Given that it was their first night back at the castle, Hayley probably should have suggested they meet up the following day, since curfew took affect shortly after the feast and it was generally frowned upon to leave your respected common rooms. She hadn't, though, and it was a good thing the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws were on the same floor, otherwise, it was doubtful either of them would have made it to the Room of Requirement at all without getting caught.

Casting a look over her shoulder to make sure no one was around, the Diggory girl paused as she reached her destination, only to pace back and forth in front of the wall three times as Chance had once shown her, concentrating on what she needed from the room until the door appeared.

The room was quite the same as the first and last time she had visited it, similar to a common room with the addition of a piano in the corner. Hayley couldn't help the little smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she quietly closed the door behind herself. She did it. This was exactly the room she needed.

Chance knew curfew was coming up right after the feast but excitement took charge as he dropped some things off after the feast and made his way to the room of requirement. Chance was stealthy and was glad it was on the same floor as his common room. He snuck past some of the portraits.

He was sure no one would notice his absence. His common room was having a party. No one was in bed so there wouldn't be any wondering as to where he was.

Chance remembered when he had shown Hayley last year the room. He grinned and then frowned at the memory. It had been a bitter sweet one. He faced the wall that held the room. He had no idea what room he was supposed to be thinking of though. He only knew that Hayley had asked him to meet her here to talk. Feeling stuck, he paced in front of it thinking various scenarios. When the door did not appear, he sighed. Come on door! You're going to get him caught!

Feet guiding her toward the piano, Hayley was just about to sit down on the bench when she heard a noise from outside the door, and realization hit that Chance probably wouldn't be able to make the door appear from his end.

It probably would have been a better idea if she had simply waited for him, since now she had no idea if it really was him outside or not. Taking a chance, because it was necessary now, Hayley was quick on her feet and back to the door, opening it slowly she peeked out into the corridor, only to see Chance standing in front of her. Thank Merlin it was only him.

Without a word, the Ravenclaw motioned for him to come inside, opening the door further for him slip past her before they could be seen. She really wasn't trying to get detention for either of them on the first night back.

Come on door. Open. Open now.

Chance stopped in front of where he thought the door would be. He willed it with his mind to open. Then he saw it. A tiny crack. It was working!! Yay mind powers!!! But then Hayley's smiling face. Dang. He thought his mind powers were working. She gestured him in and he followed suit, looking behind him to make sure that no one was looking or following. Paranoid much?

Chance shut the door behind him and looked around to see what the room would be this time. He saw a piano and walked over to it, stroking the keys. He couldn't play but he sure did like hearing it play. Turning to look at Hayley he smiled. "Hey Hales. Funny meeting you here." She received one of the famous Chance grins after that comment.

Once the room was secure and the door was sure to have disappeared on the other side, Hayley slowly trailed after Chance as he went to check out the added feature to the surely familiar room. The piano. One of her many reasons for suggesting they meet later, rather than talk during the feast about.. summer.

She still wasn't sure how much talking she would be doing on that subject.

"Hilarious," Hayley added, her smile growing as she met the Gryffindor boy's gaze. Ducking her head, the fifth year went around the side and slipped carefully onto the bench in front of the piano, leaving plenty of room for him to join her if he wanted. "This is what I wanted to show you." In case he hadn't gathered that bit yet. Glancing up at him, Hayley positioned her hands gently over the keys, but didn't press down. "I went to Italy over the summer, and I learned how to play."

Chance ran his hand over the surface of the piano. It was smooth and glossy. He watched as Hayley went and sat down on it. She left enough space for him, or at least he thought she had. His eyebrows rose as she stated this is what she wanted to show him. "You learned to play?" He asked knowing she had. He was expecting news on what had her all bothered at the feast and in the train.

Sitting beside her, he placed his fingers over the keys like he had seen in muggle movies. "Show me what you can play." He said simply and looked over at her. He dropped his hands too so she could have the whole piano to herself.

