The words in bold are direct quotes from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I do not own Harry Potter. J.K Rowling does.

Christmas at Hogwarts

"This is brilliant!" Hermione whispered in awe, eyes wide as she stared around the Great Hall. Charlie only nodded silently, unable to say anything at the moment as she took in the beauty.

Gold and silver garland covered eleven pine trees that were situated around the Hall. Green and red decorations crawled across the wide walls and wreaths covered the High Table. Everything seemed to sparkle and twinkle. Charlie watched as Professor Flitwick decorated the sweet-smelling trees with golden bubbles.

"Wow," Hermione said softly. "I wish I knew how to do that."

Overhearing her soft-spoken wish, Professor Flitwick turned around and smiled at the two gobsmacked girls. They certainly weren't used to such magical festivities, as they were raised in the Muggle-world after all. "Would you like to learn how?"

Eyes almost popping from her head, Hermione nodded eagerly and Charlie grinned broadly. The two spent the next few minutes learning how to make gold bubbles emerge from the tip of their wands and drift towards the trees. Flitwick praised their good work and actually gave them five points each. The two bid their Head of House goodbye before venturing off to the library.

Their detention for the whole troll fiasco had been finished a while ago and Madame Pince seemed reluctant to allow them access to her library since clean-up completion. Most of the books had been easily repairable, and all that had to be done was rebuilding bookshelves, sweeping floors and putting together tables.

Ron wasn't too pleased that they were spending so much time in the library just before the Christmas holidays. But since he didn't have too many friends in the Gryffindor House besides his mischievous twin brothers Fred and George and uptight prefect brother Percy, he decided spending the majority of his time in the library wouldn't kill him.

"This is ridiculous!" Hermione exclaimed, snapping yet another book closed in frustration. "How can there be nothing on Nicolas Flamel?"

Charlie shrugged and added the book to their growing discard pile. "Maybe the guy isn't really all that famous. Everyone in the wizarding world can't have a book about them, can they?"

"Hey!" Harry suddenly cried out. He held up a red book with golden script and grinned. "Here's one about you!"

"No way!" Charlie said in disbelief. She snatched the book from his grasp and poured through it. "Wow...they make my life seem so glamorous. They should spend a few days with the Dursleys."

"Are they really awful?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"Yeah, a bit." Charlie shrugged dismissively. "But they're my only family."

"Are you going back for Christmas?" Ron asked, lazily flipping through a book without really reading it.

Charlie snorted. "Not if I can help it. Are you any of you guys staying behind?"

Harry shook his head apologetically. "My Uncle Remus wants me home for Christmas. He says it's a time for family. And besides, he's been waiting to scold me for the whole troll thing since Halloween."

Charlie wondered what had happened to Harry's parents, but decided a long time ago not to ask. It might be a personal subject and she was sure Harry would tell them when he was ready. "How about you Hermione?"

The bushy-haired girl shook her head. "My parents and I will be going skiing."

Ron and Harry looked perplexed. "What's skiing?" Harry questioned.

Hermione blinked. "Oh! Well...it's when you fasten two pieces of wood to your feet and...slide down a really steep snowy hill."

Even she seemed to realize how silly her explanation sounded. Charlie smirked slightly as Harry and Ron burst into fits of hysterical laughter. They tried to quiet themselves, but it did no good. Madame Pince tossed the two howling males out of her library.

"Boys!" Hermione harrumphed, going back to her research. Charlie just giggled.

...

"That is a big tree," Harry marvelled as Hagrid lumbered through the front entrance covered in snow, carrying a rather large pine tree.

"Doesn't the Great Hall have enough trees?" Ron questioned as he hurried forward to help Hagrid steady himself.

"Thank yeh, Ron. An' this 'ere is the grand tree fer the Hall!" Hagrid said proudly. "Cut it down me self."

"It's certainly majestic," Charlie complimented. "Do you need any help?"

Before Hagrid could respond, Pansy strutted down the corridor. When she spotted them, she smirked and said casually, "Take a good look at that tree Potter. Weasley might steal it later on so he can use it for firewood; goodness knows his family can't even afford an axe."

