the room of requirement

Author's Notes:

Uhm ... ok ... I have to admit ... English is not my language by birth ... so ... please do not kill me while reading ... neither for the bad English I use, nor for what I am writing ...

Warning:

Story contains references to child abuse:

Child abuse is a really serious thing, it is an evil thing and there are a lot of children in our world that really would need help without being helped, and closing our eyes and pretending it does not exist – is no solution … handle people, children as well as adults, which are showing any signs – whichever – of once being abused … with understanding and with help …

what does not mean I am not as evil as I pretend to be … ^.~ … believe me – I am …

break … ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ … line

Previously in The room of requirement

Well, maybe his relatives knew that a few chores would not kill him.

But then, Miss Granger seemed to be worried about Potter.

Well, he would be back tomorrow.

The room of requirement

Chapter three

Having some fun

Friday

He did not know why he – yet again – was hurrying towards his library to turn on his computer.

Communicating with the students during his well earned holidays – that was not like him after all. He rather should take a good book, or the new potions journal and read a bit, instead of entering the room of requirement. He even had a few potions to brew for his own potions stocks and for restocking the infirmary, not to mention those he needed for his lessons next year and last but not least he really should continue with his article for the potions journal.

But then – he had promised himself that he would come back to find out more. Even if he did not know about what exactly he wanted to find out more. They weren't up to something. They just had some fun during the holidays, nothing more. And that surely was not a crime.

But, well, he had to admit that it wasn't that bad in the room of requirement at all. They behaved, and they even were civil, he thought while he waited for the computer to start. So why not?

And besides – it was fun for him, because it was fun to fool them a bit.

[Darkmaster enters the room of requirement at 8:49 pm]

founders: hello Darkmaster, nice to see you this evening.

justharry: hello, Darkmaster … :-) … nice to see you back here …

Darkmaster: good evening, plainliquid, Finnigan01, Hermy, hufflejustin and justharry

Hermy: hi, Darkmaster, you're ok?

Finnigan01: well, I still like snow white and the seven dwarves. I love the dwarves, they're fun

Finnigan01: hi Darkmaster

Darkmaster: Thank you, justharry. And yes, Hermy, I am quite well, thanks for your concern.

plainliquid: evening Darkmaster

plainliquid: I love the beauty and the beast

Hermy: Walt Disney … that's not quite a classical fairy tale, plainliquid

hufflejustin: hi

plainliquid: I know, but it's my favorite

Hermy: well, as long as you don't mention Cinderella … I never liked this one …

hufflejustin: why not, Hermy?

Hermy: well, a fairy tale for children … and then the mother cuts off her daughter's toes … it always gave me the creeps

justharry: well, better loosing a toe than a head, Hermy

Finnigan01: turn and peep, turn and peep, there's blood within the shoe, the shoe it is too small for her, the true bride waits for you

justharry: hey, you are quite good, Finnigan01, remembering that one …

Finnigan01: *lol* no, justharry … I just googled the shit

justharry: *rofl*

plainliquid: well, I had nightmares after this one

Hermy: never mind. I see this discussion is not going quite well for me

hufflejustin: - afk

justharry: sure … and, Hermy ? as long as your parents does not cook filled Hermiones with beans ...

Hermy: *lol*

Darkmaster: What is the meaning of - afk?

justharry: afk is away from keyboard, Darkmaster

plainliquid: the worst with the fairy tales is, they are just contrived *gg*

Darkmaster: Thank you, justharry

Hermy: not everything, plainliquid … just think at the burning of witches

justharry: you're welcome, Darkmaster

Finnigan01: burning witches? Well, who would do SUCH a thing ?

justharry: right, plainliquid …

Hermy: :-(

Darkmaster: But not in fairy tales for children, Hermy.

Hermy: ok, not there, Darkmaster …

justharry: therefore in reality, Darkmaster … so what? that's even worse

Finnigan01: dunno, I think they are just good packaged warnings for the simple folk, something like superstitiousness

Darkmaster: You might be quite right, Finnigan01.

Hermy: maybe, but do I wish to hear this with four or five years?

