Chapter 12
The end of the Christmas holidays was coming and the group of four young wizards were no further advanced in the discovery of a new Horcrux even if an atmosphere of resolute optimism reigned since the destruction of the locket. With the sword of Gryffindor in their possession, nothing seemed impossible to the young people. It should be noted, however, that the two most objective and realistic people in the quartet, namely Edward and Hermione, reminded Harry and Ron that it was better not to sell the Hippogriff's skin before killing him. There was still the cup, an object belonging either to Ravenclaw or to Gryffindor, Nagini, that damned filthy beast, and the Dark Lord himself... to this already very long list, Harry was secretly adding his own death, which did not was not to make him happy.
This morning, as Hermione had her nose buried in Dumbledore's tome and Edward was training Harry in wandless magic, the young witch suddenly asked:
"Edward?"
A ball of fire escaped from the hands of the young alchemist, just missed Harry who had bent down just in time and went crashing against a bush which ignited immediately. Edward, slightly annoyed, said, "And that's a perfect demonstration of the wandless Incendio spell. Of course, like all wandless spells, it requires total concentration, which is why, Hermione, you mustn't disturb me when I cast one except in the event of near death…”
"At the same time," Ron countered pertinently and who was coming to defend his girlfriend, "in a fight, there will be tons of things that will come to distract you. If wandless magic requires total silence and absolute concentration, this is not certainly isn't the best way to fight in a duel…”
"Yeah, but in case you haven't noticed, Ron, Harry doesn't have his wand anymore. He must therefore learn to use wandless magic. It's essential," Edward said, in a slightly ironic voice.
"Um, guys, we could ask Hermione why she interrupted us before criticizing her..." Harry interjected, who especially wanted the debate to move away from his beloved holly wand, the ends of which he kept in the bag around his neck.
"Thank you, Harry. Edward, I wanted to ask you if you know more about this symbol. I think I saw it around Xenophilius Lovegood's neck at the wedding, but it was you who stayed with him the most… So? Does this match?" asked the young girl, pointing in Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore and the tales of Beedle the Bard the corresponding page: you could see a triangle that framed a circle, all separated in the middle by a line. The symbol returned either above the title of the tale, or as a signature used by Dumbledore when he wrote to his friend Grindelwald.
Edward leaned over and confirmed with a nod that it was indeed the same symbol worn by the editor and publisher of The Quibbler. He then added:
“He told Krum and me briefly about it. Apparently it was some sort of quest for what he called the Deathly Hallows. Unfortunately, I believe only he knew exactly what he was talking about. And since the Quibbler went into hiding, he's certainly not home anymore..."
"We could find out from the Deluminator!" Ron exclaimed, taking the strange instrument from his pocket before adding, "If he doesn't detect Mr. Lovegood, he will certainly discover Luna! After all, she is part of the Circle and I am sure the Deluminator will find her. Like Ginny!”
And, without waiting, he pressed a button, clearly pronouncing Luna Lovegood's name. Immediately, a bubble began to appear and they saw Luna making tea in a cramped space but whose outside we could see through a window. The girl with silver gray eyes immediately turned her head towards them and stared at them in a strange way, as if she really saw them. However, the group was however certain that, from the experience with Ginny, she certainly could not see them… This obviously did not prevent Luna from turning around and asking her father aloud where the cups of coffee were. extra tea since he was soon to have friends over. The four friends looked at each other, puzzled, wondering how the hell their friend had spotted them, but shrugged: it was Luna, Luna who apparently had a knack for spotting the invisible…
So the group hurriedly packed up their belongings and covered their tracks before apparating based on the scenery they had seen through the window of where Luna was standing. They landed on a cliff by the sea, probably in Scotland. The wind was blowing hard that day, and the spray whipped their faces. They heard someone call them and the four wizards turned around and found themselves faced with an unusual sight: Luna was in front of what seemed to be a cross between a gypsy trailer and a double-decker bus. The strange caravan was painted with bright and cheerful colors that made it shine in the austere landscape that surrounded them.
