Katsuki led the way to the seventh floor. There was a particular room in the castle he discovered in October of his third year. After talking about it to Professor Aizawa, he learned it was called the Room of Requirement.

They weren't bothered by anybody as they made their way up to the seventh floor. The duo reached a stretch of blank wall opposite of an enormous tapestry depicting Barnabas the Barmy's foolish attempt to train trolls for the ballet.

"We're gonna walk past this bit of wall here three times," Katsuki told her. "Keep your mind empty."

They did so, turning sharply at the window just beyond the blank stretch of wall, then at the man-size vase on its other side.

I need my room, he thought. I need my training room for us.

"Katsuki," Ochako gasped as they wheeled around after their third walk past.

A polished door that wasn't there before was there now. Katsuki grabbed the brass handle, pulled open the door, and jerked his head.

Without a word, Ochako entered the spacious room. It was lit with flickering torches, much like those in the dungeons eight floors below. Wooden bookcases lined the walls, and large silk cushions were on the floor. At the far end of the room was a set of shelves that carried a range of Dark Arts instruments.

Katsuki closed the door behind them and turned the key protruding from the lock.

"What is this place?" Ochako whispered in awe, turning about to take in everything.

"The Room of Requirement can be anything someone in need needs it to be," he replied. "Sometimes it's here, and sometimes not, but when it appears, it's always equipped for the seeker's needs."

"And right now...?"

"Training."

She whirled around to look at him. "You train here?"

"And study."

"Why?"

"I'm gonna be an Auror someday. I need to be on top of things."

"How many people know about this room?" she asked.

"Very few."

"I won't tell anyone."

He knew he wouldn't have to tell her not to say anything. Not that he'd admit it aloud, but she had grown on him ever since he started helping her. "Good."

"What first?" she asked eagerly.

Grinning, Katsuki set down his book on the nearby table. "Put your book there too, and follow me."

As she passed him, he started to roll back his sleeves. A jolt raced through him when he caught sight of his scars. Shit, he wasn't alone! He rolled them back down immediately. "This'll be different compared to being in the stadium," he said, speaking evenly.

"Why's that?"

"You're training with me."

"Like what we do in the classroom?"

He turned to face her. "Exactly. Regarding Aizawa's class, is there anything you wanna focus on."

"More nonverbal spells. I want to be able to cast them like you do all the time."

"I've been practicing 'em since our third year."

"What, think I can't keep up?" she challenged.

He didn't look away from her as he took out his wand. "Don't expect perfection from the start."

She took a stance, ready to use her wand.

"I'll block whatever you throw at me."

"Orchideous! Ah, wait!" But it was too late. A bunch of flowers burst from her wand's tip.

Completely caught off guard by her frazzled state at using the wrong spell, Katsuki laughed wholeheartedly. His stomach and cheeks began to hurt.

Ochako looked at him with wonder. "I haven't heard you laugh like that before," she whispered.

His laughter was contagious, and she found herself laughing along with him—what a silly mistake on her part.

There came a time their laughter died down.

"I'll hafta use that some time," he joked, wiping away small tears.

"It was the first spell that popped in my head. I don't even know why I said it out loud."

"It's a sign that you need to practice more."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Brilliant."

xXx

Katsuki wrapped things up after an hour of practicing and teaching. They grabbed their books before leaving the room.

"I had fun," Ochako told him.

"Pretty sure I kicked your ass back there," he snorted.

She puffed out her cheeks and bumped into his left shoulder with her right one.

Returning the favor, he used a tad more force compared to her.

There was a gleam in her eyes now. "Did you just...?"

"Did I what?" he asked nonchalantly.

She bumped him, and he bumped her right back. When she attempted to try it a third time, he stopped walking abruptly, and she stumbled over her feet.

A snicker slipped past his mouth.

"Hey!" she exclaimed.

"Don't be predictable, then."

"Don't take the fun away," she retorted.

A smirk curved his lips. "I'm still amused."

She marched right up to him, tilting her chin up since he was taller than her. "Katsuki."

"Ochako."

She blinked in surprise. "Eh?"

"What?"

"You always call me Round Face or Cheeks. You've never said my name before."

"Tch, don't act like I don't know it."

"Do you?" she challenged.

"Ochako Uraraka."

Her gaze softened. "Katsuki Bakugo."

He rolled his eyes. "I hope we know each other's names by now, Cheeks."

"We've been together for six years." Her face flushed suddenly. "Uh, I mean, we've been going to the same school together now for six years."

He merely nodded, allowing her to do all the talking.

Her voice grew softer. "And we're only three months into the year."

Crimson eyes scanned her face. There was a look in her brown eyes that he didn't recognize. Why did it feel like a Snitch was zooming around his stomach?

"And you..." But her voice trailed off.

He arched an eyebrow in the form of a silent question.

"And we—" She shrieked in surprise when a water balloon fell on her head. It splashed her and Katsuki.

He didn't hesitate to grab his wand before looking up. He cast a Shield Charm, protecting them from an onslaught of more balloons. Crimson eyes glared through the translucent barrier. "Peeves!"

Floating in the air was a little man in a bell-covered hat and orange bow tie. He had dark eyes filled with mischievousness and a wide mouth.

"Ah, the Slytherin-should-be-boy!" the poltergeist exclaimed.

"He's a Gryffindor!" Ochako shouted, getting defensive about the matter.

"I'll tell the Bloody Barron what you've done!" Katsuki threatened.

Peeves blew raspberries at them before going off to cause trouble elsewhere since he was out of water balloons.

Before putting away his wand, Katsuki dried them off.

"I seem to get wet when I'm around you," she joked.

He refrained from making a comment about her word choice, but she realized her words all on her own. Her eyes grew wide as her entire face turned red. "I'm leaving!" she announced awkwardly.

Before Katsuki had a chance to open his mouth, she took off running. She didn't look back at him.

"Fuck you, Peeves," he growled under his breath.

xXx

A/N: Silly Peeves