A few days later, Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour arrives at The Burrow to give Harry, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger bequests from Albus Dumbledore's will. Ron receives Dumbledore's Deluminator, and Hermione has been left a children's book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Harry inherits Godric Gryffindor's sword and the Snitch he caught in his first-ever Quidditch match, although Scrimgeour withholds the sword. Later, the Snitch reveals a cryptic inscription in Dumbledore's handwriting: "I open at the close." Inside Hermione's book is an unusual hand-drawn symbol.
The search begins
During Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding reception, Kingsley Shacklebolt's Patronus arrives, announcing that Scrimgeour is dead and the Ministry is now under Voldemort's control. As Death Eaters approach, Harry, Ron and Hermione disapparate, ultimately taking refuge in 12 Grimmauld Place. There, Harry deduces that Sirius Black's late brother Regulus was the "R.A.B" who removed the locket Horcrux from the sea cave. Hermione recalls seeing a locket amongst house-elf Kreacher's possessions. Kreacher reveals that he placed the locket Horcrux in the cave for Voldemort, and Regulus died retrieving it. The Horcrux has fallen into Dolores Umbridge's possession. The trio infiltrate the Ministry of Magic disguised by Polyjuice Potion and recover the locket, but their hiding place at Grimmauld Place is compromised, forcing them to flee.
The trio learn that the Sword of Gryffindor the Ministry confiscated is a replica. Harry wants to find the real one because it can destroy Horcruxes, but Ron, frustrated that Harry has no real plan, leaves the group. Harry and Hermione go to Godric's Hollow to search for the sword there, but they are ambushed by Nagini and Voldemort. During their escape, Hermione accidentally breaks Harry's wand.
In the Forest of Dean, a doe-shaped Patronus leads Harry to an icy pond containing the Gryffindor sword. As Harry attempts to retrieve it, the locket Horcrux around his neck begins strangling him. He is saved by Ron, who returns using the Deluminator and destroys the locket with the sword. Reunited with his friends, Ron warns them that Voldemort's name is now Tabooed - uttering it reveals a person's location to bounty hunters, known as Snatchers.
The Deathly Hallows
The trio learn from Xenophilius Lovegood, Luna's father, that the mysterious symbol represents the three Deathly Hallows: the Elder Wand, Resurrection Stone, and Invisibility Cloak. When pressed about Luna's absence, Lovegood admits that Death Eaters abducted her in retaliation for supporting Harry in his paper, The Quibbler. Fearing for Luna's safety, he has alerted the Ministry that the trio are there, but they escape.
Harry is convinced Voldemort is seeking the Elder Wand. When he inadvertently speaks Voldemort's name, they are immediately captured by Snatchers and imprisoned at Malfoy Manor, along with Luna, Dean, Ollivander and Griphook. Finding Gryffindor's sword among the trio's possessions, Bellatrix Lestrange worries they have broken into her Gringotts vault. Dobby apparates into the cellar and rescues Luna, Dean, and Ollivander, prompting Peter Pettigrew to investigate the noise. He throttles Harry, but reminded that he owes a life debt, Pettigrew loosens his grip, causing his own silver hand to choke him to death in retribution. Harry and Ron rush upstairs to rescue Hermione. Ron disarms Bellatrix and Harry takes Draco's wand. Dobby reappears, and they disapparate to Bill and Fleur Weasley's cottage. As they escape, Bellatrix throws a knife that kills Dobby.
At the cottage, Ollivander confirms the Elder Wand's existence and says that a wand can transfer its allegiance if the previous owner is defeated or disarmed. Bellatrix's behaviour convinces the trio that another Horcrux is hidden in the Lestrange vault. Aided by Griphook, they infiltrate Gringotts Bank and retrieve Hufflepuff's Cup Horcrux.
Meanwhile, Voldemort opens Dumbledore's tomb and steals the Elder Wand. Dumbledore captured it after defeating the dark wizard Grindelwald in a duel. Voldemort believes it is the only wand powerful enough to defeat Harry. Voldemort also realizes that his Horcruxes are being destroyed; his mind link with Harry unintentionally reveals that another Horcrux is hidden at Hogwarts.