Title: Nightmares of Reality

Author: Claire (.morbidity)

Rating: T

Genre: Family/Tragedy

Pairings: I've changed my mind. There are going to be pairings, but they'll be a minimal part of the big picture. Mainly because it's hard to write a story about teenagers that will (probably) involve a dance that doesn't have pairings. But a Pairing Warning: none of the relationships will be nice. They'll probably all come crashing down. The main ones that I've figured out are LE/JP and LE/SS.

In case you were wondering, no: there will not be a Harry/Lily pairing.

Warnings: Probably eventual murder, insanity (not the happy kind so prevalent in fanfics: the scary, dark, serious talk with your psychiatrist kind), death, torture, nastiness in general, in this chapter specifically there's bad grammar, a scary Snape, someone dies and, naturally, spoilers.

Also, I feel I should warn you that the rating is T right now because I think the story will get darker. Right now I'd estimate as a K+, although correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that by the end it will be M. For the eventual insanity and torture.

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR.

Extended Summary: The Potters were living the dream: they had two powerful sons, one beautiful daughter and a public ready to bow to their every whim. Lily works, while James cares for their twin sons and daughter. Ethan, their son, killed Voldemort but he has grown up a sweet child, away from all the media. The life of the Potters is truly a dream come true. But Harry's dreams aren't the happy kind.

Notes:

I've been asked for a summary of what's happened so far, so these are my notes on the chapters so far; also I've included the chapter names. In case you were wondering, this chapter is the unique and original 'Christmas':

Chapter 1: The beginning

Halloween: James is out, Voldemort spares Lily. He attacks Ethan, who survives, but both Harry and Ethan are left with scars

Sirius and Remus have set up a law firm, Ava is born sometime, and Harry has nightmares of the attack

Diagon alley: family is disguised

Ollivander's: Harry gets Holly wand

Harry mobbed in Diagon Alley, has TR flashback

Chapter 2: Meet Delilah

Harry/Ethan have magic lessons with lily

All family but Harry spend night before Hogwarts together, comforting each other

Harry dreams of Voldemort turning into Quirrell

Harry overhears the late-night comfort session and becomes hurt

Platform 9 and ¾ harry overhears Ethan: lots of misunderstanding

Harry dreams Tom practices crucio, etc. and obliviate on Charity

Lily pretends to be 'Delilah Evans'

Lily and James talk, lily stuns James and walks out.

Chapter 3: The Slytherins

Train:

Harry meets Ron

Harry hates Neville, his old playmate

Harry is annoyed by Hermione

Harry goes with Draco and meets 'the Slytherins'

Before sorting Harry calls Justin a Mudblood

Ethan and Harry not friends now

Harry sorted Slytherin

Chapter 4: Caring

Harry's first day – late to breakfast

Lessons are interesting

Harry/Ethan rivalry

Harry's first potions lesson

Ethan and harry have rivalry

Flashback when Snape uses legilimency: Tom practices legilimency on Balendin Lestrange

Harry's friends help him deal with attention

Lily, Harry and Snape figure out about Harry's connection to Voldemort

Lily obliviates James when he figures out she's lied

Chapter 5: All he wanted

Flying lesson: Ethan knocks Harry out, Harry makes up with Lily and James

Lily in DoM

Harry dreams about Quirrel and the stone

James and Ava – Ava is a freaky child

'Midnight duel' that didn't happen: Harry and co. set up surprise for Ethan in the Third Floor Corridor

Chapter 6: Halloween

MSIE class with Nicolas Flamel: Hufflepuffs

Halloween

Troll is no big issue, but it freaks out 'the Slytherins'

Harry dreams of someone rebuking Quirrel… and about the stone

Riddle's first time trying to get the stone

Featuring Penny and Nicolas and 'Lord Riddle'

1st year Slyths investigate 3rd floor… and run screaming

Lily and Snape analyse Harry's dreams

Flamel

Harry goes to owlery and sees him post a letter to Penny

Flamel rants like Harry in fifth year: I'm gonna die, no one cares

-NoR-

Chapter 7

-NoR-

Harry wouldn't be going home for Christmas.

The thought was more than a little scary, more than a little daunting. He'd never celebrated Christmas with anyone but his closest family and now, by his own self-imposed exile, he would be alone in the Slytherin common room for the season of giving. It brought a chill to his spine, but it was better than seeing Ethan. He wasn't ready for that.

