The Founder's Missing Piece

Chapter 6: The Realistic Dream

Cécile's POV

I impatiently sat through Professor Sprout's class about Screechsnaps, hardly paying attention to a word she said. I honestly had more important things to worry about than plants that can squeak in an irritating way and move around, namely the Amortentia antidote. We needed George back as soon as possible , and I felt like this class was wasting precious time.

The bell finally rang, and you can bet your last galleon I was the first person out of that greenhouse.  I quickly rushed to my dorm, forgetting to tell Fred where to meet me. When I got to the barrels outside the Hufflepuff common room, I almost tapped the wrong barrel in my rush. Chill, Cécile. I told myself, you don't need to go this quickly. George isn't going to disappear in the three extra minutes it will take you walk instead of run. Still, I opted for quick walking for the sake of speed.

I made it up to mine and Alex's shared dorm in no time, thanking Merlin she wasn't in it. She had been acting really shady lately, disappearing until really late at night, and being gone super early in the morning. Brad came in a lot too, grabbing Alex's books and stuff she had forgotten that morning. I tried not to be too suspicious about it because it's none of my business, but I couldn't shake the bad feeling I had about it. 

I changed Jane's litter box, God forbid it not be changed when she comes back, and then grabbed my potions book out of my trunk, heading for the Room of Requirement. I was just about to walk out the door when I suddenly remembered that I should tell Fred where to meet me. Way to go, Cécile. Now you'll never live this down. I really wished wizards knew how to use cell phones, because it would make my life so much easier. I thought for a couple of minutes about how I would get word to Fred to meet me in the Room of Requirement. My cat wasn't here for me to ask her to deliver a letter, I didn't have an owl, going on a hunt for him would take too long...Oh! I can just use a magical memo, I thought, finally thinking of something. Of course, I had just thought of a solution and wasted time by thinking for so long. I really need to try and slow down and not  be so rushy. 

I quickly wrote out my note to Fred:

"Fred, 

Meet me in the Room of Requirement..."

 I stopped myself, Wait, I can't actually write out where to meet me, Maria could find it or something. I crumpled the paper, thinking for a moment before starting again:

"Fred,

Meet me in my 'potions lab.' I forgot to mention it to you before I came out of Herbology. 

Sorry,

Cécile"

I folded it into a paper airplane, charmed it to fly to Fred, and rushed out of my dorm. I hoped he would understand what I meant by my potions lab. After all, I had told him it wasn't a potions lab when I had first shown it to him. Then again, he and George were a lot smarter than people gave them credit for. While Charms and Transfiguration weren't quite their strong suit, they were geniuses in anything magical joke. Maybe I should have made my secret note relate to pranks. He most definitely would have understood then, I thought, laughing quietly to myself. 

I got to the Room of Requirement a couple minutes later, and on the other side of the door was a fully equipped potions station. I got out the list George had given me, collecting all the ingredients from the very well stocked shelves. The only ingredient I had left was chocolate, but I couldn't find it for the life of me. I suddenly saw it up on the very top shelf. Oh for fuck's sakes. Seriously Room of Requirement? Aren't you supposed to be well equipped for my needs or something? A short person can't reach the top shelf.