Laima made a clear declaration, gave them the push to open the door and embrace the blackness behind it.

The screams, the wails, everything that had accompanied them on their way, fell silent at the same moment as the soft cloak of eternity wrapped itself around the girls. In a very stubborn manner, so that Ginny moved a little closer and Luna could feel her hand on her own.

Not staying in this place alone was nice. Almost a little adventure that seemed real.

Maybe it even was.

The shrill ringing in the Ravenclaw's ears didn't subside as a result, however, making the silence stifling in the face of the noise that had engulfed them before.

The almost palpable inky blackness led them both forward, step by step, straight into the nothingness that brushed them both coldly. Wand firmly in hand, Luna felt how sticky her hands were, noticed how it throbbed in her chest and stole her breath.

At the same time, she heard Ginny breathing beside her. Her heart was probably beating faster too, clinging to fear or bypassing her clear mind. Whatever it was, it made the young Gryffindor breathe a wispy "Lumos".

The ball of light that lit up part of the room moments later sparkled suspiciously in the darkness – fighting shadows that tried to suffocate the spell.

"L-Luna!" It was Ginny who snapped the Ravenclaw out of observation and pointed away from her in unsteady motion. Luna followed the gesture, stuck in the same image that had taken Ginny's breath away.

Across from them, hanging on a nearly blank stone wall, was a man. A haggard figure, staring at them both from deep-set, tired eyes. Black rims adorned part of his hollow cheeks and the ribs poking out of his torso could be counted on both hands.

With a wide smile on his lips, there seemed to be no spark of life left in him as dirt and blood clung to his skin and Luna held her breath.

He needed help.

Immediately, the witch advanced, but only bridged a few inches before Laima rose in front of her and held out her arms.

"Not another step." She shook her head. "He's a guardian, Luna. You must always assume that everyone you meet in your dreams is a guardian. And Guardians like to cheat so you fail in your search. He's a fake."

In protest, Luna opened her mouth, only to close it in silence. Again her eyes fell on the man, whose injuries looked real and from whose shoulder a scalpel protruded. It was so deep inside him it had escaped her first impression. She had seen a tool like this before in a Muggle medicine book. Something that was used to cut a person open. A helping instrument.

"Who … Who created them?" Unlike Luna, Ginny seemed to catch herself more quickly – although the wand in her hands was shaking like aspen leaves.

Her question triggered a giggle in the guardian's throat before he leaned his head back and took a deep breath. Then came a roar. Loud, distorted, like an animal in its death throes. His voice buzzed through the room, eating into Luna's head, thundering in her ears. It robbed her of breath, made her raise her shoulders – far enough to shield her ears a little.

She couldn't use her hands, couldn't stifle his cry. Laima had warned her. Both of them. And both witches obeyed.

The walls vibrated under the shrill hum that seemed to wear them down before sudden silence fell and sporadic laughter filled the cracks.

"Who created them?" the guardian finally repeated in a brittle voice. "Who knows?" Briefly, he hung his head. "A wizard? The greed of man? The universe? A wild whim of everything? I don't know. No one remembers anymore. All we know is that it will be for eternity."

He snorted, spitting blood that made Ginny wrinkle her nose while Luna raised her brows. His behaviour was unkind. But she wasn't allowed to do anything but ask the right question. A question that had already been asked.

"It's time," the sylph whispered suddenly in her ear. "Take the scalpel."

Instantly, Luna's eyes fastened on the metal stuck in the guard's shoulder. His eyes had locked on her and the smile on his thin lips seemed like an invitation she didn't want to accept. His neck cracked as he tilted his head.

He didn't have to say anything to mock.

Only slowly did Luna push herself forward. Ginny visibly kept an eye on her, advancing behind as if in slow motion, as if she would want to intervene if anything went wrong. It was a little help. A little reassurance that someone else was there.

So Luna overcame the distance to the guard, noticed the smell of blood and disinfectant that didn't fit into this scene. With a proper distance, the witch pushed herself up on her toes to reach the metal and clasp it tightly with one hand.

