The next morning, Luna was jolted awake by loud music. Slowly, she struggled out of her cozy soft bed; she would have preferred to lie back down and continue sleeping. However, the meeting with Director Dippet was scheduled for today, and Menie wanted to discuss several things with her beforehand. In the living room, the table was already set for breakfast, and loud music could be heard from the bathroom.

  Luna let herself fall onto the soft sofa, still wearing her nightgown. She poured herself a cup of coffee with milk and sugar. That was exactly what she needed right now. She felt terribly miserable, everything hurt somehow. With a quiet sigh, she thought back to the previous night. One nightmare after another had haunted her... about him. About Voldemort. About his red eyes that followed her deep into her sleep. About his ice-cold hands that slowly and menacingly wrapped themselves around her throat, robbing her of all air to breathe.

  How happy she was at that moment that she had escaped him forever. A deep sense of relief spread through her. The sound of a door opening tore Luna from her thoughts. And Menie, wrapped in towels, bustled around the living room like a bumblebee.

  "Good morning," Luna said quietly.

  "Oh, good morning, how do you look today? Did you sleep poorly?" Luna nodded. With a few things under her arm, Menie disappeared back into the bathroom.

  "If you have a headache or something, just let me know. I have everything here in my home pharmacy," she called to Luna from the bathroom.

  "Thanks, that would be very nice, because everything hurts a bit."

  After a while, Menie returned, fully dressed and with a silver tray that had a gss of water and a red bottle on it.

  "This is an excellent painkiller that you can take for all kinds of pain," she said, adding a few drops to the small gss. She then handed it to Luna, who immediately drank it all.

  "Eww! How disgusting." Luna grimaced in disgust.

  "Well, as great-grandmother always used to say... only medicine that tastes awful helps."

  With a smile, she grabbed Luna's gss and disappeared back into the bathroom. Then she settled down next to Luna on the sofa.

  "Come on, at least eat a little something." Luna just shook her head. "Alright, then don't compin ter that you feel nauseous and have a stomach ache," she said and immediately served herself a generous portion of scrambled eggs. After a while, color returned to Luna's face, and she was surprised to find that she was a little bit hungry. Without saying a word, Menie served her some scrambled eggs.

  "Thanks, how did you know...?"

  “I could see from your face that you're feeling better,” she grinned, sipping her coffee.

  They spent the rest of the morning discussing what they wanted to tell Headmaster Dippet. They also came to the conclusion that it would be better for Luna to repeat her sixth year, since she had only attended school until the Christmas holidays before the Death Eaters had kidnapped her. When she was finally rescued by Harry and Dobby at Easter, she had to go into hiding, and then, shortly afterwards, the great battle took pce.

  “Oh my goodness, your wand, I hadn't even thought of that,” Menie realized with horror. “Wait, I've got it,” she said immediately, coming up with the saving solution. “If Dippet asks where your wand is, we'll just tell him that you accidentally broke it during a failed spell and we haven't gotten around to getting you a new one yet. Okay?”

  "Luna was too stunned to find any words, simply offering a small, silent nod instead. In the shadow of those traumatic events, finding solutions to even the simplest problems felt like a heavy, impossible task. And before? Before, everything had been so different. She remembered it all too well—how Harry had been desperate to save his godfather Sirius during his fifth year, and how no one knew how they would ever reach the Ministry of Magic in London. It had been her, after all, who had instantly come up with the idea to fly there on the Thestrals; an idea that had actually worked. She had only been in her fourth year back then, so full of certainties. But those days were gone now."

  Time flew by, and the clock on the mantelpiece struck four. Excitedly, the two of them made their way to Headmaster Dippet. They hurried through the corridors with quick steps until Menie stopped abruptly in front of a simple wooden door.

  'Well, here we are,' she whispered softly.

  'Are these his private quarters?' Luna whispered back just as quietly.

  'Yes, they are,' Menie murmured, taking a deep breath before knocking on the door.

