In response to Alaric's question, Luna looked at him with her usual dreamy gaze before suddenly saying:
"I've noticed…"
The statement was so vague that Alaric was left confused.
"What have you noticed?"
"I've noticed that you… are a person…"
???
— Do you need to point that out?
— I know I'm a person.
— What, am I supposed to be some cat or dog instead?
— What are you talking about?
Alaric looked at the girl in front of him who had just uttered nonsense and replied with resignation.
"Well, of course, I'm a person…"
However, Luna interrupted him abruptly.
"No, you're actually not a person."
???
The remark was so shocking that Alaric's first reaction wasn't anger but confusion.
— Why did you say "actually"?
— Wait a minute, you were the one who said I was a person just now. How can you take it back immediately?
— And why are you calling me names? I don't think I've done anything to offend you.
— But Luna doesn't seem like the type to use foul language...
— What is going on with this world?
As Alaric was mentally criticizing the situation, Luna spoke again.
"Hermione Granger and Cho Chang are also not people."
???
The statement was even more outrageous than the previous one; it was no longer just an insult but a mockery of a group.
At that moment, Alaric wanted to ask the girl loudly:
— Are you sure you're having a conversation with me and not just looking for trouble?
— Look at what you're saying!
— If it weren't for my knowledge of your character from the original story, someone with a more irritable temperament might have already started arguing or even fighting.
— Only someone who understands your true nature like me would tolerate listening to this nonsense.
So, Alaric patiently explained to Luna.
"I believe I am a person, and so are Hermione and Cho Chang."
"No, you're not," Luna said dreamily.
How stubborn can this girl be?
"I really am a person, just like you. We both have hands and feet, walk upright, and speak the same language, don't we?"
"No, you're not like me."
At this point, Alaric was left speechless.
He felt that even though he had read the original story, he still couldn't understand Luna.
This girl might not only be stream-of-consciousness as depicted in the story but genuinely eccentric.
Otherwise, she wouldn't say such things.
However, Luna's next statement stunned him.
"Although you look like me, you're very dangerous. You're not like me."
"Dangerous? What do you mean?" Alaric felt he might be misunderstanding.
"People don't have such immense power. Absolute power," Luna said seriously, despite her usual dreamy demeanor.
"You remind me of a dragon. I've seen dragons in the Triwizard Tournament, but I think you're much stronger than a dragon." Luna continued with conviction.
"Hermione and Cho Chang are the same; they're like a large dragon encased in human skin."
Alaric suddenly felt that this girl was indeed frightening.
Even Dumbledore hadn't realized that Hermione and Cho Chang were Animagi who could turn into dragons, but this girl had figured it out.
And it wasn't through evidence or meticulous reasoning but her unreasoning intuition.
Indeed, this girl was the complete opposite of Hermione but had her own merits.
While Alaric always believed that rationality and wisdom were fundamental to power, the extremes of emotion and intuition were also valuable.
With that in mind, Alaric took a long, thoughtful look at Luna.
— This girl definitely has potential.
— Perhaps I should consider developing this further?
— Hmm, it's because I see her as a valuable talent, not just because she's cute.
As Alaric seriously contemplated a new strategy, Luna spoke up first.
"Do you believe in the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"
??
Alaric looked at Luna curiously.
Luna, still with her serious expression, continued, "Since there are dragon people, there must be Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, right?"
— Dragon people? Don't give me any strange nicknames.
Still, Alaric offered a comforting and dismissive reply.
"I don't know because I've never seen a Crumple-Horned Snorkack, but you could try to find it. It might really exist."
"Will you help me find it?" Luna asked with her large silver-gray eyes fixed on Alaric.
Being looked at so expectantly by a cute girl, Alaric couldn't bear to refuse, so he said.
"I'd be happy to help, but not right now. We need to defeat the Dark Lord first."
"The Dark Lord? I know him," Luna said in a peculiar tone.
"He created the Rotfang Conspiracy to use dark magic and gum disease to undermine the Ministry from within."
Her strange words once again left Alaric stunned.
While he felt that most of what Luna said was accurate, he was sure she had mixed up the Cruciatus Curse with something else.
However, he didn't correct Luna.
Or rather, he had given up on correcting her.
This girl firmly believed in her bizarre fantasies, and Alaric felt he couldn't possibly correct every misconception.
— Maybe this is also where her strong intuition comes from.
Alaric reassured himself.
Then he decisively changed the topic.
"So, why do you think I can help you find the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" he asked.
"Because, apart from my father, you're the first person who believes the Crumple-Horned Snorkack exists," the girl answered.
"Everyone else tells me it's just in my imagination. But I don't think it's imagination because my mother said that the Crumple-Horned Snorkack does exist."
Hearing this, Alaric suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the little girl.
So, he stepped forward and patted her head comfortingly.
The girl seemed to enjoy it, and they just stood there together.
But then, a voice came from behind Alaric.
"I told you, you've been eyeing her for a while, haven't you?"
Alaric turned around to see Hermione standing in the corner, staring at him with an expressionless face.
Alaric was somewhat embarrassed but remained calm in the situation.
"How did you get here?" he asked Hermione.
"I was in the common room and noticed you weren't coming, so I came back to find you," Hermione sighed as she approached Alaric.
"And then I find you flirting with a girl."
"Flirting? Me?" Alaric was a bit speechless. "I was just comforting her."
But Luna spoke up again.
"Alaric promised me he would help me."
Hermione looked at Alaric.
"So you've even made plans for a date? You're putting that above our important tasks?"
"Hey, don't listen to her nonsense," Alaric defended.
"I just said that after we defeat the Dark Lord, I'd help her look for the Crumple-Horned Snorkack…"
"Oh, well, I won't stop you then," Hermione suddenly smiled.
"After all, I've realized that with our situation, we might end up spending more time together than Nicolas and Perenelle, so having a few more companions around won't be lonely."
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