Weeks stretch into months. Before she knew it, it was March. Nothing much had changed, except that the school felt more like home now that the Dementors had been forced to leave. They were still in Hogsmead. But as Ginny had pointed out. They were not allowed to visit the village this term anyway.

After dinner there was a commotion on the stairs leading to the Gryffindor common room. Percy Weasley, trying to sound important, made everyone move as Ginny went down. "The fat lady. She's gone!" Ginny said. Dumbledore walked past them and Avalon caught a glimpse of the portrait. It looked as if paws had sliced it. "Everyone except Gryffindor is in their own common rooms now!" Dumbledore said.

After talking for hours in their dormitories about what could have happened, the girls went to sleep. Avalon was suddenly awakened by a whispering voice. "Avalon." The voice said. "Not now Mummy, its still dark out." She said sleepily. "Avalon wake up." She heard, and this time she opened her eyes. Next to her bed was Professor Snape.

"Sir, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Taking you to safety." He said. "Come with me." He added. "Why?" she asked, still sleepy. "Black is in the castle. I want you to be safe." He said.

"What about the others?" she asked "They will be safe, come on Avalon." She looked into his eyes, she saw how important it was to him, so she climbed out of bed. "He took her hand and led her out of the common room.

On the fifth floor, opposite a tapestry of a man trying to make trolls dance balet. "Stay here, Avalon." Snape said, walking past the blind wall 3 times, muttering that he needed a place to hide her. The third time a door materialised.

Snape led her through the door. She looked around, it looked like a decent sized flat.

It had its own living room, bathroom and bedroom, all decorated just as she liked them. The bed in the bedroom looked extremely comfortable. The chairs in the living room were comfortable and in the baroque style she had always wanted. The dining area had a lovely one-person table. The room even had fake windows that showed a moonlit Meddow at the moment.

"Where's that elf?" he asked. "What elf?" she asked. "Deek!" shouted Snape. A few seconds later there was a crack and a creature stood before them, it was small, it had big hanging ears, a pointy nose, not much hair but what it did have was grey, it was wearing what looked like an old kilt. He had thin, lanky legs and arms, and big round eyes.

"Yes, Professor Snape, sir?" he asked. "Good Deek, keep her in here until I get her. Do you understand?" Snape asked. "Keep Miss Prince in this room until you come and get her, sir." The elf replied. "Good. Avalon, I am sorry, but I must go. Deek will keep you company." He said before leaving the room. The door disappeared after Snape had closed it.

"You're very special, Miss Prince." Deek said. "Why do you say that?" Avalon asked. "Deek has never seen Professor Snape protect a student before." The elf said. Avalon smiled. "How much do you see?" she asked the elf.

"Deek sees most of the school, Miss." He said. Avalon smiled again and sat down. "What is this place?" she asked. "The room of requirment, miss. It appears when one is in need," he replied. "And it always gives what is needed," he added.

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"Just as Professor Snape needed a good place to keep you safe, Miss," he explained.

"I think we'll be here for a while." Avalon said. "Why don't you sit down?" Avalon asked. "That's very kind miss," Deek said and sat down next to her. "How old are you, Deek?" Avalon asked him. "I am 210 years old miss." He replied. "Wow. How old can you get?" she asked in amazement. "600 years miss." The elf replied.

"Wow." Avalon said. "It's a bit lonely." Deek said. "Why?" she asked, feeling sorry for the elf. "Humans live 100 years, some even less. Most of Deek's friends are gone now," the elf explained. "That's sad." Avalon said. "Yes." was all Deek said after that.

"But if you see everything you can surely tell me a lot." Avalon said.

"Yes, many stories." Deek said. "What do you want to hear Miss?" he asked her. She thought for a few minutes and then remembered what her mother had said a year ago.

"Why don't you tell me what's true about Professor Fig?" she asked.

"Oh, that is an exciting story, Miss," Deek said. "It started 130 years ago. A young Professor Eliazar Fig came to teach Magical Theory here at Hogwarts. He already had a wife and two children. And had travelled a lot. He wanted to teach magic to children. For 30 years he was very happy at Hogwarts. His wife Miriam, whom I unfortunately never met. was researching ancient magic. He began his story.

"But poor Miriam was killed and she had sent something to a friend of the Ministry, Professor Eliazar Fig was training a special student at the time, this was a young lady called Maxine, I do not know her last name. she started school as a 5th year. This had never happened before. Or at least the teachers thought it had not. Deek continued

"Maxine could see the old magic. At least little bits of it. I am proud to say that I helped her, she used this room quite often to study. Miss Professor Weasley told me to be her friend. It was not hard to keep that order, she was a nice student." Avalon didn't understand what this student had to do with Fig, but she enjoyed his story.

"She was even nice about Deeks old friend Tubs. Tubs had sadly lost his battle with spiders and died." Deek said as a tear came to his eye. "That's very sad Deek." Avalon said. "Yes, Deek cried many nights for his friend. But now I did not have to worry anymore." Deek added.

"But Deek will continue the story," he said. "Professor Fig had taken Maxine to school, they were on their way to Hogwarts and were almost eaten by a dragon. The professor's poor friend had died."How horrible."Yes, yes, it was a difficult time, Miss." Deek said.

"It was all the fault of a goblin called Ranrok. He was after the power that Miss Maxine could see. Ranrok was digging for the vault of ancient evil magic that was stored somewhere. It was the work of a woman called Isadora Morganac. She was a teacher at Hogwarts many, many years ago. This was many 100 years before Deek was even born.

"Miss Maxine wanted to stop Ranrok and with the help of the Keepers and her friends Mister Sallow, Miss Sweeting and Miss Onay and of course Professor Fig, they managed to unlock the good old magic for Miss Maxine." Deek said.

"But the goblin Ranrock and his followers, who believed that goblins should be able to be more free, would not give up. And to save the school and the whole wizarding world. Goblin Ranrock had turned himself into a dragon. The professors, except for Professor Black of course," he said. He said.

"Wait. Black as in Sirius Black? He was a professor?" Avalon asked. "No Miss, that was Finius Nigelus Black. I believe he is the great grandfather of Mr Sirus Black." Deek replied. "You can't help what those who survive you get up to I guess." Avalon said.

"Please continue your story." Avalon said.

"Oh yes, well the teachers kept all the goblins of Ranrok at bay, but Miss Maxine and Professor Fig went to fight Ranrok. But it all seemed to go badly. In the end, Professor Fig saved Miss Maxine, even though he was very hurt, and together they defeated the goblin Ranrok, but we lost Professor Fig," he finished his story.

"That is so sad. My mum's friend Arabella said it was her grandfather." Avalon said. "And she always said that he saved the school." Avalon said. "Oh yeah, he definitely did just that miss Prince." Deek said. She looked at the windows, the sun had risen in them. "We talked all night Deek." Avalon said. "Indeed. Perhaps you should get some sleep Miss Prince," Deek said. Avalon agreed and quickly lay down in the bedroom. Before she knew it she was asleep.

Not much later she was awakened by Snape. "It's safe now Avalon." He told her. "You can go back to your common room." She was very tired but glad to be out of the room. "Wait Deek." Avalon said. "Yes Miss Prince. "I want you to come and visit me some time ok. You can tell me more about the school, I have enjoyed your company." She told him. "Thank you miss, I will certainly visit you," Deek said. "You better. Consider yourself my friend ok." She added. The elf's face lit up. "Thank you miss, it's been years since I've had a friend." Deek said happily. "All you have to do is call Deek's name and Deek will join you immediately. "Deek said. "See you soon than. my friend.