A few days had passed since Ron's return to the group and things seemed to be back to their normal for being on the run while gathering horcruxes. As agreed that day, the ring was destroyed once everyone was awake more, had used the bathroom, showered, and enjoyed breakfast.
Ron explained the things going on that he saw while away, how he lied about who he was and evaded snatchers who were out gathering muggleborns or blood traitors for gold on the ministry's behalf. In all that, the group relayed to Ron their findings about Gellert Grindelwald being Albus's friend and lover, that Voldemort was desperately after something that Gellert stole from Gregorovich.
"So safe to say that Vol-," Draco began.
"Ssh. No, don't say his name. Use Tom, You-Know-Who, or He Who Should Not Be Named." Ron hushed him quickly. "We were right, there's a taboo on his name. If anyone says it, Death Eaters will lock onto where they are and grab them. I saw it happen. Don't use his name."
"Right, sorry…" Draco nodded. "But what I was asking is that we can assume Tom is going to be going after Grindelwald then, to ask about whatever he is looking for?"
"That would be the only thing that makes sense. Tom is doing what we are, he's hunting something down that he wants, so he's following leads." Severus remarked. "The question is what. What could Tom be after that is this important to him aside dominating over the muggles?"
"Maybe that's what he's looking for…" Harry stated from his place against the tent post looking outside. "Something powerful to see his goal through."
"But what?" Sirius pushed.
"I don't know, Uncle Siri…I'm not a mind reader despite the link Tom and I have. And that is what makes it so frustrating…" Harry sighed. "Having this ability and it being useless when we need information."
"I'm sure between the eight of us, we can figure it out…" Narcissa suggested. "We just have to calm down and piece together what we know."
"What we know is that Tom is after something desperately. We know that he went to Gregorovich first, and killed him once being told it was stolen years ago. We know now that this boy from Harry's vision is a young Gellert Grindelwald and we know that in 1945, Albus defeated Grindelwald and put him in Nurmengard prison. And we're surmised that Tom will likely be going to Grindelwald next." Lucius pointed out.
Harry listened to them debate and he closed his eyes, running over the visions again. "Wand." Harry suddenly said when his vision caught something in young Gellert's hand when he was going out the window. "Wand. It's a wand."
"Are you certain?" Hermione asked.
"It's the only thing that makes sense. Why would Tom go after a wandmaker in search of something Gregorovich used to have and it was stolen from him?" Harry mentioned. "Not only that, but I also refocused on the vision I saw. Before young Gellert jumps out the window to escape Gregorovich's shop, there's something in his left hand."
"Logic denotes that Gellert stole a wand from a wandmaker and it's this particular wand that Tom is searching for like his life depends on it." Harry stated. "The only question now…Is why. What's so special about this wand?"
"Well on the logic side of things, perhaps Tom has figured out the connection between your wands? That they're brothers and he knows that as long as he wields his against yours; he knows he won't beat you." Narcissa offered.
"Not that it matters anymore…" Harry muttered, referring to his broken wand. "But I suppose that would be the only reason. Tom doesn't know my wand snapped, so he's looking for this particular wand to wield against me…"
"I don't think we've gone over it yet…But Harry, how did your wand break?" Ron inquired.
"Christmas Eve, Harry and I traveled to Godric's Hollow alone while a few of these guys were sick. Harry had heard rumors that a good friend of the Dumbledore family lived there, and there was a hunch Tom might have hidden a horcrux there too. But…The woman we had sought out was already dead by Nagini, and the snake somehow was able to inhabit and animate her body to make her seem alive..." Hermione sighed.
"Harry got attacked and his wand was ripped from his hand after a spell sent Nagini through the floor. I reached to grab it and Nagini launched at us, holding both mine and Harry's wands…I cast a blasting curse and grabbed Harry to apparate away. We got back here, he was unconscious…I realized Harry's wand snapped when the blasting curse rebounded."
"That's rough, mate…" Ron frowned. "Well, here…I know it won't replace yours, but safer than having to use someone else's wand if things get hairy," He reached into his pack and tossed Harry a wand. "Nicked it off a snatcher a couple weeks ago. Blackthorn, about ten or eleven inches I reckon," He informed. "Don't know the core."
"Thanks, Ron," Harry smiled as they fist-bumped.
