The Burning Pen

"What Was I Thinking" Series
"#4 ~ The 'Up Against the Wall' Wars"
by Ruth Solomon

The story content is adult in nature and can contain graphic sex and violence.  Those under the age of 18 are asked to leave this site immediately.  You are not welcome here.  The author is not responsible for those under-aged who view these works.

CHAPTER 10

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 10 ~ A Little ROR

“This is amazing!” Hermione breathed as she walked through the door and looked around. Tonks followed her closely, a slight, puzzled frown on her face as she took in the view and motioned for Kingsley to join them.

Hermione turned to look at Tonks, her eyes narrowed. “This couldn’t have been here when this was the House of Black!” she stated.

“No,” It was Kingsley who replied, “Dumbledore created it, right after Voldemort’s return. He showed up here with an armful of parchments, and banned everyone from the training room, and worked down here in secret every evening for a month, keeping the place securely warded. We found out later that those parchments were original Hogwarts floor plans. Dumbledore designed this room based on the other, smaller room, at the castle. But it is focused only for one thing, the specific training of the person who enters first. The scenario changes according to who the room is needed for.

“A Room of Requirement!” Hermione breathed impressed as a perfect replica of Hogsmeade, complete with shopping witches and wizards, spread out before her.

“Who are the people?” she asked, studying an elderly witch poring over a bin full of large, blue flowers.

“They’re golems. The room produces them as extras...and combatants,” Tonks replied taking in the scene, her brow still furrowed. “Makes the situation more real. Watch.”

The elderly witch picked up a few flowers and walked into the shop, where she faded away.

“See, you don’t need to go into the shop, so any golems there are just for show. If they aren’t important to the training, they disappear. Probably are recycled to produce new extras. But if you do enter a shop, it will be reproduced exactly.” Tonks looked at Hermione, her eyes twinkling, ”But don’t plan to do any book browsing... the titles will be there, but all the books will be blank Avoiding copyright infringement, I suppose.”

“Can I interact with them?” Hermione asked, “The golems. Can I talk to them?”

Kingsley replied, “Most only respond with body language and facial expressions, a nod, or smile or frown, though I did have a combantant launch himself at me with quite a scream once. If I had hair, it would have stood on end,” The bald wizard rubbed his shining pate with the palm of his hand.

“But you can eat and drink here,” Tonks said brightly, “If you stopped in Rosemerta’s, you could have a butterbeer or a firewhiskey, though there doesn’t seem to be any alcohol in it. Tastes ok, though. Guess Dumbledore wanted Order members to be able to take a break without leaving.”

“This is ... just amazing,” Hermione breathed again, “so there are golems waiting to attack me here?”

“Yep,” Tonks said shortly. Then with a frown she said, “What I don’t understand is why Hogsmeade is here. This should be Hogwarts. After all, Snape will be stalking you on the castle grounds, won’t he?” Tonks looked at Hermione.

“I thought so. Maybe he will be following me all over,“ Hermione mused as she watched three golem children run happily past her.

“Well, the Room of Requirement always produces the scenario you most need, so we can safely assume that you will at one time or another, be attacked here,” Kingsley said, looking at Hermione thoughtfully.

This was just like a simulation, but solid. Dumbledore was a genius to have created such a place for Order members to train. The magic of the place was to provide what was needed, so all members who practiced their skill here were being trained up properly, and were quite prepared when the real situation occurred.

“During Voldemort’s reign of terror, the Room was a battlefield most of the time, “Tonks said, . “ But not Hogwarts specifically though. It accommodated large amounts of Order members at one time. We were really well-prepared when we went to battle.”

“Do spells work here?” Hermione asked, fingering her wand in her robe pocket.

“Yours do,” Tonks replied, “But the spells cast by golems just cause a slight pain when you’re hit, and the attack stops, sort of rewinds so you can go through it as many times as you need until you can overcome it. Same if you fail to stop your attacker adequately. The room will reset, and you will have an opportunity to face your attacker again, though not in the same place or at the same time. Surprise is always the key here. You must maintain constant vigilance to make it through successfully.”

This last statement made Hermione smile, thinking of Mad-Eye Moody, the scrappy old auror with a penchant to hex someone for walking up behind him, or attempting to shake his hand. “Constant Vigilance” was a favorite quote of his.

“But I imagine your scenario will be mostly physical attacks,” Tonks said, “though you need to remain prepared for a magical one. If you see someone going for a wand, get out of the way or hex him or her good.”

“You can also set the number of attackers,” Kingsley added, “by saying ‘Attackers’, and the number. Or set it for random, by saying “Attackers’, the highest number you wish to fight, and then ‘Random’ to generate anywhere from one to as many attackers as you want.”

This was very, very cool.

“When can I start?” asked Hermione anxiously.

“Now,” Kingsley said as he turned to the open door. A little letterbox was attached to the frame. Kingsley opened it up and took out a sealed parchment. He read the name on it.

“Hermione Granger,” he said with a smile, handing it to Hermione, who tore it open quickly. Her amber eyes scanned the contents.

“It says I have to go to the Three Broomsticks and have a pumpkin juice. After I finish, I’m to return here for further instructions.”

Tonks and Kingsley looked at each other with small tight smiles. Kingsley said, “That sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, it does. Go for it, Hermione,” Tonks grinned at the young witch.

Hermione shrugged, folded the piece of parchment and stuck it in her pocket. Tonks and Kingsley headed out the door.

“Aren’t you going to watch?” Hermione asked, a bit nervous about being abandoned.

The two aurors paused. Kingsley patted her on the shoulder reassuringly.

“We have a scrying mirror that we can watch through, he said, “otherwise we could be a distraction, not to mention a psychological crutch. This way, you’ll know you’re alone and have no one to bail you out. Just like real life.”

Hermione nodded. It made sense.

“Ok, ‘bye,” she said softly. Tonks winked at her.

“You just do to them what you’ve been doing to Kingsley all week, and you’ll be fine,” the auror said, “and to stop the entire training program, just say “Stop Training” and it ‘should’ clear the room.”

“Should?” Hermione asked, unnerved.

“Well, sometimes it seems the Room of Requirement thinks it knows what you require better than you do,” Tonks grinned at her. “It might override you a couple of times. Normally it doesn’t. But I’ve seen it happen before. You never know. Good luck!”

She exited behind Kingsley and closed the door, which disappeared, leaving only the surrounding village. Hermione sighed, her stomach taunt in preparation.

“Well, let’s do it,” she breathed, walking briskly in the direction of Madame Rosmerta’s inn.


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A/N: no comments...waiting to see what happens just like you are...

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