Aww thanks Jenny! And thanks to you as well Connie

The rest of the walk back to Hogwarts, and the next couple of days, was filled with discussions on what our first secret meeting would be about, where it would be held, and how we would inform everyone of its whereabouts without the overbearing Umbridge from finding out.

Neville had conveniently found a location for our first meeting, and was eager to show us after our History of Magic class. We all filed out, hoping that no one would notice our eager faces.

“So where is it again?” whispered Ron as a couple of nosey first years from Hufflepuff walked past us, eyeing us like hawks.

“It’s on the seventh floor near one of the portraits. You have to walk past it three times, thinking about what you need, and after the third time a door will appear.”

“So if we walk past it and think that we need a private room to practice spells…” Harry said, trailing off.

“Then it should give it to us,” said Hermione with a smile.

“It’s bloody brilliant!” said Ron with an enthusiastic smile.

We quickly went up the stairs in the grand staircase, Ron running right through Nearly Headless Nick, who gave him a curious stare. “Watch where you’re going dear boy!” Nicolas called out after us.

“Yeah, yeah, sure thing!” yelled back Ron as we closed the door to the seventh floor corridor.

We were in luck. The entire corridor was empty. To be quite honest no one came to the seventh floor corridor, except those who were looking for the Divination classroom. All these aspects just kept making the Room of Requirements an even better place to hold our meetings.

“Alright, here it is,” said Neville, stopping in front of a portrait of a rather ugly looking troll…or at least it kind of looked like a toad.

“Alright, so let’s walk past the room and think we need a private room to practice spells,” said Hermione, looking at each of us to make sure we understood.

“Sounds good,” said Harry. We began to walk back and forth in front of the portrait, looking like soldiers marching in formation, until we all stopped in unison.

“Bloody hell,” said Ron, his mouth falling open.

I was sharing similar sentiments. Where the picture had once been there was now a huge wooden door with brass-sculptured metal decorating it.

“Shall we?” said Neville, leading the way through the doors.

We all followed him in, closing the door behind us, and admired the huge room. The room was completely open, with practice dummies lined along each side with huge bulls eyes painted on their chests. The walls were covered in mirrors so we could see ourselves as we practice our spells, and stuffed in the corners were random objects that could also be used to cast spells on.

“Way to go Neville,” said Harry, giving him a genuine smack on the back. “It looks like Hogwarts isn’t too found of the toad either.”

We all chuckled at Harry’s joke, and went further in the study the dummies and such. I ran my hand along the wooden chest of the one, which was at perfect height with me.

“So, we still need to find a way to let everyone know about the meetings. Something more discreet than trying to whisper it to one another and hoping no one we don’t want to know hears,” said Hermione, plopping down on one of the pillows from the corner of the room.

“How about a coin?” I said.

“A coin?” said Ron, sitting down next to Hermione.

“Yeah, a coin. Like those secret decoder coins that muggle kids always play with.”

“I know what you’re talking about,” said Harry with a laugh. “We could send messages through them. Do you think you could come up with a charm Hermione?”

Hermione thought for a moment. “I think I have something in mind that could work. It’ll probably take me a couple of days to get them settled though.”

“That works,” said Harry with a nod, continuing to roam around the room.

“So what spell are you teaching us first Harry?” said Neville.

Harry turned around and looked at Neville. “I’m not sure. I haven’t really thought about it yet.”

“Well, just as a suggestion. The expelliarmus spell might work. I’ve always wanted to learn it, but no matter how much I practice I can’t do it.”

Harry smiled at Neville encouragingly. “Yeah sure Neville, we can do that one.”

There small chat started to mute in my mind as I continued to stare at the wooden figure in front of me. Something about it seemed so familiar. I closed my eyes, reaching out to where the memory might be coming from. My heart rate started to quicken as the memory started to come to me.

I jerked my eyes open at the feel of Harry’s hand on my shoulder. “You alright Abby?”

“Uh, yeah, I’m fine,” I said, turning around to face him.

“Alright, let’s go. We’ve got some work to do,” said Hermione with a big smile.

As we walked out Harry stayed next to me. “You sure you’re okay?” Harry asked me quietly.

“Yeah, I’ve just remembered something is all.”