Chapter 29: A Test of Wit and Will
The castle felt oddly still, as if holding its breath. The closer exams loomed, the more the pressure mounted—an unseen weight pressing on every first-year student like a tightening charm. Ravenclaw Tower was abuzz with preparation. Books were scattered across tables, parchment overflowing with notes, and whispered incantations echoing beneath blue and silver banners.
Luna sat by the window, sunlight catching the edge of her silvery hair. Her hands were steady despite the noise around her. A steaming cup of honeyed tea sat untouched beside her as she scanned a parchment filled with her own tightly-organized notes. She'd been studying diligently, combining Hogwarts teachings with system data.
System Update:
Exam Alert: Hogwarts First Year Finals
Subjects: Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, History of Magic, DADA, Astronomy, Herbology
Exam Mode: Observation + Performance + Magical Stability
Suggested Protocol: Dream-State Reinforcement and Sleep Memorization Active.
She closed her eyes briefly.
System Log:
Dream Protocol Activated.
Linking recent subject data to dream simulation chamber...
Sleep now was no longer unproductive. Luna's dreamscape had evolved—mirrors lining the skies, books whispering knowledge, floating scrolls wrapping themselves around her subconscious.
The day of exams arrived. Luna walked beside Padma and Terry Boot through the corridors. Hermione was ahead with Harry and Ron, biting her nails nervously.
"You look calm," Terry noted. "Don't tell me you actually slept last night?"
"I did," Luna answered. "I had a lesson in my dreams. My wand grew flowers when I recited the Goblin Rebellions of 1612."
Padma smiled softly. "That's... weirdly comforting."
In Charms, Professor Flitwick had them levitate pinecones through a moving hoop midair. Luna's wand was graceful.
Spell Detected: Wingardium Leviosa
Target: Organic Object
Precision: 84%
Stability: High
"Excellent control, Miss Lovegood!" Flitwick beamed. "Five points to Ravenclaw."
In Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall made them turn a beetle into a brooch. Luna's result had tiny wings that shimmered when touched. In History of Magic, her dreamy clarity worked in her favor.
_System Tip: Historical Memorization aided by Dreamtrace Function.
Recall Accuracy: 92.4%
Later that evening, Luna found herself outside the Room of Requirement. She had never entered before. But now, a quiet tug in her chest led her to the blank wall.
She walked past thrice.
The door appeared.
Inside, the room shaped itself—cushions for meditation, a low desk stacked with books, a floating orb of light that pulsed like a heartbeat.
System Notification:
Personal Sanctuary Established.
Room Signature: Compatible with Dream-Sync Protocol.
Functionality: Learning, Practice, and Magical Restoration.
She sat on a floating cushion, the silence humming around her.
"I'm doing well, aren't I?" she murmured aloud.
No one answered. But the room, the orb, and the quiet magic seemed to agree.
Her system responded.
System Status:
Luna Lovegood - Age 11
House: Ravenclaw
Spells Learned: Lumos, Nox, Wingardium Leviosa, Revelio, Protego, Incendio (Basic Level)
Dream Integration: 57.9%
System Functions: Spell Analysis, Emotional Stability, Magical Deduction, Historical Dream Recall, Temporal Sensitivity
Status: Calm, Focused, Slight Magical Fatigue
Next Objective: Emotional Reflection + Friendship Networking (Optional)
Luna smiled, pulling her knees to her chest. The exam season hadn't broken her—it had steadied her.
She knew there was still more to come. But for now, wrapped in candlelight and quiet wonder, Luna Lovegood felt something like peace.
End of Chapter 29: A Test of Wit and Will