Hey guys, sorry for the late update. I know it's been a few months since I last updated this story. The reason for this is that my laptop (among various other personal and work items) was stolen when my car was broken into in June ago, and I have been unable to update as my replacement laptop then broke down. I'm currently using a very slow laptop from 2013 while I await repairs.

Additionally, my new job has weird hours and is really tiring (both physically and mentally; I can't tell you how many times I got home and just passed out on my sofa), and I have just started classes again, so I don't know how much I'll be able to update even now. It will likely be late September before I am able to update as frequently as I was before the summer began.

Thank you so much for your reviews and for your patience and understanding during this time. I really appreciate your support. And now, without further adieu, I give you the next chapter.

Ava was snapped back to reality when Sara cleared her throat. Her blush deepened, and she abruptly stood, averting her gaze to the floor just behind Sara. She announced that it was late, and that she was retiring for the night. Upon her use of the word 'retiring', Sara chuckled and shook her head good-naturedly, before standing aside to let Ava past. She watched as Ava, eyes trained resolutely to the floor in front of her feet, marched stiffly up the stairs and into her bedroom, not daring to stop and look back at Sara.

Sara let out a (dreamy, though she'd never admit it) sigh, and flopped onto the couch. It's only for a few months, and only to piss off her family. Soon it'll be over, and maybe then I'll stop having feelings, Sara reasoned with herself. Emotions suck.

Ray pulled Nora through down some stairs and through corridor after winding corridor, until finally stopping in front of a… blank wall?

Nora let go of Ray's hand as he started to pace back and forth in front of the wall, his brow furrowed deep in thought. "Uh, Ray?" The man in question made a noncommittal noise, still pacing and concentrating. "What are you doing? Is this a prank? I swear if one of your friends pops out of one of those cupboards and hits me with some kind of jinx or confetti or something, I will kill you, then them, and then you again," Nora threatened.

Ray snorted, and finally stopped pacing, coming to stop in front of Nora. He took her shoulders, holding her in place as he circled behind her. "Just watch," he chuckled lowly in her ear, making the hair on the back of Nora's neck stand on end and causing her to lightly shiver.

She kept her eyes planted firmly on the wall ahead of her, heeding Ray's words, though still skeptical. That skepticism melted away when the wall began to change into a massive set of double doors, stretching from the floor to the tall ceiling in the large corridor. Nora turned to Ray, her mouth agape in shock. He just chuckled and took her hand again, leading her into the room as he pushed open the door, closing it firmly behind it.

Nora moved to the center of the room, turning slowly as she took everything in. There were several wardrobes, open to reveal different colors of dresses and armor and tunics, the fabrics ranging in color from grey to gold to royal purple. Next to each wardrobe was a manakin sporting distinct styles, as well as a large cabinet with accessories draped on hooks along the edges. In the back corners of the room were changing screens, already draped with swatches of fabrics to showcase both material and color. Nora ventured behind one of the screens to discover three full-length mirrors, so that she could view the clothing from multiple angles.

She exited the screened-area and turned back to Ray. "Is this the Room of Requirement?"

Ray looked puzzled. "How'd you know?"

"I've read about it in some books about Hogwarts and some novels about various students' adventures here, but the books never mentioned where it was."

Ray beamed proudly. "Yeah, Rip showed it to us a long time ago. He and Kendra and Carter used to hang out here, and when they brought Sara and Mick and I into the fold, they showed it to us. We - meaning the Legends plus Charlie and Gideon - have been using it as a hangout ever since."

"Am I to assume that 'hanging out' means meeting up after hours, and probably drinking? Why Raymond, you're a prefect, how could you be so irresponsible?" Nora put on a mock-scandalized voice, touching her hand to her heart dramatically, but letting a smirk slip through.

"I'm irresponsible, huh? What about Sara? She's head girl!" Ray protested. "Besides, it just solidifies my position as a bad boy."

Nora snorted and began laughing hysterically. Before long she was hunched over, still laughing to the point of tears.

"What?" Ray asked indignantly.

When Nora could breathe again (and could speak through the stitch in her ribs), she reached up to place a comforting hand on Ray's shoulder. "Raymond Palmer, you literally still have your shirt tucked in and your tie still done, and it is long after uniform hours. Merlin knows you have never in your life been a 'bad boy'."

Ray blushed, hands making their way into his pockets as his shoulders raised in embarrassment. He chuckled nervously, "Yeah, you're right."

Standing there, looking nervous and blushing, Nora thought he'd never looked cuter. She couldn't resist standing on her toes (and yanking him down by his shoulder to get him closer to her height - Merlin's beard he was tall) to press a chaste kiss to his cheek. Of course, this caused his blush to deepen, and Nora couldn't hold back her giggle (which she would deny that's what it was for the rest of her days).

"S-so," Ray stuttered out as he clapped his hands together once Nora had stepped back. "let's get to it. I still need to work out my costume too, so why don't we look around and we can show each other each item once we've got it on?"

Nora chewed at her bottom lip (which Ray definitely wasn't staring at, absolutely not) in thought, before amending Ray's statement. "Why don't we not show each other? Make it a surprise?"

Ray's face lit up. "Yeah, that sounds great! But, uh, one problem: what if we need help fastening or getting the clothes on?"

Nora cocked an eyebrow and pulled out her wand, twirling it between her fingers. Ray blushed yet again. "Oh, yeah. Magic, duh!"

So Ray went to go and look at the armor, and Nora began perusing the dresses. She picked up a light blue number, before her gaze was drawn away from it by a deep red with a… more daring neckline than she'd done before. She grinned wickedly before plucking it off the rack.

Perfect, she thought. He won't be able to take his eyes off me.