Harry Potter squinted at the ancient tome spread before him, his glasses sliding down his nose. The Room of Requirement had provided everything they needed—an oak table, comfortable chairs, shelves of reference materials, and a perpetually hot pot of tea. Perfect studying conditions, as Hermione had requested.
"Any luck deciphering that section?" Hermione asked, looking up from her notes. Her bushy hair was pulled back in a messy bun, with curly strands framing her face. A streak of ink marked her cheek where she'd brushed it with her quill.
"Not a word," Harry admitted, rubbing his eyes. "These runes look nothing like what we studied in class."
They had been researching an ancient magical book found in Dumbledore's vault. Professor McGonagall was certain it originated from the Founders and contained crucial information about Hogwarts' construction. The battle had done significant damage to the wards, and with Death Eater sympathizers still at large, any additional information would prove valuable for the ongoing repairs.
Hermione moved to his side. "Let me see." Her shoulder brushed against his as she leaned over the book, sending a jolt down Harry's arm. He'd noticed these little moments more often lately—touches that somehow felt different than their previous years together.
"Oh! I recognize this pattern," she exclaimed, her face lighting up. "It's an archaic form of Celtic. Similar to what we saw in that scroll last week."
She traced her fingers over the symbols, brow furrowed in concentration. Harry watched her lips move silently as she worked through the translation, admiring how easily she unraveled these mysteries that left others baffled.
"If I'm translating this correctly," she finally said, "it says something about 'binding souls' and 'revealing true desires'..." Her voice grew softer with each word, as if sensing the magic stirring within the text.
As her lips formed the final syllable, the tome emitted a blinding flash of golden light. Harry felt a strange pulling sensation behind his navel, similar to using a Portkey, before everything went dark. His last conscious thought was to reach for Hermione's hand, a reflexive gesture that came too late.
"Harry? Harry, wake up!"
He blinked groggily, Hermione's concerned face coming into focus above him. Her cool hand rested on his cheek, and he became aware that he was lying on something soft—a carpet, not the hard floor he'd expected.
"What happened?" he mumbled, struggling to rise, his head spinning.
"I don't know," she replied, helping him to his feet. "The book reacted to the translation—some kind of trigger spell. But look around us."
Confused, Harry adjusted his glasses and took in their surroundings. The Room of Requirement had transformed completely. Gone were the shelves of research materials and their table full of books. Instead, they stood in what appeared to be a bedroom lit with softly glowing lamps and a ceiling charmed to reflect the clear night sky. A crimson sofa sat before a crackling fireplace. Two beds with burgundy covers stood against opposite walls, and a small dining table was set with food and drinks.
"What in Merlin's name...?" Harry trailed off as he heard a distinctive click behind him.
They both turned to see the door seal itself, a golden glow briefly outlining the frame. The same runes Hermione had been translating now etched themselves into the walls, burning bright as they embedded into the stone.
"No, no, no," Hermione muttered, rushing to the door. She pulled at the handle, which refused to budge.
"Alohomora!" Harry shouted, pointing his wand at the door. The spell hit the wood and dissipated like water on hot stone.
Hermione tried several advanced unlocking spells, her voice growing frantic with each failure. Her hand trembled as she lowered her wand, turning to face Harry with an expression that made his stomach drop.
"This isn't good, Harry," she hissed. "These are binding runes—ancient magic, far more powerful than standard locking charms."
A soft whooshing sound drew their attention upward. A piece of parchment materialized in midair, its edges glowing with the same golden light as the door. Harry snatched it before it could reach the floor.
"What does it say?" Hermione asked, moving closer until she was peering over his shoulder.
Harry's cheeks burned as he read the elegant script aloud: "'Fulfill the ultimate act of intimacy to leave.'" He looked up, meeting Hermione's widening eyes. "What does that mean?"
Hermione took a step back, her cheeks flushing pink. "This can't mean...what I think it does, right?" she stammered, wrapping her arms around herself.
Harry forced a laugh, though it came out strained. "This must be a prank." He moved to the door again, trying to pry it open with his hands, before blasting it powerful spells that did nothing.