When Professor Snape handed around the list of those staying at Hogwarts, he had raised an eyebrow as Harry bit his lip and signed his name with a trembling hand. But the man didn't say anything. Just nodded in response to Harry's silent plea not to tell anyone. Then he moved on to Theodore, sitting next to Harry.

"You're staying here?" Harry could hear that Draco was shocked. But as he looked at him, Harry thought he caught a flash of annoyance flitter across his friend's face before it was wiped away with practiced ease. Harry chose not to dwell on it.

"I don't want to deal with all that family business. I don't mind staying here by myself."

The first years were silent. They would all be going home to presents and families and love, and were quite excited over the prospect. For the past week chatter in the common room had been louder than ever and classes had been close to uncontrollable. But in five days that noise would disappear almost completely.

"You should have told us, Harry. I could have taken you to France with my family!" Pansy said with a slight frown. "But everything's been finalized now."

"You could spend Christmas at my place, Harry." Millicent spoke up suddenly. "If you wanted to, that is."

Harry almost groaned. Millicent wasn't a close friend of his but he supposed she was nice enough… From a safe distance. She was a bit too eager, wanted to be Harry's friend a bit too much and made too many mountains out of pimples. As much as Harry would like to spend the holidays somewhere other than an empty dormitory, he wasn't that desperate.

"No, it's fine Millicent. Besides, I think it'll be really cool to stay at Hogwarts. I imagine the scenery will be great around this time of year."

At Christmas time, Godric's Hollow was more than great. It came alive.

The group was shocked out of silence when they heard a shrill squeal. They turned to see Daphne in the doorway, grinning like a lunatic.

"You'll never guess what I've just heard." She raced towards them, clutching a letter tightly to her chest. Harry leaned forwards, hopeful that Daphne's news would take his mind off his own glum thoughts, but she stopped short at their morose expressions.

"What's up with you lot?"

Harry fidgeted with the silver fringe of the cushion he was leaning against, but when it became clear that nobody was answering he opened his mouth.

"It's nothing much, Daphne. I'm just staying here for Christmas."

Around him, Harry could feel the others freeze up and couldn't help but wonder what it was he'd said. Daphne's eyes were wide.

Attempting to bring everyone back to reality, Harry asked Daphne what her news was. For a second she didn't respond, but closed her eyes and pursed her lips. Harry just stared at her, waiting.

Eventually she opened her eyes and looked straight at Harry.

"Oh, nothing… It's not important actually but I suppose I should tell you that you won't be alone. There's been a change of plans and I'm staying at Hogwarts too."

Tensions remained high for the rest of the evening, and not even as they slipped into bed did Harry feel that they had fully relaxed. Because even Harry had gathered that Daphne had heard something truly exciting would be happening when she went home. But she'd chosen not to go. She'd given it up.

Because Harry was her friend.

She was the only friend who was staying at Hogwarts that Christmas.

-NoR-

For the next five days Harry was hounded by both his friends and, surprisingly, Professor Snape. Draco and Pansy wanted Harry to be certain that there was really nothing they could do to get out of going home, although they really wanted nothing more than to stay with him and if he'd only told them earlier he could have gone with Pansy to Corsica or Draco to Luxembourg. It was starting to get on Harry's nerves, especially as he knew it wasn't their fault and he didn't really mind spending Christmas with only Daphne. He could only guess what they were getting so worked up about – they were acting almost as if they thought Harry would forget about them while he was alone with Daphne, which was absurd on two counts: for one, they were Draco and Pansy. As if Harry could forget them. For another, they were Draco and Pansy. As if they would act so silly and worry about being forgotten.

Nevertheless, their constant reminders were becoming aggravating.

Professor Snape, on the other hand, wanted to talk to Harry about something. What that something was he wasn't quite certain, but he thought it would have something to do with his family, or more specifically his mother. Because when didn't it.

But it didn't really matter because Harry had no intention of speaking to him.

Instead, he spent his time with Daphne. They would hang out in the library, the common room, the lake or anywhere really, and talk about anything. Now that she had chosen to stay with Harry, he thought it best to make it up to her by being the best friend possible. And so he learnt about how her younger sister Astoria was a spoilt brat, with Daphne at the head of the spoilage committee. She told him that, secretly, she thought transfiguration was the most amazing subject ever and she truly enjoyed it although she would never admit it, and she even agreed with Harry that Megan Jones was 'a bit unpleasant' but as she'd grown up with her she could put up with her… 'quirks', as Daphne called them. Of course, Harry knew how much Daphne enjoyed Quidditch, but he had never learnt how much of a die-hard supporter she was for Puddlemere, although she did admit a certain fondness for the Magpies, which was entirely Draco's fault. In turn, Harry told her about himself. He had never been to any games, but his Dad supported the Falcons. He talked some about his family. Not much, but he spoke about his dad and Siri and Remi and Ava… Neither mentioned Lily or Ethan.