The five friends threw themselves into each other's arms, happy to find themselves in perfect health, safe and sound. They then headed to the trailer where Xenophilius Lovegood was waiting for them with his wand out and looking at Luna as if she were the apple of his eye.
"Are these your friends, Luna?" he asked with a worried look, wanting to place himself between his daughter and the visitors.
"Yes dad, don't worry! I present to you Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. You already know Ronald Weasley and Edward Elric. They come to ask us for advice before, I believe."
“I would be very honored," Luna's father said, ushering them all into the preposterous trailer.
The inside of the caravan was even more unusual than the outside and yet the four young people would never have believed it possible. Although the interior of the trailer was much larger than the exterior let it appear, as was often the case in witch dwellings, the space he was in seemed cramped, as if someone had wanted to bring the contents of a large house in the trailer, which, Harry thought, must have been. After all, very few people would have wanted to leave their personal belongings and all those little things that were so dear to the hands of vandals like the Death Eaters. Suddenly, the Lovegoods had probably tried to bring as many memories as possible into their trailer so as not to abandon anything to the barbarians who were the Dark Lord's henchmen.
The space was occupied by the printing press on which sat a tray with mismatched cups and two teapots of different shapes. Meanwhile, Hermione pulled Luna aside, pointing the flare horn at her urgently. Luna shrugged, vaguely replying that it was her father's Christmas present and that she had saved it in case Death Eaters found the trailer. Unlike her father, she wasn't so sure it was a Crumple-Horned Snorkack horn (according to her, their horns were pink) but who was she to disappoint him?
That didn't stop all the young guests from swerving around the extraordinarily dangerous horn despite the clutter in the trailer. They also gazed at the reconstructed Ravenclaw tiara and Harry wondered if the item really existed… Could it be that Voldemort had found it and turned it into a Horcrux?
Everyone sat around the printing press which served as a table and was covered with a multicolored tablecloth with the tray and the two teapots. Mr. Lovegood gladly wanted to introduce them to the infusion of Gurdyroot but all (following the silent advice of Edward) fell back on the tea which had at least the advantage of being drinkable. Luna seemed happy to share tea and cookies with her friends and she briefly told them about what had happened earlier during the holidays.
As she was about to join her father at home at the end of the first term, she had been intercepted by Death Eaters who had taken her to Malfoy Manor as a prisoner in order to pressure her father. But the jails of the Malfoy family mansion, despite Edward's previous escape, were still not enchanted against the Animagus (probably because of Wormtail...) and Luna had simply fled in her form of owl during the night before heading home. Since then, she and her father had moved into the trailer with the printing press and they were now publishing The Quibbler clandestinely. All of Luna's friends were relieved upon hearing the girl's story that she hadn't been mistreated too much.
Then Mr. Lovegood asked them how he could help them and Hermione immediately asked him about the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. The wizard seemed delighted to be questioned on the subject and showed himself his engraved silver pendant.
"I remember! Edward and I had broached this subject at young Bill Weasley's wedding when a young man asked me about the sign he recognized as a symbol of Grindelwald. I had then explained to you that this symbol preceded by far this black magician and that it was not linked to black magic. I also explained to you that it was a quest… But I can't find the book anymore. As you have probably noticed, it's a bit of a mess here but I'm sure I have some a copy here. After all, every believer should have a copy of the tales of Beedle the Bard near him,” Mr. Lovegood said as he rummaged through the piles of newspapers, books and miscellaneous papers that formed piles high enough to reach the ceiling.
