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Luna arrived with Ginny wearing her butterbeer cork necklace. If she was surprised by Harry, she didn’t show it. (One might, perhaps, mistake her “deer caught in headlights” look for a look of surprise, but the rest knew better.)
“I knew it was only a matter of time until something like this happened,” she told them. “Daddy says that wizards have always been looking for ways to live forever.”
“She’s not wrong about that one,” Ginny said. “Even Muggles look for eternal life. I mean, look at the Philosopher’s Stone.”
“I know,” Hermione said, sounding tired.
“So, Hagrid’s?” Ron asked. “Unless Luna has a better idea?” He sounded slightly doubtful, and Ginny gave him a look.
“Well, why not the Room of Requirement?” Luna asked placidly, picking up Harry, who had been watching her. He began playing with her necklace immediately.
“Great idea Luna,” Neville said, looking at the others for any disagreement. Ron hesitated. “I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, but… according to Harry, Malfoy has been using the room almost every day.”
Hermione sighed, irritated. “His obsession is absolutely ridiculous, and most likely wrong! I doubt Malfoy’s actually there.”
Ron shrugged. “But if he is, we won’t be able to get in.”
Hermione growled. “Then we’ll take that chance.” She stalked past, throwing the painting open and drawing some concerned looks from a few Hufflepuffs that were passing. One started to say something, but Neville, quickly following, shook his head at them. They looked at one other, nodded, and continued walking, each giving Hermione a sympathetic and encouraging smile. As soon as they left Hermione scowled in frustration. “Why do Hufflepuffs have to be so nice?! They almost made me feel better, and they didn’t even do anything but smile!” She groaned. “We need a plan, and I need a Slytherin so I can hex them in frustration.”
Ron raised his eyebrows at Hermione. “And I never thought I’d hear someone be frustrated with a Hufflepuff, or you actually looking for a reason to break a rule, but here we are.”
Ginny snorted. “Have you met Zacharias Smith?’
“Fair point.”
Neville was considering Harry. “Do you think we could we put a Disillusionment Charm on him?
Hermione turned. “Maybe. I think I can do it, but let me practice on Ron first just in case something goes wrong.”
Ron froze. “Wait, wha-” but before he could finish, Hermione had already rolled up her sleeves and rapped him on the head with her wand. Ron slowly disappeared. When he moved, they could just barely see him. Hermione cast the reverse spell, looking slightly disappointed. Ron noticed this.
“Oi! Were you hoping something would happen to me?” The redhead looked indignant.
Hermione shrugged, then turned to Harry, who wasn’t there. She looked around frantically. “Where did Harry go?!”
“He’s still here,” Luna told them, looking as if she was holding something in her arms. The aforementioned appeared, grinning at them, and Hermione could almost see the Harry that she knew under his smile- it was the same smile he gave her whenever he had done something he thought clever. He was clutching a piece of cloth.
“The invisibility cloak?” Neville asked, surprised. “Where’d he find that?”
“He’s been- um, he’s been keeping it with him all year,” Ron answered, just as astonished as Neville. “I guess he found it when we weren’t looking.”
Hermione, still in a mood, took Harry (who protested) out of Luna’s arms, gave him to Neville, and flung the cloak over both of them. “Let’s go.”
They could hear Neville trying to keep Harry quiet as they hurried up the staircases. They were almost there when Seamus caught them.
Oi, Ron, where’s Harry? I haven’t seen him anywhere.” He frowned. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Neville this morning, and this is the first time I’ve seen you. What time did you all get up this morning?”
“Uh, um,” Ron stuttered. “A-around, um, 7?”
Seamus found this funny. “You? Seven am? On a weekend?” He slapped his knee. “Neville I can imagine, Harry maybe, but you?”
“Harry got up early to plan tactics for the next game,” Ron informed him. “He was in the library last I checked, but looked like he wanted to be alone.”
Seamus nodded. “Thanks mate. Have uh,” he glanced at the girls surrounding Ron and grinned again, “have fun with your girlfriends.”
Ginny pulled out her wand and pointed it at Seamus. “Get lost, and if you call me that again you’ll never be the same.”
Seamus threw up his hands. “All right, all right, give me a break.” Shaking his head and still sniggering, he swaggered off.
Hermione pointed her wand in his direction, then put it back in the pocket of her robes. She then faced the wall leading to the room of requirement. However, before she could do anything, a door appeared. Neville took off the cloak. “Sorry, Harry was getting restless and I was trying to hurry.”
“It’s fine,” Hermione told him, hurrying them all inside. She seemed to be feeling slightly better now; whatever she had done to Seamus had apparently helped her good mood.
The room had a fuzzy beige carpet and soft blue walls. The first part of the room had a few bookshelves in a U shape with picture and story books. In front of it lay stuffed animals, building blocks, and a few toy broomsticks, as well as a small table with chairs toddler size. The table had a pile of neatly stacked paper and crayons. Behind the bookshelves there was a table the size of the ones in the library, along with other bookshelves with books acquired to the sixth years reading level. The table also had paper, colored and regular pencils, and scissors. Off to the side was a door that led to a bathroom.
Harry scrambled out of Neville’s arms and ran over to the bookshelf, pulling out a few books and plopping down on the rug to read them. They could see him silently sounding out the words.
The teenagers looked at each other. “Only one or two of us needs to stay with him, I think,” Neville said. “People will wonder if we all stay in here and don’t show up anywhere at all today; Seamus proved that.”
“People don’t really pay attention to me, unless I’m in the room,” Luna offered. “I can watch Harry if needed.”
An awkward silence followed before Hermione nodded. “Ok, Luna and I can take the first shift, then."