For that, Harry was grateful.

And so Harry and Daphne barely noticed as the rest of the castle packed up and left, so wrapped up in their own little world. But all too soon, inevitably, that bubble burst as Harry, filled with dread, crept down the hall to his weekly appointment in Professor Snape's office the next Friday evening.

The door before him was black, unsurprisingly. In fact it was more surprising that there was a door at all. Nevertheless the imposing black thing loomed over him, daring him to run away. On either side were flickering torches, casting ominous shadows between the cracks in the stone wall, sending shivers up Harry's spine.

With agonising speed, and a gulp, Harry raised his hand and knocked twice, wincing as his knuckles stung.

"Enter."

From experience, Harry knew that it was simply the pass code and the door would open automatically. Soundlessly, the door swept open to reveal his professor's office.

But Lily was not there.

"Your mother will not be coming tonight. Instead, she has asked that I speak to you about a matter of grave importance to your own well-being."

Snape's nasally voice sneered down at him.

"Sit down."

Immediately, Harry lowered himself onto the uncomfortably short wooden stool before the teacher's desk. For a minute, Snape said nothing, choosing to finish marking an essay instead. Harry swept his gaze around the office that he was now so familiar with. The jars full of eyeballs and cockroaches no longer scared him: the professor had proved time and time again a far greater threat than a dead insect in a jar.

"Mr Potter… Harry." He sneered. Harry looked up at his godfather, eyes wide and quite unsure what to think. But the man's eyes never left the paper in front of him.

"Your mother believes it necessary for me to talk to you about friends and morals."

The man scribbled a final sentence and cast aside his quill, letting it float back to its stand. Then with a quick wave of a wand, the parchment was rolled up tightly and banished to another location.

Severus Snape glared at Harry.

"I am here in my capacity as a godfather rather than a professor or head of Slytherin. You may say what you wish without fear of detention." He looked quite put-out at the thought and Harry immediately gathered that this had been all Lily's work, rather than Snape's.

Harry nodded, unsure of what to do.

"You called Justin Finch-Fletchley, among others, a Mudblood." Snape stated. It took Harry a second to realise he was waiting for a response, so he gave a quick dip of his head in a semi-nod. Snape continued.

"You did this because those you believe are your friends told you to."

Harry's eyes widened at the words, but still he said nothing. How could Snape believe that? What was he trying to imply? Harry didn't know, but already he didn't like the sound of it.

"There was a reason I told you not to sort Slytherin, boy." Harry flinched at the reminder of that horrible birthday present. "Lily had told me there was a possibility of you being a Slytherin. We both agreed that this would not be for the best."

Harry didn't know what to think. However he had expected the evening to pass, he had not expected this. He needed time to think, plan…

He wanted to run away, as fast as possible.

"Slytherins lie, boy."

Harry sucked in a breath. Snape stood up and moved around the desk. He grabbed Harry's chin. He snarled at Harry:

"Do you understand? We lie, we cheat, to get the money, fame and power we desire. They're not your friends. None of them are! They want the friendship of the Boy-Who-Lived; they're just better at covering it than other eleven year olds. They're not your friends, Mystery Boy. They're using you."

Harry could only stare in horror as Snape dropped his chin and stalked back to his chair. He held his breath, waiting for his godfather to explode once again, but nothing happened as the man sat down in his chair and stared unashamedly at Harry.

But Harry couldn't believe it. He would not believe it. Because it wasn't true. Daphne and Draco and Pansy… They were his best friends. They understood him and had proved it time and time again. Nothing Snape said would change that. They were better than any family Harry had ever known, and Daphne was best of all. She had given up her Christmas because she was his friend. And he wouldn't let Snape change that.

Harry calmly walked out the door, lightly closing it before tearing off down the hall, sprinting into the common room. He didn't stop until he was safe in bed.

-NoR-

"Daphne…"

"Yes, Harry?"

The two were alone in the common room. In fact, they'd had the common room to themselves for the majority of the holiday, as the only other Slytherins staying over Christmas were two seventh years, Donaldson and Pucey, and the fifth year Selwyn who were staying for their NEWTs and OWLs respectively, and thus spent their time in the library or various study circles with the other students in their years.

