Disclaimer: As with every other writer on I am a mere cheap rip-off from the real thing. (Not that I'm trying to put anyone down.) I am using characters and places created by JK Rowling. No money has passed hands (I can only wish) and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Summary: Fate gives each his man an opportunity. When Harry Potter comes face to face with a magical mirror it sends him to a place he never dreamed of. A quasi-au, with an interesting twist.

Announcement: The main character is the Slytherin Harry – that means the 'twin' or doppelganger is the Harry we know. It's sort of confusing, but I'll eventually sort the names out and give the main character a new name to use.

Christmas Colors

• eQuasarus •

Chapter 01

• Colors of Christmas •

Stupid Gryffindors.

The only season where staying indoors was almost a requirement and they had to go and decorate it. It didn't need decoration, the castle looked good as it was. Silent and drab, what more did one need?

Sitting alone on the point near the forbidden forest Harry stared out onto the lake wondering how long he could stand the cold. He always pushed himself to see how long or how well he could do something.

Seven long years at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and it was almost over. Only half a year left. Only a few days before everything else would come to an end. His destiny had been manifest already now it just had to work its magic.

An owl fluttered down from the sky bearing a sealed roll. Without a moments pause Harry took it from the owl, sending the creature on its way before carefully breaking the seal. Two charms later he unrolled the parchment and read it slowly.

A new plan has been devised. You are to arrive at the designated location alone in one hour. Ring twice and then enter. Wait there for further instructions.

There was no name or signature. But, it was not needed, Harry knew who it was from and that was enough. Quickly he dismissed the idea of staying out in the cold and made his way back to the castle, using passages only known to him, to quickly show up at the entrance of the common room.

No one asked him how he moved through the castle so effortlessly. Not anymore at least. They knew the only answer they would receive was a hex or curse he'd picked up recently.

"Hey," a voice spoke from the darkness before he gave the password. For a brief instant, Harry smiled, but the movement was minimal and gone in the same breath.

Turning to the voice, he walked into the blackness of the hallway. "I see my little nymph has returned from her escapades into the darker regions of the wizarding world," he said smirking slyly.

A hand slipped around his waste and he found himself drawn into a deep kiss. When it had ended the woman whispered into his ear enticingly. "Yes, and my slimy little Slytherin needs to take care of me."

"That's unfortunate because I can't. Duty calls you see."

Disappointed the person moved her hands into a more enticing position.

Still, Harry denied her. "Tonight, if there's more time. However, I must prepare. You do know what he'll do to me if I am late? I explained it once."

"Yes I remember," she pouted. "You'll come by my room later then if you come in late?"

Harry nodded and turned back to the common room after a second passionate kiss. An hour later, dressed in beautiful black and green robes, the hood pulled over his head, Harry walked silently down a dark alley in Hogsmeade.

In a deep corner of his mind, somewhere he could easily block, he wondered what was in store for him. By some dark design he'd become entangled in this mess as a child and was never able to completely free himself from it.

The house was small and unkempt, but not much of a surprise to Harry. He was used to that sort of place, and it was better than some of the slums that he'd been sent to. Following each of the instruction to the letter, he found himself standing inside the house in the only room that seemed to exist. In the center of the room was the only object that seemed to decorate the room, a mirror.

Even at a healthy six foot and well built the mirror still dwarfed Harry, easily twice his height and four times his width. It had no borders, but along the outside edge of the mirror, words written in a golden text that seemed burned into the glass itself. Harry could not read all of the words but made out three 'through' and 'looking glass'.

As he approached them mirror he noticed that, curiously, no reflection appeared. Only inches from the mirror Harry stared at it, utterly entranced. The mirror did not touch anything, it floated an inch above the ground waiting for something. The glass itself seemed to be living, it was as if there was a solid coating on top of a layer of water. It lived, it breathed.

Everything inside Harry told him it was dangerous. Somehow, no matter how hard he tried he could not resist reaching out and touching it. His nature dictated that he do everything he could to get himself into trouble.

The very moment he touched the glass a tingling sensation ran down his arm and threw the whole body. Then, a violent tearing feeling filled his stomach and the whole world went black.

"Damn those stupid tests," Harry muttered to himself, standing up. The meeting seemed to be a farce for him to be in that room. Whatever reason he had had to be there, it seemed that it was taken care of. No one was showing up even after he'd woken up. His head was pounding as he headed back to Hogwarts and he was irked that things had gone the way they did. Unconsciously he rubbed his left forearm, scratching at an invisible sore.

Once inside Harry noticed that the castle was much livelier than usual. Harry went to investigate. As he entered the great hall, he noticed that the Gryffindors had indeed been busy. The whole hall was filled with the glittering colors of Christmas. A party was in full swing.

Unlike most people, he didn't feel put out for not being invited. He rarely attended parties as it was, even if he was invited; he only came if it was for something important.

"Harry!" a familiar voice shouted, catching his attention. "Don't look so glum, everything's wonderful tonight."

Turning to Tonks with a smile, he grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the rest of the crowd and into a wall. She seemed completely shocked at his action, but did not resist as he pushed her against the wall and planted his mouth to hers.

"Harry?" she asked curiously, as she pushed him off of her. "I thought you told me just the other day that you and Hermione were a couple and there was no changing that."

A cold sensation rolled down Harry's spine as he stared at her. There was something different, something he couldn't pinpoint. "Granger?" he asked, almost spitting the name out. "Why would I like that know-it-all? Always spouting off about some worthless book she's just read."

In an instant, the mystery increased when someone approached the two from behind. "So Tonks, brought a date this time I see," it said cheerfully.

More than just the familiarity was what caught Harry off guard. He turned to see the voice and it seemed as if he were standing in front of a mirror, facing himself.

"Who are you?" Both said in perfect unison. The first, who still had a hold of Tonks, sounded slightly angry while the second still had the cheerful intone, thinking something was funny.

No one around them spoke, simply stared in wonderment. The red head youth who stood next to the second Harry snorted with laughter while everyone else became dead silent. The first Harry smirked at the outburst. He knew the boy, Weasley, and detested him for the way he acted.

Again, in nearly perfect unison they spoke again. "Slytherin, huh?" and "Gryffindor, huh?"

Slightly perturbed, they both continued. "Surely you must be joking. Harry Potter in Gryffindor, that's a real riot." While the second referred to Slytherin in the same manner.

No one was quite sure what was happening, their beloved Harry Potter seemed to have an evil clone. The two circled each other, dropping the hands of the woman they'd held.

Confusion was paramount when a third voice broke in after a minute of the childish antics each showed the other. "Performing a synchronized dance Potter?" it drawled thickly. "Surely you know this is a party, not a talent show."

The first Harry turned, surprised to see the platinum-haired school mate. "But…" he said, his bright green eyes sparkling with surprise. From within his beautiful robes came a wand so quickly no one saw it removed. "You're dead. I killed you…" he faltered, looking around in a panic. Somewhere between the gasps and motion of wands being pulled out, there was little time for thought.

When all was said and done two Harry Potters lay on the ground next to each other unconscious. Their red and green robes forming a perfect compliment to the nearby Christmas decorations.