IT RETURNS!

Yup I'm back from my holiday which was awesome in the most extreme. I didn't think I would get a chapter up this quickly because I still have a load of essays to finish for uni before I go back, but turns out I almost finished a chapter before I left so I just had to edit this and upload it. Happy happy.

You guys filled up my inbox while I was away too. I think I've now doubled this stories followers. So welcome everyone, lovely to meet you, enjoy the new chapter.

Chapter 14: Fifth Year- The Room of Requirement

Harry was certain that today was going to be a good day. Yesterday had gone without a hitch. His heart still fluttered when he thought about how many people had turned up to the Hog's Head and had left believing him and determined to learn Defence against the Dark Arts from him. Harry still couldn't believe that so many people wanted him to teach them. He still wasn't completely convinced that he was going to be better than Umbride. Struggling into his robes Harry pondered that at least he would let them use magic.

As he was shaking Ron awake Harry's mind turned to Merlin. The sorcerer hadn't attended the meeting, but had met up with them at the Three Broomsticks afterwards. Merlin had been keen to attend their 'lessons', but had still be very reluctant to help teach, Harry wasn't sure if it was a basic magical difference as Merlin had been insisting or if the sorcerer was still just trying to stay out of the public eye.

Having successfully roused Ron and dragged him downstairs to the Great Hall Harry decided that he would accept any help that Merlin was willing to offer. Merlin was slowly putting more and more effort into helping Harry so Harry was certain that it wouldn't be too long until his help would make a massive difference.

Unfortunately Harry's thought processes were drawn to a screeching halt before they reached the Great Hall. The source of his surprise and a sudden spike in paranoia was the presence of a large group of students standing in the Entrance Hall looking up at the wall. At first glance Harry wondered what they were looking at, it took him a moment to realise that there was another framed Educational Decree up on the wall. It wasn't surprising that Harry nearly missed it, after it was just one additional notice in the increasingly congested wall.

Snorting, Harry was about to walk through the crowd and head for breakfast when he saw the worried looks that were being thrown his way from those people who had come to the Hog's Head yesterday. The paranoia returned with a vengeance so Harry elbowed his way through the crowd, Ron following quickly in his wake. Stopping at the front of the group Harry looked up and read the newest degree.

Heart sinking into his shoes Harry turned slowly and walked into the Great Hall. "How did she find out?" Ron whispered into his ear.

"She can't know, there is no way that she could possibly have found out. It has to be a coincidence." Harry replied under his breath, casting his eyes around the Gryffindor table until he noticed Hermione half hidden behind her usual morning paper. He and Ron hurried over and sat on either side of their friend. Harry could feel the eyes on those who had attended the meeting following him and he prayed that none of them would be stupid enough to come over to the Gryffindor table. "Hermione did you see it?" Harry asked, glancing up at the teacher table to see if Umbridge was there. She wasn't.

Hermione folded her paper and nodded. "Yes, but that doesn't change anything."

"'Mione, she knows!" Ron exclaimed.

"I don't think so and even if she does it doesn't matter." Hermione said firmly. "Umbridge knowing or suspecting don't change the fact that we need to be ready to fight. Harry have you changed your mind?"

Harry shook his head. "No way, but now we need to find somewhere out of sight to practice." Out of the corner of his eye Harry noticed Ernie making his way over. Harry glared at him, but the pompous Hufflepuff continued until he was standing next to Harry. Several Gryffindors have him odd looks. Harry snapped angrily. "Go back to your table, we know, everything is still on. I'll let you know." Ernie looked affronted, but headed back to his own table.

"We need to let people know and fast before Umbridge or one of her Slytherin spies starts to get suspicious." Harry said, turning back to his friends.

"That shouldn't be too hard." Hermione pointed out. "After all we have classes with most of them and Ginny can talk to everyone in the lower years without being too suspicious."