Then she pulled.

The smacking of flesh tightened her stomach as blood gushed from the wound. It ran down his skinny chest in wide streams, collected at the waistband of a pair of worn trousers, and was absorbed by the fabric.

With effort, Luna tried to pull the scalpel up, to remove it from the guardian, to shake the tension from herself, but the resistance gnawed at her fingers and bristled when she finally pulled it out with force.

The man in front of her pushed his back through in the same breath, causing Luna to stagger backwards a few steps, and rolled his eyes wide enough to colour his vision completely white. Then he slumped, remaining motionless even seconds after.

"Is he … dead?" Far too cautiously, Ginny approached. The light shining her way flickered.

"No," Laima replied, "he's asleep now. And when a new seeker comes, he'll wake up and put on the same act again." She shrugged her shoulders. "You must remember that all these are just dreams. No one dies here. But they can hold you captive. So you should never act rashly."

"Luna …"

While the witch was still nodding at Laima's words, she pricked her ears. The man's voice was calling to her. Again.

Ginny flinched too, but fell silent as Laima clapped her hands together and pointed at the two girls. "About time you get back." She drew a small circle in the air, just for the sake of circumstance. Then she grabbed both girls by the shoulder. "Let's go."

Light shimmered, sparkling in Luna's eyes, blinding her so much that she raised an arm protectively in front of her face. Stars exploded behind her lids, colourful and magnificent, while the stranger's voice reached out to her senses once more. The world spun. Her stomach seemed to flip, and the dizziness that befell her senses wouldn't subside for a moment.

"Luna … It is up to you … Your decision whether we are all … protected or destroyed …"

The silence that followed was like an eternal echo that she couldn't place. Only when she lowered her arm and looked into her almost gloomy reflection did the world gradually become clearer. Next to her, she heard the Gryffindor cough. The nausea almost forced her to vomit and if Luna's body hadn't been so confused, she would have done the same as the redhead.

It took a few breaths for them both to regain their composure.

"That was … wow …" Ginny's words were the first thing to break through the darkness, bringing with them the quiet charm of life. "Did we just apparate?"

"That was excellent work!" Satisfied, Laima clapped her hands. "But from here on, your paths now part."

"Why?" Slowly, the Gryffindor tilted her head, waiting for the sylph to get very close to her.

"Simple. This isn't your quest, and a shadow isn't needed." Gently, she placed one of her small hands on Ginny's cheek. "Obliviate." The Gryffindor shrugged, eyes widening. "Now rest, little Weasley. Somnus Mortuorum."

Ginny's legs gave way, causing her to slump to the floor without moving any further. Her eyes were closed, she was still breathing, but Luna had a feeling that no spell in the world would be able to wake Ginny. She was trapped in her dreams.

"That wasn't nice," the Ravenclaw finally spoke up. "Why did you do that?"

"Because she doesn't belong in this world," Laima countered. "She might be a nice girl, but I can't look after both of you. Do you want her to disappear just like Rowan if she makes a mistake?" Without further ado, she pointed to the scalpel in Luna's hand. "For a seeker, the quest is harmless if they follow the rules. Anything else … will be punished."

Her gaze followed her friend's suggestion, letting Luna weigh the metal in her hands. Another object. Something that tingled in her hands, perhaps possessed enough magic to help. To free Rowan, who was waiting somewhere.

"You should go to bed. You have class tomorrow, don't forget." With a shooing wave of her hand, Laima gestured for her to go. "I'll take care of the Gryffindor, so she wakes up unseen in her bed."

Luna wasted another glance at the redhead before her hands clenched tighter around anything she couldn't afford to lose. "She won't remember me, will she?"

The sigh on Laima's lips settled heavily on Luna's chest. "That adventure we had together never happened."

SEEK ME!

