Harry Potter and the Keys of Light

Chapter Four: "The Room of Requirement"

Harry had been with Dumbledore for one week. The Headmaster himself was rarely with Harry, but Lupin spent every day from noon to four tutoring Harry. Harry's O.W.L.s had arrived that Wednesday; he had received Outstanding marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Charms, and Care of Magical Creatures, and he had managed Exceeds Expectations in Transfiguration, and, to his great surprise, Potions, and Acceptable in Divination. He had failed both the Astronomy and History of Magic tests, neither of which he had finished, due to circumstances he had had no control of, and so he proudly sent a letter to Hermione informing her of his grades. After all, seven O.W.L.s were nothing to be ashamed of. Lupin had been pleased with the results of Harry's exams, but set to work immediately in Potions and Transfiguration.

"Your N.E.W.T.s will be much harder than anything you have learned so far," Lupin said one afternoon, as Harry was busy working on the Draught of Peace, which he had found much easier without Snape circling him commenting under his breath. "Potions you especially need to work on, if you want to be an Auror, that is."

"How did you know--"

"Professor McGonagall told me. I think it is an excellent goal Harry," Lupin added, smiling. "Both your father and Sirius were Aurors. But, the Aurors exam is very difficult and as you have not received enough...instruction in that subject, I expect you to catch up this summer."

"But Professor," Harry said, "I thought I wouldn't make Potions this year. I mean, I only got an E on my O.W.L. exam. Professor McGonagall told me that Snape only took Outstanding--"

"Well, to be honest, your exam scored only one point under O. That, in the eyes of the review board, was enough to make you eligible for the class. After all, you were the only one besides Ron and Hermione to explain the Polyjuice Potion in full." Harry smiled with satisfaction at that, and filled a vile with his potion, which was issuing gray vapor.

"Done." Lupin took the vile and examined it.

"Excellent, Harry," he said. "Next time, though, remember to wait exactly four minutes before adding the ginger root--that is what makes it silver. Overall, though, it is an excellent potion." He helped Harry clean up and then they began on Transfiguration. That was how their afternoons ran--after lunch, they spent forty minutes each on Potions and Transfiguration, then half and hour on both Charms and Herbology. Harry had shown tremendous improvement in Potions and was learning to transfigure large objects into compact items. ("As an Auror," Lupin said, "You will need to be able to carry items with you inconspicuously--after all, you wouldn't want to have to carry around a full-size cauldron, would you?") The rest of Harry's afternoon consisted of an hour in Defense and the remaining time in either Medicine or exercising Harry's newly discovered empathic power.

This last part turned out to be Harry's favorite; the training was not very difficult, as in his limited Occlumency lessons, he was forced to clear his mind and focus on whatever object he was trying to move (all he had attempted so far was levitation.) The hard part was getting the magic to surface without becoming emotional.

"It's like the Patronus Charm," Lupin had told him, "In one, you have to use a happy memory to empower your magic. In the other, you have to use your emotion. Think about something that had made you angry or frustrated or even happy, and channel it." Harry was often tired after this, but, by the end of that first week, he was able to levitate objects without too much effort. Dumbledore, when he was there, often sat in on these sessions and appeared to be pleased with Harry's progress.

"Once you have mastered the basics," he said to Harry, after one especially good lesson in which Harry had managed to lift a desk a full foot off the floor while trying to prevent being hit with tennis balls that Lupin was tossing at him (part of his training including having to perform magic amid distraction); "you will be able to continue with the aid of Professor Flitwick."

In the morning, Harry would sit in his room reading the books Lupin had bought him. His book on magical medicine was somewhat complex, but Harry had learned to make a decent splint and heal minor cuts; most of magical medicine involved potion making, which Lupin had agreed to help Harry with when they got to the school.

Harry had kept his promise to Dumbledore and not touched anything on the shelves in the living room. He saw several dark detectors and a variety of fragile objects he did not recognize; there was a glass sphere that reminded Harry of a Remembrall that glowed a soft lilac color when someone was about to come to the flat.

For the most part, Harry kept to his wing of the flat. There were five other rooms besides his, that he had been in to, and three doors he had been unable to open. The rooms he had explored were much like his own had been when he first arrived, filled with bare furniture and little else. Rowena Ravenclaw was usually in her frame, and was always ready to talk. She knew a lot about Potions and Charms and helped Harry with any questions he had from his reading. She also told him more about magic history than Harry had ever learned with Professor Binns. Harry had asked her several times about the Keys of Light, but she would simply take on a remorseful expression and change the subject, so he decided to add that to the list of things he had for Hermione to look up.

