55 Chapter 55 - Preparations

At 10 in the morning, Athena awoke. Opening her eyes, she saw her beloved owner wrapped in what he called a blanket, sleeping on her.

"Purr," she joyfully purred and continued to sleep, so as not to disturb Asmodeus.

Half an hour later, Asmodeus also woke up. Athena sensed it and slowly stood up.

"Good morning. Thanks for not waking me; I was tired yesterday," Asmodeus said, stroking her head.

"Meow, purr."

"You know what, let's go together tomorrow. Do you want to?"

"Meow!"

"All right, all right. I know you don't like Hogwarts very much. But who knew you would grow so fast?"

"Meow, meow!"

"Okay, then tomorrow evening, I'll come back here, and after sleep, we'll go for a walk. I think you'll like it."

"Purr," Athena nuzzled her face against Asmodeus, glad that her owner would take her for a walk.

Although she was allowed to roam around Hogwarts and in the Forbidden Forest, Athena still wanted to spend more time with Asmodeus. However, he was often busy in the library lately, and Madame Pince didn't allow her into the library. Athena remembers how Madame Pince shouted something like, "Never will there be a dragon in my library!"

"Okay, I need to meet with the other potential druids. You can play in the Forbidden Forest today. Tomorrow, I'll take you with me. Just please, don't scare the centaurs. Last time, they said they saw you sitting on a tree and looking at them as prey."

"Meow!" The cat/dragon responded offendedly. She didn't want to attack them; she precisely followed Asmodeus's instructions not to eat humanoid beings. She just found it interesting to observe these creatures. They were neither humans nor horses. And horses are tasty...

After a couple more minutes of cuddling Athena, Asmodeus headed towards Hagrid's house.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"One moment, I'm coming!"

"Sound of the door opening."

"Oh, Asmodeus, is that you? Come in, you haven't visited me in a while. Is Athena with you?"

"Hello, Hagrid. Athena might go to the Forbidden Forest today, but for now, she's in my room."

"Too bad..."

Hagrid's affection for this cat/dragon, who clearly understood human speech, was evident. He often fed her when Athena was too lazy to hunt in the forest. Besides, Athena allowed him to collect her shed scales. Hagrid used these scales to make a sturdy bag, in which he now collected herbs.

"Alright, don't be sad. I'm sure she'll come to play with you. But now, there's something more important. Hagrid, do you want to become a druid?"

"A druid? Who are they?"

Asmodeus forgot that Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts, and he didn't finish his education. But now, thanks to Grindelwald, Hagrid could use a wand again, and his Ministry of Magic case was erased.

"Well..."

Asmodeus started explaining his prepared speech. After thirty minutes, Hagrid said, "Of course, I want! You said druids can communicate with animals!! That's wonderful, I'll be able to talk to these cuties!"

Asmodeus nodded, confident that Hagrid would agree.

"Good, then tomorrow, I'll come for you. Be ready. Early in the morning."

"Alright. Do I need to bring anything with me?"

"No, don't worry. Although... you can take the suitcase that Newt gave you. We might need it if we don't have time to build a temporary village."

"Alright. I'll prepare a place to stay just in case!"

After saying goodbye, Asmodeus remembered the last candidate and pondered.

"Hmm... the Lovegoods. They live near the Weasley's burrow. I need to ask Fred and George about this."

So, Asmodeus headed towards the dining hall. It was already noon, and lunch was about to begin. He would definitely find the twins there.

In the main hall, he saw the twins sitting on either side of Harry and Hermione. Ron sat on the other side of the table.

Recently, Harry had become closer to Hermione and Asmodeus's company. He distanced himself from Ron accordingly...

Over time, people realized that Harry was just a little wizard with a sad past. Without the threat of Voldemort, he started living the life of an ordinary young wizard. He laughed more often, let go of his worries. Now he was just a little wizard known by more people. Not some savior or an enemy of the main villain. Because of this, Harry gradually became more open and sociable. Unfortunately, without his fame and the support of his popularity, Ron was also less noticed, and he now wasn't as actively eager to be friends with Harry as before... Harry hadn't noticed it yet, but he now talked more with Cedric, Hermione, the twins, and even unfamiliar classmates than before.

Asmodeus approached the twins without paying attention to how the Gryffindors were sitting. After greeting everyone, he turned to the twins.