  A loud ctter echoed from behind the door, followed by hurried footsteps rushing toward it. With a sudden jerk, the door swung open. It was an elderly gentleman at least, that was what Luna assumed—though it was hard to tell for sure, as the Headmaster’s entire head was hidden behind an enormous bouquet of red roses he was holding directly in front of his face. To match, he wore a dark green robe and a pointed hat, typical for wizards, in the same color. Luna had to catch herself to keep from ughing out loud; the Headmaster looked like a walking rosebush. However, one sharp look from Menie was enough, and Luna instantly composed herself.

  "Hello, dies", Headmaster Dippet murmured from behind his roses.

  From that moment on, there was no holding back for Luna, because the Headmaster didn't just look like a giant, walking rosebush anymore... no, he had officially become a giant, walking, talking rosebush.

  "You look like a massive rosebush on two legs that can speak!", Luna burst out ughing.

  Menie’s face completely dropped in shock, and Headmaster Dippet, finally lowering the bouquet from his face, stared at Luna with an open mouth and wide eyes until he himself joined in with a hearty ugh. Menie, on the other hand, let out a visible sigh of relief and chuckled to herself. Once the two of them had composed themselves, the Headmaster pressed the bouquet of roses into Menie’s arms, and the three of them went inside.

  "But Headmaster, that really wasn’t necessary". Menie said, pointing bashfully at the roses in her arms.

  "Pish-posh! With two such charming dies as yourselves, it’s an absolute must", he said, fshing the most charming smile he had. He snapped his fingers, and instantly a small, delicate bouquet of forget-me-nots and lilies of the valley appeared, held together by a wafer-thin pink ribbon. The bouquet drifted slowly toward Luna, who accepted it with a smile.

  "Thank you, Headmaster", she said timidly. The Headmaster gave a galnt bow in Luna’s direction. Then he moved over to the table and pulled out the chairs for both of them. Luna couldn’t remember the st time she had ughed so heartily. Yes, in this very moment, for the first time in a long while, she felt something like deep happiness in her heart. The table was vishly set; there were all sorts of different little tarts, sandwiches, and pastries, and, of course, a rge teapot that gave off a wonderful aroma. Luna reached for a strawberry tart. While the Headmaster and Menie chatted animatedly, Luna had plenty of time to look around the room in peace. Green seemed to be the Headmaster’s color; everything in this room was green in one way or another. The patterned wallpaper shimmered on the walls in various shades of green, the sofa was green, and the curtains at the windows were green as well. Luna wondered if all his rooms looked like this. She tried feverishly to remember which colors Dumbledore had worn the most. She recalled a purple robe embroidered with golden stars. Luna couldn't help but smile at the thought of Dumbledore’s private quarters being entirely in purple.Lost in thought, she watched the teapot as it floated from cup to cup, pouring tea for everyone."

