Deep within the dense, snow-covered forests of Russia, Dante Malfoy moved silently through the trees, his silver hair glinting faintly in the filtered sunlight. The air was crisp and cold, the silence of the forest broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a bird. Dante's eyes, glowing faintly with magical sight, scanned his surroundings, taking in the intricate web of magical energy that permeated the area.
As he walked, something caught his attention—a faint, almost imperceptible shimmer of magic clinging to a nearby tree. If not for his unique ability to see magic, he would have missed it entirely. Intrigued, Dante approached the tree, his curiosity piqued. He didn't know of any creatures of this size capable of such advanced invisibility magic.
Dante observed the creature carefully for any movement, but the creature seemed content to stay still. As he drew closer to the source of the magic, he reached out and dispelled the invisibility spell with a flick of his hand. The creature hidden within the spell was revealed, and it was unlike anything Dante had ever seen.
The creature had light purple skin, smooth and hairless, and it immediately reacted to being exposed. With a swift, agile movement, it leaped away, launching itself toward another tree. But Dante was faster. With a wave of his hand, he petrified the creature mid-air, freezing it in place. Before it could hit the ground, he used his magic to make it float gently, ensuring it wasn't harmed.
Dante moved closer toward the floating creature, his silver eyes studying it intently. It was about the size of a dog, with a sleek, hairless body and a long tail that ended in a golden stinger. Its head resembled that of a hippopotamus, but with two golden horns, one small straight horn while the other is a few times longer and curved backward. The creature's appearance was both bizarre and fascinating.
As Dante observed it, a memory surfaced in his mind—a conversation he had once had with Luna Lovegood. She had described a magical creature called the crumple-horned snorkack, a being that lived in forests that no one had ever seen but that she believed to be real. Luna had spoken of it with such conviction, describing its horn and its elusive nature. At the time, Dante had not dismissed it as a fantasy; the possibility of such a creature existing was real despite how unlikely it was. When Luna asked him to look for it, he refused simply because he didn't want to put effort into what could be a waste of time and chose to do what he was good at. Now, standing before this strange creature, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, Luna," Dante murmured to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "It seems your beast is real after all."
The irony wasn't lost on him. Of all the places in the world, he had stumbled upon the crumple-horned snorkack here, in the remote forests of Russia. It was a discovery that would have delighted Luna.
Deciding to keep the creature, Dante carefully placed it into his enchanted pouch, a magical container that could hold living beings without harm. He knew Luna would be thrilled to see it, and he made up his mind to bring it back with him when he returned to Hogwarts. But first, he wanted to learn more about these creatures. If there was one crumple-horned snorkack, there might be others.
Dante decided to stay in the forest for a while, using the opportunity to search for more of the creatures and study them up close. He was intrigued by this beast and its ability to remain hidden for so long. As he ventured deeper into the forest, his mind wandered back to Luna and the conversations they had shared. This discovery felt like a small, unexpected gift—a reminder of the strange and wonderful world he had lived in for so long.
For now, Dante would focus on his research, content in the knowledge that he had found something truly extraordinary. And when the time came to return to Hogwarts, he would bring with him a creature that would prove, once and for all, that Luna Lovegood's belief was rooted in truth.
___________
The Lovegood household, usually a place of whimsy and warmth, was now filled with an oppressive silence. Luna sat on the couch, her usually dreamy eyes clouded with tears as she finally allowed herself to break down in front of her father, Xenophilius Lovegood. The weight of everything she had endured—the bullying, the isolation, the expulsion from Hogwarts had finally become too much to bear. She had tried to stay strong, to remain optimistic, but being cast out of the school she loved, simply for speaking her mind, had shattered her spirit.
Xenophilius's heart ached as he watched his daughter cry. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly as she sobbed into his shoulder. "It's going to be okay, Luna," he said softly, his voice trembling with emotion. "We'll get through this together."
Luna looked up at him, her tear-streaked face filled with despair. "I wanted to graduate from Hogwarts," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I wanted to travel the world and search for magical beasts. I wanted to find the crumple-horned snorkack."
Xenophilius held her closer, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You will, Luna," he said firmly. "Hogwarts isn't the only magical school in the world. There are other places you can go, other adventures waiting for you. Things will get better."
For a few days, Luna remained withdrawn, her usual spark dimmed by the pain of her experiences. But slowly, with her father's encouragement, she began to regain some of her positivity. She helped around the house, tending to the garden and assisting her father with the latest issue of The Quibbler. She even considered writing an article to defend Dante, but Xenophilius gently dissuaded her.
"The whole world hates him, Luna," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "They want him dead. If we defend him, they won't leave us in peace. Remember what happened at Hogwarts."
Luna nodded reluctantly, her heart heavy. She didn't want to cause more trouble for her father, but it pained her to stay silent. She believed in Dante, even if no one else did.
A few months later, the peaceful routine of the Lovegood household was shattered by an unexpected visit. Three young men from the Ministry of Magic arrived unannounced, their expressions grim and their wands at the ready. Xenophilius greeted them cautiously, his instincts warning him that something was wrong.
"Welcome," he said, forcing a smile. "What brings you here?"
One of the men stepped forward, his cold eyes locking onto Xenophilius. "I'm Ronald Selwyn," he said, his voice sharp and accusing. "I heard from my nephew that your daughter, Luna, was a friend of Dante Malfoy. I also heard she defended him after the battle at Hogwarts."
Xenophilius felt a chill run down his spine, but he kept his composure. "I'm sorry for your loss," he said carefully, sensing the hostility in Selwyn's tone.
Ronald's face twisted into a sneer. "Dante Malfoy should be sorry," he snapped. "I wanted to get my hands on the rest of the Malfoys, but they're hiding in their manor like cowards. So I decided to go for the second-best option—his little friend over here."
Xenophilius paled, his heart pounding as he stepped protectively in front of Luna. "My daughter has nothing to do with this," he said firmly. "She's just a child."
Ronald didn't respond. Instead, he raised his wand and fired a red beam of magic at Xenophilius, sending him flying into the wall behind him. Luna screamed, her voice filled with terror as she reached for her wand. But before she could draw it, Ronald cast Diffindo, severing her hand from her arm.
Luna's scream of pain echoed through the house as she collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down her face. Ronald loomed over her, his expression twisted with cruel satisfaction. "Why don't you defend your friend now?" he taunted, his voice dripping with malice.
Luna looked up at him, her vision blurred by tears and pain, but before she could speak, Ronald pointed his wand at her again. "Crucio," he hissed.
Luna's body convulsed as the curse took hold, her screams piercing the air. Xenophilius, barely conscious, dragged himself to his feet, his voice weak but desperate. "Please, stop!" he begged. "She's just a child! She's done nothing wrong!"
But Ronald ignored him, his focus entirely on Luna. One of the other men stepped forward, pointing his wand at Xenophilius. "Crucio," he said coldly, and Xenophilius joined his daughter in screaming.
The torture seemed to last an eternity. When Ronald finally grew bored, he kicked Luna as hard as he could, sending her crumpling to the floor. Then, without a word, he and his companions left, their laughter echoing behind them.
When the house fell silent, Xenophilius dragged his trembling body to Luna's side. She was pale and barely conscious, her breathing shallow. "Luna," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I'll get you to St. Mungo's. Just hold on."
But Luna's eyes fluttered weakly before closing, her body going still. Xenophilius let out a scream of anguish, his heart shattering as he gathered his daughter in his arms. The world had taken everything from them—their peace, their home, and now, it seemed, it wanted Luna's life.
With tears streaming down his face, Xenophilius vowed to get her help, no matter the cost.