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CHAPTER TWELVE. THE ROOM OF REQUIREMENT

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Umbridge had issued another inquisitorial decree. One that disbanded all clubs and student organizations in Hogwarts. Evangeline had rolled her eyes when she heard the news. Vivian told her that if she kept doing it, her eyeballs would fall out of her sockets, which only made Evangeline roll her eyes again.

Things had gone back to being fairly normal. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were still trying to find a place for them all to meet. So until they did that, the group laid low, going back to their normal routine. However, things were different and Evangeline Caspian could feel it. She had been more social with her roommates, something that the two girls found odd, though neither complained.

Vivian, of course, noticed a change in her sister's demeanor, though she didn't comment on it just yet. Evangeline was just excited. She was happy that she would be doing something good. That she was going to be useful and not just sit around all day, reading her textbook. She didn't even notice a change within herself.

Evangeline walked into the Great Hall, taking a seat at the far end of the Gryffindor table. When Cleo Valentine sat in front of her, Evangeline simply looked in her direction before looking back to her food. "Hi, Evangeline," Cleo greeted. "Hello, Valentine," Evangeline replied, taking a bite of her drumstick. Cleo, who had not been expecting an answer, looked surprised.

"Okay, what's wrong with you?" She asked. Evangeline looked up at her again, her eyebrows raised. "What?" She questioned. Cleo rested her arms on the table and leaned in. "You've spent the last four years ignoring my existence and now all of a sudden you're acknowledging me. Who are you and what have you done to Evangeline Caspian?" Cleo said.

Evangeline tilted her head. "Would you like for me to go back to ignoring your existence? Because I can do that. I don't have a problem with it," she said. "I want to know who you are. Because it's certainly not Evangeline. Has someone been slipping something into your food?" Cleo said. Evangeline narrowed her eyes before a thought came into her mind. "I don't know. Merlin, what if somebody has?" She said, a fake sense of surprise and wonder in her tone as she pretended to think that the idea was plausible.

Cleo didn't seem to get that she wasn't being serious and continued on as if this were a serious thing. "We have to tell someone! Maybe Madam Pomfrey can give you something," she said. Evangeline nodded, "You should go talk to her. I'll meet you there." Cleo nodded frantically and stood, rushing out of the Great Hall. Evangeline's mouth dropped open in shock as she stared after the girl.

Cleo Valentine was by no means an idiot, in fact, she could be considered as one of the smartest witches in their year, however in that moment, Evangeline couldn't help but think that the girl was a dimwit. With a shake of her head she turned back to the table, pulling out her Potions textbook and opening it up.

She flipped to the page that she had folded the corner of and began reading over the words on it. Someone clearing their throat across from her caused her to look up. Stood there was Harry Potter and his two best friends. "Uh, can we sit here?" He asked. She eyed him, looking him up and down before looking back down at the book in front of her. "That means yes," Hermione whispered, taking a seat. The two boys reluctantly sat down as well.

Neither of the three said anything, so Evangeline just focused on reading her textbook. She only looked up again when she felt eyes on her. While Harry and Hermione were whispering quietly to each other, Ronald Weasley was staring at the Caspian girl. She furrowed her eyebrows, "What?" He snapped out of whatever trance he was in. "W-what?" He asked. By now, Harry and Hermione had stopped conversing and were looking at the two.

"Why are you staring at me?" She asked. "I-I wasn't," he replied. Her eyes narrowed and he gulped. She turned to look at Hermione and Harry who stared back at her. "Why are you sitting here? Won't people get suspicious or something?" She asked. "Well, we thought that maybe you'd want some company," Harry said. She looked him up and down. "I don't know why you would think that," she muttered before going back to reading the textbook.

"Hey guys! Is this where we're sitting now?" George Weasley questioned. Evangeline turned around to face him. Next to him stood his brother Fred and his younger sister Ginny. Evangeline's eyes narrowed at them, "No." George sat down anyway, Fred and Ginny following in suit. "Lovely day we're having, don't you think?" Fred asked. Evangeline stood, picking up her textbook and bag before walking away from the group and to the exit of the dining hall.

She may have been willing to speak to her roommates more, but that didn't mean that she wanted to talk to Potter or the Weasleys. Not yet anyway. Neville Longbottom was walking past her on her way out of the hall. "Hi, Evangeline," he timidly greeted. "Neville," she replied, looking at him briefly on her way out. Once she had exited the hall, she decided to go to the library before her next class started.

••••

Neville Longbottom had found the Room of Requirement, which happened to be the perfect place for the group, who were calling themselves Dumbledore's Army, to meet. Evangeline still rolled her eyes at the ridiculous name.

