When Link said that, Emily immediately realized how little she actually knew about this topic.
Her face flushed red, and she gave a small, embarrassed nod before falling silent.
Fortunately, neither Link nor John and the others seemed interested in continuing that subject.
They all understood very well that this kind of situation was actually quite common in the wizarding world.
Not only pure-blood wizards who grew up in magical families, but even half-bloods and Muggle-born wizards who had been away from the Muggle world for too long couldn't make sense of new magic-based technologies inspired by Muggle inventions, things like magically edited audio or video.
From this came the wizards' blind faith in the media.
That old saying "pictures don't lie" perfectly summed up the mindset of most wizards.
And that, of course, was the main reason why Link and Fudge had been able to manipulate public opinion so easily through the Daily Prophet before.
Back to the topic.
Link and the others quickly shifted the conversation to a few light, unrelated subjects, completely dispelling the awkward atmosphere.
Only then did John, who had been spacing out, pull his attention back to reality. Excited and curious, he pointed toward the ceiling and said, "Link, could this place be… the Chamber of Secrets?"
As soon as he said that, Cedric straightened up a bit, he had been wondering the same thing for a while.
Link and Emily exchanged glances, then burst out laughing.
They really hadn't expected John, after all that thinking, to come up with that answer.
It took a while before Link finally wiped away the tears at the corner of his eyes and explained to the dark-faced John, "This is a secret room, but not that one. The difference between them is a bit complicated, so how about we wait until all our guests arrive tonight before explaining? …Ah, speak of the devil, they're here."
As he said that, Link and Emily turned toward the entrance, and John and Cedric looked over in confusion as well.
Under their gaze, the door to the Room of Requirement slowly opened, and the bewildered faces of Hermione and Harry appeared in view.
"Well, what are you standing there for? Come in and sit down."
Link stood up and waved them over. Hermione and Harry, still stunned by the magical door mechanism, finally came back to their senses. Looking dazed, they were led into the study and sat down on the sofa Link indicated.
Unfortunately, Harry was far too excited to sit still. Before he even properly touched the sofa, he blurted out impatiently, "Link! What is this place?"
Hearing that, Link spread his hands and gave John and the others a "See? Told you so" look, which made everyone burst out laughing again.
"What's so funny?" Harry said, a bit annoyed.
"Don't worry," Emily said kindly. "It's just a small joke, no harm meant."
Her tone was soft and gentle, she sounded completely sincere.
Even so, Hermione pursed her lips and didn't look amused.
"Alright, alright," Link said, stepping forward. "Let me explain. The secret room you're in right now is the famous Room of Requirement."
"The Room of Requirement?"
John and Harry said it at the same time.
Hermione and Cedric's faces, on the other hand, showed a mix of realization and surprise.
Hermione even gasped and covered her mouth.
Seeing that, Link couldn't resist mimicking Professor Flitwick's classroom tone, "Ah-ha! Looks like one student already knows the answer. Would anyone like to stand up and explain it to the class?"
He looked toward Cedric as he said that, figuring Cedric probably knew more.
But before he could finish the thought, he caught Hermione out of the corner of his eye, her hand shot up so fast it practically lifted her off the sofa.
Emily couldn't help laughing softly.
"Wow! Truly Miss Know-It-All," she teased.
Hermione shot her a glare through gritted teeth, but Link cut in before she could retort, "Alright, enough. Hermione, go ahead, tell us what you know."
"Fine…" Hermione said reluctantly, pulling her gaze away from Emily.
She took a deep breath and began, "The Room of Requirement, or the Come-and-Go Room, is said to have been created by the Founders of Hogwarts themselves when they built the school."
"It possesses mysterious magical powers and is extremely well hidden. Even Hogwarts, A History doesn't mention it. I've also never heard of anyone actually finding it before. I can't believe, "
"Wait a minute," John interrupted. "If Hogwarts, A History doesn't even mention it, then how do you know about it?"
At that, Hermione gave John a contemptuous look, speaking in a superior tone, "I bet you failed your History of Magic O.W.L.s. If you'd ever paid attention in class, you'd know Professor Binns clearly mentioned it in third year. It's one of the few interesting stories he ever tells."
John's mouth opened and closed a few times, but no words came out. His whole face flushed red with embarrassment.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Just then, a clear sound of applause broke the tension, saving him from further humiliation.
Link clapped as he laughed and said, "Wonderful, Hermione! If I had the power to award points, I'd give you at least twenty!"
Hearing that, Hermione immediately lost interest in glaring at John. Her fierce look melted into shyness as she turned her head slightly and asked, "So… I got it right?"
"Of course! What you said is mostly accurate," Link replied. "But when it comes to its magical properties…" He paused briefly.
"Do you know why it's called the Room of Requirement?"
"Why?" Harry asked, playing along.
The others leaned forward curiously.
"Because..." Link said, "it can fulfill almost any request you make of it! For example, right now, I want a place where we can hold a banquet."
He waved his wand.
Immediately, the room was bathed in gray light, and everything around them began spinning and twisting rapidly.
When it settled again, the cozy study had vanished, replaced by a magnificent banquet hall with a long table in the center.
"For example," Link continued, "if I want a bathroom…"
The scene shifted again, and a luxurious bath appeared, much like the prefects' bathroom.
———
Link demonstrated several more forms of the Room of Requirement, until John looked like he might vomit from all the transformations. Finally, Link returned the room to its study form.
"This… this is incredible! It's the perfect place for a secret base!" Harry exclaimed breathlessly, his whole body trembling, whether from excitement or motion sickness, no one could tell.
