The Room of Requirement

Early morning, in the Slytherin Common Room.

Jerry opened the Marauder's Map and checked it carefully. Snape was in his office, not moving. He was probably brewing Potions.

Dumbledore, on the other hand, was pacing around the Headmaster's Office. Who knew what he was doing? Filch was in the Gryffindor area.

Okay! All clear. Let's go!

Jerry crept through the Slytherin Common Room without making a sound, deftly avoiding the furniture and decorations.

Once through the stone doorway, Jerry spread out the map and followed the route he had planned to the Seventh Floor of Hogwarts Castle. He had been itching to see the Room of Requirement for ages.

On the Seventh Floor, Jerry found the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy being clubbed by Trolls. He paced the corridor opposite it, repeating silently, I need a place to practice spells.

After his third pass, the wall began to change. Deep black magical patterns emerged from within it.

The patterns spread and intertwined, shifting and expanding until they formed a magnificent door.

Jerry pushed it open. Inside was a room the size of a basketball court. Chandeliers hung on the walls, and dark stone tiles covered the floor. His footsteps rang sharply against them.

Several Dummies like the ones used in Charms Class stood in the center. Simple enchantments let them simulate opponents in a real fight.

Seeing them gave Jerry a feeling that was both familiar and exciting.

He approached a Dummy and flicked his wand in a tentative attack. As though it had come to life, the Dummy dodged.

Jerry smiled at its reaction. He liked this practice room.

From now on, it would be Jerry's private spell-practice room.

Here, Jerry could cast spells to his heart's content and fight the Dummies to sharpen his skills.

"I need a place to brew Potions."

After Jerry repeated the thought three times, the space around him blurred, as though he were passing through fog.

When his vision cleared, he found himself in an entirely different room.

It was much smaller, perhaps a fifth the size of the first. There was only one table, but it was crowded with cauldrons, distillers, and other Potion-making equipment.

Jerry absolutely loved the Room of Requirement!

He decided to come here every night to practice spells. He would work hard in secret, then leave everyone else in the dust.

"Expecto Patronum!"

As Jerry spoke the incantation, he felt the air tremble around him. An invisible force surged out of his body.

Silver light shot from the tip of his wand, cutting through the darkness toward the space ahead. Bright as lightning, it illuminated the entire room.

As he continued pouring magic into it, two scarlet points appeared within the silver-white glow. A piercing cry rang out, and Jerry's Patronus emerged from the light, majestic and sacred.

"Huff... huff..." Jerry gulped for air. Casting the Patronus Charm over and over had nearly drained his magic.

But when Jerry saw the Patronus Charm's proficiency rising on the system panel, he knew it had been worth it.

He could clearly feel himself growing stronger and his use of the Patronus Charm becoming more practiced.

Before long, Jerry's Patronus Charm would level up.

Then he could learn more about his Patronus—and discover what power and meaning lay behind its eyes.

After resting for a while, Jerry packed his things and opened the Marauder's Map. Once he was sure it was safe, he headed back to his dormitory.

As he descended to the fourth floor, a sudden click made him jump. A door had appeared in the wall to his right. The sound that had startled him was the door opening.

Jerry's first thought was that someone was out to get him.

He snatched up the Marauder's Map and confirmed no one was nearby. Then he checked the Headmaster's Office. Dumbledore was gone.

"Jerry, were you looking for me?" a voice said behind him.

The voice was warm and kindly, but Jerry broke out in a cold sweat.

"Professor Dumbledore! Where did you come from? You scared me to death!"

Dumbledore laughed at his startled expression. "Sorry, Jerry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I only wanted to play a little prank. I didn't think it would scare you so much."

"But Jerry, Hogwarts is under curfew right now. You've broken a school rule."

Jerry tried to explain, but Dumbledore gave him no chance. He walked straight into the room that had just appeared.

Jerry had no choice but to follow.

Inside, Jerry found an abandoned classroom. Apart from a large mirror against one wall, it was empty.

The mirror had a golden frame. Across its top were engraved the words "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."

Two claw-shaped feet supported it. The whole mirror had a noble, mysterious air.

Jerry recognized it. It was the Mirror of Erised.

Dumbledore stood before the Mirror of Erised, gazing deep into it as though searching for something—or remembering it.

After a while, Dumbledore turned to Jerry with a smile. "This mirror shows the deepest desires and dreams of anyone who looks into it. Would you like to try?"

Jerry grumbled to himself, After you put it like that, can I really say no?

When Jerry stepped in front of the mirror, sorrow suddenly filled his face, and tears welled in his eyes.

Before long, Jerry moved away and stood beside the mirror.

He gently wiped the tears from his eyes and said to Dumbledore, his voice catching, "I'm sorry, Professor. I lost my composure. I saw a middle-aged couple in the mirror. They must have been my parents. I saw us living happily together."

Dumbledore comforted him. "Jerry, remember: it does no good to dwell on dreams and forget to live."

After saying goodbye to Dumbledore, Jerry returned to his dormitory looking a little sad.

The moment he entered, Jerry dove under his covers. Once the darkness of the blankets hid him completely, his expression changed. There was not a trace of sadness on his face. Instead, a cunning glint shone in his eyes.