Ron snarled and charged towards her, but Harry and Charlie hastily held him back. Pansy cackled and hurried out of sight. "That little-!"

"Don' listen to her Ron!" Harry soothed.

"Yeah, nothing that comes out of her mouth is worth listening to," Charlie agreed, releasing her grip on Ron.

"Yer family is good people, Ron," Hagrid said firmly. "Don' forget tha'."

Ron smiled gratefully and the four bid Hagrid farewell before heading towards their respective Common Rooms.

...

Christmas holidays came up faster than the four expected and they had gotten no more information on Nicolas Flamel. Hermione was getting frustrated and Charlie had the feeling she heard that name before, but she didn't know where.

Ron was staying behind for Christmas because his family was visiting his older brother Charlie in Romania. The redhead eagerly told her all about his job and the kinds of dragons he encountered. Harry then had a good laugh, as he found the fact that her nickname was the same as Ron's brother.

Hermione and Harry headed off for the train with some luggage. Before leaving, Hermione had ordered all of them to do some more digging on the mysterious Nicholas Flamel. "Leave no book in that library unread! I'll check out my own Muggle library; perhaps he was a Muggle-born like me."

"But it's the holidays!" Ron protested. "Shouldn't we be avoiding the library?"

Hermione and Charlie shot him glares and he groaned. "Ravenclaws."

Harry smothered a giggle and waved goodbye before hurrying off after Hermione as she descended down the snow-covered stone steps. Ron and Charlie waved until they were out of sight and went back inside, shivering.

"So, now what shall we do?" Ron questioned.

Charlie peered at the winter wonderland outside. "It is really nice outside. Want to go play in the snow?"

"Yeah Ronniekins! You can-"

"-join us in having a snowball fight!"

Two redheaded twins joined them with identical smirks-actually, everything about them was identical. Ron frowned and crossed his arms. "Are you going to cheat and use magic?"

"Of course not!" one of them cried, offended.

"We would never do such a thing!" the other agreed.

Charlie cast a confused look at the annoyed Ron. "Oh, sorry Charlie. These are my other brothers-Fred and George." He pointed out the respective twin as he said their names. "And don't believe half the things that come out of their mouths."

"We're hurt, Ron!" Fred pouted. "How could you think so little of your own brothers?"

Ron gave him a pointed look and the pout was immediately replaced by a grin. "Perhaps we like to joke around a bit too much."

"Understatement," Ron muttered under his breath.

George grinned at her. "So you're the famous Charlotte Potter...can we see the scar?"

"George!" Ron hissed.

Charlie smiled and pushed aside her long raven bangs, revealing a lightning-shaped scar. Fred and George whistled appreciatively. She let her bangs fall just over her bright green eyes once more before asking, "Do you think you can call me Charlie instead of Charlotte?"

Fred shook his head apologetically. "I'm sure Ron has already told you, but we have an older brother named Charlie. It'll just feel weird-no offense to you, of course-and we will start getting confused, I can promise you that."

Charlie sighed, but understood. She and Ron then agreed to take the twins up on their offer of a snowball fight and spent the next ten minutes getting pummelled. Ron had been right about one thing, you couldn't take what the twins said seriously. They immediately began using magic two minutes into the fight. Their excuse was that they had crossed their fingers behind their backs.

Dripping with melted snow and shivering, Charlie and Ron went to their respective Common Rooms and dried off.

It was after dinner when Charlie suggested that they go back to the library and research the elusive Nicholas Flamel. Ron reluctantly agreed and the two claimed their usual spots in the corner. Ron prowled by the Restricted Section until Madame Pince shooed him away.

"What are the chances we could get a permission slip?" Ron asked as he gestured towards the roped-off section.

Charlie snorted. "Very bad odds, I assure you. I'm sure the professors are all in on what Fluffy is guarding."

Ron sighed and continued to browse through the book he had selected off the shelves. A few hours later Madame Pince kicked them out and Ron promised that they would open their presents together the next morning.

"How?" Charlie asked as Ron escorted her towards her Common Room. The redhead halted in the middle of the corridor and his blue eyes turned thoughtful.

"Gee, I didn't think of that."

