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"I still think we should've used Polyjuice Potion." You heard Hermione whispering to Harry.
"No." Harry simply replied. "This is where I was born. I'm not returning as someone else.
The three of you arrived at Godric's Hollow by Apparating. Luckily for you three, Hermione packed winter clothes since Godric's Hollow is snowing. You tucked your hands in your pockets while Hermione clung onto Harry's arm. "I think it's Christmas Eve, Harry." You stated as you looked around the Christmas decorations.
You, Harry, and Hermione stopped by to see a few gravestones in an area. "Do you think they'd be in there?" Harry asked. "My Mum and Dad."
You looked at him. "I think they would. Do you want to check?"
Harry glanced at you and nodded. The three of you looked for Harry's parents; however, you and Hermione found a different grave. You pushed some snow away and saw the same symbol you two found in Hermione's book. "It's the sign." You whispered. Hermione dusted the snow off to see the name engraved below. "Ignotus Peverell."
Hermione turned around to look for Harry. "Hey, Harry?" But you and Hermione found him sorrowfully looking down at a gravestone. He found his parents. You and Hermione approached him, and as you walked closer, you could see his parents' names.
You stood beside Harry while Hermione knelt down and took her wand out, casting a spell to create flowers down at the gravestone. Harry sniffled and quickly wiped his tears away, causing you to hug Harry with one arm. Hermione stood on the other side of Harry. "Merry Christmas, you two," Harry told you and Hermione.
"Merry Christmas, Harry." Hermione leaned on Harry's shoulder, hugging him as well, while Harry tilted his head to yours. You sighed heavily, patting your friend's back until you noticed someone watching the three of you in your peripheral vision. You stood up straight to signal Harry and Hermione. "Someone is watching us. 9 o'clock. By the church." You whispered.
Harry and Hermione looked to the side to see a hooded figure standing by the church, staring at the three of you. The person started walking away. "I think I know who that is," Harry replied.
Harry started following the person while you and Hermione followed him from behind. "I don't like this, Harry," Hermione whispered.
"Hermione, she knew Dumbledore. She might have the sword." Harry looked around and spotted his parent's house and his first home. He approached the gate and looked up at the broken place. "This is where they died. This is where he murdered them."
You, Harry, and Hermione quickly turned your heads to the side when you felt the presence of the same woman who had been watching the three of you by the gravestones. You flinched in surprise while Harry was unbothered. "You're Bathilda, aren't you?"
Soon, you and your friends found yourselves at the older woman's home. You stood behind Hermione, clutching her arm as Harry helped the woman to light the candle. Harry noticed a picture causing you and Hermione to look. "Ms. Bagshot, who is this man?"
When the woman had no reply, Harry didn't press her with the question anymore. The woman walked upstairs, and Harry followed her, ignoring Hermione's calls.
Sighing, you and Hermione looked around the place. "Lumos." You whispered as the light showed at the tip of your wand. "I don't like this at all." You exhaled shakily. Hermione found an article about Dumbledore written by Rita Skeeter entitled The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore.
Suddenly, you and Hermione heard noises and crashing upstairs where Harry way. You immediately ran upstairs to find a snake and Harry wielding a chair as a shield. "Harry!" You were about to hit the snake with a spell, but it quickly jumped up to attack Harry, pushing them both to a room. You looked around when you saw Hermione wasn't with you.
You followed Harry and the snake and saw the snake wrapping Harry to crush him. You shot a spell at the snake's head, causing to snake to crawl away before almost attacking you. Harry threw a brick at its head, and the snake looked back at Harry. You and Harry got out of the room and saw Hermione running up the stairs.
Just as the snake was about to attack Harry again, Hermione shot a spell sending the snake flying down a hole. Hermione grabbed Harry's wand when she saw it was lying on the ground.
You peeked your head out to look for the snake until the snake jumped out. You quickly cast a spell. "Confringo!" You yelled, sending fire to the snake to avoid being bitten by it. Harry grabbed your hand while you grabbed Hermione, and the three of you Disapparated.
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"I'll never forget you, (Y/n). I'll always love you. I'm sorry."
You flinched in surprise when you heard a twig breaking behind you. You turned around and pulled your wand out only to find Harry raising his hands in surrender. "Easy, (Y/n). It's me." You sighed and set your hand down. Harry frowned. "You seem a little bit jumpy today."
