Semper Fidelis
‘Always Loyal’
Opening her eyes her vision slowly came into focus. Blinking the sleep from her eyes she stretched her arms over her head. The girl sat up slowly, Nerida sat at the small dresser beside her bed looking into the mirror humming a light tune and Imelda was dressed in her flying attire grabbing her broom from the trunk at the end of her bed.
“Oh, good morning Morgana. Are you feeling better after last night? You crashed pretty hard.” Imelda turned to the girl with a small laugh.
“I’m feeling much better now,” the girl laughed lightly. “The errands were a bit more fatiguing than I had expected.” Nerida turned in her chair to look at the girls. “I bet they were! Who was it you were with? Sebastian?” Her eyebrows wiggled at the girl who’s cheeks flushed at the insinuation.
“She could have been with Omnis, Nerida. Don’t take him out of the running.” Imelda had a teasing smile and watched as the girls cheeks flushed a brighter red.
“I was with Professor Fig!” The girl grabbed one of the pillows from behind her and threw it at Imelda. Dodging the pillow she got a thoughtful look on her face, “you know if Headmaster Black brings back quidditch you should try out. You have a great arm!” She laughed loudly and Morgana stood from her bed.
“I do have the best flight time,” she smirked as the joyous expression dropped from Imelda’s face. “Maybe I’ll go for it. Who knows, I could even be captain before seventh year.” Imelda began to yell challenging the girl to another flying contest, and Nerida laughed loudly. The girl paid no mind and stepped into the bathroom to wash up. Nerida joined her after she had dressed smiling at the girl.
“You shouldn’t tease Imelda too much,” she giggled, “I’m sure she’s going to be spending all day trying to beat your time now.” Morgana snickered and the girls fell to silence. Morgana looked into the mirror and cast a drying spell on her hair and began to braid it to the side. Nerida took it upon herself to cast a beauty charm on the girl making her lashes darker and gave her cheeks a light pink dusting.
She nodded satisfied with her work and hummed, “are you going to join us at breakfast?”
The girl shook her head, “I have to meet Poppy later. I promised to show her something.”
The girl murmured, “can I steal you away for a Hogsmeade trip soon then? I feel like you’re the hardest person to catch sometimes.” Her mood shifted, “maybe Imelda was right!” Morgana furrowed her brows and turned her head to the girl. “You should try out for quidditch! You’d make a great snitch.” She ended with a wink and both girl howled with laughter.
~
“Poppy!” The girl walked up with a bright smile on her face. “I want to show this to you but I don’t think I’m supposed to so you have to promise not to tell anyone.”
The Hufflepuff nodded diligently. “I swear I won’t tell a soul!”
Morgana grinned and turned to the wall across from them. A large door began to form from the stone, morphing into wood. The intricate facade is covered with swirls and in the center the Hogwarts crest. Poppy watched in amazement, her eyes wide and open mouthed. “Woah. I’ve never seen this room before.”
The girls stepped to the door and Morgana opened it, stepping aside in the hall. “Welcome to the room of requirement.” She watched as Poppy stepped into the entrance alcove staring at the walls around her covered in floor to ceiling books and looking ahead she gasped loudly.
“Are those thestrals?!” Her voice was dripping with excitement. Morgana stepped into the room following after the girl who was studying the room. “Morgana, this is amazing.” The girl spoke breathily, taking in every ounce of the room as she could at a time. The large walls a proud green, books taking over the shelves and plants hanging from the upper floors. The staircases surrounding the glass building that was snuggled into the wall. Smaller stair cases that led to the lowest floor of the room.
“I haven’t really decorated this place for guests, there’s really only seating for me and Deek.” The girl rubbed the back of her neck slightly. “I can conjure up more chairs so we can sit comfortably.”
“It’s so incredible. Did you conjure all of the furniture?” Poppy’s wide eyes turned to the girl who shrunk slightly at her gaze.
“Most of the furniture, yes, there were some things that came with the room. A lot of the paintings I had found on adventures. I’d be happy to give you a tour of everything, there’s more downstairs and up.” Poppy jumped on her feet and gave a loud cheer.
“I do want to show you this first.” Morgana pointed her hand at the glass vivarium. “You wanted to know where Highwing was and I promised she was safe. I think you should decide if she is.” With a smug grin she led the girl to the entrance, “this can be a bit disorienting. We are still inside the room.”
As they stepped into the room it became significantly brighter. Squinting their eyes a breeze rushed by, grass tickling their ankles bringing a fresh smell of the forest. The sun beamed down onto them warmth bristing their skin. Poppy’s eyes widened as they adjusted. Large trees were scattered all around, ruins of a castle were nestled on top of a small hill, a small cottage tucked between two giant, ancient trees. A mooncalf approached the girls tilting its head looking at them. The large eyes peered at the two and Morgana chuckled.
