"Ugh!" Xenophilius grunted. No longer able to spare a thought for his eyes, he started scratching at his hair again. "This is such a headache!"
Seeing Xenophilius's troubled expression, Fred could not help saying, "How about... we just pretend this never happened?"
"How could we?" Xenophilius immediately retorted. "This will spread sooner or later!"
"Remus Lupin and the others just said that they learned about Wizet's disappearance from North America. Even if the Ministry of Magic intends to keep the news under wraps for now..."
"What George means is..." George cut in. "How about we pretend you never wrote Luna a letter?"
"Hm?" Xenophilius froze, pointing at his own nose in confusion. "Pretend I never wrote a letter?"
George spread his hands and nodded. "That's right! Before Luna gets here, we should hurry and slip away. Once Luna actually enters the room, we really won't be able to get away!"
"Ugh!" Xenophilius sucked in a breath. "Now that you put it that way, it actually... makes quite a lot of sense!"
He had to admit that, at least at that moment, Fred and George's suggestion genuinely tempted him.
Fred continued, "Right? After we slip away, if Luna comes over and finds you aren't here..."
"She'll probably write to you then. You can just say... say that you never wrote her a letter. At least that should let you muddle through this."
Neville shrank back, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "Wouldn't that be a bit bad?"
"Of course it would be bad!" Xenophilius quickly shook his head, his tone turning resolute.
"As her father, how could I do something like that? I really did write her a letter. How could I pretend none of this ever happened?"
"Fine!" Fred and George both leaned back, resting entirely against their chair