"Why don't we ask one of our House Heads if we can do it in one of our Common Rooms?" Charlie suggested.

"I don't know. I don't think anyone other than a Gryffindor has been inside the Gryffindor Common Room."

"Doesn't hurt to ask," Charlie pointed out. "So, do you want it to be in yours or mine?"

Ron rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Er, is it okay if it's mine?"

Charlie smiled. She knew Ron was uncomfortable sometimes about being around two girls who were smarter than him. Being around a whole crowd of Ravenclaws would be awkward for him. "Sure. Do you know where McGonagall's office is?"

He screwed his face up in thought. "Behind the portrait of Godric Gryffindor. But I don't know where that is."

"Then let's hurry up and find it before curfew."

The two asked various portraits for directions and finally ended up in front of a large portrait of Godric. Ron whistled appreciatively and Charlie studied it. "Excuse me? Sir?"

The man peered down at her. "What is it?"

"Is Professor McGonagall in?"

"She is indeed. Would you like to speak to her?"

The two students nodded and the man disappeared for a moment. Suddenly the portrait swung open and McGonagall stepped out, eyeing them sternly. "Are you two aware there is only five minutes until curfew?"

"Yes ma'am," Ron said nervously. "But...I was wondering if..."

"Spit it out, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall ordered as Ron struggled to voice his odd request.

Charlie nudged him encouragingly and Ron took a deep breath. "Do you think Charlie could stay in our Common Room for Christmas morning? So we can open our presents together? Please?"

Minerva McGonagall was slightly thrown off. She could not recall when a student requested that a student from another House enter their Common Room. She debated this for a moment and could not come up with a reason why. Students normally stayed in their respective Common Rooms because of safety reasons, but this was Charlotte Potter-a Ravenclaw and a respectable girl.

McGonagall also knew that Hermione Granger was home for the holidays along with Harry Lupin. The only other person Charlie had a strong bond with was Ronald Weasley. Even she was surprised when bitter enemies turned to best friends so quickly.

"Well...I suppose so. But because of the school rules I cannot give you the password to enter-"Here she shot Ron a firm look, "-and neither can Mr. Weasley. So you will wait by the portrait of the Fat Lady and Mr. Weasley will grant you entrance. You are allowed to stay there until dinner, then you must return to your own Common Room. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am," the two kids chorused happily.

"I will notify Professor Flitwick of your whereabouts. Now to bed with the both of you!"

Ron and Charlie scurried off, with the promise that she would be outside the Gryffindor Common Room at seven-thirty sharp.

...

Charlie awoke the next morning to the sun pouring through the open window. Scrambling to the foot of her bed, she was surprised to see a pile of presents waiting for her. Casting a quick glance to her clock, she noted with dismay she had five minutes to get to the Gryffindor Common Room. Shoving her cold feet into her slippers, she grabbed her packages and ran as fast as she could to the Gryffindor Common Room.

Ron had just swung the portrait of the Fat Lady open when Charlie slid up, panting heavily. "I-made-it!"

"Cutting it a bit close, aren't you?" Ron commented as he helped Charlie carry her packages up to his dormitory. His Housemates that stayed behind looked at them in bewilderment. A redhead with horn-rimmed glasses strode up and glared at them.

"Ron, what are you doing? You can't just let a Ravenclaw into our Common Room like that! Now young lady, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to go back to your own Common Room or else I'll be forced to call Professor McGonagall!"

Ron glared at the prefect. "For your information Percy, Professor McGonagall gave her permission to stay with me today! Go on and ask her if you don't believe me."

Charlie followed Ron up a set of stairs and sat crossed-legged on the bed beside Ron's. The person who occupied it seemed to have been gone for the holidays. "Is he your brother to?"

Ron nodded glumly. "Come on, let's open our presents!"

Charlie noticed this change of topic and decided that Ron must be a bit sensitive about his siblings. So she plucked a rather lumpy package off the top of her pile and frowned at it. "From Mrs. Weasley? Ron...what is this?"

Ron eyed the package and turned bright red. "Oh blimey...she didn't!"

Charlie was confused. "Is this your mother?"