Then, on Friday morning, Harry's week at the flat was over.

Harry awoke slowly, his eyes adjusting to the light in the room. He rolled over and grabbed his glasses from the bed stand. The room came into focus, and he saw, by the clock on the wall, that it was almost ten o'clock. Yawning, he got out of bed and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and hair. He was just pulling on his robes when a knock came at his door.

"It is Dunkle, sir," called the muffled voice.

"Come in, Dunkle." The elf ambled in, his large blue eyes watching Harry while he put on his socks. "Did you want something?" Harry prompted.

"Yes, sir, Dunkle was just waiting for sir to finish. Master Dumbledore wants Harry Potter to eat breakfast with him, sir."

"Let's go then," Harry replied, following the elf to the dining room. The dining room was a normal looking room, filled almost entirely with a large wooden table that seated twelve. It lacked windows, and decoration, for that matter; there was a single portrait, on the west wall, of a young woman with long black hair and gray eyes. The table, this morning, was set with two places and several trays of food. Dumbledore was already seated when Harry entered the room.

"Good morning, Harry," he said.

"Good morning, sir." Harry sat down at the Headmaster's left and began putting butter on his toast.

"After breakfast, Harry, I want you to pack your things. We are moving to the school today, and I would like to be there as soon as possible. I think the castle will be better suited for you tutoring, though you have made some great progress." As Harry's mouth was full of toast, he simply nodded. "You will be able to practice greater magic at the castle than you can here, which should help you. And, I expect you shall continue your Occlumency lessons."

"As I told you, sir, I will continue my lessons, but not with Professor Snape. I have," Harry said quickly, "been practicing every night before I go to bed."

"Harry, Professor Snape is possibly the only tutor suitable to help you with your Occlumency."

"He doesn't want to teach me," Harry replied. "He told me so himself. Why can't you or one of the other Professors do it--"

"This year, as I did last year, I must maintain a distance to you, Harry. I already explained to you why last year, and it is, if possible, even more dangerous with Voldemort openly regaining power. Professor Snape is the only person at Hogwarts, besides myself, skilled enough in Occlumency to instruct you." Harry sat in silence, which Dumbledore seemed to take as compliance. "So, if you will please have your things ready, we will leave in an hour." With that, he left the table. Harry took another piece of toast and went back to his room.

Angry, he sat eating while he practiced putting his clothes in his trunk without his wand.

"There is no way I am working with that slimy bastard," Harry growled. "Pathos!" he said to his books. They flew from the shelves and hit his trunk so sharply that it slid back across the floor.

"What's wrong dear?" asked Ravenclaw, awoken by the noise.

"Nothing." Harry took a moment to calm himself. Taking a deep breath, he collected his anger and directed it to his Firebolt, which lifted easily from the shelf to his trunk. It didn't matter what Dumbledore said, because he had resolved against Snape; he was already going to take Potions again this year, and that itself would be more contact with the potions-master than he wanted. He had received a reply from Hermione earlier in the week, telling him she would be glad to help him and that she had already ordered several books that she thought would help.

Harry had begun feeling he would have to be separate from Dumbledore and the Order if he was going to prepare fully to fight Voldemort. This would include his Occlumency training, and, if he had to, the DA; he had already made plans to return it. Over the next month before term, he was determined to find another place for them to practice, or, at least, find another entrance into the Room of Requirement. The Defense lessons Lupin had begun with him would be valuable training to the members of the DA; he hoped, if possible, to expand the DA this year, and wanted current members to help him teach any new recruits. There was little the teachers could do at Hogwarts, with the Ministry still insisting that they had the situation under control and were only days from discovering Voldemort's whereabouts, and, if last year told him anything, many in wizarding world were more likely to deny the idea of any real danger. Harry knew that there was a need for them to protect themselves, and the more students he could teach, the less likely they were to fall victim. Hogwarts was more than likely going to be the sight of a battle--Harry knew Voldemort well enough to know that he would want to defeat Dumbledore at the castle, the symbol of the headmaster's strength--and it would take more than the teachers to defend it. He had already written to all the former members of the DA, excepting Cho Chang, Marietta Hedgecombe, and Michael Corner, telling them that he would continue it.

Hedwig was still gone delivering the letters, but he had no doubt that she would find him at Hogwarts. Sighing, Harry looked around the room to see if he had gotten everything. He took the blanket from the end of his bed and put that in his trunk, and then opened his mother's, which had been sitting underneath his bed. He had decided to leave here, sure that it would be safe, but he removed the letter from his mother, the ring and the snitch and put it in his own trunk. As an afterthought, he pulled a picture from the lid of the trunk--it was of his parents, Sirius, Lupin and Pettigrew on their graduation day. They were all smiling, holding their diplomas out for the camera to see. Harry put it on the inside of the album Hagrid had given him and locked his trunk. Satisfied, he placed Hedwig's cage atop the trunk and lifted it from the floor.