Chance noted that he was pressed a little against her. The bench was only so big. He studied her hands, ready for her to play. "You can also tell me what was bothering you on the train." He stated without looking at her. Yes, he noticed.

"I did," Hayley confirmed, happily. All thoughts of her lessons put aside, the brunette was rather proud of herself for learning to play in just one summer. Though, she was no pro yet and could still certainly use more practice, it was a start. It meant she was no longer just the singer, where Noel and Benzi were concerned.

Once he was seated beside her, she gave a small nod of her head and took a moment to consider what to play. She could play multiple pieces, multiple things, multiple little melodies she had experimented all on her own with. Deciding on something similar to the music that had been played at the masquerade ball last term, which had ultimately been the reason for her sudden want to learn to play, Hayley let her fingers gently trail over the keys.

Hayley moved her hands gracefully over the keys, letting the melody that followed fill the comfortable silence. It wasn't quite the same as the music from the ball, considering she was only playing a piano - and alone, but it was an attempt. And yes, she had heard Chance. Though she wished to continue avoiding the subject, she wasn't ignoring him.

"I was hoping you had forgotten about that," Hayley admitted, her voice quiet - her hands continued to move over the piano keys, the Diggory girl completely ignored the warmth in her face, the obviousness of her glowing cheeks. "It's complicated.. and stupid. I.. did something I'm not very proud of this summer. And I'm keeping secrets from Noel, and we don't do that. We've never done that." Pausing, she looked up at him for a second, frowning, and then back down to her hands before she could miss a beat. "That boy on the train, that you asked about - that was Benzi. He's Noel's best friend, and mine, too.. and he knows. Which is worse, really. I went to him before Noel. And I made him promise not to say anything. And now I'm sort of just.. too scared to tell him. He's going to be so disappointed in me."

She felt horrible.

The piano was such a beautiful piece of equipment. When played right, the music that can come out of the thing was beyond compare to anything in the world. Chance watched Hales as she decided what to play. He moved over just a tad so that she could reach the keys that she needed to.

Then she began to play.

Chance immediately began to enjoy the music. She was very talented. And to play so well over one summer! It was almost ... Magical. Chance closed his eyes and swayed a little bit to the music. It was almost like he was tranced by the music. It last a few minutes that way before Hales started answering his question.

He knew she hadn't wanted to talk about it, but now, here she was, spilling something that seemed to be causing her a great deal or confusion and pain. He got the gist of it. She did something stupid and one person knew about it but another didn't. So she had to be avoiding this guy because Hales didn't lie. And he knew that had to be hard because of how close they were. He'd seen them. Their bond. Heck, he had been punched in the face.

"So what did you do that was so terrible?" Chance asked watching her hands rather than her face. "I can't possibly think of anything too bad. No offense, but you're the nicest sweetest most level headed person I know." He was curious. Super curious.!

Hayley continued to play the song, deciding it was most definitely best to focus on the piano - on the music, the melody, the glossy keys beneath her fingertips, - and not on the subject they were on. Sure, she had brushed the topic, but actually allowing herself to think about it, and relive the past summer in her mind.. no.

No, she was trying very hard not to do that.

It wasn't working well, either. As Chance spoke, Hayley missed a key and hit the wrong one, throwing the whole melody off completely. She paused, giving herself a moment before picking it back up again - also giving herself a moment before answering his question. "You think too much of me," She said, simply, softly. "During my trip to Italy.. to see family, my uncle was going to teach me how to play, but I met someone who works for my aunt, who just happens to really be into music too, and he offered to teach me instead since my uncle was a bit preoccupied."

Merlin. Was this even appropriate to discuss with Chance, considering last term? Hayley was unsure, of everything at the moment, but she was in far too deep now to stop.