Hermione, not wanting to receive venerable works on her head, declared that she had the tales, much to the delight of Xenophilius who offered to read it, which the young girl accepted and began to translate the runes telling the story. that is here :
“Once upon a time there were three brothers who traveled at dusk, along a winding and lonely road. After a long journey, they reached a river too deep to ford and too dangerous to cross by swimming. The three brothers, however, were well versed in the art of magic. Also, with a simple wave of their wands, they made a bridge appear that spanned the fearsome waters of the river. They had arrived in the middle of the bridge when a hooded figure stood in front of them, forbidding them the passage. It was Death and she spoke to them. She was furious to have been deprived of three victims because travelers usually drowned in the river. But she was cunning and pretended to congratulate the three brothers for their talents as magicians and announced to them that each of them was entitled to a reward for being so clever at escaping her."
"The oldest of the brothers, who loved fighting, asked him for a magic wand more powerful than all the others, a wand that would always guarantee victory to its owner, in all the duels he would fight, a wand worthy of a wizard who had vanquished Death! Death then crossed the bridge and approached an elderberry by the river. She made a wand from one of her branches and gave it to the eldest."
"The second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided to humiliate Death a little more and demanded that she give him the power to call the dead back to life. Death then picked up a stone on the shore and gave it to the second brother, telling him that this stone would have the power to raise the dead."
"She then asked the youngest of the three brothers what he wanted. He was the youngest, but also the humblest and wisest of the three, and Death did not inspire him with confidence. So he asked for something that would allow him to leave this place without her being able to follow him. Reluctantly, Death then handed him his own Invisibility Cloak. Then she stepped aside and allowed the three brothers to continue on their way, which they did, marveling at the adventure they had just lived and admiring the presents that Death had offered them."
"And, after a while, the three brothers parted ways, each heading to their own destination."
"The eldest continued to travel for more than a week and arrived in a distant village. He had come there to look for a wizard with whom he had had a quarrel. Now, of course, thanks to the Elder Wand, he could not fail to win the ensuing duel. Leaving his enemy dead on the ground, the elder went to an inn where he boasted of possessing the powerful wand he had snatched from Death himself, a wand that made him invincible, he claimed."
"That same night, another wizard silently approached the older brother who was sleeping in his bed, dazed by wine. The thief grabbed the wand and for good measure slit the older brother's throat. Thus Death took the first of the three brothers."
"Meanwhile, the second brother returned home where he lived alone. There he took out the stone that had the power to bring back the dead and twisted it three times in his hand. To his astonishment, and to his delight, the silhouette of the young girl he had once hoped to marry, before she died prematurely, immediately appeared before his eyes.
But she remained sad and cold, separated from him as by a veil. Although she returned among the living, she did not belong to their world and suffered from this return. So the second brother, driven mad by hopeless desire, ends up killing himself so he can finally truly join her. And so, Death took the second of the three brothers."
"For many years she searched for the third brother and could never find him. It was only when he reached old age that the youngest of the three brothers took off his Invisibility Cloak and gave it to his son. Then he welcomed Death as an old friend whom he followed with joy and, like equals, they left this life together."
“Here and the symbol I wear represents the Deathly Hallows. The triangle symbolizes the Invisibility Cloak, the circle the Resurrection Stone and the line the Elder Wand. Together, when joined together, they are called the Deathly Hallows," Xenophilius Lovegood finished explaining without noticing the incredulous look of Hermione who asked as gently as she could:
"So you mean you and Luna really believe in this children's story?"
"But of course," asserted Mr. Lovegood with an air of conviction.
“Hermione," Luna intervened with a soft and peaceful air, "before arriving at the age of eleven at Hogwarts, you did not believe in wizards or magic because you had no proof of their existence. But, because you didn't believe in it, didn't magic exist?"
“But the magic exists. I see proof of this every day!" Hermione protested, waving her wand and making sparks as example.
“Indeed, when you entered the world of Magic, your mind expanded to begin to accept this reality. Can't you see that with the Deathly Hallows, it's exactly the same thing? Your mind must expand for her to enter your sphere of reality."
“But…But, at this stage, one would think that everything exists!" Hermione exclaimed, looking almost distraught.
