Chapter 10
Hermione left the common room and quickly walked to her room. She sat at the desk and opened the parchment. The faint light from her wand illuminated the words that appeared:
You’re slow, Siren. I thought Gryffindors were faster than that.
Hermione frowned and immediately grabbed a quill to reply:
Are you kidding me, Drake? I don’t have all day. Explain the Room of Requirement right now.
The ink faded for a moment, then new lines appeared:
Not everyone knows how to use that room, Granger. It can transform into anything you need, as long as you truly need it. A hideout, a place of concealment, or even a practice space. But there’s one condition… You have to have a clear and strong need.
Hermione skimmed through, her quill ready to write:
It depends on the need?
The new words quickly appeared after the question.
Exactly. If you just want to check it out or explore, it’s useless. The room only appears when someone actually needs it. This means it can’t be found without a clear need. Without a specific request, the room won’t show up.
She thought for a moment, the quill hovering over the paper. This reminded her of fifth year, when Harry somehow found a room for them to practice. With just a brief explanation that he found it on the map. Back then, she had doubted, but trusted him completely. She regretted not investigating further.
Can the Room of Requirement permanently hide something?
Yes. But no one will find it unless they know how. I’m guessing you’re thinking about hiding something? Or looking for something that’s been hidden?
She paused for a moment, staring at the question. Drake wasn’t easily fooled.
Let’s say so. How do I find it?
You need to focus on what you want to find, and how much you need it. But remember, the Room of Requirement doesn’t just listen to small Gryffindors like you. Don’t be deceived.
Hermione stared at the words on the parchment, her finger lightly tapping on the edge of the desk. A thought flashed through her mind, and she quickly wrote:
Drake, if the room reflects one’s needs, does what it creates actually exist?
New words appeared, still carrying that familiar mocking tone:
How do you define ‘real’? If you can touch it, see it, even use it, then isn’t it real enough? But Granger, don’t be naive. The room is a master of deception. It shows you what you want, not what you need.
Hermione frowned and wrote quickly:
So if I want to hide something important, can the room betray me?
The words appeared after a short pause, slower this time:
The room isn’t loyal to anyone. It only responds to needs. If someone else seeks what you’ve hidden and their need is stronger than yours, the room will 'turn on you.' But don’t worry, Granger, not everyone has the ability to understand and manipulate it like you... or like me.
Hermione paused, her mind spinning with this response. She wrote again:
And what about things that were hidden before? How can I identify them? The room can create anything based on someone’s need. How do I tell what’s real, and what’s fake?
A brief silence passed before the words appeared, more serious than usual:
You can’t. If what you’re looking for is already hidden there, the room will lead you to it. But if it doesn’t exist, the room will create a reflection based on your need. Sometimes, what you get is real. Sometimes, it’s just an illusion to satisfy your desires.
Hermione felt a chill run down her spine. A room that can’t be trusted, a place that can satisfy but also deceive. She wrote more sharply:
So tell me, how do I know when I’m being deceived?
The words appeared, almost with a mocking laugh:
You won’t know. You can only trust yourself.
Hermione pondered, her eyes fixed on the parchment in front of her. Drake’s answer still didn’t completely satisfy her. New thoughts emerged in her mind, and she quickly wrote:
If the Room of Requirement responds based on needs, can it be manipulated by emotions? Let’s say I’m angry or afraid, how would the room react?
The words appeared slowly, as though Drake was carefully considering each word:
Emotions are a double-edged sword, Siren. If you can’t control them, the room will reflect the chaos within you. But if you know how to use them, emotions can become the key to unlocking possibilities that logic can never reach.
She reflected on this, her fingers tapping the desk. What Drake had provided partly explained her questions about the room—how it appeared, how it worked, everything. Yet, there was still a feeling inside her she couldn’t quite express. It wasn’t worry, excitement, or anger. It wasn’t anything. She couldn’t feel it.
Thanks, this information is really helpful. I look forward to our "collaboration" lasting.
The words took a while to appear. Brief.
My honor.
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Today’s class was like any other, with a calm atmosphere. The professor lectured monotonously, and as usual, every eye in the class was on him—except for Hermione. As if it were a habit, she couldn’t stop paying attention to Theo.
She had once thought their relationship was quite normal. Theo had a friendly and approachable attitude, especially toward her. He always showed up when she was alone. His gentle glances made her confused. But he always seemed to be hiding something, something she couldn’t quite pinpoint.
Today, that suspicion grew stronger. Hermione noticed that, although Theo always spoke with a friendly demeanor, there was something vague about him, as though he was trying not to reveal anything about himself. Every time she accidentally looked into his eyes, she didn’t see the slightest hint of sincerity. His gaze was strangely glittering, as though hiding some secret.
