The words "lead the way" sounded light and airy, yet they seemed to have exhausted all of Hermione's strength.
That wasn't a willing agreement, but a compromise after weighing all the seemingly worse options.
Draco nodded. "A wise choice, Miss Granger."
Then he said nothing more, simply turned around and started walking again.
This time, the grip on the wicker basket seemed to loosen slightly.
Hermione followed passively.
Her steps were still somewhat stiff, like a wind-up puppet, her thoughts struggling through a chaotic quagmire, each step incredibly heavy.
The corridors on the Seventh Floor of the castle were more spacious and quieter than the lower floors, and the air seemed colder as well.
Some tapestries and portraits that look quite old are hanging on the ancient stone walls.
The patterns on the tapestry have long since faded, the faces of the figures are blurred, and most of them are immersed in sleep.
Those who were sober were indifferent to what had happened between the two. Only occasionally would one or two sober portraits cast an inquiring glance at the strange pair carrying the same wicker basket in the dead of night.
Finally, they arrived opposite the famous Tapestry of a Troll Clubbing Barnabas the Barmy.
On the tapestry, the Troll brandishes a thick wooden club, his Barnabas the Barmy posture still comical, a simple-minded smile on his face, completely out of place with the solemn atmosphere of the late-night corridor.
The wall opposite, under the dim light, looked like just an ordinary stone wall.
The walls were rough, covered with the marks of time, and had nothing special about them.
Draco stopped and released his grip on the handle of the wicker basket.
The force that had been connecting the two vanished instantly, and Hermione instinctively stopped in her tracks.
She looked at the wall with a mixture of confusion and wariness, then quickly glanced at Draco.
"Here? An empty wall? This is the 'place' you're talking about?"
Hermione frowned, her eyes filled with doubt and a hint of wariness.
Draco first turned slightly to the side, using his tall and straight body to form an imperceptible barrier, cleverly separating Hermione from any possible gazes that might come from the other end of the corridor.
Then he slowly turned to the empty wall, his eyes fixed intently on the rough stone.
"This is it," Draco whispered.
Hermione frowned again, her doubts deepening.
There's nothing here except walls.
"Could there be a secret passage?"
But there were no marks or gaps on the wall; the smooth stone wall was so smooth that it was hard to see even a crack.
She wanted to hear what other tricks Draco had up his sleeve.
"Behind this wall, there's a room. A... very special room."
Draco spoke mysteriously, his gaze fixed on Hermione's eyes, carefully observing her reaction.
Hermione's brow furrowed even more, but the curious light in her eyes did not dim; instead, it shone even brighter because of his mysterious tone.
She knew Draco wouldn't bring her to see an ordinary wall for no reason.
There must be a secret hidden behind this wall.
Draco continued:
"It doesn't appear easily. Only when a person truly needs it, and concentrates their mind, contemplates the specific form they require, and walks back and forth in front of the wall three times..."
As he spoke, he gestured with his eyes to the blank section of wall in front of him.
"It will only appear after three attempts, transforming into what that person needs most."
"A room for practicing spells, a room for hiding things, or a room where someone can eat dinner in peace and have an undisturbed conversation."
Draco described the rules and characteristics of the Room of Requirement in enticing language.
He finished speaking and calmly looked at Hermione: "Then, Miss Granger."
"Please go over there, concentrate, and think carefully about what kind of room you need."
Draco looked directly into Hermione's eyes, slowing his speech considerably.
Imagine a room where you feel safe and comfortable, where you can confidently deal with your 'cold dinner'.
Draco accurately summarized and emphasized Hermione's needs.
Then he added, "Then you walk back and forth in front of that wall three times."
Draco gave clear instructions.
As Hermione was somewhat stunned by the series of instructions and subconsciously tried to think according to his words, Draco added at the end.
"Remember, focus entirely on the form you need to be."
Draco then fell silent, simply standing quietly to the side, his hands back in the pockets of his wizard's robe.
He turned slightly to the side, his gaze calmly fixed on Hermione and on the empty wall.
Hermione stood before the empty wall, holding the wicker basket, her heart filled with turmoil.
Reason warned her not to easily believe what Draco said.
She first glanced at Draco, who stood quietly waiting beside her, and then at the plain, unadorned empty wall.
Eventually, curiosity, like a vine breaking through the soil, could no longer be suppressed.
Hermione took a deep breath and hugged the wicker basket in her arms even tighter.
Then, as Draco had instructed, he began to concentrate and try to sketch something out in his mind...
She needed a room that was absolutely safe, free from prying eyes and uninvited guests.
She needed comfort, with soft chairs and a clean table, so she could temporarily unwind from her fatigue and guardedness.
This would allow her to finish her already cold dinner in peace.
More importantly, it would allow her and Malfoy to... have a calm and peaceful talk.
It doesn't need to be too big, but it needs to have enough privacy. Ideally, it should have a heavy door that can be closed to shut out all the noise and prying eyes...
Perhaps there's still a glimmer of light?
It shouldn't be too dark; dim lighting can amplify anxiety. Soft, warm light might help relax tense nerves a little...
As her thoughts gradually cleared, she began to walk back and forth between the wall with the Tapestry of a Troll Clubbing Barnabas the Barmy and the empty wall opposite.
Once again, the stone wall remained silent, without the slightest disturbance.
Twice, a faint magical fluctuation seemed to permeate the air, so subtle it made her heart skip a beat.
three times...
When Hermione walked past the empty wall for the third time, something incredible happened.
Without warning, the outline of a door appeared on the smooth stone wall.
The outline was initially faint, like a fingertip lightly tracing across damp sand, appearing and disappearing indistinctly.
But in an instant, it became clear, as if it had been meticulously sculpted by a magic carving knife.
Then, the rustic wood grain begins to emerge, the dark brown wood grain carrying the weight of time.
The door frame, the door panel, and a brass door handle with a warm, lustrous sheen...
A heavy, sturdy wooden door, no different from the other ancient doors in Hogwarts Castle, appeared out of thin air on the previously empty wall.
It's as if it's always been there, just never noticed.
Hermione stopped abruptly, nearly dropping the wicker basket in her arms. She instinctively tightened her grip, managing to hold it firmly.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the scene before her that defied all the common sense of physics and magic she knew.