Cedric and John weren't as over the top as Harry, but they were clearly just as excited.
Hermione, though, hadn't forgotten about Link. Even in her excitement, she managed to thank him sincerely, "Link, did you bring us here today just to show us this? Thank you so much!"
But Link's face turned serious.
"Actually, that's just part of the reason. The real reason I called you here is to ask, how have things been going with Umbridge lately?"
At that, the smiles on both Harry and Hermione's faces disappeared.
Harry looked down, his tone stiff and flat. "How do you think? The same as always."
Hermione quickly cut in, "Don't listen to him, Link. He's just mad because Umbridge gave him another week of detention!"
"What happened this time?" Link asked, his voice low.
Harry glared at Hermione for snitching, but under Link's sharp gaze, he finally sighed and muttered, "That old hag's just picking on me on purpose."
Link didn't immediately believe him. He turned to Hermione.
"I don't disagree," Hermione said.
"But, Harry, like Professor McGonagall told you, if you could just behave a little better, keep your head down, and stop giving Umbridge excuses, then even if she hates you, she wouldn't have a chance to punish you."
"I can't stand her! How do you expect me to hold it in when she's that disgusting?!" Harry shouted, clutching his head.
Hermione fell silent. She knew full well that with Harry's temper, there was no way he could stomach pretending around Umbridge.
And to be honest, she herself found Umbridge's so-called "teaching methods" intolerable.
Thinking that, Hermione suddenly raised her head and said firmly, "Link, we have to do something about Umbridge!"
"I suggest poison," Emily said seriously.
"No, no, no! We can't do that!" Hermione flailed her hands in panic.
She looked genuinely frightened, Emily's serious expression made it seem like she might actually follow through with it.
And to be fair, Emily's suggestion would have solved the problem permanently.
John and Cedric stared at her, equally alarmed.
"What I mean is," Hermione said quickly, "Umbridge is an absolutely terrible teacher! We're not learning anything useful from her! And Harry and I have to take our O.W.L.s this year! Plus, Voldemort's back, we need to get stronger!"
Cedric frowned. "It's too late now. You know as well as I do, Umbridge got this job, and Fudge will make sure she keeps it."
"Unless..." he added darkly, "we really do poison her."
"I already said we can't do that!" Hermione shouted, her voice rising. Then, realizing what she'd just done, she lowered her head nervously, glancing at Link.
"Um… actually, I've been thinking… maybe we could just… do it ourselves."
"Do it ourselves? What do you mean?" John asked, looking confused.
Hermione sighed, about to explain, when Link spoke first.
"Hermione… so you were thinking the same thing, huh?"
"Wait, you mean you also, " Hermione jumped up, so excited she could barely speak.
Link nodded and smiled at the others.
"Since Umbridge refuses to teach us proper Defense Against the Dark Arts, then we'll just teach ourselves."
"Not just us here, any student who wants to get stronger can join."
"Forget it, Link," Harry said gloomily.
"I don't have time for that. Between Umbridge's detentions, all my homework, and Quidditch practice, I barely have time to sleep, let alone study extra defense spells…"
Link raised an eyebrow and interrupted him.
"What if I told you I would be the one teaching? That I'd personally train you in Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"Uh..."
Harry froze, mouth open.
There was no doubt about Link's power.
Being trained by him… that was a tempting offer.
His mind still tried to look for an excuse to refuse, and the first thing that came to mind was the issue of where they would even practice.
But before he could think further, he remembered, this very room was the Room of Requirement.
Link, having read his thoughts with Legilimency, chuckled softly and waved his wand.
Instantly, the study transformed into a spell training chamber.
Books from the shelves floated down and divided themselves among the group.
"Standard Spells and Counter-Curses," "Clever Defense Against Dark Magic," "Practical Protective Charms," "Fighting Fire with Fire"...
As the number of books piled up, Harry's mind went completely blank.
Hermione, on the other hand, was glowing with joy. From the moment Link spoke, she was already nodding along to every word, her eyes shining.
"The professor's ready, the classroom's ready… so, is anyone still against it?" Link said with a grin, spreading his arms.
Naturally, Hermione was the first to jump up in agreement, faster even than when she raised her hand earlier.
Then came Harry.
John and Cedric were the last to agree.
Clap!
Link clapped his hands once, smiling broadly.
"Good. Then go and contact anyone you think might want to join. Next weekend afternoon, we'll meet at the M.O.M.H.L. Factory to confirm who's in and discuss our next steps."
As Link made the announcement, Hermione cheered, grabbed the still-dazed Harry by the arm, and dashed out of the Room of Requirement.
It felt like a fire had been lit in her chest, she couldn't wait to get started.
John and Cedric stood up as well, ready to leave.
But before going, both of them gave Link a long, complicated look.
The two of them had spent more time around Link than anyone except Emily, and they understood his way of thinking quite well. They knew Link never did anything without purpose.
For example, now that he already had proof to control Umbridge, something he could easily use to win over public support or even destroy her outright, why bother creating a large-scale self-study group?
Clearly, there had to be a deeper reason.
That was as far as John's thoughts went.
Not because he lacked intelligence, but because he trusted Link completely.
Cedric, however, thought further.
He suspected Link was trying to build a new organization within Hogwarts, one that would be loyal only to him.
In that organization, ordinary students would serve as the "outer members," while the few invited here tonight, like himself, would be the true "core members."
Anyone familiar with modern magical history in the UK would recognize this development model immediately.
After all, that was exactly how Voldemort had built his own power through Slytherin House.
So did that mean Link's goal in creating this organization was…
A chill ran down Cedric's spine as he walked down the dark corridor.