Heading to the Great hall, Lucien was trying to process all what had happened in potions class. What did he do wrong? What is happening to him? He asked himself constantly with each and every step he took. He wished he could just talk to her without her blowing up on him. Lucien does his usual sigh before he thinks of a plan to get into the mysterious locked room just to get rid of his thoughts about Merula. He enters the Great hall as he gets an idea. Noticing Rowan approaching him he smiled at him as he tried to forget about what happened earlier with Merula today. "There you are! I hear you've been busy excelling in class, and earning House Points for Ravenclaw," Rowan said with a smile.
"You're the one who got me points in Flying Class," Luicen remarked. "Believe it or not, I got points in Potions by helping Merula. Not only have people been helping me get House Points. But I came up with a plan to get into the room Mrs Norris is guarding."
"Brilliant! What's your plan?" Rowan asked.
"First, we need to get past Mrs Norris. If we give her a Sleeping Draught, it will knock her out just long enough to let us by," he explained before continuing. "Second, we need a way to get inside the door. The Unlocking Charm, Alohomora, should do the trick. And third, we'll need the Knockback Jinx, Flipendo. It'll help us escape if we get trapped inside the room like with the Devil's Snare." The mention of Devil Snare sends chills down both their spines.
"If you asked Snape to help you brew a Sleeping Draught, he'll get suspicious…" Rowan said as he adjusts his glasses as usual.
"I'm going to ask Penny Haywood," Lucien replied as Rowan's eyes widened in surprise.
"Penny Haywood? She's the most popular girl in our year! If not all of Hogwarts," Voice almost cracking as he could almost feel his jaw drop.
She offered to help me if I ever needed anything, and she said she's pretty good with potions," remembering that moment vividly.
"She's being modest. If anyone in our year knows how to brew a Sleeping Draught, it's her," Rowan responded before he tilted his head. "But what about Filch?"
"Well, I was inspired by your love of research, and decided to do some of my own research on Filch. I think I can throw him off our trail," he answered as he forgot to plan ahead. "There is one more thing…"
"What?" Rowan asked as he was confused.
"I think we'll need a third person to pull this off," he answered again.
"Who else do you want to bring?" Rowan asked again, curious on who will be coming.
Lucien pondered for a moment, he felt like he wanted to bring Penny because she can brew potions but if something bad happens to her she could spread rumours about he got her in danger for looking for the Cursed Vaults. He then thinks about bringing Ben Copper, from what he can remember he was very gifted in spells just like he was. But the downside is it would take a while to convince him to help them. Is it really worth the shot? He thought.
"Ben Copper," he answered. "I trust him as much as I trust you, and Flitwick says he's gifted in Charms."
"I like Ben too, but, I mean, he's a...Coward," Rowan said, making sure to keep his voice down from anybody listening.
"I think he's braver than he knows, and if we give him a chance, he'll prove it." Lucien replied with a grin.
"Well, I suppose he is a Gryffindor, so he should be brave. I'll honestly be shocked if you can convince him to go. Good luck, Lucien. Just let me know when you're ready to execute the plan."
"We'll execute this plan in a few months from now," Lucien responded as Rowan was confused once more.
"Why a few months?"
"Because we don't want Filch being on guard in the corridor's all night do we? I suspect Filch's cat has gotten him on high alert..." Lucien answered.
"That's actually a smart plan! Alright, let me know when you are ready to execute the plan in a few months," Rowan said before he walked back to the common room.
This is going to be a long few months he thought to himself.
A few long months had passed as Lucien was perfecting his plan on how to get into the mysterious room without risking House Points or expulsion, he spent most of his time studying in his classes, which only he was reviewing old studies on spells and potions that he had learned before the holidays started. He celebrated his birthday with Rowan and Penny before they had to leave Hogwarts for Christmas next week so it was good to take a break from the plan. The holidays had been hard on him for a while, he stayed at Hogwarts for the holidays since he couldn't go back home. He spent a few days helping students with their spells and potions so he could distract himself, but it became too much for his emotions to handle.
