ajamas out of his rucksack。
pC0=〃Chapter Twenty： Xenophilius Lovegood〃
bChapter Twenty
iXenophilius Lovegoodib
Harry had not expected Hermione's anger to abate over night and was therefore unsurprised that she municated mainly by dirty looks and pointed silences the next morning。 Ron responded by maintaining an unnaturally somber demeanor in her presence as an outward sign of continuing remorse。 In fact； when all three of them were together Harry felt like the only non…mourner at a poorly attended funeral。 During those few moments he spent alone with Harry； however （collecting water and searching the undergrowth for mushrooms）。 Ron became shamelessly cheery。 〃Someone helped us；〃 he kept saying； 〃Someone sent that doe； Someone's on our side； One Horcrux down； mate！〃 Bolstered by the destruction of the locket they set to debating the possible locations of the other Horcruxes and even though they had discussed the matter so often before。 Harry felt optimistic； certain that more breakthroughs would succeed the first。 Hermione's sulkiness could not mar his buoyant spirits； The sudden upswing in their fortunes； the appearance of the mysterious due； the recovery of Gryffindor's sword； and above all； Ron's return made Harry so happy that it was quite difficult to maintain a straight face。 Late in the afternoon he and Ron escaped Hermione's baleful presence again and under the pretense of scouring the bare hedges for nonexistent blackberries； they continued their ongoing exchange of news。 Harry had finally managed to tell Ron the whole story of his and Hermione's various wanderings； right up to the full story of what had happened at Godric's Hollow； Ron was now filling Harry in on everything he had discovered about the wider Wizarding world during his weeks away。
〃。。。 and how did you find out about the Taboo？〃 he asked Harry after explaining the many desperate attempts of Muggle…borns to evade the Ministry。〃 〃The what？〃 〃You and Hermione have stopped saying You…Know…Who's name！〃 〃Oh； yeah； Well； it's just a bad habit we've slipped into；〃 said Harry。 〃But I haven't got a problem calling him V a150a150〃 〃NO！〃 roared Ron； causing Harry to jump into the hedge and Hermione （nose buried in a book at the tent entrance） to scowl over at them。 〃Sorry；〃 said Ron； wrenching Harry back out of the brambles； 〃but the name's been jinxed； Harry； that's how they track people！ Using his name breaks protective enchantments； it causes some kind of magical disturbance a150a150 it's how they found us in Tottenham Court Road！〃 〃Because we used his *name*？〃 〃Exactly！ You've got to give them credit； it makes sense。 It was only people who were serious about standing up to him； like Dumbledore； who even dared use it。 Now they've put a Taboo on it； anyone who says it is trackable a150a150 quick…and…easy way to find Order members！ They nearly got Kingsley a150a150〃 〃You're kidding？〃 〃Yeah； a bunch of Death Eaters cornered him； Bill said but he fought his way out。 He's on the run now just like us。〃 Ron scratched his chin thoughtfully with the end of his wand。 〃You don't reckon Kingsley could have sent that doe？〃 〃His Patronus is a lynx； we saw it at the wedding； remember？〃 〃Oh yeah。。。〃 They moved farther along the hedge； away from the tent and Hermione。 〃Harry。。。 you don't reckon it could've been Dumbledore？〃 〃Dumbledore what？〃 Ron looked a little embarrassed； but said in a low voice； 〃Dumbledore 。。。 the doe？ I mean；〃 Ron was watching Harry out of the corners of his eyes； 〃he had the real sword last； didn't he？
Harry did not laugh at Ron； because he understood too well the longing behind the question。 The idea that Dumbledore had managed to e back to them； that he was watching over them； would have inexpressibly forting。 He shook his head。 〃Dumbledore's dead；〃 he said。 〃I saw it happen； I saw the body。 He's definitely gone。 Anyway his Patronus was a phoenix； not a doe〃 〃Patronuses can change； though can't they？〃 said Ron； 〃Tonks's changed didn't it？〃 Yeah； but if Dumbledore was alive； why wouldn't he show himself？ Why wouldn't he just hand us the sword？ 〃Search me；〃 said Ron。 〃Same reason he didn't give it to you while he was alive？ Same reason he left you an old Snitch and Hermione a book of kid's stories？〃 〃Which is what？〃 asked Harry； turning to look Ron full in the face desperate for the answer。 〃I dunno；〃 said Ron。 〃Sometimes I've thought； when I've been a bit hacked off； he was having a laugh or a150a150 or he just wanted to make it more difficult； But I don't think so； not anymore。 He knew what he was doing when he gave me the Deluminator； didn't he？ He a150a150 well；〃 Ron's ears turned bright red and he became engrossed in a tuft of grass at his feet； which he prodded with his toe； 〃he must've known I'd run out on you。〃 〃No；〃 Harry corrected him。 〃He must've known you'd always want to e back。〃 Ron looked grateful； but still awkward。 Partly to change the subject； Harry said； 〃Speaking of Dumbledore； have you heard what Skeeter wrote about him？〃 〃Oh yeah；〃 said Ron at once； 〃people are talking about it quite a lot。 'Course； if things were different it'd be huge news； Dumbledore being pals with Grindelwald； but now it's just something to laugh about for people who didn't like Dumbledore； and a bit of a slap in the face for everyone who thought he was such a good bloke。 I don't know that it's such a big deal； though。 He was really young when they a150a150〃 〃Our age；〃 said Harry； just as he had retorted to Hermione； and something in his face seemed to decide Ron against pursuing the subject。 A large spider sat in the middle of a frosted web in the brambles。 Harry took aim at it with the wand Ron had given him the previous night； which
Hermione had since condescended to examine； and had decided was made of blackthorn。 〃*Engorgio*〃 〃The spider gave a little shiver； bouncing slightly in the web。 Harry tried again。 This time the spider grew slightly larger。 〃Stop that；〃 said Ron sharply； 〃 I'm sorry I said Dumbledore was young； okay？〃 Harry had forgotten Ron's hatred of spiders。 〃Sorry a150a150 *Reducio*〃 The spider did not shrink。 Harry looked down at the blackthorn wand。 Every minor spell he had cast with it so far that day had seemed less powerful than those he had produced with his phoenix wand。 The new one felt intrusively unfamiliar； like having somebody else's hand sewn to the end of his arm。 〃You just need to practice；〃 said Hermione； who had approached them noiselessly from behind and had stood watching anxiously as Harry tried to enlarge and reduce the spider。 〃It's all a matter of confidence Harry。〃 He knew why she wanted it to be all right； She still felt guilty about breaking his wand。 He bit back the retort that sprung to his lips； that she could take the blackthorn wand if she thought it made no difference； and he would have hers instead。 Keen for them all to be friends again； however； he agreed； but when Ron gave Hermione a tentative smile； she stalked off and vanished behind her book once more。 All three of them returned to the tent when darkness fell； and Harry took first watch。 Sitting in the entrance； he tried to make the blackthorn wand levitate small stones at his feet； but his magic still seemed clumsier and less pow