Luna and the Letter

Devon, Ottery St Catchpole, the Lovegood home.

A bright morning dawned, and the pink-and-blue curtains swayed gently in the breeze.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, gilding the bedroom floor with golden light.

"Mm..." The girl let out a catlike murmur and slowly opened her eyes.

She lazily sat down on the edge of the bed, her pale-golden hair cascading down like a waterfall.

Luna rubbed her eyes, stretched languidly, and gazed at the blue sky outside. "What lovely weather!"

As she walked downstairs, she glanced at the tightly closed door not far away. The smile at the corners of her mouth gradually faded.

That door had not opened once since yesterday.

"Yesterday was the day Hogwarts started. I'll be enrolling next year too, yes." She spoke softly, as if reminding herself of something important.

Xenophilius was already in the dining room. His hair was a complete mess, and he held a writing board in his hands, a charcoal pencil tucked behind his ear as he brainstormed the newest issue of The Quibbler.

"Luna, today is perfect for painting," he said, bringing over the breakfast he had prepared.

Luna sat down beside the dining table and picked up her knife and fork. "Yes. The sky is like a blue curtain."

The dining room was very quiet, with only the rustling of the charcoal pencil and the occasional clink of knife and fork against the plate.

Xenophilius set down the writing board. "Luna, are you feeling all right? Do you think the breakfast doesn't taste good?"

"I'm fine, father." Faced with such a concerned expression, Luna gently shook her head.

She did not want her father to worry about her, so she lightly changed the subject. "Is this issue of the magazine ready? I'm getting a little impatient."

"The last few issues were received quite well! That Vizet fellow has some great ideas!" Xenophilius perked up. "We've been receiving more submissions lately!"

"They're very interested in the feature on 'local specialties.' Some of them even sent me samples. I added a little to the bread at breakfast."

"The contributor said these bees collect Laurel Honey, and that anyone who uses Laurel Honey will receive good luck. How does it taste?"

"So it was Vizet's idea?" Luna murmured.

She speared a piece of bread and put it into her mouth, a faint smile appearing on her face. "I think it tastes pretty good."

Luna's life continued as usual, like a diligent bee tending the entire garden.

The Owl Diana stayed by her side, happily singing songs.

Collecting dew, loosening the soil, watering the flowers, feeding them...

She could still find happiness in it all, but that happiness felt somewhat strange, as if something were missing.

"The Mistletoe and Dirigible Plum are both growing very well. I haven't found any Niffler." Luna spoke as she picked Dirigible Plums.

"Vizet, do you know what a Niffler is? Father told me it's a little creature similar to a maggot. It has three thousand teeth when it's young, and even more when it grows up."

"They have three eyes, and there are sickle-shaped hooks on their tails, which is why they're called Nifflers. Vizet, isn't that interesting?"

"Vi...zet?"

The gentle response she remembered did not come. Luna could hear only the wind around her.

She now felt that something seemed to have been locked away along with the tightly closed door.

"Yes, he went to Hogwarts."

Luna rose and walked toward the stream in the distance.

She sat by the bank, watching the clear water flow as she fell into thought.

Only a day had passed, yet she already felt hollow.

"There are more Nargles."

She murmured to the Dirigible Plum.

The feeling was familiar. She had experienced it before.

Time could smooth everything over. If she were given a few more days, she would be able to adjust to life without one person. Such a Change of Circumstances was nothing unusual to her.

The sky remained clear, and the stream was still crystal-clear. Although everything remained the same, she felt herself drifting away from everything around her.

Luna sat by the stream for a long time, staring at the surface of the water. It was not until a familiar Owl call rang out that she quickly raised her head.

"Hoo! Hoo..." The Owl clutched a large Cloth Bag, resembling a propeller plane with a damaged wing about to skid into the stream.

Luna hurriedly reached out and, by the narrowest margin, caught Thor, preventing him from becoming a drenched chicken. "Thor, I caught you!"

"Hoo! Hoo!" Thor struggled and rubbed against Luna's sleeve before closing his eyes just like that.

"Carrying so many things all the way here from Hogwarts must have worn you out." Luna spoke gently as she stroked Thor's limp crest.

When she returned home, Xenophilius had just taken off his apron. On the table sat a steaming pot of stew. "I was just about to go look for you! Why did you come back so late today?"

Luna carefully placed the Cloth Bag On the Table, then excitedly lifted the Owl and said, "I ran into Thor!"

"That boy actually knows how to send a letter back?" Xenophilius raised his brows and took the Owl from Luna.

"See what that boy wrote. I'll find some restorative medicine to feed Thor. He looks exhausted."

When she opened the Cloth Bag, there were two large boxes of snacks inside. Their considerable weight instantly made Luna understand why Thor had been so exhausted.

Beneath them was a letter. A line of writing appeared on the heavy Parchment envelope: To Luna and Mr. Lovegood.

The words "and Mr. Lovegood" were spaced rather far apart, as if they had been added later.

Luna placed a hand over her heart, feeling her heartbeat quicken.

She gently exhaled before opening the letter.

Dear Luna and Mr. Lovegood:

Thor brought me a bag of Chocolate Frogs. They taste wonderful, and I wanted to share them with you and Mr. Lovegood.

Hogwarts is wonderful and magical. I've seen so many interesting things—so many that I can't describe them all in words.

But I suppose that doesn't matter, because you'll be coming to Hogwarts next year too. When you do, we can explore it together.

How are the Mistletoe and Dirigible Plum at home? I remember that the Dirigible Plum was almost ripe.

Last time, when we fertilized the plants together, you mentioned Nifflers to me. What kind of creature are they?

I'm still very curious. You kept me in suspense last time—are you willing to tell me about them now?

There are still many more wonderful things about Hogwarts. I hope you won't think I'm being too long-winded if I send you more letters later.

P.S.

Please give my regards to Mr. Lovegood.

I hope you're both doing well.

Vizet Lovegood

The letter was very ordinary, yet it was precisely because of that ordinariness that Luna felt so close to Vizet.

The Vizet in her heart was not someone as bright and blazing as the sun, but someone as subtle as the wind, silently accompanying her at her side.

She could speak her mind without the slightest burden, while Vizet could accept everything with ease.

Luna opened a box of Chocolate Frogs. The smooth, rich chocolate melted on her tongue, and its sweetness filled her heart.

"'And'? 'Also'? 'P.S.'?" Xenophilius's voice rang out. The Owl Thor perched on his shoulder had recovered some of his energy and was able to hook his claws around the shoulder and doze.

"Luna, are you going to send this boy a Reply Letter? Then tell him to be more careful next time. When addressing me, he shouldn't put 'and' or 'also' in front of my name!"

"Okay, father!" Luna put away the letter, then took a set of painting supplies from the cabinet.

Xenophilius asked in confusion, "What are you planning to do? Lunch is ready!"

"I know, father!" Luna said as she ran upstairs. "Didn't you tell me this morning that today was perfect for painting?"