After listening to Luna's explanation, Hermione thought for a moment and had to admit to herself that Luna might actually be right.
Then, with a puzzled expression, Hermione asked:
"You pulled Ron and me aside… it wasn't just to tell us that, was it?"
Luna nodded slightly before offering an explanation.
"That's right. I stopped you both because of what just happened to Cassandra. Unlike the attack on Colin Creevey before, this time the victim was a Slytherin student. Someone must have commanded the monster in the Chamber to attack her. So, I believe the most likely suspect is one of the first people to arrive at the scene."
Hearing this, Hermione spoke instinctively:
"You mean that Gryffindor girl who first discovered Cassandra—?"
But Luna interrupted her before she could finish. Shaking her head, Luna replied:
"Not her. Even though she found Cassandra first, that actually makes her the least suspicious. If she really were behind it, she could have kept quiet and easily taken care of Cassandra after she'd been petrified."
Hermione gave a thoughtful nod at this, but then seemed to realize something. Her eyes widened in alarm as she turned to Luna and pointed at herself.
"So… are you saying you suspect me?"
Luna's gaze drifted slowly between Hermione and Ron as she calmly said:
"No, not you either. Ginny told me everything. You left in a hurry—far too suddenly to have planned an ambush on Cassandra. Unless you just spontaneously decided to attack her, there's no way it was you."
Hermione exhaled deeply in relief. Then, like Luna, she turned her attention to Ron.
Noticing their stares, Ron quickly blurted out, flustered:
"Don't look at me! I had nothing to do with it! I went looking for Cassandra—that's something you can ask Ginny about!"
Hermione was just beginning to relax again when Luna said calmly:
"I know. Ginny already told me."
"Then that means none of us could've done it!" Hermione said quickly. "But so many Hogwarts students showed up after us—we'd never be able to sort them all out!"
But Luna shook her head and, still staring at Ron, turned to Hermione and asked:
"Hermione, how long after you left Ginny did Ron find you?"
Hermione frowned, thinking carefully. She recalled how she had left Ginny, tailed the Secret Order's Heart King, exchanged words with him, and then parted ways before Ron appeared. Tentatively, she said:
"I'd say… about thirty minutes?"
Luna nodded and fixed her sharp eyes on Ron.
"Then aren't you even a little curious," she asked, "how Ron was able to find you, in such a vast place like Hogwarts, and in such a remote corner, after you'd been gone that long?"
Hermione fell silent, speechless. Still, she protested:
"You can't seriously think that just because of that, Ron is the Heir of Salazar Slytherin!"
"I'm a Weasley!" Ron quickly added. "My family has nothing to do with Salazar Slytherin. There's no way I'm his heir!"
Luna seemed unbothered by their protests.
"I don't really understand that part either," she admitted. "But that doesn't matter. I believe… Professor Dumbledore will be able to find out the truth."
At the mention of Dumbledore, Ron fell quiet.
But Luna continued:
"If we want to know whether you commanded the monster in the Chamber to attack Cassandra, it's quite simple. We just need to bring you to the Headmaster's office. Whether it's through Legilimency or Veritaserum, I'm sure Professor Dumbledore has plenty of ways to uncover the truth."
"Screening every student in the school would be nearly impossible—but checking just one student? That would be far too easy for someone like Dumbledore."
Hearing this, Hermione finally realized—Luna had suspected Ron from the start. Her voice rose with indignation.
"That's enough! Luna, if all you have is speculation, then stop accusing my friend!"
But Luna replied matter-of-factly:
"If Ron agrees to go see Dumbledore, and if the Headmaster proves he's innocent, then I'll apologize."
Seeing Luna's determination, Hermione scowled.
"Fine, we'll go! And when it's all over, I want you to apologize to Ron in front of the entire school! Ron, I'm going with you to see Dumbledore!"
She grabbed Ron's hand and made to lead him toward the Headmaster's office—but Ron didn't move.
He stood rooted to the spot, silent.
Luna didn't look pleased. Instead, her expression darkened with concern as she muttered:
"Just as I thought."
Hermione turned to him, wide-eyed, her voice trembling.
"No… Ron, this isn't funny, okay? It's not a joke! Let's just go see Dumbledore. He'll prove—"
But before she could finish, Ron turned to Luna with a grim expression and said quietly:
"How did you figure it out?"
Luna didn't hesitate.
"The first time I noticed something strange was at the scene of the attack. Aside from you two, I was one of the first students to arrive—after all, I'd come looking for you after talking with Ginny."
"I noticed something odd. Everyone else, no matter how shocked or scared they were, instinctively looked over at Cassandra's body lying on the floor. But you, Ron Weasley—you never even glanced at her. Not once. As if you already knew exactly what you would see."
"That's when I started to suspect. And everything I said just now—I pieced that together afterward. The more I thought about it, the more certain I became. That's why I stopped you here."
Hermione's face had gone pale, her heart sinking. Still, she protested on Ron's behalf:
"But you don't have any proof!"
Luna shook her head, her eyes still on Ron.
"No, I don't. Everything I've said is just speculation."
"But this is Hogwarts. I don't need proof. All I have to do is tell Headmaster Dumbledore what I've deduced—and he'll be able to verify it."
"Ron Weasley… am I right?"
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