Prologue

A/N I do not own Harry Potter or any characters related to the franchise. That all belongs to the wonderful J.K. Rowling. I hope you enjoy the only thing I do own...the M rating for language and possible sexually explicit scenes (really just wanted to be safe with the rating).

Hermione was in her third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when the room first presented itself to her. She was in the library late one night, surrounding herself with the comforting scents of musty pages and burning oil from the flickering lamps. Harry had been staying up in his room obsessing over the marauders map, and Ron was so busy being mad at her because he thought Crookshanks had devoured Scabbers that she had no one to talk to anymore. She was tired of feeling alone even while being surrounded by people in the Gryffindor common room. It was strange that even though she was friends with everyone in her house, that without her boys she felt so utterly and completely isolated. So, she decided to be lonely in the library instead. And lonely she was.

She sat at her favorite table in the back of the library near the history section. Most people didn't come to this section of the library, its books were generally covered in a fine layer of dust. It was easy to figure out what Professor Binns was going to assign in each history class, given that his lesson plan hasn't changed since he dropped dead, so the books most students needed were at the end of the first row and stayed there. Even Madam Pince refused to move them. History was one of her favorite subjects and she was thoroughly convinced that wizarding school did not place enough importance on it, especially considering that history was once again repeating itself.

She sat there pouring over books containing various laws about magical creatures and their rights. Trying to find some obscure law that would guarantee Buckbeak's right to defend himself against an ignorant prat with silver-blond hair. She scoffed to herself thinking about him whining over the constant pain he was in. Constant her arse, he didn't have to hear himself. Listening to him gripe was the definition of true agony.

She was certain that she was on to something because she found a section in a book that guaranteed the life of a dragon if it defended its nest against poachers just as a couple of rowdy Gryffindors entered the library and decided to have a full snogging session in the next aisle over. Rolling her eyes she tried to stay focused as the sixth year girl let out little giggles and tried to encourage her partner on. She just needed somewhere quiet to research damn it.

Just as the thought entered her mind there was a slight grinding of stones coming from somewhere behind her. It reminded her of the way the bricks moved out of the way to allow her into Diagon Alley. Curiosity getting the better of her, she grabbed her vinewood wand, and walked slowly in the direction of the noise. There right at the end of the aisle containing the bibliographies of witches through the ages was a small oaken door. A door that Hermione was certain was not there before.

Gathering up her courage, she approached the door, and found that it opened on its own as she made her way towards it. Inside she found the most curious little room. It had a large fireplace just across the door, which leapt to life as she entered. There were two blue overstuffed chairs in front of it with a small table in between them, and a warm looking rug. To the right of the fireplace was a comfy looking black couch that was positioned just under a window, and to her left was a desk that had a stack of parchment and several quills lined up and waiting. Just above the fireplace was a painting of a beautiful woman with long black locks, in a 3rd century dress that was a deep blue with silver trim. As Hermione stood there the women in the painting motioned for her to come closer.

"I see another has found their way to my study," The voice was deep for a womens and she spoke slowly and clearly. "Who are you young one?"

"Uhh- I am Hermione Granger Madame Ravenclaw," Hermione said, because it was clear as day that this woman was a former founder of the house. As Hermione spoke, the woman's face broke into a small smile.

"You are not of House Ravenclaw I see," Rowena said as she knelt down on her dress to look closer to Hermione. "But you could have been. I see a great intellect and not a small amount of cleverness. But that is overshadowed by your need to prove yourself, and your inability to accept who you are. You are bold, and you are courageous in the face of adversity. Yes you belong to Godric, not me." She said this last part a little sadly before standing back up and motioning to the room.

"This is my study. It will only present itself to those who are in the most need-"

"Like the Room of Requirement?" Hermione blurted, before realising she was speaking to a founder of the school. "I'm-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt. That was- I'm sorry." The small smile returned to Rowena's face.

"Never apologize to me for having questions; for without questions, how do we learn? But yes, it is exactly like the Room of Requirement in that it only appears for those who have real need. The need here is specific to those who need a place to study and are the brightest witches or wizards of the age. Once you find it, it will present itself to you if you need and will only allow those who are chosen inside." Hermione took several steps into the room, and looked around as the door closed quietly behind her. It was warm and there were torches on the wall that slowly lit to provide just the right amount of light to read comfortably, allowing a small dance of shadows to begin on the walls.

"Has anyone else been chosen?" Hermione asked as she came to stand before the portrait of Rowena.

"Of course others have been chosen. But I will admit it has been awhile since I've had more than one chosen at a time. As of now there is one other boy who has gained the room's favor. A young boy of Salazars with a clever mind and a clear wit who is clouded by choices made for him by his family."

Rowena looked around her room and gave Hermione an encouraging grin. "You can come and go as you please, and the door behind you will drop you off exactly where you want to be left. Study as long as you want into the night and the door will open to your dormitory if you wish. But you can only access the room from the library and only when it allows you too. But I have no doubt that you will be able to access it whenever you choose. The room seems to favor the two of you over any other students I have hosted." She turned to walk into the portrait clearly leaving the conversation. Before she got too far into the magically painted land she turned and looked over her shoulder back at Hermione. "One more thing, I will not come back to rest here unless you have a question I feel you cannot answer on your own. In that case you need only knock three times on my portrait edge with your wand and I will come. Good luck Miss Hermione Granger of House Gryffindor. "

With that Hermione took one more look around the room before dashing back to her table to gather her books and rush into the newly found study haven to use. She decided she would only use it when she had a particularly hard day or particularly difficult homework that way she could still study with the boys if necessary. But, as she opened the door to the room and felt the warm air she let her face spread into the biggest grin she had ever had and let her loneliness get swept into the fireplace and launched into the waiting night time air. At least Hogwarts was listening to her.