[DenCreev enters the room of requirement at 9:41 pm]

founders: hello DenCreev, nice to see you this evening.

justharry: hi DenCreev

Hermy: rele DenCreev

DenCreev: hi everyone

Darkmaster: good evening, DenCreev

DenCreev: thanksi

Hermy: how are you, DenCreev?

justharry: ^.~

justharry: you're welcomei

justharry: *liftstheeyebrowtoitshights*

Hermy: what is it? justharry?

Darkmaster: welcomei?

justharry: ^.~

justharry: *lol*

justharry: nothing, Hermy …

Hermy: just say it, justharry

Finnigan01: I wondered too, but I still am standing in the corner *gg*

justharry: I just answered to the thanksi from DenCreev … Darkmaster

DenCreev: I'm fine, and you, Hermy?

plainliquid: that's sweeti

Darkmaster: That – I suppressed, justharry.

Hermy: I'm fine too, DenCreev

justharry: *loli*

Hermy: *rofli*

justharry: I can't do that, Darkmaster … I would explode would I suppress it

Darkmaster: you would?

justharry: *explodei*

Hermy: *loli*

justharry: you just stopp this and shut up, I can't braeth with laugher …

DenCreev: ?

plainliquid: *looooooli*

Hermy: hihihi-i

plainliquid: cheeri

justharry: breath … I meant … I cannot even write with loaugher …

Hermy: laugheri

plainliquid: glucksi

Darkmaster: I can see that, justharry

Hermy: loli

DenCreev: ? someone tell me what's going on?

plainliquid: snorti

Darkmaster: stop! (i)

Hermy: *rofli*

justharry: oki

justharry: (_(_()~~~i

Hermy: lol

Hermy: ?

Hermy: i

plainliquid: the wrong way round, justharry – as always

justharry: not-i plainliquid

plainliquid: concludei !

Hermy: yesi

Darkmaster: oki

Hermy: *loli*

plainliquid: I'm still laughing

Hermy: me too

plainliquid: cooli

justharry: you think I fare betteri?

plainliquid: :-))i

Hermy: it's good now

plainliquid: crassi goodi

Hermy: hihiiiiii

justharry: .oO( … blimy, are we stupidi todayi … )

Hermy: to such an extendi

DenCreev: What's wrong with you today? i ?

justharry: *roooooooooofliiiiiiiiii*

Hermy: *loooooooooooli*

Hermy: you DenCreevi

plainliquid: *grini*

Darkmaster: are there no adults?

Hermy: here?

Darkmaster: no, there

plainliquid: just children

justharry: *lookingaround* … no … Darkmasteri

Hermy: greati

Darkmaster: Don't mess around with my nickname, justharri!

justharry is rolling with laugheri …

[You have a private dialog from justharry]

So, this time it was Potter who addressed him. Who would have thought? But then – Potter didn't know that it was him, Snape, and he grinned. Lifting his eyebrow Snape wondered what Potter would do – after kicking him out of the room, that was – would he know that it was him, while he clicked at the message and the dialog window opened.

justharry: hi, Darkmaster. Care for a few words in privacy?

Darkmaster: Surely, why not? Do you want to talk about something special?

justharry: not really, just for fun

Darkmaster: So, you are tired again?

justharry: *lol* … yes, I have to admit, I am. But that's not the reason I addressed you. I just wanted to learn more about you

Darkmaster: So you are curious?

justharry: I have to admit, yes, I am

Darkmaster: Then, shall we continue with our game of questions and answers we started yesterday?

justharry: why not? Whose turn is it?

Darkmaster: It is yours.

justharry: ok, then. I wondered – you are a Slytherin. So why would you bother talking to students from other houses, even if in a chat room?

