Chapter 24

Classes start tomorrow. I have a full day to stay away from the Pride, who are probably looking for me. I want to stay in the Common Room, but all of the other Slytherins are in there. So I wander around outside. I say hello to Hagrid, who is nice, but in a hurry, something about a new pet. I see the Whomping Willow, and have an idea. Is it a sentient being? I decide to test my new theory. I walk up to it, very slowly, very cautiously, and I kept saying, "I won't hurt you, I promise." I just kept saying that over and over. It worked, a little bit. I got fairly close to it, then I sat down. Once it calmed down a lot, I scooted a little bit closer, waited until it calmed down, then scooted a little bit closer. I kept doing that, all while promising that I would not hurt it. If I could gain its trust and friendship, it could offer protection against the Pride. I kept scooting closer, then I was against its trunk. I had made it! And when I touched it, I could feel its emotions, what it needs, what it wants, what it feels. It was amazing. 

It seemed to know that I needed help, so it was being nice to me. "Thank you." I said to it. It sent back a gentle You're welcome. I smiled. It was a him, and he seemed to want a name. "A name huh? How about Tom?" He didn't like that at all. "No? Alright, sorry. How about Merlin?" He seemed to like that name. "So Merlin, you want a special potion to help you grow better? Do you have a specific one?" I asked. It has no name, but I can tell you the directions. I nodded. "Alright. I am going to get something to write with out of my pack, I will not hurt you, alright?" I grabbed the necessary supplies and copied down what Merlin told me.

The ingredients should all be in the storage room, but the rest of it is very hard. It is not only very complicated and complex, but it is also very specific. I would need specific types of measuring materials, cauldrons, scales, etc. And I don't think I can get help on it either. "Can I get help on it?" I ask Merlin. No. You must do it on your own. That is what I thought. I would have to find a place to do it too, because it takes a long time to brew. "Do you know of a place where I can brew it? Where no body can find it?" I asked.

Yes, I do. There are two places that I can think of. He sent two images to me. There is the Shrieking Shack, which is abandoned and nobody will find you there, but you would need to find everything and bring it there. Or, there is a hidden room, called the Room of Requirement. It is inside the school, but nobody can find you in there. It will also provide you with everything you need. Which one would you prefer? He asked me. "The Room of Requirement. Can you tell me how to get there?" I inquired. The Room of Requirement is located on Hogwarts' seventh floor, across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. To get in you must walk past the area of the door three times, thinking of what you need. In this case, potions-brewing equipment. It is that simple. But it wasn't. I would have to figure out a way to get to and from the seventh floor without being seen. That would be hard, but if I wanted to gain a sanctuary and a friend, then I would have to do it. I nodded. "Alright, thank you. I will work on it and try to finish it before the end of the year. I should get going. Thank you again. Good bye, Merlin." Good bye, Ivy. Good luck. And with that, I left.