Author's Note: Got to be honest, I've struggled a lot with this chapter – there's been some serious writer's block of late. It's one to set up future events for when all the good stuff kicks off shortly. Enjoy!

The first week of lessons flew by, and soon Lily had more essays than would have been set in an entire term last year. Defence Against the Dark Arts was persistently the most difficult, with Professor Thomas setting two scrolls of parchment on concealment charms for Friday. While Roxy's response was to resign herself to the library with a sigh, it soon became evident that the intentions of Leo were quite the opposite.

'What the hell are you doing?' he demanded, grabbing the back of Lily's robes to halt her in her tracks as she followed her cousin to attack the mountain of homework.

'Don't start, Leo,' muttered Roxy, anxiously brushing back her fringe, 'You might not give a damn about failing, but I do.'

'And, wise as you are, can you speak for young Lillian here?' he said, shaking her with the hand still at the neck of her robes. Lily glared at him and muttered, 'that's not even my name,' under her breath.

'Lily,' said Roxy forcefully, and grabbed her arm so Lily found herself caught between the two, 'let's go.'

'Actually…' murmured Lily with a sheepish glance

'Oh, suit yourself then!' said Roxy, rolling her eyes, turning on her heel and vanishing behind the doors of the library.

'You're easy,' said Leo with a wink.

'Someone's going to slap you one day,' she returned, but linked her arm in his and pulled him down the corridor. He was more than a head taller than her, and looking up she could scarcely see his face, her dark eyes meeting only his slim chest.

'We have planning to do,' he said, and steered her off the main corridor, into a thin, shadowy passage, 'can't be too careful.'

'What the hell are you doing?' she said, crossing her arms. He smiled.

'Don't get too excited,' he winked again and she hit him. 'It's the beginning of term party of course! We need to kick off the year good and proper. I think Saturday should do?' Lily felt a thrill of excitement.

'Dusk till dawn?' she asked eagerly.

'Naturally,' he replied, 'with the finest firewhiskey Hogsmeade can offer, if you dare?' Their eyes met for a moment, as she considered the mischievous spark in them. Her full lips parted into a grin.

'I dare.'

'I knew I could count on you,' he said, ruffling her hair. She smoothed it down instantly. 'We must show our guests our utmost hospitality.' They laughed together, a fine, pure laugh that rang out along the darkling corridor. Lily felt warmth spread through her chest, a comfort kindled by his warm, hazel eyes.

'One problem,' she said in a low voice as they wandered back out onto the main corridor, 'if the exchange students are coming, we can't have it in the common room. Where on earth will we?'

'I have puzzled over this myself,' he said, and to her great surprise had no witty answer. They wandered up the stairs in quiet contemplation, and were yet to formulate an answer by the time they reached the Gryffindor Common Room. As the Fat Lady's portrait opened, Leo extended a hand to help her through. She slapped it away.

'I can balance, you know,' she sniped, although her cheeks flushed red as she slipped and tumbled into the room, which was virtually empty spare several of the younger students, blessed with a workload that did not cause them to retreat to the library.

'I don't doubt it,' muttered Leo under his breath, before crossing the room and assuming him usual place stretched out full-length on the sofa, even if it did mean shooing away a few first years. She took her place on the floor, curled up like cat as she leant back against the sofa. 'The grounds?' he suggested finally, with an air of hopelessness to his tone.

'No way,' she sighed, turning around and laying her chin on a cushion, 'far too many people. It'd be seen and we don't have the magic to conceal it.'

'Well, we desperately require a venue,' he sighed. All of a sudden Lily started and an enthusiasm gripped her features.

'Require,' she repeated quietly, before jumping to her feet. 'Of course! Require. How could I forget?' Suddenly, however, she seemed to catch herself and draw back.

'What? What is it?' he asked.

'I'm not sure I'm meant to say,' she said, pushing his legs from the sofa and sinking down beside him.

'Like you're not going to tell me,' he muttered, and met her gaze firmly. They shared a protracted look.

'Room of Requirement Seventh Floor turns into whatever your heart desires it to,' she said in a single breath. Leo took a few moments to take the words in, his eyes widening with glee. He seemed to take several deep breaths before speaking in a very measured voice.

'Perhaps you can enlighten me, Potter, as to why you are not currently residing in this room?'

'I dunno, dad told me about it. He's always been a bit weird about telling me things other kids don't know,' she said. He gripped her by each arms and forced her to look firmly into his eyes.

'This is the most brilliant thing that has happened!' he exclaimed, and indeed almost an hour had passed before Leo's ravings began to subside, and they assumed a comfortable silence, aided by the gathering shade of the sky and the low crackle of the fire. Other students began to arrive now, and the Common Room was filled with the usual evening buzz of chatter and games.

Soon Roxy had returned and the three sat in a small circle, Roxy plaiting Lily's hair as Leo stared at the ceiling, his vacant eyes hiding a bubbling anticipation. No light came through the windows now, and that which was inside seemed a deep burgundy, blanketing them all, keeping all these children safe.