Xenophilius was cooking to spare his feelings.

"What about the Cloak, though?" said Ron slowly. "Don't you realize, he's right? I've got

so used to Harry's Cloak and how good it is, I never stopped to think. I've never heard of

one like Harry's. It's infallible. We've never been spotted under it --"

"Of course not -- we're invisible when we're under it, Ron!"

"But all the stuff he said about other cloaks, and they're not exactly ten a Knut, you know,

is true! It's never occurred to me before but I've heard stuff about charms wearing off

cloaks when they get old, or them being ripped apart by spells so they've got holes,

Harry's was owned by his dad, so it's not exactly new, is it, but it's just ... perfect!"

"Yes, all right, but Ron, the stone..."

As they argued in whispers, Harry moved around the room, only half listening. Reaching

The spiral stair, he raised his eyes absently to the next level and was distracted at once.

His own face was looking back at him from the ceiling of the room above. After a

moment's bewilderment, he realized that it was not a mirror, but a painting. Curious, he

Began to clime the stairs.

"Harry, what are you doing? I don't think you should look around when he's not here!"

But Harry had already reached the next level. Luna had decorated her bedroom ceiling

with five beautifully painted faces: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville. They

Were not moving as the portraits at Hogwarts moved, but there was a certain magic about

Them all the same. Harry thought they breathed. What appeared to be a fine golden chains

Wove around the pictures linking them together, but after examining them for a minute or

So, Harry realized that the chains were actually one work repeated a thousand times in

golden ink: friends... friends... friends...

Harry felt a great rush of affection for Luna. He looked around the room. There was a

Large photograph beside the bed, of a young Luna and a woman who looked very like her.

They were hugging. Luna looked rather better-groomed in this picture than Harry had

Ever seen her in life. The picture was dusty. This struck Harry as slightly odd. He stared

Around. Something was wrong. The pale blue carpet was also thick with dust. There were

No clothes in the wardrobe, whose doors stood ajar. The bed had a cold, unfriendly look,

As though it had not been slept in for weeks. A single cobweb stretched over the nearest

Window across the blood red sky.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked as Harry descended the staircase, but before he could

Respond, Xenophilius reached the top of the stairs from the kitchen, now holding a tray

Laden with bowls.

"Mr. Lovegood," said Harry. "Where's Luna?"

"Excuse me?"

"Where's Luna?"

Xenophilius halted on the top step.

"I -- I've already told you. She is down at the Botions Bridge fishing for Plimpies."

"So why have you only laid that tray for four?"

Xenophilius tried to speak, but no sound came out. The only noise was the continued

chugging of the printing press, and a slight rattle from the tray as Xenophilius's hands

Shook.

"I don't think Luna's been here for weeks." said Harry. "Her clothes are gone, her bed

hasn't been slept in. Where is she? and why do you keep looking out of the window?"

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 777