The silence had been a change. To fight it, they put the Weird Sisters on the loudspeaker and pretended they were instead listening to the chatter of their house.

"I need some… advice."

Daphne looked up from her book. It was charmed, Harry knew, to look like a text on the history of doxy-repellents, but what she was truly reading Harry had no idea. He did think it was a novel, and probably something she wouldn't want to be found reading, but she wouldn't tell him. If he had to guess what it was, it would be difficult to say whether it was a muggle book or a cheesy romance novel. Of course, it could be both.

"How can I help?"

Harry bit his lip, then reached into his book-bag for a shiny-papered booklet covered in bright colours and galleons.

"I don't know what I should get everyone for Christmas. I've never really given anyone gifts… I don't know what's appropriate. My dad sent me this catalogue, but I was wondering if you could help me, you know…"

"Choose?" She asked with a smile. Harry only nodded gratefully. "Give it here."

Harry handed the magazine over to his friend, and leaned back into the couch typically inhabited by the sixth years. He hadn't even thought about gifts, and hadn't even thought about sending a letter to his parents to explain that he wasn't coming home, when James had sent it to him. His dad had been so understanding, and mentioned that maybe Harry should think about sending some gifts to his friends. With a limit of thirty galleons, Harry could buy what he liked.

Harry had felt terrible after reading that letter.

"Who are you getting presents for?" Daphne broke his reverie.

"Well, Draco and Pansy of course," she nodded, "and you…"

Daphne gave a tinkering laugh, still flipping through the pages, occasionally stopping to take a look at some of the more interesting items.

"Oh, don't be silly, Harry. You don't need to get me anything."

"Daph-"

"Harry, you seriously don't. Just being your friend is enough." She smiled sweetly up at him from under her eyelashes, her hazel eyes wide. Harry immediately resolved to, without her knowledge, get something extra special for her. After all, she had decided to stay at Hogwarts and was now helping him choose presents. As his new best friend, she deserved the best he could give. Whatever that was.

"Okay, then. I should probably get something for Theodore too, but I don't know if he's getting me anything…"

"Just buy him some sweets then, they're the fallback."

"And Millicent will probably get me something…"

"But you want to distance yourself from her, so you probably should give anything to her."

Harry nodded. This was why Daphne was brilliant. She could attack things logically and systematically, and knew exactly what should be done.

"Put Blaise on the sweets list as well. I don't know him that well, but it's probably not a good idea to distance myself from my dorm mates…"

"See… you're learning!" Daphne replied, getting out some parchment and a quill to write down these names and their presents. "What about Crabbe and Goyle?"

There was a tough question. Harry didn't much like either and it wasn't guaranteed that they would notice whether or not Harry actually gave them a gift, however if they noticed that he hadn't it could potentially cause problems…

"Are you giving them something Daphne?"

Daphne looked up at him with a strange look in her eyes. Absently she mouthed 'FREE!' as the Weird Sisters screamed it to finish the song, before answering.

"I've known them for years, Harry. Since I was a baby, really. My parents send them a basket of cookies each and I don't have to deal with it. Also it's a bit different with me. As I said, I've known them forever."

Harry weighed up the decision, before sighing, resigned.

"How about I send them a small bag of sugar quills each. They'll like it."

Daphne agreed, carefully quilling the words in beautiful calligraphy. She had told him just two days ago that her father believed very much that the hand-writing of any witch or wizard should be not only legible but 'pleasing to the eye.' Daphne had undergone many a lesson attempting to teach her calligraphy, however they had paid off and now she had the nicest handwriting of the first year bunch.

"And what about Tracey?" Daphne questioned.

Harry almost groaned. He liked Tracey, but she had the drawback of being close with Millicent. By giving Tracey a present, Millicent would be the only first year Slytherin he hadn't given a present to and Millicent would know this…

"I think I'll just give Millicent and Tracey a few chocolate frogs each." He said, resignedly.

But Daphne perked up.

"Ooh, yes. That's a good idea. Millicent hates chocolate frogs."

Immediately she wrote this down.

"So now we've only got to find presents for Pansy and Draco." She said cheerily. "Pansy loves trinkets and the like, actually I saw something she might like in here. It's a little statue of a blossoming tree. It's made of china, but it flowers hair ties with little flowered baubles on them. You can change the colour just by tapping it and…"

"Yeah, that sounds fantastic." Harry interrupted Daphne before she could talk his head off. "It sounds like something she'd really enjoy. And for Draco?"

