At the bottom of the hill, while the Shadowhunter's marked themselves, Harry, Ron, and Hermione discussed what they were going to do about their new friends. Normal spells had little effect on them because of their angel blood, and Magnus the same because of his demonic heritage, (only very powerfull spells could do much damage), and they could easily cast a glamor that Xenophilius could not see through, but they could also just leave them at the hill.
"We need to bring them. Magnus knows stuff about our world the other's don't, and if something happens, they need to be there. They have a million little tricks and quick fixes. Lots of previously useless knowledge that could be useful." Harry said. On this note, they started up the top of the hill.
As they neared the top of the slope, a large stone building began to take shape. The shadowhunters reached the top first, leaving the other behind them, weezing sightling.
"It look's like a giant rook." Ron commented, after catching this breath.
"Hum. It does. Not much rook resemblance at the top, if you catch my drift," Jace said. Ron agreed, but everyone else on the hill looked at the two as if they had some lunatic infection.
"What, Valentine and I played chess." Jace said defensively.
"But a rook is a bird," Hermione said.
"A rook is basicly a knight, just with a fancy name," Ron cleared up. They all expressed understanding and moved on.
The house was huge, a great cylinder, with many large bushes in front, and some windows that looked like they were randomly cut in strange places. As they approached, Simon pointed out three hand painted signs tacked to a wooden post which read:
THE QUIBBLER. EDITOR. X. LOVEGOOD
PICK YOUR OWN MISTLETOE
KEEP OF THE DIRIGIBLE PLUMS
They walked up to a creaky gate, which led to a crooked path, overgrown with a variety of different plants. When Clary went to pick a flower along the path, Magnus grabbed her arm and shook his head. "It could be poisonous. Believe me, this man would accidentally poisoned his own tea because he thought the herb would cure an ingrown toenail." After that, she didn't reach to pick any more flowers.
Hermione rapped the eagle knocker three times and the group waited nervously for a reply. Around 10 seconds later, Xenophilius Lovegood stood at the front door, barefoot, in a stained night shirt, and a halo of frizzy white Eisenstein hair, surveying the group with one good eye. The other stared straight a head.
Magnus spoke first. "Hello, Xenophilius." He said, failing at trying to keep his voice cheerful.
"Magnus Bane. Now what are you doing at my door with a bunch of misfit teen-" At this point he noticed Harry and his eyes widened too almost an impossible size and his mouth rounded into a extremely comical O.
"Hello Mr. Lovegood. I'm Harry. Harry Potter, I believe we've met?" Harry said, extending his hand to Mr. Lovegood.
"Never mind that, never mind it, just come inside, quickly, quickly!" He ushered the strange group inside his home.
The kitchen took up the entire first floor, and everything was rounded to fit the circular walls. The stove, the countertop, the sink, everything. The counters were painted with bright insects and flowers, and it quite frankly gave Harry a headache.
"Follow me!" Exclaimed Xenophilius, escorting the group up a set of spiral stairs in the center of the room. Everyone was noting the racket from up stairs and the loudness of the decor.
"You've remodeled." Magnus commented as they owned their way up the stairs. Alec's eyebrows shot up.
"Yes I have. You didn't like the old style, and I don't suppose you will like the new one either. Its very rude to mention that you dislike your host's decoration. Very rude indeed."
"It's also very rude to mention your disgust at your guest's choice in hairstyles. I was just trying to make conversation." Magnus said and muttered something about the old style not being very different from the new style, while running his fingers over his gelled, glittered, and electric blue hair .
The circular second floor held an assortment of strange objects, like a large printer, shaking and sputtering. Paper rolled between its printing, streaming back out in an assortment of colours and shapes. It continued down a belt that had sharp axe like things cutting the paper apart, the belt continued and then the papers were stapled together with a large stapler that was making most of the noise. It was then moved a little farther down the assembly line and was dropped into a large basket at the end. The entire machine took all of the circular room.
While everyone else was examining the printing press, Hermione sqeaked and pointed at a large grey horn, not unlike a unicorns, protruding out of the wall.
"Mr. Lovegood! Do you know what that is?" She said, shouting over the sound of the press.
"Yes it's the horn of a Crumple-Horned Snorkack" Xenophilius informed her, also shouting.
"No it isn't!" Cried Hermione, in obvious distress.
"Really Hermione, this isn't the time." Harry said, glancing apologetically at their host.
"No Harry, that is the horn of an Erumpent. Class B Tradable Material! And not safe at all! Magnus, can you side with me on this?"
"Magnus approached the horn and looked at it closely. "It is the horn of a Erumpent. Xenophilius, you have to get rid of it, it can explode at the slightest touch. How did you get such an item?"
"I obtained it from a young man two weeks ago, a little Christmas present for Luna."
"Who is Luna?" Asked Izzy.
"She is my daughter. Currently out fishing in the river." He led them up another flight of stairs and sat them down at a small table.
"Now Mr. Potter, what have you come for."
"For help. We need some help."
"But helping Harry Potter… well that is dangerous."
"But what about that magazine of your's, doesn't it support Harry?" Jace enquired.
"And the muggle speaks. Mr. Potter, why do you drag in Magnus Bane and some of his Muggle friends to my home and expect my help? I would say 'look what the cat dragged in', but that would be all too polite."
"What do you have against Magnus?" Alec asked clearly worried.
"He comes in and asks if I can publish an article he wrote. I say no, he over reacts and there may have been a fight. End of story. I hate him, he hates me."
"You threw it in the fire!" Magnus cried, standing up.
"It went against all the views of the Quibbler." Xenophilius yelled, now he was standing up.
"Well I'm sorry that your prejudice against warlocks was unseen. What I wrote lined up perfectly with what I can now see as a crackpot newspaper."
"I can't accept your work because you're not a wizard and frankly, your writing was as good as your hair."
"Then why did you let me in if you knew I wasn't a wizard?! Maybe it was the eyesight, it was bad enough before you tried messing with me!"
"Boys! Calm down. I never knew that you could get so emotional over a newspaper article." Clary shouted, springing to her feet.
"It had been a bad day." Magnus grumbled, sitting back down.
"My wife had just died." Muttered Xenophilius, crossing his arms and also sitting back down.
"Anyways, we need your help."
"What with."
"This sign, you were wearing it at the wedding, can you tell us about it?" Asked Hermione, showing him the triangular eye.
"Ah yes, the Deathly Hallows. The wand, the stone, and the cloak. Ms. Granger, you seem to have a sufficient copy in your hands. Could you please read The Tale of the Three Brothers too us?" He asked.
So she did.