•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

As she fell onto grass, Deanna stood up immediately, seeing Hermione running in a circle and waving her wand. "Protego Totalum... Salvio Hexia..." Deanna took out her own wand and helped Hermione out, muttering spells under her breath.

"That treacherous old bleeder!" Ron panted, throwing the Cloak to Harry. "Hermione, you're a genius, a total genius, I can't believe we got out of that!"

"Cave Inimicum... Didn't I say it was an Erumpent horn, didn't I tell him? And now his house has been blown apart!"

"Serves him right," said Ron, examining his cuts to his legs. "What d'you reckon they'll do to him?"

"Oh, I hope they don't kill him!" groaned Hermione. "That's why I wanted the Death Eaters to get a glimpse of Deanna and Harry before we left, so they knew Xenophilius hadn't been lying!"

"Why hide me, though?" asked Ron.

"You're supposed to be in bed with spattergroit, Ron! They've kidnapped Luna because her father supported Deanna and Harry! What would happen to your family if they knew you're with him?"

"But what about your mum and dad?" Deanna's eyes widened at Ron's words but she quickly masked her look of surprise with a blank face. She wondered if they had opened her letter yet though she trusted they didn't do so.

"They're in Australia," said Hermione. "They should be all right. They don't know anything."

"You're a genius," Ron repeated, looking awed.

"Yeah, you are, Hermione," agreed Harry fervently. "I don't know what we'd do without you."

She beamed, but became solemn at once. "What about Luna?"

"Well, if they're telling the truth and she's still alive —" began Ron.

"Don't say that, don't say it!" squealed Hermione. "She must be alive, she must!"

"Then she'll be in Azkaban, I expect," said Ron. "Whether she survives the place, though... Loads don't..."

"Luna's a fighter." Deanna smiled at them, feeling bad that she had only thought of escaping and not about saving Luna or Xenophilius. Then, she remembered Jemina. She didn't have a clue if Jemina did come back or not and Harry, Ron and Hermione did not know if she did return. Was she alright? How many more would have to die or be hurt before they won this war?

"She is," said Harry. "She's tough, Luna, much tougher than you'd think. She's probably teaching all the inmates about Wrackspurts and Nargles."

"I hope you're right," said Hermione. She passed a hand over her eyes. "I'd feel so sorry for Xenophilius if —"

"— if he hadn't just tried to sell us to the Death Eaters, yeah," said Ron. They put up the tent and retreated inside it where Ron made them tea. The place now felt so safe and familiar after that dangerous encounter. Hermione sat down beside Deanna, taking the Hufflepuff's hand in hers and resting her head on Deanna's shoulder. Deanna smiled slightly and intertwined their fingers, her thoughts calming down a bit.

"Oh, why did we go there?" groaned Hermione after a few minutes' silence. "Harry, you were right, it was Godric's Hollow all over again, a complete waste of time! The Deathly Hallows... such rubbish... although actually," a sudden thought seemed to have struck her as she lifted her head off Deanna's shoulder and looked at them seriously, "he might have made it all up, mightn't he? He probably doesn't believe in the Deathly Hallows at all, he just wanted to keep us talking until the Death Eaters arrived!"

Deanna couldn't help her little frown at that as she believed the Deathly Hallows existed.

"I don't think so," said Ron. "It's a damn sight harder making stuff up when you're under stress than you'd think. I found that out when the Snatchers caught me. It was much easier pretending to be Stan, because I knew a bit about him, than inventing a whole new person. Old Lovegood was under loads of pressure, trying to make sure we stayed put. I reckon he told us the truth, or what he thinks is the truth, just to keep us talking."

"Well, I don't suppose it matters," sighed Hermione. "Even if he was being honest, I never heard such a lot of nonsense in all my life."

"Hang on, though," said Ron. "The Chamber of Secrets was supposed to be a myth, wasn't it?"

"But the Deathly Hallows can't exist, Ron!"

"You keep saying that, but one of them can," said Ron. "Harry's Invisibility Cloak —" "

'The Tale of the Three Brothers' is a story," said Hermione firmly. "A story about how humans are frightened of death. If surviving was as simple as hiding under the Invisibility Cloak, we'd have everything we need already!"