When it was already Christmas, he sat at one of the tables near the fireplace in the Great hall. Staring at the warm blaze of comfort, he could feel most of the warm tears down his cheeks before he wipes them away as he let out a sigh. He remembered when he was little he spent Christmas with his family. His father would sing one of his songs while making him and his family laugh. It was the best year for him back then. But it never will be the same for him again. It seems he will be spending time alone for Christmas this year. He tried to keep telling himself that he has people at Hogwarts as his family now. But it did not seem to feel right. Almost wanting to cry again he stopped himself as he grabbed his guitar and set it down on his lap. He loved this guitar, it gave him happiness and something to remember his father by. He smiled as he looked around. There were barely any students around in the Great hall. Except his eyes did catch onto one particular student. It was Merula, she was sitting at the Slytherin table all by herself far away from him in the hall, crossing her arms on the table using them to rest her chin. She looked really down and he could see she was thinking about something, she was acting strange ever since the holidays started. Then a thought crossed him as he remembered that her parents were in Azkaban which made him mentally slap himself. It seems like she also was going to spend Christmas alone this year. He could feel the sadness in his eyes as he stared at the lonely Slytherin girl for a moment while her eyes looked up at him which made him turn his head around to the fireplace. Letting out another sigh hoping she did not see him staring at her. He places his hands on the guitar and debates on what he wanted to play.
After a minute of thinking he starts playing a relaxing melody that sounded like he was being filled with joy. He started to sing a little.
"I stare at you constantly…"
"With those beautiful eyes of yours…"
"Full of mystery, full of uncertainty…"
"I really wish that I got to know you…"
"But it's that I can't reach you…"
"I don't want to feel like I have hurt you…"
"You don't want to feel like you do the same…"
"We are so different…"
"I do not care how…"
"I want to save you now..."
He stops singing as he continues playing the melody, quickly looking around and notices only two students were looking at him with smiles on their faces, while others just swing their bodies calmly to the melody. He gulped as he was getting some attention and he hesitantly turned around to see Merula who was still staring at him with her eyes full of irritation before rolling her eyes. He turned his head back to face the fireplace as he gulped before singing the next verse that came in his head.
"You stare at me rarely…"
"With a smile on my face."
"Full of joy, full of life…"
"We're in this together."
"We can be better..."
"I don't want to feel like I have hurt you…"
"You don't want to feel like you do the same…"
"Still We are different..."
"Yet we have things in common...
"You should not care how..."
"I want to save you now…"
He stops singing again as he kicks up the melody a little while remembering another verse that was part of the song. He thought it sounded pretty bad since he was the one singing but he did not care. He wants to at least make some people happy.
"We aren't so different…"
"We never were different…"
"We are the same you and I…"
"We are both just misunderstood…"
"I don't want to feel like I have hurt you…"
"You don't want to feel like you do the same…
"We aren't so different..."
"We never were different..."
"I do not care how..."
"I want to save...You."
He then stops playing as he heard a few claps from inside the Great hall as he turned around as he nervously smiled. He glances at Merula who was still at the same spot, who this time has her head down. He sighed as he got up and hesitantly walked over to her making sure every time he took a step it was as quiet as possible. Assuming she fell asleep due to how much she hated the song, he started to think that was not the case as soon as he got closer.
He could see her slightly shaking. Was she cold? He thought as he kept walking while he felt it was only warm and cozy in the hall. As he stopped in front of the table she was sitting at, he could hear quiet yet muffled sounds coming from her. He soon realizes she is crying and does not want anybody to see her.
He stares at the sad Slytherin girl as he could slightly feel his own eyes watering up again, he manages to hold it together before taking out a blank paper from his notes that he had written down his plans for the room and some new songs he wanted to write and play. 'You have done enough crying for one day, Lucien…' Thinking to himself as he does not know what it was like to have parents in Azkaban, but he does know what it is like to lose them. Guess people really do grieve differently. Some grieve for a small amount of time while some grieve longer than most. He writes down a small message on the paper before finishing.
Things will get better for you.
Happy Christmas, Merula.
Not bothering to put his name down because he will suspect she might be quick enough to figure out it was him, but at the same time he also wanted to remain anonymous has no desire to want her to scream at him for budding into her personal business, either way he sets down the now folded paper in front of her before speed walking away to grab his guitar and out of the Great hall. He might feel the regret later, but he wanted to at least brighten up someone who is alone on Christmas, even if it was not him who was the one that needed it the most.
After a couple months had passed since the holidays had ended, Lucien learned the Unlocking Charm, Alohomora in the first month of Hogwarts teaching students again, he spent the week practising the spell to get a good grip on it. During the next four months and the day before he spent his time brewing potions and the same potions over again. He also noticed Merula had been eyeing him during those times, but every time he catches her looking, she looks away and every time he tries to talk to her, she walks away or ignores him. It was making him kind of worried because either she might have seen and read the note during Christmas and knew it was him or something else. Whatever it was he should not let that get to him. He's going to meet Penny to help with the Sleeping Draught in the potions class.
As he entered, he noticed it was only Penny in the class. He exhales in relief as he sits down at the table she was at.
