Chapter Five- Backstabbed By A Stranger

“You will stay for dinner?” Xenophilius said, his voice snapping me back to the present. I’d tuned out the whole of Hermione’s story- telling and then had a vision, missing the following conversation. “Everybody always requests our recipe for Freshwater Plimpy soup”

“Yeah, probably to show the Poisoning Department at St. Mungo’s” I murmured as Luna’s father vanished down the stairs. Harry and Ron laughed slightly as Hermione tried to continue with the conversation that I had missed. Jamie turned round to talk to me. “I missed everything... I heard the first part of the story and then tuned out- so don’t ask me anything” I said quickly, receiving a dirty look from Hermione.

“Never mind the story” Jamie said impatiently, making it his turn for the dirty look. “What did you see?”

“That is a brilliant question” I muttered, frowning as I glared out the window. “All I know is that we’re still here in it” I said, sounding unhelpful.

“Harry, What are you doing?” Hermione’s voice was quiet but sharp. “I don’t think you should look around when he’s not here!” I turned and watched as Harry stood up and then freeze, staring upwards. I rose from my chair, waving away Jamie’s attempts to follow, and walked to the stairs to stand beside him.

“That’s a painting... It reminds me of Luna’s work” He said quietly, cocking his head to the side. I put my foot on the metal staircase and started to climb. Harry followed after me.

“Alicia!”

“Stay down there, Jamie” I called over my shoulder, not turning round. We emerged in a bedroom. Harry was right- it was obviously Luna’s room. She had painted seven faces on her ceiling- Harry’s, Ginny’s, Hermione’s, Ron’s, Jamie’s and mine. They were also linked with golden chains, or so I thought at first glance.

“It’s the word ‘FRIENDS’ repeated who knows how many times” Harry whispered, still staring upwards. I glanced round the room, catching my reflection in a small mirror- my hair was a icy blue colour.

“Can’t you feel that?” I asked, wrapping my arms round myself. Harry frowned as he looked at me. “The coldness?” His frown deepened as his eyes swept the room once.

“The wardrobe’s empty... The bed hasn’t been slept in...” He whispered and I nodded.

“Xenophilius is lying to us- Luna hasn’t been here in months, Harry” I said and he turned and vanished down the staircase. I bit my lip, wondering where Luna was for another second before following him.

“What? What is it?” I heard Hermione ask Harry as the room slowly came back into view. I saw Jamie glance at my face and jump to his feet.

“What?” He asked in a anxious voice but as I stepped off the stairs, Xenophilius appeared at the top of the stairs from the kitchen.

“Mr Lovegood? Sir?” I started in a voice which plainly said that I was shocked. He froze, the tray trembling slightly in his hands. “Where’s Luna?” Jamie stepped to my side, his eyes darting from me, to Harry, to Xenophilius and back again.

“Excuse me?” The man said in a quiet voice and I felt the faint hint of anger touch the blood in my veins. I was slightly shocked with myself- I hadn’t been irritated for a long while now.

“Where’s Luna?” Harry said, stepping in quickly. I guessed that my appearance had changed again, giving my mood away.

“I- I’ve told you, she’s fishing down at Bottom Bridge” Xenophilius said in a shaky voice. Something crossed his thoughts and I frowned at him, not understanding it one bit.

“So why have you set that tray for six?” I pointed out as Hermione and Ron stood too. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. We waited patiently but still nothing. “I don’t think Luna’s been here for months... Her bed hasn’t been slept in, her clothes are gone... Where is she? And why do you keep looking out the window?” I half- shouted, making Jamie put a hand on my shoulder. I knew that my hair would be short and black by now. He dropped the tray but I was quicker, pointing my wand at him. Jamie caught on quickly and drew his wand, causing the other three to do the same. “The printing press will stop in ten seconds” I added, my voice full of venom. Ron turned to the machine as it fell silent, spilling Quibbler’s over our feet.

“Harry, look at this” He said, grabbing one and holding it out for us to look at. I frowned at the cover.

“The Quibbler’s going for a new angle then?” Harry said coldly and I felt heat flush my face.

“That’s why he went into the garden... Sending an owl to the Ministry” I said, anger mixing with disgust. Jamie’s hand put more pressure on my shoulder.

“They took my Luna, because of what I was writing... They took my Luna and I don’t know where she is, what they’ve done to her...” I felt the fire inside me died a little as the horror gripped my heart- poor Luna. “But they might give her back to me if I- if I- ” The fire regained it’s former level of heat.

“Hand over Harry?” I spat and Hermione hissed in anger behind me.

“No deal- get out the way, we’re leaving” Ron said but I shook my head, stumbling backwards in horror. Jamie caught me as my legs gave out.

“It’s too late! They’re on their way! Harry, we’re not going to get out in time!” I whispered, staring out the window behind Ron.

“HARRY!” Hermione shrieked, pointing at the figures on brooms- unmistakably Death Eaters. Harry, Ron and Jamie turned to the window but I turned towards Xenophilius, who drew his wand.

“NO!” I shouted, lunging towards Jamie and catching his knees. Harry knocked Ron and Hermione out the way as the Stunner soared across the room. It hit the Enrumptment Horn, which exploded, practically tearing the room apart.



Sorry about the mix- up!