deathly hallows lines

[inheritedtales]

Stan? But I thought he was in Azkaban?

Lost an---?

I thought---I thout---

You did?

But that's impossible, Harry. You mean that you did magic without meaning to; you reacted instinctively.

Harry, come back in the house. You aren't still thinking of leaving?

Are you all right? You look awful!

But it was supposed to have stopped! Your scar! It wasn't supposed to do this anymore! You mustn't let the connection open up again-- Dumbledore wanted you to close your mind!

Harry, he's taking over the Ministry and the newspapers nad half the Wizarding World! Don't let him inside your head too!

Hi, Harry.

Oh, Ron's mum forgot that she asked Ginny and me to change the sheets yesterday.

Even if the Killing Curse missed, Mad-Eye still fell about a thousand feet.

Of course we don't want him to be dead! It's dreadful that he's dead! But we're being realistic!

Don't!

Oh... thanks, Ron... I'm sorry... It's just so awf-ful, isn't it? R-right after Dumbledore... I j-just n-never imagined Mad-Eye dying, somehow, he seemed so tough!

C-constant vigilance.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Just trying to decide which to take with us. When we're looking for Horcruxes.

Ha ha. I wonder... will we need to translate runes? It's possible... I think we'd better take it, to be safe.

As we knew he would. You know, I think I will take Hogwarts, A History. Even if we're not going back there, I don't think I'd feel right if I didn't have it with---

No, Harry, you listen. We're coming with you. That was decided months ago-- years, really.

Let's see, I've been packing for says, so we're ready to leave at a moment's notice, which for you information has included doing some pretty difficult magic, not to mention snuggling Mad-Eye's whole stock of Polyjuice Potion right under Ron's mum's nose.

I've also modified my parents' memories so that they're convinced they're really called Wendell and Monica Wilkins, and that their life's ambition is to move to Australia, which they have now down. That's to make it difficult for Voldemort to track them down and interrogate them about me---or you, because unfortunately, I've told them quite a bit about you.

Assuming I survive our hunt for the Horcruxes, I'll find Mum and Dad and lift the enchatment. If I don't---well, I think I've cast a good enough charm to keep them safe and happy. Wendell and Monica Wilkins don't know that they've got a daughter, you see.

Didn't realize that Ron and I know perfectly well what might happen if we come with you? Well, we do. Ron, show Harry what you've done.

Go on, he needs to know!

But hopefully it'll look like I've gone away with Mum and Dad; a lot of Muggle-borns are talking about going into hiding at the moment.

Fleur's sister's a bridesmaid, she needs to be here for the rehearsal, and she's too young to come on her own.

What we really need to decide, is where we're going after we leave here. I know you want to go to Godric's Hollor first, Harry, and I understand why, but... well... shouldn't we make the Horcruxes our priotity?

Don't you think there's a possibility that Voldemort's keeping a watch on Godric's Hollow? He might expect you to go back and visit your parents' graves once you're free to go wherever you like?

Or she.

Yes, but we're still going to have to try and trace the real locket, aren't we? To find out rather or not it's destroyed.

Well, I've been researching that.

There weren't. Dumbledore removed them all, but he---he didn't destroy them.

It---it wasn't stealking! They were still library books, even if Dumbledore took them off the shelves. Anyway, if he really didn't want anyone to get them, I'm sure he would have made it much harder to---

Well... it was easy. I just did a Summoning Charm. You know---Accio. And--- they zoomed out of Dumbledore's study window right into the girls' dormintory.

Just after his---Dumbledore's---funeral. Right after we agreed we'd leave school and go look for the Horcruxes. When I went back upstairs to go get my thing it---it just occured to me that the more we knew about them, the better it would be... and I was alone in there... so I tried... and it worked. They flew straight in through the open window and I---I packed them.

I can't believe Dumbledore would have been angry, it's not as though we're going to use the information to make a Horcrux, is it?

This is the one that gives explicit instructions on how to make a Horcrux. Secrets of the Dark Arts---it's a horrible book, really awful, full of evil magic. I wonder when Dumbledore removed it from the library... If he didn't do it until he was headmaster, I bet Voldemort got all the instuction he needed from here.

And the more I've read about them, the more hore horrible they seem, and the less I believe he actuall made six. It warns in this book how unstable you make the rest of your soul by ripping it, and that;s just by making one Horcrux.

Yes, but it would be excruciatingly painful.