Breakfast brought little treats that Luna could hardly resist. Besides pudding that melted like butter on her tongue, there was colourful yoghurt and cold cuts that tasted like sorbet.

She tasted most of it, but stuck to the sweeter things.

The whispering at the table hadn't changed, but this time, no one seemed to watch her. Instead, only Piper's staring eyes were on her. She only looked away when she was buttering a new bun.

"By Merlin and all his wands," Morag sighed, settling down beside her out of the blue and making Luna's shoulders shrug, "you practically drew an amazing roommate in Linquist." She rested her elbow on Luna's shoulder. "What did you do to make her hate you so much?"

"I don't know," the Ravenclaw confessed instantly.

"So she saw you and decided she didn't like you? Nice. But the Linquists have never really been the epitome of nice."

"You think I shouldn't take it to heart," Luna concluded, watching Morag raise her brows and then shake her head.

"Maybe. But you definitely need to stop fighting." She smirked. "Otherwise Flitwick will sentence you to punishment work and that can be really troublesome. I speak from experience."

Without further ado, the Ravenclaw patted Luna on the shoulder once more before she stood up and looked for a seat with the other students, who accepted her like a part of their midst. Luna, on the other hand, remained alone, examining the table, and startled when a clearing of the throat rang through the entire hall.

Instantly, Luna's gaze darted to the teacher's podium, where Dumbledore had positioned himself to draw any attention behind the table where he sat. His face betrayed a hint of seriousness, while the white, ornately embroidered robes on his body hung over it almost a little like sadness.

"At the beginning of this day, I would like to inform you all that, regrettably, two students have disappeared." He paused for effect, but gave no one a chance to give his neighbour a whisper. "They are first year Rowan White from Ravenclaw, and third year Hestia Carrow from Slytherin."

He had said her name. Rowan had indeed disappeared, somewhere in the middle of Hogwarts, and the uncertain words of isolated students only made it more real.

"If you have seen either of them, contact your House teachers immediately." His eyes slid over the crowd, the students holding him spellbound in their gaze. "As a result, activities outside of class are now only permitted in pairs. Anyone caught in the corridors on a night's rest will be subject to a fine that will affect their respective house." Gallantly, Dumbledore raised his hands. "And now, begin breakfast."

The magic of his words worked, serving breakfast and distracting Luna before her thoughts gathered.

She had to find a solution, help Rowan get back from wherever she was. Maybe she and the Slytherin were both trapped in the same place. Maybe that was where the doll was leading. Or maybe Rowan really was inside the doll and the Slytherin had simply been hiding. With magic, anything was possible, and it formed an inaccurate picture of what she might need, even if it was hard to decide which version she wanted to believe at the end of the day.

"You look thoughtful." Laima's voice crept from the inner breast pocket directly into Luna's awareness.

"We need books," the Ravenclaw replied to the unasked question.

"What kind of books?" Laima's whisper was akin to the rustling of leaves.

"The ones about magic." Casually, Luna reached for a milk roll. "One that can find someone and set them free."

"You want a book that gives you a locating spell and, best of all, a spell to break seals? Luna … those are advanced spells. Breaking seals is only allowed to certain wizards. I think you'll only find something like this in the forbidden section, where teachers expand their knowledge." Hastily, the sylph took a breath. "All this is dangerous. You could get into trouble, and with all due respect, finding and freeing Rowan is not your job."

"The teachers won't find her," Luna muttered with her mouth full. "But we almost know where she is."

"You have a strange kind of determination, Seeker." The sigh on Laima's lips remained reluctant. "Still, perhaps you should check the books that are easily accessible first."

Luna agreed with her with an elated hum before shoving another piece of roll into her mouth.

Breakfast maintained its rigid atmosphere and whenever Luna looked around, she thought she heard worried whispering, while there was disbelief in some eyes. Most of the first-years were already forming teams, while the older ones slid back and forth indecisively.

Almost as if they didn't know if they should be worried.