"Go on, give it a try. I've heard some wands change allegiance to their previous owners if they like 'em. I know it won't be yours, but might work for a bit. Til we get to Ollivander, and then maybe he can fix yours or you just get a new wand that fits you."
"Maybe that's the only way to break their link," Draco said. "You said, Harry, Ollivander told you that Tom's wand gave you your scar…Maybe the only way to destroy the link is by both of you having a new wand?"
"It's theory, if nothing else." Harry shrugged. "But I can see the reasoning. Perhaps the only way to break the link we share is by severing all the links we have to one another. Same can be said about finding and destroying the horcruxes. Break the links and sever the bond, so to speak."
"Well, give the wand a try, Harry…" Severus suggested. "Something easy."
"Here, try it on the candle. Make it bigger or something." Ron offered.
"Engorgio," The candle didn't grow, but the flames shot upward. "Reducio!" He quickly cast as the fire returned to normal. "Wow. It'll do." He shrugged. "It doesn't feel like mine with the warm fuzzy feeling, but I think it's willing to cooperate. There's a certain degree of willingness to ally."
Harry balanced it on the pad of his index finger, then tossed it up to let it land handle down onto the pad of his thumb. The wand didn't even shake. "Yeah. Yeah, we're good." He wrapped his hand around the handle and slipped it away in his holder up his sleeve.
Somewhere in all that, Hermione had left the area. Either to her section of the tent, or outside for some air. "She's still mad at me, isn't she?" Ron asked.
Harry shoved him a bit. "I think she's just glad you're back," He informed. "Trust me, she was more upset with you gone. Keep telling her that story, about the ball of light and her voice calling to you, bringing you right to us. She'll come around."
"Yeah…" Ron smiled. "Thanks, Harry."
"Anytime." Harry told him.
It was interesting for the rest of the group to see. No matter what inner turmoil Harry was suffering, as Hermione mentioned to them before Ron came back, Harry always knew how to make his friends feel better. When Ron had left, Hermione felt lost and upset, but Harry got her to understand that it would get better and then they had a good laugh about the past.
Here Harry was again, cheering up Ron. It showed just how strong his bonds were to his first and best friends upon coming to Hogwarts. Sure, Harry loved his Slytherin friends too, but nothing would ever take Ron and Hermione's place in his life, no matter how much they might have fought or didn't see eye to eye. It was clear Harry would lay his life down on the line for them, and the truth was that Harry would actually do that for anyone he cared about.
. . .
Almost two months had passed by and the group had lost all ideas of where to go next. Three horcruxes destroyed; the diary, the locket, and the ring. Four remained and one was certainly Nagini, who was definitely with Voldemort, leaving three left to find and two theorized to be Helga Hufflepuff's Cup and Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem. And either one of those could be in Bellatrix's vault. This left one item completely unknown to what it was or where. In their possession, however, was the sword of Gryffindor.
It was the last day of February, and most were sitting with the fact it was now 1998 and they'd been on this mission since August of 1997. Six months, half a year. Still, it hadn't been useless; they got a lot of information. Ron and Hermione had gotten over themselves, well, Hermione forgave Ron for abandoning not just her, but also Harry. No one took offense to being abandoned because they were all there by choice to go with Harry.
"Open to suggestions?" Harry asked. "Anyone?"
"I-I have one," Hermione raised her hand a little.
"Go on then?" Harry invited.
"I think we should go see Xenophilius Lovegood," Hermione stated.
"Luna's father?" Ron arched a brow as Hermione nodded.
"And what information do you hope we'll gain from that visit, Hermione?" Draco wondered.
"I've been…Reading this book over a lot, and the storybook Dumbledore gave me. I keep seeing this symbol pop up," Hermione showed the symbol. The triangle with a circle, and then a line running from the top point of the triangle down through the circle, and ending at the bottom line of the triangle. "I don't know what it means, but it's in both these books…Even in this letter I found from Dumbledore to Grindelwald."
"It means something, and when Scrimgeour gave me the book, Dumbledore's note said he hoped I found the storybook entertaining and instructive." She informed. "Now…Our journey already led us to Godric's Hollow, and in Bathilda's home is where I found this book by Rita Skeeter. Harry, you got that idea from talking to Elphias Doge and Muriel Weasley at Bill and Fleur's wedding."
"Yes, but…What does Luna's father have to do with this symbol?" Harry inquired.