"I don't know. We could do with an unbeatable wand," said Harry, turning the blackthorn wand over in his fingers.

"There's no such thing, Harry!"

"You said there have been loads of wands — the Deathstick and whatever they were called —"

"All right, even if you want to kid yourself the Elder Wand's real, what about the Resurrection Stone?" Her fingers sketched quotation marks around the name, and her tone dripped sarcasm. "No magic can raise the dead, and that's that!"

"When my wand connected with You-Know-Who's, it made my mum and dad appear... and Cedric..."

"But they weren't really back from the dead, were they?" said Hermione. "Those kinds of — of pale imitations aren't the same as truly bringing someone back to life."

"But she, the girl in the tale, didn't really come back, did she? The story says that once people are dead, they belong with the dead. But the second brother still got to see her and talk to her, didn't he? He even lived with her for a while..."

Deanna could see concern and fear in Hermione's expression and it may have been due to Harry's talk about living with dead people. So, she squeezed Hermione's hand. "Do you know anything about the Peverells, love?"

"No," she replied, looking relieved at the change of subject. "I looked him up after I saw the mark on his grave; if he'd been anyone famous or done anything important, I'm sure he'd be in one of our books. The only place I've managed to find the name 'Peverell' is Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. I borrowed it from Kreacher. It lists the pure-blood families that are now extinct in the male line. Apparently the Peverells were one of the earliest families to vanish."

"'Extinct in the male line'?" repeated Ron.

"It means the name's died out," said Hermione, "centuries ago, in the case of the Peverells. They could still have descendants, though, they'd just be called something different." And then it came to Harry in one shining piece, the memory that had stirred at the sound of the name "Peverell": a filthy old man brandishing an ugly ring in the face of a Ministry official, and he cried aloud,

"Marvolo Gaunt!" Harry suddenly cried aloud. He looked at Deanna and brandished his ring finger. Deanna was confused for a bit when she remembered the memory of Gaunt flaunting his ugly ring in the face of Ogden.

"Sorry?" said Ron and Hermione together.

"Marvolo Gaunt!" Harry continued, exchanging knowing glances with Deanna. "You-Know-Who's grandfather! In the Pensieve! With Dumbledore! Marvolo Gaunt said he was descended from the Peverells!"

Ron and Hermione looked bewildered.

"Harry, the ring that he made a Horcrux." Deanna suddenly remembered. "Remember he said it had the Peverell coat of arms?"

"The Peverell coat of arms?" said Hermione sharply. "Could you see what it looked like?"

"Not really," said Harry, trying to remember. "There was nothing fancy on there, as far as I could see; maybe a few scratches. I only ever saw it really close up after it had been cracked open."

Deanna could see the widening of Hermione's eyes while Ron was looking at each of them in astonishment. "Blimey... You reckon it was this sign again? The sign of the Hallows?"

"It's not impossible," said Deanna with a grin. "Marvolo Gaunt was an ignorant man who cared only for his ancestry. He may never have known what that ring meant. He wasn't the type to read 'The Tales of Beedle the Bard'. He could have thought the scratches on the stone were a coat of arms. For him, being a pure-blood was everything."

"Yes... and that's all very interesting," said Hermione cautiously, "but Deanna, Harry, if you're thinking what I think you're think —"

"Well, why not? Why not?" said Harry, abandoning caution. "It was a stone, wasn't it?" He looked at Deanna and Ron for support. "What if it was the Resurrection Stone?"

Ron's mouth fell open. "Blimey — but would it still work if Dumbledore broke — ?"

"Work? Work? Ron, it never worked! There's no such thing as a Resurrection Stone!" Hermione had leapt to her feet, looking exasperated and angry. "Both of you, Deanna, Harry, you're trying to fit everything into the Hallows story —"

"Fit everything in?" Harry repeated. "Hermione, it fits of its own accord! We know the sign of the Deathly Hallows was on that stone! Gaunt said he was descended from the Peverells!"

"A minute ago you told us you never saw the mark on the stone properly!"

"Where d'you reckon the ring is now?" Ron asked. "What did Dumbledore do with it after he broke it open?"

Then, Harry went silent for a while, making the other three exchange glances. Suddenly, he pulled out his Invisibility Cloak out of his bag, making everyone confused.