Ron glared at Hermione. "I won't let you put Ginny in Umbridge's line of fire."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Really Ron, Ginny is far less likely to arouse suspicion than one of us." She got to her feet quickly. "Now if you don't mind I'm going to find Emrys and see if he knows anything about any of this."

Harry and Ron watched their determined friend hurry out of the Great Hall. "I think we've been a bad influence on her." Ron muttered.

Harry and Ron entered Trelawney's scented loft reluctantly, finding their usual seats and not seeing their teacher there yet the two of them settled down to talk. Hermione had told them that she had spoken to Merlin, who had told her that while he didn't know immediately of somewhere they could practice magic he would look around and let them know.

With the problem of location sorted out Harry and Ron were now quietly discussing what spells Harry thought would be a good idea to teach people. Their conversation was cut unfortunately short by a very un-Trelawney arrival. The usually vague and 'mysterious' Professor actually stomped into the room and threw one of the text books at Neville. Their startled friend fumbled the book and knocked his dream log off the table. Blushing furiously Neville ducked under his table. Lavender and Pavarti looked horrified at their favourite teacher's obvious distress. "Professor what's wrong?" Lavender asked eagerly.

Trelawney sniffed haughtily. "Nothing my dear, nothing at all. After all my years of service, that is all I'm worth; Nothing!" Throwing her last book at Harry, who only caught it because he'd had four and a half years of practice catching tiny, very fast golden Snitches, Trelawney stalked to the front of the room and dropped into her chair. "Well what are you all waiting for?" She nearly shrieked. Everyone very wisely ducked their heads down behind their books. Harry exchanged a look with Ron. "I guess she got the results of her inspection back from Umbridge." Harry muttered.

"Looks like it." Ron muttered, reluctantly opening his dream log. "So when are we going to have the first meeting?"

"As soon as we find somewhere big enough to practice, it's not going to be easy finding somewhere big enough for some decent spellwork for that many people." Harry whispered back. Ron grimaced and looked down at his dream log. Harry hoped that Merlin would be able to find somewhere for them to practice, because with Umbridge's newest Educational Degree getting help from any of the other staff was going to be near on impossible.

As they were descending from the Divination tower Harry noticed a large barn owl perched on an open window sill. As people passed it the owl examined them seriously, before turning its attention to the next person in line. Apparently it was waiting for someone. Harry had an idea of who, and sure enough as he stepped into front of the bird it shifted its weight and held out one leg to which was attached a piece of parchment. "Must be for you mate." Ron chuckled.

There was a line of students waiting to come down the narrow rickety ladder from the Divination classroom, so Harry decided to leave the questions for later. He pulled the letter off the owl's leg and the bird immediately took flight. He and Ron hurried down the stairs and backed into a little alcove the read the letter.

The parchment was dirt stained around the edges, the writing was slightly shaky and at one point the quill tip had gone straight through the parchment.

Harry, I think I've found somewhere that will work. I'll be in the vegetable patch all day tomorrow. M

Harry and Ron exchanged excited grins while Harry carefully burnt the parchment into nothing. The two of them hurried off to find Hermione and give her the good news. Merlin had found them somewhere to practice.

Their lunch break the following day couldn't have come fast enough. As soon as they finished Transfiguration Harry, Ron and Hermione hurried down to the vegetable patch behind the greenhouses. True to his word Merlin was working industriously, digging and planting. He straightened as they approached. The sorcerer beamed at them. "Hello."

"We got your letter." Harry burst immediately.

Merlin grinned. "I guessed, okay I talked to some of the House Elves about a good hidden place to practice magic and they really pulled through. Particularly one called Dobby, apparently he's a friend of yours."

Harry gaped. "Dobby is here."

"Yep, Dumbledore employed him, paying him to work in the kitchens with the others." Here Merlin paused and rubbed his cheek, leaving a streak of dark dirt against his white skin. "He's a bit odd."

"Odd is a really nice way of describing Dobby." Harry admitted which earned him a glare from Hermione. "So where is it?"