"Exactly! I'm glad to see you so open-minded," said Mr.Lovegood warmly,
“Hermione, sometimes in life you just have to have faith that certain things exist. And Luna is right, the more we grow, the more the field of possibilities widens. Let's take an example, a few years ago, you could never have found a person more incredulous than me concerning the divine, magic and all the rest. Well, believe me, I had to quickly change my mind and review my preconceptions," Said Edward, whose life had been marked by questioning and profound upheaval concerning the greater aspects of existence. In the end, he had never really regretted it (except when it endangered the lives of those close to him): Edward liked to understand the world around him, he was a researcher at heart. Moreover, he had already completed quests that anyone would have deemed impossible.
"So an invincible wand like the Elder Wand does exist?" Harry asked.
"In the case of the Elder Wand, there is an infinite number of proofs because it passes from hand to hand, when the one who wants to possess it seizes it, generally by killing the previous possessor."
There, Xenophilius Lovegood listed names of famous wizards who would have in turn possessed the wand and whom Harry very vaguely remembered having read about in his history lessons. Edward, next to him, seemed to be cursing himself for not having studied the damn thing more so he could verify these anecdotes… Hermione, on the other hand, seemed contemplative and did not raise any objections to the historical facts, the proof, if any. , that they had to be fair.
The young witch ended up asking if the Peverells had a connection with the Deathly Hallows story. Xenophilius Lovegood stared at her with his round eyes and took her by the shoulders enthusiastically, telling her that, precisely, the Peverell family had everything to do with the story since Ignotus Peverell would have been the third son in the story, the one with the Cape of Invisibility, the other two brothers being called Antioch and Cadmus respectively.
"Would you like to dine with us tonight and sleep here tonight? We can enlarge the part that serves as Luna's bedroom… Unfortunately, we have no more freshwater Plimpy for the soup. It's a shame because everyone was asking us for the recipe…” Xenophilius declared before heading towards the kitchen area.
"I think it's better that I cook tonight, dad! Not everyone has enough developed and refined taste buds to love your culinary specialties!" Luna said humming and to the deepest relief of the group of guests.
“If you say so my dear Luna!" exclaimed Mr. Lovegood, not offended by his daughter's offer.
"What do you think?" Harry asked in a whisper to Hermione and Edward.
“Oh, Harry, that's pure and simple nonsense. Surely the sign doesn't mean that and that's his weird way of interpreting it…” Hermione replied, lowering her voice.
“Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. Many myths and legends are based on solid and real facts. Personally, I think I have seen so many incredible and improbable things that I would even be ready to believe the veracity of a children's story," Edward said with a shrug.
"But this story is just a moral lesson like 'don't go looking for trouble, don't get involved in things that are better left untouched! Keep a low profile, mind your own business and you'll be fine. "" Ron protested a little for form.
"Personally, I have my doubts about your moral lessons..." mumbled Edward who had never really been the type to follow such sayings...And apparently, neither did his friends, if one were to judge their early years WITHOUT Edward, “ but, Ron may be right. It's just a moral tale, we immediately see the gift, the one we should choose..."
Edward smiled knowing already what everyone was going to answer…
"The Wand!" Ron exclaimed.
"The Stone! Harry stated.
"The Cape!" Hermione affirmed.
Edward couldn't help it and burst out laughing at their half surprised, half amused faces. In this kind of story, everything depended on the person and their personal history. Harry who had lost many of his family members wanted nothing more than to see them again thanks to the Resurrection Stone, Ron who was a combative boy by nature wanted the invincibility of the Elder Wand while Hermione had more to do. Heart to protect those dear to him and would choose the Cloak of Invisibility. Yes, he suspected there would be three different answers. As for his...
"And you, Edward?" asked his three friends in unison.