  "Luna! Lunaaa!", she startled out of her thoughts.‘"I beg your pardon?"; she asked quietly.‘"The Headmaster asked you a question", Menie said earnestly.‘"Oh, never mind, it’s quite alright", the Headmaster smiled in Luna’s direction and continued.‘"Well, Miss Luna, I thought as a small welcoming gift, we might skip the procedure with the Hat and let you choose the House you like best yourself. After tea, I shall show you around and present everything to you, and then you may decide at your leisure", he looked at Luna with an expectant smile. Menie, too, looked over at her expectantly. Luna didn't know what to say, she was so surprised.‘"Thank you, that is very, very kind of you", she smiled at him bashfully, and he returned her smile before he and Menie calmly resumed their conversation. Dreamily, her gaze wandered toward the window and up into the sky, which was dotted with thick, white fleecy clouds today. Memories of times long past flooded her. Memories of lying in the soft grass with her mother in a meadow full of thick yellow buttercups, counting the rge white fleecy clouds in the sky. When she had been little, she had always believed the clouds were real sheep flying back and forth up there. ‘Sky-Lambs,’ Luna had always called them. She smiled dreamily at the thought, until a voice brought her back to the present once more.‘"Luna... Luna, where are your thoughts wandering today? Come, the Headmaster would like to show us the Houses now". She nodded eagerly and stood up. With a flick of his wand, Headmaster Dippet made the two bouquets hover in the air beside them, which Luna found looked quite amusing. "Now, dies, I suggest we begin with the Ravencw Tower", while the Headmaster and Menie chatted away cheerfully, Luna walked silently behind them. The closer they got to the Ravencw Tower, the more oppressed Luna felt. How often had she walked this path to her old House back then? Finally, they reached the spiral staircase. When they eventually arrived at the top, the bronze eagle knocker posed its question, which the Headmaster answered at once, and the door swung open. The common room was rge and circur, featuring a domed, midnight-blue ceiling painted with stars. From the walls hung silken banners in the colors of bronze and blue. The carpet was also blue and embroidered with stars. Since the Ravencw Tower was the tallest, it offered a breathtaking view of the mountains. The room was flooded with light from the high, elegant arched windows, which looked beautiful. In one of the niches stood the rge, white marble bust of Rowena Ravencw. Menie couldn’t stop marveling at it. "Wow! Well, what do you think, Luna?" "Hmm... well, it’s very beautiful here. But I’d like to see the other Houses as well." Alright, but let’s at least take a quick look at the girls' dormitories!"Luna nodded. "Right over there, the left entrance, dies. I shall wait here in the meantime", Headmaster Dippet said, settling down on one of the light-blue sofas. The girls' dormitory was just as elegant as the common room. The walls were whitewashed, and the ceiling was midnight blue and painted with stars. The four-poster beds, from which blue velvet curtains hung, were made of dark wood. The entire room was bathed in light. "Are you really sure that Ravencw isn't the House for you? Just look at how enchanting everything is", Menie asked in wonder.Luna, standing before one of the arched windows and gazing out into the vast ndscape, remained silent. At the moment Menie turned to leave, Luna spoke, still staring fixedly at the ndscape: "There is nothing that could keep me here in this House. There were never any friends here, only loneliness and emptiness", then she turned around and, without another word, walked past Menie, who had stopped abruptly in her tracks. The next destination was the Gryffindor Tower, which meant they had to walk across half the castle again. It certainly wouldn't have been for those zy at walking, Luna thought to herself as she once again followed behind Headmaster Dippet and Menie, who were chatting happily with each other.Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the portrait. But it wasn't just any portrait; it was the portrait of the Fat Lady herself. She wore an old-fashioned pink dress, her hair styled in an elegant updo. How often had Luna stood before her back then, meeting Ginny and Neville... And now? She quickly pushed the surfacing thought back into the darkness.

  "Password", the Fat Lady’s voice rang out.

  "Erm, now what was it again?" Headmaster Dippet muttered to himself, lost in thought, scratching the back of his head.

  "You’ve surely been caught by a Wrackspurt, Headmaster", a voice came from behind Dippet.

  Surprised, the Headmaster and Menie looked at Luna, who stood right behind them with a perfectly serious expression.

  "Erm, I beg your pardon?", the Headmaster asked.‘

  "Well, a Wrackspurt. They’re invisible; they zoom in through your ear and make you go all fuzzy and confused, and then you just forget things", Luna finished the sentence.

  Menie and the Headmaster looked at each other in disbelief and surprise. Menie began to giggle softly, and a wide grin spread across Headmaster Dippet’s face as well.

  "Your little sister certainly has a vivid imagination", the Headmaster grinned in Luna’s direction.

  "Ah, I’ve got it!’ Headmaster Dippet cried out delightedly. ‘Strawberry Tart!", The portrait suddenly swung wide open.

  "Perhaps you could write an essay on Wrackspurts sometime soon, Miss Luna; I’m sure it would be quite fascinating", he said."

