Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Chapter Twenty-Nine Summary & Analysis

Neville hugs Ron and Hermione. Harry notices that he's bruised and looks rough. Neville brightly tells Aberforth that people will be Apparating into the bar and should be let through, and then leads the trio into the passage. He explains that all the other passages are sealed and asks if it's true that they broke into Gringotts. Neville says that the Carrows, Amycus and Alecto, are horrible. Amycus teaches students to use the Cruciatus Curse on those who have earned detention, while Alecto teaches in Muggle Studies that Muggles are dirty animals. Neville says he's been standing up to them like Harry used to do, and insists he's not in real danger because he's pureblooded.

Neville says that they've been communicating through the fake Galleons that they used in Dumbledore's Army. He says that they lost Luna and Ginny, and a few weeks ago, the Death Eaters tried to kidnap Neville's gran to scare him into submission. His gran is now on the run and the Death Eater is in St. Mungo's. Neville leads Harry, Ron, and Hermione into a room filled with about 20 people. It's the Room of Requirement, and has expanded as more students have had to go into hiding. They get food from Aberforth.

Harry's scar burns and he sees Voldemort discovering the missing ring. He pulls himself back to his reality, gives Ron and Hermione a look, and says they need to get going. Seamus asks what the plan is and Neville asks to help, but Harry refuses. He says that Dumbledore gave them a secret job, which they need to accomplish and then leave. Luna and Dean burst through the passage and Luna is sure that they're here to overthrow Snape and the Carrows. Ginny, Fred, George, Lee Jordan, and Cho Chang come a few moments later. George asks what the plan is and Harry angrily says there isn't one. Ron turns to Harry and quietly says they can help, since even the trio doesn't know what they're looking for. Harry wonders briefly if he's becoming secretive like Dumbledore.

Harry agrees and tells the room that they're looking for an object, probably from Ravenclaw. Luna suggests Ravenclaw's diadem, but Cho says it's been lost for centuries. Luna notes that there's a bust of Ravenclaw in the Ravenclaw common room wearing the diadem. Harry flits to Voldemort's mind and sees him flying. He agrees to go with Luna to see the diadem. They creep through the castle under the Invisibility Cloak and into the common room. He approaches the bust and studies the diadem, stepping out from under the Cloak. Alecto laughs behind him and touches the snake tattoo on her forearm.