"I'm not interested in Elder Wand's alleged invincibility. Obviously, this did not prevent those who held it from being treacherously killed. So, so much for the invincibility. Regarding the Cloak of Invisibility, I believe that now we are all sufficiently good at the spell of disillusionment to be able to do without it. And even if Harry's Cloak is the one in the story, I admit I got so used to its effects that it doesn't really surprise me anymore. Basically, I'm afraid I've become a bit jaded…"
He then remained a little silent before adding:
"The Resurrection Stone makes me want to see some people the most, but you still have to have enough wisdom not to use it. It's not good to lock yourself in hopeless dreams to the point of forgetting to live- I made this mistake once and it almost cost me everything: what I had left of my family, my leg... And even then, it took me years of sacrifice to realize that what I wanted had never been within my reach from the start."
Harry remembered that Dumbledore had advised him almost the same thing, six years ago, when he was in front of the Mirror of Erised contemplate his parents, however long dead... Could the Stone have the same effect as this strange ice cream: fill his head with desire by preventing him from living a life full of accomplishments? Admittedly, Ed always seemed to have the answer to everything, which was a little annoying. But deep down, it was probably due to the fact that he had more experience than him: what he had just revealed about himself was proof of that.
"Anyway," Hermione retorted savvily, "regarding the Elder Wand, there have always been stories of wands more powerful than others under different names... Death Rod, Destiny Wand- what else do I know… They appear under various names depending on the era and generally belong to black mages. But that makes no sense. There have always been people who thought their wands were the most powerful…”
"Basically it's a game of who's got the biggest stick," Ed said with a wink and a perverted gesture that made the boys chuckle and earned all three of them a slap on the head from the young girl, who understood the implication.
“But could it be that these wands under different names, are in fact one and the same wand, that of the story?" Harry asked, getting serious again.
"It's possible," Edward stated in a firm voice, addressing Hermione, "I suppose if one compared the images of these wizards with their wands, one might, who knows, detect similarities. But either it's true or it's not. But personally, I admit I don't really believe in coincidences anymore... If people are so convinced that they have the ultimate wand, it's because there may be some Truth in the legend."
"And for the Stone," Harry went on, a little desperately, "wouldn't there be in the stories a stone capable of raising the dead?"
"No. I think Beedle was inspired by the Philosopher's Stone but instead of a stone making people immortal, he imagined one making the dead come back…” Hermione said sadly.
"Not necessarily. I find that the description of the Stone was a little too precise on one point. Remember, Beedle claimed that the deceased girl was separated from the second brother as if by a veil… Now, where do we find a similar veil having a close relationship with Death?" Edward questioned them.
“In the Hall of Death, in the Department of Mysteries," Harry said, turning slightly pale as he remembered the painful loss of Sirius.
"In effect. And remember those with deceased loved ones could hear voices, like echoes. If the tale of Beedle the Bard could relate the Stone's effects with so much similarity to something we already know has to do with Death, then that Stone may actually exist. As for the Cape, we never took the time to examine it in detail…”
Harry took it out of his bag very helpfully and they scrutinized it in detail and in a corner of the cloak, Ron finally discovered a tiny triangular sign framing a circle, bisected by a line. Stunned, the four of them looked at each other, almost in disbelief. Hermione was the first to snap:
"You're not going to make me believe that three brothers would have met Death on a bridge?! Death is just an anthropomorphic figure that…”
“Which may actually exist. Even if I am convinced that death is masculine. After all, Death is a necessary male…” Edward sneered, looking very pleased with his bad joke.
“I see you've finished talking about the Deathly Hallows. I made a fish soup, I hope you like it. In the meantime, I have made pendants for you to form the sign of the Mortuary Hallows. They will indicate that you are in search of the Relics. The main thing is that during your quest you do not forget the essentials."
"Death, to an enlightened mind, is just one more great adventure..." Harry said, echoing Dumbledore's words.
“The true victor over death is he who ultimately accepts his own mortality," Edward replied quoting the words of Xenophilius Lovegood.