All that didn't subside for a second and didn't seem to want to fade away when Luna stood up and headed for the exit. It was only when they grabbed her by the sleeve that the ice that had so stubbornly curled up around her broke.

"You don't want to leave alone, do you?" The wide smile on Morag's lips brought her pretty face into the dark glow of a mean girl plotting something. But Luna knew better.

"I'm not alone," she replied, tapping her chest. "Are you alone?"

"Sometimes more, sometimes less." Without further ado, Morag shrugged. "But we can go together. You have Potions with Professor Snape now, don't you?"

"I do."

"I'll go with you. From there, I'll just grab someone to drag to class." Elated, Morag hooked up with Luna. "Though I wouldn't worry about that anymore this year. The victims of the year have been chosen. It can't be helped and there's no point in worrying about it. It's been like that for years … a bit of a curse."

"A curse?" While they slipped into the hallway, Luna raised her eyebrows. Her fingers tangled in the hem of her jumper and her interest grew.

"Definitely. Hogwarts is cursed. Has been for nearly fifty years!" declared Morag. "Hasn't anyone told you that?"

It was the first she'd heard. Her father had never said a word about it and none of the first years had looked like they'd been told.

"Well, I can't blame anyone. They would have closed this school down long ago if anyone knew. The Ministry of Magic would turn over every stone here." Morag shrugged. "But Dumbledore casts a spell every year that erases that detail from everyone's memory. So, in principle, no one knows that two students have disappeared every year."

"Then how is it you know about it?"

"At the last breakfast last year, one of the boys was absent because he was ill. He was the only one who still knew and because he loves to talk about such things, he was surprised that no one else knew. That made some students quite puzzled, and some even believed him." With a shake of her head, she pulled Luna closer to her. "Marry Cox, a Hufflepuff student, then spent the entire holidays trying to create a spell that could protect someone from losing their memory. No Obliviate will ever help you then."

A spell that the teachers probably didn't know about, because no one said a single word about it. At the same time, questions remained unanswered, which Luna addressed with childlike curiosity.

"Why hasn't anyone told anyone else?"

"Because the rules are quite simple," the Ravenclaw replied. "Every year, two students who have been in the corridors at night disappear. And they do it at the times when everyone else is asleep. It's the curse of Hogwarts and most of them find it exciting because they know what not to do." She sighed. "It's cruel, but most students love secrets. And going to a boring school is nothing compared to a cursed castle. A few have tried to explain it to their parents, but it's been dismissed as a fairy tale."

"Don't the disappeared have families?"

"Of course they have, but Dumbledore is no fool. Someone once said that the disappeared will turn up one day and that Dumbledore will make them disappear. The parents are told that there was an accident. Or that it was suicide." Finally, Morag shrugged. "And then, when they come to Hogwarts to collect the body, he makes them forget. There's nothing we can do about that. Dumbledore is an all-powerful wizard. All we can do is play by the rules."

The story almost seemed a bit like it had escaped from scary books. As if it would help bind students to rules that not everyone liked.

But someone else had disappeared besides Rowan and no one knew where they were. That made Morag's story believable. Real. And believing in what most couldn't see was her destiny.

"Would you teach me the spell?"

Instantly, her companion's expression brightened. "Of course. Though. I'm not that good at teaching anyone anything. Are you sure?"

Luna's answer remained a nod that made Morag's chest swell as she jutted her chin a little. "Then I'll meet you in the bell tower after class. If you don't know the way, have one of the paintings explain it to you."

Slowly, the witch broke away from Luna. "You can manage the last few metres on your own, can't you?"

She just had to follow the corridor, straight down the dim light, where the dungeon led to the classroom. A few feet that were no hurdle.

"I can. Thank you." She gave Morag a small smile before the witch could turn away and disappear. She returned it briefly, but then left Luna behind.

SEEK ME!

Luna barely listened to Snape's words.

The snippets that came through to her painted pictures in her head, which she followed and which at the same time moved so far away from the current material that they no longer mattered.