"Well, if it isn't the hero of Hogwarts…" Penny said as she gave him a warm smile.
"Thank you again for agreeing to help me brew a Sleeping Draught," he replied as he returned a smile of his own hoping this goes well so he can find out what is inside the room that Filch and Snape are protecting.
"My pleasure. People always come to me for gossip, so it's refreshing when someone recognises my skill with potions."
Lucien glances at her for a second. She was literally the opposite of Merula. She is pretty much the kindest person he has ever met aside from his mother. Guess she was really a Hufflepuff after all.
"So why do you need me to help you brew a Sleeping Draught?" She asked with curiosity in her eyes as Lucien was hesitant to tell her but he could not bring himself to lie to a friend.
"Mrs Norris is guarding a locked room I want to enter, so I need her to…'Take a little nap'," Lucien answered as he came clean. She has been kind and sweet to him so far and never really gave him reasons not to trust her. So he thought it was only fair.
"Exciting! Don't worry, Lucien. Your secret is safe with me," Penny replied as her warm smile turned into a happy grin.
He then looks around the empty classroom. "Why isn't Snape here?"
"We lost our Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. Snape is campaigning to Dumbledore even though the position is cursed," she explained to him. "Rumor is, he's not going to get it."
"I feel like I didn't learn anything in Defence Against the Dark Arts this year," he replied. If he could see Snape right now he would most likely want to laugh in his face. Guess karma does exist in the wizarding world.
"Well, you're about to learn something about potions right now…" Penny said as she was about to start.
The two friends started brewing the potion. Penny takes her time explaining everything to Lucien who was taking notes and guiding him while she was preparing and adding the ingredients and stirring the mixture. She was being very patient and very accurate. It took about an hour for the potion to finish as Lucien looked at the potion with eyes sparkling with joy and astonishment.
"Impressive potioneering, Lucien. That Sleep Draught could knock a Romanian Longhorn on its tail," Penny smirked.
"Thanks, Penny. I owe you one." He felt like he should repay her one day for what she did for him.
"It's the least I can do for the hero who stopped Merula Snyde from bullying everyone," she said with a small giggle. "Good luck, Lucien. I can't wait to hear what happens."
They both cleaned the table and returned all of the unused ingredients back to their shelves shortly after soon they then parted ways. Lucien was heading back to the Common Room as for some reason since Penny mentioned Merula, he kind of wished Merula was like her a little. He does his usual sigh before smacking himself in the head for wishing so much for something that might not even happen.
As a week passed by Lucien spotted Ben in the Great hall. It took him a while to find him since Ben was hard to find. The only time he found him was in the Artefact Room.
"Thanks for meeting me, Ben," Lucien said before sitting down
"Of course, Lucien. You're one of the people I'm least uncomfortable around," Ben replied.
"I need your help with something," he said as he thinks on how to convince him if he says no.
"I owe you for saving me from Merula. As long as it's isn't anything too dangerous…" Ben said as he goes back to being slightly timid.
"Well, it's not too dangerous," he replied, hoping that his white lie would work. "We're going to a forbidden corridor where we'll have to sneak past Mrs Norris before entering a mysterious locked door."
"You and I have a very different definition of dangerous…" Ben said as he suddenly got nervous. Lucien curses under his breath. "Why do you want to get inside of the door?"
"It's a long story, Ben," Lucien answered.
"If you really want to convince me to go with you, you're going to have to tell me the whole thing…And calm my nerves…"
It only took half an hour of explaining the entire story to Ben along with leaving out certain parts about Merula that Lucien does not want Ben to hear. Ben looked slightly calm as he finished explaining.
"I don't know, Lucien. Are you sure I'll be able to help?" Ben asked.
"I've seen you in Charms, Ben. You're a powerful wizard." Lucien answered as he admitted. "Between Mrs Norris, the locked door, and whatever is on the other side, I'd feel a lot better having you there with me and Rowan.
Ben remained silent. It seemed like he had to think for a moment before he spoke. "...Okay. I'll go." Ben reluctantly accepts.
"Amazing! Thanks, Ben!" Lucien said as he could not help but smile in excitement.
"Thank me if I don't flee in terror at the first sight of Mrs Norris," Ben sighs. "When will it be?"
"This evening," he answered. "Make sure to meet us at the Upstairs Corridor by the Ravenclaw tower."
"I-I'll be there…" Ben nervously replied before they both parted ways.
I forgot to post chapter 8 yesterday so here is a double chapter post! And the song was written by me it was also inspired by another song and since I'm crap at making song lyric's this is all I got. Be prepared for chapter 10 on Thursday!