"George, Fred, do you know where the Lovegood family lives?"

"Lovegoods, of course, we know. They're our neighbors. Turn right from our house and go up the slope for a kilometer. But why do you need to go there?"

"Oh, just something. Can I use your fireplace?"

"Yes... But I want to make a statement! It's unfair that you can come and go from Hogwarts at any time. And we are confined here like criminals in Azkaban!"

"Cough, cough. Who here is being held like Azkaban criminals?" A displeased voice came from behind the twins.

"P-p-Professor McGonagall. We didn't mean that, we were just joking."

"Alright, wish you luck, and I have urgent matters. See you later," Asmodeus said as he left the twins.

A few minutes later, Asmodeus was already in the Burrow, but he didn't stop to inspect the house. He greeted Molly Weasley and continued. After some time, he saw the Lovegood's house.

The house sits atop a hill, resembling a black cylinder or a chess rook, with the moon hanging in the daytime sky. By the slightly tilted gate, three homemade signs are nailed, bearing inscriptions: "X. Lovegood, Chief Editor of 'The Quibbler,'" "Mistletoe of your choice," and "Do not step on Dirigible plums!"

Along the pathway leading to the house, whimsical plants grow, among which Asmodeus noticed a dangerous adder and orange radishes, the latter Luna Lovegood would wear as earrings in the future. By the door stand two leafless apple trees, adorned with apples and mistletoe. The entrance door is studded with nails, featuring a hammer in the shape of an eagle.

Approaching the door and knocking on the hammer, Asmodeus waited.

"Coming, coming!"

He heard a male voice from the second floor of the house and the sound of rapid descent on the stairs.

"Sound of the opening door."

"Good afternoon. How may I help you?"

To his surprise, Asmodeus saw a handsome man. Slightly cross-eyed, with white, almost cotton candy-like hair cascading to his shoulders, wearing a hat with a dangling brush just above the tip of his nose.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Lovegood?"

"Yes, that's me. And you... Mr. Morningstar."

"Yes, you're correct."

Asmodeus noticed that Xenophilius' attitude was a bit peculiar, though not as standoffish as when he first met Harry Potter. However, Asmodeus could sense Mr. Lovegood's wariness towards him, and he couldn't recall why.

"Mr. Lovegood... I feel that you regard me with suspicion. May I inquire why?"

Xenophilius was slightly taken aback. "Uh, I thought you came about my articles in 'The Quibbler.' Isn't that the case?"

"Ha-ha-ha, no need to worry. Honestly, I occasionally enjoy reading your journal. I especially liked what you wrote about me and Grindelwald, that I am an improved version of him."

"Then please come inside. It's not fitting for a 'Quibbler' reader to stand at the entrance. You can enter, and we'll talk inside."

"Thank you."

Asmodeus took a seat at the table while Xenophilius went to prepare tea. After five minutes, when the tea had steeped enough, Xenophilius handed Asmodeus a cup and asked, "If you didn't come about my journal articles... then why are you here?"

"For your daughter!"

"Luna? I'm intrigued. What could one of the most important and powerful individuals in the modern magical world need from a 10-year-old girl?"

"Mr. Lovegood, what do you know about Druids?"

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"So you believe that Luna is suited to become a Druid's heir?"

"Yes, Mr. Lovegood."

"But why do you think so?"

"Mr. Lovegood, the public doesn't know, but I have a minor gift of prophecy. I know what Luna could grow into."

"Well, since you say so, I think we should hear her opinion...."

"I agree!" A young voice echoed from upstairs.

"Oh, you were eavesdropping!"

"Yes..."

"Alright. But are you sure?"

"Yes, Dad. I want to try. Besides, lately, Wrackspurts have been swirling around me. Maybe, by becoming a Druid, I can get rid of them."

Asmodeus observed the dialogue between father and daughter with interest. It was evident that the family still mourned the loss of the mother. Yet, they didn't despair and tried to move forward.

You know, in Asmodeus' mind, Poluna is a kind of Hermione's antithesis. Hermione's worldview is entirely based on logic and rationality, while for Poluna, faith is paramount. According to him, Luna would become a better witch in the truest sense of the word than Hermione.

After waiting a couple more minutes and seeing that the Lovegoods had almost finished their conversation, Asmodeus bid farewell, stating that he would pick up Luna early tomorrow morning.