The first meeting was the next night and Vivian Caspian was practically jumping with excitement. The two sisters made their way to where Hermione had said the room was. They stopped in front of a blank stone wall and waited. When nothing happened, Evangeline became impatient. "Are you sure this is the right place?" Vivian asked. Evangeline shrugged, "I don't know. This is where she said." A noise brought the girl's' attention back to the wall where a door was slowly beginning to form.

Once it had fully appeared, Vivian smiled and opened it, stepping into the room with Evangeline following after her. The room was spacious and the perfect place for them to practice. Some students were there already, waiting for everyone to arrive. Evangeline's eyes met Ronald's as they swept across the room. The two awkwardly looked away.

Cleo made her way over to the two. She was mildly upset about being tricked the day before but was slowly letting it go. "You guys excited?" She asked. Vivian was nodding enthusiastically whilst Evangeline looked down at her nails. "Do you ever show emotions?" A voice asked. She looked up to see one of the Weasley twins. She believed this one was George because he was the one who annoyed her most.

"I have no emotions," Evangeline deadpanned. "I don't believe you," the other twin said, making his presence known. "Why are you two always bothering me? Can't you see that I don't like you?" She groaned. "You don't like anyone so..." Fred trailed off, an annoying smirk coming onto his face. Her eyes narrowed at him.

"Do you always have to annoy everyone you talk to?" Ginny asked, walking over to where the five stood. George shrugged, the two twins sending Evangeline a wink before walking over to some other fifth year students. Vivian and Cleo wandered away from them, wanting to look around the room, leaving the two to converse.

"I was surprised when you came to the initial meeting. You were the last person I expected to see there," Ginny said, awkwardly rocking on her heels. "I didn't think I'd be there either, but Vivian can be very persuasive," Evangeline said. "You guys seem close," Ginny said. "We are. She's the only person that I trust," Evangeline said with a nod. "What about you aunt and uncle? Your cousins?" Ginny questioned.

Evangeline snorted and Ginny smiled, never hearing such a sound come from the youngest Caspian. "Please, those four are the least trustworthy people that I know. Is that bad? I mean they are technically my family," she said. Ginny shrugged, "I don't know. But I trust my family so I'd assume that that's what people do."

"Well in my case, that's easier said than done," Evangeline muttered. Ginny felt sorry for the girl, who seemed to not have a proper family. But all Evangeline needed was Vivian. She didn't care that her aunt, uncle, and cousins weren't ideal. "All right everyone, we're about to begin," Harry called out. Evangeline turned to where he was stood and he began explaining what they would be focusing on that night: a disarming spell.

Harry demonstrated how to hold your wand and the wrist movements that went along with the charm. He then showed them all how to disarm an opponent using an enchanted dummy in a suit of armor. "Expelliarmus," he said. They all watched as the wand was flung from the dummy's hand. "All right, who wants to go first?" He asked.

The group all lined up and Neville managed to be the first one in line. Evangeline stood in front of Ronald and peered over a taller student's shoulder to get a better look. Neville took a deep breath, "Expelliarmus." His wand flew backwards and out of his hand. They all ducked as it flew over their heads at great speed. Evangeline's eyes followed the wand as it flew, hitting the wall behind them.

She slowly stood up and looked at Neville who looked beyond disappointed. "I'm hopeless," he muttered. Harry was quick to disagree, "You're just flourishing your wand too much. Try it like this. Expelliarmus." The wand flew out of the dummy's hand. Neville went to the back of the line and another person stepped up, attempting the spell.

Some people were successful in the spell while others were not. When Evangeline's turn came she took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. Her grip on her wand loosened slightly and she lifted it up, pointing it at the armor. "Expelliarmus." The wand flew out of the dummy's hand and she smiled discreetly. She wasn't as discreet as she thought because Ron had noticed, a smile of his own forming on his lips, sending it her way.

She didn't acknowledge the smile, instead walking to the back of the line, giving Vivian a high five when the older girl stuck her hand out. They all went on, practicing the spell. With each round, more and more people became successful.

When the meeting ended, the students cautiously exited the Room of Requirement in small groups. Evangeline was one of the last to leave, wanting to speak to Neville who looked extremely glum. "Hey," she said to him. He jumped in surprise, turning to look at her. "Oh, hello," he said. "I just wanted to say that just because you didn't get the spell right today, doesn't mean that you won't get it. We all have our strong points and our weaknesses. This is something you can overcome. I, uh, believe in you?" The last sentence came out as a question seeing as she was unsure of herself. She wasn't used to cheering people up and felt extremely awkward. But she felt as though the boy could use a pep talk.

He smiled nonetheless, "Thanks, Evangeline. That's really kind of you to say." She nodded, growing even more awkward. "No problem, Neville." She turned away from him, her eyes landing on the trio standing a few feet away from her. They were looking at her with similar expressions. She rolled her eyes and walked to the door where the next group was waiting.

Once the coast was clear they exited the room, all going to their designated houses.