“That's it, the principle is the same. And that's something the Dark Lord doesn't have and will never understand. I find that sad somehow. And the fate that will await him when he meets his end will be a thousand times worse than death. Luna affirmed with this strange certainty.
They ate their meal on the printing press over fish broth which proved that Luna was capable (unlike her father) of concocting edible food. For a bit, Harry would have thought he was back at the Weasleys with their friendly and warm atmosphere while retaining some strangeness. For example, the meal was interrupted from time to time by the printing press, which hiccupped and spat out copies of The Quibbler, revealing this week the list of people collaborating with the regime called under the titles of Undesirables (Umbridge topped the list).
Following the meal, they went up to the second floor of the double-decker bus and entered what served as Luna's room. She had, it seems, managed to fit all the contents of her room into the trailer and her friends could thus admire the magnificent ceiling of the strange room adorned with six portraits those of Edward, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Neville. All exuded a certain magic even if they did not move.
Chains of intertwined gold (actually the word "friends" written in gold ink and repeated endlessly) linked the portraits together. On the walls of the trailer, Luna had skillfully painted the seven Animagus animals of the Circle members who seemed to be having fun with each other. Finally, Harry could see a photo of a woman who looked a lot like Luna hugging her: the mother and her daughter looked so happy in this photo that it practically brought tears to Edward, especially since the woman looked pregnant.
But despite everything, Luna seemed happy at the idea of seeing them sleeping at her place. Harry easily imagined that with the strangeness that emanated from her family, the young girl had probably not often had the opportunity to organize slumber parties… But today was a first for all. An almost transparent golden curtain was placed in the middle of the room to separate boys and girls and everyone changed and went to snuggle up in their sleeping bag.
They talked for hours until midnight about everything and nothing: Luna told them about the progress of the new underground Support Classes and regretted not being able to attend them now that she was an outlaw. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ed told him about their quest for the Horcruxes: their failures but also their successes. Then finally, they fell asleep, happy despite the war that reigned outside.
The next day, after saying goodbye to the Lovegood family who promised to continue their fight against the Dark Lord via the power of the press, they Apparated and after setting up the tent, all four resumed their debate on the Relics of the Dead. If Hermione was willing to believe in the existence of a perfect Invisibility Cloak (after all, she had it in front of her) and, strictly speaking, that of the supposedly invincible Elder Wand, on the other hand, the idea that there could be a stone capable of raising the dead was inconceivable to him.
However, Edward appealed to their knowledge of alchemy that Professor Snape had instilled in them last year and added that the stone did not actually resurrect the dead in body, mind and soul reunited. According to him, the stone only temporarily brought the person's spirit or soul back to the world of the living and therefore the taboo that the dead could not be brought back to life still remained valid.
The discussion amplified as Harry found elements consistent with the story of the three Deathly Hallows: he had thus remembered that Marvolo Gaunt brandished a ring with an engraved Stone which he held from his distant ancestors, the Peverells. Moreover, upon finding the mysterious Golden Snitch in his bag, he was now convinced that he held the Resurrection Stone. Could it be that by gathering all the relics, he could survive the Horcrux that he harbored in spite of himself in his body?
Was that why Dumbledore had put him on the trail of the Deathly Hallows? But in that case, why not reveal it to him? unless it was still one of his tests…Frankly, Harry was starting to get annoyed with these treasure hunts always putting him in serious danger…Unless, as Edward had insinuated either a matter of faith… He didn't really know what to think anymore and he couldn't discuss it with Ron and Hermione without letting them know about the Horcrux in him. He didn't want to face their horror and pity, in addition to their doubts and disbelief.
But that wasn't the only problem in Harry's eyes. He now sensed that Voldemort was in pursuit of the Elder Wand, the invincible wand. That was why he had questioned Ollivander, then Gregorovitch... Harry didn't think Voldemort knew about the other relics. After all, what dark wizard worth his salt would be interested in children's stories?
