What in the world? Gwen had been lost. She knew her common room was supposed to be on the seventh floor, but she had gotten separated from the group. She had walked up and down this hallway more than once trying to find the rest of the Ravenclaws. All of a sudden a door had appeared in the wall, and Gwen had curiously pushed it open to reveal a small little room that most certainly hadn't been there before.

There wasn't much in it, a lamp and a table, but on the table was exactly what she'd been searching for, a map of this very large, very confusing school. Gwen picked up the map, located her common room on it, and headed back out in search, map in hand.

She had done it, she had found the room! Tessa walked into exactly what she had hoped for- a nice place to simply hang out, with couches and chairs, snacks, and a whole area dedicated to Quidditch. That's where she walked to first, looking over the various nick-nacks and items that were collected. Then she looked at the books and magazines, some of which were quite old- she picked a few of those up and settled onto a couch. You never know what you might find!

Christmas walked into the room which was full of material for professional qudditch teams for her to study up on and she couldnt believe her luck that she had finally found the room

Staring as it appeared a few people had wanted to study quidditch, she recognized Christmas there already. "Hey Christmas, how was your holidays?" Glancing at the other older Gryffindor she gave her a small smile as well.

Melek wandered around the castle and ended up in this room. Her eyes widen, "The room of requirement!" Amazement shone on her face as she looked around, searching the room. To her, it was a library on 3 sides of the room and couches with a coffee table around it. It was the perfect temperature as well and she went over to a bookcase and started to browse through the books. It was filled with books that she loved and books that she havent even read yet! It was the most perfect room that one could imagine... at least it was her perfect room. Melek grabbed a book and flopped down on a couch and started to read a book.

Tessa looked up as the door opened, slightly surprised. However, when Christmas walked in, she gave her friend a small wave and smile before resuming her reading.

And then, another entered. She didn't recognize this girl, but gave her a wve. "Hello, I'm Tessa- I'm guessing you're a Quidditch lover also?" she said, indicating the Quidditch materials that were basically everywhere. You couldn't find a corner that didn't have something Quidditch related in it... and based on the nature of the room, Tessa didn't think it would let someone into the room that had different desires. That would just be mean.

Sander walked into the Room and couldn't believe his eyes. What he had been wishing for when he stood outside the walls of the room was now right before his eyes.

He had found his own Ice Hockey Skating Rink and Sander was elated.

He jumped up and down, fists punching the air, so excited he was. He would now be able to practice playing Ice Hockey without having to freeze any lakes or ponds or even create one. Here it was right in front of him.

"YES!! YES!! YES!!! THANK MERLIN!!" he shouted aloud, not caring whether anyone heard him....not that anyone would since he was the only person in the room.

Sander couldn't wait to tell Tessa and Alex that he had now found a place to skate and that they were invited to join him.

Sander walked around the rink examining the room. He couldn't wait to start practicing.

Sander quickly opened his gym bag, pulled out his skates, helmet and padding and placed them on the ice. Then he opened a longer gym bag, containing his ice hockey stick, gently unzipped it, and pulled it out. He stroked the handle lovingly before placing it flat down on the ice.

Then he put on his gear, pulled on his jersey, stood up after he had laced up his skating boots. Then he did some stretching exercises....and then it was time to play!!

Sander raced across the ice just enjoying the feel of the ice underneath his skates.

First band practice of the school year.

And Ascanius was that guy who showed up first. Jeez, no one wanted to be that guy.

But he figured, since he was here, the sixth year could go ahead getting the room ready for practice. After a few quick thoughts, the Room of Requirement was a practical band space equipped with a drum set and piano. Nigel and West no doubt would bring their own instruments. They were funny like that.

For his own self, he just needed his drumsticks. Comfortable weight for his hand and all.

Taking those out, he beelined for the drum set and spun himself around in his seat before settling down and checking the bass drum and how tight the torns were. Good? Good.

It was true. Nobody wanted to be that first guy. It was slightly awkward. So Nigel was relieved that he was second. There was the obvious reason of course, he did need to bring his own bass guitar.

It was true that he could have used the perfectly good guitar that was already in this room. But it was not the same. Nigel gave a nod to Ascanius before he sat down and absentmindedly started tuning his guitar, waiting for West and Vesper to come.

