Chapter 59: The Witch Shadow Empire
"It's timely. Hermione said, "Why is it snowing all of a sudden?"
Lead clouds were thick, and soon the rain and snow turned into a completely illogical light snow.
"That's how the weather is here. Angelina said. There are not many people in the store, so I think it is due to the weather. Wizard robes of all colors with bright colors, new styles, and seemingly good materials fill the storefront on the first floor, and the whole store looks more professional and attractive than before.
The magic radio was playing the season's pop hit--- "Love Crucible" by the Weird Sisters--- the sound was full of magnetism, the soothing rhythm was matched with the warm lighting, and the roaring fire in the fireplace made everyone moan in comfort.
"Wow, I didn't expect Luna's store to be so good, the last time I visited, it looked like it was just a grocery store. Susan Bones took off her coat and looked at a pink sequined wizard's robe.
"A few of them must be Hogwarts students, right? Please, this is the most popular student wizarding robe of the season, whether it is at Durmstrang School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or Beauxbatons, it is the most popular style, even in Ilfamoni, who is known to be the most proficient in magic robes and the most fashionable, this magic robe is also very popular..."A young witch wearing an ultra-short wizarding robe, a magical hair that constantly changes color as she speaks, and a great figure of great figure gushed about, and everyone couldn't help but follow her to a large row of wizard robes.
"I've never heard of anything good about them. Angelina picked up a pale green wizard's robe with the theme of a forest witch.
"Oh, of course, compared to Hogwarts, the other wizarding houses are just wild places. The shopping guide said with a smile.
"Are you also a student at Hogwarts?" asked Susan.
"I'm not so honored, I graduated from a little-known magic school in Lithuania, you probably haven't heard of it. β
"Hermione, you're here?" Luna came down from the stairs dressed in something strange like a sack.
"I can't believe you designed these clothes.," Hermione couldn't help but say as she looked at Luna's casual, all-natural appearance, and then at the gorgeous dream-like wizarding robe in her hand.
"Haha, Hermione, according to Andrew, it's called a different style. Luna said with a smile as well.
"Style?" Hermione was stunned, "how come I've never heard Andrew say that?"
"I can't remember the exact time, but it seems like I just started learning to design clothes." Luna shook her head absently.
Luna invites Hermione and Neville upstairs, and the second floor is where the elves and wizards make wizard robes, and the three of them walk down the hallway to Luna's studio.
"I don't have butterbeer here, just tea. β
"You also learned from Andrew, you like to drink tea, not coffee and root juice. While waiting for the tea, Hermione said, "Is it safe here at night? I mean, do you stay here at night?"
"Of course not, Andrew won't allow it, and Dad won't let me be left alone here. Although Andrew arranged for a retired Auror to protect the place, he said that it was not safe and asked me to return to school by four o'clock every day. β
"Andrew cares about you, I heard you grew up together when you were kids?" asked Neville.
"yes, if it weren't for Andrew, I wouldn't have entered Hogwarts a year early. Luna replied as she skillfully boiled water and tea.
"Then you should be considered childhood sweethearts. Hermione said with a smile.
Luna didn't answer, but turned her head to look at Hermione, who was looked at by Luna and immediately felt a little nervous and weak. Luna smiled and said, "It's Valentine's Day, do you have any arrangements?"
"It's nothing, come out to play, my mother sent me a strange gold galleon, she said in the letter, I can tell if she likes a girl and gives it to her, she can see if she likes me!" Neville replied, apparently unaware of the delicate atmosphere of the girls facing the same predicament.
Hermione thought about things, Luna was boiling tea, and for a moment Neville was the only one in the room to ask questions, and Luna replied absentmindedly.
The tea is coming, the mist is curling, and the fragrance of tea is refreshing. Hermione had seen Andrew drink tea, and had drunk Far Eastern tea many times at Earl Lee's house.
Hermione, who was full of worries, unconsciously blew gently and took a sip as Andrew looked.
"It tastes good, even compared to Andrew's own tea, I'm confident. Luna said.
"Ha, although Andrew likes to drink tea, but his way of making tea is probably not very good. You're much better than him. Hermione laughed.
Seeing Neville visiting with a teacup, Hermione whispered, "Luna, what do you think Andrew thinks?"
"What do you mean?"
"Of course... You know, it's the relationship with me and you. β
"That's right," Luna straightened her somewhat messy silver hair, "Very good, I think Andrew likes it." β
"What? How can that be? He's already on such a good relationship with Qiu, why bother... Do this to me?" Hermione said with some excitement.
"I don't know, maybe it's because he's a wizard?"
"Wizard, what's the matter? Don't you think Andrew is too greedy?"
"Maybe, Hermione, everyone has a choice, and everyone has a choice, and no one is stopping you from leaving. Luna looked at the tea leaves in the cup with some distraction, and said in a rare voice.
"What?" Hermione didn't understand, "I don't understand...."
"Even if you know that there will be no results, you can like it. If you don't like it, let it go. Actually, it's all yourself, just ask your heart, ask yourself, and the answer is in your heart, isn't it?" Luna replied after a moment of silence.
"You're saying so profound, you're justifying Andrew's greed. In any case, I can't accept it. I'm not one of those indigenous tribes. My Hermione Granger boyfriend must, and only likes, me!" Hermione said suddenly.
Luna smiled.
Cho led Andrew to the Owl Post Office, and Cho said to Andrew, "You wait here, I'll go get something." β
"Good. β
After waiting for most of the day, Qiu came out of it with a small package in his hand.
"This is for you, Andy!" Cho said.
Andrew opened the package, and inside was a beautifully packaged wooden box with a silver rose that was constantly blooming, and Autumn looked at Andrew expectantly. There is no keyhole on the box and I don't know how to open it.