  "I’d be delighted, Headmaster", With a smile, she brushed past Headmaster Dippet and into the portrait hole.

  The Gryffindor common room was decorated in warm shades of red. A fluffy-looking rug y before the firepce, scattered with several small burn holes. The room was furnished with many different tables and armchairs, giving it a particurly warm and beautiful atmosphere.While Menie stood by one of the windows, enjoying the stunning view of the forest and the grounds, and Headmaster Dippet settled into one of the armchairs, fondly thinking of his next chocote tart, Luna stood slightly apart, staring into space.

  Images flickered before her inner eye. Images of her sitting by the fire with Ginny and Neville, quietly discussing the D.A. A sharp pang shot through her heart, and her stomach began to tighten, until a warm hand suddenly csped hers and a by now familiar voice pulled her from her trance.

  "Come, let’s take a quick look at the girls' dormitory", and before she knew it, Menie was pulling her up the stairs into one of the dormitories.

  Deep red velvet curtains hung from the elegant four-poster beds, and a small iron stove sat proudly in the middle of the room. Menie looked around the dormitory with delight. Luna, however, remained silent, standing by the door.

  Screams, horrific screams, flooded her mind. They were Hermione’s screams, and they were so loud now that Luna had to cover her ears. She began to breathe heavily, gasping for air. It felt as if someone were tightening a noose around her throat.

  "Luna! Luna!", Menie cried out in panic, dragging her toward one of the windows, which she flung open immediately to fan some air toward her.

  "Breathe in and out, in and out", Menie’s calm voice directed her.

  Like a drowning woman, Luna clung to Menie’s voice; it was like a light in a pitch-bck night, a light that would lead her safely out of an all-consuming darkness. Slowly, the screams in her head began to fade, and breathing became easier once more.

  "What happened? Were you in pain, or did you feel ill?", Menie asked softly. It took a while before Luna found the strength to answer her.

  "The only friends I had back then were from Gryffindor. And I had to watch as two of them died by Voldemort’s hand, unable to do anything... and as for what happened to the others, or if they are even still alive, I do not know. Please, let us leave this pce and never... NEVER come back!", The sheer horror was mirrored in Luna’s eyes. Without a word, Menie nodded, and so they both departed, knowing they would never return to this House again.With Headmaster Dippet in tow who had briefly dozed off in the armchair and the two hovering bouquets, they made their way toward the dungeons. It took a while until they reached the dungeons and came to a halt before one of the damp and bare walls.

  "Sazar Slytherin", the Headmaster called out, loud and clear. Suddenly, the stones shifted aside, revealing an entrance.

  "After you, dies", Dippet said with a friendly gesture toward the opening. The Slytherin Common Room was very elongated. The bare walls were made of rough stone, and the room was illuminated by an eerie, greenish light. Extravagant leather sofas and armchairs were scattered everywhere. On the tables stood small, emerald-green gss mps decorated with silver flourishes. All in all, the room appeared very noble. Curiously, Luna let her gaze wander. Above the firepce, the House crest was proudly dispyed.Slowly, Luna let her fingers glide over one of the leather sofas. It felt cold. Sitting here certainly wouldn't be very cozy, she thought to herself. "Interesting. And we are now right beneath the Great Lake?", she heard Menie ask.

  "Indeed we are", Headmaster Dippet replied. "And, Miss Luna, what do you think?"

  "Well, it is all very elegant here, and I would very much like to see the girls' dormitories as well."

  "Of course, the door on the left at the far end." While Menie and Luna headed toward the dormitories, Headmaster Dippet made his way to the nearest sofa.The dormitory was bathed in the same green light as the common room. The emerald-green curtains of the beds were entwined with a wafer-thin silver cord, and emerald mps stood on the nightstands. Here, too, everything looked very noble and extravagant. "And, how do you like it here?" Menie asked softly.

  "Everything is beautiful, yet somehow... oppressive", Luna replied.

