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Chapter 733: The Horn Will Explode!!
Harry was about to explain their purpose when Hermione suddenly exclaimed, "Mr. Lovegood, what is that?"
She pointed to a gray, spiraled horn placed in the corner.
"That," Mr. Lovegood replied calmly, "is the horn of a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
Hermione let out a sharp cry. "No, it's not!"
Harry and Ron both looked embarrassed. They wanted to stop Hermione—this clearly wasn't the time to argue about something like that.
"That is the horn of an Erumpent," Hermione said firmly. "You've actually kept it inside your house? It's classified as a Class B dangerous material. Mr. Lovegood, I think—"
Ron quickly interrupted her. "Hermione, it's fine. We don't need to—"
"Fine?" Hermione stared at him in disbelief. "Have you even read about it? That horn will explode with the slightest touch. It could blow up this entire house, and you think it's nothing?"
Harry and Ron froze.
Without saying a word, both of them subtly edged away from the corner.
Mr. Lovegood, however, did not look pleased at all.
"This is the horn of a Crumple-Horned Snorkack," he insisted stubbornly. "It is not dangerous. Now—what are you doing here?"
He clearly wanted to change the subject.
Hermione opened her mouth to argue again, but Harry quickly cut in.
"Two weeks ago, your magazine kept publishing articles supporting me," Harry said. "So we thought… maybe you could help us."
Mr. Lovegood glanced nervously at the printing press and swallowed. "Helping you now… is not a wise decision. After all, you are currently—"
Ron scoffed. "So those articles weren't even written by you, right? You don't actually support Harry at all."
Mr. Lovegood fell silent.
He rubbed his hands nervously and kept glancing at the window, as if checking the time.
Finally, as though he had made up his mind, he said abruptly, "Fine. Fine—I will try to help you."
Harry and the others exchanged glances.
They couldn't understand how Luna, who was so brave and sincere, could have a father like this—someone who claimed to support Harry but clearly hesitated at every step.
Still, at least he had agreed.
Mr. Lovegood poured them tea. The liquid inside the cups had a strange purplish color.
He gestured for them to drink.
"So," he said, "what exactly do you want help with?"
Hermione immediately pulled out the fairy-tale book Dumbledore had given her.
"We saw this symbol before… and you were wearing it as well."
Mr. Lovegood's eyebrows lifted slightly when he saw the symbol.
"This," he said, "is the symbol of the Deathly Hallows. Of course, many people mistakenly believe it to be Grindelwald's mark."
He leaned back slightly, his tone becoming more animated.
"But that is incorrect. The symbol of the Deathly Hallows has existed for a very long time. Those of us who wear it do so to find like-minded individuals. Surely you've heard of the Tale of the Three Brothers?"
He gestured again at the tea. "Drink, drink. It's quite good."
He took a sip himself, smacking his lips exaggeratedly.
Harry and the others reluctantly followed.
The moment the tea touched his tongue, Harry nearly gagged at the sour taste. He quickly set the cup down and asked, "The Tale of the Three Brothers… isn't that just a story?"
He remembered that Darren had mentioned it before as well—that the Invisibility Cloak, the Resurrection Stone, and the Elder Wand might be important.
But could it really be true?
"Oh, children," Mr. Lovegood said seriously, "do not dismiss it so easily. Read it properly."
Hermione opened the book and began reading.
Harry listened carefully.
The story told of three brothers who encountered Death after crossing a dangerous river. Death, angered at being cheated of his victims, pretended to congratulate them and offered each of them a reward.
The eldest brother, who loved power, asked for an unbeatable wand. Death created one from an elder tree branch.
The second brother, who wished to mock Death, asked for the power to bring the dead back. Death gave him a stone.
The third brother, wiser than the others, asked for a way to avoid Death entirely. Death reluctantly gave him his own Invisibility Cloak.
The brothers then went their separate ways.
The eldest was murdered for his wand.
The second, tormented by the presence of a loved one who did not truly belong to the living world, took his own life.
Only the third brother lived a long life, hidden beneath the cloak, and greeted Death as an old friend when he was ready.
The story ended simply.
Hermione read it several times, but she still couldn't find anything immediately useful.
Mr. Lovegood spoke again, pointing at the symbol.
"You see? The wand, the stone, and the cloak. Together, they form the Deathly Hallows. It is said that whoever possesses all three becomes the master of Death… the conqueror, the victor."
"But is it real?" Hermione asked skeptically.
"Of course it is real!" Mr. Lovegood said firmly.
Harry frowned. "But there are many invisibility cloaks in the world."
"Yes," Mr. Lovegood replied, "but the Cloak of the Deathly Hallows is different. It does not fade with time. It cannot be damaged by spells. It is truly perfect."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione fell silent.
Hermione looked at Harry meaningfully. "We've already encountered something like that… remember second year? The one we used?"
Harry and Ron both nodded.
But then a new problem arose.
Where exactly was that cloak now?
They didn't even know.
At that moment, Mr. Lovegood was still glancing out the window repeatedly, as if waiting for something.
He didn't seem to notice anything they were saying anymore.