Harry snatched back the catalogue, trying to find something. His friend's main interests were flying, quidditch and magic, none of which were practical as gifts. Draco couldn't stand the Weird Sisters, or any other music, preferred not to read and didn't like chess. What's more, his father seemed to be richer than the rest of them put together (or at least that's what Draco said) and could likely afford or already had anything Harry could buy him.

"That's one I don't know… my family generally just gets Lucius and Narcissa a nice wine from our vineyard and all us kids would get to go to the beach or the theatre or something. Sort of as the parents' group present to us. Of course our own parents would give us heaps of stuff, but… I don't even know what's happening this year, since I'm at school and Draco's in Luxembourg, Pansy's in Cardinia and Megan's in Hufflepuff…"

This, Harry knew was a lie. He knew because a while back he'd wanted to find out what Daphne would be missing out on by staying at Hogwarts. What she was so excited about when she came rushing into the common room that day when the list was passed around. So he'd waited until she was asleep on the couch one day and levitated the letter he knew she carried constantly with her from her pocket and read that she knew very well that their families didn't care about Megan's house, and that Pansy and Draco were coming back a day early, and that they were going to spend a day on the dragon reserve in Ecuador. Harry had heard of this place – it was advertised as the most beautiful and natural dragon habitat in the world.

Daphne was missing out on a chance to fly with dragons for him.

"I could always get him a mirror, I suppose. You know, the type that will listen to him as he goes on and on…"

Daphne burst into giggles.

"You could. Oh, I would pay to see his face if you sent him a mirror… But it's probably not the best idea… Hm… You could also get him a quill, I guess. A nice one… But he has lots of those…"

This gave Harry an idea.

"You know he hates writing, what about a dictating quill. You know, just for notes in class and assignments… But why doesn't he have one already?"

Daphne's eyes were alight at the idea.

"He's always wanted one, but Narcissa would never let him. But you could buy him one and it would be rude for him to refuse and not use it…"

She quickly wrote down the idea, and began to fill out the forms in the catalogue.

"Thanks so much for doing this Daphne… Hey, I can fill those out, don't you bother."

She smiled up at him.

"Seriously, Harry, it's no problem."

And then their favourite song came on, and everything ceased as they got up and began jumping up and down like lunatics from couch to couch to the beat of the Weird Sisters.

-NoR-

And then it was Christmas.

The trees were decorated, tinsel everywhere, the ghost choir were carolling and above all snow covered every inch of the grounds.

Waking up on Christmas morning, Harry found it hard to feel anything but happy.

His strange dreams from the night before were not unusual.

Immediately, Harry grabbed his presents and scampered downstairs, still in his pyjamas, to wait for Daphne as they'd planned. He didn't have to wait long, as she was already down there, sucking a sugar quill.

"And what happened to, 'and make sure you wait to open the presents, Harry'?" Harry teased good-naturedly, doing a truly awful imitation of her voice. Daphne had the grace to look slightly guilty.

"Sweets don't count. Besides, you were taking quite a while."

Harry laughed and flung himself down beside her.

"You were the one who wanted to celebrate Christmas together. Which reminds me: Merry Christmas, Daphne."

They shared soft smiles.

"The same to you, Harry…" There was a slight pause before childish eagerness, a rare thing in Daphne, surfaced. "Well, let's start."

There was a pause before the race began. They raced to tear open as many presents as possible, shouting out what they'd been given from whom before ripping open the next without a second glance. The race was entirely unfair to both sides because Daphne knew more people and therefore had more presents to open, but she had also started before Harry… And besides, neither knew what they were competing for or what it was about, but it was better that way. There was no winner.

Christmas with Daphne was a different experience completely to Christmas at home. For one thing, Daphne was the only other person there. There were no adults to laugh at them, no adults to tell them to slow down, no adults to distract them with their own boring presents… No annoying aunts whom Harry would have to thank for a gift he couldn't stand. Ethan wasn't there to compare his presents to Harry's. He wasn't there for Harry to be jealous of.

It was a welcome change.

