Chapter 10
Room of Requirements
(Opening song. Danger Danger by FZMZ feat. icy.)
(Later that Saturday)
"So what you think Hermione's going to show us tonight" Ron asked Harry as they walked into castle Hogwarts, after finishing their meal at The Hog's Head.
"Dunno, but knowing Hermione it must be well thought out," Harry said. As they entered the Great Hall they looked up at the giant hourglasses set in niches along the wall behind them, which recorded the house-points. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had been neck and neck in the lead that morning. Even as they watched, stones flew upwards, reducing the amounts in the lower bulbs. The only glass that seemed unchanged was the emerald-filled one of Slytherin.
"Noticed, have you?" said Fred's voice.
He and George had just rounded the corner standing beside them looking at the hourglasses.
"Malfoy just docked us all about fifty points earlier at the Hog's Head. I thought he was only bluffing to mess with us" said Harry grimly as he didn't break eye contact with the hourglasses.
"Yeah, Montague tried to do us today at breakfast," said George.
'What do you mean, "tried"?' said Ron quickly.
"'He never managed to get all the words out," said Fred, "due to the fact that we forced him head-first into that Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor."
"Do you two just come up with new ways to get expelled in common rooms?" Harry asked not surprised by Fred and Georges's antics.
The twins shrugged in sync and spoke simultaneously, "Pretty much, yeah," they said casually and with a smirk. "Never been expelled though, have we?" George said nudging his twin brother.
Suddenly, several stones flew upwards from the Slytherin hourglass this time. Harry's eyes widen "What the-" he was about to say until he heard one of the Slytherin students nearby growl in anger.
"ARGH! Crabbe, Goyle! Those idiots just docked 40 points from our house!" she yelled, her hands on her head as if she was ready to pull her hair out of frustration as she saw the stones fly up.
George and Fred turned their attention to the stones in Slytherin's hourglass, a gasp of surprise came from George as a bright smile appeared on his face. The twins burst out in a fit of laughter, holding on to each other for emotional support, and nearly doubled over, tears now running down their faces from how hard they were laughing.
"That's- hahaha- that- hahahaha- that might just be, the greatest," George said in between breaths, struggling not to laugh.
Ron also began to cackle as Harry had trouble trying to hold his laughter. "What makes it better, is she just knows it was them! Just no evidence whatsoever, brilliant!"
"Oh, that's just bloody beautiful," said Fred, who continued to laugh.
"Almost poetic, the best kind of karma," replied George with a chuckle finally starting to calm down. "I've never been so proud of Crabbe and Goyle"
"Hello, Harry!" a voice said from behind them.
The four boys turned around to see Cho Chang, and she was on her own for once. Harry's eyes widen seeing her. It was the first time he had seen her since the start of the school year.
"Hi," said Harry, feeling his face grow hot. "So, did you… er… have a good summer?"
The moment he had said this he wished he hadn't - Cedric had been Cho's boyfriend and the memory of his death must have affected her holiday almost as badly as it had affected Harry.
Something seemed to tauten in her face, but she said, "Oh, it was all right, you know…"
"I think we'll be heading off now, right little bro?" George said to Ron, glancing between Harry and Cho.
It took Ron a second, but then his eyes widened a bit realizing what the twins were getting at. "Oh right, I'll see ya later mate," Ron said as he gave Harry a pat on the back as he left. "Yeah, see ya"
"How's your summer been?" she replied after a long silence between the two.
"Oh it was..eventful to say the least, spent most of it with Ron, since my legal guardians and I don't along that much," Harry said with a sheepish look, his cheeks still flushed with a bit of pink.
"Oh well, I'm happy to hear it wasn't completely miserable. Heard the Tornado-hater made keeper for Gryffindor" Cho chuckled perking up a bit.
"Yeah, he's doing well from what I've heard," Harry said, with a sad look on his face. He hated missing the first game of the semester due to Umbridge giving him detention. He looked down at his hand, the phrase "I must not tell lies" still carved into his skin.