"That's what happens when a snake almost tries to kill you and me." You stifled a laugh before sighing and sitting back down next to Hermione, who was busy reading a book. Hermione tore her eyes from the book and gave you a smile, then looked up to Harry. "Are you feeling better?"
Harry sighed. "You've outdone yourself this time, Hermione."
"The Forest of Dean," Hermione answered when she realized what Harry meant. She looked around the snow-covered forest that you three were camping in temporarily. "I came here once with Mum and Dad, years ago."
You smiled. "At least you get to explore the woods. My father isn't fond of forests and deserts.
"It's just how I remember it." Hermione continued. "The trees, the river, everything. Like nothing's changed." Her smile disappeared. "Not true, of course. Everything's changed. If I brought my parents back here now, they probably wouldn't recognize any of it. Not the trees, not the river... not even me."
You held Hermione's hand in comfort. Hermione leaned her head on your shoulder and looked at Harry. "Maybe we should just stay here, Harry. Grow old."
You gently gripped Hermione's hand. "Don't say that..."
Hermione sighed. "I'm sorry." She sat up straight and looked down at her book. "Harry, you wanted to know who the boy in the photograph was. I know."
You looked down at her book, and your eyes widened. "Gellert Grindelwald? That's him?" You looked at Hermione for confirmation, and she nodded.
Hermione handed Harry her book, and he began flipping the pages. "He's the thief I saw in Gregorovitch's Wand Shop." He glanced at Hermione. "Speaking of which, where is my wand?"
Hermione stiffed, and she looked at her friend in dismay. Harry blinked in confusion. "Where's my wand, Hermione?"
You moved aside when Hermione moved away from her seat and pulled down her blanket from the snow to reveal a broken wand of Harry Potter. "As we were leaving Godric's Hollow, I cast a curse, and it rebounded. I'm sorry. I tried to mend it, but wands are different--"
"It's done." Harry sighed. "Leave me yours. Go inside and get warm. I'll take the locket as well."
You and Hermione shared a look before Hermione handed her wand and the locket to Harry. Hermione stood up and got back inside the tent. You looked at Harry, who was starting to wear the locket. He glanced at you. "You too, (Y/n). Get inside."
"I could stay with you."
Harry shook his head. "You'll freeze. You've been outside for hours."
When you didn't move, Harry gave you a look. "Why are you so stubborn?"
"That's kind of a package of me being a friend." You chuckled. "I'm stubborn as hell."
Harry let out a light chuckle and nodded his head in agreement. "Ah, yes. But I'm really serious. You can go inside. I'll manage here."
You stared at him for a moment before getting up and placing a kiss on top of his head. "I know." You gave him your pocket watch. "Just in case it could help you entertain." You said before going inside the tent.
You found Hermione wrapped in a blanket with her eyes fixed on the book she was reading earlier. You sat across from her and looked outside with so many thoughts running around your head.
"You're curious."
"About?"
"Draco Malfoy."
You looked at your best friend, whose nose was still stuck up on her book as she reads. "Of course, I would be curious. He made me forget who he was."
"I would be mad too, y'know," Hermione replied. "But I realized it was for your safety. I mean, I did the same thing to my parents."
"Did I at least know about it? That he's going to use a spell to make me forget about him?"
Hermione paused and glanced at you. When you noticed she didn't immediately respond, you sighed and looked down. "He didn't. Of course."
"I did try to make him tell you. To be fair, both of you are stubborn. I can see why things worked out for you two."
You froze in surprise, and your eyes widened. You slowly looked at Hermione, but her eyes settled at the words in her book. "Things worked out for us two? What do you mean?"
Hermione instantly set her book down when she realized what she had said. "I said too much, didn't I?" When she saw how surprised you were, she closed her eyes in irritation. "Why do I always say too much?" She whispered to herself.
"What?" You asked. "Were... were we a couple or something?"
Hermione bit her lower lip to prevent herself from spilling more information. You groaned. "Mione, please."
"We promised that he would get to tell you everything."
"But what if we didn't survive? Or maybe what if he doesn't survive or get to live to tell me who he is in my life?"
"He will, (Y/n). Hermione reassured. "We all will."
You sighed in defeat and leaned your back against the table behind you. You looked away to stare back at the snow outside. "God, I hope we will."
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"Hermione? (Y/n)?"
Hermione opened her eyes and heard Harry calling her name again. She glanced at you, who stirred at your sleep and snuggled your pillow closer. She cracked a smile before patting your shoulder and exiting the tent to see Harry approaching. "Is everything all right?"