Overall it was a good haul. There were some let downs, for example Aunt Bathilda must have gotten it into her head that he actually liked history from all the questions he had asked her and therefore sent thousand paged books on the subject, however after leafing through them they seemed more age-appropriate than the textbook, while his treatment of Neville must have been discovered by Mrs. Longbottom because from her he only received a pair of socks, however there were also some marvellous presents. The Lovegoods had sent him a compendium of easy-to-learn spells of revenge and protection, and Sirius hadn't had time to get him a present so had just plain sent him five hundred galleons. Normally books and money weren't his favourite presents, but he could tell the Lovegood's book would be extremely interesting and dead useful and, well, five hundred galleons was five hundred galleons no matter how you looked at it. Remus hadn't given Harry a present so much as he'd given a huge one to the family. He had commissioned a portrait, with the artist under too many privacy spells to count, of the whole family. Harry had only seen a photo of it, but it now hung in the main hall of the house and from what Harry could tell it looked absolutely stunning. The only problem Harry had with it was that he had been drawn standing a little too close to Ethan for his liking, but what could you do?

He looked forward to seeing the picture when he returned home for the summer.

From Pansy Harry had been delighted to receive a magical trunk specially made in France. It was high-quality, luxurious, and had very good security. It must have cost her a small fortune, but Harry knew he would have to thank her profusely once she returned. It made his little gift seem trivial – especially as he knew Pansy had more than enough hair ties. She made a point of wearing a different one every day, each more ostentatious than the last.

Draco, on the other hand, had bought Harry a rock, of all things. Draco was quick to point out in his letter that it wasn't just any rock, but a stone which, when he held it, would keep him calm and relaxed. Of course, the charm wasn't incredibly powerful and any significant burst of emotion would override it, but when he felt stressed, for example before exams, Draco said it would calm him down and stop him from worrying too much about the upcoming tests. Draco also made sure to mention that his father used one, so he knew it wasn't a cheep knockoff from the Luxembourgian equivalent of Knockturn Alley.

Then there were the little tokens from all Harry's other friends: Theo had sent him a planner with a hilariously ridiculous and unnecessary spell for each day, while Crabbe and Goyle had sent him nothing at all – not that that was surprising. Or perhaps they'd been behind the half-eaten packets of Bertie Bott's, which Harry had immediately chucked away. Nobody wanted food those trolls had touched.

Blaise, obviously feeling silly, had sent him a beanie that never got lost, instead always finding its way back to his trunk. In the card he'd added 'too bad this charm doesn't work for wands!' and Harry had shook his head and sighed. Tracey had sent a snitch, which Harry immediately set loose on the common room, planning to find it later, and Millicent had bought him two passes for a league quidditch match… not that his parents would let him go. He'd have to give the tickets away, probably to Siri or someone. Siri would be delighted to have an excuse to attend a game.

And then, there were the gifts from his parents. The first thing he unwrapped was a pocket wireless. Which meant no more silent Sunday afternoons – he could play music and the others would never hear! Then there had been the less enjoyable presents of books and clothes, which, while utterly fantastic, were also a little boring. The only interesting part was the fact that they were obviously from Fine Alley, and obviously of good quality. He knew, at least, that his father's addition would be interesting: a scroll full of hidden passages in Hogwarts was never unwelcome. Harry couldn't wait to try a few.

All his presents unwrapped, Harry was quite pleased, to say the least.

"Harry…"

Looking up, Daphne was clutching a piece of paper, the envelope torn and discarded on the floor. Her eyes were round.

"What you got there, Daphne?" Harry asked with a grin.

"I told you that you didn't have to give me anything…"

How could I not? – The silent reply.

"How did you even…"

"Please. These people will do anything for the 'famous Potters'…"

Daphne stared at him in a mixture of awe and incredulity.

"I have a broom named after me!"

Well, not yet, technically. The Firebolt DG wasn't set to be released until next year at the earliest, but Harry wasn't about to ruin his friend's moment.

"Yep – and it's predicted to be the best one yet. They're saying international level!"

Whatever Daphne had been expecting Harry to give her, it hadn't been this, and so she proceeded to envelope Harry in a crushing hug.

"Thank you, Harry. Thank you so much: this is the best present ever."

Harry nodded, relieved to be able to breathe as Daphne let him go. But he wasn't surprised at Daphne's action – he rather felt the same. It wasn't everyday you heard the 'best broom of the century' would bear your name, or rather, initials. Harry knew his next letter to his parents would be full of praise and gratitude.

When Harry had sent a letter to James a week ago, asking for a present for Daphne, he had never expected this. When he'd seen the note in the card his parents had sent him he'd barely kept from crying out in shock.

"I've got something for you, too, Harry."

