Hermione Awakens

"I thought so too. I've never seen you before—but I still feel like you know me. It's such a strange feeling, isn't it?"

Sean had no way of knowing whether it was Luna's sharp intuition or some unknown influence, because he had begun to realize something else.

He had seen Luna's name and remembered everything about her, and the Lovegood family had returned from their state of being "screened off" by the world to reality.

What about everyone else?

Could there be others—people he knew, or perhaps people others knew—who might gradually appear in reality as well? No, "appear" was not the right word. It should be "return"...

Sean thought of Lillian. Perhaps that was how she had "gained" magic...

Watching Sean's pensive expression, Luna gathered her nightgown around herself and casually sat down on the carpet. "Mr. Wallop, can you tell me about the wizarding world?"

Sean turned to her and said softly, "Hasn't Mr. Lovegood ever told you?"

"Dad told me... but I always forget. Or rather, I'm not sure whether he ever told me at all—" A nostalgic look appeared on Luna's face. "But I remember many things Mum told me very clearly. She died when I was nine because a spell went terribly wrong."

"I'm sorry—"

Luna shook her head. For the first time, she smiled, and it looked warm. "I miss her very much, but I know I'll see her again someday. That comforts me."

"That is true... Hm?" Sean suddenly noticed something wrong and looked at Luna. "You said your mother died in a spell accident? But your father can't use spells. Could your mother?"

In the "screened-off" state, magic should have been cut off as well. A potion accident might have been possible, but a spell accident?

To his surprise, Luna froze too.