"Xenophilius was wearing a silver necklace with the symbol on it, so I just want to ask if he knows what it's about. It…May have nothing to do with the horcrux hunt, Harry…But right now, it's the only thing that takes us somewhere else and maybe it'll give us another clue." The female teenager remarked.
"I think Hermione's got a point." Ron agreed. "Dumbledore gave us each something that's helped. I got the Deluminator, and Dumbledore hoped that in times of darkness it would light my way. It brought me back to you and Hermione…And Dumbledore gave you the snitch, which only opens at the close, so final battle…"
"But also gave you the sword we found, to destroy horcruxes. Hermione got the book, and Dumbledore hoped it would be instructive. If she keeps seeing the symbol in The Tales of Beedle Bard book, and also the one Skeeter wrote…Maybe going to see Xenophilius is our next stop?" Ron shrugged.
"Alright…." Harry nodded. "We'll go visit him. He lives near your parent's place, Ron. He told me so at the wedding, said just over the hill,"
"We'll go tomorrow then." Narcissa stated.
. . .
After breakfast and packing up, Hermione led the apparition to the Lovegood's home. Getting to the house, Harry knocked on the door and it opened to reveal the man.
"Hello, Mr. Potter-Snape." Xenophilius greeted gently.
"Hello, sir. We're sorry to drop in, but we hoped to have a word with you about something?" Harry asked.
"Of course, come right in." The man stepped aside to allow them into his home. It didn't take long for everyone to get inside, and be sitting, or standing. "What can I do for you all?"
"It's…About something from the wedding. You were wearing a necklace," Harry began as the man easily pulled the chain out and showed Harry. "Yes, that exactly…We were wondering…What is it?"
"This?" Xenophilius smiled. "It's the sign of the Deathly Hallows."
"The what?" The group asked with confusion.
"The Deathly Hallows. I assume you're familiar with the story of the Three Brothers?" Xenophilius asked.
"No," Harry replied with Severus, Sirius, and the Malfoy's.
"Yes," Ron and Hermione answered.
"I-I have it here." Hermione pulled out the book Dumbledore gave her. "Three brothers, traveling along a lonely, winding road at twilight-,"
"Midnight. Mum always used to say midnight…" Ron stated as they all arched a brow. "Sorry. Carry on,"
"Soon they reached a deep treacherous river where anyone who attempted to swim or wade would drown. Learned in the magical arts, the brothers conjured a bridge with their wands and proceed to cross." Hermione continued, pausing a moment. "Halfway through the bridge, a hooded figure stood before them.
The figure was the enraged spirit of Death, cheated of his due. Death cunningly pretended to congratulate them and proceeds to award them with gifts of their own choosing. The eldest brother, a combative man, asked for a wand more powerful than any in existence. Death granted his wish by fashioning the Elder Wand from a branch of a nearby elder tree standing on the banks of the river."
"The second brother, an arrogant man, chose to further humiliate death, and asked for the power to recall the deceased from the grave. Death granted his wish by crafting the Resurrection Stone from a stone picked from the riverbank." Hermione took a breath.
"The third and youngest brother, who was the most humble and wise, did not trust Death and asked for something to enable him to go forth without Death being able to follow. A reluctant Death, most unwillingly, handed over his own invisibility cloak." Ron continued, without even holding the book. The teen had said his mother used to read these stories to him.
"The three brothers took their prizes and soon went their separate ways. The eldest brother traveled to a village where a wizard whom he had quarreled lived. He sought out a duel and fought the wizard using the wand, instantly killing the latter. Leaving his enemy dead upon the floor, the eldest brother walked to an inn not far from the dueling site and spent the night there." Ron went one with the tale.
"Taken by his conscience and lust of the Elder Wand's power, the eldest brother boasted of this wand gifted by Death and his own invincibility. That very night, an unknown murderous wizard crept up to the eldest brother as he slept, drunk from wine. The wizard stole the wand, then murdered the oldest brother by slitting his throat for good measure. That was when Death took the first brother for his own." Hermione began again.
"The middle brother returned to his home where he lived alone. Turning the stone thrice in his hand the figure of the girl he had once hoped to marry, before her untimely death, appeared at once before him, much to his delight. Yet she was sad and cold, separated from him as by a veil." The witch went on.