Daphne held something behind her back, nervously gazing at him, shifting unconsciously on her legs into a more comfortable sitting position.

"Now, you really didn't have to get me anything, Daphne. You helped me choose presents for everyone…"

Daphne now mirrored the look he had given her when told the same.

How could I not?

"It's not much, really. Kind of silly after this." As she said this she shoved a soft package into his hands in a jerky motion, wincing slightly. Harry smiled encouragingly at her, then turned his gaze to the hastily-wrapped-in-purple-with-orange-ribbon package.

"It was all I had left, the purple and orange, I mean."

Harry could have sworn that she stuttered as she said it, which almost made him jump. He'd never seen Daphne nervous before. He didn't know what to make of it.

Daphne Greengrass didn't get nervous.

Tearing it open, Harry found a mirror, of all things.

"It's not just a mirror: it can store a memory. You just tap it while thinking of the memory and it'll implant… Later you can go back and watch it again, or show others. It's not much, but…"

There wasn't much Harry could do but smile at her.

But that was all he needed to do.

-NoR-

After presents, they showered and got dressed before they headed down to breakfast, barely noticing the upper years as they stumbled out of their dormitories. Both Harry and Daphne were speaking as quickly as they could, as loud as they could, giddy on the Christmas fever as they were.

They were barely seated before Frankenstein came swooping in, landing elegantly on Harry's shoulder.

"Hello, my lady, what have you got for me today?" Harry addressed Sirius' speckled owl with respect, casually feeding her some bacon from his plate. After she had nibbled delicately at the offered food, she held out her leg, allowing Harry to claim his post. After this delivery she fluttered off to Daphne, who was tempting the lady with more greasy pig. Unaware of this act of betrayal, Harry opened the letter, noting the familiar scrawl of a dictation quill on the address.

Inside was the first bit of correspondence Harry had ever received from his sister.

Harry I miss you. Why no you come home? Ethan come home.

I miss my Harry!

Do you not love me anymore?

Please come back.

I love you, Harry.

The letter wasn't signed, but nobody else would send Harry a letter like this. He could almost hear the tiny reproachful tone she would be using, bad grammar and all. It was truly amazing that the dictation quills managed to write 'Hawwy' as Harry and pick up on exclamation marks, but failed to correct the three-year-old's grammar.

But it wasn't this that made Harry feel like he was about to throw up.

"Harry, are you alright?"

The Lovely Lady Frankenstein had flown off long ago, leaving Daphne to stare concernedly at Harry, who was almost shaking.

"'M fine." Harry mumbled.

Over the past few months, Harry had managed to drag himself out of the same emotional hole Ava was now stuck in.

"She thinks it's her fault that I'm not home this Christmas." Harry felt rotten. Rotten to the core. "And it's not. It's all bloody Ethan's fault. He's tearing it all apart!"

But then Daphne was pressing a small, round object into his hand. It was smooth and cool, nice to touch. Distracted, he moved the thing, stone, between his hands, turning it over and marvelling at the feeling. Looking down, he saw it was the stone Draco had given him.

"You looked like you needed something to cool you down." Daphne told him, shrugging.

"Thanks, Daphne…" The black shiny stone, Harry noted, was more a greyish colour in the bright light. "Yeah, I did need that."

But being calm didn't solve the problem entirely. He still needed to find a way to tell Ava that she was one of his favourite people in the entire world and that he loved her very much indeed, and…

Harry needed to do something about Ethan.

Because, he admitted, flipping the stone around in his hands again, it wasn't much fun to be fighting with your brother and best friend.

"I get jealous of Ethan sometimes."

Daphne looked quite shocked at Harry's words, but she wasn't stupid enough to say anything, just nodded her head and urged him to continue. Which was good because Harry wasn't sure he'd have been able to continue if she had.

"It's just… I told you about how I used to have nightmares, but I didn't say… It was really bad. Horrifying, really. I barely get them now, but I just remember that Ethan would never have nightmares. Ever. And I would, and I hated him for it. And then…"

Daphne was staring at him with enough pity to make Harry's stomach twist more, lurch again… But now that he'd started he couldn't stop talking.

"It was Ethan who, you know, it was off Ethan's head that the curse rebounded. And suddenly all the media and attention was on him…"

"You were jealous."

It was not a question.

"I'm unbelievably jealous."

And Daphne looped her arm around his shoulder, and they sat still for a second.