".. He's nineteen. And was really nice, really sweet.. or I had thought. He spent weeks teaching me, off and on, and eventually it just became a thing - my lessons, us hanging out.." Could he see where she was going with this yet? ".. I liked him.. a lot. At first, when he realized - it was this awkward moment, of him pulling away completely, and that's when I found out he had a girlfriend." She was blushing furiously now, and though her hands had stopped moving, the melody of her song gone, the Ravenclaw kept her gaze on the piano. "I should have known. I was upset at first, that he hadn't told me.. I felt so stupid, you know. Noel and Benzi had never liked him to begin with... they made their disapproval known, the both of them.. um," Hayley paused, biting her lip for a second. No time for rambling, just spit it out, Diggory. "He ended up owling me this song we were working on together, he'd finished it.. apologized in the letter too, and.. Benzi took it from me and ripped it up. I was really, really upset with him for it.. so I went to Markus - the guy - .. I don't know what I was thinking," She shook her head, "I wanted to hear the song. He showed me. Calmed me down, and after that.. we started hanging out again - continued my piano lessons.. it was innocent, you know."

For the smallest of seconds, Hayley stole a glance up at Chance. "I thought we could be friends, I understood where we stood.. until he decided to kiss me one day, and... I just assumed.. he had broken up with his girlfriend. I hadn't even bothered asking." How very stupid and naïve she had been. Grey-blue eyes remained fixed on the piano, and basically anywhere but at Chance. "I was wrong."

Chances mind was in all kinds of turmoil. He listened as Hales talked, his attention from the piano moving swiftly away to what she was saying. Maybe this was how she felt last term when they had kissed and then he broke it off before he could set roots in. He had to back then though. He already liked her but was in love with Beezey. He couldn't lead her on when he had felt stronger things for another girl. But dang, hearing that she was kissed by an older boy who actually /had/ a girlfriend made him upset.

Chance was teetering. He shouldn't be feeling things for her like he was. He had lost his chance last term. But here he was, still liking her. After all those months. He shook his head, trying to push his feels back down and concentrate on Hales. She looked in pure distress. Chance couldn't let his feelings for her cloud his judgement.

"I'm sorry Hales. That is.... Pretty rough." He said, his jaw clenched. "I would .... " He has to take a deep breath to calm himself. "I wouldn't want to meet this guy. I'm sorry that you liked him and he treated you like that." Chance out an arm around her and gave her a side hug. "He shouldn't have lead things on when he had a girlfriend. That was just wrong of him. Especially with him being older. I hope Noel punched him in the face like he did me." Chance remembered the punch. It had stung. And it had taken everything in him to not punch back.

Chance was quiet at first, and that alone did something to Hayley's insides, something entirely unpleasant and probably nerve related. Unable to help herself, grey-blue eyes flickered up at him again, just in time to catch him shaking his head. She averted her gaze once more.

He was sorry. Somehow, this surprised Hayley - though she hadn't known what his reaction to her story would be, she hadn't expected those words. Not because that wasn't the type of guy Chance was, because.. that added up. She just wasn't expecting it. And yes, that seemed to be a trending thing - not wanting to meet or see Markus, on her part, Benzi's, and now Chance. Given, Benzi hadn't exactly expressed how he didn't want to see him - it was more the opposite, for the worst kind of reasons. Same idea, regardless. "Me too," She practically whispered, folding her hands in her lap. Hayley couldn't think of anything she had ever regretted more at the moment, than getting wrapped up in Mark's world, where she had never belonged to begin with. "I just wish I could take it all back.." Every last bit of it.

While once before, Hayley might have tensed at first as Chance wrapped an arm around her, that wasn't the case at all now. She was use to his closeness, comfortable, and leaned into his embrace slightly. Her head nodded slowly, as if to show she were listening despite her silence. Yes, she knew that. Knew all of that. How Markus should have known better, how he should have been honest, how he was older - Wait... Noel did what?! "Oh, Merlin." Hayley groaned, hiding her face in her hands. She was horrified, officially. "I'msosorry," She mumbled, her voice muffled from behind her hands. "I didn't know."

"Noel didn't.. because that's the part he doesn't know." Hayley whispered, "He doesn't know I went back to Markus, after what Benzi did. He doesn't know any of that. He thinks I stayed away from him."