Remorse. You've got to really feel what you've done. There's a footnote. Apparently the pain of it can destroy you. I can't see Voldemort attempting it somehow, can you?

Yes, because it warns Dark Wizards how strong they have to make the enchantments on them. From what I've read, what Harry did to Riddle's diary was one of the few really foolproof ways to destroy a Horcrux.

It doesn't have to be a basilisk fang. It has to be something so destructive the Horcrux can't repair itself. Basilisk venom only has one antitodote and it's incredibly rare---

Exactly. Our problem is that there are very few substances as destructive as basilisk venom, and they're all dangerous to carry around with you. That's a problem we're going to have to solve, though, because ripping, smashing, or crushing a Horcrux won't do the trick. You've got to put it beyond magical repair.

Because the Horcrux is the complete opposite of a human being.

Look, if I picked up asword right now, Ron, and ran you through with it, I wouldn't damage your soul at all.

It should be, actually! But my point is that whatever happens to your body, your soul will survive, untouched. But it's the other way round with a Horcrux. The fragment of soul inside it depends on its container, it's enchanted body, for survival. It can't exist without it.

While the magical container is still intact, the bit of soul inside it can flit in and out of someone if they get too close to the object. I don't mean holding it for too long, it's nothing to do with touching it. I mean close emotionally. Ginny poured her heart out into tha diary, she made herself incredibly vulnerable. You're in trouble if you get too fond of or dependent on the Horcrux.

Oh yes. We will... we're sorry....

Happy birthday, Harry! It's not much, but I hope you like it. What did you get him?

I'll pack these for you. I'm nearly done, I'm just waiting for the rest of your underpants to come out of the wash, Ron---

Ron!

Ron--

Thank you, Ron!

We're fine. How are you?

How can you tell?

Isn't it obvious? They wanted to examine whatever he's left us. You had no right to do that!

That law was created ti stio wuzards passing on Dark artifcats, and the Ministry is supposed to have powerful evidence that the deceased's possessions are illegal before seizing them! Are you telling me that you thought Dumbledore was trying to pass us something cursed?

No, I'm not. I'm hoping to do some good in the world!

You're being modest, Ron. Dumbledore was very fond of you.

He... he knew I liked books.

I don't know. He must have thought I'd enjoy it.

No, I didn't. And if the Ministry hasn't found any hidden codes in this book in thirty-one days, I doubt I will.

Oh, it can't be a reference to the fact Harry's a great Seeker, that's way too obvious. There must be a secret message from Dumbledore hidden in the icing!

Because Snitches have flesh memories.

That's all, then, is it?

It belongs to Harry! It chose him, he was the one who found it, it came to him out of the Sorting Hat---

Muffliato.

Times change. Now, show us the Deluminator.

The thing is, we could have achieved that with Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder.

I know, but surely he wouldn't have singled you out in his will to help us turn out the lights!

Definitely. He couldn't tell us in the will why he was leaving us these things, but that doesn't explain...

Well, exactly. If these things are important enough to pass on right under the nose of the Ministry, you'd think he'd have let us know why... unless he thought it was obvious?

I've no idea. When Scrimgeour made you take it, Harry, i was so sure that something was going to happen!

What do you mean?

Writing! There's writing on it, quick, look!

And as for this book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard... I've never even heard of them!

No, I'm not! Do you know of them, then?

Excuse me? What was the last one?

Ron, you know full well Harry and I were brought up by Muggles! We didn't hear stories like that when we were little, we heard 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' and 'Cinderella'----

So these are children's stories?

But I wonder why Dumbledore thought I should read them?

All the same, we should get to bed. It wouldn't do to oversleep tomorrow.

Always the tone of surprise.

Your Great-Aunt Muriel doesn't agree, I just met her upstairs while she was giving Fleur the tiara. She said, 'Oh dear, is this the Muggle-born?' and then, 'Bad posture and skinny ankles.'

Wasn't he the one who saw a Grim and died twenty-four hours later?

Yes, he sounds a real charmer.

You amaze me.

Viktor! I didn't know you were---goodness--it's lovely to see--how are you?

Ooooh!

We should go and congratulate them!

I simply can't dance anymore. Ron's gone looking to find more butterbeers. It's a bit odd, I've just seen Vikto storming away from Luna's father, it looked like like they'd been arguing---Harry, are you okay?

Ron! Ron, where are you?

