11 The Room of Requirement

Once I entered the room, I realized that the Room of Requirement gave me a very wide room that must be the size of a Quidditch field. I can sense a very strong presence of magic, which must have come from the walls and the floor. The way the wards were built up was very impressive as the magic was formed like a solid wall. I remember a theory somewhere that Rowena Ravenclaw created the Room of Requirement as her personal laboratory. But as time passed, different students had come to study in Hogwarts and the accumulation of magic emitted by the students and the spells performed must have given the room and the whole castle a form of sentience so it can respond to the users' orders, and form the desired room. It must be also what gave the shifting staircases lives. I can also feel a hint of Dark magic within the walls, so it must have been used in creating the runes and enchantments.

'Interesting.'

I think this will be my long-term project. A replication of the Room of Requirement. I mean, it will be very useful to have a self-aware room that can respond to the owner's wish. But first, I'll need my own personal base I can hide whenever I want.

Anyway, this room is perfect for my needs. The walls are strong enough to resist the magnitude of spells I plan on casting. and it was wide enough that I can clearly see how my spells will affect the surroundings.

I can't practice my healing spells here, so I plan on working on my battle magic.

'Room, give me a very big target ' I mentally ordered the room as it gave me a large wooden mannequin. It's about the size of a giant, perfect target for the spell I plan on creating. I got the inspiration of this from the spider repelling spell, Arania Exumai. Except that the modified spell is created for repelling giants, instead of spiders. Basically, what I used is the repelling force of the repelling spell, but modified it to have more strength than of Bombarda Maxima spell. This spell is not lethal, but giving it enough magic to increase the strength can very well kill a giant. I already removed the shock wave sound but there are still some problems. The main downside is that the spell has a small recoil effect. It's like Newton's Third Law, but I'm still working around that one. It can push back dragons too if you increased the strength of the spell by giving it more magic.

'Exterminum Gargantectus' I whispered as the familiar silver light came out of the tip of my wand. The effect was instantaneous too and the giant flew for a good distance.

'Yeah, I'll need to work around that recoil.

I can't use this spell if it's still not finished.'

Chain-casting requires fluid wand movement while casting, so I can't include my spell yet as it can disrupt the sequence of spells I'm planning to use. It will take me a whole month at most to complete the spell.

Next is the Fiendfyre. This took a lot of time as I was still thinking of ways to control the cursed fire. while the Patronus charms are invoked by a positive force, the Fiendfyre feeds on the negative force of magic. Their opposing nature will make them impossible to work together. I was also inspired by grandfather's Protego Diabolica, the blue fire protected him from the Aurors, but it came with his enchantment to attack those he considers enemies, but mine was less dark.

The Patronus charm offered love and protection, while the Fiendfyre feeds on the desire of the caster to destroy. For them to work together, different intent must be used.

First I need a spell to protect me to those who cause me harm. Second, I need to have the desire to attack those I consider enemies. I channeled the anger within me as I recalled the feeling of being alone and defenseless, and the feeling of helplessness made me mad even more. I hate being unable to do anything when the danger is right in front of me. Lastly, I gathered enough passion inside me. It felt like a raging fire that demands to be released. Then, I willed it to my wand while I chanted.

'INFERIUS PATRONUM!!' I shouted as I can't control the flow of magic that moved to my wand. the flow of magic inside my body felt like a rush of adrenaline. It released a stream of fire until it formed into the shape of a wolf. The wolf moved beside me, guarding me to any threats that might be present. Then, I willed the wolf to attack the giant target, and it followed. The wolf charged at the wooden statue until there was a large explosion. The wolf remained, but the Fire it created remained on the statue and spread. Even the ashes were burned until it disappeared, and it was only my will that put the fire out.

'IT'S SUCCESSFUL!' I cackled like a mad man.

Although the spell needed more controlling, I definitely achieved my life-long dream. My own Patronus spell. I even found out that my Patronus is a wolf. Maybe because I always worked alone, like a lone wolf. Independent, and was not easily swayed by the crowd. Some countries consider wolves as a symbol of death and rebirth, which I already experienced in my past life. They're also known for their guardianship and loyalty. Wolf must also be my Animagus form then, but I'm not sure. Though there's a possibility that my animagus form will be different.