Harry then let out a gasp, he remembered — "Dumbledore had my Cloak the night my parents died! My mum told Sirius that Dumbledore borrowed the Cloak! This is why! He wanted to examine it, because he thought it was the third Hallow! Ignotus Peverell is buried in Godric's Hollow... He's my ancestor! I'm descended from the third brother! It all makes sense!"

Deanna's eyes widened in understanding while Hermione and Ron looked a little uncertain. It did make sense. The Hallows, Godric's Hallow...

"Harry," said Hermione again, but he was busy undoing the pouch around his neck, his fingers shaking hard.

"Read it," he told her, pushing his mother's letter into her hand. "Read it! Dumbledore had the Cloak, Hermione! Why else would he want it? He didn't need a Cloak, he could perform a Disillusionment Charm so powerful that he made himself completely invisible without one!"

Then, the Snitch fell to the floor and rolled from Harry's pouch... Another gift inside. Shock and wonder erupted inside him so that he shouted out. "IT'S IN HERE! He left me the ring — it's in the Snitch!"

"You — you reckon?" Ron looked a little taken aback, along with Hermione. They had no idea where it was going. But Harry and Deanna were grinning at each other because the pieces were falling into place. They had the two Hallows, and they needed to find the final one –

"Bloody hell." Deanna muttered in a serious tone. "He's after the Elder Wand."

Although Ron and Hermione had incredulous expressions on their faces, Deanna and Harry did not look in their direction and pondered hard on what they had just realized with Harry walking to the entrance of the tent and Deanna sitting down and holding her head in her hands. Voldemort was a power-hungry person. He wouldn't let the opportunity of having eternal power pass.

"This is it," Harry said, turning back into the tent. "This explains everything. The Deathly Hallows are real, and I've got one — maybe two —" He held up the Snitch. "— and You-Know-Who's chasing the third, but he doesn't realize... he just thinks it's a powerful wand —"

"Harry, Deanna," said Hermione, moving across to him and handing him back Lily's letter, "I'm sorry, but I think you've got this wrong, all wrong."

"But don't you see? It all fits —"

"No, it doesn't," she said. "It doesn't, Harry, you're just getting carried away. Please," she said as he started to speak, "please just answer me this: If the Deathly Hallows really existed, and Dumbledore knew about them, knew that the person who possessed all three of them would be master of Death — Harry, why wouldn't he have told you or Deanna? Why?"

He had his answer ready. "But you said it, Hermione! You've got to find out about them for yourself! It's a Quest!"

"But I only said that to try and persuade you to come to the Lovegoods'!" cried Hermione in exasperation. "I didn't really believe it!"

As the two argued, Deanna tuned out and closed her eyes, feeling her head ache again. This could only mean one thing... She suddenly stood up, taking the attention of the three who were conversing intensely about the Hallows.

"Deanna?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"I'm fine." Deanna smiled reassuringly at all of them. "I just need a breath of fresh air."

Squeezing Hermione's shoulder on her way out, Deanna broke into a run and once she was a distance away, she stopped when she felt someone behind her again. She knew it. Without even looking at him, Deanna spoke in a firm tone. "What now?"

"You keep on evading me." Voldemort stared at Deanna's back, wondering why she seemed so irritated. He wanted to ask her what and why that was so, but he was more irritated that Deanna kept on escaping. However, he controlled his emotions now because he didn't want to face her anger.

"And I will continue doing so." Deanna answered back in a rough tone before letting out a sigh and facing him with a glare, seeing that he was in a mansion now with a cloak around his figure. "Kindly get lost and leave me alone for now. I'm not in the mood to deal with you."

Voldemort could only frown and stay silent because he knew that Deanna must be in a really bad mood to not even answer back. He only let out a sigh and as he opened his mouth to speak, he suddenly found himself back at the Malfoy Manor with no Deanna in front of him. His heart ached and longed for the badger he wanted to hold again.

The Dumbledore could only let out a sigh when Voldemort was gone, realizing that she should have taken those Occlumency lessons seriously. She went back to the tent afterwards, seeing Harry fuming and silently sitting down at the entrance. She only offered him a smile, and Harry who couldn't really get mad at the only one who understood him just smiled back.