On the other hand, a wand renamed invincible when all the others had failed against Harry's, that might very well interest him. Harry would have given anything to find out what had become of the Death Staff because since his wand was broken, he would have liked to have one that suited him again and not settle for wandless magic which was very difficult to use and taught by Edward...
The latter had come to understand that Harry was placing all his hopes in the famous Relics, hoping that she could allow him to escape death. Edward didn't know what to make of this obsession. He fully understood that Harry wished to survive the next encounter against Voldemort but would becoming Master of Death be enough? Personally, Edward had foreseen a solution since he had visited the Department of Mysteries a few months ago, but he couldn't reveal it to Harry. This was the "funny" aspect of the solution if we could qualify it as follows: for it to succeed, we had to not be certain, precisely, of its success... Or else completely ignore this solution. Either it was a matter of faith or it was a matter of ignorance. In short, a plague.
But in the meantime, the weeks passed and soon the month of March arrived. Edward, Ron and Hermione had done everything to pull Harry out of his slump by enjoining him to search for Horcruxes. The young wizard, indeed, seemed to ignore them completely and that, according to Edward, was not a good thing. He had taken his friend aside and asked him a bit curtly to pull himself together because finding the Deathly Hallows wouldn't magically solve all his worries and problems. Indeed, there was still the slight problem of having a black mage on the loose and the latter would only be defeated when all his Horcruxes were destroyed.
So Harry had pulled himself together a bit and was listening carefully to Ron and Hermione's increasingly implausible assumptions. Edward had moved things along a bit by asking out loud if the Ravenclaw tiara the Lovegoods had been trying to replicate was one of the Horcruxes. His friends had seemed to find the assumption sound but Ron had pointed out that it didn't really matter until they found the hiding places used by the Dark Lord.
Harry and Hermione had therefore used their Animagus forms to infiltrate wizarding places and search for clues. They had scanned many places: Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, Riddle House, Borjin and Berk thanks to Harry's bird form and Hermione's cat form. But nothing. At the end, Harry had even jokingly suggested that he take a tour of Riddle's mind in hopes of finding clues about the Horcruxes. He had received the glares of his friends in return. In reality Harry had only been half joking when he made that suggestion, even though he was thinking more of the Elder Wand at the time.
Finally, when a vision appeared, it was not at all what Harry expected. He was quietly gathering wood for the fire when his scar burned him and then he had his vision:
“Rockwood,” hissed Voldemort's voice, “I dare to hope that your project is progressing and that you haven't disturbed me for nothing. Coming back from abroad for miserable progress would not satisfy me."
"Master, I've redone my calculations for the turn of the century and I may have made a mistake in counting like Muggles. Indeed, I noticed that if we took as a reference date the birth of Merlin born in 981, the greatest wizard of all time, except you of course, then the centuries would be counted differently. The last century could refer to the year 1981. So I looked at the records at the Ministry and found that there was a child born at the end of December that would fit the prophecy. I investigated this child and apparently, according to Ste Mongoose, she has been showing strange powers despite her quirks since the year her mother died."
“I see," Voldemort replied before asking without qualms, "and who would be this child that we should sacrifice? "
"Luna Lovegood. She is a friend of Potter's and is the daughter of one of your opponents, the Quibbler's headmaster. I'm sure she saw the door to universal magic. By sacrificing her, you can take it and become more powerful than anyone. On the other hand, it will be necessary to be careful, I heard that she had already escaped from Malfoy Manor when we wanted to put pressure on her father."
"I see. Find her and bring her to Malfoy Manor and by all means make sure she stays there. The Sacrifice will take place soon, on the date that I would have fixed myself," hissed Lord Voldemort.
At that moment, his vision blurring, Harry ejected himself from Voldemort's mind and immediately addressed his friends who were watching him, looking very worried by his fainting.
“Edward! You know who! He believes that Luna is the child of your Prophecy!"