Roxanne was awoken early the next morning by Eliza.
"Come on!" She hissed.
"What?" Roxanne mumbled, putting her pillow over her head.
"Lara," Eliza whispered.
"Huh?" Roxanne was confused.
"She's gone," Eliza told her, "I can't find her anywhere. Help me, Roxanne. Come with me,"
"Later. I'm still asleep at this hour of this morning,"
"ROXANNE! Your name means 'Dawn'. Get up, it's dawn!"
"Fine," Roxanne muttered angrily, getting out of bed. She pulled on a dark blue Weasley sweater with a gold 'R' knitted on it over the top of her white t-shirt and green and black boxer shorts that had served as her pyjamas. She washed her face in the dormitory sink. Each dormitory had been updated the year before to have a toilet, shower and sink for the users.
She slipped her slippers on and brushed her hair slightly with a comb. Stifling a yawn she followed Eliza into the common room and looked out the window.
"For goodness sake! It's not even light outside!" Roxanne raged, flopping on the couch.
"We need to find her, though," Eliza whined.
"I'll find her when I'm awake," Roxanne muttered darkly, "I'm going to bed,"
"Why?" Eliza said sarcastically, "Were you dreaming of Frank?"
"Shut up," Roxanne barked.
"I was joking," Eliza narrowed her eyebrows, "What's got you in a mood? Not seeing Frank for so long?"
"Stop it!" Roxanne said, slowly warming to her playfulness.
"Come on! If you're really hungry, I hear you know your way to the kitchens, so we'll go there," Eliza explained just as Roxanne's tummy rumbled.
"Alright, but do you care to tell me the time?" Roxanne smirked. Eliza looked at her watch.
"Four thirty – six," Eliza smiled. Roxanne's face frowned.
"What!" She demanded, "Is she really this important?"
"Yes!" Eliza growled, "She's our best friend, Roxanne. And she's missing. We have to find her," Eliza huffed. Roxanne sighed.
"Fine. Only 'cos I don't like arguing with you. I don't want to save an evil person," Roxanne said.
"It could be a false accusation," Eliza snapped, "Now come on!" Eliza hurried out of the common room, and Roxanne followed, trying to remember why she cared.
Eliza and Roxanne had scoped the castle twice, and looked in every nook and cranny they could find.
"What if she's… You know," Eliza sobbed, folding into a seat. Roxanne's face fell.
"No… She couldn't be… Impossible," Roxanne gasped. She had trouble processing the idea Eliza was suggesting.
"I only hope she's not… up there," Eliza whimpered. She pointed above.
"She isn't," Roxanne said, more confident than she thought. "She is safe, hiding from us,"
"Where?" Eliza asked. Roxanne was scared. She hadn't thought of an answer. Then suddenly a place her father had mentioned came into her mind.
"The room of requirement!" She burst out.
"The what?" Eliza asked, stunned, thinking she was kidding.
"The room of requirement! The perfect hide out!" Roxanne exclaimed. She grabbed Eliza's hand and dragged her up the Grand Staircase up to the seventh floor. She walked past the room of requirement and paced around a brick wall.
"Just think 'I want to find Lara Smith'," Roxanne instructed her friend.
"Why?" Eliza asked.
"Just do it!" Roxanne ordered. Eliza sighed but obeyed. They paced up and down in front of a wall, feeling stupid. After ten minutes, a miniature door finally opened.
"Come on," Roxanne yelled, "Quick!" The girls ducked down onto the floor and slid under the doorway.
"Where is Lara?" Eliza asked desperately, looking around and pulling her wand quickly out of her pocket. They heard the door close quickly. Eliza jumped.
"What was that?" She squeaked in fear.
"It's okay," breathed Roxanne, trying to calm her down, "Let's just focus on finding Lara,"
"But she could be anywhere," Eliza frowned.
"You were the one who wanted to come, not me," Roxanne pointed out crossly.
"Well, now you are taking charge, so it's a bit hard to be enthusiastic," Eliza rolled her eyes.
"Sorry," Roxanne said quickly, walking around the never – ending room. She finally caught sight of a bench.
"Over there," Roxanne cried, pointing far in the distance. Eliza followed her hand.
"Do we go?" She asked.
"You tell me," Roxanne retorted angrily.
"I think we go, Genius,"
"Alright then, commander,"
Both girls collapsed into giggles. Eliza was the first one to turn serious again.
"Come on," Eliza encouraged, "We need to comfort her. Think of how upset she probably is,"
"I guess," Roxanne shrugged. With that, Eliza bolted as fast as she could to the bench. Each step seemed to be a metre and she seemed to be gliding. She ran as fast as she could and was soon at Lara's side. Roxanne ran as fast as she could but couldn't catch up to Eliza as quickly. After a while she soon caught with her friend.
"Lara, are you okay?" Roxanne asked, her voice throbbing with concern.
"Go away!" Lara snapped angrily, "I came here to escape. From you," Her voice was hard and angry.
"Why?" Roxanne pleaded to know.
"You told everyone in the whole entire school I was evil. Everybody hates me because of you. You make me miserable!" She yelled angrily. Roxanne flinched.
"I'm sorry," Roxanne cried, "But just tell me why on Merlin's beard do you own that book?"
"Fine," Lara sniffed, "Only if you promise,"
"Promise,"
"Eliza, promise?"
"Promise,"
"Alright then," Lara wiped away tears, "My family. Pure – bloods. They want me to learn the dark arts. They reckon a war is coming. I think mother must've slipped that in. I was very upset when I heard you knew, for I despise it totally. Sorry for scaring you and running away," She shifted uncomfortably.
"It's alright," Eliza said, "Never mind that. We're just glad you're safe," Eliza grinned and pulled everyone into a group hug.
"Sorry," Roxanne grinned, very glad to know her friend wasn't evil, "But will we do about your parents," Lara flinched at the name of her parents.
"I don't care. I just am glad we're friends again!"