Deanna went in to see Ron already asleep before she beelined to Hermione who was reading a book on the bed, too focused to even see Deanna enter. The badger silently sat down and hugged Hermione immediately, surprising the lion before her eyes softened.

Hermione put down the book and hugged her back, kissing Deanna's forehead as they lay down side by side. "I'm sorry, love, for – "

"Don't apologize. Let's just hold each other." Deanna said in a soft voice, snuggling even closer to Hermione if that was even possible. That made the Granger grin before she hugged Deanna even tighter and sighed in contentment. Needless to say, despite the rough day and the conflicts they had, they found safety and serenity in each other's arms.

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

After their long day, they had decided to stay at the coast they had pitched their tent the whole week. It was quite tense between the four with Harry continuously thinking about the Deathly Hallows, Hermione and Ron persistently disagreeing with him and Deanna who was caught in the middle.

Yes, she believed the Hallows existed and that they were the important in their search, but she knew they had their other priorities like the Horcruxes. She also knew that the power of the Hallows. They destroyed Grindelwald and her father and even threatened the existence of the Wizarding World. That was why she was trying to control her thoughts about those. She couldn't let the thoughts of the Deathly Hallows consume her. Well, she did try talking to Harry, but he was being as stubborn as a mule.

It also didn't help that she started dreaming of Voldemort again. She kept on seeing blurred images. A mountain that seemed so familiar and a skull-like form. She knew that he was using Occlumency to keep them from seeing through his mind. The question was what was he hiding? But with Harry's new obsession, the Horcruxes and the Deathly Hallows, she couldn't really prioritize thinking about.

And as the weeks passed, thankfully, Ron was taking charge and was trying his best to pull himself together. He talked about possible places where they could find Horcruxes and how they could proceed with their plan. They all knew he was doing everything to make up for what happened, but honestly, Deanna was just grateful that someone was taking charge besides her who was exhausted and Harry who was just too absorbed in the Deathly Hallows.

Besides leading the group, Ron was also spending his time, trying to get Potterwatch, the only program speaking against Voldemort, work on the radio. He would mutter random phrases and words while tapping on the radio but to no avail until March came... While Harry was out on guard duty, Deanna and Hermione were quietly reading side by side, the former on fire spells and the latter on Hogwarts: A History when...

"I've got it, I've got it! Password was 'Albus'! Get in here, Harry!" Ron shouted excitedly.

Surprised at the password, Deanna and Hermione quickly knelt down beside Ron while Harry hurried back inside. They were staring at the tiny speaker, from which a most familiar voice was issuing.

"... apologize for our temporary absence from the airwaves, which was due to a number of house calls in our area by those charming Death Eaters."

"But that's Lee Jordan!" said Hermione.

"I know!" beamed Ron. "Cool, eh?"

"... now found ourselves another secure location," Lee was saying, "and I'm pleased to tell you that two of our regular contributors have joined me here this evening. Evening, boys!"

"Hi."

"Evening, River."

"'River,' that's Lee," Ron explained. "They've all got code names, but you can usually tell —"

"Shh!" said Hermione.

"But before we hear from Royal and Romulus," Lee went on, "let's take a moment to report those deaths that the Wizarding Wireless Network News and Daily Prophet don't think important enough to mention. It is with great regret that we inform our listeners of the murders of Ted Tonks and Dirk Cresswell."

Deanna's eyes widened in horror as she exchanged glances with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Dora's father was dead... Damn Voldemort. And Deanna felt the guilt swimming in her. Another life, lost in this war.

"A goblin by the name of Gornuk was also killed. It is believed that Muggle-born Dean Thomas and a second goblin, both believed to have been traveling with Tonks, Cresswell, and Gornuk, may have escaped. If Dean is listening, or if anyone has any knowledge of his whereabouts, his parents and sisters are desperate for news.

"Meanwhile, in Gaddley, a Muggle family of five has been found dead in their home. Muggle authorities are attributing the deaths to a gas leak, but members of the Order of the Phoenix inform me that it was the Killing Curse — more evidence, as if it were needed, of the fact that Muggle slaughter is becoming little more than a recreational sport under the new regime.

"Finally, we regret to inform our listeners that the remains of Bathilda Bagshot have been discovered in Godric's Hollow. The evidence is that she died several months ago. The Order of the Phoenix informs us that her body showed unmistakable signs of injuries inflicted by Dark Magic.

