Chapter 54: An Unexpected Invitation
"You must be Elian! My daughter has spoken of you. Thank you for being such a good friend to her at school."
Xenophilius Lovegood greeted them with open arms, enfolding both Elian and Harry in a warm, slightly awkward hug before they could react. His enthusiasm was disarming.
"And Mr. Harry Potter! The famous Boy Who Lived! I've hoped to meet you for an age. Better late than never!"
"It's an honour, Mr. Lovegood," Harry replied politely, though he looked a bit startled.
Xenophilius beamed, clearly not fooled by the 'long-time admirer' line—The Quibbler was hardly a household name—but he took it in good spirit.
With a flick of his wand, a small table appeared, laden with homemade-looking cakes and a steaming teapot. "Some of my own baking. Not house-elf standard, I'm afraid, but passable!"
As they sat, Elian studied Luna's father. The man was tall and willowy, with a mane of white-blond hair even more chaotic than Luna's. His robes were a bright, clashing orange and yellow. The family resemblance was unmistakable.
Then Elian's gaze caught on the pendant hanging from Xenophilius's neck: a simple, stylised line drawing of a triangle with a circle and a vertical line inside it.
The Deathly Hallows.
Elian stared, recognition freezing him for a second. The symbol of the three most powerful objects in this world.
Xenophilius noticed his focus. "Ah! You like it? An unusual design."
Elian nodded. "I've never seen one like it."
"Haven't you? Well, I suppose… no, of course not." Xenophilius's expression turned momentarily sorrowful, likely remembering Luna's brief explanation of Elian's past. "It's a long story. For another time, perhaps. We have an interview to conduct!"
The interview with Harry came first. Xenophilius's questions were direct but kindly asked: the truth about Voldemort's return, Cedric's death, the Ministry's smear campaign. Harry answered honestly, trusting Luna's father and his promise that The Quibbler would not twist his words.
Once Harry left, the atmosphere in the sunlit classroom shifted. It was just Elian, Luna, and her father.
Xenophilius smiled, a softer, more personal smile. "Elian. Luna mentions you often in her letters. It's clear she's very fond of you." He gently smoothed a strand of Luna's hair. "Her mother… left us when Luna was nine. A spell experiment. I've always felt I've failed her, in a way. You're the first friend she's ever written home about."
Elian shifted, feeling unexpectedly put on the spot. The old man's tone held a strange, heavy warmth that felt… paternal. Was he reading too much into it?
Luckily, Xenophilius moved on to the interview. His questions for Elian were blunt.
"The Aurors did not kill those Death Eaters in Hogsmeade, did they?"
"No, sir. They arrived after Professor Flitwick."
"And there was no long-standing surveillance operation, as the Prophet implied?"
"No."
Xenophilius scribbled notes, his quill moving quickly. He asked only what he thought he could get an answer to, and the interview was over in under twenty minutes.
"Excellent! Thank you, my boy. This will make for a very interesting edition," Xenophilius said, rolling up his parchment. "You have a good head on your shoulders."
"You're welcome, Mr. Lovegood. Luna is my friend. It was the least I could do."
Xenophilius's smile turned thoughtful. "You mentioned you've no family… for Christmas. I don't suppose you have plans? Luna and I would be delighted if you joined us at our home. For the holiday."
He gave Elian a look that was both knowing and hopeful. Luna, who had been gazing serenely at a flock of birds outside, suddenly snapped her attention to Elian, her wide, silvery eyes full of silent, anxious hope.
Elian's mind went blank for a second.
Two invitations?
First Hermione, now Luna.
He was, quite literally, speechless.
(End of Chapter)
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