"Good-bye, Harry," Ravenclaw said from her frame as Harry left the room.

Harry and Dumbledore took the Knightbus to Hogsmeade, were one of the school carriages waited for them outside the Three Broomsticks. The thestral snorted in a friendly way at Harry as they approached the carriage, and he ran a hand over it's leathery back. He then turned to get his trunk, and saw that it was already being lifted off the sidewalk. Turning, he saw a house elf drop out of the carriage and assist Dumbledore's inside it. It was Dobby--no other house-elf at Hogwarts would were socks, let alone one that was bottle green with orange polka dots and another with purple stripes.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, Harry Potter, sir," he squeaked, guiding Harry's trunk into the carriage.

"Thanks, Dobby. How's your summer?"

"Wonderful, Mister Potter, sir, and Dobby is honored that you should ask him. The castle is too quiet, though, sir. The house elves will be glad when they have students to serve."

Harry climbed into the carriage with Dumbledore, and, after Dobby placed himself on the trunks, the thestral began pulling the carriage down the main road. Harry was surprised to see Hogsmeade filled with people, even though school was out for the summer. A few witches waved as the carriage passed. Then, they were out of Hogsmeade, riding towards the castle. Harry could see it on the cliff over the lake; the tall towers and immense stone walls seemed small from the distance. The lake was a sparkling blue, reflecting the rolling white clouds above it, rippling gently in the breeze that passed refreshingly over them. The carriage came upon the gate, which magically swung open, welcoming them home. Despite all that had happened in the last week, Harry found himself smiling--Hogwarts always had been his true home, after all.

The carriage came to a stop at the front of the school, were Professors McGonagall and Lupin and Hagrid stood waiting. Dobby jumped out of the carriage and took the trunks into the castle.

"Hiya Harry," Hagrid said, smiling, as he took hold of the thestral's harness. "See you later." Harry smiled at him, and watched as he pulled the thestral down towards his hut. Turning back, Harry followed Dumbledore up the steps.

"Mister Potter, Professor Dumbledore," McGonagall said. Dumbledore led the way into the great hall, talking to Professor McGonagall, leaving Harry and Lupin to follow.

"I suppose you don't want a lesson today," Lupin asked, smiling.

"Not really, Professor."

"That's all right. It's a fine day--how would you like to go down to the pitch for some flying? I heard you haven't had much practice in the last few years, and Gryffindor needs its Seeker in top form."

"Really Professor! That's great--I'll just put my things up and meet you back down here," Harry said, and ran for the stairs. He stopped, however, at the first step, and, turning around, asked,

"Er...what's the password into Gryffindor Tower?"

"There are no passwords to the dormitories over the summer," Lupin replied, disappearing into the Great Hall. Surprised at this, Harry shrugged and went up the staircase. When he arrived outside Gryffindor Tower, the Fat Lady smiled at him and said, "Here a little early this year, I see," before swinging forward. Gryffindor Tower looked at it always did, and Harry found that the dormitory sign still read "Fifth Years." His trunk was already at the foot of his four-poster, and his was the only bed with sheets on it. Hurriedly, he put his clothes in the bureau, and grabbed his broom from his trunk.

Lupin was waiting outside the Great Hall, holding a large crate and a broom.

"I borrowed this from Madame Hooch," he explained, gesturing to the crate, "but she gave it to me on the condition that we not loose her Snitch. But I don't think that should be a problem, should it?"

"No, Professor," Harry laughed. "I didn't know you played, Professor."

"Oh, never for the House team," Lupin replied. "But, with James as Seeker, we often spent the summers helping him train. I'm not terribly good, but if it's just for fun...well, I just hope you won't embarrass me too badly."

"I'm not sure what Oliver Wood would say if he knew I'd lost to a teacher, sir. I'm afraid you'll just have to do your best." Lupin grinned, flashing his white canines in the bright summer sun. As the walked onto the pitch, Harry felt the familiar fluttering sensation in his stomach. He had missed playing more than he had realized--he had spent most of his time resenting Umbridge and trying to work out his dreams that he hadn't quite felt the loss. After watching a few games with Ron, he had given up the House cup entirely.