The magical chaos in her senses continued until class ended and the students streamed into the corridors, somewhere off to their breaks.

The loneliness that remained enveloped Luna. But Professor Snape, who was also still sitting in the room sorting his glasses, at least gave the situation some life.

It was only when she left him alone and arrived in the empty corridor that Laima completely washed away the detached silence.

"Where will you go now? The library?" Tilting her head, the sylph peeked out from under the cloak. Her black hair shimmered in the dim light.

"Yes. We're going to find a suitable book there for sure," the Ravenclaw confirmed.

Meanwhile, her short legs carried her up the stairs, again along several forks, almost as if she knew exactly where to go. Yet she had never been in the library before. She only knew the way from a map that someone in Ravenclaw had distributed to make the overview a little easier. Nothing more than a piece of paper that told them the way.

Luna had memorised the lines and notes. If she knew what was in Hogwarts, it was easier to find places no one knew.

The library opened up to her barely a few minutes later. The smell of old pages brushed through her clothes, settled in her hair and clung to her mind as books waited on tall shelves for eager readers.

The silence within those four walls soothed the interior and put the questions Luna had clearly in the forefront of her mind. She knew what to look for.

She followed the shelves in slow steps, examining the covers and losing herself in the lack of knowledge. She had no idea where to look to find something suitable.

"Second aisle, on the left," Laima interjected all at once. "At least I think I remember it must have been here. Spells to lift a spell or curse."

"You know a lot about Hogwarts, don't you?"

"The bare minimum." Without further ado, the sylph raised her shoulders. "I've been here before. As … a helper to another seeker."

"What happened to the seeker?" Luna asked out of politeness. Actually, it wasn't that interesting. Of course, there had been seekers before her and there would be seekers after her. Finding out about each one might be worthwhile when Rowan was back, but as long as she was missing, it didn't matter.

Simultaneously, there was still what Morag had told her about. Students disappeared, and it was normal. It was seen as an adventure, while others simply forgot about the events.

An act of the school that couldn't be right and yet had existed for years.

The aisle Laima had suggested lined up thick books in dark covers that could hardly all be contained. The shelves were too high and the ladder, which seemed firmly rooted in one place, was no help either.

"Failed their quest and was punished. Now said seeker must help other seekers, if possible. Nothing bad," Laima replied.

Luna nodded, digesting the information as she eyed the spines of the books.

"Would you help me with the search?" Barely noticing, the Ravenclaw turned to Laima, watching as the sylph fluttered out of her hiding place with quick flaps of her wings.

"Of course, after all, it's my job to help the seeker, even if it doesn't directly affect the search." With a sigh, Laima put her hands on her hips. "Sure you want to take a diversion?"

"It's not a diversion," Luna replied gently. "We're helping a friend."

"Now she's already a friend too …" Shaking her head, the creature gained distance before fluttering to the top of the shelf, going through the book spines one by one.

Luna did the same, examining the covers she could reach. One of the books dealt entirely with breaking love spells, while another suggested antidotes for certain potions that amounted to a curse or spell.

Many titles sounded complicated even at first glance. Others seemed child-friendly – or at least easier to read.

Her fingers slid faintly over the leather of some books, only to be reassured that all of it was real. Not least because the tiredness from the night before was slowly catching up and her eyes burned a bit.

Some letters seemed to dance across the covers, shimmering or wavering, filled with magical energy. Luna couldn't take her eyes off them. Clung to the pretty frames until her fingers collided with another's.

Slowly, the Ravenclaw withdrew her hand, while the other girl pressed her arm to her chest in a flash and looked at her with wide, brown eyes. Luna already knew her.

Ginny Weasley had that glimmer of adventure about her even in those seconds, ready to explore the mysteries of the school. Yet she seemed a little shy and gentle in the face of those who were strangers to her.

"Sorry," she said hurriedly.

"Were you in your mind as well?" Instead of joining in the conversation of the normals, Luna held on to the more interesting things.

