Question about the Room of Requirement

[rachaelmcadams]

No: HPFGUIDX 137712

Demetra wrote:
> The Lexicon describes the Room of Requirement as a magical room 
which 
> can only be discovered by someone who is in need.  The room will 
> appear when someone walks past the wall three times while 
> concentrating on what they need. 
>
> We know that in OotP, The DA used the room for meetings.  The room 
> stocked itself with useful books and objects one would use for DADA 
> lessons.  
> In OotP, Chapter 27, the Inquisitorial Squad discovered the DA had 
> been using the room.  They found the room and the list of all of 
the 
> members hanging on the wall.  I recall some theories that because 
the 
> I.S. needed some evidence against the DA, the room provided it for 
> them.
> 
> However, in Chapter 21 of HPB, we see Harry trying to get the room 
to 
> appear to show him what Draco was up to.  The door to the room 
never 
> appears.  
> 
> Why doesn't the room give Harry what he needs?  Was what he 
requested 
> not specific enough?  Is it because Harry didn't *need* to know 
what 
> Draco was up to, he only *wants* to know?  
> Or does the room not allow people to see what other's are using it 
> for?  But if that is the case, why did the room allow the I.S. to 
see 
> what the DA was up to, but not allow Harry to see what Draco was up 
> to?   
> 
> Any thoughts?

Rachael now:
The I.S. got into the Room of Requirement because they knew what the 
DA was all about, so they could figure out what Harry said to get in 
and so it would allow them.

Harry, however, did not know what Draco was up to, so he couldn't get 
in the same way.  But, when Harry looks for a place to hide something 
(the potions book), he gets into Draco's room (he passes the 
vanishing cabinet) and Trelawny makes it into the room when Draco's 
in there when she wants to hide her sherry bottles.  

So, to summarize, I don't think it's a matter of want vs. need, but 
having the same reason/requirement to go in.

Rachael