I celebrated my success for a few more minutes until I realized that the Halloween feast will start soon. I went outside the room carefully, so no one will accidentally see me coming outside of a disappearing door.

I went down to the great hall in a very good mood and sat down near my housemates. Although we are not friends, they are already starting to acknowledge me since I help them sometimes in practicing magic. But some are still wary of me. What happened in the history class will not be forgotten so soon. Like what I expected, the history between Dumbledore and my grandfather was already known throughout the castle, even the muggleborns. I still get looks from the students whenever they see me, but It's not as severe as when the whole school discovered my surname.

I also heard rumors that some of the purebloods are already making their move, eager to make connections especially to someone like me. With a special mention of one Draco Malfoy. Apparently, he was gobsmacked the moment he heard my name in the sorting ceremony, and he immediately wrote to his father. I also heard that he tried to reach out to me many times, but I always disappear when lunch break starts.

Well, connections are good too. My grandfather had a lot of good connections across the globe in his prime that he has escaped the authorities countless of times. Not that he was always captured, of course. There was actually one time when he transfigured all of his allies into members of the jury, and he went outside of the courtroom innocent.

Soon, the great hall was filled by the students and the teachers. Dumbledore made a small speech for Halloween and the speech began. No one bothered to talk to me during the feast, the people beside me even put a little distance. I sure feel lonely today. Even I have friends in my past life, it's just my cursed name that was interfering with my personal life. I may be friends with Cho, but she has more friends than me, and she prefers the other company since they are all females. But I already accepted my life as a Grindelwald, and mundane things like that will not hamper me at all. I already achieved a lot of things alone, so I'll just do everything myself.

Just like canon, Quirrelmort entered the hall looking scared, warning about trolls in the dungeon. Then the chaos started. Dumbledore quickly restored order inside the halls and surely, I saw the two boys leave the hall in search of one bushy-haired girl. I have no plans on following them though, I have my own plans for the night.

The prefects were ordered by the headmaster to guide the students to their respective dorms. They must have forgotten to do a headcount since every house quickly formed lines and left the hall, with a prefect leading them.

With a silent notice-me-not charm and a muffliato, I quickly left the hall and returned to the Room of Requirement. I'll just spend the night there while improving my spells. I carefully walk through hallways, quietly observing if there are people and ghosts in the vicinity. With no one around, I continued my walk to my destination.

But it seems like fate has a knack of mocking me. A low growl was heard across the hallways, and I smell a very strong odor. Known characteristics of a troll. There is no sign of the golden trio either. Realizing that my journey will not be easy, I sneaked through the hallway so the troll will not notice.

Until it was, of course, when the troll noticed me. I may be invisible or quiet, but I failed to account that trolls have an enhanced sense of smell.

'Damn it, I forgot that one.' I whispered to myself as I prepare to run. The troll started to walk in my directions I quickly run before it notices me. It hasn't seen me yet, so I still have the element of surprise.

When I was sure I am a good distance away from the troll, I quickly cast a smell masking charm. And started to run away to the Room of Requirement. I'm sure the teachers will deal with the troll or the golden trio. Either way, I won't have to be involved. Until I heard a scream that is.

'Bloody hell! Why can't I just stop tempting fate?'

The troll is poking both my nerves and my conscience. So I traced back the direction I ran away from until I reached in a corridor with the troll in it. Then I saw the golden trio frozen in fear, with Harry faring much better compared to the two. Hermione's crying and scared, while Ron's knees are visibly shaking. He's standing in front of his companions while aiming the wand at the troll. He has a lot of courage, but at the same time, he's as foolish as he's brave.

'This will be the first and last time I'll help you. You idiots.' I whispered.

With a non-verbal cast, I fired a low powered Giant repelling spell. I still haven't practiced spell endlessly, so non-verbal cast was enough. The spell is meant for giants, so the power will be deadly for a troll in normal times. But the low powered version of the spell is enough to knock out the troll.

The spell blasted the troll across the hallway, shaking the whole place. But it was already knocked out cold.

My notice-me-not charm is starting to wear off, so immediately left and headed to the Room of Requirement. I heard footsteps though, but I didn't care. I'll be sure to practice the Disillusionment charm next time. I'll even ask grandfather tips in casting one. He perfected the disillusionment charm after all.