somewhere only we belong .h.j.p

eleven

It was nearing the end of October when the first official Dumbledore's Army meeting was held. Alyce was sitting in potions, on her own table, listening to Snape drone on about the importance of reading the full recipe before starting the potion, after Neville made a mistake.

She felt someone poke her in the arm. Turning in indignation ready to confront the culprit, only to realise it was Harry. He has a small slip of parchment between his fingers which he waves at, trying to get her to take it.

She does, and carefully unfolds it, her eyes quint as she struggles to read the handwriting. 'DA, tonight at eight, seventh floor, Barnabas the Barmy tapestry.' She turns to him, slightly confused, but his gaze has returned to the Professor, who is still ranting at Neville.

Alyce arrived on the seventh floor five minutes before eight, and was met with Harry standing in front of a door she had never seen before. In his hands held a piece of battered, old parchment that he had open and was studying.

"Potter!" Alyce calls, taking delight in the way he jumps at the disturbance.

"Hey," Harry said, smiling when he realised it was Alyce. "You're early."

"Better than being late," she recalls. She gestures to the door, "where's that come from? I swear I've never seen it."

"You wouldn't have. It's the room of requirement," Harry supplies.

"The room of requirement," Alyce mumbles, racking her brain as she hears the familiar phrase. "The come and go room?"

"Yes, exactly," Harry says excitedly. "My friend Dobby showed it to me."

"Dobby? I've never heard of him," Alyce questions.

"He's a house elf, he works down in the kitchens. I'll introduce you one time," Harry suggests.

"House elves work at Hogwarts?" Alyce asks, shocked. "I never knew."

"Don't tell Hermione that," Harry warns, "she'll rope you into S.P.E.W."

"S.P.E.W?" Alyce repeats as he pushes open the door and holds it for her to pass through.

"I'll tell you about it another time," Harry whispers.

"What are we doing today?" Alyce asks him when they've walked closer to Ron and Hermione.

"Probably expelliarmus," Harry says. "The others will start coming in soon I think. I'll wait at the door for them." Harry finishes, smiling as he walks back to the entrance.

Hermione and Ron were too preoccupied in whatever small argument they were in now, Alyce smiled at their antics, and how oblivious they were. When she senses things starting to heat up, she bursts in 'how crazy is this room guys?" In an attempt to diffuse the tension.

"Oh Alyce," Hermione says, looking shocked at her presence. "When did you get here?"

"Like five minutes ago," Alyce snorts.

"Hi Alyce," Ron says glumly, still displeased from whatever their disagreement was about.

"Did you know about this room?" Alyce asks curiously.

"This is my first time being in it," Hermione informs. "But I read about it in Hogwarts A History."

"Looks like it's going to start soon," Ron nods his head towards the door where more students are filing in, clapping Harry on the back. Alyce notices how Cho gives him a sweet smile, looking up at him from under her eyelashes, like how she used to look at Cedric.