The Slytherin Common Room, before dawn.
Jerry opened the Marauder's Map and studied it. Snape was motionless in his office, probably brewing Potions.
Dumbledore, on the other hand, was pacing around the Headmaster's Office. Jerry had no idea what he was doing. Filch was over in the Gryffindor area.
Okay! All clear. Let's go!
Jerry crept through the Slytherin Common Room, making as little noise as possible. He deftly avoided the furnishings so he wouldn't knock anything over.
Once through the Common Room's stone door, Jerry unfolded 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 surface of 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 about the size of a basketball court. Chandeliers hung from the walls, and dark stone tiles covered the floor. Every step he took rang out against them.
Several Dummies like the ones used in Charms Class stood in the center. Simple magic had been placed on them to simulate opponents in a real fight.
The sight of them filled Jerry with a feeling both familiar and new.
He approached a Dummy and tentatively swung his Wand to attack. As if it had come alive, the Dummy reacted and dodged.
Jerry smiled at its response. He liked this practice room.
From now on, it would be his private Spell practice room.
Here, Jerry could cast Spells to his heart's content and fight the Dummies to hone 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 walking through fog.
When his surroundings came back into focus, he found himself in a completely different room.
It was much smaller than the last one, perhaps a fifth of its size. It held only a Table, but that Table was covered with Cauldrons, distillers, and other Potion-making equipment.
Jerry absolutely loved the Room of Requirement!
He resolved to come to this magical room 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, piercing the darkness and streaking upward. It blazed like lightning, illuminating the entire room.
As he continued pouring magic into it, two scarlet spots appeared in the silver-white light. With a piercing cry, Jerry's Patronus emerged, majestic and sacred.
"Huff... huff..." Jerry gasped for breath. Casting the Patronus Charm repeatedly had nearly drained his magic.
But when he saw the Patronus Charm's proficiency rising on the system panel, he knew it had been worth it.
Jerry could clearly feel himself growing stronger. He was also becoming more adept at using the Patronus Charm.
It would not be long before his Patronus Charm leveled 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 up his things and opened the Marauder's Map. Once he confirmed it was safe, he set off for 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 hurriedly checked the Marauder's Map. No one was nearby. Then he glanced at the Headmaster's Office and saw that Dumbledore was gone.
"Jerry, were you looking for me?" a voice asked from 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 Jerry's startled expression. "Sorry, Jerry. I frightened you. I only meant to play a little prank. I didn't think you'd be so startled."
"But Jerry, Hogwarts is under curfew. You've broken the School Rules."
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. It was empty except for a large mirror against one wall.
Its frame was gold, and words were engraved across the top: "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."
Two claw-shaped feet supported it. The whole mirror had an air of nobility and mystery.
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 he missed.
After a short while, Dumbledore turned to Jerry with a smile. "This mirror shows each person's deepest desires and dreams. Would you like to try?"
At Dumbledore's words, Jerry grumbled inwardly, After you put it like that, can I really say no?
Jerry stood before the mirror. His face suddenly filled with sorrow, and tears welled in his eyes.
Before long, he stepped away and stood beside it.
Gently wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, he said to Dumbledore in a slightly choked voice, "I'm sorry, Professor. I lost my composure. In the mirror, I saw a middle-aged couple. They must be my parents. I saw us living happily together."
Dumbledore comforted him. "Jerry, remember that 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 plunged under his blanket. Once the fabric's darkness had swallowed him completely, his expression changed. There was not a trace of sadness on his face. Instead, a sly gleam shone in his eyes.