No need for pointless conversation.

Vesper wasn't in any hurry to get to band practice, obviously (as she was taking her time with walking)...but not for any angsty reasons. She'd discovered some interesting books over the summer and on her walk to the Room, as it was called, she had her nose buried in one. This particular book contained some pretty detailed information on ghosts and spirits, alike. Yep, Ves wanted to learn all about ghosts. In fact, she hoped she could sit down? with the ghosts around the school and talk about stuff soon...Random stuff, really. Curiosity for curiosity's sake...

Arriving to the stretch of wall (eventually), she did the thing and the door appeared. Ascanius and Nigel were already present, of course...but not West. Because of reasons, Vesper didn't think much on it and put the book away into her bag. Settling said bag down, she went ahead and took her place at the piano already in place. Whoever had arrived first had done her a solid...but with that thought, she pretty much ignored the two boys. Considering things, there wasn't anything she wanted to communicate to either of them. Not at the moment, anyway. Maybe later.

...but she was ready to play. All that was missing was West.

He wasn't late right? No, he had just been held up. For reasons. West entered as soon as the Room of Requirement allowed him, guitar slung over his back, and casually saluted his friends.

His very quiet friends.

"Did somebody die?" He asked cheerfully, and went ahead and plugged into a magical amp. Also, Nigel got knowing grins. Because of Blue reasons. Yes.

So Vesper was here and that meant only West was left to come. And speak of the devil. He was finally here. Oh that grin had to mean West knew. Of Course he knew. Nigel was going to tell him after practice anyway. Nigel smiled and said "Well seems like you know"

Nigel walked over to the amp and plugged his in as well.Did anyone die. Not that Nigel can think of. Ohhhhh humor. Deadpan humor. IT was the best kind. "You never know"

Ascanius hardly even noticed when West walked into the room. He was too busy moving some stuff around on the drum set for the best sound, yeah? But he did catch the comment about the eerie silence in the room, which was typical when West wasn't there. Vesper and Ascanius hardly talked and Nigel and he were chill. They could comfortable silence.

"Just waiting on you, is all," he shrugged testing out the bass drum pedal a few times.

This was a nice set. Well done Room of Requirement, well done.

Sander opened the door and allowed Alex to take in what he wished this room would be used for. Since he hadn't been able to find a solution for skating outdoors, he figured that he could bring the ice indoors.

So here was his Ice Skating and Hockey Rink all set up in the Room of Requirement.

Since he knew that not everyone knew how to play ice hockey, he had sectioned off part of the rink so that those who just wanted to skate could do that, while others who wanted to play ice hockey could wander over to his side of the rink.

He hoped that Alex appreciated the disco ball touch. He had brought a CD player so that if needed, she could skate to any kind of music she desired.

"So what do you think about it? Will this be okay for you?" Sander asked waiting for her to reply.

Alex stepped into the Room of Reqirement and could not believe her eyes. "Whoa, are you kidding me? This place is awesome!" She looked around in amazement at the full sized skating rink. "Does this thing come with a Zamboni too? That would be about the ONLY thing it doesn't have."

Then Alex noticed the finishing touch. "Wait, is that.....it can't be......a disco ball? You really outdid yourself twin. I am very impressed. It's nice to know that you have such a vivid imagination", she said with a smile.

"But enough chit chat, it's time to skate." Alex took her skates from her shoulder and started to put them on. She laughed as she said, "Come on Aleksander, let's see whatcha got."

While she was waiting...and not speaking to the other two occupants in the room, Vesper moved her fingers along the piano's keys. Mainly, she was checking the tuning of the piano, because it was important...but when the door opened, revealing a West, she stopped abruptly.

So, they'd be getting started now?

At hearing his question, Ves directed her face towards the keys. Nope, not a death...There was just nothing to talk about among the members. Just music. Music was the one thing they all had in common. Music was the one thing she was comfortable with enough to share with this group of people.

To answer his question because she still didn't feel much like talking, she played a quick run of notes; the progression a simple, yet melodic one. Then she turned and smiled at him. Yea, that stuff...that she'd talked to him about...Ves was dealing with it. It was fixed, or so she thought.

