The Unknowable Room
Harry spends much spare time devising a way to retrieve Professor Slughorn's memory. As his potions book has been so useful recently, particularly in saving Ron's life, Harry reads it carefully. But Hermione points out that Dumbledore had said only Harry could successfully retrieve the memory, and that Slughorn would likely be protected against anything in the textbook. Just then, Harry finds a new curse, Sectumsempra. It is labeled, "For Enemies." He wants to test it, but knowing Hermione's objections to using the Prince's spells, he refrains. Ron, writing an essay, asks for assistance; it seems his Spell-Checking quill has stopped working, and, among other things, is rendering his name as "Roonil Wazlib". Hermione offers to correct his spelling. Ron says he loves her, and Hermione, blushing, says he should not let Lavender hear him say that. Ron says maybe he should; he has been trying to dump her.
Kreacher and Dobby arrive to report to Harry regarding Malfoy's activities. Over the week they have been tailing him, Draco spent considerable time inside the Room of Requirement. The elves state that a "variety" of students stand watch while Draco is inside. Harry surmises that these "students" are probably Crabbe and Goyle disguised by Polyjuice Potion stolen from Slughorn. He also guesses that the Room was not on the Marauder's Map because the map's authors did not know about about it, though Hermione suggests that the room may be "unplottable" if the user needs it to be. Harry says that he should be able to enter the Room of Requirement, just as Malfoy had when Dumbledore's Army was there. But Hermione counters that Draco knew what the Room was being used for because "that stupid Marietta" told him.
Ron decides to take the extra Apparation classes being offered in Hogsmeade village. Hermione, meanwhile, repeatedly urges Harry to try and get Slughorn's memory. Harry truthfully answers that he is trying, but Slughorn, knowing what Harry is after, takes precautions to never be alone with him. Harry decides to spend another day looking for Malfoy in the Room of Requirement, first chasing off a disguised Goyle. Unsuccessful at opening the door, he kicks the wall, and his Invisibility Cloak slips off. Tonks calls out to him, and says she is there to see Dumbledore about "nothing in particular". She asks if he has heard from anyone in the Order, then gets teary eyed. When Harry relates this to Hermione, she remarks, "It's a bit odd." Harry suggests that she was in love with Sirius, as her Patronus is big and hairy now, which to Harry suggests it might reflect Sirius' Animagus shape. Hermione thinks it is possible, but is doubtful.
Harry learns that Malfoy has been spending time in the Room of Requirement, which is why he periodically disappears from the Marauder's Map. However, Harry still does not know what Malfoy is working on, and anyone he tells seems unconcerned. Harry only becomes more obsessed with following Draco, which could cause Harry to neglect his task to retrieve Slughorn's memory. In this chapter, though, Harry does seem to be trying to handle both tasks, along with his regular school courses.
Harry has significant difficulty in getting into the Room of Requirement in this chapter. As we have seen, the Room can be anything that is required, but apparently it can be only one thing at a time; for instance, it can be a room full of chamber pots, as Dumbledore apparently discovered it, it can be a place for a House-elf to sleep off a Butterbeer binge, as Dobby and Winky have been using it, and it can be a place to study Defence Against the Dark Arts, as it was for Dumbledore's Army, but once it is doing one of these things, in order to gain entrance you must need the type of place that it is. Hermione is likely correct, that Harry will be unable to enter unless he figures out what Draco needs, and at least in this chapter he is unsuccessful.
It may be of interest to note the difference in the report made by Kreacher and the one made by Dobby. Though Harry is nominally Kreacher's master, Kreacher's report starts off with abuse and insults for Harry and compliments for Draco. Dobby cuts him off to report on what Harry actually wants to know. This behaviour on Kreacher's part seems almost childish, and so seems accurate for what we know of House Elf character in general.
Mention is made here of Inferi. This is not the first we have heard of them, but it is only now that they are defined. We should make note of them, as the author is generally efficient; we are likely to hear of them again. We also may suspect that the Sectumsempra spell, which we can safely guess is at least a jinx and more likely a curse, will reappear.
Kreacher and Dobby arrive to report to Harry regarding Malfoy's activities. Over the week they have been tailing him, Draco spent considerable time inside the Room of Requirement. The elves state that a "variety" of students stand watch while Draco is inside. Harry surmises that these "students" are probably Crabbe and Goyle disguised by Polyjuice Potion stolen from Slughorn. He also guesses that the Room was not on the Marauder's Map because the map's authors did not know about about it, though Hermione suggests that the room may be "unplottable" if the user needs it to be. Harry says that he should be able to enter the Room of Requirement, just as Malfoy had when Dumbledore's Army was there. But Hermione counters that Draco knew what the Room was being used for because "that stupid Marietta" told him.
Ron decides to take the extra Apparation classes being offered in Hogsmeade village. Hermione, meanwhile, repeatedly urges Harry to try and get Slughorn's memory. Harry truthfully answers that he is trying, but Slughorn, knowing what Harry is after, takes precautions to never be alone with him. Harry decides to spend another day looking for Malfoy in the Room of Requirement, first chasing off a disguised Goyle. Unsuccessful at opening the door, he kicks the wall, and his Invisibility Cloak slips off. Tonks calls out to him, and says she is there to see Dumbledore about "nothing in particular". She asks if he has heard from anyone in the Order, then gets teary eyed. When Harry relates this to Hermione, she remarks, "It's a bit odd." Harry suggests that she was in love with Sirius, as her Patronus is big and hairy now, which to Harry suggests it might reflect Sirius' Animagus shape. Hermione thinks it is possible, but is doubtful.
Harry learns that Malfoy has been spending time in the Room of Requirement, which is why he periodically disappears from the Marauder's Map. However, Harry still does not know what Malfoy is working on, and anyone he tells seems unconcerned. Harry only becomes more obsessed with following Draco, which could cause Harry to neglect his task to retrieve Slughorn's memory. In this chapter, though, Harry does seem to be trying to handle both tasks, along with his regular school courses.
Harry has significant difficulty in getting into the Room of Requirement in this chapter. As we have seen, the Room can be anything that is required, but apparently it can be only one thing at a time; for instance, it can be a room full of chamber pots, as Dumbledore apparently discovered it, it can be a place for a House-elf to sleep off a Butterbeer binge, as Dobby and Winky have been using it, and it can be a place to study Defence Against the Dark Arts, as it was for Dumbledore's Army, but once it is doing one of these things, in order to gain entrance you must need the type of place that it is. Hermione is likely correct, that Harry will be unable to enter unless he figures out what Draco needs, and at least in this chapter he is unsuccessful.
It may be of interest to note the difference in the report made by Kreacher and the one made by Dobby. Though Harry is nominally Kreacher's master, Kreacher's report starts off with abuse and insults for Harry and compliments for Draco. Dobby cuts him off to report on what Harry actually wants to know. This behaviour on Kreacher's part seems almost childish, and so seems accurate for what we know of House Elf character in general.
Mention is made here of Inferi. This is not the first we have heard of them, but it is only now that they are defined. We should make note of them, as the author is generally efficient; we are likely to hear of them again. We also may suspect that the Sectumsempra spell, which we can safely guess is at least a jinx and more likely a curse, will reappear.
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