How It All Goes Down
The Deathly Hallows
- The trio finds themselves in a field as the sun sets. Ron and Harry are amazed by Hermione's quick thinking – she intentionally revealed herself and Harry so that the Death Eaters would know that Xenophilius hadn't lied to them, so they won't hurt Luna.
- Worried about reprisals on the Weasleys, she'd thought to hide Ron (who, as we remember, is supposedly quite sick with spattergroit).
- Hermione's frustrated, despite her successful escape; she still doesn't believe a word about the Hallows.
- Ron and Harry argue with Hermione about this. They both think the story might be true.
- Further proof comes in the way of the Peverell family. Hermione's discovered that the name died out, but Harry remembers that he's heard it once before – Marvolo Gaunt, Voldemort's grandfather, said that he was descended from the Peverell family (Book 6, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince). The ring that eventually became one of Voldemort's Horcruxes supposedly had the Peverell coat of arms on it – the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. Could it be that the stone in the ring was the Resurrection Stone?
- Suddenly everything is clear to Harry: his Cloak is the Cloak, and the ring does have the Stone in it.
- He remembers that Dumbledore had borrowed James's Invisibility Cloak the day that his parents were killed – why would he need the cloak if not to see if it was one of the Hallows?
- Harry is certain that he has the Cloak, and that Dumbledore left the ring for him in the closed Snitch. So where is the Elder Wand?
- Finally, Harry figures out what Voldemort is looking for – the Elder Wand. It totally makes sense to Harry. Like him, Voldemort was raised by Muggles, without learning the fairy tales that all wizarding children learn.
- However, he could have heard of the Elder Wand, whose history, as Xenophilius noted, is clearly recorded. It's terrifying to think of what the Dark Lord will do with an undefeatable wand, come to think of it.
- Hermione still doesn't believe it. Ron's not sure. But Harry can't stop thinking about it – what if he found the Elder Wand first? What if he became the Master of Death? Everything pales in comparison to the mystery of the Deathly Hallows.
- The only other thing Harry's thinking about is his scar, and his strange connection to Voldemort – it seems to have gotten weirdly blurry lately.
- As Harry gets more distant, Ron steps up to take charge, leading the group to various different places. Wherever they go, though, there's no luck finding the Horcruxes.
- Ron finally finds the radio program he was looking for – it's an underground, password-accessible secret show called Potterwatch, in which members of the Order of the Phoenix discuss developments in the fight against Voldemort (with code names for secrecy, of course).
- Finally, he succeeds in tuning in. The host of Potterwatch is their old friend, Lee Jordan, and his guests include Lupin, Kingsley, and Fred (or is it George?).
- Lee has some bad news – Ted Tonks and Dirk Cresswell have been captured and killed by the Death Eaters, and Dean Thomas is on the run, accompanied by one of the goblins they were traveling with.
- Kingsley and Lupin discuss the latest political developments. Lupin has a brief message for Harry – he says that they're all with him in spirit, and that he should trust his instincts.
- This second message seems directed at their fight the last time they met, when Harry told him to go home to Tonks and stay with her and their baby (according to Ron, that's exactly what Lupin did).
- In other news, Xenophilius Lovegood has been imprisoned, but not killed; Hagrid was also arrested, but escaped with the help of his giant brother.
- Finally, the last guest, Fred Weasley (code name: either "Rodent" or "Rapier") gives a hilarious little discussion of how to recognize Voldemort and where he might be. Rumor has it he's abroad somewhere.
- Harry is all hot and bothered by Fred's suggestion that their enemy is abroad – he's sure that this means Voldemort's looking for the Elder Wand.
- In his excitement, Harry forgets the Taboo on You-Know-Who's name and says it aloud – and with those three little syllables, they're discovered! Their tent is simultaneously surrounded by captors before they can escape. Jeez, Harry – he must not be named.