Had little to do with a desire to know the meaning of the triangular rune.

“It won’t be like Godric’s Hollow,” Ron added, “Lovegood’s on your side, Harry,

The Quibbler’s been for you all along, it keeps telling everyone they’ve got to help you!”

“I’m sure this is important!” said Hermione earnestly.

“But don’t you think if it was, Dumbledore would have told me about it before he

died?”

“Maybe . . . maybe it’s something you need to find out for yourself,” said

Hermione with a faint air of clutching at straws.

“Yeah,” said Ron sycophantically, “that makes sense.”

“No, it doesn’t,” snapped Hermione, “but I still think we ought to talk to Mr.

Lovegood. A symbol that links Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Godric’s Hollow? Harry,

I’m sure we ought to know about this!”

“I think we should vote on it,” said Ron. “Those in favor of going to see Love

good –”

His hand flew into the air before Hermione’s. Her lips quivered suspiciously as

She raised her own.

“Outvoted, Harry, sorry,” said Ron, clapping him on the back.

“Fine,” said Harry, half amused, half irritated. “Only, once we’ve seen Lovegood,

let’s try and look for some more Horcruxes, shall we? Where do the Lovegood’s live,

anyway? Do either of you know?

“Yeah, they’re not far from my place,” said Ron. “I dunno exactly where, but

Mum and Dad always point toward the hills whenever they mention them. Shouldn’t be

hard to find.”

When Hermione had returned to her bunk, Harry lowered his voice.

“You only agreed to try and get back in her good books.”

“All’s fair in love and war,” said Ron brightly, “and this is a bit of both. Cheer up,

it’s the Christmas holidays, Luna’ll be home!”

They had an excellent view of the village of Ottery St. Catchopole from the

Breezy hillside to which they Disapparated next morning. From their high vantage point

The village looked like a collection of toy houses in the great slanting shafts of sunlight

Stretching to earth in the breaks between clouds. They stood for a minute or two looking

Toward the Burrow, their hands shadowing their eyes, but all they could make out were

The high hedges and trees of the orchard, which afforded the crooked little house

Protection from Muggle eyes.

“It’s weird, being this near, but not going to visit,” said Ron.

“Well, it’s not like you haven’t just seen them. You were there for Christmas,”

Said Hermione coldly.

“I wasn’t at the Burrow!” said Ron with an incredulous laugh. “Do you think I

was going to go back there and tell them all I’d walked out on you? Yeah, Fred and

George would’ve been great about it. And Ginny, she’d have been really understanding.”

“But where have you been, then?” asked Hermione, surprised.

“Bill and Fleur’s new place. Shell cottage. Bill’s always been decent to me. He –

he wasn’t impressed when he heard what I’d done, but he didn’t go on about it. He knew

I was really sorry. None of the rest of the family know I was there. Bill told Mum he and

Fleur weren’t going home for Christmas because they wanted to spend it alone. You

know, first holiday after they were married. I don’t think Fleur minded. You know how

much she hates Celestina Warbeck.”

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 818