Sweet mother of Merlin. She was not going to cry. Not going to cry, nope.

Hayley's closeness had been one that Chance had to get used to. Chance had always been a snuggle guy, meaning, he was a big teddy bear. You needed a hug? He was there to hug the crap outta you until you felt better. He was forever giving hugs, putting his arm around people, and just being close in general. It was a weakness for him. He didn't do personal space very well. But Hayley had. When they first met, she had been so shy and had almost, it seemed, recoiled at Chance's touch which was very unusual since Chance have the best hugs. But now, she was relaxed in his arms as he soothed her. It took all Chance had not to smile at the fact. It would have been inappropriate to smile at this time.

"I know. I know. I've done stupid things before that I wish I could have taken back. You have no idea." Chance sighed. "It's just part of the human experience. You are going to do stupid things. That's how you learn from them." That was such a Ravenclaw answer. Maybe she was rubbing off on him.

Chance was surprised to hear that Hayley hadn't heard about Noel punching him in the face. That seemed to happen to Chance a lot... Well twice now. He didn't particularly care for it either. "It's alright. He was just defending your honor. I'm actually reay surprised you haven't told him. I saw how close you two were. If anyone, it should be him that you tell." Chance said looking down and seeing her face in her hands. He gently took her fingers off. "People make mistakes Hales. It's bound to happen. We just gotta learn from those mistakes." And he hoped that she would.

He still wanted to clobber that Markus face in though.

Hayley nodded here and there, still completely focused on his voice and what he was saying. She may not have known what he was talking about specifically, but she could imagine, based on her own.. mistakes, of late. Based on others, too. Her friends. Her cousins. He was right. It was part of being human, and especially of growing up. "That sounded awfully wise, you know, Gryffinclaw." She said softly, the faint traces of a smile forming on her lips.

"It's not alright." Merlin, she felt overwhelmed. Completely. It was over a year ago already, and she was just finding out Noel had punched Chance. The whole thing was.. beyond her, at the moment. How had she not found this out sooner? And then there was the whole Markus thing, and .. the Ravenclaw just wanted to shove every single thought related, out of her mind. If only that were so easy. "I know." That Noel was simply defending her. She knew that, without a doubt, without it having to be said. She knew why. It hadn't been necessary for him to do so, but .. it was Noel. Her Noel. Her cousin, her best friend, her brother, her protector. She should have known that day, when she had gone to him crying, he would ... react. But that was a first time thing, a new experience for the both of them.

How was she going to tell him about this?

Though the feeling of Chance taking her hands away from her face surprised her at first, the Diggory girl let him, giving his hands a little squeeze in return as she took a deep breath to try and soothe herself. If anyone, it should be him that you tell. Not going to cry, not - "I know," She mumbled, grey-blue eyes gazing directly back to Chance. She wanted to burry her face in her hands again, but refrained, willing the tears stinging her eyes to simply go away. She was not going to cry. "I don't know how to tell him. He warned me, and I didn't listen - he's going to be so disappointed in me."

Kace wanted to go visit the room of requirement. He only visited here when he was friends with Sander and it was an ice skating room. As he entered the room, he thought it looked comfortable. He wanted just like a lounge and he saw there were video games to try. Now this was perfect. He even saw it had an X-box One. Sweeetttt. He had this system at home and he was glad the room was able to put this system in it. He walked over to his comfy bean bag chair which was huge might I add. He plopped right into it and hearing the hissing noise. Then he turned the system on and began to play. He wondered if anyone would visit him here.

Henric was just walking past when he saw Kace went through a door across the hallway. Puzzled, he had never seen the door before or knew there was ever a door there. And the next thing he knew, the door Kace went through was slowly disappearing in front of his eyes! Wait...what! He ran towards the now empty wall and touched it. Merlin! Where did Kace go?

He then realised that this must be the infamous room of requirement that his classmates been talking about lately! Blimey...how did Kace get in?! He wished he knew where he had been to. Exploring the walls with his hands, he walked back to and fro past this wall thinking and wondering how to get into this wall.