Ginny, on the other hand, raised her brows. "I … yes."

"What are you looking for?"

"For a spell that can break all curses." She shrugged. "For my brothers. They're a bit … wild sometimes."

"Fred and George," it came over Luna casually. She knew them both already, had seen the mischievousness in their faces.

"Please tell me they didn't goad you into playing a prank on the teachers on the first day. They've already talked two first years from our house into it and Professor McGonagall has given them two weeks detention." She shook her head. "Not like Fred and George got away with it."

"They asked me, but I had to decline," Luna explained. "They're very kind."

"Sometimes," Ginny replied before holding out her hand to Luna. "Ginny Weasley. I hope I don't look too much like my brothers."

It had escaped her notice, but in Ginny's world, they didn't know each other yet. They hadn't gone off together to meet a guardian. None of that had ever happened, not for this girl.

So Luna accepted the hand. "Luna Lovegood."

"Nice to meet you. What are you looking for?"

Laima probably wouldn't be happy with the idea of her letting Ginny help. But it was nicer with two than alone, which was why she looked back to the covers before turning her attention to the Gryffindor. "I'm looking for a book that will tell me how to break a curse when someone is bound to something else. And one that will help me find someone."

"That sounds exciting." Immediately Ginny's eyes brightened. "What do you need these things for?"

"Have you heard about the rumour that two students go missing every year?"

"I have. My brothers could hardly keep quiet about it." Briefly, Ginny pursed her mouth. "Are you going to look for them? The ones who disappeared?"

Luna nodded. "Rowan shares a room with me."

"But do you think it'll do any good?" Indecisive, Ginny glanced at the covers. "Surely the professors have already tried this?"

"They could have been tied to something," Luna countered as she clasped her hands behind her back. She couldn't give too much away, but going into the subject a little felt nice. "With a curse."

"And the adults just missed it because they're only looking for someone, but nothing else! That could really work." All at once, the Weasley put her hands on her hips. "I'll help you look. With two of us, I'm sure we'll find something!"

Without waiting, she went about her search, letting Luna watch for a moment before turning her attention to the bindings once more herself. Only for a moment before she cast a quick glance upwards to where Laima had been earlier. Sure enough, she was sitting on the top edge of the shelf, looking down at her, her arms folded in front of her chest.

She was displeased, and yet Luna couldn't help but give the sylph a smile that made her shake her head silently before lowering her arms and starting the search again.

"Do you think Professor Dumbledore knows about the spell that prevents forgetting?" Visibly in thought, Ginny turned to Luna again. "My father told me he is a great wizard and nothing escapes his eyes." She tilted her head. "But why would Dumbledore allow such a thing to happen if the school's reputation depends on it?"

She was smart. Ginny's mind latched onto interesting questions that Luna couldn't answer and whose relevance didn't equate to Rowan. She had to help her friend first.

So she shrugged. "I don't know."

"This is all really … strange." Again, the Gryffindor half-pulled a book from the shelf only to push it back again. The one they were looking for seemed untraceable.

"Lovegood!" Piper's demanding voice forced its way between the Ravenclaw and Ginny with a beat. "I've been looking all over for you."

"Me?" Luna's brows lifted.

"You," Piper confirmed. "Don't ask me why, but Dumbledore wants to see you. If he takes points off you for doing something wrong …" She didn't finish the sentence. Instead, Piper turned on her heel and simply left.

Only slowly did Luna turn back to Ginny, who pressed her lips tightly together. Her eyes suddenly seemed much rounder. "Why would Dumbledore want to talk to you?"

Another question Luna couldn't answer, so she shrugged once more. "Maybe he wants to talk about Rowan."

After all, they were sharing a room.

And after all, she was gone. Of course, the teachers would ask questions.

Still, there was something haunting about the library all at once as she followed the endless shelves with her eyes – old and dusty.

Forgotten.

Somehow left behind.

A shiver that Luna swallowed before abandoning her search for the moment.