The Raven's Call

The Plan

Over the next few weeks, the five of us begin hatching the plan. Fred and George tell us about a room; The Room Of Requirement..

["Wait, what's the Room of Requirement?" "The Room of Requirement is a room on the seventh floor that appears when someone is in very great need of it, and contains what that individual needs at that time."]

For us to plan and prepare while Alex spent all his free time in detention, making sure to leave the restricted section for last. We used it for everything from Quidditch Training, to learning spells, studying and even just to hang out. 

Over the course of those few weeks, Asteria had brought in various ingredients for the Sleeping Drought, and the twins figured out how to give the Draught to Filch. Their plan was for me to give him the Draught; disguised as a pot of tea. We heard Filch loves tea. And I was prepared to take the fall for Alex. 

***

Friday, September 27th 1991

It's time.

After double Potions in the afternoon, the five of us meet back in the Room of Requirement. The potion has been brewing over the past hour, and the twins have finished it for us while we were in class. I begin brewing the tea, which only takes a few minutes to boil.

"Perfect," I smile to myself, as I carefully pour the tea into the pot and prepare to head down to the library.

I spot Filch ahead of me, heading into the library. "Mr. Filch!" I call out, quickening my pace slightly to avoid spilling the tea. "What do you want?" Filch growls as he turns to face me. I offer him my brightest, most innocent smile.

"I made you some tea!" I say, holding out the teapot.

He eyes it suspiciously. "What kind is this?"

"Just your average English tea," I reply, trying to sound casual.

Filch grumbles but takes the teapot from me. "Thank you... Mr.?"

"Grey, sir."

"Thank you, Mr. Grey." I nod and turn to leave, my grin widening as I give Alex, who is now walking past me, a thumbs up.

Now, all we have to do is wait. I meet back up with Asteria and the twins in the Room of Requirement, my nerves buzzing with anxiety.

"I wish we could contact him somehow... I'm getting nervous," I admit, sitting down.

The twins exchange a glance before looking at me.

"Well, I don't know about contacting him..." Fred begins.

"...But we have a way to keep an eye on him," George finishes, a mischievous grin on his face. Fred pulls out an empty piece of parchment and hands it to me. Asteria peers over my shoulder.

"What's this?" I ask, confused.

George taps his wand to the paper, and they both recite in unison, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

The parchment immediately comes alive, thin ink lines spreading across it, crisscrossing and joining together, fanning into every corner. Soon, curly green words appear at the top, proclaiming: