Hi! So here is the next chapter. Some of the dialogue in this chapter came straight from the book. I hope that it came out okay though.

Please review!

Disclaimer: Not mine!


Christmas

The next few weeks were mostly uneventful. The Slytherin first years continued to rally together whenever the Ravenclaws or Weasley twins tried anything. Harry and Ron weren't suddenly hanging out with Malfoy and his goons, but they weren't constantly at each other's throats either. For the most part, the first years ignored each other in private, choosing not to add the stress of conflict to their lives.

The Weasley twins had changed their tactics somewhat. They took the fact that Ron had actually fought back as a personal affront. While before they just seemed to want to mess with Ron and Harry, now they seemed determined to make Ron's life miserable. The twins had tried several times to corner Ron and get him alone, and they probably would have succeeded if Harry had not been there. Harry was glad that he and Ron went everywhere together, as it gave him the ability to keep an eye on his friend.

Quirrell was still as elusive as ever. Harry was starting to wonder if he would ever try anything, or if was going to wait around forever. He and Ron continued to keep an eye out though.

The school year was flying by, and soon enough the Christmas holidays were approaching. Snape was sending a piece of parchment around so that everyone who was staying over the break could sign their name. Harry, of course, signed his name as soon as the parchment was within reach. Ron also signed up to stay, as did his brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going down to Romania to visit their son, Charlie, so the youngest sons had to stay at Hogwarts.

It was only a few days until Christmas break, when Harry was approached by Dudley. This was a surprise since Dudley seemed to be avoiding Harry as much as Harry was avoiding him. Although Harry figured Dudley was actually avoiding Ron, who had scared Dudley away when they were on the train to Hogwarts.

Dudley stopped Harry in the corridor after breakfast, "Hey. So, um, are you going home for the holidays?" Dudley hadn't looked at Harry, his shoes appearing much more interesting.

Harry was stunned that Dudley was asking him a legitimate question instead of a threat, and in such a nice tone. "No."

Dudley nodded. "Okay. I just wanted to check. I'll be leaving in a few days." Harry could only nod his head. "Well, have a good holiday." Dudley gave an awkward little wave before turning around and leaving.

"What was that about?" Ron asked.

"I have no idea."

The mystery of Dudley's change in behavior would have to stay a mystery, since Harry wasn't very keen on speaking to his cousin again any time soon.

Christmas break began soon enough, and most of the inhabitants of the castle left. Harry and Ron were the only Slytherins, besides a couple of seventh years, who stayed.

The castle was decorated beautifully for the holidays. There were trees and garland everywhere. The Great Hall was even more impressive than it had been at Halloween. Hagrid had dragged in twelve of the largest Christmas trees Harry had ever seen. Each tree was decorated differently, each fantastic in its own right.

Harry and Ron enjoyed the snow outside, starting up a snowball fight only a few days into the break. Unfortunately, the Weasley twins quickly ruined their fun, dumping snow on the duo. Afterwards, the twins enchanted snowballs to attack Ron, often following him around the castle for hours. Harry had to ask Flitwick for a spell to stop them after the third time Ron was bombarded.

Harry and Ron wanted to get back at them, but the twins were on their guard, fending off any attempts Harry and Ron made for revenge.

As long as the Weasley twins were avoided, the break was fun. Harry and Ron had their dormitory to themselves, and the common room was almost always empty, so the two of them spent most of their time with Ron teaching Harry about Wizards' chess, or discussing Quidditch.

Christmas morning finally came, and with it came presents. Harry was surprised to find that he actually had presents, as the Dursleys weren't very keen on getting much for Harry. Hagrid sent Harry a flute, which was obviously hand made. The Dursley's sent Harry a fifty pence, which Ron found fascinating, so Harry let him keep it. Shockingly, Dudley gave Harry a present as well. It wasn't much, only a package of Bertie Botts', but it was far more than Harry had been expecting from his cousin. First Dudley checked to see if he was going back to Privet Drive, then a Christmas present. It made Harry wonder if Dudley had been smelling too many potion fumes and was no longer himself. Or maybe Dudley was planning something, even if thinking ahead had never been his style in the past. Either way, Harry was going to have to keep an eye out for anything else strange that Dudley might do.

Harry also got a package from Mrs. Weasley. It had some homemade fudge and a green sweater in it. "I told mum that you weren't really expecting anything for Christmas. She even made you a Weasley sweater. We all get one. Though she forgets that I don't like maroon," Ron said as he opened his own presents. Harry was touched that Mrs. Weasley had made the effort to make a gift for someone she didn't even know. Harry was glad to know that she was more like Ron than her other sons, and he hoped that Mr. Weasley was as well.

The last package was wrapped in plain brown paper. Harry opened it to find something smooth and silvery. It flowed through his hands, almost like water. Harry glance up at the gasp Ron made, "Wow. I've never seen one of those before."

"What is it?"

"It's an invisibility cloak. They're really rare. I'd love to have one. Try it on."

Harry looked down at the material in his hands, then he pulled it around his shoulders. When he looked down, he couldn't see his feet! "This is great!" Harry exclaimed.

"Yeah. Who sent it to you?"

Harry wasn't sure. He looked through the packaging, and only found a slip of paper, with looping, flowing script:

Your father left this in my possession before he died.

It is time it was restored to you. Use it well.

A Very Merry Christmas to you.

"It doesn't have a name." Harry was unsure of who would send him something so valuable. Had the cloak really belonged to his father? He was shaken from his musing by Ron's voice.

"This is amazing," Ron was admiring the cloak, "I wish I had of these. Think of what you could do with it. Your enemies would never see you coming."

Harry frowned at the cloak, "Yeah. It would be a great way to get back at your brothers." Ron's eyes lit up at the thought.

The evening, Harry and Ron were in high spirits as they ate the Christmas feast that had been prepared. It was delicious. Harry had never had such a wonderful meal, turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

The next day, Harry and Ron decided that they would retaliate against the wrongdoings of the Weasley twins.

Harry and Ron hid under the invisibility cloak, and used Wingardium Leviosa to levitate a bucket of frog slime. When the twins came down the corridor, the slime was dropped on their heads, completely covering them. Harry had to hold a hand over his mouth to stifle the giggles that threatened to come out. The look of shock on the twins' faces was fantastic.

Harry and Ron slowly crept away from the scene of the crime. They had only made it over one corridor when one of the twins, (George?) stepped out from behind a tapestry. The invisible duo had to hastily backtrack to avoid running him over. The twin had a look of confusion on his face as he began scouring the corridor.

Harry pulled Ron down a nearby corridor, hoping to evade the searching twin. They had only gone a few corridors over, before a twin (Fred?) appeared from behind a suit of armor. He too scanned the corridor before glancing at a ratty looking piece of parchment in his hand. The twin then seemed to zero in on the spot where Harry and Ron were standing. He began reaching for the duo, when there was a meow.

The three looked down to see Mrs. Norris glaring at the dripping Weasley twin. Ron took this distraction as an opportunity to drag Harry down another corridor, as the twin disappeared behind the suit of armor. They were almost to the end when they heard footsteps. Filch came around the corner.

Harry noticed a door that was ajar, and figuring it was their best option, he yanked Ron behind him. They had to be careful to not move the door as they squeezed inside. Neither of them relaxed until they could hear Filch moving away from the room they were in. As Ron peeked outside to be sure that the room was clear, Harry took stock of the room.

It was an empty, unused classroom. The only thing in the whole room, was a large mirror. At the top was an inscription: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

"He's gone. Let's go Harry. Harry?" Harry didn't answer, distracted by something he saw in the mirror. He stepped closer to get a better look, only to look behind him in surprise. The room was still empty aside from Ron. Harry looked back at the mirror. It was full of people.

On closer inspection, Harry could see a man standing to his left. He looked just like Harry. And the woman to the right, she had the same eyes as Harry. And that old man there, he had the same knobby knees as Harry. The people in the mirror, they were Harry's family.

There was a sudden tug on his arm, which brought Harry back to reality. He swung his head around to see Ron looking at him, brow furrowed in concern. "You okay, mate? You zoned out there for a minute." Harry blinked at Ron before looking back at the mirror. His family was still there, waving and smiling at him.

"Ron. Ron, you have to look at this! It's my family," Harry pointed at the reflection.

Ron turned to the mirror in astonishment, "Where? I don't see anything."

Harry thought for a moment, "Maybe you have to stand right in front of it." He moved over so Ron could stand in front of the mirror. "Do you see them?"

Ron looked at the mirror, crestfallen, "No. I see my family though. My brothers aren't mad at me anymore." His face suddenly brightened, "Harry, do you suppose this mirror shows the future?"

"How can it? My family's all dead. Let me have another look." Ron's face fell again as Harry pushed him out of the way. Harry couldn't help but stare up at the faces of the family he had never had, wishing that things could have been different.

"I want to look again," Ron's voice interrupted Harry's fantasy. "You've had it long enough."

"You can see your family any time. I want to see mine." Harry and Ron began shoving each other, both vying for the best spot to see in the mirror. After a moment, both managed to knock the other over. They lay on the ground looking at one another.

"We should leave," Ron said, "before Filch comes back." Harry reluctantly allowed himself to be led from the room. "We shouldn't go there again," Ron stated once they were back in the common room.

"Why not?"

"I don't know. I just have a bad feeling about the mirror. Promise me you won't go back there again." Harry agreed, even though he was planning on going back that evening once everyone was in bed.

S&GS&GS&GS&GS&GS&GS&G

Harry did go back to visit the mirror that night, and the next and the next. He didn't tell Ron that he was sneaking out after curfew, fully aware of what his friend would have to say on the matter.

It was on the third night of Harry's nightly escapade that things changed.

"Back again Harry?" Harry whirled around to see none other than Professor Dumbledore standing there.

"Professor, what are you doing here? I-I mean, I didn't see you there. Sir."

"Yes. Funny how nearsighted becoming invisible can make you." Harry calmed when he saw Dumbledore was smiling.

"Yes. I suppose so."

"So, Harry, you, like many before you, have discovered the wonders of the Mirror of Erised."

"I didn't know what it was called, sir."

"Ah, but I'm sure you have figured out its purpose."

"Well-it, ah shows my family."

"Yes. I suppose it would."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Let me put it like this. If the happiest man in the world were to stand in front of the mirror, he would see himself exactly as he is, no more, no less. Do you understand?"

"I think so. It shows us what we want. What we really want."

"Yes and no," Dumbledore replied. "It shows us no more or less than the deepest, most desperate desires of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see yourself surrounded by them. However, the mirror shows neither knowledge, nor truth. Men have wasted away before it, enchanted by what they have seen, driven mad by the uncertainty of whether what they have seen is even possible."

"The mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow. I must ask that you will not search for it. If you do run across it, you will be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live. Now, why don't you put on that admirable cloak, and head off to bed?"

Harry stood up.

"Sir, could I ask you a question?"

Dumbledore chuckled, "You just did, but you may ask another one."

"Sir, what, what do you see when you look in the mirror?"

"I, why I see myself holding a pair of woolen socks. One can never have enough socks. Sadly another Christmas has gone by and I did not receive a single pair. People seem to think I want books."

Harry frowned at the answer, "Is that really what you see sir?"

Surprise flashed across Dumbledore's face for a bare moment before he was smiling again, "I believe you only asked for one question, Harry. Now off to bed with you."

Harry nodded, slipping on the cloak and heading back to the dungeons. He wondered what Dumbledore could see when he looked in the mirror, but Harry reckoned that it was a personal question.


Now Harry knows about the Mirror. But he is still unaware of Fluffy, or what he's guarding. We're getting close to the end of this year now. It will probably be another 2-3 chapters.