What's the deal with the RoR?

[emmagrant01]

I've noticed a tendency in HP fanfic to use the Room of Requirement (RoR) as a sort of holodeck. If your boys need a place to shag, the RoR magically provides a king-sized bed. If they're into anything kinky, the RoR will provide any necessary equipment, as well. Now this is all in good fun, of course, and I don't want anyone to think they can't write the RoR that way. (At least the number of fics in which Dumbledore conspires to get two characters together has decreased dramatically, as it seems the RoR plays the role of benevolent matchmaker now.)

But what I'm wondering about is this: what the deal is with the RoR in canon? It seems like something that could be abused rather easily. I'm sure JKR will enlighten us at some point in the distant future when that next book comes out, but for now, I have some questions:



1) What is the RoR, really?
2) Is it really the case that it will provide anyone with anything they require? (If so, we'd best hope Voldemort doesn't find out about it.)
3) In OOTP, the DA members stand near the entrance and think about what they want to use the room for, and the RoR provides them with what it thinks they need. So, is it sentient? Would it ever refuse a request? Would it get a request wrong? How does it make those decisions?
4) Does anyone, living or dead, control the RoR? It seems to be on Dumbledore's side, so does it simply reflect the wishes of the headmaster (as the literal king of the castle), or does he control it more directly? If so, would that mean Dumbledore knows what happens in that room?
5) Can the RoR provide things other than materials needed? That is, if Harry stood by the door and thought about talking to his parents, would the RoR provide them? If he stood there and thought about wanting to shag Malfoy, would he open the door to find Draco waiting for him? And would it really be Draco, or... something else?



I'm going to stop before I'm smothered by plot bunnies. Oh, and I know I could have searched through the HP for Grownups archives, but... I'm lazy. I'm also more interested in the views of fanfic writers, at the moment. What do you think?

Comments

[mizbean.livejournal.com]

My question is what if two different parties wanted the RoR at the same time. Is the second one to get there SOL? I started over thinking this when I was re-reading OotP. I assume the staff knows about it, Dobby and Winky know about, all the D.A. members know about it and maybe even Draco and company know about having stumbled on the D.A. leaving. What's to stop Zacharias Smith to use to snog his girlfriend (or practice fencing)? And then what happens if, at the same time, Dumbledore is ambling by needing to take a piss again. Would the room not appear? An occupied sign appear?

I like you third point -- Would it ever refuse a request? What if the Inquisitor Squad needed a place to practice the Dark Arts, would it comply? That I find interesting.