Douglas steered the conversation back again.
"What happened next?"
Luna seemed troubled.
"After that, with the Wrackspurts interfering, I opened it...
I know that was wrong. Dad's told me lots of times to stay away from places where Wrackspurts gather, because they'll muddle your thinking completely..."
Then her expression turned disdainful.
"He said his name was Tom Riddle, which was obvious, since it was written right on the cover...
He also said he knew a lot and that I could ask him anything.
But he didn't know there were Crumple-Horned Snorkacks and Wrackspurts in Sweden, or about Blibbering Humdingers, or the Nargles that live in mistletoe...
He knew almost nothing...
I don't think he's ever read The Quibbler...
The Quibbler's been selling well lately. Dad said he could take me to Sweden over the summer holidays to look for Crumple-Horned Snorkacks..."
Douglas gave the Diary a sympathetic glance, then hurriedly steered the conversation back again.
"I mean, what made you think of giving him to me?"
Luna gave Douglas a rather unhappy glare, seemingly displeased that he had interrupted her daydreaming, but then immediately remembered that she was sitting opposite a professor.
"Because it wanted to meet you, of course, Professor.
Or perhaps it didn't just want to meet you. It wanted to meet Dad too.
After it couldn't answer my questions, it seemed a little unhappy, and then it kept asking about Dad and you.
I originally wanted to give it to Dad. Perhaps he could work out how to make a Wrackspurt farm or something.
But I still thought it was too dangerous.
So... so I thought you might need it, Professor..."
At this point, Luna felt a little embarrassed too. She was very intuitive, and her thoughts often took wild flights of fancy, but she still knew