Chapter 9

Xenophilius laughed shortly. "What a lovely lie. Last we met, I tried to hand you over to the dark lord's forces, I'd fear for your mental health if you were happy to see me."

Harry shrugged. "I don't hold it against you. You did it only because the Death Eaters had taken Luna, and the only reason they took her was because you were one of the few brave enough to speak out about your support for me."

A strange look passed over Xenophilius' face, but it was quickly veiled by his long hair when he bowed his head in a thankful nod. "Your understanding means much me, you are a good man. But that's not why I stopped you." The older man paused uncertainly. "Mr. Potter, might I ask you something?"

"Of course." Harry nodded encouragingly. "What is it?"

"There are rumors of what was said the day you killed He-Who-Must-Not-Named." Xenophilius glanced around as his voice dropped below a whisper. "They say you mastered the Elder Wand. Took it from him. And that that was what allowed you to defeat him."

Harry took a step back, immediately on his guard. "I don't have the Elder Wand, only my own."

Xenophilius hastened to smooth his raised hackles. "Well, of course you don't have it on you, such an artifact is too precious to carry with you on an everyday shopping trip. But whether you've simply left it at home or locked it in your vault, you have it, it's yours. You are the master of the Elder Wand. And the cloak."

"Cloak? Sorry, what cloak?"

"You came to my home that day, and asked about the Deathly Hallows, and I told you."

Harry's jaw dropped and he shook his head. "But Hermione….How do you…?"

"How do I remember what we discussed after your lovely friend obliviated me?" Xenophilius raised a wry brow. "I presume from what she tried to take from me, she was not aiming to make me forget the entire conversation, only that your young, redheaded friend was present. From the reports I heard, he was meant to be home sick with spattergroit. But, in her haste, the spell she cast was sloppy, underpowered, easily thwarted by the protections around my home. I did not forget the interest you showed in the Hallows nor did I forget the look you and your friends shared when I told you of Death's own invisibility cloak. You know of it, more than that, you own it."

"This is all some wild conjecture, Mr. Lovegood."

"And yet you've not denied a single word." Xenophilius took a step forward. "Do you have the Resurrection Stone? Did you unite the Hallows?"

"Why?" Harry was floundering, caught completely off guard by the man's fervored interest. "Why does it matter to you?"

"Because, once they've been united, we all will die."

Harry froze, a part of him was waiting for Xenophilius to laugh and claim it was a joke. Or, what was probably more likely, go on to explain some completely eccentric conspiracy theory claiming the rise of a clumdinger army. When such an explanation was not immediately forthcoming, he pressed for a bit of elaboration. "I'm sorry, what?

"The Hallows are objects far too powerful to even put to words. Death would not and did not give them up willingly. We took them and we used them and we abused them."

Harry shook his head as he considered the best way to placate Xenophilius' mad theory. "Those who took the Hallows are long dead, Death has no one to punish."

His words did nothing to soothe Xenophilius, unfortunately. If anything, he seemed even more distressed. "It's not Death who wishes to punish. The object from which the Hallows came was one of neutrality, balance. Those who had them used them for their own selfish purposes tried to cheat Death, they tried to become death, and in doing so, they upset the balance. With the Hallows separated, there is nothing they could do to right the balance, unite them and they once again have the power to right them in the only way they know how."Harry could see where this was going. "They kill us."

Xenophilius laughed bitterly. "No, not you, you're their master. Only us."

"Mr. Lovegood…."

"You don't believe me. Of course you don't. They won't either, not at first, but when it begins….then they'll see. Then they'll believe."

Harry felt his heart sink, the man was so sure in his fear, there would be no convincing him that he hadn't actually united the Hallows or, even if he had, that their union wouldn't actually bring about the end of days, but he could still appeal for his silence in the only way he knew how. "If you tell them, they'll want to hurt me...I'm-I'm Luna's friend. You know the sort of person she is, if I hurt, she will. You would hurt her?"

Xenophilius shook his head. "No. I would save her." He smiled a small, sad smile as he began to back away. "I'm sorry, Mr. Potter, it seems we just weren't meant to be on the same side, not when it means putting my Luna at risk. "

Harry raised his wand. Xenophilius was resolute in going to the papers (specifically his own no doubt) to warn all of the wizarding world of their coming demise at Harry's hands, he would not be reasoned with. It was more than likely that these warning would go unheeded, Xenophilius and the Quibbler were notorious for printing outrageous and entirely unbelievable conspiracy theories, but if even one person believed him, that was one too many. He wouldn't risk it. "I can't let you go." His wand aimed at the point just between the man's eyes. "Please don't make me."

"I won't," Xenophilius reassured. Harry frowned in confusion, but then the man was yelling, drawing everyone's attention to the two of them. "It's Harry Potter! It's the Boy-Who-Lived! The Man Who Conquered!"

They were upon them, Harry specifically, in a matter of moments. Dozens of wizards surrounded him, all trying to congratulate him, to thank him, to touch him, and in the ensuing chaos, Xenophilius got away.