He mounted his broom and kicked off. The breeze felt good, gently lapping against his face. He freed his mind for a moment, closed his eyes and allowed himself time to enjoy the sensation; he was back in the air, where he was most comfortable, where he didn't have any responsibility or worries. He looked down at Lupin, small against the vast green of the field. He took hold of the broom's handle and dived down, gaining speed quickly as he flew; he approached the ground and pulled himself level, so that his feet were inches from the grass. He circled the field once like that, before stopping next to the professor.

"Do you want to play Keeper or Chaser?" Lupin asked, tossing Harry the large red Quaffle.

"Chaser."

"All right. Mount your broom."

They played for an hour, trading positions, and, near the end, releasing the Snitch and racing each other to catch it. Harry won 230 to 60, and was in a jolly mood by the time they landed to put the balls away.

"You're a great flier, Harry," Lupin said, breathing a little harder than normal from the exercise. "It's hard to keep up with you."

"Thanks," he said and handed Lupin the Snitch. He took one handle of the crate and helped Lupin back up the hill to the castle. "Are we going to have lessons today?"

"Do you want to?"

"Not particularly--really, I want to go down and visit Hagrid, if you don't need me, that is."

"No, go do what you want. Tomorrow, though, we'll spend some time working. And be sure you're on time for dinner. It's at seven."

Harry found Hagrid behind his hut, carrying a large barrel that smelled strongly of burnt toast.

"What is that, Hagrid?"

"It's dried Aldersaw, a fungus, you know. It's fer the leveenas."

"The what?"

"Leveenas, they're forest guardians. There's loads o' em in the forest, and Dumbledore figures the more creature we got on our side the better, what with the centaurs bein' so stubborn. So, I thought I might put the N.E.W.T classes in charge of 'em." He had removed the lid from the barrel and was taking handfuls of a yellowish moss and tossing it along the forest edge. "Aldersaw is a favorite o' leveenas, but it's dead hard to find in the summer."

"Why are the centaurs against us?" Harry asked, taking some moss from the barrel. "They know what's going on, more than anyone."

"They're might set against Dumbledore, anyway. They didn't none like him takin' in Firenze. You've seen 'em, they think wizards want to enslave them, or some nonsense like tha'. I say, if they want to keep to themselves, fine, just so as they don't meddle wi' us." He emptied the last of the barrel's contents onto the ground, and put the lid back on. "Well, what about a cuppa tea?" Harry accepted and they went inside. Fang barked happily at Harry as he sat down at the scrubbed wooden table, and licked his hand in greeting.

"So," Hagrid said, putting the kettle on the fire, "how you like livin' with Dumbledore?"

"It was alright, I guess. He wasn't there most of the time."

"Busy man the 'eadmaster. I'm sure sorry about your family, though. I never much liked that Dursley myself, but they was yer family, and that's nothin' to take lightly."

"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry said quietly. They sat a moment in silence, before Harry asked, "How's Madame Maxime?"

"Olympe? She's fine. I went an' saw her at that school o' hers. It's a real fancy place--but I like 'Ogwarts better, to tell you the truth. Doan tell her tha' though," he added with a wink. "She's sure somethin' special, though, I can tell ya that. Somethin' special." His face took on a dreamy expression that Harry had only before seen when Norbert the dragon had lived in the hut; the whistling kettle brought Hagrid back from his thoughts. They spent the rest of tea talking about Quidditch and what subjects Harry wanted to take (sixth and seventh year students were allowed to pick their classes according to what career they had chosen) and Hagrid's plans for Care of Magical Creatures that year; he seemed confident that this year would be his best. The afternoon passed quickly, and at four Harry left for the castle.

The castle was quiet without the sound of the students; Harry decided that the first of September wouldn't come soon enough. The Great Hall was empty, and he didn't pass anyone on his way up the grand staircase, or the first, second or third floors. This is going to be a fun summer, he thought dully. He decided to go up to the owlery to see if Hedwig had returned yet. He passed Peeves on the fifth floor drawing flowers on the suits of armor, moving quietly so as not to attract the poltergeist's attention. Then, as he was walking down the seventh floor corridor, Harry caught sight of a familiar image--the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy. I really need something to do, he thought furiously, I really need something to do...

A door appeared in the wall opposite; the Room of Requirement was still there. Harry opened the door and found himself in the room similar to what it had been last year, except that the cushions and pads were missing. In fact, the books were gone as well. The only thing in the room was a single stand, with a book resting on it, sitting in the exact center. Somewhat disappointed, Harry went to the stand. The title read A Guide to Magical Training.

"A guide? What's this for? I already have Lupin," Harry said, as though the room would listen to him and alter itself. It did not, however, and, shrugging, he opened to the first page.

To begin your Magical journey, repeat the following:

To Hogwarts School, I solemnly swear,

I am a warrior for light.

