behind the radio; Hermione listened to it every night now, seeking the same comfort that Ron had found in it. It was worse though because the horcrux she was wearing was feeding off her sadness of losing Ron.
Sirius nudged Harry's arm, motioning towards Hermione. "Go on, pup…You're her best friend, you can cheer her up." He suggested.
Harry got up and went over to Hermione, offering his hand to her. The teenager eyed him curiously, but put her hand in his as Harry pulled her to her feet. "Harry…What are you doing?" Hermione asked.
Harry reached around her neck to pull the locket off and tossed it towards the table carelessly. There was light music playing on the radio, so Harry just started to dance with her. It was silly and goofy, but it got Hermione to shake her head and the frown slowly started to turn into a smile as she got into it. "Come on, just like old times, 'Mione. We dance the sorrow away." Harry told her. Hermione laughed as Harry twirled her carefully and she did it back to him.
As the music slowed, Hermione ended up falling against Harry with her head on his shoulder and hugging him. Of course, Harry hugged her back and they sat down together as she linked her arm around his and laid her against his shoulder.
"He'll be back, eventually. You know how he is…He's always been a jealous git, Hermione. Once he cools off and realizes he got worked up over the woman he loves being close to a married man; he'll smack himself and be all over Britain looking for where we're camped out."
"L-Love? Shut up, Harry." Hermione shoved into him.
"If you didn't love him, you wouldn't be this upset about losing him. And if he didn't love you, he wouldn't have gotten that jealous." Harry chuckled. "I seem to recall a certain brown, bushy haired witch getting worked up when Ron had that little thing with Lavender."
"I-I was not worked up!" Hermione flushed.
"Whatever you say, 'Mione. Just remember…I know when you're lying because you stammer. You can deny it all you want, but I know you, sis." Harry patted her knee.
"S-Shut up…" She said quietly now. "Harry, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, but I can't guarantee an answer for you." Harry replied.
"How did it feel for you? When you and Severus first got married and argued?" Hermione wondered.
Harry patted her hand as she cuddled in closer to her brother-figure. "It felt like this. How you feel now. Miserable, upset…Heartbroken." The teenaged female sighed. "But we came together, and talked. We got over it and things got better," He lifted her chin up with a smile. "The same will happen for you too."
"Thanks, Harry," Hermione sighed out contently, putting her head on his shoulder again.
"Hey…Remember how we all became friends?" Harry asked her.
"How can I forget?" Hermione sighed with a smile. "You and Ron came to save me from the troll."
"Remember when we first met Fluffy?" Harry grinned.
"Oh dear God…" Hermione reeled at the memory. "I remember how scared I was."
"Who and what is Fluffy?" Draco decided to ask.
"Cerberus that was on the third floor that Dumbledore warned all the students to stay away from if they didn't want to meet a horrible, painful death. It was there to guard a trap door, one of many protections for the Sorcerer's Stone." Harry informed. "We ended up there by accident, trying to escape Filch. It was Hagrid's dog."
"I still think the scariest thing of that whole ordeal was the wizard's chess game." Hermione muttered.
"Hah, you should have seen Ron in the Forbidden Forest against Hagrid's pet spider." Harry told her.
"Oh, God. When was this…" Hermione wondered.
"It was when you were petrified. Hagrid made a comment before being sent off to Azkaban, that if anyone wanted any information…Follow the spiders. So, Ron and I did. Into the forest. To meet Aragog. Acromantula. He told us information, and then set it's sons and daughters on us. If not for the flying car, we'd be spider chow." Harry told her. "I remember, the first thing Ron said was follow the spiders…Follow the spiders? If Hagrid ever gets out of Azkaban, I'll kill him."
Hermione had to laugh. "Ron does not like spiders."
"Terrified of them after that." Harry nodded. "Remember when I snuck into Hogsmeade? Had a laugh with Draco and his friends?"
"Wait, now! What was this!?" Draco demanded.
"Remember the force that threw snowballs and dragged your ass towards the Shrieking Shack?" Hermione mentioned. "That was Harry, under the invisibility cloak."
"Harry, really?!" Draco whined. "Why would you do that?"
"Cause we hated each other at the time, and you were picking on my friends." Harry laughed.
"Hey, uh…Harry…Why is that snitch flying beside you?" Sirius inquired.
