The Way to Crack the Resurrection Stone

Ivan shook his head and looked at the father and daughter. "Unfortunately, as far as I know, it can't. The Resurrection Stone is just a fake magical illusion…"

"Do you remember the legend? What happened to the second of the three brothers… he begged Death for the ability to bring back the dead, to bring back the girl he had wanted to marry, but had died young, and was tortured to madness, to the point of suicide…"

"But that doesn't mean anything. Maybe he used it the wrong way, or the girl didn't love him enough to want to come back," Xenophilius said stubbornly, looking at Ivan eagerly. "You have the Resurrection Stone, don't you, Hulse?"

Ivan hesitated for a moment, then nodded, understanding that he could not discuss the rest of the matter without Xenophilius personally verifying the stone's capabilities.

With that in mind, Ivan removed the Resurrection Stone from around his neck and showed it to them.

The diamond-shaped crystal slowly floated in the air. Xenophilius was mesmerized by its magical glow. With Ivan's consent, he turned the Resurrection Stone three times in his trembling hands.

The next moment, a witch appeared in front of them. She looked to be in her early thirties and resembled Luna. She had a faint smile on her face that was exactly the same as the one Ivan had seen in the young witch's memory.

Xenophilius was overcome with emotion. He stood up and called his wife's name repeatedly, as if he intended to touch the witch's cheek.

Ivan frowned at Xenophilius's loss of composure, vaguely regretting his decision to hand over the Resurrection Stone.

Despite his warning about the flaws in the Resurrection Stone, Xenophilius did not listen.

Ivan's worst fears were soon confirmed.

After a long conversation, Xenophilius was convinced that the Resurrection Stone had summoned back his wife's soul, despite Ivan's claims.

"That's my wife, all right… all right!" Xenophilius shouted stubbornly, clutching the Resurrection Stone in his hand for fear Ivan would take it back.

Xenophilius's obstinacy frustrated Ivan. If it had been anyone else, he would have made them see the truth. However, this was Luna's father, and he could not do anything to him…

Ivan was having a headache over this when he heard a light voice in his ear.

"He just needs some time … Dad will figure it out."

Ivan turned to look, and noticed that Luna was still standing where she was, not obsessed with false magical visions like her father Xenophilius.

Even when the witch gently waved at her, Luna remained where she was, although there was sadness in her eyes.

"I can feel that it's not really her…" Luna's disembodied voice began again.

Ivan fell silent. He should have known that the Resurrection Stone was a thorn in Xenophilius's side. Perhaps he had made a mistake by coming here to question him about the Deathly Hallows.

The best way to destroy someone is to give them their last hope and smash them in their face…

Ivan sighed. He would have to wait for Xenophilius to calm down and then try to talk him out of it. Whatever was said would not be heard.

With that in mind, Ivan and Luna left Xenophilius alone in the drawing room.

The house was not very large, with only three floors, but without the workshop, there was not much room.

Luna led Ivan up to the third floor, which had been almost decked out as an exhibition hall for magical creatures.

It also happens to be Luna's room.

This was the first time Ivan had ever set foot in a girl's room, not counting his second year sneaking into the girls' dormitory.

However, Luna's taste was clearly different from the average girl's, as the bedroom was simply decorated.

The floor was covered with a pale blue blanket, and a handmade model of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack, Harasser Snorkack, and Harbinger Snorkack were placed next to the table.

What struck Ivan the most was the beautiful portraits of him and Luna on the bedroom ceiling.

The portraits were presumably magically altered so that they could not move or speak like the portraits at Hogwarts, but they were vivid and alive, as if they might come to life at any moment.

The two portraits are connected by a thin gold chain…

When Ivan got closer, he realized that it was not a gold chain, but thousands of identical words written in beautiful golden ink — Friend!

"Do you like it? I painted it myself…" Luna whispered, looking up at it.

"It's very good!" Yvonne said with a smile, feeling mixed emotions.

Now that Luna knew him, she had fewer real friends…