Written for Hogwarts forum, Charms task 1- Write about someone discovering a part of Hogwarts nobody else has been in for years (Room of Requirement, Chamber of Secrets, anything covered by the books can not be used)
Newt Scamander's suitcase: Mooncalf- write a fic that takes place at night.
Disclaimer: I'm not JKR
"Psst, where are you going?" Lily whipped her head around and narrowed her eyes.
"Who's there?" she whispered.
"It's me. Here, lumos," the voice muttered. A bright white light glowed in the hall and Lily shielded her eyes.
"What are you doing here Lysander?" She asked in surprise, taking in the jumper over pajamas and messy hair style that her best friend was sporting.
Lysander shrugged sheepishly. "I couldn't sleep so I decided to take a walk."
"In the middle of the night. With Filch roaming. And his bloody immortal cat," Lily said incredulously.
"You do it all the time."
"Yeah, well, I have methods."
"And what might these methods be?"
Lily sighed and glanced around, before taking Lysander's hand and pulling him up the stairs.
"Where are we going now?" Lysander wondered.
"Room of Requirement," Lily said shortly. She turned a sharp corner. "Oh, well isn't that just brilliant? There's a wall in front of my… Wait."
"You make no sense," Lysander informed his friend, shaking his head with a smile.
"OH! I took a wrong turn, great," Lily ignored him.
"What's that?" Lysander asked, pointing at worn marks on the wall. Lily let go of his hand and knelt down. She stuck her face closer and was able to make out names- lots of names.
"Ohmygod," Lily muttered breathlessly. Lysander wrinkled his brow in confusion and knelt next to her.
"James Potter," he read. There were more names too, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Marlene McKinnon, Lily Evans, Peter Pettigrew, Mary Macdonald, Hestia Jones.
"The Marauders."
"The who?" Lysander asked. Lily tore her gaze away from the names and looked into his silvery eyes.
"The Marauders. James, Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black," she said.
"I know who they are, but what is a Marauder?"
"That's what they called themselves."
"Oh. Who's everyone else? I mean, I know who Lily Evans is, but what about the others?"
"Lily's best girl friends."
"And you know this how?"
"Mum talked to Gwenog Jones who was Hestia's older sister. She told her a little about it- not much though." Lily gazed down at the names. She reached out and ran her fingers over them.
"I can't believe they carved their names into the castle. It's amaz- "Lily sat back, her mouth open as the stone started to dissolve from where her fingers touched. Lysander stared as the stone that melted away began to form a door made of dark wood.
Lily stood and reached out to open it.
"Do you think that's safe?" he asked.
"Only one way to find out!" Lily said mischievously. She set her hand on the brass knob and turned it.
The door opened into a dark room. Moonlight filtered into the room casting shadows on the carpet. There was a cold, bare fireplace and a couch and armchair sat in front of it. Two trunks sat propped up against the wall. A large table sat in the middle of the room, a few chairs sat around it and hundreds of papers and books lay on it. The whole room looked as though it had been left just yesterday.
"Wow," Lily breathed. She hurried toward the table, leaving Lysander gaping at the door. She turned around.
"Shut the door! Do you want to get caught by Mrs. Norris?" she hissed.
Lysander hurriedly closed the door. He stepped forward.
"What is this place?" Lily asked. She moved forward and picked up a piece of parchment.
Never have I Ever Score:
Prongs: IIII IIII
Pads: IIII IIII
Lily: IIII I
Marls: IIII
Moons: IIII IIII I
Old MacDonald- scratch that. Sirius! This quick quote quill was a bad idea. Mary: IIII
Hestia: IIII
Petey: IIII III
Lily laughed, her breath catching. She set down the sheet, picking up a worn Transfiguration textbook and flipping it open. Scribbled in the margins were notes.
Hey Evans, go out with me?
It's bad enough being paired with you two, no.
Fine, Pads, will you go out with me?
Of course, my one true love!
There was a doodle of a kissing couple and next to it in Lily's handwriting: Shut up you prats and pay attention!
Ah, yes, but I'm top in the class of Transf. I don't need to listen.
Cocky git.
Thank you, Black.
Lily choked. This was a whole room of memories. Preserved textbooks and parchment were strewn everywhere, giving glimpses into her grandparents' past.
She glanced up to see Lysander smiling at a third year Charms textbook. Lily walked over and looked over his shoulder.
Marlene McKinnon, I swear that if you call Sev a greasy git I'm gonna shove your wand-
The rest of the sentence was too badly smeared to read, but the next line read the reply.
Ugh, forget it. Chocolate frogs and the new Occamy album later?
You've got yourself a deal.
Lily tore her gaze away.
"This is amazing," Lysander murmured. Lily nodded wordlessly.
"It's just a preserved room full of memories," she croaked.
"I can't believe that this exists." Lysander looked up. "It's a huge glimpse into the past. It shows the everyday life of your grandparents and their friends."
"Oh, my Merlin," Lily said. "I have to show this to Dad."
Lily swept her gaze over the room. She was coming back here if she could find the room again. This was big- bigger than the Marauder's map. This whole room had to be protected, kept safe from disturbance.
Then she felt like doing something she hadn't felt like doing in an incredibly long time. She felt like crying. For the first time in her life, in her brothers' lives, in her Dad's life, there was a way to know what Lily Evans and James Potter lived, breathed, and thought.
Lily looked up at Lysander, her eyes full of tears, but she didn't speak. She just reached out her hand, took his and squeezed it. Lily glanced over at a note and caught sight of the writing.
It began seven years ago and it will never end.
A/N: I'm actually planning on writing more of the notes and diaries as drabbles and adding them if I have time or inspiration. Review please!
W-W-A-J-A-L