He turned away from the windows and his gaze fell upon another peculiar

Object standing upon the cluttered, curved slide board; a stone but of a

Beautiful but austere-looking witch wearing a most bizarre-looking

Headdress. Two objects that resembled golden ear trumpets curved out from

The sides. A tiny pair of glittering blue wing was stuck to a leather strap

That ran over the top of her head, while one of the orange radishes had been

Stuck to a second strap around her forehead.

"Look at this," said Harry.

"Fetching," said Ron. "Surprised he didn't hear that to the wedding."

They heard the front door close, and a moment later Xenophilius climbed

Back up the spiral staircase into the room, his thin legs now encase in

Wellington boots, bearing a tray of ill-assorted teacups and a steaming

Teapot.

"Ah, you have spotted my pet invention," he said, shoving the tray into

Hermione's arms and joining Harry at the statue's side.

"Modeled, fittingly enough, upon the head of the beautiful Rowens Ravenclaw,

'Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure!'"

He indicated the objects like ear trumpets.

"These are the Wrackpurt siphons - to remove all sources of distraction

from the thinker's immediate area. Here, "he pointed out the tiny wings, "a

billywig propeller, to induce an elevated frame of mind. Finally, "he

pointed to the orange radish, "the dirigible Plum, so as to enhance the

ability to accept the extraordinary."

Xenophilius strode back to the tea tray, which Hermione had managed to

Balance precariously on one of the cluttered side tables.

"May I offer you all an infusion of Gurdyroots?" said Xenophilius. "We

make it ourselves." As he started to pour out the drink, which was as deeply

purple as beetroot juice, he added, "Luna is down beyond Bottom Bridge, she

Is most excited that you are here She ought not to be too long, she has

Caught nearly enough Plumpies to make soup for all of us. Do sit down and

Help yourselves to sugar.

"Now," he remove a tottering pile of papers from an armchair and sat

down, his Wellingtoned legs crossed, "how may I help you, Mr. Potter?"

"Well," said Harry, glancing at Hermione, who nodded encouragingly,

"it's about that symbol you were wearing around your neck at Bill and

Fleur's wedding, Mr. Lovegood. We wondered what it meant."

Xenophilius raised his eyebrows.

"Are you referring to the sign of the Deathly Hallows?"

The Tale of the Three Brothers

Harry turned to look at Ron and Hermione. Neither of them seemed to have

Understood what Xenophilius had said either.

"The Deathly Hallows?"

"That's right," said Xenophilius. "You haven't heard of them? I'm not surprised.

Very, very few wizards believe. Witness that knuckle-headed young man at your

brother's wedding," he nodded at Ron, "who attacked me for sporting the symbol of a

well-known Dark wizard! Such ignorance. There is nothing Dark about the Hallows – at

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 771