Darkmaster: Well, we are not all evil. In fact most of us are just like you and Granger or even Weasley. We just keep up the house rivalry.

justharry: .oO( … I better say nothing to this … )

Darkmaster: Why ever not? You might say what you think. We are in privacy here.

justharry: well, watching Malfoy – just for an example – that isn't just the normal house rivalry

Darkmaster: I see your point. But even Malfoy is not as evil as you may think him to be. You might try to give him a chance, because if asked, he would

Darkmaster: Blasted dialog box! However, if asked, he would say the same about you.

justharry: *snort* … he rather would hex me into the next oblivion

Darkmaster: I don't believe so. However, if we are at it, why did you open a room where even Slytherins are allowed in?

justharry: why not? Slytherins are students like all others. It wouldn't be fair if they were the only ones left out

Darkmaster: That is correct, but WHY are you doing this?

justharry: well, don't know. This chat just is something like a refuge for some people

Darkmaster: Like?

justharry: don't know. As I said yesterday. For me it is a chance to have contact to the others during holidays

Darkmaster: I see.

justharry: you seem to like the chat as well. You are here every day since you first entered the room of requirement

Darkmaster: I have to admit, yes, this room is interesting. And it is quite well looked after.

justharry: thanks … *blushes* …

Darkmaster: ^.~

justharry: *lol* … I see you learned this one …

Darkmaster: *smirks*

Darkmaster: However, yesterday you mentioned, you were doing just chores and then visiting the chat in the evening.

justharry: well, I guess I did

Darkmaster: What I do not understand, you surely do more than just that. What are you doing besides of chores and the chat?

justharry: nothing … there isn't time for anything else … believe it or not, but I do chores the entire day …

Darkmaster: The entire day?

Snape shook his head. Potter really wanted to tell him that he did chores the entire day? That he did not lay on his bed lazily reading or doing whatever teenage boys in Potter's age usually did? That was ridiculous. Still shaking his head he summoned a glass of red wine from the nearby table and nipped at the drink. His house elf had brought a plate with sandwiches too sometimes during the past hour, but he ignored them. He wasn't really hungry.

After taking another sip of the wine he placed the glass beside the keyboard and brought his attention back towards the monitor and – the conversation with Potter who had answered meanwhile.

justharry: the entire day, yes

Darkmaster: Pray tell, what kind of chores do you do that takes you the entire day?

justharry: it is not your turn …

Darkmaster: Alright, then ask your question.

justharry: well, why did you leave your home? You said you lived alone. Why?

Darkmaster: Let me just say, it had not been fun at home.

justharry: ok, sorry

Darkmaster: There is no reason for you to be sorry about.

justharry: *shruggingshoulders*

Darkmaster: So, what kind of chores would take you the entire day?

justharry: well, there are just a lot of them

Darkmaster: like?

justharry: *sigh* ok, ok, if you have to know …

justharry: preparing meals, cleaning the house, doing the dishes and the laundry, cleaning the floors, working in the garden, and so on …

Darkmaster: Well, none of those chores would take you the entire day.

justharry: no, not if you had just one of them a day

Darkmaster: I beg your pardon?

justharry: not if you had just one of them a day

Darkmaster: I do know what you wrote. It is quite here, three lines above. I just do not know what you mean with that.

justharry: *rollingeyes* … that I have to do them every day, mostly all of them

Darkmaster: So, you tell me that you have to prepare meals, cleaning the house, doing the dishes and the laundry and so on – every day?

justharry: *growling* it seems so

Well, Potter did not sound as if he lied to him. He seemed to be rather uncomfortable by telling him this. Really uncomfortable.

Well, Miss Granger seemed to be right after all – if you knew the way someone wrote, then you could read them as closely as if they would stand in front of you. And he didn't think that Potter lied to him with those chores. But then again – why in Merlin's name, would the boy do such an amount of them? What the hell had he done to gain such a punishment?

Darkmaster: What did you do to get punished with such an amount of chores?

justharry: I did nothing, and it is not your turn to ask a question

justharry: Didn't you have chores at home?

Darkmaster: A fair question. Yes, I had. But not as much. Mostly I had to keep my room clean and do the dishes, or help cooking.

justharry: ok, sorry

Darkmaster: There is nothing to be sorry about.

justharry: *shruggingshoulders*

justharry: well, before you ask … no, I really did nothing … my aunt and uncle just hate magic. And thus hate me …

Darkmaster: I wasn't about to ask this.

justharry: oh … sorry …

Darkmaster: Whatever for?

justharry: never mind …

Darkmaster: It's still your turn.

justharry: ok … thanks … well … what kind of music do you like?

Darkmaster: Classic. Piano and violin. Mozart especially. Why is it that everyone in the room of requirement is civil? Even friendly?

justharry: that's easy to answer. They behave, or they get the chop.