"I don't know…It does it at random." Harry reached out as the snitch landed in his hand and its wings returned to make the ball form again.
"I still don't understand why Dumbledore would give that to you." Hermione stated.
"Scrimgeour read off what Albus had said about why. Reminder of the rewards for perseverance and skill." Harry recited.
"But why?" Narcissa questioned. "Isn't that the match where you were nearly thrown off your broom?"
"Yeah," Harry nodded.
"I've heard snitches have flesh memories," Hermione revealed. "When Dumbledore first gave it to you, I thought maybe it would help us on the journey or have something inside."
"Well…Then wouldn't touching it do something?" Harry shrugged.
"Wait…" Severus thought. "Harry, you never touched the snitch in that game. Remember? You nearly swallowed it."
Harry stared at Severus a moment, then back at the snitch. "He's right. Maybe you have to put it in your mouth or something." Draco added.
"I can think of, at least, a thousand ways that is a bad idea." Harry remarked.
"But they're right, Harry…Maybe don't put it in your mouth, but…I don't know. Put your lips to it?" Hermione suggested.
Harry didn't like the idea, but they weren't wrong. Holding it in his fingers he brought the golden ball to his lips and pulled it back as writing appeared. "Huh…"
"What?" Sirius wondered.
"Writing appeared. All it says is I open at the close." Harry informed.
"How odd." Lucius claimed. "Perhaps it means that you cannot access whatever is inside until the final battle? Maybe it contains that power only you can wield to defeat the dark lord."
"Anything is possible at this point." Harry shrugged as he slipped it away into his pocket. "Dumbledore was a man of mystery, or so I was told Bill and Fleur's wedding by a friend of his."
"Was that who you were talking to?" Severus inquired.
"Elphias Doge, and also Aunt Muriel, I believe she's the Weasley kid's great-great aunt." Harry stated. "Elphias had written a moving piece in the Prophet about Albus, and we got onto talking that Dumbledore was a private man, not many knew much about his life."
"Elphias claimed to know a lot, and also Albus's brother, Aberforth." He continued. "Muriel jumped in that Rita Skeeter wrote something after getting information from someone who was close to the Dumbledore family, Bathilda Bagshot. Evidently, she lives in Godric's Hollow. But you know…It's not a bad idea."
"What's not?" Draco inquired.
"Next place we go, Godric's Hollow." Harry said.
"Harry, I think that's a terrible idea." Hermione countered. "What could we gain from it?"
"I don't know, but there's a lot of things pointing there, don't you think?" Harry argued. "The Dumbledore's are from Godric's Hollow, Muriel said they moved there after Dumbledore's father killed three muggles, that's how Bathilda met them. There's the fact my parents lived there, so did the Peverell's…"
"And I would assume, given the name, it's where Godric Gryffindor lived. Maybe that's where the sword is?" He mentioned. "Hell, it might be where a horcrux is. That bastard would hide one there as a sendoff to where he murdered my parents." He muttered.
"There's…Valid points, but I think we should wait." Hermione sighed. "Let's regather ourselves, mentally prepare for that trip…"
"What's there to prepare for?" Draco asked.
"For one, as Harry just pointed out…It's where his parents were murdered. That house, as terrible shape it's in, is still standing. It's also where they are buried." Sirius pointed out. "It's going to have an effect on…Some of us." The man admitted glancing to Harry, and also Severus.
"Listen to Hermione, Harry…There needs to be preparation for this one. Trust me. You've never been, Remus and I never got around to taking you. You haven't been in that village, near that house, since you were a baby." The dog animagus said.
"And I'm not a baby anymore. I can handle it." Harry stated.
"Harry…I'm in agreement with Sirius, for once. We should wait. It's close to when they were killed, and I'm not one for emotions…But believe me, for Sirius and I…Going back there after what we saw won't be easy." Severus said softly.
"Okay, we'll wait…But I'm not changing my mind that we should go. We've been looking for a lead for months, and all signs, at the moment, are pointing to Godric's Hollow." Harry told them.
"And you're absolutely right, pup…We will. Just, give us a little time to prepare." Sirius smiled.
"Alright…We'll give it a little time." Harry agreed. "But if you really don't wanna go, I can by myself."
"Absolutely not." Everyone said together.
Harry had to laugh a little. "I was joking."