A part of Harry knew that the only reason he was saying this was that the stone was coaxing him to do it. Without the lump of minerals, he would never have thought to confess, but right now Harry couldn't bring himself to care. He didn't need to worry about how he felt, because logically he knew that this retelling was therapeutic and would in the long run be helpful.

Eventually.

As the students who hadn't gotten up ridiculously early made their way into the Great Hall (two Ravenclaw fourth years, eight Hufflepuffs of various years, one Gryffindor so far…) Harry realised that the sun had risen.

"You should talk to Ethan, Harry."

Harry jumped in shock, scrambling away from the girl who was looking thoughtfully at him, as if trying to dissect him. She couldn't be serious – tell Ethan what he'd just told her?

The girl was mad.

"You're brothers, Harry, you can't get away from that. You've got to face him at one point or another. And you know he's not at all the person we say he is in the common room. Just… give him a chance."

"But what about the Mug- Mud-"

Orange light splayed over Daphne's face.

"Who cares about them? Just say you didn't mean it. He'll believe you."

Harry knew the question was all over his face: Why, why, why?

Daphne reached up to pay the Daily Prophet owl as it soared down and landed on her shoulder, then began to unroll the newspaper.

"Because he wants to believe you. Harry, he wants to have his brother back as much as you do."

As Harry first heard the words he was inclined to scoff, but this proved impossible as Daphne interrupted him with a gasp. Worried, he leaned over to see what had her so shocked, and read the headline:

Nicolas Flamel Found Dead in Home: Suicide or Murder?

-NoR-

Harry was in the owlery again.

Daphne was writing letters to various acquaintances and had asked for a bit of quiet time. After getting bored of the dingy little library and Aunt Bathilda's history books, he'd come here.

It was a beautiful place. From here he could see the forest, the lake, and even, if he squinted, Hogsmede. And although the owls left a mess, a bubblehead charm kept out the stink. And the birds were a silent company, supporting him.

It was a beautiful place to end the holidays.

The next day, everyone would be returning and lessons would resume. He would thank Draco and Pansy for their wonderful presents, and give an awkward thanks to all the others who'd given him gifts. Even Millicent.

And Ethan would be back.

Harry didn't know what to do. Over the past few days he'd thought a lot about his brother. Daphne's words had hit home hard. She hadn't said anything more on the subject, for which he was grateful, but those words she'd said replayed over and over in his head.

Did Ethan really miss him?

Harry remembered the time Ethan had tried to apologise to him – said he'd forgiven him. Harry had thought him a liar. He had rejected him.

Maybe Ethan felt as rejected as Harry did.

Because, now thinking back on it, hadn't it all been stupid? Neither James nor Lily favoured one son over the other, Harry knew it in his heart. And really, Ethan didn't believe himself superior to Harry or some silly thing like that.

They were brothers, twins, equals.

And Harry had known that all along, but had been too caught up in his own insecurities to realise it.

No matter how much Harry dreaded having to admit defeat to his brother, he truly couldn't wait to have his brother back.

And Ethan would forgive him, because Ethan was a forgiving sort. He wouldn't care what Harry had done, as long as Harry was with him.

And Harry could live with that.

Done with the owlery, Harry began to make his way down, when he noticed a certain bird flying towards the castle. He wasn't sure at first, but as the messenger flew closer he knew:

The snowy white owl entering the owlery was Nicholas Flamel's.

Harry let out a small gasp as the beautiful thing made its way towards him, landing on his shoulder.

"What are you doing here, girl?" Harry whispered to her, reaching up to stroke her. In answer to his question, she stuck out her leg. Harry quickly undid the bindings and opened the short note.

To Mr Harry Potter.

I believe an apology is in order for my outburst in the owlery. I was acting erratically in the face of my oncoming death, and had not realised how truly terrified I was. As I will now soon be dead, please allow me to express my regret for my puerile behaviour and please will you accept my owl as compensation for the action.

The owl is nameless, as I did not wish for the thing to become too attached to a master who would soon die, however I believe you will find her to have a lovely temperament, and a smarter bird you will never find.

Sincerely,

Nicolas Flamel.

-NoR-

-NoR-

-NoR-

AN: So, that's that. What did you think of Daphne's character? I'm a bit uncertain… Next chapter, an interesting person comes to Hogwarts…

On that note, I have exams coming up, so the next chapter won't be up for another two weeks… But after that, there's no school and I'll be attempting to get my updates down to one per week.

Also, two chapters of year one to go! Should I put year two in a second story, or keep going in this one?