![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
RoH
Rules | FAQ | Apps | Reserves
With the Three Broomsticks quickly overflowing (even with extensive extending charms put in place), Hogwarts began working it's own solution while the Ministry scrambled to try and figure out a way to fix the problem themselves.
During one particularly stressful day when several new arrivals appeared all at once, Madam Rosmerta had had enough. She simply couldn't keep up with the hustle and bustle of these new witches and wizards and the sound of magic booming and popping at odd hours of the night. It was driving away business as much as it was driving Madam Rosmerta batty!
As Madam Rosmerta furiously began to contact Dumbledore, miles away at the school the Hogwarts caretaker, Mr. Filch was hobbling furiously forward with purpose, Albus Dumbledore striding beside him less so.
"Right over here, sir," Filch's voice croaked. "Popped right out of the wall and gave Mrs. Norris quite the fright, it did. Scratched me leg bloody!" They turned a corner and Mr. Filch stopped shortly after, in front of a large mahogany set of double doors.
"Curious," came Dumbledore's response next to him. "I do believe you've just found the same room full of chamber pots that I did back in the day!" Dumbledore stepped forward, reaching out to run his hand along the smooth mahogany door.
"Chamber pots, sir?"
Albus gave the door a push and stood there for a long moment. "Or perhaps something entirely different, but just as vital."
Before he could elaborate further, an owl came swooping in to deposit a letter into Dumbledore's hand. "Oh, it's from dear Madam Rosmerta! I do hope she's-"
The envelope ripped itself open at the seal and began to shriek.
"PROFESSOR DUMBLEDORE, PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BLOODY LIVING ARRANGEMENT, OR I'LL-"
Exterior
The entrance to the Room of Houses can be found on the seventh floor of Hogwarts castle, down the left-side corridor. It's a large double mahogany door set in the middle of an otherwise fairly large expanse of stone.
One the ground surrounding the door is a golden line that appears etched into the floor itself. This, inhabitants of the Room of Houses are told, is an age line. It prevents anyone under the age of 17 from entering, but those of age may cross without harm. Students are prohibited from entering these quarters.
Common Area
Directly inside the Room of Houses is the common room, a large and cozily decorated circular room. The room is an almost kitschy mix of all four of the Hogwarts Houses, represented in various ways throughout the room, from the Hufflepuff couch throws to the scarlet and emerald wizards chess set up by a window that looks out over the lake.
Across from the entrance on the wall is a warm, roaring fire. Above the mantle, a large and intricately crafted Hogwarts emblem hangs on the wall, depicting artistic renderings of the four animals that represent the houses. The four animals are enchanted to move about, much like the portraits around the castle. In a similar fashion to the Great Hall, the ceiling above is enchanted to mirror the sky outside.
Four hallways, two on either side of the fireplace, lead to the dormitories. Above each hallway is a portrait of the founders of each house; Salazar Slytherin, Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff.
At the end of each hall is a different way to enter each dormitory.
Gryffindor: A replica of the Pink Lady's portrait that guards entrance to Gryffindor Tower hangs at the end of this hallway. In order to enter, she requests a password that changes depending on the day, or whatever suits her whimsy. Occasionally, her duplicate can be found visiting her sister portrait and vice versa, conspiring to make new passwords or else frustratingly denying entrance when she's absent.
Hufflepuff: A stack of barrels sit at the end of this hallway. In order to enter the Hufflepuff dormitories, one must tap the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, in the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff". One of the barrel lids will swing open, upon which they can enter by crawling through.
Ravenclaw: At this end of this hallway, a door with a big bronze knocker in the shape of an eagle. To gain entrance into the Ravenclaw dormitory one must answer a logic riddle spoken by the bronze eagle. The riddle is different each day and must be solved before the eagle will grant access to anyone.
Slytherin: The end of this hallway leads to a dead end, with nothing but a blank bit of stone wall at the end. When a password is spoken, the wall arranges itself into a doorway, granting entrance into the dormitory. The password changes daily.
Dormitories
Each dormitory is circular in shape, with twin-sized four poster beds arranged along the wall, all curtained in house colors. There are doors leading to other rooms, identical to the each other, seemingly growing as required to house the increasing number of inhabitants.
Each bed has a trunk at the foot of it, magically enchanted to have enough room for your school books, supplies and miscellaneous possessions.
Baths
While simple, the baths in the Room of Houses have some rather unique perks in comparison to the standard school ones. The showers and the baths respond to polite spoken requests and may change temperature, create a variety of scented bubbles and other relaxing effects. Do mind your manners, they can be a bit sensitive and a wrongly worded request or impolite demand has been known to result in injury and worse.