1 Meet Me In The Room Of Requirement
It was a shining winter's Saturday at Hogwarts. The sky was orange and grey, warning that the sun was setting and snow was coming. The Great Hall was filled with chatter and illuminated with the hundreds of candles. Harry had lost his appetite long ago with the thought that he would no longer fly his Firebolt in Quidditch. He sat with his fist supporting his face, playing with his chopped lamb and mashed potatoes. Hermione was talking with Ron over more S.P.E.W. ideas and the little House Elf hats that she has worked so hard and long on. Harry had tuned them out, focusing on drowning the piece of lamb in his mashed potatoes.
He heard a sudden hoot and jolted upwards. A fluffy brown barn owl had landed in front of his plate, on its foot a letter addressed to him in thick red ink. He untied the envelope from the owl's leg, as it gave him a peck of gratitude.
Hermione finally looked up at him, her eyes scrunched. "Who's it from, Harry?"
"It can't be from Snuffles." Declared Ron, glad to have the subject change.
"Let me open it first, would you? I have no idea yet." He gave them a vicious look and ripped the envelope, uncaring and unmindful.
It was short, and unsigned, just like the last few letter Sirius had flown to him. It couldn't be Sirius, could it? Not with Umbridge and the Ministry intercepting owls? He prepared himself to read it to his friends, who were patiently but eagerly waiting for him.
"Meet me in the Room of Requirement at 8 o'clock tonight. Think of the Gryffindor common room. I'll be waiting for you." He looked up from the piece of parchment to see the questioning look on his friends' faces.
"It can't be Sirius. Umbridge would've intercepted the owl and known, and you probably wouldn't have it in your hands now!" Ron explained.
"But maybe it is! Maybe he got in somehow… and that's the only place he could hide!" Harry exclaimed.
Hermione paused, "Harry, I don't want you to go."
Harry looked at her as if she said something disgusting.
"It could be anyone in there! Maybe it's a trap! Umbridge could be in there! Snape! V-" She gathered a breath, " Voldemort could be in there."
"Hermione, what if it is Snuffles? It could be the only chance I can see him!" Harry was feeling boiled. He wanted to go no matter who was in there.
"Remember the fire?" Hermione pursed her lips at him.
"At least I got to talk to him! To see him!"
"Harry, it could be dangerous!"
"Says you, you still want to have D.A.! Snuffles knows about D.A.! He knows we use that room! I'm going!" He turned back to his potatoes.
Ron's ears turned red with embarrassment. The entirety of their side of the Gryffindor table was staring at them.
"Woof," Called George, looking back down at his own food from Hermione's glare.
Harry looked around. His eye met Draco Malfoy's from across the Great Hall. Great, just great. He thought. Another thing for him to tick me about. Me yelling with Hermione. He turned his head back to his own table as he saw Malfoy get up from his table and walk out the doors of the Great Hall.
As the halls of Hogwarts were filled with students taking their time to get to their dorms, Harry navigated up the stairs. He went into one or two bathrooms along the way to check the Marauder's Map to check for teachers passing. When the coast was clear, and five minutes to eight, he started toward the hallway in need. He walked up once, Gryffindor common room, twice, Gryffindor common room, then the third time, Gryffindor common room. The door to the Room of Requirement had appeared at his third trip. He enclosed his hand on the doorknob and entered. It was exactly the Gryffindor common room. The fire burning, the sofas, the table and chairs Harry, Ron and Hermione would usually spend their time. He looked around the room. Sirius was not in site. Was he hiding? Was he even there?
"Hello?" He called out alone.
"Hello, Potter." Greeted a slithering voice.