"Only certain spells can open puppets. β
Of course, it's just a small recognition spell, and Andrew's deprivation spell can easily invalidate this little magic, but as long as Andrew isn't stupid to the point of being below average, he knows what to do at this time.
The poplar wand lightly tapped on the rosebud, and Andrew silently recited the incantation a few times, but it didn't work, "Do you need a hint?" Qiu said with a smile.
Andrew used a small trick and succeeded on the fourth attempt: "LOVE YOU FOREVER, what an unexpected spell." Andrew said with a smile.
The rose blossomed from bud to bloom, and with a click, the box opened. Inside lies a pendant, made of Mithril. The light emits an enchanting halo.
"I've been thinking, give you something. Autumn said embarrassedly, "But I haven't been able to find a suitable one, although this pendant is not so special, but the mythril that made it is said to be obtained after the melting of the treasure, and there is still a treasure on it, which is very precious." β
"Great, Autumn. Andrew wore it around his neck, "I love it." Although there was no aura of a treasure on it, Andrew was moved to accept it.
After a kiss, the two were reluctant to go to the Three Broomsticks Bar.
"Hello, Angelina".
"Oh, hello, Autumn. Angelina stared at the dazzling crystal earrings on Qiu's ears and said enviously. Cho was clearly willing to let everyone know about the gorgeous earrings Andrew had given her, and she went out of her way to greet everyone she knew.
The door to the bar rang again, and Rita Skeeter walked in, and she looked around and walked towards them.
It seems that Rita has not been doing well lately, and the curls that had been carefully scalded before have been found to be straightened and hung in a mess. The red nail polish on the two-inch-long pointed nails had peeled off, and two fake jewels had fallen off the glasses.
"We still need to wait for Harry. Hermione said, standing up and waving to the door, "βββHey, Harry, we're here." β
Harry came in first, and then Ginny came in.
The two of them came here and sat down.
"Oh, Harry, this aunt βββ" Rita glanced at Hermione, "can I talk to him?"
"Yes. Hermione said lightly.
She took a long sip of her drink and barely moved her lips and said, "Who is this girl?"
"Don't ask about such inconsequential things. Hermione said, "Shall we negotiate a deal?"
"What deal?" asked Rita, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, "Clever girl?"
Hermione crossed her fingers on both handsβββ looked at Andrew, and said, "We're going to ask you to write an article about Harry." β
"They've written a lot of attacks on Harry this year, and without my help, public opinion is very chaotic now, and no one can control it, and they can't tell which one is true and which one is false. Rita glanced at Harry from above the glass and asked in a hoarse whisper, "How do you feel, Harry?
"He's angry, of course," Hermione said categorically, "because he'd tried to tell the truth, but most people were too stupid to believe him. β
"When you think you're all fools, you're fools. Do you really insist that what you say must be right?" Rita pushed her glasses down, staring sharply at Hermione, fingers longing for the clasp of the crocodile leather bag, "Don't think that anyone is a fool, there is a fatal flaw waiting for you to catch, if you are still holding that trick, I advise you to go back to school early-"
"We're not here to debate, Hermione," Andrew said, before turning to Rita, "Do what Hermione says, and we'll set you free."
"Uh-huh, it seems like another self-righteous little guy, what do you know?" Rita, like Albus Dumbledore, looked beyond her glasses to Andrew.
"Give it to her. Andrew said.
Hermione handed out a piece of manuscript paper from somewhere, "We hope you can publish as it says, and you can change it appropriatelyβββ please note, it's appropriate!"
Rita looked at the manuscript handed over, and then laughed, "You expect me to publish this?"
"Not expecting!" Andrew said coldly, "yes, definitely!"
Rita wiped her dirty raincoat and quickly skimmed through the article again, glaring at Andrew, as if weighing.
Then she bluntly said, "The Daily Prophet will not be published." As I think you know, no one believes this ridiculous story, even though there are conspiracy theories everywhere right now, saying that the minister was actually the Dark Lord. But as long as the Ministry of Magic was in control of Wizarding Britain for a day, such an article would not be allowed to appear in the Daily Prophet - the Minister didn't want anyone to play him like a clown, and the Daily Prophet wasn't a Storyteller. β
"That's your business, Rita," Hermione said strongly, "As Andrew said, if you succeed, you will be free in the future, you can write whatever you want, you can criticize whoever you want, you can spread rumors as much as you want, I promise you won't tell your secret!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Rita's eyes, she thought for a moment and said, "It's not impossible, but it needs to be packaged, change it, if you ask me to write from that angle, maybe it's okay - I have to go back and think about it, and I'll post it when it's correct." β
"You don't need to go back, let's change it now. Andrew said.
"Uh, well.... I'll tryβ" Rita lifted her glasses again, making the difference between her and Professor Traoney even greater.
"Then the Daily Prophet will not be published, because Fudge won't let them publish it, so it has to be changed like this... Such... Well, cut that out... I have to say, Rita is indeed very professional, and after her revisions, the article has completely changed and looks more appealing.
"No, change it again!" Unfortunately, Andrew was not satisfied at all, and completely negated Rita's hard work.
"Why, that's the only way to get published," Rita said dissatisfied.
"You've turned the core of the matter upside down, and this article is completely out of our intention, even though it's still a story. Andrew hit the nail on the head.
"Where? what core?" Rita wanted to deny.
"Don't talk nonsense, and don't take people for fools. The sooner you fix it, the sooner you can steal your favorite secrets. β
Rita glared at Andrew fiercely for a while, then looked at it again, and said without emotion: "Okay, I'll do it again, the editor of the real Daily Prophet will be blind and crazy tomorrow..."
After realizing that she couldn't get by, Rita had to change it all over again.