The Year of the Revolution IV. The Outbreak

6. The Room of Requirement

At breakfast that Sunday, Sev projected to Lily, "Hello, my love, how are you?"

"Wow... you've recovered."

"Yeah. I've slept ten hours and I've already done more than half of my homework. Have you coordinated with the Slys yet?"

"We have," she replied. "They need the clearing in the afternoon, so we'll take advantage of the morning."

Sev thought, They have already made a system of signs among themselves to also communicate through the table, and the Guard will have a long assembly.

They chatted for a while longer and then Sev stopped by his house to give Lauren time to go up to the seventh floor. Then he did, making sure no one was following him. As he reached Barnabas' portrait, Lauren appeared. He moved closer to her and again casted the Disillusioner and the Muffliato around them both.

"Have you rested?" he asked her.

"Yes, and you?"

"I've slept ten hours and I've already done more than half of my homework. I have made a copy for you and I have left it in the book I told you about Herbology, in the Library. Then I'll explain where it is."

"It wasn't necessary, Severus."

"I know you didn't go to bed early last night. You were reading."

"You guessed it because it wasn't 'all in order' the first thing I told you."

"That is, Lauren. We are getting to know each other."

"Well, now yes. All in order."

"I need a hug."

"Sure..."

They embraced.

"Ugh... much better. Well, tell me, how do we enter?" Sev asked.

"I had to make several attempts. When I asked for "warehouse" a place full of objects arranged on shelves appeared, and when I asked for "place to store things" a room with cabinets, furniture with drawers and more shelves appeared. I got pretty desperate, but finally the inspiration came to me. We have to ask for 'place to hide things'."

"That is to say, you also had to rack your brains and risk being seen."

"Not so much. I did it the same Wednesday, between dinner and curfew. I Disillusioned to think."

"You are a wonder, Lauren."

"No more than you. Well, you have to walk up and down three times requesting in your mind 'place to hide things'. I'm going to do it first, I'll go in and wait for you at the door. If you can't get in too, in a couple of minutes I'll go back out and we'll try to do it together."

"Okay."

"I'm going there."

Lauren snapped out of the spell and paced up and down the corridor three times. A large, heavy door appeared in the wall. When she was inside, it disappeared again.

Sev thought, Wow... that's the perfect hiding place, and she sure hasn't noticed. I have a feeling that the Fidelius is going to go and catch a fresh wind.

He did the same, pacing up and down asking in his mind A place to hide things... a place to hide things... After the third time, the door reappeared. We can enter separately... wow... we already know where to do whatever we want.

He entered. Lauren was waiting for him, but she didn't say anything, she waited for him to react.

As soon as the heavy door closed behind him Sev opened his eyes and mouth in wonder. It is an immense vault, of which the back cannot be seen, completely packed with all kinds of objects. Old furniture of all shapes and sizes, with shreds of clothing from past centuries peeking out; books whose parchment, so old, crumbles to dust with a breath; flasks and cauldrons bottomed with the dried paste of failed potions; broken clocks and other magical artifacts, chipped sculptures, torn canvases, brooms... everything that generations of Hogwarts students have needed to hide is now stacked precariously, forming streets throughout the length and breadth of the Room.