Cho looked down at his hand seeing the scar, she frowned and looked at him with a hardened expression. "That Umbridge woman's foul,' she said in a low voice. 'Putting you in detention just because you told the truth about how - how - how he died. Everyone heard about it, it was all over the school. You were really brave standing up to her like that."
Harry's insides re-inflated so rapidly that he felt as though he might float a few inches off the stone floor. She had been Cedric's girlfriend; she could easily have hated Harry for coming out of the Triwizard maze alive when Cedric had died, yet she was talking to him in a perfectly friendly way, not as though she thought him mad, or a liar, or in some horrible way responsible for Cedric's death.
"Thanks, I… I didn't expect you to talk to me since.." Harry trailed off remembering her reaction to seeing Cedric dead.
Cho touched his scarred hand to comfort him. "Mind walking me a bit?" she said as they walked together. Harry's face grew hot again "S…sure," he said awkwardly.
There was a noticeable silence between the two of them as they walked.
"I'm sorry about Cedric," Harry said.
Cho nodded. "Yeah," she said slowly. "Yeah, it's... it's really sad."
They continued to walk in silence. As much as he wanted to break the awkwardness, Harry couldn't find the words to say.
Cho broke the silence first. "The last time I saw him alive, I was awful to him."
Harry looked at her, surprised. "What do you mean?"
"It was the day of the third task," she began. She spoke softly, more like she was talking to herself than to Harry. "We were arguing… I was nagging him to be careful in the task and he was reassuring me. It got a bit ugly and he... " Cho stopped walking for a moment.
"...and what?" Harry asked. Cho was clearly struggling to get the words out. He could see her eyes watering.
"He got… frustrated…" she explained. She was visibly holding back sobs. "I'm afraid he was upset with me when he… That was the last thing he heard from me… an argument. I was horrible to him the last time I saw him alive!"
Harry felt a pang in his chest. A part of him felt bad for Cho; her last memories of the boy she loved were a bitter argument.
"You didn't know it was the last time you were going to speak," Harry pointed out.
Cho looked up at Harry, her dark eyes glistening with tears. "I know… I know I didn't. But the thought that my boyfriend's last thoughts of me were… awful," she said, her voice becoming shaky again. Harry could tell that her thoughts about this were consuming her.
Harry put his hand gently on her shoulder, hoping it would provide her with some form of comfort. "I doubt that's what he thought," Harry said. "He knew you loved him. He was probably wondering how his death might affect you, not the last words you exchanged."
Cho sniffed and brushed away a few tears. "You're probably right," she admitted. "Cedric was always thinking about other people, not himself."
There was a long silence between them as they resumed walking.
"I want to help you, Harry," she finally said. "against him"
"Against Voldemort you mean," Harry said his eyes widening a bit
Cho nodded. "Exactly," she said. "I hate him for what he did…what he did to Cedric." There was a certain amount of rage in her voice. Cho's love for Cedric had changed into anger towards Voldemort, the man responsible for her boyfriend's murder.
"You're very brave for that," Harry said.
"Maybe," she said, looking sad again. "But no level of bravery will let me undo this pain I feel. I just know this is the only way to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else."
As Cho spoke, Harry could see the pain and sadness on her face. There was no denying that Cho's heart was broken by what happened. In the few minutes since their conversation began, Harry realized that Cho was trying to be tough for him, and for her fellow students at Hogwarts. But beneath the facade, she was heartbroken by Cedric's death.
Harry reached out and placed a comforting hand on her back. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I know nothing I say can make it better."
"You're doing enough," she said softly. "Just being here, listening, it helps."
Harry thought about it and then decided that maybe there was something he could do. He took a deep breath and decided to invite her in on Hermoine's plan "We're forming a group, Cho. A club that can help students learn Defense Against the Dark Arts. Like how Professor Lupin used to teach"
Cho raised an eyebrow. "And you're inviting me to it?" she said, her voice almost accusing.
Harry swallowed hard. "Yes," he said. "I am."
