Somnambulism

"I've never been to this part of the castle. Well, not awake. I sleepwalk, you see. That's why I wear shoes to bed."

- Luna Lovegood.

Somnambulism (also known as sleepwalking) is a sleep disorder. People that suffer from this disorder leave their bed, without waking up, in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness, such as walking around.

In the early 19th century, a young Beatrix Bloxam overheard her aunt telling The Warlock's Hairy Heart, by Beedle the Bard, to her older cousins. She became, reportedly, "paralysed with horror" and heard the full "disgusting story", as well as details of a ghastly affair concerning her uncle Nobby, the local hag and a sack of Bouncing Bulbs. The child was traumatised by the shock: she spent a week in bed and developed the habit of sleepwalking back to the keyhole in which she had overheard her aunt, every night, until her father put a Sticking Charm on her door at bedtime.

During her student years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Luna Lovegood suffered from somnambulism. This was the reason why she used to wear her shoes to bed.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
 * The Tales of Beedle the Bard