"It's fine," Harry answered. "Actually, you know, it's more than fine." Harry stepped aside and pointed his finger at Ron.
Hermione's eyes widened, and she stood beside Harry as she stared at the ginger. Ron Weasley has returned with the sword of Gryffindor at his grasp. "Hey." Ron greeted with a grin. "Where's (Y/n)?"
Hermione angrily marched her way towards Ron and removed his bag off of his shoulder. "You..." Hermione threw the bag towards him. "...complete..." She picked up a handful of dead leave. "...arse, Ronald Weasley!" She yelled as she threw the leaves at him aggressively.
Hermione's yells caused you to wake up and walk out of the tent. You rubbed your eyes tiredly and saw Ron had returned and being scolded by the angry Hermione Granger. Harry, however, was in joy to see Hermione angrily scolding Ron.
"You show up here after weeks..." Hermione picked his bag again and threw it once again towards Ron. "...and you say hey?!"
Ron was speechless at Hermione's angry rant. Hermione turned around to Harry. Harry's smile dropped instantly. "Where's my wand, Harry? Where's my wand?"
"I don't know." Harry stepped back when Hermione approached him angrily.
"Harry Potter, you give me my wand!"
"I don't have it!"
You ran towards Hermione and blocked her way towards Harry with your arms wrapped around her. Harry would prefer fighting the Dark Lord than facing a wandless and angry Hermione Granger. "Easy, Hermione. Be cool." You told Hermione calmly.
"How come he's got your wand?" Ron asked bewilderedly.
Hermione turned around to face him. "Never mind why he's got my wand."
You looked at Ron and mouthed words to him. "Harry's wand is broken."
Ron softly gasped, slowly nodding in understanding. When you felt Hermione calm down, you released her from your grasp until she noticed the broken Slytherin locket on Ron's hand. "What is that?" Hermione asked. Ron raised the locket up for Hermione to see it clearly. Hermione gasped. "You destroyed it."
Hermione looked back at Harry then back at Ron. "And how is it that you just happen to have the sword of Gryffindor?"
"It's a long story." Harry defended. He walked closer to you and showed you your pocket watch. "Could I borrow this? This was extremely helpful when we found the sword of Gryffindor."
"It could still be used to tell time in hope that she finds his very useful for her travels or missions. Perhaps, she could use this to find the things she yearned searching for."
You looked at him in surprise before nodding. "Oh, um, sure. Didn't know that pocket watch would come in handy."
Hermione glanced at Harry before shaking her head at Ron. "Don't think this changes anything." She was about to walk away, and you were about to stop her until Ron spoke up.
"Oh, of course not," Ron replied. "I only just destroyed a bloody Horcrux. Why would that change anything?"
Hermione stopped in her tracks and turned to Ron. Ron sighed. "Look, I wanted to come back as soon as I left. I just didn't know how to find you."
"So, how did you find us?" You asked curiously.
Ron picked out his Deluminator from his pocket and showed it to you, Harry, and Hermione. "With this. It doesn't just turn off lights. I don't know how it works, but Christmas morning, I was sleeping in this little pub keeping away from some Snatchers, and I heard it."
"It?" Harry asked.
"A voice..." Ron looked at Hermione. "...your voice, Hermione, coming out of it."
Hermione crossed her arms as she listened intently. "And what exactly did I say, may I ask?" She asked with her tone of voice still indicating irritation.
"My name. Just my name. Like a whisper." Ron pressed his lips into a thin line. "So I took it, clicked it, and this tiny ball of light appeared. And I knew. And sure enough, it floated toward me, the ball of light... went right to my chest, straight through me. Right here."
Ron tapped his chest to show where the ball of light went through while directly staring at Hermione. "And I knew it was gonna take me where I needed to go, so I Disapparated and came to this hillside. It was dark. I had no idea where I was. I just hoped that one of you would show yourself. And you did." He looked at Harry and smiled.
Hermione stared at Ron for a while before looking away and returning back to the tent. Harry nodded at Ron, welcoming him back. Ron sighed in relief. Before he could even take a step, you attacked him with a hug earning a surprised laugh from the ginger-haired young man.
"Never leave us again, you big moron." You slightly punched his back. Ron let out a slight cough before hugging you back and nodding. "I won't, I promise."
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Merry Christmas, everyone!
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