Chapter 16: # Chapter 16: The Elusive Diary
Luna had been thinking long and hard about the cursed diary ever since she'd remembered its significance. With the knowledge from her past life, she knew that the diary was a Horcrux—an object containing a fragment of Voldemort's soul. She needed to get her hands on it before it could do any more harm. However, prying it from Ginny Weasley was proving to be a far greater challenge than she had anticipated.
Weeks passed, and July had settled over the countryside, bringing with it the warmth of summer and the sound of laughter echoing from the Burrow. Luna had made a habit of visiting the Weasleys under the pretense of socializing, but her mind was always on waiting for them to go to Diagon Alley.
She needed to know when the Weasleys would be heading to Diagon Alley. The Burrow was bustling as usual when she arrived. As Luna made her way through the garden, she could hear the familiar whooshing sounds of broomsticks overhead. The Weasley children were playing Quidditch, and their yells of excitement filled the air.
"Oi, Luna!" George called out as she approached. "Come to join in?"
Luna shook her head with a smile, though she was tempted. "Not today, George. I'm just here to see what's happening."
"Well, it's chaos as usual," Fred chimed in, swooping down on his broomstick. "You wouldn't have it any other way, would you?"
"Chaos is always more interesting," Luna replied, her eyes scanning the garden for any sign of Ginny. She spotted her near the kitchen door, chatting with Hermione.
Before she could think of a way to approach Ginny, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Hello, you must be Luna."
Luna turned to see a skinny boy with messy black hair and round glasses standing behind her. Harry Potter. She had read all about him in her previous life, but meeting him face-to-face was different. He had a shy smile, and his green eyes were curious but kind.
"Yes, that's me," Luna said, forcing a smile. "You must be Harry. I've heard so much about you."
"Nothing bad, I hope," Harry said, his smile growing a little wider.
"Not at all," Luna assured him. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"Fred and George have been telling me all about your interesting perspectives on magical creatures," Harry said, his tone genuinely curious.
"Oh, they're real, you know," Luna said with a dreamy smile. "People just need to look harder to find them."
Harry chuckled. "I'll keep that in mind. Maybe you can teach me how to spot a Crumple-Horned Snorkack one day?"
"Maybe," Luna replied with a twinkle in her eye. But her mind kept drifting back to the diary. She needed to focus.
The next day, the Weasleys were preparing for their trip to Diagon Alley, and Luna was quick to tag along. The bustling streets of the magical marketplace were a welcome distraction, but Luna kept her focus on Ginny. Her opportunity came when they reached Flourish and Blotts for Gilderoy Lockhart's book signing.
As they queued for the event, Luna noticed Lucius Malfoy slipping a small black book into Ginny's cauldron. She was just about to reach out and snatch it when Lockhart's loud voice boomed through the shop, drawing everyone's attention.
"Well, if it isn't Harry Potter! Come up here, boy!"
Harry, looking thoroughly uncomfortable, was dragged to the front of the crowd, and Luna's chance was gone. The moment passed, and she couldn't retrieve the diary. Frustration gnawed at her as they left the shop.
"Did you see that git, Malfoy?" Ron muttered as they exited. "What was he doing hanging around us?"
"Probably just trying to get under Dad's skin," Fred replied, rolling his eyes. "Wouldn't be the first time."
Luna stayed silent, though her thoughts were whirling. She had seen the diary, but she hadn't been able to act fast enough.
The following morning at the Burrow, Luna wasn't ready to give up. She watched as the Weasley children grabbed their brooms for another round of Quidditch. Ginny left her belongings inside, and Luna saw her chance again. She sneaked into Ginny's room, her heart pounding with anticipation. But as she reached for the cauldron, the door creaked open, and Luna quickly pretended to be admiring the Chudley Cannons poster on the wall.
"What are you doing in here, Luna?" Ginny asked, her brow furrowed in suspicion.
"Oh, just admiring your room. It's quite cozy," Luna said with an airy smile, hoping to deflect any further questions. Ginny didn't seem convinced, but she let it go.
Luna sighed as she left the room. How was she going to get that diary?
Over the next few days, Luna tried again and again to retrieve the diary. Each attempt was met with failure—Ginny was either too close to her belongings, or someone else was always around. Once, Luna tried to use a Summoning Charm to pull the diary to her from across the room, but Fred had barged in just as the diary started to levitate, and Luna had to drop it quickly, pretending she was just practicing spells.
"Nice try, Luna, but you might want to keep practicing," Fred teased, not noticing the object of her charm.
Luna forced a laugh, hiding her frustration. This was getting ridiculous. It seemed like the universe was conspiring against her efforts to get that diary.
As the day to leave for Hogwarts approached, Luna felt the weight of her task pressing down on her. She had one more chance, and she had to make it count. The humor of her failed attempts wasn't lost on her, but there was an underlying anxiety that she couldn't shake.
The final morning at the Burrow was a frenzy of packing and last-minute preparations. The Weasleys bustled about, making sure everything was ready for their journey to King's Cross Station. Luna had kept a close eye on Ginny all morning, waiting for the perfect moment. It finally came when Ginny ran upstairs to grab something she had forgotten.
Luna followed, slipping into Ginny's room just as Ginny hurried out to grab her coat from the hallway. The cauldron with her school supplies was open on the floor, and the black diary lay just within reach. Luna's heart raced as she bent down, her fingers almost brushing the cover.
But just as she was about to snatch it, the door to the room burst open, and Ron barged in.
"Oi, Luna, Mum says we're leaving in five minutes—" He paused, looking at her curiously. "What are you doing?"
Luna's mind raced as she straightened up, trying to look nonchalant. "Oh, just helping Ginny pack. She seemed to be in a bit of a rush."
Ron's suspicious expression softened, and he nodded. "Yeah, she always leaves everything to the last minute. Thanks for helping out."
With no other choice, Luna stepped back, watching as Ron picked up Ginny's cauldron and headed back downstairs. She had failed again.
As the Weasleys gathered by the fireplace, preparing to Floo to King's Cross, Luna couldn't shake the feeling of dread. The diary was still with Ginny, and she was running out of time to do something about it.
Would she succeed this time, or would her efforts be thwarted once again? Luna couldn't help but wonder as she watched the Weasleys laughing and joking, oblivious to the danger lurking within their midst.
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