After my parents had calmed down, I quickly used my mother's phone to give Carlos a call to tell him I was back and for him to send someone to pick up the materials Severus had given me.
I had just hung up on him when his people arrived. They were apparently close by as security for my parents, which I was grateful for, but now that I was back they could dial that down a notch or two.
I gave them a basic explanation of what they'd be transporting, warning them to take special care with the Salamanders, although I didn't really have to, the fire being a good enough warning on its own.
After impressing upon them the importance of their cargo, I let them go and returned to explain things to my parents.
That took most of the day, I started in the morning with the visit to the Colosseum and ended at night with my return home, avoiding only my actions against the cultists so I didn't worry my mom.
I ate my father's pasta with his family's traditional tomato sauce, relaxed with them for a little while, then made myself some coffee and went back to my room.
Sitting down on my armchair, I pulled out the miniaturized Quibbler that Xeno gave me from my pocket, engorged it back to its normal size, took a sip of my coffee, and proceeded to finally read the article about me.
The True Ruler of Mankind Reveals Himself!
By 'Luscious'
I spat out my coffee.
"Xeno, what the fuck!?"
Severus Snape
Breakfast on September 2nd was always an event.
The first years were trying to adjust to Hogwarts, being away from their parents, and attempting to make friends with those around them while the older students were still celebrating being back with their friends.
He dutifully ignored Potter's existence while he tried to spot Miss Lov- Luna in the havoc.
It didn't take long to find her, and what he saw when he did left him, concerned.
Luna was sitting by herself on the Ravenclaw table, the students around her giving enough space to make it clear they were not involved with her, and she was barely touching her food, something he knew was abnormal from the time he spent at her home.
'Children a cruel' He thought, remembering his past and how he had to adapt to not become a pariah in his own house, although he doubted Luna would ever change for something as shallow as acceptance from those who dislike who she is.
He had to suppress a smile at that, knowing that Luna was already more mature and established in who she was than he was at her age.
But that didn't change that if nothing was done, she was in for a miserable stay at Hogwarts that year, something that would probably change when Alex heard of it and decided to fix it.
Better not let it come to that.
He was thinking about how to best approach the subject with Filius when the mail arrived.
The owls covered the Great Hall for a few moments, some making their deliveries and flying off while others perched on the tables to feed, drink, receive payment, or all three.
He tried to keep track of who received The Quibbler, but the amount of owls made this a particularly difficult task. The best he could get was 3 to Griffindor, 5 to Hufflepuff, one to Ravenclaw, and none to Slytherin.
The one for Ravenclaw was for Luna, who quickly got up and went to show it to Miss Weasley, both girls moving towards the back of the Gryffindor table to animately whisper to themselves while reading.
'Gossip' He snorted internally, watching all of the girls he saw receiving the Quibbler staring intently at the pictures of Alex with their faces flushed, none of them more than Luna and Miss Weasley.
He was shaken out of his amused thoughts by Hagrid moving from the other end of the table towards Dumbledore, a copy of The Quibbler in hand.
"Of course he is a reader," He couldn't help but quietly mutter to himself, seeing Hagrid showing Dumbledore the article, more specifically, the picture of him helping Alex prove his invulnerability.
He had expected his involvement to take longer to be noticed by anyone of importance, perhaps during the tournament when everyone would be too busy to care about it. But expectations seldom came to be so he was prepared for this eventuality.
Dumbledore then turned his attention to him, and even from two seats away he could feel the pressure from those judging eyes settle on his shoulders.
"Professor Snape," Dumbledore said, "How about a nice cup of tea after breakfast?"
"Of course, Headmaster." He replied, thankful that he didn't have any classes that morning.
The rest of the meal and the proceeding walk towards the Headmaster's office was spent in silence, which continued until they sat in Dumbledore's office, after which a House Elf brought the aforementioned tea and promptly left.
Dumbledore set the paper on his desk and turned it to him.
"That is a heavy claim for Xenophilius to make." Dumbledore prompted.
He took the paper and made a show of staring at the headline for a few seconds before rolling his eyes and letting it fall back on the table.
"And yet I don't feel like paying any sort of attention to it is warranted," Severus replied with a snort.
"You don't?" Dumbledore asked, looking curiously at him.
"No," Severus said, shaking his head. "I'm actually worried that you do."
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers, looking for all the world like one of those masterminds from the old spy movies Lily liked so much.
"Then why did you do it? And why not tell anyone about it?" Dumbledore asked.
"Because I wanted to see it for myself if his claims were true," He replied. "And because reality is far more disappointing when your expectations are high."
"And what have you found?" Dumbledore stared intently at him.
"A powerful child, but one disinterested in our nation apart from the Lovegoods." He said with a shrug. "Speaking of, Xenophilius requested that Alexander may accompany Miss Lovegood to the Yule Ball."
"A pity, but not unexpected," Dumbledore said with a sigh before raising an eyebrow at Severus' direction. "And why would you be the one making this request?"
"I want to see if the boy lets out anything particularly interesting about the origin of his power," Severus said.
"But why do it during the Yule Ball?" Dumbledore asked, amusement evident in his voice.
"We both know why, Albus." Severus rolled his eyes. "Secrets are nothing when faced with a horny teenage boy. Just sit him close to other Ravenclaw girls and it should come out naturally.
Although I've noticed Miss Lovegood's isolation from her peers during breakfast, this might make the plan backfire if it persists up to the Ball."
"Hm, that is something that should be addressed even if we don't plan on allowing them to participate in the Ball." Dumbledore nodded.
"And what will your, associates, think of this?" Dumbledore asked, changing the subject to more relevant issues.
