"Harry Potter- Ravenclaw"Chapter 21: At Ease—Luna Is Thriving, and So Is Wyzett…
After months apart, Xenophilius looked like a new man.
His hair, once as wild as a cloud of spun sugar, was now carefully tamed—smooth and neat, with barely a strand out of place. The scruff on his cheeks had been shaved away, revealing a much cleaner face. Clad in a brand-new robe of clashing purple and green, he radiated a kind of eccentric vigor.
Of course, that robe was still a bit too eye-catching. As they made their way through King's Cross Station, it was impossible not to draw a few stares.
"Let me take that!"
Xenophilius took Luna's luggage, and she looped her arm through his, skipping along as they left the station behind.
Once they'd escaped the crush of travelers and were strolling down the street, Xenophilius couldn't help but start chatting about Hogwarts. Letters and postcards from owls arrived often enough—he'd read each one a dozen times—but he still had to ask, even though he himself had once been a student there. It was only by hearing Luna's answers in person that he could truly relax, certain that she was happy at school.
"Sweetheart, are you getting used to life at Hogwarts? Are you eating well? You mustn't go hungry!"
"Daddy, I'm doing just fine… And I'm never hungry! Wyzett and I discovered something—the kitchen is right near the Hufflepuff common room! All you have to do is find a painting of fruit…"
…
"Sweetheart, I remember Snape is the Potions Master… Even when I was a student, he had a sharp tongue. He hasn't been giving you a hard time, has he?"
"Daddy, Professor Snape is sort of like a Blast-Ended Skrewt—if you just follow the blackboard and brew the potion right, he won't say a word. And Wyzett helps me revise, so don't worry!"
…
"Sweetheart, take a day to rest at home, and tomorrow I'll take you shopping for new clothes! Last time you said you caught a cold, I—oh, I felt awful!"
"Don't worry, Daddy! I'm all better now. And Wyzett brews Pepper-Up Potion—the sweet kind that doesn't taste bad at all! Oh, and we started a club…"
When they finally returned to Ottery St. Catchpole, Xenophilius gazed up at the night sky and let out a long, contented sigh.
Now, he could truly be at ease—not only was Luna thriving at Hogwarts, but he was certain of something else: Wyzett was doing just as well.
They followed the familiar path, the lawn beside them shimmering with a silvery, misty glow.
"Frigga!" Luna let go of her father's arm and dashed toward the silver light.
The grass seemed to melt into a pool of floating lilies as the Thestral rose from within, arching its neck to scoop Luna onto its back.
Luna pressed herself against the Thestral's side, her voice soft as a lullaby. "I'm home! Did you like the berries and honey I sent you?"
The Thestral's ears flicked, and it answered with a cheerful whinny.
She looked back at Wyzett and Xenophilius, the Thestral stretching its neck toward the distant, rook-shaped house, then flicking its tail in greeting before slipping into the grass with Luna.
"She's probably taking Luna back to the garden," Xenophilius said, hefting the luggage and quickening his pace. "Let's head home too!"
…
Perhaps it was the wand damaged by Fulgur, but even in the heart of winter, the garden remained lush and green, untouched by any hint of decay or gloom.
Every magical plant seemed to be thriving, their branches swaying in the cold wind but showing no sign of withering.
Luna wandered through the flourishing garden, her steps light as a dance.
The Thestral followed behind, its silvery glow spilling across the plants, bathing everything in a magical light.
Luna reached out to stroke a sprig of lavender, her bright eyes reflecting the silver, her face alight with the joy of coming home.
Watching Luna play in the garden, Xenophilius sniffed and grew a little choked up. "It's wonderful… I kept thinking something was missing from the garden before. Now I know what it was."
Wyzett glanced up at him. "Mr. Lovegood…"
"Ahem, ahem…" Xenophilius coughed, looking away. "It's just a bit cold out here! My nose is red from the chill!"
"It is rather cold," Wyzett agreed with a smile. "Please take care of yourself, Mr. Lovegood. Don't catch a cold."
"Mm!" Xenophilius replied, grabbing Wyzett's luggage. "I'll go start dinner—don't stay out too long, you two!"
"Come look at this!" Luna called, waving Wyzett over. "Doesn't it look even better than the one at Hogwarts?"
Wyzett glanced at Xenophilius's retreating back and hurried to join Luna. "Coming!"
Compared to last Christmas, Xenophilius was far less busy this year.
With an overseas market now open, The Quibbler's sales had grown. He was no longer running things alone—he'd hired several staff members, and even rented a shop near Diagon Alley as the magazine's new headquarters.
With a team to help, Xenophilius could step back from the daily grind and focus on the big picture, leaving him with more time to take Luna and Wyzett out shopping—stocking up for Christmas Eve and picking out new clothes.
…
"I told you before, I'd open a vault for you at Gringotts—here's the key."
Inside the towering marble hall of Gringotts, Xenophilius rummaged in his pockets and produced a gleaming golden key, waving it at Wyzett.
He handed the key to the goblin. "Take us to Mr. Wyzett Lovegood's vault."
The goblin took the key and examined it with utmost seriousness. "Follow me."
Under the goblin's guidance, they crossed the marble floor and entered a narrow corridor.
Torches mounted in clusters along the walls cast a bright glow, and at the far end, they could see rails stretching into the darkness.
Whenever Wyzett found himself in an unfamiliar place, he'd gotten into the habit of using his Oculus Magicae to observe his surroundings.
He sent out a sliver of magical awareness, mapping the area in his mind. As always, the unfamiliar territory appeared as a foggy patch on his mental map—one that would clear in time.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please board the cart," the goblin said flatly. He whistled into the darkness, and with a clatter and a whoosh, a peculiar mine cart rolled out of the shadows…
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