"No," Hermione said firmly, examining the walls. "Look at these runes etched into the stonework. They match the ones from the book." She ran her fingers over the faintly glowing symbols. "This is a magical binding—very powerful. The Room has interpreted our reading of that passage as a request and sealed us in with a magical contract."
"But we didn't request anything!" Harry protested, panic rising in his chest. Being trapped brought back painful memories of the cupboard under the stairs, locked and starving with only spiders as his company.
"Magical contracts don't always require explicit requests," Hermione explained, her voice measured. "Sometimes, reading certain incantations aloud is enough, especially with ancient magic. Intent can be as simple as curiosity or interest."
Harry ran a hand through his hair. "So because we were interested in the text..."
"The Room thought we wanted to experience what it described," Hermione finished, biting her lower lip.
They spent the next hour attempting various methods of escape—spells of increasing power, physical force against the walls and door, and even tried to summon help through a Patronus, which dissipated the moment it touched the walls.
"What exactly does 'ultimate act of intimacy' mean?" Harry finally asked, slumping against the sofa in defeat. "It sounds...well, you know." He couldn't muster the courage to say it directly, not to Hermione—his best friend for eight years, the woman who felt like his sister.
"Not necessarily," Hermione said quickly, though her blush deepened. She paced nervously before the fireplace. "Intimacy can mean many things. Emotional openness, vulnerability, trust...many ancient bonding rituals involved sharing secrets or memories."
"So maybe if we...share our deepest secrets or something?" Harry suggested, latching onto this less alarming interpretation.
"It's worth trying," Hermione agreed, sitting beside him on the sofa. Harry couldn't help but notice how the firelight played across her features, highlighting the golden flecks in her brown eyes.
They spent the next hour revealing things they'd never told anyone—Harry's feelings of abandonment growing up with the Dursleys, the terror he felt when facing Voldemort, his resentment towards Dumbledore for the burdens placed upon him. Hermione talked about her loneliness before Hogwarts, her insecurities about being Muggle-born, and her fear that intelligence was the only thing that made her valuable to others.
Their conversation drifted to the painful topic of their recent breakups. "I still don't understand what happened with Ron," Hermione admitted, her voice fragile. "After Fred's funeral, he just...withdrew. At first, I thought he just needed space to grieve, but then—"
"—he started avoiding you entirely," Harry finished, understanding all too well. "Ginny did the same to me. It's like they formed this protective circle around themselves and the rest of the Weasleys, and somehow we became outsiders." He paused, swallowing hard. "Ginny told me she couldn't look at me without thinking of all the people who died during the battle. That I reminded her of everything they lost."
Hermione nodded, wiping away a tear. "Ron said something similar. That our relationship reminded him of all the choices that led to that final confrontation. He actually said, 'If we hadn't gone hunting Horcruxes, maybe Fred would still be alive.' As if we had any choice." Her voice cracked slightly. "Mrs. Weasley still sends me letters, and George actually defended us, but Ron and Ginny...they needed someone to blame, and we were convenient targets."
"And so here we are," Harry said with a hollow laugh, "cast aside by people we fought to protect, burying ourselves in research instead of figuring out what comes next." He hadn't meant to sound so bitter, but the wound still felt fresh three months later.
As they spoke, Harry felt a genuine closeness forming between them—deeper than their years of friendship had already created. Despite all that, the door remained stubbornly closed.
"This is ridiculous," Hermione muttered as their attempt failed. She glanced at the beds, then back at Harry with determination in her eyes. "Maybe the Room requires some form of physical demonstration? The word 'intimacy' does often imply physical closeness."
Harry swallowed nervously, his throat suddenly dry. "Like what?"
"Well," Hermione said, her voice taking on the determined tone she used when tackling difficult homework, "perhaps minimal contact would suffice. A handshake or hug to demonstrate trust."
They stood, awkwardly facing each other in front of the fireplace, shadows dancing across their faces. Harry extended his hand, feeling strangely formal. Hermione took it, her palm warm and damp against his. They shook hands like strangers concluding a business meeting, both hyper-aware of the contact.
Nothing happened. The room remained unchanged, the door firmly sealed.
"Maybe something more," Hermione suggested, her voice barely above a whisper. She stepped closer, the scent of her hair—floral shampoo and dusty tomes—surrounded Harry as she wrapped her arms around him in a stiff hug.