"When they find out? That it's just another one of Xeno's conspiracy theories." He easily replied. "And if they question my involvement I'll just wave it away as the investigation it was before dismissing it as a gimmick."
"Good, good," Dumbledore nodded, lost in thought.
"Anything else, Headmaster?" Severus asked.
"No, Severus, you may go," Dumbledore said as leaned back on his chair.
"Then I'll se you later," Severus said before leaving.
After Severus left, Dumbledore picked up the paper, staring at the pictures on the front page before reading the first paragraph aloud.
"For as long as we existed we have asked ourselves 'What is the limit for humanity's growth?' and every time we came up with an answer, we worked hard to push past it until we did it. Today, dear readers, I bring forth the final frontier about the limits of humanity, the final nail in the coffin of the naysayers and unachievers. The true limit of humanity: Is none."
Luna Lovegood
"My discovery of this came about when I first met the subject of these pictures, Alexander Lupi, when he stumbled upon my home, utilizing magical concepts previously unknown to us." Hermione read to their group in the Great Hall, Ron and Harry by her sides while she, Ginny, and Neville sat opposite to them.
The Great Hall was mostly empty this time of day, the shining afternoon sun, luring the majority of the castle outside, which left the Gryffindor table deserted save for them.
"What in the bloody hell is he even talking about!?" Ron exclaimed.
"If you let me keep reading, maybe we'll find out!" Hermione said back with a glare.
"Fine!" Ron said, leaning back morosely.
With a roll of her eyes, Hemione turned back to the paper in her hands.
"One of the main magical concepts he introduced to me is what he calls Authorities, which, as the name implies, grant the user an almost divine level of control over a subject or concept. In his case, Authority over Gateways and Doorways, which let him open a Door to my house in Britain from his house in Brazil, in a completely different version of Earth."
Hermione's voice cracked by the end of it, her wide eyes matched by everyone else on the table save Luna, who had a tiny smile on her face.
"Bullshit!" Ron exclaimed again.
"Yeah, that seems a bit farfetched." Harry nodded in agreement.
"A bit!? That's impossible!" Hermione said, throwing the paper on the table.
"But it isn't, is it?" Ginny said, looking at Luna.
"It isn't," Luna said.
"But how?" Neville asked.
Luna grabbed the paper and gave it to him.
"Read the next paragraph." She simply said.
"But how can that be possible, you ask? Well, this is when we apply the next concept he taught me, the concept of Usurpation. Differently from blood purists' conspiracy theories, Usurpation, or the stealing of magic, is not something that is actually done between mortals, but something that mortals can do to Gods."
"This is nonsense," Hermione said, getting up and walking away.
"Can't say I disagree with her there." Ron nodded as he followed after her.
"Yeah, it doesn't even make sense! How can he be the "True Ruler of Mankind" if he isn't even from this world? Sorry, but I'm out." Harry said, following his friends.
"Idiots," Ginny said with a snort.
"So you believe it?" Neville asked.
"I overheard Dad and Bill talking about it before, during, and after their talk with Alex after the World Cup, and 'impossible' was half the of the words used when they did," Ginny replied with a shrug. "So it's a better explanation than anything I've got."
"What do you mean after the World Cup?" Neville pressed.
"Who do you think the 'Blood Demon' is?" Luna asked.
Neville's eyes widened before being overtaken by a serious look.
"I'll keep the secret." He said with a nod.
"Thank you," Luna said, getting up. "Now, I'll have to do my homework, Ginny?"
"I'll go, better do it now before it piles up." She said.
"I have to go write to my gram, see you girls later!" He said.
As he left Ginny turned a inquisitive glance at Luna.
"So, is he-" She started to say before being interrupted.
"No," Luna replied, unamused.
"Aw, come on Luna! Help a girl out!" She whined.
"I think you and Neville would make a cute couple," Luna said.
"Forget I asked," Ginny whimpered.
When Luna reached her dorm on the night of that same day, she found a warm cup of hot chocolate with a note under it on her nightstand.
Taking a sip of her chocolate, she unfolded the note, which read:
"Meet me at the fourth door of the second-floor corridor one hour after lunch, for your training. S.S."
With a happy smile on her face, she disposed of the note and got ready for bed, closing the curtains of her bed before her dormmates reached the room.
Lucius Malfoy
"He can't keep getting away with this!" He screamed as he threw the paper on the coffee table, hard.
"Now, now Lucius, what has dear Xeno done to you now?" Narcissa said with a tone of faux concern.
"He used that blasted name again!" He exclaimed, pointing accusatorily at the paper on the table.
"And what did he say?" Narcissa asked.
"Change is coming," He said somberly. "By someone much more powerful than the Dark Lord and Dumbledore combined."
"What kind of change?" Narcissa asked, he previous humor replaced with concern.
"I don't know!" He replied, sitting by her side and hugging her.
"Then you should talk to him." She calmly said.
"Maybe in a few weeks." He said morosely.
"Lucius, it's been over ten years. Go talk to your brother," Narcissa commanded. "Merlin knows I wish Andy still wanted to talk to me." She finished with a mutter.
A/N: Surprise, they are brothers!
This relation is something that I wanted to do for a while, I tried fitting it in during the WC but it didn't work out, so adding it to the end of the interlude seemed fitting.
Luna's section was supposed to be longer, but not enough has happened at Hogwarts for it to really be worth expanding it right now, so y'all get a peek at how the trio reacted to the article and a little bit of teasing between Luna and Ginny.
Also, since I don't think I'll ever be able to really explain it in-story: during the war, Xeno created the Quibbler to send coded messages to his allies, and he started accepting readers 'articles' to support other resistance groups such as the Order.
Like my writing? Want to be able to read a full two chapters ahead? Then check me out on P a treon . com (slash) NickKane.