Cho looked at Harry for a few moments, her expression skeptical. "And why's that? Do you think I can't defend myself?" she challenged.
"No I just figured it be a good idea, to have a place to practice since Umbridge isn't letting us use magic at all" Harry said awkwardly
Cho softened a bit. It seemed that Harry's answer was unexpected and sincere.
"Well... I suppose it could be useful," she said, her tone less defensive. "When does this club start?"
"Really?... I mean we're still working out a place to meet. With Umbridge Inquisitorial Squad roaming around it's going to be somewhere fairly secluded, but with what Hermoine has said, we should be starting tomorrow"
"Can't wait," said Cho sarcastically. She caught herself and her expression changed. "I'm sorry," she said, sheepishly. "I just don't have much faith in things getting better with Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad."
"Well if it makes you feel better, Crabbe and Goyle docked points from their own house since being put on the squad. I doubt we have that much to worry about." Harry said with a smirk.
Cho chuckled a bit. "Honestly, the first time I've smiled in a while," she said, and there was truth in her eyes. "Thanks, Harry."
"Of course," Harry said getting a dreamy look in his eyes, happy to see Cho genuinely smiling for a change
Cho noticed the shift in Harry's expression. "You alright?" she asked, with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Oh? um yeah just lost in thought for a minute." Harry said a little flustered as cheeks burned pink
"Must have been some thought," she said, a bit of playfulness in her voice. "You turned three shades redder."
Harry's face grew bright red as she pointed out his blushing, which resulted in her giggling some more. They soon stopped at the Library. "Well, this is my stop, thanks for walking me here," she said, her voice softer than before.
"No problem," Harry said, a bit disappointed in her departure. "See you at the meeting tomorrow?"
"Of course," said Cho, nodding. She started to make her way into the library but then abruptly stopped and turned around.
"Hey, Harry?"
"Yeah?"
Cho looked at Harry for a moment, her expression difficult to read. She opened her mouth as if about to say something, but then closed it again.
"Never mind," she said, a small smile on her face. "I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Alright," Harry said, although he was puzzled. He could tell that Cho was about to say something important, but decided not to pursue it.
Cho waved as she made her way inside the library. As she sat down her thoughts went back to Cedric and her anger towards Voldemort grew. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the gold coin that, Yuno had given to her.
"If you ever have a desire to make him pay. Flip that coin" Yuno's words replayed in her head. She stared at the gold coin, it looked ancient, with mystical runes on it. She quickly shook her head and put the coin back in her pocket
"Probably just a prank," she thought to herself, but despite her words, she still carried the coin with her.
(Saturday night, Gryffindor common rooms)
When everyone had gone to bed, Harry and Ron slipped out of bed. They made their way to the usual meeting spot by the fireplace where Hermoine was sitting.
"There you two are," Hermoine said. "I was worried you'd fallen right asleep." Harry took a seat on the floor beside her, and Ron sat on the other side.
"You should know by now, that Harry never goes to bed before 11," Ron said
"It's not like I stay up late on purpose," Harry said, defending himself. "It's not my fault I have trouble falling asleep at night."
"Trouble falling asleep?" Hermoine raised an eyebrow. "Surely you don't mean due to nightmares, right?"
"Nevermind that," Harry said waving away her comment. "Have you thought about the place where we could meet up?"
Hermoine nodded. "Yes, I have," she said. "The issue is we can't do it here in the common rooms, everyone will figure it out, so I'm thinking the best spot would be the Room of Requirement."
"Hermoine, no one has ever found the Room of Requirements," Ron said raising an eyebrow.
Hermoine rolled her eyes at Ron. "That's the point," she said. "Even if Umbridge did find it, she wouldn't be able to get into it since it only appears when you really need it."
"So no one would be able to find out," Harry said, catching on.
"Exactly," Hermoine said. "As long as we make sure no one sees us going in or out, we should be fine."
"Ok, but how are we gonna find it?" Ron asked.
"I had some help," Hermoine said cheerfully, and as if on cue a loud crack was heard and Dobby appeared right beside her. Ron yelped and fell off the couch, landing on the ground on his back. "Bloody hell," he swore as straightened up.. "Where'd you come from?"
Dobby, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear. He was bouncing on his toes, waving at the trio. "Dobby is happy to see friends again!" Dobby said standing beside Hermione. His large, pointed ears were now sticking out from beneath what looked like all the hats Hermione had ever knitted; he was wearing one on top of the other so that his head seemed elongated by two or three feet,
"Dobby? You've been in contact with Hermoine? but how?" Harry asked
"Sirius has been popping in and out again for the past few days," Hermoine explained. "I caught him one day while no one was around, I told him my plan, and he sent Dobby to help us find the room of the Room of Requirements. It was rather convenient." Hermoine explained
Ron was climbing back to his feet. "Warn a man next time you call on a house elf," he whined.
"So where is it Dobby" Harry asked.
"Sometimes it is there, and sometimes it is not, but when it appears, it is always equipped for the seeker's needs. Dobby has used it, sir," said the elf, dropping his voice and looking guilty,"' when Winky has been very drunk; he has hidden her in the Room of Requirement and he has found antidotes to Butterbeer there, and a nice elf-sized bed to settle her on while she sleeps it off, sir… and Dobby knows Mr. Filch has found extra cleaning materials there when he has run short, sir, and -"
"And if you needed a bathroom," said Harry, suddenly remembering something Dumbledore had said at the Yule Ball the previous Christmas, "Would it fill itself with chamber pots?"
"Dobby expects so, sir," said Dobby, nodding earnestly. "It is a most amazing room, sir."
"How many people know about it?" said Harry, sitting up straighter in his chair.
"Very few, sir. Most people stumble across it when they need it, sir, but often they never
find it again, for they do not know that it is always there waiting to be called into service, sir."
"It sounds brilliant," said Harry, his heart racing. "It sounds perfect, Dobby. When can you show me where it is?"
"Any time, Harry Potter," said Dobby, looking delighted at Harry's enthusiasm. 'We could go now if you like!'
"Of course, but we should check to see if the coast is clear first," Harry said pulling out a piece of parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,"
A map of Hogwarts appeared on the blank surface of the parchment. Tiny black moving dots, labeled with names, showed where various people were.
"Filch is on the second floor," said Harry, holding the map close to his eyes, "and Mrs Norris is on the fourth."
"And Umbridge?" said Hermione anxiously.
"In her office," said Harry, pointing. "OK, let's-" Harry stopped as he noticed a dark black void where the Hufflepuff common room was. "What!?" Hermoine and Ron scooted closer so they could see the map too.
"What's wrong?" Hermoine asked.
"Hufflepuff common room is missing," Harry said with a frown. "It's not showing up at all."
Hermoine frown matched Harry's. "What do you mean it's not showing up?!" she said, leaning forward and peering at the map. "That's not possible."
"It's gotta be one of those Dark Triad blokes," Ron said. Hermoine and Harry look at Ron sideways, confused by his words.
"Dark what now?" they both replied in unison.
"Yuno and those other two blokes that said they were gonna be here by now. I think since the other students call us 'The Golden Trio' figured we'd call them 'The Dark Triad.' Ya' know to keep things simpler " Ron explained
"Ron, I don't know if I should be offended or not that you've already given them a nickname," Hermoine said, giving Ron a questionable look.
"Well… I thought it sounded cool" Ron mumbled
"It doesn't, it sounds corny" Hermoine retorted back.
"Let's just focus on our plan for now," Harry sighed. "We can deal with Yuno and his mates later."
"Right, the room of requirements. Dobby can you lead the way?" Ron asked the elf.
Dobby nodded, the tiny elf was bouncing on his toes once again. "Yes, Sir," he said. "Follow Dobby."
Harry grabbed the Cloack of Invisibility and the trio and left crept out of the common room. Unknownbist to them, as the portrait closed behind them, Arianna disabled her invisibility and looked in the direction the four of them left.