Sighing, he gave up and was about to leave when suddenly he heard a door creaked behind him. He turned around and was surprised to see the same door appeared again! MERLIN!

Henric carefully stepped inside, looking around the room.
"Hello! Kace?"he called for his friend. He heard loud noises coming out from somewhere, to him it sounded familiar like someone was playing muggle games in the room.

Among many of Hogwarts' prominent features, the Room of Requirement was part of the most-discussed (besides the Giant Squid, of course). Natalia, being the curious little fourth year she always have been, have attempted multiple times to find this peculiar room but it came with no success.

Perhaps, things do come when one is not expecting it.

Skipping down the seventh floor hallway, Natalia hummed a little tune that sounded awfully familiar. For a moment, the anonymous song lingered in her mind as she strove to remember its title. Oh, magic could be so dull some times. If only Hogwarts had internet, she would simply be able to search it online in less than a second.

Why had the wizarding world not adopt the most magical muggle magic of all?

Just when the Lioness was about to reach the end of the corridor, a peculiar phenomenon took her by awe. A fancy doorway appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the hall.

UNLESS...

With no hesitation at all, Natalia turned the knob and walked inside...

Heading down the seventh floor corridor, Lux was humming a tune. Letters in hand, she was on her way to the owlery. It was always nice to keep in touch with family and friends, besides Luna could do with some human company and owl treats. Gotta give her owl some love and attention!

Nat was right ahead of her, and Lux was about to say hello when the girl opened a door and stepped inside. Of course it was the Room of Requirement, and it had been a while since she had last visited it. Too bad the skating rink wasn't around anymore, but maybe she could make it appear again later like she and Dylan had a while ago. She missed her friend and hoped that he was okay.

Smiling, Lux stepped inside after Nat.

Whoooaaaaaa.

Strolling into the room, Natalia recognized that the light blue, spacious room was... somewhat like an office space. At first, nothing appeared unusual to her as the minimalistic room was adorned simply like a common office space. But a certain mechanism caught her eye as she began to inspect the room in detail.

A LAPTOP.

NOOOOOOOOOOO.

But yes, that was a laptop. A laptop in the middle of an empty room... at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Natalia had little time to grow suspicious or curious; she was too busy being delighted at the sudden appearance of a laptop. A possible working laptop. A HEAVENLY LAPTOP.

Like all those that came from muggle families, the thing that Natalia missed most at home besides her family and dog was the availability of the internet. Since essentially no electronic devices work at Hogwarts, not cellphones, not computers, not even WALKIE-TALKIES, it was extremely difficult for Natalia to communicate with her family and friends. Not just that; life without internet was simply dull.

Not realizing that Lux had followed her into the room, Natalia settled herself on the office chair (with rolling wheels!) and pressed the 'POWER' button. HEHEHEHE.

As Kace explored the room, he heard a voice calling his name. He furrowed his brows and he could possibly be hearing things. No surely someone didn't follow him into here. WAIT! Someone could have, it might have been Henric because he told him to meet him in here. "Heyyy Henric!" he greeted him and was still playing his video games. "Do you want to try one game out? Come on it is mario kart I think you will love it.." he assured his fellow puff. It will possibly get Henric into his inner muggle side. I mean he had other choices too. Maybe he should include that. "Well there is also other options too you can pick from." he grinned going to the gaming shelf.

Henric turned to the voice immediately when someone called out his name. Oh it was just Kace! He saw him seated comfortably in one of the bean-bags, right in front of a 'futuristic' big flat-screen telly. Wow! He never knew Kace could turn this room into a massive game lounge room for himself!

"Wicked!"he gawked in awe. He noticed that he was holding an XBOX 1 game console controller in his hands and he looked up to find him playing an old-time favourite muggle game 'Mario Kart'. Nice! He loved the game! Although, Henric was used to playing virtual realistic games back home but he didn't mind playing retro games too.