Ron! Ron! Tottenham Court Road. Walk, just walk, we need to find somewhere for you to change.

It's okay, I've got the Cloak, I've gt clothes for both of you. Just try and act naturally until--this will do.

Yes, they're here.

Undetectable Extension Charm. Tricky, but I think I've done it okay; anyway, I managed to fit everything we need in here.

Oh, damn, that'll be the books, and I had them all stacked by subject...Oh well... Harry, you'd better take the Invisibility Cloak. Ron, hurry up and change...

I told you at the Burrow, I've had all the essentials packed for days, you know, in case we needed to make a quick getaway. I packed your rucksack this morning, Harry, after you changed, and put it in here... I just had a feeling...

Thank you. Please, Harry, get that Cloak on!

We can't worry about that now. It's you they're after, Harry, and we'll just put everyone in even more danger by going back.

Come on, I think we out to keep moving.

I've no idea, it just popped into my head, but I'm sure we're safer out in the Muggle world, it's not where they'll expect us to be.

Where else is there? We can hardly book rooms at the Leaky Cauldron, can we? And Grimmauld Place is out if Snape can get in there... I suppose we can try my parents' house, tough I think there's a chance they might check there... Oh, I wish they'd shut up!

Let's sit down somewhere. Look, this will do, in here!

Ron, we can't!

We know what's going on! Voldemort's taken over the Ministry, what else do we need to know?

I say we find a quiet place to Disapparate and head for the countryside. Once we're there, we could send a message to the Order.

I've been practicing and I think so.

Yes, I took out all my Building Society savings before I came to the Burrow. I'll bet all the change is at the bottom.

D-diffindo. Oh, I'm so sorry, Ron, my hand's shaking! Diffindo!

Never mind what they're called! How did they find us? What are we going to do?

Nor have I, but I know the theory.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

But how did they find us? How did they know where we were?

You--you don't think you've still got the Trace on you, do you, Harry?

As far as you know. What if the Death Eaters have found a way to put it on a seventeen-year-old?

We're not splitting up!

Don't be silly, Harry, Snape can get in there!

But---

I think somebody's been in here.

That m-must have b-been the T-Tong-Tying Curse Mad-Eye set for Snape!

That... that was...

Before we go any farther, I think we'd better check. Homenum Revelio.

It did what I meant it to do! That was a spell to reveal human presence, and there's nobody here except us!

Let's go up.

Tour scar, again? But what's going on? I thought that connection had closed!

But then you've got to close your mind! Harry, Dumbledore didn't want you to use the connection, he wanted you to shut it down, that's why you were supposed to use Occlumency! Otherwise Voldemort can plant false images in your mind remember---

They're all right, they're all right!

Harry, do you want your toothbrush? I've got it here.

Harry? Harry! Harry!

We woke up and didn't know where you were! Ron! I've found him!

Harry, don't just disappear, please, we were terrified! Why did you come up here anyway? What have you been doing?

Oh, Harry...

Did you make all this mess, or was some of it done when you got here?

I thought so. Every room I looked into on the way up has been disturbed. What were they after, do you think?

But you'd think he'd already have all he needed, I mean, he was in the Order, wasn't he?

Who?

A History of Magic. So your parents knew her? She was an incredible magical historian.

I understand why you'd love to talk to her about your mum and dad, and Dumbledore too. But that wouldn't really help us in our search for the Horcruxes, would it? Harry, I know you really want to goto Godric's Hollow, but I'm scared, I'm scared at how easily those Death Eaters found us yesterday. It just makes me feel more than ever that we ought to avoid the place where your parents are buried, I'm sure the'd expect you to visit it.

Of course, I can see why that's upset you, Harry---

Harry, do you really think you'll get the truth from a malicious old woman like Muriel, or from Rita Skeeter? How can you believe them? You knew Dumbledore!

Shall we go down to the kitchen? Find something for breakfast?

What's the matter?

In your mum's letter? But I didn't see---

Sirius's brother?

That fits! If he was a Death Eater he had access to Voldemort, and if became disenchanted, then he would have wanted to bring Voldemort down!

Ron! RON! Get up here, quick!

They're all about Voldemort. Regulus seems to have been a fan of him for a few years before he joined the Death Eaters...

What?

There's an easier way.

Oh, it could still be here, but under counter-enchantments. Charms to prevent it being summoned magically, you know.

We search manually.