Chapter 20 - THE ROOM OF REQUIREMENT

Harry POV

I woke up in the familiar hospital wing, expect there was something different about it. There were a few gold lines that blocked my view of the hospital wing ceiling. I then realized it wasn't gold lines, it was hair! I noticed that I felt really warm. I glanced down and saw Daphne's head on my shoulder with her body pressed into my side. The rest of her blonde hair was sprawled out across my chest as she had her arms wrapped around me. She was sleeping so peacefully…

I then remembered we were in the hospital wing. I didn't want a rehash at Hogsmeade when Ron saw us together and made a big deal about it. Becoming aware that anyone could walk in and see us I tried to get out from under her. Daphne subconsciously noticing me trying to slip away, tightened her grip on me. I moved the few strands of her hair that were on my face out of the way.

I then whispered in her ear, "Daphne. Wake up, it's morning already. Time to get up..."

Daphne shifted her head slightly and just snuggled it even further more into my chest.

"But I don't want to…"

Then someone next to us laughed out loud and caused Daphne's eyes to snap straight open.

"I knew you wanted to be in bed with him this soon Daph, but my my, this was a lot faster than expected!"

I looked over and saw Tracey sitting up on her bed, trying not laugh hysterically. I blushed tomato red at Tracey's statement, Daphne, however, was even redder than me. She then promptly let go of me and got off the bed.

"TRACEY!" she screamed.

After being teased and constantly barraged by snide sexual comments by Tracey, I said bye to Daphne as the two of us left Tracey in the hospital wing. I then headed off back to Gryffindor Tower. After I got back into the Gryffindor common room I was greeted by a crowd of people…

Great, just the thing I wanted to deal with on a Sunday morning…

Whispers started to break out as I entered the room, some looked at me with excitement whilst some were unsure and had their eyebrows curled up. I strode past them, I was about to enter the boy's dormitories section when Ron spoke up from the crowd.

"Finished showing off your fame Harry? Didn't know it would take you all night!"

I bit down on my lip hard, my Occlumency straining as I tried hard to keep my mouth shut. After regaining some control over my emotions I turned around to face Ron.

"No Ron, I was in the hospital wing-".

Ron then cut me off and maniacally laughed.

"Yeah right Harry, I heard what everyone was saying around Hogsmeade when you left! They were going to commemorate that day you fended off the hundreds of dementors! Stop acting!"

Then I lost it and venomously spat out at Ron.

"No Ron, I was in the goddamn hospital wing! Want to know why? Because I was fucking magically exhausted and tired after casting that full body patronus and didn't want to be put up with your half-assed shit. I went to the hospital wing to also check up on someone who was affected by the dementors and almost got their soul ripped out of them! Not everyone was hiding at Honeydukes stuffing their face with candy during the attack!"

Ron paled and stumbled backwards. Some people giggled at what I said, whilst others remained deathly quiet. I then turned on my heel and went upstairs to my room.

I was so disappointed in Ron, how could he think that?

I started to pack my things, I knew I couldn't sleep here anymore. Ron was being too much of a git. I waved my wand and cleared everything into my trunk before shrinking it down and putting in my pocket. I then re-entered the common room, Ron was still startled and stuck in the same spot I left him in. I strode past him and the now silent crowd. I pushed open the portrait door and left.

I was aimlessly wandering around when I suddenly realized, if I wasn't going back, where would I sleep?

I then thought maybe Hagrid's? He might have a spare bed… But then, I don't want to bother him with my problems. The chamber then? Definitely no… it is way too dirty and would suspicious if I kept going down there and out.

Godric then chimed in, "Maybe you could try to find Rowena's room, it was a morphing room that could become the seeker's needs. I don't know where it is as she kept it secret, but you might be able to find it. The name of the room, I believe, is the Room of Requirement".

I perked up at Godric's idea. I then took out the Marauder's Map to look for the Room of Requirement but couldn't find it.

What? Where is it? Does it even exist? This isn't another prank is it Godric?

"No Harry, I am certain it exists, Salazar and I tried extremely hard to find it back in the day… ah good times… Rowena boasted about it a lot to the two of us, I am certain it is somewhere in the castle".

I guess I will search for it on foot in Hogwarts then. I mean I have nothing else to do all day today anyway. I searched all of Hogwarts but didn't find it. It was almost lunchtime in the great hall, I have been searching for the last three godamn hours!

Where is the bloody place?!

Although the time I spent was not completely useless, using the Marauder's Map, I explored many of the other secret passageways and even found the Hogwarts Kitchen! The place was bustling with house elves, working to cook food. Better never let Hermione down there, she will freak out and start her doctrine on SPEW. Then I thought of an idea, what about the elves!

They must know something, they work behind the scenes at this place all the time. Surely they would have noticed something!

I then stopped in the corridor and called out Dobby! With the sound of pop, the house elf appeared.

"The great Harry Potter sir has called Dobby! Dobby be honored to serve Harry Potter!"

The little elf was jumping up and down from excitement. I then knelt down on one knee and told the bouncy elf with tennis ball eyes to calm down.

"Hi Dobby, sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

Dobby's tennis ball eyes grew even larger.

"Anything, Harry Potter sir only needs to ask Dobby and Dobby will do it!"

I chuckled a bit before asking, "Dobby, have you heard of this room at Hogwarts called the Room of Requirement? I am looking for it and can't find it".

Dobby bobbed his head up and down.

He then excitedly exclaimed, "Yes Harry Potter sir! It is on the 7th floor near the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Harry Potter sir must be walking around there three times thinking of what kind of room he need, then a door will appear to your needed room!"

I thanked Dobby for his help and he popped back away to somewhere in Hogwarts.

Godric then facepalmed, "Of course! I should have asked the elves! Argh, it was so easy…"

I chuckled slightly out loud before covering my mouth. I realized how crazy it would look if somebody saw me chuckling to myself.

Well, you got to admit, although the answer seemed to be right in front of us the entire time, this morning wasn't a complete waste. I got to see all the parts of Hogwarts on this lovely Sunday morning.

Godric huffed at my remark before quickly pestering me to go find the room. After climbing all the moving staircases to the seventh floor. I circled around the seventh-floor corridor three times wishing for a private room to sleep and study in.

I mean might as well, I don't really want to be walking around that much with people whispering and staring at me all the time since the Hogsmeade incident.

Then on the third time, a beautifully ornate wooden door materialized out of the wall. I walked up and pushed the door open and closed it behind me. What I saw was amazing. It was an incredibly large bedroom with a king sized bed on the right-hand side. There was plenty of space to put my trunk down. I then looked over at the left and saw a large bookshelf with a study desk next to it. I spent the entire rest of the day in the room settling in and picking some books off the bookshelf and reading them, forgetting about lunch and dinner.