A/N: Wow, look at that. Two updates in as many days without me even getting any reviews on the last chapter yet! I had a lot of free time today, so I figured I might as well update.
This is one of the chapters that I've been looking forward to writing since beginning this story, so I hope you guys like it! Although I think the chapter that will be coming next is more important...
The first prefects' meeting of the new school year took place on Friday. After the patrol schedules had been passed out and all the routine things had been discussed, Barbara Abbott, the Head Girl, stood up.
"One more thing before we conclude the meeting," she announced. "Professor McGonagall asked me to tell the prefects—in strictest confidence, I might add; for now, only the prefects are to know of it—that the Room of Requirement was repaired, tested, and declared capable of operating over the summer holidays."
Everyone started talking at once. Most of them had heard about the Room of Requirement from their parents. Those who hadn't were asking what it was.
After five minutes of chatter, Louis stood up. "Alright everybody, that's enough," he said quietly but firmly. "Any ideas as to what we should do for Christmas will be considered next time, as it is getting late. The meeting is adjourned."
The prefects streamed out into the corridor, quietly discussing the latest developments. Rose found herself heading back to Gryffindor Tower with Al and Annie Wood, Mark's older sister and the seventh year Gryffindor prefect.
"I expect you've heard all about the Room of Requirement from your parents," Annie said. "Dad told Mark and me some stuff about it, but since he never experienced it first-hand, we never really knew much."
Al immediately launched into an explanation of the Defence Association that had been created in his dad's fifth year and how they had used the Room of Requirement. It lasted until they parted company at the stairs to the dormitories.
"Good night, Al," Rose said forcibly, nudging him towards the boys' dorm.
"Good night, Rose. Oh, Annie, did you know that…"
Rose broke in. "That it's past ten and we have classes tomorrow? We need to go to bed—you especially, because you always talk a lot when you're tired. Good night." Al glared at her, but he went up the stairs to his dormitory quietly.
Rose said good night to Annie at the door to the sixth year girls' dorm, and slipped in silently so as not to wake her dorm mates. She crept into bed and fell asleep, determined to try out the Room of Requirement at the next opportunity.
But opportunities were practically nonexistent over the next few weeks. The sixth years were now starting their N.E.W.T.-level classes, and the work was harder than ever.
Judging by the contents of the blue envelope as school owl delivered to her, her admirer was also a sixth year. But it wasn't that fact that made Rose suddenly feel nervous and excited all at once.
Dear Rose,
I can't tell you how glad I was when I saw you in the Great Hall at the beginning of term. But I was slightly nervous, too, because of what I'm planning. Next week is the first Hogsmeade weekend. If you go up to the hill behind the Shrieking Shack at 2:30, I'll meet you there and you'll find out who I am. Do you want to? Yours,
S
P.S.: I'm sorry I took so long to write to you. The increased workload, now that I've finished my O.W.L.s, makes free time a rare thing.
S
Rose scribbled off a reply, full of enthusiasm, and went to slide it behind the tapestry.
On her was back to Gryffindor Tower, she pulled aside a wall hanging that was hiding a spiral staircase to find Emma standing there, clutching the banister and looking very flustered.
"Er…hi Rose," she stammered.
"Hi Emma. You're all red. What happened?", Rose asked inquisitively.
"I was—going down the steps too fast and I—slipped, but I managed to catch myself," Emma muttered, not meeting Rose's eyes.
"Oh." Rose said nothing further, but she did give Emma a thoughtful glance as they walked along the corridor.
"Hey Em," Rose finally said, breaking the silence between them, "I need your help next Saturday."
"With what?"
"I, um, need you to be willing to be on your own in Hogsmeade for a bit."
"Why?" Rose told her.
When she had finished, Emma said: "So, basically, you want me to be a decoy?"
"Er, yes," Rose admitted. "Do you mind?"
"No. But how are we going to shake off Lucy?"
"It's her birthday next week, you know. Have you already got her something? Good. Then when she asks where we're going, we can just mention her birthday, and she'll think we've gone to buy her presents." Rose beamed at Emma. "See?"
"If you think it'll work, then I'm in," Emma said cheerfully. "I had something I wanted to do this Saturday anyway."
Rose glanced at her friend, but refrained from commenting. They rarely kept secrets from each other, and she knew that Emma would tell her sooner or later.
The week sped by.
On Saturday morning, Rose, Emma, and Lucy headed into Hogsmeade, where they paid a visit to the new branch of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes before heading towards the Three Broomsticks for a Butterbeer.
They were busy talking about Fred's debut in his father's shop when Al, his Ravenclaw girlfriend Maria Stevens, and Michael Jordan, the Quidditch commentator, joined them. Rose noted the faint blush on Lucy's cheeks as Michael sat down next to her.
"Looks like we've got another talk coming up," she muttered, nodding in Lucy's direction. "It's quarter past two. Ready to go?" Emma nodded and the two of them stood up.
"Where are you going?." Lucy asked, confused.
"Ask no questions and you'll be told no lies," Rose said mysteriously. As she headed for the door, she added with a wink: "It's your birthday next Friday, Lu."
Lucy subsided, and Rose and Emma walked up the main street, talking. When they reached the outskirts of Hogsmeade, Rose said goodbye to Emma and continued on to the Shrieking Shack.
Her heart beat faster as she hurried up the road. She was feeling excited—and yet, at the same time, slightly nervous as well. She was finally going to meet her secret admirer. Wondering who he could be, she quickened her pace.
As she neared the Shrieking Shack, she saw a figure standing there, leaning on the fence and gazing out over the countryside. When she was only a few meters from him, he turned around. She saw who he was, and froze.
Scorpius Malfoy.
"Rose—", he started, taking a step towards her. She turned, and ran.
It couldn't be! There must have been some mistake. She threw a quick glance over her shoulder. The look on Scorpius' face was the last thing she saw before she slipped and fell. The world went black.
A/N: So what do you guys think? I'm guessing that none of you were surprised at who it was. :-)
Reviews will make me update faster...
(And so will having a lot of free time. Thank you Mommy! I love having the house to myself.)