"Yeah...I kind of told her all about you in my letters," Ron muttered in embarrassment. "I also might have mentioned that you probably weren't expecting much, due to all the stuff you've told us about the Dursleys."

Charlie was touched. "Aw! That's so sweet!" She tore off the brown paper and held up a midnight blue sweater with a bronze Ravenclaw symbol sewn in the middle. "I love it!"

"Yours is cool!" Ron complained, holding up a maroon sweater with his initials sewn in the upper right-hand corner. "Why can't she ever make me one like that?"

Charlie just smiled and yanked her sweater over her head, pulling it over her pyjama top. Then she opened a package from Hermione and laughed. "You'll never believe what she got me."

"What?" Ron asked, looking up from the box of sweets Hermione had gotten him. He spotted a brand-new copy of Hogwarts: A History and groaned. "Please don't tell me you're going to be reading that as obsessively as Hermione."

"I think I've already memorized it from her telling me about it," she joked back. She placed the book beside her and opened the next one from Harry. "Sweet! He got me a bunch of Chocolate Frogs!"

"Me too!" Ron said through a mouthful of chocolate, half of his frogs already gone and a pile of cards gathering by his feet.

Charlie grinned when she unwrapped a book about Quidditch from Ron. "Thanks!"

Ron smiled. "I thought it might be useful." He then opened his present from Charlie, which turned out to be a new Chudley Cannon badge. "Brilliant!"

The two tore into their sweets (although Ron was nearly done by this point) and Charlie suddenly shrieked in surprise. Ron looked at her in concern. "What is it?"

Charlie gestured towards a card of Albus Dumbledore she had unwrapped. "Look! Professor Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood and his work on alchemy with his partner Nicolas Flamel."

Ron arched an eyebrow. "Well, I suppose that's something. But we still don't know what Fluffy is guarding."

Charlie sighed. "True. Should we owl Hermione and tell her of our discovery?"

"I can't see why not. But you still have one more package to unwrap," Ron pointed out.

Confused, Charlie peered at the package that had fallen over and picked it up. She read the note and gasped softly. "This note says that this present once belonged to my father...but there's no signature."

"Open it!" Ron whispered eagerly.

Charlie tore off the paper and stared in disbelief at a shimmering cloak that was clear and looked like it rippled. "What is it?"

"It's an Invisibility Cloak," Ron gasped. "Those things aren't easy to come by. Try it on!"

She did and stared in the mirror in awe. The cloak was wrapped around her body, and only her head was visible. "This is brilliant!"

A thoughtful look crossed Ron's face and he grinned. "I've just had an idea!"

Charlie arched an eyebrow. "Do go on."

"Well, what if we used the invisibility cloak to sneak into the Restricted Section at night?"

"That's a horrible idea!"

"How else are we supposed to find information on Flamel then? We already looked in every book available to us and we can't use a restricted book without arousing suspicion!" Ron said earnestly. "We won't even get caught!"

Charlie reached up and knocked on the wooden bed frame, a habit she had picked up from Tommy. "Well...I suppose so. I'll meet you in front of the Great Hall at quarter to one and while I search for a book you keep lookout and meow like a cat if someone comes. Do you know how to cast the Disillusionment Charm?"

Ron cast her a glance and Charlie smirked. "Didn't think so. Hermione read ahead and taught me it."

"Ravenclaws," Ron muttered.

...

Ron and Charlie sat at the very end of the Gryffindor table and ate their Christmas feast together. Aside from a few curious looks, no one told them to separate.

After they were stuffed with roast, potatoes and desert, Ron and Charlie said goodnight before heading to their respective Common Rooms. Charlie put all her gifts away and fondly folded up her sweater from Mrs. Weasley, making a quick mental note to send her a thank-you card.

When the time came to meet Ron she let out a nervous sigh. She carefully picked up her Invisibility Cloak and cast a quick look around, making sure no one was still awake and watching. Snowy rubbed against her ankles and Charlie chuckled. "I'll be back later. You get the bed for now."

Snowy was all too happy to comply, jumping gracefully onto the midnight blue comforter. Charlie rolled her bright green eyes and hurried from her room, the Cloak wrapped tightly around her body.