"The Dark Triad?... Hmmm, not a bad name Weasel Boy" she mused thinking the name over in her head. She then was about to follow them until she heard whispers in her ear.
"You shall bring Gellert to me" the voice whispered, barely audible in Arianna's head.
Arianna cursed at the missed opportunity to find the Room of Requirements but quickly composed herself. She then held out Yuno's amulet that he had given her and opened up a portal to the usual meeting spot in the Restricted Section.
(Meanwhile the halls of Hogwarts)
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Dobby left the Gryffindor common room, putting the cloak over them so as not to be spotted. They made their way through the winding corridors and shifting staircases. All three of them kept looking around nervously as they made their way along the seventh floor.
"Hold it," Harry warned, unfolding the piece of parchment at the top of the last staircase, tapping it with his wand, and muttering, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
A map of Hogwarts appeared on the blank surface of the parchment. Tiny black moving dots, labeled with names, showed where various people were.
"Close clear?" Hermoine asked
"Yeah, not much has changed" Harry answered.
They hurried along the corridor to the place Dobby had described to Harry, a stretch of blank wall opposite an enormous tapestry depicting Barnabas the Barmy's foolish attempt to train trolls for the ballet.
'OK,' said Harry quietly, while a moth-eaten troll paused in his relentless clubbing of the would-be ballet teacher to watch them. "Now what?"
"Walk past this bit of wall three times, concentrating hard on what we need," Dobby said.
They did so, turning sharply at the window just beyond the blank stretch of wall, then at the man-sized vase on its other side. Ron had screwed up his eyes in concentration; Hermione was whispering something under her breath; Harry's fists were clenched as he stared ahead of him.
'We need somewhere to learn to fight …' he thought. 'Just give us a place to practice… somewhere they can't find us…'
"Harry!" said Hermione sharply, as they wheeled around after their third walk past.
A highly polished door had appeared in the wall. Ron was staring at it, looking slightly wary.
Harry reached out, seized the brass handle, pulled open the door, and led the way into a spacious room lit with flickering torches like those that illuminated the dungeons eight floors below.
The walls were lined with wooden bookcases and instead of chairs, there were large silk cushions on the floor. A set of shelves at the far end of the room carried a range of
instruments such as Sneakoscopes, Secrecy Sensors, and a large, cracked Foe-Glass that Harry was sure had hung, the previous year, in the fake Moodys office.
"These will be good when we're practicing Stunning," said Ron enthusiastically, prodding one of the cushions with his foot.
"And just look at these books!' said Hermione excitedly, running a finger along the spines of the large leather-bound tomes. "A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions…
The Dark Arts Outsmarted… Self-Defensive Spellwork… wow…" She looked around at Harry, her face glowing, and he saw that the presence of hundreds of books had finally convinced
Hermione that what they were doing was right. "Harry, this is wonderful, there's everything we need here!"
And without further ado, she slid Jinxes for the Jinxed from its shelf, sank onto the nearest cushion, and began to read.
"Is the room to Harry Potter's liking?" Dobby asked with a proud smirk.
"Dobby… this is perfect!" Harry exclaimed. "Thank you," he said, giving the elf a handshake.
Dobby smiled as tears began forming in his eyes. He never thought he would be seen as an equal to a wizard. "Always a pleasure Harry Potter," Dobby said. With a crack, Dobby disappeared.
Harry turned to Ron and Hermoine. "Alright guys, let's get started"
(The Restricted Section of the Library of Hogwarts)
Arianna stepped out of the portal and into the restricted section, followed by Yuno and Galin.
"You two get the message," Arianna asked.
"Yeah," Yuno said in a serious tone.
"Then no need to explain much, the boss wants Grindlewald. We have to move fast before sunrise, I'd say about 6 hours to succeed. Galin, ironed packed?"
"Lock and loaded," Galin said as he holstered his weapons. A rifle on one shoulder, a rocket launcher on the other, and two pistols on his hips in their side holsters
"Good, time for a jailbreak," Arianna said coldly, as Yuno opened a portal.