In Nomine Amoris

Chapter Fourteen: Unrequited Love

"In his heart...eagle eyes...never knew..." Hermione was muttering to herself, studying the piece of paper Harry had given her as they and Ron descended the main stair of the mansion.

The trio's luggage was exactly where it had been when Harry left Ron and Hermione to their verbal duel some hours ago. Hermione walked over to her trunk, never taking her eyes off Gryffindor's poem, and undid all the snaps with one hand. She lifted the lid to reveal to Harry and Ron a very organized miniature library.

She revolved to find Harry and Ron gaping at the piles of books before them and simply rolled her eyes at them.

"As if you expected less," she sniffed. "Now, I think our answer's going to be in the 1993 edition..."

"There are yearly editions?" Ron marveled.

"Well, yes, the history of Hogwarts grows every year, doesn't it?" said Hermione, sliding one book from its place. "And they're always finding new information about the school. Even Dumbledore didn't know everything about--" she stopped abruptly in her speech at the unpleasant expression on Harry's face. "Sorry," she apologized. "I know you don't fancy talking about him, Harry."

"No," Harry shook his head. "It's all right," he assured her. "He's still with us anyway, by some means more than others." He noticed Ron and Hermione exchange uneasy glances, but dismissed it. They could not possibly understand what he spoke of--neither of the two was hearing disembodied voices of those past on a slightly regular basis.

"So," prompted Harry, "what's with this letter, Hermione?" He gestured to the nearly forgotten note in her hand.

"Oh! Yes," she flipped open the book that lay on her lap and ran her finger down the table of contents. "Page 315, 'The Founders Four Examined.'"

Hermione turned to the suggested page with a sigh, and began to read.

"The contents of this section of Hogwarts, a History are meant to be taken as insight rather than truth. Not much cold, hard fact may be established of the four founders of Hogwarts. Many a legend surrounds their mystique, but no historian has determined the exact goings-on of the founders' lives.

"Godric Gryffindor, a wizard knight of the Scottish highlands known for his majestic bravery, was the first to suggest the possibility of a school for the magical community of Britain. His colleagues Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin heartily agreed to the idea of educating the young of our world. And so, Hogwarts was born.

...

"The great difference between the two men of the founders became more greatly apparent a few years after Hogwarts' grand opening. Slytherin's cunning clashed with Gryffindor's courage and these contrasting characteristics caused the utmost rift among the friends turned enemies.

"One legend tells us the root of Slytherin and Gryffindor's rivalry was an issue of love--both vied for the heart of Rowena Ravenclaw. Gryffindor's love was purest, but Slytherin's cunning won Ravenclaw over, melding perfectly together with her cleverness. According to this particular legend, unrequited love can be a silent killer..."

"Of course!" Hermione exclaimed brightly.

Ron raised a ginger eyebrow. "Care to enlighten us?"

Hermione grabbed the note and directed the boys' gaze to the last line. "Hiss. Shouldn't it be 'his'? And 'hiss' could be a reference to a certain snake among the founders?"

"Wow, Hermione," Harry smiled. "I wonder how you do it."

Hermione blushed modestly at the compliment, and they took all they had just learned from Hogwarts, a History into consideration.

"So," Ron aroused everyone out of thought, "I guess we're going to have to find Gryffindor's heart to destroy this Horcrux?"

"Let's not jump to any mad conclusions," Hermione pointed out quickly. "We aren't sure Voldemort made this object--whatever it is, a brooch by the shape of it--into a Horcrux."

"I see what you're saying," Harry agreed. "Why would he choose an object of Gryffindor's love for Ravenclaw? If it has to do with love?"

"It could have been a way to spite Gryffindor's love..." Ron reflected. "You know, mock it, because Slytherin won out in the end..."

Harry and Hermione stared at him, open-mouthed. "Ron," Hermione managed to say, "that's--it's brilliant, that's what it is!" She seized him to give him a congratulatory kiss.

"Okay, okay," Harry said after a few seconds' worth of his friends' snogging. "One condition, I believe, of this quest is that I mustn't have to endure too much public displays of affection between the two of you. Oh, you can still do it," he affirmed as their faces fell, "just do it privately, as a rule of good thumb."

"You know," he continued, "this isn't going to be easy. We don't have many clues as to where to start, besides Dumbledore's letter. These next months--or years, it may very possibly come to that--will be stressful. Very stressful."

"We can do it, Harry," Hermione reassured him. "Together we can figure it out."

"Okay," Ron acquiesced. "Where do we start?"

"The beginning, of course," Hermione told him. "It lies in his heart..."

"That really is disgusting," Ron grimaced. "Are we going to have to disturb Gryffindor's place of eternal rest, or something?"

"Oh, no, no, no," Hermione corrected. "Though I wouldn't put it past Voldemort to unsettle a grave...see, Ron, poetry is full of metaphors and symbolic imagery. Wouldn't it make more sense for his heart to mean the heart of--say--a lion?"

"The heart of a lion?" Harry considered this. "So it might be...at Hogwarts? ...In the crest?"

"Again, jumping to conclusions," Hermione reminded them. "I'm not saying it couldn't be there, but think of all the pictures, portraits, statues, tapestries--anything!--that have lions as a part of them, in Hogwarts alone."

Harry frowned. "Well, it's one place to look..."

The entrance hall was then filled with the sound of Ron's grumbling stomach.

"Er...have we got anything to eat?" he asked timidly.

Hermione put her palm to her face. "Oh, how could I have forgotten? Harry, we haven't any food!"

"No, it's all right," Harry told her. "We can find some in town."

"What town?" Hermione said incredulously. "You saw the place, Harry. It's nearly deserted!"

"Maybe that's because no one else was up at the crack of dawn like us?" Ron pointed out in a laughable tone.

"Point taken," Hermione huffed. "But it's not out of the question."

"Let's just take a look around," Harry suggested. "This might be a far corner of the wizarding world, but there is an apothecary on the main street. Shouldn't that be a sign that this is indeed--at least partially--a magical community?"

"I suppose so," Hermione consented. "And we should get going, before Ron's stomach eats itself."

Ron harrumphed. "As long as we get something, I'm happy."

"Right, then," Harry resolved, wanting desperately to avoid one of Ron and Hermione's lovers' quarrels. He reached into his rucksack and pulled out some disguise concealing make-up that Ginny had given him--a magical creation of Fred and George, and he proceeded to cover his scar with it. "Just a precaution," he explained to his friends.

With no further ado, the trio gathered a few things to bring with them into town, and exited the extravagant mansion, which disappeared behind them. To the friends' surprise, the ghost town before them had completely transformed into a bustling village. And to their even greater shock, all the occupants were, in some way or another--well, they were magical beings, but they most certainly were not wizards and witches.