Harry hesitated before returning the embrace. Unlike their usual friendly hugs, this one felt laden with meaning and uncertainty. He patted her back awkwardly, feeling the warmth of her body against his. Soft curls of hair tickled his cheek. Harry was suddenly, acutely aware of Hermione's feminine form pressed against him—the swell of her breasts against his chest was something he'd never consciously registered before. The realization made him tense, guilt flooding his mind.
They separated quickly, both looking expectantly at the door. It remained shut, the runes glowing faintly as if mocking their efforts.
"Bollocks," Harry cursed, running a hand through his hair again. "What else could 'intimacy' mean?"
Hermione paced the room, her analytical mind working overtime. Harry watched her, his earlier thoughts still lingering.
"In various cultures and magical traditions," she said thoughtfully, "intimacy can also involve forms of physical closeness that aren't...you know." She waved her hand vaguely. "Maybe the Room wants more substantial contact."
"Like what?" Harry asked warily, his heart beginning to race.
"Perhaps..." Hermione hesitated, then squared her shoulders with Gryffindor courage. "Maybe we need to try light touching, but with more intent. Still over clothes, of course," she added hastily. "Just to test the theory."
Harry nodded, his mouth suddenly too dry to speak. They sat side by side on the sofa again, the cushions dipping slightly to bring them closer than either had intended.
After a moment's hesitation, Harry placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder. He felt her quiver beneath his touch, the thick wool of her sweater doing nothing to hide the reaction. Slowly, she reached out and placed her palm against his chest, directly over his heart. Could she feel how rapidly it was beating?
"This is just to get out of here," Hermione whispered, not meeting his eyes. Harry's broad frame cast shadows over her face, making her expression unreadable.
"Right," Harry agreed, equally quiet. "We're just testing a theory."
He slid his hand carefully down to her waist, feeling the soft material of her sweater and beneath it, the warmth of her body. Something electric passed between them—a current of awareness that had never been present in their casual touches before.
Hermione moved her fingers along his arm, tracing patterns that sent unexpected shivers through him. Her touch was light but deliberate, exploring the contours of his forearm, then his shoulder, before cautiously moving to his collarbone. Their breathing quickened as they continued the innocent exploration, each touch building something indescribable within them.
Harry's hand shifted lower, accidentally slipping beneath the hem of her sweater where it had ridden up. His fingers brushed against the softness of her exposed hip. Hermione let out a small gasp, and their eyes met for the first time since they'd begun touching. The desire reflected in her eyes made his heart skip.
They sprang apart, faces flushed and breathing uneven. Harry moved to the far end of the sofa, suddenly needing distance.
"That wasn't enough," Hermione observed unnecessarily as the room remained unchanged. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture Harry had seen countless times before but now seemed charged with new meaning.
"No," Harry agreed, staring at the fire. "But I think we should take a break and...rethink this."
As if responding to his words, the Room dimmed. The stars in the ceiling shifted, though they had no way of knowing how much time had passed. The Room provided them with pajamas laid out on their separate beds—blue stripes for Harry, soft lavender for Hermione.
They changed in turns, using the small bathroom that had appeared along one of the walls, careful to give each other privacy. Harry slid between the cool sheets of his bed, acutely aware of Hermione doing the same across the room.
"This is so strange," Hermione said softly into the semi-darkness. "I've read about magical bindings like this, but I never thought..."
"We'll figure it out tomorrow," Harry replied, trying to sound confident. "We've faced worse, right?"
"Right," Hermione agreed, though her voice held a note of uncertainty. "Good night, Harry."
"Good night, Hermione."
Harry stared at the ceiling, his mind slowly lulled by Hermione's gentle breathing. He couldn't help but replay the evening's events in his mind. The way her skin had felt beneath her sweater, the look in her eyes when they'd pulled apart, the unfamiliar but not unpleasant tension that now hummed between them.
Whatever "ultimate act of intimacy" the Room demanded, Harry had a sinking feeling it would test the boundaries of their friendship.
The runes on the walls pulsed gently in the darkness, as if it had confirmed his thoughts.
Chapter 02 is now available at P atreon .com (Slash) Stupefied