Chapter 29 – Room of Requirements
It was Saturday. Now that we had no classes, Quincy returned to the library while I was back to explore the castle corridors after waking up early and having a quick breakfast.
"This just does not want to work out, does it...?" I murmured, walking along the 7th-floor corridor as I intended to head back to our 'headquarters.'
My search was fruitless as any empty room I found was not really hidden. Anyone walking by could come in any time they wished. At least, ours was atop the North Tower, and you had to actively climb up a ladder to get there, lowering the chance that someone would just... come up. I tried looking around everywhere, even in the dungeons. I even considered the abandoned bathroom there but heard the ghost who inhabited it wailing... I bet our ritual would fail simply because of the interference of her loud tantrums.
"Haaah..." I sighed again, stopping at the giant tapestry, watching the funny-looking wizard on it, trying to teach the trolls to dance... to... do ballet? "Heh... Barnabas the Barmy." I chuckled, walking up and down before it. I started to remember the tale, reading it when I was smaller, warning young witches and wizards about the danger of going too far with things. "Maybe I am doing just the same?" I asked myself, and it was that moment when I heard a click.
Turning around, searching for the source of the sound, I saw a door on the empty wall. One that I was sure it was not there before. I couldn't be mistaken... or...? No. I had walked past here many times already, and there were no doors here before. None. By the time my thoughts caught up with my body, I was already gripping the handle, pushing it down, and entering the newly found room.
"What the...?!" I gasped, stepping into the ancient-looking room. Its walls were void of all decoration, made from bare, grey stone, the same as the hard ground. Looking up, there was no ceiling, only the projection of the sky, representing the outside world, just the same as in the Great Hall. "No way...!" I gulped, feeling my stomach lurch as in the middle, there was the same ritual I was about to set up, all prepared, only missing its two core components. The sacrifice and the recipient.
If I say I was flabbergasted, I wouldn't be even close to what I was feeling at that moment. I immediately considered someone was in on us... but that should not be possible. Someone else wanted to do the ritual? No... that was also not possible, simply by the fact that this knowledge had to be inherited. Did Father tell the Headmaster about it? Did he put this here? I... I don't think so. Why wouldn't he inform me about it, then? Why would he warn me he only collected enough materials for two tries?
All these questions and more were swirling in my mind while I walked around the room, watching the magical circle etched directly into the stone floor. The seven goblets that should be placed at its key points were all there, filled with the exact amount of ingredients. All the rare plants, magical beast parts, everything was laid out perfectly. I just only had to add the last 'ingredient,' step into my spot, and let the magic begin.
"This is... nonsense." Still, in disbelief, I laughed as I tore my eyes away, watching the enchanted ceiling. "This is even better... If we can do this under the full moon, it will be even more effective! Which is... two weeks away... I hope I can find you again!" I licked my lips before exiting, closing the door and watching it slowly disappear.
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