selcouth // h. granger

◤balter◢

bal•ter /(bɔltər)/
verb
to dance artlessly, without particular grace or skill but usually with enjoyment

☠︎~~~☠︎

As the full moon was the day before Wednesday, Elara loosened up that afternoon. Loosened up enough to actually talk to other houses, she picked up the time and place for the first Defense class: eight o'clock, seventh floor, the wall opposite the wall of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Having wandered the seventh floor many times before and not seeing a single thing there, Elara was slightly confused but passed the message onto Adelaide anyway, trusting the Ravenclaws she had heard it from.

She was surprised that Umbridge had not come to question her about her father showing up in the Gryffindor common room fire, as Hermione later told her that the trio almost got caught. Though, Umbridge did seem to be giving her a side-eye more than usual. But how would Elara be involved if she's a Slytherin? Perhaps that's why Umbridge hadn't come to question her. And the fact that Umbridge did not know for sure if it was her father because Sirius had left just in time.

Adelaide seemed keen on making sure they didn't show up late to the first meeting, so the pair of Slytherin girls left the common room at a quarter past seven, making their way out of the dungeons and up the long flights of stairs. One glance at her companion and Elara knew making a good impression wasn't the only reason they were going early.

"I could've sworn there wasn't a door here yesterday," Elara insisted, staring at the large wooden door now on the wall across the way from the tapestry.

"Maybe that's the point," Adelaide guessed, biting the inside of her cheek while eyeing the handle. "Maybe they really have found a perfect place... I wouldn't put it past them."

"Me either, especially with Granger as the brains," Elara replied, reaching out and pulling the door open. "Well, come on then."

Behind the door revealed a large room with big silk cushions instead of chairs, a line of bookshelves full of books and defensive instruments lining the back walls. Also inside were Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, Lavender, Dean, Parvati, Ginny, Luna, and a few more Ravenclaws Elara did not know the name of yet.

Harry seemed to be explaining something with Ron occasionally adding as the rest of the group was listening and watching intently. But, of course, Hermione was perched on a cushion and reading a book, obviously pulled out from the bookshelves behind her.

"Hey," Elara greeted, moving forward and looking around, dropping her bag against the wall nearest the door. "I don't remember this place being a thing..."

"It's the Room of Requirement!" Neville exclaimed happily.

Both girls stared dumbly at the group of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws, not understanding a word.

"Dobby showed it to me," Harry informed, nodding slowly, then continued at the Slytherin's even more bewildering appearances. "He's a house-elf. This room gives you whatever you need if you have real need of it."

Adelaide said nothing as Elara mumbled, "Huh. I should use this room more often, then..."

By eight o'clock, everyone had arrived and taken their seats, each on a large cushion, and Harry locked the door, catching everyone's attention. "Well," Harry started, sounding anxious. "This is the place we've found for practices, and you've- er- obviously found it okay-"

"It's fantastic!" Cho announced, and multiple people agreed.

"It's bizarre," Fred murmured, frowning as he looked around once more. "We once hid from Filch in here, remember, George? But it was just a broom cupboard then..."