Slytherins & Escape

The morning mist clung to the Hogwarts grounds like a shroud, mirroring the somber mood that settled over Professor Dumbledore as he awaited his unexpected guests. Harry Potter, his face pale and drawn, entered the office, followed by the icy elegance of Daphne Greengrass.

"Good morning, Harry, Miss Greengrass," Dumbledore's voice, though calm, held an unsettling tremor. He sank into his chair, a weary sigh escaping his lips. With a flick of his wand, another chair materialized beside Daphne's, offering Harry a seat.

"Professor," Harry began, his voice firm despite his apprehension, "we believe you gifted me a cloak for Christmas. A cloak that once belonged to my father."

Dumbledore's eyes, magnified by his spectacles, narrowed. "Indeed, Harry. It did belong to your father, and now it is yours. I am intrigued by your deduction."

"It was the most logical conclusion," Daphne interjected, her voice a silken whisper that carried a hint of steel.

Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose it was…"

"Professor," Harry pressed, "why the anonymity? Why not simply give it to me directly?"

Dumbledore closed his eyes, a melancholic expression gracing his features. "I believed it was for the best, Harry. For your protection."

Daphne exchanged a meaningful glance with Harry, a silent communication passing between them. They had confirmed their suspicions, but the conversation felt strangely deflated.

Suddenly, Dumbledore rose, his gaze fixed on the snow-covered grounds. "I… I am truly sorry, Harry, Daphne," he confessed, his voice thick with emotion.

Harry's brow furrowed. "Sorry, Professor? For what?"

"For everything. For what you've endured in your homes…" Dumbledore turned back to them, his eyes brimming with tears. "Harry, I should never have entrusted you to the Dursleys. I truly believed they would provide you with a loving family. And Daphne, I am deeply remorseful for the suffering your parents inflicted upon you. I should have done more to bring them to justice…"

Harry was speechless. Daphne shifted beside him, her aura radiating an icy chill.

Dumbledore continued, his voice trembling, "You are safe here, at Hogwarts. You do not need to return to those… those… situations. You are safe here!" He looked at them pleadingly, as if seeking their forgiveness.

"How do you know all this?" Daphne demanded, her voice laced with venom.

Dumbledore averted his gaze. "I… I learned of it recently. I could never have imagined… Please, understand. I only want to protect you. I want to prevent you from walking down a dark path…"

"You spied on us?!" Harry's voice was a furious roar.

"I only wanted to ensure your safety! Please, let me help you, let me guide you!"

Harry felt a surge of anger, a wave of betrayal washing over him. Dumbledore, the revered headmaster, had been spying on them? He had listened to their every conversation? And he was responsible for his miserable existence with the Dursleys?

As he stared at Dumbledore, all he saw was an aged, manipulative man, unworthy of his trust. How dare he presume to save them?

Daphne, however, remained composed. "We require no savior," she declared, her voice a glacial whisper. Harry imagined Dumbledore crumbling to dust under the weight of her icy disdain.

Dumbledore recoiled, his eyes wide with shock. "But… Harry, Daphne…" he stammered.

"No, Professor," Harry declared, his voice firm. "We have heard enough. You have done enough. Leave us be."

With that, Harry and Daphne turned and fled the office, leaving Dumbledore alone with his regrets.

"Fawkes, my old friend," Dumbledore muttered, his gaze falling upon the phoenix perched on its stand, "even you seem to have fallen under her spell…"

They raced through the deserted corridors, Harry's mind a whirlwind of emotions. He needed to find a place where they could speak freely, a place beyond Dumbledore's watchful eyes.

Finally, they burst into a rarely used storeroom, overflowing with brooms and cleaning supplies. They found a secluded corner, the air thick with the musty scent of neglect.

Harry's heart pounded. Dumbledore knew everything. He knew their fears, their anxieties, their every whispered secret.

Daphne, her face pale, mirrored his distress.

"We need to find a place where we can speak freely," Harry said, his voice low. "A place beyond his reach."

Daphne nodded. "It will be difficult. Hogwarts is riddled with eyes and ears. Portraits, ghosts… even the house-elves may report to him."

Dumbledore's betrayal had shattered their sense of security.