"Granger!" A voice cut through Hermione’s thoughts. It was the professor. Hermione snapped back and answered the question he had just asked.
She felt slightly flustered but still tried to focus on the lecture. However, deep down, she couldn’t stop thinking about Theo. She couldn’t shake off the vague feeling she had about him. Although Theo’s friendliness was nothing to be suspicious of, his behavior today made her take notice.
Throughout the lesson, Hermione paid attention to Theo again. While everyone was focused on the lecture, she noticed a strange action. While writing on his parchment, he always kept a part of his sleeve pulled over his arm, obscuring part of his wrist. This made Hermione feel confused. Why was he trying to hide his arm like that?
She noticed Theo wasn’t paying attention to the lecture, unlike usual. He was a diligent and intelligent student. But today, he seemed distracted by something else. From the moment he entered the room, his gaze hadn’t been focused on anything. Even when talking to her, he initiated the conversation but didn’t look directly at her once. His eyes were distant, the brown in his gaze cloudy. Whenever their eyes met, Theo quickly looked away. Hermione’s curiosity only grew.
When the lesson ended, Hermione couldn’t let go of her curiosity. She saw Theo get up with the other students and leave the room, but this time she couldn’t stop following him. He didn’t seem anxious or in a hurry, but his actions had a strange caution to them. That feeling made Hermione more suspicious. Was she imagining things, or was something really off about Theo?
In a split second, Hermione decided to do something she had never considered—follow Theo. She wasn’t the curious type, but the curiosity bubbling inside her couldn’t be ignored. She left the room shortly after him, trying to keep a safe distance so he wouldn’t notice her presence. Harry’s invisibility cloak made it easy for her to blend into the crowd, merging with the normal atmosphere of Hogwarts without being noticed. Getting Harry’s cloak was an easy task for her.
Hermione moved quickly, maintaining the distance to avoid detection. Her eyes followed Theo, who was walking ahead without looking back. She noticed he wasn’t acting hastily or anxiously, but in his calm demeanor, there was something odd that she couldn’t describe.
She glanced at his arm. Theo still carefully hid it, pulling his sleeve down to cover it. Not showing even a hint of skin.
When they reached a quiet hallway, Theo suddenly stopped, as though checking if anyone was following him. Hermione quickly hid behind a wall, concealing herself in the shadows. Though she was wearing the invisibility cloak and was sure he wouldn’t see her, she still felt anxious. Her mind raced with questions—why was Theo doing this? He had no reason to check his surroundings, and this action only made her more suspicious. While he had always maintained a calm and friendly attitude, today, her attention to his small gestures made her realize something: perhaps everything he showed was just a facade. He was secretive and unpredictable, which made it hard to trust the face he presented.
As Theo continued, Hermione decided to follow him a little longer. She couldn’t let this opportunity pass. He led her to a hidden corner near an old wall. A quiet moment when no one could see them. Theo stopped once more. He was standing with Draco and Blaise, both looking very serious. The three of them seemed to be discussing something that Hermione couldn’t overhear. She kept watching, and then she noticed Theo lifting his hand, rolling up his sleeve to reveal a strange black mark on his wrist. He extended his hand in front of the other two, who didn’t seem surprised.
It wasn't just any ordinary mark. Hermione recognized it immediately – a Death Eater's mark. A faint but unmistakable symbol. Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. This was a mark that only belonged to a Death Eater, and now, Theo was hiding it. The mark wasn't just a birthmark; it was a sign of allegiance to the Dark Lord.
Hermione's heart tightened, but she still tried to maintain a cold, emotionless expression. Her suspicions about Theo had just been confirmed.
Theo is a Death Eater.
She couldn't let anyone know she had discovered this mark. Draco and Theo were both Death Eaters, so Blaise couldn't be an exception. Other Slytherin students were probably the same. In that moment, Hermione realized that she wasn't just facing a mysterious student, but a part of a force she had always wanted to avoid.
"Are all Slytherins Death Eaters?" she wondered, her eyes still fixed on the three of them. Every movement they made made her feel tense, as if they were talking about things she couldn’t understand. She bit her lip; she had suspected it from the start. But Theo's friendliness was still baffling. He was like that only with her, unlike with other Gryffindors like Harry, Ginny, or Ron... He was anything but friendly, even mocking at times.
Hermione walked away from the corridor, but her heart felt heavier than ever. Although she had uncovered part of the truth, she felt as though she was falling into a trap from which she couldn't escape. From now on, she couldn't remain an outsider. She couldn't trust anyone, and every act of friendliness could very well be a trap.