This is the best room I swear, I love the things that pop up when you're wandering around Hogwarts. Let me know if you like it!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter is property of JK Rowling, much as I wish I could steal it.

Chapter 12: The Come and Go Room

Midterms were over and the Great Hall gradually emptied as students left for their Christmas break. Miranda had originally assumed she would be returning home for the holidays, but her parents had decided it was time for a second honeymoon, had left Mirabella with friends and told Miranda that they would see her on her next break. This meant that she would be staying at Hogwarts while all her friends visited their families.

Originally she had thought it would be lonely, but she discovered that it was quite fun to wander the halls with no one around. Meals were taken at the head table, so she had the chance to meet the headmistress as well as the few other students who were staying at the castle. "So Miranda, are you pleased with your stay at Hogwarts so far?" asked the headmistress, gazing at the girl with those stern blue eyes. "Oh yes! It's wonderful!" she exclaimed wondering how McGonagall knew who she was, "I take a special interest in all our scholarship students" clarified the professor, as if reading her bewilderment, "It was my initiative so I always try and make sure everything goes smoothly." Miranda smiled, once again feeling grateful for her unknown benefactor, at that moment she realised that this was the very woman who would know their identity. "Excuse me ma'am, but who is responsible for paying my school fees? I don't know how to repay them for it, but I would love to thank them somehow" she explained, "I thought you knew!" uttered the headmistress, "you're such good friends with Albus and Rose. Didn't you know it's the Potters who pay your fees? In fact, they've told me to ask you if you'd like to join them for dinner on Christmas Eve." Miranda stared at the woman, until finally she regained her speech, excitedly accepting the invitation although resolving to find some way to thank Albus' parents for their generosity.

The next day while the girl meandered around the school she mulled over what she could do for Albus' family, both as thanks for the invitation and for her scholarship. Albus and Rose had talked a fair amount about the Potters, so although Miranda knew a fair amount about her benefactors she couldn't think of anything appropriate. Finally she settled on something that utilised her magical powers, powers she would not even have if it weren't for them. She had come across a particularly interesting book in the library during the holidays and had thought of a potion that she was sure would be useful for them. The only problem was that the potions classroom was closed, so how was she going to brew it?

In despair Miranda continued to walk through the corridors, Aoife at her side, when suddenly the cat shot off, making it necessary for her to chase after the feline. She was out of breath when she finally managed to catch up with the creature, which sat staring at an empty expanse of wall on the seventh floor. Miranda looked around, trying to figure out why Aoife had led her there, but aside from the odd looking tapestry on the opposite wall there didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary.

Resigned, she went back pacing and trying to figure out how to create her gift for the Potters, when out of nowhere a door appeared where Aoife had been looking. Bewildered Miranda looked around again, certain the door had not been there previously, when she had confirmed that she had not suddenly been transported somewhere else her curiosity won out. Cautiously she stretched out her arm and pushed the door open.

The room she walked into looked curiously like the Potions dungeons, with an assortment of labelled ingredients on a shelf to the left and a table with various instruments, as well as a cauldron and a curiously battered book. She wondered at her luck, here was the solution to her problem! Slowly she made her way to the desk and glanced down at the book. "Advanced Potion Making" she read, and then flipped the cover open. This was the same as the book she had found in the library, except for the scrawled ink claiming it as property of the "Half-Blood Prince", intrigued the girl flipped through the book until she found the instructions she had been hoping to try, these were heavily annotated with comments such as "Press don't chop for better effect" next to step 3: Chop up anemone-like growth on the back of Murtlap.

Still reeling from her good fortune she set to work, carefully following the written steps until she finally managed to achieve a liquid that resembled molten gold, except for the droplets that soared at intervals from the surface. She looked around for a vial to contain the potion and found one by her left elbow; with great care she filtered the liquid in and stoppered it. Beaming at her success and at finally having something good enough to give the Potters, she walked to the door.

She glanced back at the curious room that had appeared when she most needed it, "Thank you so much" she said aloud, feeling slightly silly but as if the room acknowledged her thanks. Miranda joined Aoife, who had remained outside and returned to her common room, excited at the prospect of the following day.

The next morning she got up with a smile on her face at the thought that today was the day before Christmas. The holidays had always been her favourite time of year, and though she had been dreading the prospect of spending it alone she had been greatly rewarded. The hours seemed to drag by as she waited for the time when Albus' family came to get her. At last the headmistress came for her. "Come along now" she instructed, "Follow me please." Obediently the girl walked beside the imposing woman as they made their way up to an office hidden by a stone gargoyle.

Once they reached the interesting circular room the girl was immediately greeted by a flash of bright green flames in the fireplace and watched amazed as a dishevelled looking man stepped out. "Professor, how nice to see you!" he smiled, "Honestly Potter, I think it's high time you called me by name" replied the headmistress, "Oh that would feel most odd. It would make me feel old!" responded the man with the flashing green eyes before turning his attention to Miranda.

"You must be Miss Jones. Albus and Rose have talked nonstop about you" he stated "I feel like I know you already, but let me introduce myself. I'm Albus and James' dad, Harry." Miranda gazed up at the cheerful man before finally replying "Pleased to meet you sir. I don't know how I can ever thank you for everything." Harry grinned bashfully, "Well it's nothing. You really ought to thank Ginny and the Professor here for that. Now, shall we get going? I know at least two people who are very excited you're coming." Miranda took the offered arm and with a brisk step forward the two soon disappeared.