Ready?

Smiling at Tessa she nodded "I am, I'm hoping to play more this term too, and hopefully make it as beater. But...I want to refresh on some skills and tactical ideas too..." Moving towards the shelf she started looking over the book titles "I'm Zoe. Pleasure to meet you." she added, realizing she hadn't even responded to her introducing herself!

Tessa looked up from what she was reading, she had almost forgotten that the girl was there... and that never happened as she was reading. In fact, you would barely see her reading... ever!

"Excellent. We Chasers are very appreciative of good beaters," she said with a grin. "Then again," she glanced at the girl's patch. "If we both make the team, we'll be competing against one another," she added with a wink. She loved healthy competition. "There's some really great stuff up there," she commented, holding up her own book.

"I'm Tessa," she replied with a warm smile. "Same!" She placed her book down and stretched. "How long have you been playing?" she asked. "I just wished there was somewhere to practice after we read this..." she heard a groan and turned in her chair to see that what had previously been a solid wall had now opened up to a space. She got up and walked over to it, grinning. She would be able to fly a broom around in here.

Pulling a book off the shelf on beater tactics, she moved to sit down on a squashy chair. Sinking down into it she opened it up and started thumbing through it. "Chasers....I can't imagine playing that position. It seems to be a lot of team work between the three of them, I mean it could be fun, I just don't know if I could handle it. Beating is kind of fun as is playing keeper though." Seeker? Merlin, no, not that again. No way...

"I played seeker in my first term and again during a game last term. And once played keeper and another time beater. But only for my first and third years." She didn't really want to explain why not in her second but well, she wasn't offering the information either. Looking up as she said she wished there was a spot to practice while reading the books. "Sweet!" she exclaimed sitting up a little when the wall opened up to a space.

Christmas smiled at Zoe and said "My holidays were great thanks Zoe, tryed out for a few of the professonal teams and i am going to miss you after i leave this year" Christmas waved back at Tessa

"Did you?" she asked her eyes lifting excitedly. "Did you hear back from any of them?" Awww! "Aww, that's sweet! I'll miss you too!"

"Ohhh I know." West said to Nigel, his grin widening. "But you'll have to tell me your version soon." Yes, because since they were both his mates and all, even though it was the same good news, it'd be cool to hear Nigel's take on it .

Waiting on him though? Well he was here now.

"Scan, its your turn to pick our warm up." He said, and returned Ves's smile. Yep he was ready, and totally eager to get lost in some music, with people who understood.

"Yes, there is definitely team work- but that's part of the fun and excitement- and why I'm so picky about my team," she said with a soft laugh to herself. "If you can't work with the other Chasers, you're carrying a lot of the pressure on your own." She'd done it after all... thankfully not for too long.

"I've never played as a Beater- what do you like best about it?" she inquired, curious. "I played Seeker for a year or two- but I liked playing Chaser much more. There was more action and competition with it," she said, her smile widening.

As she walked over to the opening, she heard Zoe's exclamation. Grinning, she walked over to the brooms that were propped against the wall. Not the best looking things, but they would do. "Fancy a bit of practice time?" she suggested, offering a broom to the girl.

Tessa returned the wave and held up another broom. "Want to join us Christmas?" she called. "There's plenty of room in here for all of us to fly around!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sander's Birthday Bash!

Tessa had done her walk outside, and then stepped into the room- a smile instantly on her face. This was perfect. Not only were there piles of food (soft food, mind you- so no one would get hurt), but there were the food-a-pults she had dreamed about along with some of the brooms on the side- if anyone felt overly ambitious. She was sure that if any of her other friends had ideas, the room would be quick to add them. She continued exploring, and found table laden with more normal food, as well as a birthday cake. A House elf was just finishing the preparations and Tessa was quick to thank him.

Now all she needed was the guests.

And the birthday boy of course!

There was no way that Lux was going to be late for a party like this when it was for Sander with one of her best friends organizing it!

Dressed in the nicest outfit she had at school, Lux made her way into the party room and looked around before her eyes settled on Tessa. "Wow, this looks so amazing!" Wandering over to one of the food-a-pults, she examined it closely. She could not want to use it on her friends!