Conjuring a brush to pet the mooncalf it wiggled in content. The girl looked at Poppy with a smile, “this is the vivarium.” More animals began to reveal themselves, another mooncalf came out its large eyes peering at the girls and following it a smaller one. Three unicorns walked from behind one of the ancient trees, their pure white manes blowing with the breeze. Poppy gasped as she saw the baby unicorn frolicking around its parents.
Puffskeins rolled around the ground, kneazles sauntered out waving their tail proudly, and with the sound of wings flapping over them Poppy turned her eyes upwards. Highwing soars over the girls followed by another hippogriff; Caligo which Morgana had managed to save with Natty. With a gasp the hufflepuff shouts “Highwing!” The hippogriff landing and turning its beak to peck at its feathers, Poppy runs over and hugs it tightly around the neck.
“I promised I’d keep her safe, I hope this is up to standards.” Poppy held tightly to the magical beast with a beam. “I’ve rescued all of the beasts here from poacher camps. Some took it upon themselves to start a family,” the girl laughed a bit. “They’re being housed here until it’s safe to take them back into the wild, or until Madam Peck can find a safe home for them.”
“This is truly amazing Morgana. I couldn’t imagine a safer area for Highwing. Thank you so much.” The girl releases the hippogriff and walks closer to Morgana pulling her into a tight hug.
“You’re welcome to come here anytime to see Highwing, and there is more if you’d like to see?” The girl vaguely gestured back to the vivarium exit and Poppy with an enthusiastic nod began walking out.
Morgana first showed Poppy downstairs, the small sweating area she had reserved for her and Deek housed two chairs; one small enough for a house elf and the other for the girl. A small table sat between the two and a plush rug was underneath. On the opposite side sat potting stations that were filled with various plants. Poppy noted the row of dittany and Morgana waved it off saying it was nothing to worry about. Potion stations sat tucked into the middle area all actively brewing, while Poppy was examining the stations Morgana conjured another chair next to hers.
Walking back upstairs the two walked into the opposite alcove. A small bed was tucked into the far right side underneath the large paned windows, a desk was placed next to it and books were scattered across the top and beside it, parchment filled the wastebasket next to it spilling over to the floor were the balled up paper was scattered all about. “I stay here sometimes if I study too late to get back for curfew.” The girl lowered her head lightly looking embarrassed, “I always get an earful from Nerida and Imelda when I do but I’d rather that than a detention.”
Poppy smiled at the girl and pointed to the other side of the room, “is that by chance a washroom then?” with a laugh from the slytherin she agreed and Poppy went into the room.
The wash room was large, Morgana had taken inspiration from the prefects when she had snuck in there months prior. A pool sized tub sat in the center with a separate area for the toilet as well as a standing shower. There was a large vanity in the room and a walk-in closet was beside it. Morgana had plenty of spare uniforms as well as her designated adventure clothing. The walls and floors were tiled, all a dark emerald green offset by silver features scattered around the room. The room had given her a particular mirror that stood out against everything else, a large gold frame surrounded it and the most curious part was when you looked into it you did not see your reflection. Morgana had placed that it showed your truest desire after some time of staring into it.
Poppy exited the room and they continued on with the tour. Stepping up the stairs Morgana showed the girl the remaining vivariums. After seeing the thestrals Poppy thought she couldn’t see anything better, especially after learning Morgana had actually ridden one named Sepulchira, and then they reached the coastal vivarium.
The salty smell from the waves crashing gently onto the shore was calming. Poppy realized this was the cause of the slytherin girl standing proudly next to her always smelling like the ocean. Ruins of a tower were standing tall next to the water, lapping away at the stone. A large arch separated a section of the beach and Poppy saw a small tent tucked next to a cave entrance. Diricawls walked the shoreline peacefully, jobberknolls flew above with fwoopers, and niflers were scrounging the beach grabbing anything they deemed shiny and placing it into their pouch.
Poppy stared around the room trying to take everything in, it was the total opposite of the dark swamp they had seen just before. Then something caught her eye, the girl exclaimed as she saw the streak of red soar past them. The bird landed gracefully atop the tower ruins. The red, yellow and orange feathers standing out against the bright blue sky.
Barely a whisper, “is that a phoenix?” Morgana beamed and nodded her head.
“Deek helped me to rescue her from poachers.” Morgana led the girl to a small bench facing out to the waters and they sat. Poppy asked hundreds of questions and the girl was happy to answer them all. They talked until the sun began to set in the vivarium. They made their way out and walked together to the dungeons before splitting ways to their respective common rooms.