HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 406

Chapter 406: Luna's Gift

King’s Cross Station, Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

Andy stood on the platform, feeling unexpectedly sentimental.

This time last year, he had been riding the train to Hogwarts with everyone else. This year, he was the one doing the seeing-off.

Watching him, Sean seemed to remember something. “What’s this, getting emotional after leaving student life? I still remember you complaining Hogwarts was getting in the way of making money.”

Hearing that, Andy shook his head with a wry smile. “People are like that. They only cherish something after it’s gone.”

Andy, Blaise, and Jensen had all attended the funeral, but they went as themselves. Jensen’s family had fully thrown in with Boreal, and Jensen had completely broken with them. He wasn’t short on Galleons, though—he’d invested some of his own money into the shop Andy and Sean were running.

“Andy, I gave you the second-generation Mental Restoration Potion formula. Are those Potions Masters reliable?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already signed contracts with them. Confidentiality won’t be a problem. If they breach the agreement, they’ll immediately lose the memory of the formula. There won’t be any leaks.”

“Good. Then the rest is in your hands. You’re the first of the four of us to graduate, so you’ll need to hold the line for us.” Sean cast a Muffliato, then continued in a lower voice, “If anyone from the Ministry comes to trouble you, go to the Auror Office and find Scrimgeour. I’ve already spoken to him. He’ll help. If it’s dark wizards, send a letter to the address I gave you. Someone will deal with them. If it’s Death Eaters…”

Andy jumped in immediately. “Who should I look for then?”

“You should run immediately. Unless you want to find out what the Killing Curse feels like.”

Just then, Blaise and Jensen arrived at the station. Andy waved them over and said to Sean, “Relax, I’m not an idiot. If those people show up, I’m not sticking around.”

“Good. Keep what I gave you on you at all times. Remember, the moment that thing triggers, Apparate away. Immediately. Understood?”

Seeing how serious Sean was, Andy nodded solemnly. “Got it. You can count on me.”

They chatted until the Hogwarts Express was about to depart. Then Sean and the other two said their goodbyes and boarded the train.

In the compartment, Blaise looked out at Andy on the platform and asked, “Sean, Andy’s going to be fine, right?”

“He won’t have any trouble. Even if you don’t trust Andy, you should trust me, shouldn’t you?”

At that, Blaise finally relaxed a little.

Before the term started, Sean had given them a set of Alchemical items he made himself. Most were single-use—strictly speaking, Alchemical items rather than magical artifacts—but they were extremely effective. Sean had accounted for many scenarios. They were more than enough to save a life.

Because Andy and Jensen had left their families, they only needed to worry about themselves. Blaise’s mother, however, stood with Dumbledore and Sean, so Blaise gave most of his set to her and to his girlfriend, Rowena.

Over the holiday, Blaise and Rowena had visited each other’s families, basically confirming their relationship. Naturally, Blaise needed to consider Rowena’s safety. He took many of Sean’s Alchemical items and gave them to the two most important women in his life.

On the train, Harry, Hermione, and Ron stopped by Sean’s compartment to chat for a while, but since Blaise and Harry didn’t get along, they didn’t stay long.

Sean thought he could sit quietly until the Hogwarts Express arrived at school. He didn’t expect Luna to show up not long after Harry and the others left.

“Luna, what brings you here?”

“May I come in, Sean?”

“Of course. Please do.”

Seeing Luna, Blaise tactfully moved aside, letting her sit opposite Sean by the window.

Luna thanked Blaise, then sat facing Sean. From the Undetectable Extension Bag Sean had given her at the end of last term, she took out a surprising number of gifts: some lovely flowers, some fresh fruit, and clearly handmade shell wind chimes, among other things, until the table was full.

Sean stared blankly at the pile of gifts. “Luna, what are you doing? My birthday is still a long way off.”

“These aren’t birthday presents. They’re… just things I prepared for you over the holidays.” Luna smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Sean noticed she wasn’t dressed quite so eccentrically anymore—closer to how he’d styled her before the Yule Ball last year. She went on, “Every time I thought of you, I wanted to prepare a gift nearby. These flowers—I picked them when I thought of you outside. And this fruit—I was in the orchard when I thought of you…”

Here, Luna scratched her head, a little embarrassed. She looked at Sean with a mix of apology and comfort. “Sean, I’m sorry. By the time I learned about your grandfather, the funeral was already over. These are things I prepared whenever I thought of you. I was happy at those times, so I made gifts then. They carry that happiness. I hope they can bring it to you.

“When my mother died, my father took me to many places, and we did a lot of happy things. I really wasn’t as sad after that. I hope it can be like that for you. I hope the happiness I’m giving you can make you a little less sad, even if it’s only a little.”

Listening to her and looking at Luna’s faintly flushed cheeks, Sean suddenly felt the seemingly ordinary—even silly—gifts become weighty and precious. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. In the end, he only said, “Thank you. I like them very much.”