"Listeners, I'd like to invite you now to join us in a minute's silence in memory of Ted Tonks, Dirk Cresswell, Bathilda Bagshot, Gornuk, and the unnamed, but no less regretted, Muggles murdered by the Death Eaters."

Silence fell between the four, and Deanna could only pray for their souls, hoping they were now in peace after the long fight.

"Thank you," said Lee's voice. "And now we turn to regular contributor Royal, for an update on how the new Wizarding order is affecting the Muggle world."

"Thanks, River," said an unmistakable voice, deep, measured, reassuring.

"Kingsley!" burst out Ron.

"We know!" said Hermione, hushing him.

"Muggles remain ignorant of the source of their suffering as they continue to sustain heavy casualties," said Kingsley. "However, we continue to hear truly inspirational stories of wizards and witches risking their own safety to protect Muggle friends and neighbors, often without the Muggles' knowledge. I'd like to appeal to all our listeners to emulate their example, perhaps by casting a protective charm over any Muggle dwellings in your street. Many lives could be saved if such simple measures are taken."

"And what would you say, Royal, to those listeners who reply that in these dangerous times, it should be 'Wizards first'?" asked Lee.

"I'd say that it's one short step from 'Wizards first' to 'Purebloods first,' and then to 'Death Eaters,'" replied Kingsley. "We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving."

"Excellently put, Royal, and you've got my vote for Minister of Magic if ever we get out of this mess," said Lee. "And now, over to Romulus for our popular feature 'Pals of Potter.'"

"Thanks, River," said another very familiar voice;

Ron started to speak, but Hermione forestalled him in a whisper. "We know it's Lupin!"

"Romulus, do you maintain, as you have every time you've appeared on our program, that Harry Potter is still alive?"

"I do," said Remus firmly. "There is no doubt at all in my mind that his death would be proclaimed as widely as possible by the Death Eaters if it had happened, because it would strike a deadly blow at the morale of those resisting the new regime. 'The Boy Who Lived' remains a symbol of everything for which we are fighting: the triumph of good, the power of innocence, the need to keep resisting."

"And what would you say to Harry if you knew he was listening, Romulus?"

"I'd tell him we're all with him in spirit," said Remus, then hesitated slightly. "And I'd tell him to follow his instincts, which are good and nearly always right."

Deanna glanced at Hermione, whose eyes were full of tears, before giving her hand a squeeze which Hermione accepted gratefully before whispering. "Nearly always right."

"Oh, didn't I tell you?" said Ron in surprise. "Bill told me Lupin's living with Sirius again! And apparently Lupin's agreed to Tonks' surrogacy too..."

"Well, what do you have to say about Deanna Dumbledore? It's been a long time since we had talked about her as there is still no word about her whereabouts. Do you think she's been captured by the Chief Death Eater or is she still out there on the run and fighting?"

"There is only one thing I can say about Deanna Dumbledore. She is a phoenix, and she would never let anyone tame her fire and tie her down." Remus answered confidently. "So, Deanna, wherever you are, if you can hear this, we're always standing by you."

Deanna smiled gratefully at that, knowing that they must be worried as hell but they still put their trust in her. Hermione's eyes softened at her smile, making her lean her head on Deanna's shoulder.

"... and our usual update on those friends of Harry Potter's who are suffering for their allegiance?" Lee was saying.

"Well, as regular listeners will know, several of the more outspoken supporters of Harry Potter have now been imprisoned, including Xenophilius Lovegood, erstwhile editor of The Quibbler," said Remus.

"He's alive. That's good to hear." Deanna muttered in relief.

"We have also heard within the last few hours that Rubeus Hagrid" — all four of them gasped, and so nearly missed the rest of the sentence — "well-known gamekeeper at Hogwarts School, has narrowly escaped arrest within the grounds of Hogwarts, where he is rumored to have hosted a 'Support Harry Potter and Deanna Dee' party in his house. However, Hagrid was not taken into custody, and is, we believe, on the run."

"I suppose it helps, when escaping from Death Eaters, if you've got a sixteen-foot-high half-brother?" asked Lee.

