In The Shadows² ★ Draco Malfoy

*And so it begins

A day had passed at Hogwarts, and so far Briar and Draco had kept themselves hidden in the room of requirement successfully. It was pretty dull being kept in that room for a full day, but the news that Harry, Ron, and Hermione had escaped from Gringotts on the back of a dragon certainly livened things up

Everyone was coming up with theories about why they had been there to begin with, but Briar and Draco were the only ones who already knew the answer. They must have gone to look inside Bellatrix's vault

As evening arrived Neville had headed to Albeforth's pub again when he received a message, and they all assumed it was the arrival of food or more people. And they were correct on the latter. But who it was, was a shock to everyone

"Look who it is! Didn't I tell you?" He called as he re-entered the room, and in tow were three people no one expected to see here

As Harry emerged into the room beyond the passage, there wereseveral screams and yells: "HARRY!" "It's Potter, it's POTTER!" "Ron!" "Hermione!"

Everyone in the room immediately rushed towards them and Briar got there first, hugging all three of them in relief

"Okay, okay, calm down!" Neville called, and the crowd backedaway 

"Where are we?" Harry asked 

"Room of Requirement, of course!" said Neville. "Surpassed itself, hasn't it? The Carrows were chasing me, and I knew I had justone chance for a hideout: I managed to get through the door andthis is what I found! Well, it wasn't exactly like this when I arrived,it was a load smaller, there was only one hammock and just Gryffindor hangings. But it's expanded as more and more of the D.A.have arrived." 

"And the Carrows can't get in?" asked Harry, looking aroundfor the door. 

"No," said Seamus Finnigan, "It's a properhideout, as long as one of us stays in here, they can't get at us, thedoor won't open. It's all down to Neville. He really gets this room. You've got to ask it for exactly what you need — like, 'I don't wantany Carrow supporters to be able to get in' — and it'll do it foryou! You've just got to make sure you close the loopholes! Neville'sthe man!" 

"It's quite straightforward, really," said Neville modestly. "I'dbeen in here about a day and a half, and getting really hungry, andwishing I could get something to eat, and that's when the passageto the Hog's Head opened up. I went through it and met Aberforth.He's been providing us with food, because for some reason, that'sthe one thing the room doesn't really do."

"Yeah, well, food's one of the five exceptions to Gamp's Law ofElemental Transfiguration," said Ron to general astonishment. 

"So we've been hiding out here for nearly two weeks," said Seamus, "and it just makes more hammocks every time we need them,and it even sprouted a pretty good bathroom once girls startedturning up —" 

"— and thought they'd quite like to wash, yes," supplied Lavender Brown

"Tell us what you've been up to, though," said Ernie. "There'vebeen so many rumours, we've been trying to keep up with you onPotterwatch." He pointed at the wireless. "And when they turned up, she wouldn't say anything" He pointed at Briar and Draco "You didn't break intoGringotts?" 

"They did!" said Neville. "And the dragon's true too!" There was a smattering of applause and a few whoops; Ron tooka bow.

"What were you after?" asked Seamus eagerly. All their eyes were on Harry, despite Briar and Draco knowing the answer, but Harry's eyes seemed blurry, as if he wasn't there. Before any of them could help, Harry began to sway on his feet and his knees buckled. But Ron was quick to grab him before his body could hit the ground