Chapter 15

By the time I climbed into bed, I wasn't sleepy at all. Lying on my back with my hands behind my head, I thought about what I had mentioned to Severus. I decided to act on it immediately.

I sat up abruptly, drew the heavy bed curtains, and cast a Silencing Charm. I called out softly, "Bobo?"

The book on house-elves mentioned that they could respond to their master's call. Bobo belonged to Hogwarts, so I wasn't sure if it would respond to a student's summons.

I waited quietly for a moment, but nothing happened. Disappointed, I sighed. It seemed that only the Headmaster could summon them.

Just as I was about to lie back down, a small figure appeared at the foot of my bed with a pop.

"Miss Sawyer called for Bobo!" A high-pitched voice said excitedly, and a pair of large eyes gleamed in the darkness before me.

"Hi, Bobo," I greeted it, swallowing the scream that had nearly escaped my throat. I was glad I hadn't lifted the Silencing Charm. I lit my wand with a soft "Lumos." "I did call for you. I didn't think students could summon you, though, since I'm not your master."

The weak blue light from my wand illuminated the small space, and Bobo stood up straight, retreating to the foot of the bed. "Of course! Our master is Hogwarts, and only the Headmaster can directly command us. But we can hear your summons and respond if we choose to. Bobo is happy to answer Miss Sawyer's call! Bobo finished his tasks quickly to come here!" Its voice rose even higher, its bat-like ears perking up.

House-elves are indeed enthusiastic creatures. I sat cross-legged. "Thank you, Bobo. I need your help with something."

Bobo leaned forward slightly, ready to listen intently.

"Well, I need a place to conduct independent potion experiments. It should be secret, where no one else can find it. Does Hogwarts have such a place?" I asked tentatively.

"Of course, Miss Sawyer! Hogwarts' secrets are never fully discovered, but Bobo knows a place! It's called the Room of Requirement, also known as the Come and Go Room!"

"Why? How does it work?" My curiosity was piqued.

"It only appears when you truly need it, and when it appears, it is arranged to meet your needs! So, it fulfills your requirements! Oh, except for food."

I didn't ask why it couldn't provide food; I was too fascinated by its capabilities. "So, if I need a place only I can access, no one else can find it."

"Yes, absolutely, Miss Sawyer!"

"Then why doesn't everyone know about it?" I was puzzled.

"All Hogwarts house-elves know! Sometimes we find new recipes in there when professors or students want to change their diet, we can find enough variations to meet their demands! Some students have found the Room of Requirement before, but they can't find it again because they don't know the secret!" Bobo explained mysteriously.

I was thrilled; this didn't feel like cheating. "Can you tell me, Bobo? Can you take me there?"

Bobo eagerly bowed. "I would be delighted to serve you!"

"How about tomorrow? Is that alright? Where should I meet you?"

"After lunch tomorrow, come to the eighth floor. Bobo will wait for you there!"

"That sounds perfect! Thank you, Bobo." I was genuinely grateful to this eager little creature.

"My pleasure!" Bobo bowed excitedly again, ready to disappear.

"Oh, by the way, do you know how to cook Chinese food?" I asked hopefully.

Bobo's ears drooped. "Miss Sawyer wants to eat Chinese food! Bobo cannot cook it... but Bobo will ask the other elves, and if no one knows, Bobo will find a recipe!"

"There's no rush, and it's okay if you don't know!" I quickly reassured him. "You've already been a great help. Thank you so much, Bobo."

Bobo, once again excited, bowed and disappeared.

The information I learned tonight made me so excited that it took a long time to fall asleep.

Thankfully, the next day was Saturday, so I slept in. Having missed breakfast, I had a Chocolate Frog to tide me over and headed to the common room to read.

After lunch, I told Lily I was heading out and made my way to the eighth floor alone. The eighth floor was close to the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.

Finding no one around, I wandered the eighth-floor corridor. After a few steps, I heard a familiar sharp voice.

"Miss Sawyer, this way!" Bobo called me from near a tapestry.

The strange tapestry depicted a troll in a tutu trying to teach ballet to a group of bewildered students. Bobo instructed me to concentrate on what I needed while walking past the blank wall opposite the tapestry three times.

I had to try it.

I need a place to practice spells, I need a place to practice spells, I need a place to practice spells.

A door appeared in the blank wall, looking like the entrance to a normal classroom.

I approached and opened it. Inside, it resembled a Charms classroom, with one desk, a sofa along the wall, and a row of bookshelves. Various spell practice tools were scattered around.

"Wow, perfect," I marveled. "This is such a great place. Thank you, Bobo. I think I know how to use it now."

Bobo's eyes shone with happiness as he bowed and disappeared.

I spent the entire afternoon immersed in this practice room. The bookshelves were filled with a wide range of books, from basic spell books to advanced ones. Some had warnings that they shouldn't be practiced alone. I practiced all the spells I had learned and started studying a book on healing spells.

When I finally checked the time, it was already dinner.

Rushing to the Great Hall, I joined the Gryffindor table just as dinner was ending. I quickly grabbed some food.

Lily saw me and immediately asked, "Where have you been? You left in such a hurry after lunch, and we couldn't find you all afternoon. Severus and I were worried!"

Mouth full, I mumbled, "I'll explain everything in a bit, promise!"

Once I finished eating, I pulled Lily along and found Severus, leading them to the eighth floor. "This is going to be a surprise... Follow me!"

Sitting in the room I had requested for secret conversations, I began explaining the Room of Requirement's existence and how to use it to an astonished Lily and Severus.

"So, this is the Room of Requirement? It really provides whatever we need?" Lily asked, both surprised and excited. Severus's eyes also sparkled with interest.

"I'm sure. I spent the entire afternoon in the practice room I created. I lost track of time..." I admitted, blushing a bit.

"Can I try it?" Severus asked urgently, standing up.

"Of course, but we need to step outside first. It can't create another room while someone is inside."

We stepped out, and Severus and Lily each took turns. Severus conjured a perfect potions lab, while Lily recreated her room at home down to the smallest details, including the Muggle trinkets on her desk.

I was amazed at how quickly she had mastered using the Room of Requirement.

After much discussion, we created a room for all three of us, accessible only to those who knew to ask for "S.S.L's Base." Inside, it had a potions lab, a practice room, and a lounge.

It became our sanctuary.