"Do I ever!"he plopped down onto a bean bag next to kace's and picked up another game console controller for himself. Henric was instantly enraptured by the loud audio blasting off from the system. Henric turned to Kace once more,"No no its fine, we can just play this game, unless there is any shooting games in there, we can also play that too!"

"This is AMAZING! How did you come up with a place like this?"he asked Kace, a little over-excitedly. Henric knew what the Room of Requirement could do but he never guessed it would be something out of the ordinary for the wizards folks like Kace. Was Kace raised in a muggle world like himself? How did he knew all of these muggle games? Was he a muggleborn? They could play electronic devices here too? All this questions started to pop up in his head like wildfire.

WHOOOOOOAH.

It was a laptop!!

Curious, Lux stepped further into the room and it seemed that Nat hadn't noticed her arrival. Gosh. Was she going to look like a creeper?? Because there had been no stalking going on or anything. It was more of an impulse. Seeing her friend walk into the Room of Requirement made her wonder what form it would take.

And she had to say that she was impressed.

"You miss the internet? I do too." But she had letters and her two-way mirror so that she could talk to Bay.

The look on Hayleys face right now could make any persons heart break. He hoped this wasn't the face he had left her with a year ago. Because it sucked. Not her face, but the look and feeling behind it. Chance would never want to hurt Hayley. It made his jaw clench as he saw the pain that boy ... That grown boy had left on Hayley. He knew how Noel felt now, and probably only a fraction of what Noel felt too because he hadn't known or been as close to Hayley. Chance didn't blame Noel one bit for punching him. He wanted to do the same thing to this kid that had hurt her. He was tall. He could probably take him.

Chance gave her an encouraging smile though. She didn't need someone to fight her battles for her. He knew that much. Harley was one that could do that all herself. She did need someone in her corner though, or at least that's what he thought. "I understand. I know it must be tough on you two not to be talking. Insured he already suspects something went down. The way you two haven't been talking."

He saw the tears in her eyes. They weren't spilling out but man, they hurt to see. It just made him feel guilty watching them. Sighing, Chance opened his arms. "I know it's not much but, I'm always open for hugs." Hugs could be a powerful thing. And he gave it his all when he gave hugs.

Kace chuckled at Henric's reaction and he knew the little guy wouldn't say no. He plopped into one of the best bean bags in Kace's opinion. Oooohhooo so Henric was into shooting games then huh? He smirked and said, "I was thinking of that too. I wanna play Call of Duty as well. I love playing that with my cousins. Let's see if you are up to my standards.." he winked and was joking of course. This puff didn't mind a challenge though. So I mean if Henric was up for it I mean why not? He smiled and shrugged, "Oh I have been craving for a good video gaming system for a while and when I would walk past this room and wondering where I could get one. Then I saw a door open and I walked in and this gaming system was here.." he smiled widely and relaxed more into his bean bag.

"So I am guessing your are Muggleborn?" he asked just having a hunch since he knew quite a couple of muggle video games. He began to choose his mario kart racer while he waited for him to answer the question.

Ooooh... the laptop was start-

"AAAHHHHHHhhhhh...." WHO WAS THAT. Natalia did not expect that coming. Turning around, she noticed that it was only Lux! Whew, she almost gave her a heart attack.

"Hey Lux!" A small beam appeared on her face. "How did you get here?" Natalia had not noticed anyone around her while she was walking down the corridor. Was Lux already here or was she just super ninja-ly quiet?

"Yes, the internet!" Speaking of the internet, the laptop had finished booting up and the home screen popped up up. "YESSSSSS!" Now it was time to try out if wireless internet would actually work in here. There weren't any signals for miles around... but since this was the Room of Requirement, perhaps some special magic would be at work?

"I still can't get used to the fact that there's no wifi here..." Being raised by pure muggle parents, Natalia had grown too used to the convenient applications. "...even my old school had wifi." Perhaps it was because her former school was located right in the middle of the metropolitan of Shanghai, unlike Hogwarts, which was located in the middle of NOWHERE.