〃What？〃
〃Look at this！〃 The grave was extremely old； weathered so that Harry could hardly make out the name。 Hermione showed him the symbol beneath it。
〃Harry； that's the mark in the book！〃
He peered at the place she indicated： The stone was so worn that it was hard to make out what was engraved there； though there did seem to be a triangular mark beneath the nearly illegible name。
〃Yeah 。 。 。 it could be。 。 。 。〃
Hermione lit her wand and pointed it at the name on the headstone。
〃It says Ig … Ignotus； I think。 。 。 。〃 〃I'm going to keep looking for my parents； all right？〃 Harry told her； a slight edge to his voice； and he set off again； leaving her crouched beside the old grave。
Every now and then he recognized a surname that； like Abbott； he had met at Hogwarts。 Sometimes there were several generations of the same Wizarding family represented in the graveyard： Harry could tell from the dates that it had either died out； or the current members had moved away from Godric's Hollow。 Deeper and deeper amongst the graves he went； and every time he reached a new headstone he felt a little lurch of apprehension and anticipation。
The darkness and the silence seemed to bee； all of a sudden； much deeper。 Harry looked around； worried； thinking of dementors； then realized that the carols had finished； that the chatter and flurry of churchgoers were fading away as they made their way back into the square。 Somebody inside the church had just turned off the lights。
Then Hermione's voice came out of the blackness for the third time； sharp and clear from a few yards away。
〃Harry； they're here 。 。 。 right here。〃
And he knew by her tone that it was his mother and father this time： He moved toward her； feeling as if something heavy were pressing on his chest； the same sensation he had had right after Dumbledore had died； a grief that had actually weighed on his heart and lungs。
The headstone was only two rows behind Kendra and Ariana's。 It was made of white marble； just like Dumbledore's tomb； and this made it easy to read； as it seemed to shine in the dark。 Harry did not need to kneel or even approach very close to it to make out the words engraved upon it。
JAMES POTTER LILY POTTER
BORN 27 MARCH 1960 BORN 30 JANUARY 1960
DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981 DIED 31 OCTOBER 1981
iThe last enemy that shall be destroyed is death。i
Harry read the words slowly； as though he would have only one chance to take in their meaning； and he read the last of them aloud。
〃'The last enemy that shall be defeated is death' 。 。 。〃 A horrible thought came to him； and with a kind of panic。 〃Isn't that a Death Eater idea？ Why is that there？〃
〃It doesn't mean defeating death in the way the Death Eaters mean it； Harry；〃 said Hermione； her voice gentle。 〃It means 。 。 。 you know 。 。 。 living beyond death。 Living after death。〃
But they were not living； thought Harry。 They were gone。 The empty words could not disguise the fact that his parents' moldering remains lay beneath snow and stone； indifferent； unknowing。 And tears came before he could stop them； boiling hot then instantly freezing on his face； and what was the point in wiping them off or pretending？ He let them fall； his lips pressed hard together； looking down at the thick snow hiding from his eyes the place where the last of Lily and James lay； bones now； surely； or dust； not knowing or caring that their living son stood so near； his heart still beating； alive because of their sacrifice and close to wishing； at this moment； that he was sleeping under the snow with them。
Hermione had taken his hand again and was gripping it tightly。 He could not look at her； but returned the pressure； now taking deep； sharp gulps of the night air； trying to steady himself； trying to regain control。 He should have brought something o give them； and he had not thought of it； and every plant in the graveyard was leafless and frozen。 But Hermione raised her wand； moved it in a circle through the air； and a wreath of Christmas roses blossomed before them。 Harry caught it and laid it on his parents' grave。
As soon as he stood up he wanted to leave： He did not think he could stand another moment there。 He put his arm around Hermione's shoulders； and she put hers around his waist； and they turned in silence and walked away through the snow； past Dumbledore's mother and sister； back toward the dark church and the out…of…sight kissing gate。
pC0=〃Chapter Seventeen： Bathilda's Secret〃
bChapter Seventeen
iBathilda's Secretib
〃Harry； stop。〃 〃What's wrong？〃 They had only just reached the grave of the unknown Abbott。 〃There's someone there。 Someone watching us。 I can tell。 There； over by the bushes。〃 They stood quite still； holding on to each other； gazing at the dense black boundary of the graveyard。 Harry could not see anything。 〃Are you sure？〃
〃I saw something move。 I could have sworn I did。。。〃 She broke from him to free her wand arm。 〃We look like Muggles；〃 Harry pointed out。 〃Muggles who've just been laying flowers on your parents' grave？ Harry； I'm sure there's someone over there！〃 Harry thought of A History of Magic； the graveyard was supposed to be haunted； what if a150a150？ But then he heard a rustle and saw a little eddy of dislodged snow in the bush to which Hermione had pointed。 Ghosts could not move snow。 〃It's a cat；〃 said Harry； after a second or two； 〃or a bird。 If it was a Death Eater we'd be dead by now。 But let's get out of here； and we can put the Cloak back on。〃 They glanced back repeatedly as they made their way out of the graveyard。 Harry； who did not feel as sanguine as he had pretended when reassuring Hermione； was glad to reach the gate and the slippery pavement。 They pulled the Invisibility Cloak back over themselves。 The pub was fuller than before。 Many voices inside it were now singing the carol that they had heard as they approached the church。 For a moment； Harry considered suggesting they take refuge inside it； but before he could say anything Hermione murmured； 〃Let's go this way；〃 and pulled him down the dark street leading out of the village in the opposite direction from which they had entered。 Harry could make out the point where the cottages ended and the lane turned into open country again。 They walked as quickly as they dared； past more windows sparkling with multicolored lights； the outlines of Christmas trees dark through the curtains。 〃How are we going to find Bathilda's house？〃 asked Hermione； who was shivering a little and kept glancing back over her shoulder。 〃Harry？ What do you think？ Harry？〃 She tugged at this arm； but Harry was not paying attention。 He was looking toward the dark mass that stood at the very end of this row of houses。 Next moment he sped up； dragging Hermione along with him； she slipped a little on the ice。 〃Harry a150a150〃 〃Look 。。。 Look at it； Hermione 。。。〃 〃I don't 。。。 oh！〃 He could see it； the Fidelius Charm must have died with James and Lily。 The hedge had grown wild in the sixteen years since Hagrid had taken Harry from the rubble that lay scattered amongst the waist…high grass。 Most of the cottage was still standing； though entirely covered in the dark ivy and snow； but the right side of the top floor had been blown apart； that； Harry was sure； was where