Chapter 307 "Luna And Hermione"

As Wentworth and Dumbledore strategized in Hogwarts' headmaster's office, Hogwarts students, guided by professors and prefects, made their way to their respective common rooms.

Amidst their journey, Hermione and Ron engaged in a discussion about the day's events. Puzzled, Hermione remarked, "Isn't it strange?"

Ron, appearing perplexed, asked, "What's strange?"

With furrowed brows, Hermione elaborated, "Cassandra's attack feels off. According to Professor McGonagall's account of the Chamber of Secrets, the monster sealed within was left by Salazar Slytherin to purge students deemed unworthy of magic—the likes of 'mudbloods' like me. But today, it targeted Cassandra, a Slytherin. By Sorting Hat standards, she embodies Slytherin's ideals. So, why would the monster attack her?"

Ron's expression mirrored Hermione's confusion as they pondered the perplexing turn of events.

Hermione, perplexed by the Chamber of Secrets' anomaly, turned to Ron for insight, but he remained silent. Observing Ron's lack of response, Hermione shot him a skeptical glance, her eyes brimming with inquiry.

Caught off guard, Ron shrugged indifferently and quipped, "Who knows? Maybe the rumors about the Chamber of Secrets are bunk. Or perhaps, after all these years, the basilisk's forgotten its mission from Salazar Slytherin! How intelligent can a beast be, anyway?" His attempt at humor fell flat, leaving Hermione still mired in confusion.

Suddenly, their conversation was interrupted by a voice calling their names from behind. "Hermione Granger?! Ron Weasley?!"

Turning around, they spotted a girl with silver eyes, long dark blonde hair, and a Ravenclaw uniform, gazing at them with an enigmatic expression.

Puzzled, Hermione tentatively asked, "Are you... Luna Lovegood?"

Luna nodded in confirmation and politely inquired, "That's correct. Do you mind if I borrow a few minutes of your time?"

Ron, casting a suspicious glance at Luna, interjected, "Hermione, who's she?"

Hermione swiftly clarified to Ron, "This is Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw first-year. She's friends with Ginny, your sister, though she's often labeled as eccentric..."

Realizing her slip, Hermione halted abruptly, but Luna responded nonchalantly, "It's alright, Hermione. I'm well aware of the names they call me."

Hermione awkwardly chuckled, then glanced around. Finding the corridor empty except for the three of them, she queried curiously, "Luna, what brings you to us?"

Luna nodded in confirmation and explained, "Indeed, I originally intended to visit Ginny, but she hasn't been herself lately. I brought her a potion I concocted, but when I arrived, she asked me to seek you out. She mentioned you'd encountered something unusual."

Upon hearing Luna's words, Hermione lowered her voice, "Yes, we were just discussing it. I can't understand why Cassandra was targeted. She's a Slytherin, after all."

Without skipping a beat, Luna offered her insight, "Actually, it's rather simple to comprehend. The Chamber's creations attack students from Slytherin House. The only plausible explanation is that someone is using or manipulating the Chamber's mechanisms."

Horrified by Luna's revelation, Hermione exclaimed, "So, you're suggesting that the heir of Slytherin not only unlocked the Chamber but also controlled its contents to attack others?"

Luna affirmed, "Yes, precisely. It's possible that Salazar Slytherin intended for his heir to utilize the monsters within the Chamber to purge Hogwarts and reshape it according to his ideals."

Pausing briefly, Luna continued with a shake of her head, "Regrettably, this descendant deviated from that directive and instead manipulated the Chamber's creatures to target Slytherin students."

Hermione recoiled in horror, "Oh my goodness, this is... dreadful! It means no one in Hogwarts is safe!"

Seeking answers, Hermione pressed, "But why would they do such a thing? What could be their motive?"

Luna shrugged helplessly, "I'm not sure. Perhaps only the descendant of Slytherin knows the true intentions behind their actions."

Reflecting on Luna's insights, Hermione sighed, "Whoever can control the monster left by Salazar Slytherin must be a highly skilled wizard."

However, Luna shook her head in disagreement, indicating her dissent. Luna elaborated, "No, not at all. I believe the descendant of Slytherin is either young and inexperienced, or physically frail, hence their current vulnerability."

Perplexed, Hermione inquired, "Why do you think that?"

Luna offered a simple explanation, "It's quite straightforward. The fact that the Chamber's monster has only targeted individuals or single students indicates a lack of confidence in confronting multiple Hogwarts students. Moreover, it suggests an inability to challenge professors. Therefore, the successor of Salazar Slytherin is either presently weak or has underlying physical issues contributing to their fragility."

It was evident that despite Hermione's diligent study habits, Luna possessed a unique perspective and profound intellect, challenging conventional notions of intelligence.

Not only did Luna demonstrate her wisdom in the original book, but she also guided Harry during moments of distress in the future.

From the outset, Luna's innate wisdom outshone that of Hermione and others, showcasing the true depth of her intellect. After all, she belonged to Ravenclaw House, renowned for its emphasis on intelligence and wit.

While Hermione excelled through diligent study and hard work, Luna's intelligence stemmed from her innate intuition and deep understanding of the world around her.

She possessed a unique ability to perceive truths beyond the surface, often providing insights that eluded others. Luna's eccentric demeanor belied her profound insights, making her an enigmatic figure within Hogwarts.

Her unconventional perspective challenged conventional notions of intelligence, proving that wisdom transcends mere academic achievement.

Luna's ability to see beyond the veil of superficiality allowed her to grasp truths that others overlooked, making her an invaluable ally to Harry and his friends.

In times of uncertainty and danger, Luna's presence provided a beacon of clarity and understanding.

Her intuitive guidance and unwavering faith in the mystical interconnectedness of the world guided Harry through some of his most challenging trials, demonstrating that wisdom comes in many forms.

Ron nudged Hermione using his elbow, "I think I know why they call her that..." He whispered.

"I could still hear that, you know?" Luna smiled toward Ron, "It's okay, you don't need to whisper. I'm already used to whatever names they've been labeling me; it's not like it could harm me or anything. In fact, it made me smile at how creative they could be to try and come up with new names!"

Hermione wanted to hug Luna by the time she finished her sentence, but she stopped after taking a step forward and instead gave her a pat on the shoulder, "You are a pure-hearted soul, Luna. Keep being that way!"

Hearing Hermione's words, Luna held her hand and mouthed, "Thank you!"

Seeing the pure relationship of friendly love that was born before him, the spirit residing inside Ron's body could feel its heart being torn apart.

Even Ron could be seen shaken by the effect of his sudden outburst, a few parts of his body started fidgeting with no sign of stopping before he finally snapped out of it.

"Are you okay?" Luna asked.