"Apparently there is a room in the castle that will become anything you want, or need it to be. Dobby found it a couple of times and the rest of the House Elves agree that it exists and they told me how to find it." Merlin explained.

Hermione shook her head. "I'm not sure if this is a good idea, have you looked at this room yet?"

Merlin shook his head. "No, I was going to suggest you meet me there tonight with the rest of the group and figure out the problems then. What do you think Harry?"

Harry jumped at being addressed, he had been thinking about the room. The explanation sounded familiar, he was certain that Dumbledore had mentioned a room where things you desperately needed would appear exactly when you needed them. "I think it's worth a shot. If we tell people this afternoon and get them to meet us..." here Harry trailed off. "Er...where do we meet?" he asked Merlin.

The blue eyed youth shook himself. "Right, sorry. On the seventh floor near a tapestry of some idiot losing a fight with some trolls."

"I know where that is." Ron said eagerly, "it's not near any of the classrooms, so hopefully it'll be easy to sneak to." He added keenly.

Hermione looked between the three boy's excited faces and reluctantly shook her head. "Alright, shall we meet at seven, after dinner?"

They all agreed and Merlin invited them to have lunch with him. Settling on the grass beneath one of the big trees on the edge of the lake Harry decided to bring up something that had been bothering him since their last Quidditch practice. "Mer...Emrys, can I ask you something?"

Merlin was leaning against the tree with his eyes closed, but he sat up and looked at Harry without answering.

"It's just... the other day, my scar hurt and I...I think Voldemort was really angry, about something." Harry looked at Merlin, but the sorcerer was silent. "And I had another one during one of my detentions and he was really happy." Ron was nodded sagely; Harry had already discussed this with both of his friends. Hermione had been worried and Ron was impressed that Harry could "read You-Know-Who's mind'. Harry wasn't sure if he should be excited or very worried. "I think he's looking for the prophecy."

"The Order knows Voldemort is looking for the prophecy, they're protecting it." Merlin pointed out.

"Yeah, but it's going to be me that Voldemort ends up coming after, even if he doesn't hear the rest of it. He hates me. What do I do? I'm supposed to defeat him, but how on earth am I supposed to do that?" Harry's voice rose as he spoke, until Hermione grabbed his arm and shushed him. Sagging back Harry shook his head. It wasn't fair, he hadn't asked for any of this and now the mammoth task of defeating Voldemort lay ahead of him.

"Yeah, any suggestions?' Ron added, trying to add a lighter air to the conversation.

Merlin grinned at the red head and looked over at Harry who thought that some handy hints from the greatest wizard of all time would certainly be a help when it came to defeating Voldemort.

"Sorry Harry, but I don't know how you are supposed to defeat Voldemort." Merlin pulled up a few pieces of grass. "You need this 'power the Dark Lord knows not' and I have no idea what that is."

"But you defeated Voldemort in the Graveyard last year." Harry demanded. "Surely you know something that'll help me defeat him."

Merlin nodded calmly. "I deflected Voldemort last year and I mostly managed it with the element of surprise. Voldemort didn't know what to expect from a crotchety old man appearing from nowhere. I mean he wasn't expecting anyone, let alone a sorcerer like me. Next time it won't be so easy, he'll know what to expect and he'll most likely have come up with a way to counteract my magic."

"What are we going to do then?" Ron asked hopelessly. Hermione looked between them all.

Merlin chuckled suddenly. "Don't panic, I said he'd come up with a way to counteract my magic, I never said it would be an effective way and I promised to help you and help you I will. Anyway I can." Cerulean eyes met Harry's emerald ones with a soul-deep promise. Harry let out a shaky breath and nodded. Merlin meant it; he would give everything he had to help Harry defeat Voldemort.

Harry felt slightly more hopeful as the bell rung and they headed back to class, promising to meet Merlin at the Room of Requirement before seven. Maybe with a little help his destiny wouldn't be so unmanageable as he thought.

Next chapter will be up...eventually, not sure when. Next week is looking at being a hellhole of a week, but I've been wrong before.