Chapter 53: The Editor of The Quibbler
The boy at the portrait hole had almost slipped up, about to call Luna 'Loony' before he caught himself. Since Elian's very public confrontation with those Ravenclaw bullies, the cruel nickname had been used much more quietly. No one wanted to provoke the older Gryffindor who seemed to have no regard for rules.
Seeing no anger on Elian's face, the messenger sighed in relief and scurried off.
Elian found Luna standing in the corridor, her Ravenclaw robes seeming a bit too large, her gaze distant as she studied the Fat Lady's portrait.
"Luna? What is it?"
She turned her dreamy, silvery eyes toward him, though her focus seemed to be somewhere just past his shoulder. "Do you have time? The editor of The Quibbler would like to interview you. For a Christmas feature."
The Quibbler. The editor. That was Luna's father, Xenophilius Lovegood.
"The editor… that's your dad, right?" Elian confirmed.
"Yes. He believes the mainstream press, like the Daily Prophet, is dishonest. He'd like your perspective. If it's inconvenient, I can tell him." Her voice was airy, as if the question were of no great consequence.
Elian couldn't help but smile. "An interview? I'll be famous."
Luna considered this with utter seriousness. "I don't think so. The Quibbler has a… selective readership. They aren't very good at spreading news. Becoming famous is statistically unlikely."
Her earnest correction made Elian chuckle. Luna looked at him, a faint, puzzled crease appearing between her brows.
"Anyway," she continued, "could you also ask Harry Potter? My father would like to speak with him as well. Tomorrow would be best."
"I'll let him know," Elian agreed. "But Luna… why does your father want to interview me?"
It was a genuine question. An interview with Harry made perfect sense. The Boy Who Lived was front-page news. But him? He was a curiosity, a footnote in the Ministry's fabricated story.
Luna's gaze drifted to a passing ghost. "My father has his sources. He knows the story in Hogsmeade wasn't as the Prophet says. And I've mentioned you. He believes in printing the counter-tune."
The counter-tune. Of course. In a media landscape dominated by the Ministry's narrative, Xenophilius Lovegood wanted the opposite. And Elian, present at the heart of the incident, was part of that opposite story.
Elian felt no desire to refuse. "Tell him I'll do it."
After parting from Luna, he found Harry and passed on the invitation. Harry, wary of the press but trusting Luna (and curious about her unusual father), agreed.
The next day, Xenophilius Lovegood arrived at Hogwarts, a tall, thin man with wild white hair and an eccentric assortment of robes. Respecting their schedule, he waited patiently.
At noon, Luna led Harry and Elian to a disused classroom. Xenophilius stood by a window, a quill and a roll of parchment already hovering in the air beside him. He beamed at them, his eyes bright and slightly unfocused, much like his daughter's.
(End of Chapter)
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