The burden of many do I bear--

Guide my sight.

This journey I make,

For the good of all, all else I forsake.

Harry turned the next page, only to find it blank--all the pages were blank except the first. Reckless...He thought a moment, until curiosity buried the voice of Hermione.

"To Hogwarts School, I solemnly swear, I am a warrior for light. The burden of many do I bear. Guide my sight. This journey I make, for the good of all, all else I forsake." He closed his eyes, and held his breath...nothing happened. He opened one eye slowly and looked around. Nothing in the room had changed; the walls were still bare, the cushions were still absent; Harry let out a sigh.

"Waste," he muttered, and reached to close the book. Looking down, however, he saw that the first page had disappeared; it had been replaced with a table of contents, written in curling scroll. "Chapter One, Occlumency?" Harry read. Suddenly, the page began to glow, the words fading into the golden light. The light became so fierce that Harry had to shield his eyes, though he was trying desperately to see what was happening. A burst of warm air hit Harry square in the stomach, sending him sprawling backwards.

"Get up." Harry looked up; the light was gone, and standing above him was a man with dark hair that fell to his shoulders. "Get up," the man said again, "You'll be knocked down again soon enough, but it's the number of times you get back up that matter." Harry got to his feet, his hand inside his robes, ready to reach for his wand.

"Who are you?"

"Your teacher. Now, if you are ready, we shall begin." Harry looked at the man with reservation.

"What will you be teaching me, exactly?"

"Whatever you want. For the moment, however, you wish to practice you Occlumency, so I am here. Shall we begin?"

"Look, I don't know where you came from, but you can go back, okay."

"I don't have time for this foolishness," the man snapped. "If you must, call me Professor. If you don't show a little more initiative, I am going to leave you to figure this out on your own. Now, we shall begin."

"Begin what--"

"Legilimens!" The room blurred into gray, the mist rising from a black cauldron and a figure, climbing out...he saw Ron sitting on the floor, glowing tentacle-like bands wrapped around his neck...he saw his Aunt checking her hair in the hall mirror...

"STOP IT!" The room came dizzyingly back into focus, and Harry discovered that he was on the floor, pointing his wand steadily at the Professor.

"Well done," the Professor said, smiling. "You could have done worse, for having been so wholly unprepared. Now, are you ready to fight back?"

"Yes," Harry said. He pulled himself from the floor and looked the man in the eye. "I'm ready."

"Legilimens!" He saw King's Cross, and a red haired family walking towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten...he was looking at the mirror in disbelief, at the hair that hadn't been there the night before...he was flying, searching for the snitch at every flash of lightning...but the dark sky was beginning to fade, and the Professor became clearer...he screwed up his mind in concentration, and said,

"Protego!" The Professor lowered his wand.

"Excellent. Again."

Harry stumbled down the hall. The Professor had practiced with him until Harry couldn't stand from exhaustion. He had simply smiled, and told Harry to meet him in the Room of Requirement again the next day. In another flash of golden light, he had disappeared. Harry reflected on the lesson; he had held his own more than he ever had with Snape--due partly to the fact that he didn't have any dream to distract him--and the Professor seemed pleased. As Harry found his way to Gryffindor Tower, he pondered the Professor. He was still hesitant about the strange man, but he reasoned, if the Room of Requirement had supplied him then he must be a true teacher. Tired, he fell onto his bed, allowing his aching muscles a moment to relax.

Somewhere, a clock sounded, announcing six thirty. Harry sat up...dinner was at seven; he had just enough time to change and get back downstairs. Moving as quickly as he was able to force his body to do, Harry put on one of his nicer robes, dark red, and ran a brush through his hair. His forehead was sticky with sweat, so he splashed some water from the water basin onto his face and wiped it dry with a hand towel. With a last look in the mirror, he ran out of Gryffindor Tower.

There were a surprising number of teachers in the Great Hall, considering how empty the castle had felt earlier; he saw Dumbledore engaged with Professor Sinistra from the Astronomy department, Lupin and Hagrid sitting on the left side of the table, Madame Pomfrey and Professor Sprout sitting opposite the Headmaster; overall, Harry guessed there were twenty teachers present, but he did not see Snape anywhere. Harry arrived with five minutes to spare, and was glad when he saw Professors McGonagall and Flitwick entering after he had already been seated, next to Hagrid and Lupin. He felt awkward at first, unused to the informality of the professors, and, after hearing Professor Vector, urged by the headmaster to provide the night's entertainment, sing, Harry felt he would never take Hermione's complaints about Arithmancy again. Soon enough, dinner was over, and Harry went back to Gryffindor Tower where he fell into an undisturbed sleep.