Where Words Fail

Chapter 2

Hello everyone! I know this chapter is a bit short, but don't worry, this is only the build up to the much larger chapters. Since this Monday is President's Day, I may actually upload another chapter on Monday (since I have the day off). The only condition, I must get at least 3 more reviews before then! (at least 6 in total) Otherwise, I'll update the same time next week ;) Please let me know what you think, I love critiques!

And with that, on to the chapter! Thank you everyone!

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The room had made itself known to her within her first week of term at Hogwarts, and she was certainly flabbergasted when it did. Hermione had made a habit of always carrying around her own personal copy of the official Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Map, since living in such a huge castle tended to get rather daunting and confusing. But, for whatever reason, this room didn't appear on her copy. When her own curiosity got the better of her, she looked around her to make sure she was alone before opening the door with a low creak.

Her breath caught in her throat when what appeared to be a decently sized music room met her eyes. To the left of the room were several book cases, which upon closer examination held all the music books that she could ever dream of. Even music books that had been her favorites as a child could be found on it's shelves, along with a wide assortment of other varieties. She could also recognize the names of some popular wizard composers.

Looking towards the center of the room, a small table stood in it's center with what appeared to be a figurine of a piano. It was quite small, and could easily have fit into one of the dollhouses that Hermione occasionally played with as a small child. Confusion struck her as she tried to piece together her surroundings. Hermione recalled the times over the summer when she would read her textbooks ahead of time, attempting to get a headstart on her curriculum, when a certain spell stuck out in her brain.

She hadn't tried it before, and her professors had specifically warned her about the dangers of testing spells so early and with so little magic experience, but she couldn't let the opportunity pass her up. Recalling the proper wand movements that she had read in her text, a faintly-whispered Engorgio immediately had the desired effect. Her suspicion had been correct, the figurine had in fact been a real piano.

Butterflies fluttered in her belly as she sat at the provided bench and examined the instrument. She was almost afraid to touch it, should it shrink up to it's previous size again. Hesitantly, she pressed a single key and faintly smiled at the rich tone that reverberated from the instrument.

"Hello," She whispered. "My name is Hermione Granger. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her father, at the very beginning of her piano instruction, instilled in her the idea that one of the most important lessons in learning to play was to always respect your instrument. Her young mind had taken this instruction in a different way than was intended, and immediately toddled to the piano, addressing it in her most polite voice, "H-hi, Mr. Piano. My name is Hermione. I'd like to play you, if you don't mind." Mr. Granger was in stitches at this, and a new habit of introducing herself to instruments was formed.

Hermione was pulled out of her memory as she heard the telltale sounds of feet passing the door, students on their way to their respective classes. Lunch period must have just ended. She had Herbology next, and knew she would have to hurry if she was to get to the greenhouses in time. Once Hermione cast the proper spell for shrinking the piano, she placed the miniaturized instrument into her bookbag.

Exiting the room with a barely concealed smile, Hermione knew that she had perhaps found her new safe haven. Hurrying down the corridor, she didn't even notice that the door she had exited from had vanished entirely.

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After researching for hours in the library for anything about this mysterious music room that no one seemed to have any knowledge on, she came across a description that might very well have been what she was looking for.

"The Room of Requirement - This room has been marveled at for centuries, for no one is entirely certain how it came to be, who it was built by, or how to access it intentionally. It is thought to have some degree of sentience, for it only appears to those that have a desperate need. This room transforms itself into whatever the witch or wizard needs it to be at that moment in time."

Continuing to read it's history, and instances where this room has appeared for others, Hermione was certain that this was the room that she had come across. Her brow furrowed in confusion.

What about this 'desperate need' that's mentioned?

The discovery came to her late that night as she tried to fall asleep. She remembered her thoughts as she exited the room, her utter joy at finding what she described as a "safe haven". Somehow, that room had known that that was exactly what she had needed... that very idea boggled her.

She soon fell asleep while contemplating when next she'd have the time to revisit the room.

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Hermione's hands instinctively tightened around her bookbag as she scurried down the corridor that would lead to her destination. It had been several months since the beginning of her first year at Hogwarts, and the pressures of being friends with The Boy Who Lived, living so far away from her mother and managing all of her studies were finally beginning to have an impact on her. She knew that there was only one place she could go to alleviate her stress.

Ah! Here it is. The Room of Requirement.

Closing the door behind her with a gentle thud, Hermione reached into her bag and rustled until she found what she was looking for. It was only an inch or two in size, so it was quite easy to miss. Casting a silent enlargement spell, the object quickly grew until it was the size of a real instrument. Hermione rest her fingers reverently over the keys, testing out a few notes.

"I'm sorry," She whispered. "It's been too long."

Releasing a sigh that she hadn't known she'd been holding, she began to play.