Darkmaster: Even the Gryffindors?

justharry: even them. I do not care which house they are from. The room of requirement is open for everyone, as long as they behave

Darkmaster: I have to admit, I am surprised.

justharry: *shruggingshoulders*

Darkmaster: You do this a lot. Shrugging your shoulders – besides of apologizing.

justharry: maybe – what should I do otherwise if I do not have anything to say to some things you ask or say?

Darkmaster: You have quite a point. I just wondered.

justharry: ok … what is your most hated subject?

Darkmaster: Divination. Yours?

justharry: *lol* … understandable … and yes, mine is divination too – shortly after history of magic

Darkmaster: Really? I thought it would be potions.

justharry: why would you think so?

Darkmaster: The history between you and Snape is quite legendary.

justharry: what doesn't mean that I do not like the subject itself … and it is 'Professor' Snape

Snape nearly choked on the mouthful of wine he had taken while reading Potter's last remark and he coughed a few times, his face a mask of shock. Potter really cared about him not using the title 'professor'? Damn, he was Snape, and if anyone was allowed to ignore his title, then it was him! He would have laughed at that, would he not still fight against coughing. That was – ridiculous! It was Potter to whom he talked here!

Darkmaster: You really care if I write Snape instead of 'Professor' Snape?

justharry: well, he IS a professor … and I guess he is one for a reason … what means he earned himself the respect to be addressed thus

Darkmaster: Alright … however … why is it that everyone says you are quite a crap at potions, if you like it?

justharry: well, with Professor Snape making me nervous all the time it isn't easy to get a potion correctly done

justharry: ifI brew some potions in the room of requirement, then I get them quite well done

Darkmaster: Why would Snape make you nervous?

justharry: 'Professor' Snape … and dunno …

Darkmaster: I don't believe you.

justharry: *shrugginshoulders* … well, ok, I admit it, I fear him … happy now?

Darkmaster: ^.~

Darkmaster: Why should I be happy about that? And why would you fear Snape in the first place to a point that you mess up your potions?

justharry: *sigh* … listen, I do not want to discuss Professor Snape. It's not quite polite to do so when he is not present …

Darkmaster: You have a point. But, if I may ask, why would you brew potions in the room of requirement?

justharry: hmm … well …

Darkmaster: Yes?

justharry: well … sometimes there is just need to, ok?

justharry: sorry …

Darkmaster: ^.~ … you know that this apologizing-thing is quite annoying? It would be rather my part to apologize for my questions

justharry: sorry

Darkmaster: Potter!

Darkmaster: Just stop it, ok?

There was no answer for some time and Snape took the time to wonder if Potter meant the chat room or the real room of requirement. But then – well, it wasn't as if one could brew a potion in a chat room, aside from an imaginary potion, but somehow he doubted this. And still he didn't get it that Potter was civil, that he conversed with a Slytherin, in a private dialog not to mention and that he even used words like thank you or sorry …

Well, rather a lot of those 'sorries' …

Darkmaster: If you didn't anything wrong, then there is no reason to apologize at all.

Why was it that Potter did feel the need to apologize every five minutes? That was just annoying. And now he even apologized for apologizing! That was ridiculous! It was more than annoying, and if he would have had Potter in front of him, he would …

Well, he would do what?

He sighed. Of course he would do nothing then.

But it was frustrating.

Waiting for Potter's answer he took another sip of his wine. But no reply came.

What was wrong with him?

Darkmaster: Potter? Are you still there?

justharry: well … yes … I am …

Darkmaster: Good. I thought you have left. You didn't write back.

justharry: well … I didn't know what … to write, I mean …

Darkmaster: Why not? Because I told you to not apologize?

justharry: *sigh* … well … yes … I guess …

Darkmaster: Just ask your next question, Potter. It's your turn.

justharry: ok … well … do you like flying?

Darkmaster: Actually, yes. But I do not like Quidditch. Though I do not have to ask you this question back, now, do I?

justharry: you would be surprised

Darkmaster: How so?

justharry: well, I like flying too. It gives me a bit time of freedom. But I do not like Quidditch either

Darkmaster: You don't? Why ever not? You play fairly well.

justharry: well, it is something people expect me doing, just because my father was a Quidditch-player during school

Darkmaster: I see.

