Chapter 16: Gryffindor's Village

Harry: So…still moping?

Hermione: *staring at a book* Uh huh.

Harry: Because you don't look very mopish.

Hermione: *still staring at the book* Uh huh.

Harry: You're not paying attention to me, are you?

Hermione: *still staring at the book* Uh huh.

Harry: Look, I don't get what the big deal is. He was a pain in my butt, sometimes literally, and added nothing to the team. Why are you so upset that he's gone?

Hermione: *still staring at the book* Uh huh?

Harry: Whatever. Anyway, look, I was thinking…

Phineas: *from inside the bag* That you'd tell me where you are?

Harry: Why the hell would we do that?

Phineas: We could share news. You tell me where you are, and I tell you what's happening at Hogwarts.

Harry: Oh yeah? Like what?

Phineas: Like there seems to be a small group of students protesting everything their poor headmaster is doing.

Harry: Poor headmaster? He murdered his predecessor.

Phineas: I thought you hated him?

Harry: I also hate Snape. What's your point?

Phineas: Well, where are you?

Harry: I never said I'd tell you where I am.

Phineas: …son of a bitch *leaves, not that they could see him*

Harry: Anyway Hermione…

Hermione: Harry, shut up and look at this *points at something in her book*

Harry: Okay, but you know I didn't take Ancient Runes.

Hermione: Good, because this isn't a Rune. Someone just wrote it into the book.

Harry: Then what is… *sees what she's pointing at* Oh, hey, it's Grindelwald's mark.

Hermione: Grindelwald didn't have a mark.

Harry: That's not what Viktor said when he tried to kill Luna's dad back at the wedding.

Hermione: So, any ideas what it might be?

Harry: Eh, if we're talking about it, it'll probably come up on its own soon enough. Speaking of important…

Hermione: You wanna go to Godric's Hollow?

Harry: HEY! I wanted to say that.

Hermione: In any case, it's the only place we haven't investigated, and we haven't got any other clues, so why not?

Harry: Huh, I was just gonna go visit my parent's graves.

Hermione: The biggest problem is that there might be Death Eaters watching the place.

Harry: Do you really think he has the resources for that?

Hermione: He's got three people at Hogwarts, including one of his best.

Harry: …let's just go already. Maybe we can talk to Bathilda Bagshot while we're there. Apparently she knew Dumbledore and my parents. She might even know about the sword.

Hermione: Okay, but we're going to need disguises. I'm gonna get some Polyjuice Potion.

*later, in Godric's Hollow*

Harry: Okay, the disguises I get, but did we need the Invisibility Cloak? This is a mostly wizarding community anyway.

Hermione: You never know who might be watching.

Random bystander: Holy shit, ghosts.

Harry: *pulling off the cloak* We're not ghosts, we're people.

Random bystander: Holy shit, people ghosts.

Harry: That's…typically what ghosts are.

Hermione: Come on Harry, let's see what we can find.

Harry: Interesting that this place has a war memorial despite being mostly wizards *leans a little too close to the memorial* Holy shit, I have a statue.

Hermione: How do you know?

Harry: Because it specifically says my name. And my parents are in this. Look.

Hermione: Huh, so they are.

Harry: So, how does the non-magic believer explain this?

Hermione: Harry, we're on a mission.

Harry: I'm taking that as a "I can't".

Hermione: Harry, graveyard. There.

Harry: I'm gonna ride this win for a while.

Hermione: That's it, I'm finding your parents graves just to depress you.

Harry: Pfft, like that's gonna happen.

Hermione: Found 'em.

Harry: See, not depressed.

Hermione: Then why are you crying?

Harry: *trying to hold back tears* I'm not crying. This is…sweat. Yeah, that's right. Manly, manly sweat.

Hermione: A real man can admit they're crying *sees something* Hey, look at this.

Harry: Is it Dumbledore's family's graves?

Hermione: No, those were over there somewhere. This guy, Ignotus, has the Grindelwald mark on his grave. I wonder if he…

Harry: *full on bawling* CAN YOU SHUT UP AND LET ME MOURN THE FAMILY I NEVER HAD?!