Ginny (was Re: Why it took Percy so long to be with the good guys.)

[Geoff]

No: HPFGUIDX 192104

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Bruce Mull <bpmull at ...> wrote:

Liz:
> I do seem to remember that the room would open out on to different places,
> so a single place couldn't be guarded. I can't remember where it says that,
> but I have a feeling it is when they are talking about how Neville gets the
> room perfect.
> This would make finding and watching the room impossible, so it is
> conceivable that the Carrows were told about the room, but could still not
> find it.

Bruce:
> I remember that happening in the movies, but I'm not sure about the books. I'll need to reread them in that point.

Geoff:
Canon supplies a little light to having different exits and 
keeping the Carrows at bay:

''Where are we?" (Harry speaking)

"Room of Requirement, of course!" said Neville. "Surpassed itself, hasn't 
it? The Carrows were chasing me and I knew I had just one chance for a 
hideout: I managed to get through the door  and this is what I found! 
Well, it wasn't exactly like this when I arrived, it was a lot smaller, there 
was only one hammock and just Gryffindor hangings. But it's expanded 
as more and more of the DA have arrived."

"And the Carrows can't get in?" asked Harry, looking around for the door.

"No," said Seamus Finnigan, whom Harry had not recognised until he 
spoke: Seamus' face was bruised and puffy. "It's a proper hideout, as 
long as one of us stays in here, they can't get at us, the door won't open. 
It's all down to Neville. He really gets this Room. You've got to ask for 
exactly what you need - like 'I don't want any Carrow supporters to be 
able to get in' - and it'll do it for you! You've just got to make sure you 
close the loopholes! Neville's the man!"

"It's quite straightforward really," said Neville modestly. "I'd been in here 
about a day and a half and getting really hungry and wishing I could get 
something to eat and that's when the passage to the Hog's Head opened
up. I went though and met Aberforth..."'
(DH "The Lost Diadem", p.465 UK edition)

This I think answers Liz's questions and reveals even more how powerful 
the magic controlling the Room is. The interesting part is that it retains 
its structure as long as there is someone present. I seem to recall that 
there is a suggestion in HBP that the Room does not necessarily retain 
its configuration if the person calling it into existence is not there but 
that it can be recalled as when Harry returns in DH looking for the diadem.