""Though she had returned to the mortal world, she did not truly belong there and suffered. Finally, the middle brother, driven mad with hopeless longing, committed suicide by hanging so as truly to join her. That was when Death took the second brother for his own." Ron explained the next part.
"Death searched for the youngest brother as years passed but never succeeded. It was only when the third brother reached a great age, he took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. Greeting Death as an old friend, they departed this life as equals." Hermione finished.
"So there ya have it. Those are the Deathly Hallows." Xenophilius got up to get some paper, and a marker, then returned to his seat, using a book for the hard surface. First, Xenophilius drew a circle. "The Resurrection Stone." Then he drew a single line through the circle and slightly higher up. "The Elder Wand." Finally, he drew the triangle. "The Cloak of Invisibility. Together, they make the Deathly Hallows. Together, they make one Master of Death."
"That's not at all grim…" Ron muttered as Hermione elbowed him to shut up.
"That…Mark was on a grave in Godric's Hollow. Ignotus Peverell's," Hermione mentioned. "Sorry, Harry…You were…Having a moment with your parents, I didn't want to drag you away. I'd forgotten about it until now. Mr. Lovegood, does that symbol have anything to do with the Peverell family?"
"Uh…Ignotus and his brothers, Cadmus and Antioch, were believed to be the original owners of the Hallows." Xenophilius stated. "Dear me, we've run out of tea. I'll get some more." The man sketchily grabbed the pot and hurried downstairs.
"Something about this is off," Sirius commented. "He's too uppity."
"Too nervous." Lucius agreed. "We should go. I don't often get bad vibes, as it were, but this is giving me one."
"Right, let's leave." Harry said. "We got the information we came for, we'll discuss it when we're at our next spot…"
The group made their way downstairs as Mr. Lovegood was holding the pot, but not filling it. "Sir, you've forgotten the water. In the pot, for the tea?" Ron mentioned.
"Oh, so I have." Xenophilius said softly.
"It's alright, Mr. Lovegood. We're going to head out…" Harry told him.
"No! No, you can't leave." Xenophilius blocked the door out.
"Sir?" Harry asked.
"You're my only hope…" Xenophilius whimpered. The others were preparing their wands to fight their way out, but Harry lifted a hand to stop them. "They were after you, see…They didn't like what I wrote about you and they took her…They took my Luna away. My Luna…" He approached Harry, moving his hair to reveal the scar. "But it's really you they want."
"Who took her, sir?" Harry inquired, like he didn't already know.
"Voldemort."
No sooner than the words left his mouth, the Death Eaters were flying in, destroying everything as they flew by.
"Link up!" Hermione said quickly as they were ducking to get closer to one another.
"No, no, stop. I have him, right here." Xenophilius pleaded.
"Harry! Harry, come on!" Ron urged.
Harry shot a stunner at the Death Eater about to grab him, and jumped over to grab onto Draco's outstretched hand. As soon as they connected, Hermione apparated them out.
. . .
Hermione must have had a place in mind, they all landed hard on the ground. Lucius had the decorum to break his wife's fall and Narcissa, of course, had been holding onto Draco to protect him. Harry landed hard on his gut, coughing at the force while Ron had quickly got over to Hermione. Severus and Sirius went right to Harry.
"That loon was going to sell us out!" Ron remarked instantly.
"Ron, don't…" Harry groaned as his godfather and husband helped him up. "He's a father and worried for his daughter's safety while she's obviously being held captive by Death Eaters." He mumbled. "Besides, you heard Xenophilius…They only wanted me. You would have been fine."
"Harry's right…You worry about your family all the time. Mr. Lovegood doesn't have anyone but Luna," Hermione added.
"Luna told me her mom died when she was about nine, something about spell-crafting that went wrong." Harry mentioned.
"If Luna's been taken, how many others…" Sirius questioned. "She isn't just a random student either. She's a member of your army, Harry. Any of them could have been taken, same with the Order."
"I would really prefer not to ponder the possibility that Tom has gone out of his way to capture anyone from the ministry battle in 1995, thank you very much." Harry grumbled. "But I am very aware that it is possible. They're obviously trying to draw me out to come save my friend, or friends, if there is more."
"I think we all just need to take a few breaths and calm down. We knew the dangers of the mission when it was decided…For now, I think we should set up camp and then we can discuss the situation." Severus offered.
In agreement, everyone got to work on protecting the area and getting the tent up, then claiming their usual spaces.