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WHEN Hermione had told us that she wanted to see Xenophilius Lovegood, we thought that she lost her mind.
It wasn't until she explained a triangle symbol had been etched in the copy of The Tales of Beedle and the Bard and it's relation with Dumbledore, Grindlewald and Godric's Hollow that we understood what she was hinting at.
Three days had passed since Ron and I arrived back to their tent after the defeat of the Horcrux, and since then everything was back to the way it was during the past four months, except that Ron and Hermione still on edge with each other (though, that's a bit expected, right?).
Harry and I were always caught in the crossfire as usual yet even if we never voiced it aloud, we were glad that things were slightly back to normal between them at last.
As the three of them bickered about whether going to Xenophilius Lovegood's house was safe or not, I continued to lounge in the living room area of the tent, burying my nose in a book that Hermione brought with her.
When they finally came to a conclusion — Ron sided with Hermione, unsurprisingly, considering how he wanted to get back in her good graces — it took us ten minutes or less to pack everything in the tent and Apparate away.
The morning provided a perfectly cool breeze as the four of us stood on a hillside overlooking Ottery St. Catchpole. I inhaled deeply and stared at the horizon, almost as if I could see my own home over the rolling hills beyond. Homesickness was already gripping at my heart. Not even a few miles away was The Burrow, which didn't really help any better.
"It's weird being this near, but not going to visit," Ron said in the silence.
"Well, it's not like you haven't seen them. You were there for Christmas," Hermione said coldly.
I rolled my eyes. Here we go again.
"We weren't at The Burrow!" Ron laughed incredulously. "Do you think we were going to back and tell them all I'd walked out on you? Yeah, Fred and George would've been great about it, except for the fact I injured Margo, I suppose Ginny too but she'd have been really understanding."
"But where have you two been, then?" she asked us with surprise.
"Bill and Fleur's new place," I said lightly. "Shell Cottage."
"Bill's always been decent to me," Ron explained to which I cut off with, "Don't be daft, Bill loves you." Ron snorted. "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," he continued. "None of the rest of the family know we were 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."
