Chapter 291: Luna
Time passed quickly, and soon it was September 1st, the first day of the new term at Hogwarts.
By late August, Kate and Penelope had already returned to their respective homes, preparing to resume the familiar yet distant rhythm of Hogwarts life alongside Alexander.
During those few quiet days, Alexander finally had time to study Nagini properly.
Previously, perhaps because Kate knew Nagini was once a woman—and even managed to get a photo of her from the Akanus Circus—Alexander never got a real chance to get close. Now, as he gently ran his fingers along her smooth, cool scales, he realized just how wrong that was.
He wasn't doing anything indecent—no more than Professor Dumbledore had done when he used his hands, instead of a wand, to sense the lingering traces of magic while inspecting Regulus's artifacts.
When it came to perceiving the nature of magic itself, nothing worked better than direct touch and clear sight.
Surely Kate and Penelope could understand that.
Nagini, who had once been able to regain her human form briefly but had now lost her memories, leaned quietly against Alexander. Her human appearance was that of a fragile young woman—another cruel result of the blood curse, Shaha.
That curse, Alexander realized, was terrifyingly potent.
But with the start of term approaching, he finally had to bid farewell to Nagini. Holding the now–plump Jerry in his arms, Alexander left with a sigh that mixed fondness and regret.
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"You know," he muttered as he boarded the Hogwarts Express, "it's summer. How could anyone sleep comfortably at night without a cool snake beside them?"
Jerry just flicked his tail, unimpressed.
"What are you staring at, you fat cat?"
"Don't give me that look. No one else would ever spoil a cat like you—I'm the only fool who does."
Alexander arrived early, taking an empty compartment near the entrance of the train. He had already placed a subtle concealment charm, allowing only students who met his criteria to notice the compartment.
As for what counted as "qualified," that was something only Alexander knew.
Just then, a soft knock came at the door.
A short, pale-haired witch peered inside curiously. "Hello. I think this compartment is empty?" she said in a dreamy tone, her silvery eyes blinking slowly, as though she'd stumbled upon a secret.
"Of course," Alexander replied, already recognizing her the moment she appeared.
He had originally planned to sit with Harry and the others as usual, but while idly watching Harry Potter and the Burrow one evening, he had become curious about a certain girl—a witch he hadn't intended to approach before.
Her name was Luna Lovegood.
Her intuition, he'd noticed, was sharper than anyone gave her credit for. Though Harry's descriptions of her were… less than flattering, Alexander found them utterly unfair.
To Harry, Luna was eccentric—unkempt blonde hair, wide eyes that made her look startled, a wand tucked behind her ear, and a necklace strung with butterbeer corks. She read The Quibbler upside down, and everything about her screamed odd.
But Alexander saw something completely different.
Yes, her hair was messy, but it was not dirty. It shimmered faintly with gold beneath the pale strands, like sunlight diffused through fog. It reminded him of Malfoy's hair—perhaps that was why Harry disliked it so instinctively.
Her wide eyes, on her small round face, gave her a strangely ethereal charm—one that most would never notice.
Still, what intrigued Alexander most wasn't her appearance, but her intuition. Luna noticed things others missed—small inconsistencies in words, faint hesitations in tone, emotions hidden beneath masks. Her insight was the kind that made others uneasy because it was too honest, too direct.
That was what Alexander valued—the intuition of a true wizard.
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"May I know your name?" Luna asked suddenly, her eyes fixed on him with open curiosity. "You feel… unusual."
"Alexander Smith," he replied, meeting her gaze without hesitation.
Luna didn't look away either. Most girls would've blushed or faltered beneath Alexander's calm, almost otherworldly presence—but not her. She didn't even blink.
"Other students can't see this compartment," she said, tilting her head. "What kind of magic is it?"
Then, as if the thought had just arrived, she added softly, "Also… you're very beautiful. Especially your eyes—they're the same color as mine. Can we be friends?"
Alexander smiled faintly. "This is an ability passed down in the Smith family. Like how a Metamorphmagus can change their face or hair color at will."
He paused, then extended a hand. "And as for being friends—why not? You're quite cute yourself."
Luna's fingers brushed his briefly before she pulled away as if she'd touched something hot. Her face was calm, but the quickness of the motion betrayed her shyness.
"Cute?" she repeated, her voice light. "My father says that too. But I've noticed most people don't seem to like me."
"That's because you're different from them," Alexander said gently. "But that's not a flaw. It means you'll avoid those who spend their lives chasing approval. People like that only bring trouble. In the end, they either fade into the crowd—or become the 'weirdo' everyone whispers about."
Luna tilted her head thoughtfully. "So… I shouldn't bother trying to please them?"
"Exactly," Alexander replied, his tone calm but warm. "Being true to yourself is far more magical than fitting in."
Luna's lips curved into a dreamy smile. "That's a relief. It would be frightening to have no friends at all. Fortunately, I have one now—Alexander Smith."
Her voice was soft, almost like a whisper carried by the wind, but it lingered in the air long after.
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(End of Chapter 291)
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