"It would tend to give you an edge," agreed Remus gravely. "May I just add that while we here at Potterwatch applaud Hagrid's spirit, we would urge even the most devoted of Harry and Deanna's supporters against following Hagrid's lead. 'Support Harry Potter and Deanna Dumbledore' parties are unwise in the present climate."

"Indeed they are, Romulus," said Lee, "so we suggest that you continue to show your devotion to the man with the lightning scar by listening to Potterwatch! And now let's move to news concerning the wizard who is proving just as elusive as Harry Potter. We like to refer to him as the Chief Death Eater, and here to give his views on some of the more insane rumors circulating about him, I'd like to introduce a new correspondent: Rodent."

"'Rodent'?" said yet another familiar voice.

Deanna, Harry, Ron, and Hermione cried out together: "Fred!"

"No — is it George?"

"It's Fred, I think," said Ron, leaning in closer, as whichever twin it was said, "I'm not being 'Rodent,' no way, I told you I wanted to be 'Rapier'!"

"Oh, all right then. 'Rapier,' could you please give us your take on the various stories we've been hearing about the Chief Death Eater?"

"Yes, River, I can," said Fred. "As our listeners will know, unless they've taken refuge at the bottom of a garden pond or somewhere similar, You-Know-Who's strategy of remaining in the shadows is creating a nice little climate of panic. Mind you, if all the alleged sightings of him are genuine, we must have a good nineteen You-Know-Who's running around the place."

"Which suits him, of course," said Kingsley. "The air of mystery is creating more terror than actually showing himself."

"Agreed," said Fred. "So, people, let's try and calm down a bit. Things are bad enough without inventing stuff as well. For instance, this new idea that You-Know-Who can kill with a single glance from his eyes. That's a basilisk, listeners. One simple test: Check whether the thing that's glaring at you has got legs. If it has, it's safe to look into its eyes, although if it really is You-Know-Who, that's still likely to be the last thing you ever do."

For the first time in weeks and weeks, Harry was laughing, and it made Deanna smile, knowing that they all could use a laugh, and when you need laughs, you can always turn to Fred and George.

"And the rumors that he keeps being sighted abroad?" asked Lee.

"Well, who wouldn't want a nice little holiday after all the hard work he's been putting in?" asked Fred. "Point is, people, don't get lulled into a false sense of security, thinking he's out of the country. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but the fact remains he can move faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo when he wants to, so don't count on him being a long way away if you're planning on taking any risks. I never thought I'd hear myself say it, but safety first!"

Deanna couldn't help but feel wary of that. The mountain. Could it be that Voldemort really is away? And that was why he was pushing her out of his mind?

"Thank you very much for those wise words, Rapier," said Lee. "Listeners, that brings us to the end of another Potterwatch. We don't know when it will be possible to broadcast again, but you can be sure we shall be back. Keep twiddling those dials: The next password will be 'Mad-Eye.' Keep each other safe: Keep faith. Good night."

The radio's dial twirled and the lights behind the tuning panel went out. Deanna, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were still beaming. It was a breath of fresh air for them who had been on the run for so long.

"Good, eh?" said Ron happily.

"Brilliant," said Harry.

"It's so brave of them," sighed Hermione admiringly. "If they were found..."

"The fire never dies." Deanna grinned at all of them. "They would never give up."

"But did you hear what Fred said?" asked Harry excitedly. "He's abroad! He's still looking for the Wand, I knew it!"

"Harry —"

"Come on, Hermione, why are you so determined not to admit it? Vol —"

"HARRY, NO!" Deanna, Hermione and Ron shouted simultaneously.

"— demort's after the Elder Wand!"

"The name's Taboo!" Ron bellowed, leaping to his feet as a loud crack sounded outside the tent. "I told you, Harry, I told you, we can't say it anymore — we've got to put the protection back around us — quickly — it's how they find —"

But Ron stopped talking, and they all knew why. The Sneakoscope on the table had lit up and begun to spin; they could hear voices coming nearer and nearer: rough, excited voices. Ron pulled the Deluminator out of his pocket and clicked it: Their lamps went out.

"Come out of there with your hands up!" came a rasping voice through the darkness. "We know you're in there! You've got half a dozen wands pointing at you and we don't care who we curse!" 

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