Harry racked his brain, searching for a solution. He needed a sanctuary, a place where they could learn and grow without the constant shadow of Dumbledore's surveillance.

Suddenly, an idea sparked to life. "The house-elves!" he exclaimed. "They know Hogwarts like the back of their hands. They can help us!"

Daphne's eyes widened. "You're a genius, Harry!"

"I know," he replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But we must assume the house-elves are also under Dumbledore's influence. Nevertheless, it's worth a shot."

They made their way to the kitchens, where they were greeted warmly by the house-elves. Mipsy, the same house-elf who had guided them on their first day, flitted around them, her large ears twitching with excitement.

"Do Mr. and Miss require anything?" Mipsy chirped, her voice high-pitched. "Mipsy can bring it immediately."

"Thank you, Mipsy," Harry said, "but we have another request. We need to find a place where we can meet and practice magic, a place where no one can observe us."

Mipsy nodded knowingly. "Mipsy knows many such places. Most students use secluded broom cupboards for… private meetings."

Harry winced. That was not exactly what he had in mind.

Daphne quickly interjected, "We are too young for that, Mipsy. Harry meant a place where we can study and train without interruption. A place where no one can spy on us."

"Mipsy understands. We house-elves see much at Hogwarts. We know how the other students treat Mr. and Miss. Mipsy will help."

"Do you know such a place?" Harry asked, his hopes rising.

"Yes, Mipsy knows. The Room of Requirement. We house-elves often use it for storing supplies. Others call it the Come and Go Room. It can be anything you desire."

Anything you desire? The possibilities were endless.

"Where can we find this room, Mipsy?" Harry asked, his voice trembling with excitement.

"On the seventh floor, opposite the tapestry of the wizard and the trolls. Walk past it three times, concentrating on what you wish to find. Then, a door will appear. Once inside, you can alter the room to your liking and make the door disappear. Nobody can follow you into the room without your permission."

It sounded too good to be true. Harry exchanged a triumphant look with Daphne.

"Thank you, Mipsy!" he exclaimed. "We will explore it ourselves first. But if we encounter any difficulties, we will return to you. You have been most helpful."

With that, they hurried towards the seventh floor, their hearts pounding with anticipation. They reached the tapestry of the wizard and the trolls, their breaths catching in their throats.

"There it is," Daphne whispered, pointing to the wall opposite the tapestry.

"Okay," Harry said, "as Mipsy instructed, we walk past three times, focusing on our desired outcome."

He stepped aside, allowing Daphne to perform the ritual. She walked past the wall three times, her mind filled with a single, unwavering thought: a place of learning, a place of power, a place where they could train in secret.

And then, as if by magic, a door materialized in the blank wall.

"It worked!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder.

He took Daphne's hand, her fingers trembling slightly. Together, they pushed open the door and stepped into the unknown.

The room that unfolded before them was breathtaking. One half was a sanctuary of knowledge, overflowing with shelves laden with ancient tomes and comfortable armchairs positioned before a crackling fireplace. The other half was a training ground, equipped with sturdy dummies that seemed to pulsate with life, their wooden limbs poised for combat.

"Do you like it?" Daphne asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"It's perfect!" Harry declared, his voice filled with awe. "We can learn here, train here, and finally be free."

"Let's explore," Daphne suggested, her gaze drawn to the towering shelves. "These books hold the secrets of magic."

"But first," Harry said, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes, "a duel. I, Harry Potter, challenge you, Daphne Greengrass, to a duel!"

Daphne burst into laughter, her icy facade melting away. "Oh, you are so predictable, Potter."

"Scared?" Harry teased, assuming a fighting stance.

"In your wildest dreams," Daphne retorted, drawing her wand.

And so, the battle began, their laughter echoing through the hidden chamber, a testament to their newfound freedom, a bond that would guide them through the trials that lay ahead.

As they cleaned up the remnants of their duel, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. This was their secret, their sanctuary, a place where they could learn, grow, and challenge each other without the watchful eyes of the adults. It was a place of freedom, a place where they could finally be themselves.

And as they delved into the ancient texts, their minds ignited with new possibilities, Harry knew that this was only the beginning of their journey. The Room of Requirement had become their haven, a haven where they would face their fears, hone their skills, and forge an unbreakable bond, a bond that would guide them through the trials that lay ahead.

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