Darkmaster: And you think you have to play Quidditch, because people expect it from you?

justharry: well, I guess … however, no offence, but I am tired. It is half past twelve meanwhile and I had a long day

Darkmaster: Never mind. I am tired too. Night then, sleep well. See you tomorrow.

justharry: yeah, if I can make it

The room of requirement was empty meanwhile aside from the founders that were present all the times and so Snape just closed the windows and turned off his computer, thinking of what he had learned today.

He was quite surprised, he had to admit.

First the – well – 'conversation' in the room of requirement. As stupid as it had been, he'd had his fun too. Even if he normally was no one to partake in such nonsense. And nonsense it had been, nothing else.

And then the conversation with Potter.

He would not have thought that Potter would defend him if one left out the term 'professor' in privacy. They were not in school right now after all. It was quite unexpected. Potter had not even insulted him, even if he had the chance to do so. He did not know that he was Snape after all. He could have said all that he wanted. He could have insulted him with everything he could come up with. But all he had said was that he made him nervous, that he feared him.

Ok, he was feared by most of the students. And he worked hard on his reputation to keep it that way. But – honestly – he was not feared to the point where they would mess up their potions. But Potter seemed to really fear him. And he wondered why. He never had resorted to violence or something like that. Sarcastic comments, yes. Snide remarks, yes. Taking points, yes, that too. And giving a lot of detention, ok, this as well. But nothing that would cause someone to really 'fear' him. And he wondered why Potter did.

And then – Potter brew potions in the room of requirement – regularly as it seemed. And with success that was. But, why would he do so? Why would he have needed to brew potions at all? And which potions did he brew? He had not answered this question. And again – he seemed to be really uncomfortable. So he had dropped the subject. Yet – he was curious about it.

What he had learned too was, that Potter did quite more chores than he would have expected. Because his relatives hated him. Well, he would not have believed him if he had not mentioned that they hated him because they hated magic and looking at it from this point of view, it might be true.

He remembered Petunia Evans – Dursley now. And the woman never liked magic. She even had begun to hate Lily because she was a witch. And she had hated him, back during their childhood, because he was a wizard. Considering this, well, it was no wonder she hated Potter. Thus, Potter was not the pampered prince he had thought him to be, now was he?

Unexpected – he had to admit it, but apparently the truth.

And then – when he had told him to stop apologizing, he had been rather – well, strange. For a moment he really had thought Potter would have been gone. It was just strange. Maybe he would ask him tomorrow about it.

If Potter could make it, he had written. And it wasn't the first time he had written this comment. He was online every night, so why would he think he wouldn't make it at some point? Maybe because of his chores? Well, that might be, if he was tired, maybe.

But the greatest surprise of all had been Potter mentioning that he did like flying but not Quidditch. That he only played because his father had been a Quidditch-player and that people expected him to do so.

All in all, a lot to think about. And all in all, he was just confused. That was not the Potter he knew from school. What was wrong with the boy?

And what was wrong with himself? Thinking of Potter all evening?

Shaking his head he turned off the computer and went out of the library and into the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Tomorrow evening he would visit Darren. He had already owled the boy's father and the older McKinsky had agreed to the appointment tomorrow evening at seven for dinner. He just hoped the boy would be fine.

And next week – Monday evening – he would be dining with the Puceys.

He really hated those visits, but he knew they were important. Too many students from his house were mistreated at home, and closing his eyes, looking aside and then forgetting about it would not help them. With his visits during the holidays he did not only check on the students themselves to see if they were fine. He also made a point to the parents, let them know that he was present, that he dropped in every now and then, that they had to be careful, that he would notice what they did. Not openly of course. But they nevertheless knew he would visit, and thus they knew he would notice. And hence they restrained themselves from violence – a bit at least. But that was better than nothing.

And besides of this – he at least gave his students the comfort to just know that he cared and that was more than they got from their home lives and parents.

break … ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ … line

To be continued

Next time in The room of requirement

Some things that are related with computers – poor Snape

Added author's note

thank you for reading - and yes, I would appreciate it if you took the time to review this chapter too, thank you ...