He looked hopefully toward the little group of Ravenclaws, to Padma, Michael,

Terry, and Cho, but it was Luna who answered, perched on the arm of Ginny’s chair.

“Well, there’s her lost diadem. I told you about it, remember, Harry? The lost

diadem of Ravenclaw? Daddy’s trying to duplicate it.”

“Yeah, but the lost diadem,” said Michael Corner, rolling his eyes, “is lost, Luna.

That’s sort of the point.”

“When was it lost?” asked Harry.

“Centuries ago, they say,” said Cho, and Harry’s heart sank. “Professor Flitwick

says the diadem vanished with Ravenclaw herself. People have looked, but,” she

appealed to her fellow Ravenclaws. “Nobody’s ever found a trace of it, have them?”

They all shook their heads.

“Sorry, but what is a diadem?” asked Ron.

“It’s a kind of crown,” said Terry Boot. “Ravenclaw’s was supposed to have

magical properties, enhance the wisdom of the wearer.”

“Yes, Daddy’s Wrackspurt siphons – “

But Harry cut across Luna.

“And none of you have ever seen anything that looks like it?

They all shook their heads again. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione and his own

Disappointment was mirrored back at him. An object that had been lost this long, and

Apparently without trace, did not seem like a good candidate for the Horcrux hidden in

the castle … Before he could formulate a new question, however, Cho spoke again.

“If you’d like to see what the diadem’s supposed to look like, I could take you up

to our common room and show you, Harry. Ravenclaw’s wearing it in her statue.”

Harry’s scar scorched again: For a moment the Room of Requirement swam

Before him, and he saw instead the dark earth soaring beneath him and felt the great

Snake wrapped around his shoulders. Voldemort was flying again, whether to the

underground lake or here, to the castle, he did not know: Either way, there was hardly

Any time left.

“He’s on the move,” he said quietly to Ron and Hermione. He glanced at Cho and

then back at them. “Listen, I know it’s not much of a lead, but I’m going to go look at

This statue, at least find out what the diadem looks like. Wait for me here and keep, you

know – the other one – safe.”

Cho had got to her feet, but Ginny said rather fiercely, “No, Luna will take Harry,

won’t you, Luna?”

“Oooh, yes, I’d like to,” said Luna happily, as Cho sat down again, looking

Disappointed.

“How do we get out?” Harry asked Neville.

“Over here.”

“He led Harry and Luna to a corner, where a small cupboard opened onto a steep

staircase. “It comes out somewhere different every day, so they’ve never been able to

find it,” he said. “Only trouble is, we never know exactly where we’re going to end up

when we go out. Be careful, Harry, they’re always patrolling the corridors at night.”

“No problem,” said Harry. “See you in a bit.”

He and Luna hurried up the staircase, which was long, lit by torches, and turned

Corners in unexpected places. At last they reached what appeared to be solid wall.

“Get under here,” Harry told Luna, pulling out the Invisibility Cloak and throwing

It over both of them. He gave the wall a little push.

It melted away at his touch and they slipped outside. Harry glanced back and saw

That it had resealed itself at once. They were standing in a dark corridor. Harry pulled

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 682