  "Yes... Yes, you’re right. Beautiful but oppressive. Come, let’s go see Hufflepuff House", Menie suggested.

  "I’d love to," Luna returned with a dreamy smile. And so they went back through half the castle toward the basement. The vaulted celrs weren't quite as cold as the dungeons, as they were situated considerably higher. They came to a halt in front of a stack of barrels. Luna was more than excited and truly looking forward to this House.

  "Now, we must be extremely careful... for if I tap the wrong barrel or even just the wrong rhythm, we shall all be doused in stinking vinegar," the Headmaster said, squinting his eyes at the barrels.

  "Oh, how dreadful! I do hope, Headmaster, that the Wrackspurt has found its way out of your ear by now."

  "Erm... yes, quite," the Headmaster replied, his gaze fixed absently on the barrels. Then he began to tap a few barrels in a specific order. Everyone, including the Headmaster, held their breath once he had finished. And then, quite suddenly, the bottom barrel swung open, revealing the entrance to Hufflepuff. Inside the barrel, they had to walk up a steep, earthy passageway. When they reached the Hufflepuff Common Room, their breath hitched. The room held a grand surprise for them. In the middle of the room sat a massive, round panoramic window that reached all the way to the floor. Excitedly, both hurried toward the window, which offered a breathtaking view of the Great Lake despite the low basement level. Of course, the view couldn't be compared to those of the Ravencws or Gryffindors, but it was breathtakingly beautiful nonetheless.

  "Well, that surprises you both, doesn't it, dies?"

  "Indeed," Menie replied.

  "I believe it’s because Hogwarts was built on a small mountain. This significant elevation made it possible to build the vaulted celrs in such a way that they have access to daylight," Luna said.

  "You are a clever one, Miss Luna,’ the Headmaster noted with surprise.

  "It must be indescribably beautiful to see the sun rise over the ke early in the morning," Luna whispered. Slowly she turned around, her eyes wandering in childlike wonder. The room looked as if it had been kissed by the sun. The walls were painted a delicate yellow and decorated with matching yellow hangings. Fluffy, cream and beige armchairs and sofas made the room feel even cozier and warmer. Pots with all kinds of pnts hung from the ceiling. Enchanted, she gently stroked a pnt whose blossoms resembled bells and shimmered in all colors of the rainbow. With every touch, the pnt let out a tiny sneeze. Another flower, looking like a miniature sunflower, emitted a soft humming sound and swayed gently back and forth.

  "I would like to see the girls' dormitories now!"

  "By all means, dies," the Headmaster said. And so the two of them went straight toward the next round door.The dormitories were just as light-filled and cozy. Each had a rge round window with a softly cushioned bench directly beneath it. The yellow bed curtains, unlike in the other Houses, were made of a delicate, sheer fabric, tied in the middle with a wafer-thin golden cord. Luna sat down on the soft bench and looked out over the ke.‘I must say, I liked this House and Ravencw best of all,’ Menie broke the silence while Luna still gazed mutely at the ke. ‘And how do you like Hufflepuff so far?’

  "Indescribably beautiful," Luna replied softly. They both looked out the window for a while longer before returning to Headmaster Dippet in the common room.

  "And, Miss Luna, do you already have an idea which House you would like to join?""I think the decision was made long ago, wasn't it, Luna?", Menie answered with a broad grin in Luna’s direction. With a joyful smile, the Headmaster looked back and forth between Menie and Luna. "Oh, really? Well then, let’s hear it," Miss Luna.’

  "Hufflepuff, Headmaster. Hufflepuff is my House!"

  "Wonderful!", The Headmaster cpped his hands happily. "Then it was all worth it for you Miss Luna. But this must remain between us, of course, for it is not customary here at Hogwarts for students to choose their own House, as you surely know. This privilege has been granted only to you."

  "I know, Headmaster. My sister and I are infinitely grateful for your help," Luna replied.