Reaching the Great Hall, she found Ron crouched behind a knight in armour. She revealed herself and arched an eyebrow. "That's hardly a hiding place."

"I didn't want to go in the Hall," said Ron, moving over to his friend. "It's probably dark and creepy in there."

"Let's do this before we get busted." She slung her Cloak back over her body, stretching it out so that Ron could fit under as well. The two snuck into the library and into the Restricted Section. The second they stepped past the rope Ron slipped out and wandered through the stacks.

"I thought you were supposed to be the lookout," said Charlie, reluctantly taking off her Cloak and slinging it over her shoulder, causing part of her body to disappear.

"Being the lookout is boring," said Ron idly, studying the spines of the books.

They spent a few minutes browsing the books, flipping through pages and looking at indexes. "I'm not having any luck," said Ron with a frown. "You?"

"Not so far," sighed Charlie. "We're going to be here all night."

"Who dares intrude into my domain?"

The two kids jumped fearfully and whirled around. Madame Pince was prowling from shelf to shelf, shining her wand around with a rather crazed look on her face. She seemed to be more protective of her library than ever before.

"I forgot about the wards!" Ron whispered in horror. At Charlie's confused look he hastily explained, "They're these spells you can cast on a place to warn you if there's ever a break-in, no matter where you are."

"Fantastic!" Charlie hissed. Understanding that this mission was now a bust, the two began moving hurriedly for the exit. Ron moaned with despair when Mrs. Norris stalked in, whiskers twitching as she attempted to detect their scent.

"Come on!" Charlie lugged Ron to the back of the library. She spotted a door in the very corner, slightly ajar, and she dove in, shutting it behind her.

"That was close," Ron muttered.

"This was a great idea!" Charlie said sarcastically. Her gaze then caught sight of a mirror stored in the corner. "That's an odd place for a mirror. It's a nice one too."

Ron nodded his agreement, staring at the ornate gold frame in awe and he moved towards it. Charlie decided that they were safe for the moment and squinted at the inscription carved along the top of the mirror.

Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

Her brain raced to unscramble this message. "I show not your face but your heart's desire."

"This is spectacular!" Ron cried out suddenly, his face alight with glee. "I'm Head Boy! And Quidditch Captain! I even have top marks!"

Charlie frowned in confusion when she could only see Ron's reflection. What does he see that I can't?

The answer came quickly. He sees his heart's desire.

"May I see?" Charlie asked. Ron reluctantly stepped aside and Charlie took his place.

What she saw was rather shocking. She saw a woman with shocking red hair, a man with jet black hair and bright green eyes. They were unmistakably her parents, and this was much better than a photograph of them. Charlie bit her lip and admitted that, more than anything, she wanted a family that treated her properly.

She was transfixed. She didn't want to move. She wanted to stay there, looking into the laughing eyes of her father and the gentle ones of her mother. Ron started nudging her, wanting another turn. Charlie wanted to snap at him, and was just about to when her logical side spoke up.

It's not real.

Charlie blinked and stared at her desires. It's not real...

No, it wasn't. Her parents were dead, long gone before she ever got a chance to know them. It did not do well to dwell on something that wasn't real, nor would ever be real.

"Ron, let's go."

"But I want to stay!" Ron argued. "I finally stand out amongst my family!"

"But this isn't real," Charlie tried to reason with Ron. "It's just a mirror that reflects your desires. They might not ever happen!"

A red flush crept along Ron's face. "Are you saying that I don't have the smarts to get the marks like you and Hermione? Are you saying I'm not good enough like the rest of my brothers?"

"I'm sure she's not implying that at all, Mr. Weasley."

The two kids nearly jumped out of their skins. Dread rose in Charlie's stomach as she turned around to face her Headmaster. His blue eyes were twinkling and she relaxed slightly, figuring he wasn't too upset with them. Ron gulped and his red face quickly turned white with fear.

"I-I-I-"was all he could stutter. Finally, he seemed to regain his speech and said, "I didn't see you there, sir."

"I don't need an Invisibility Cloak to stay hidden," said Dumbledore, casting a knowing look at Charlie, who blushed. Dumbledore smiled at her before turning his gaze back to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, do you know what this mirror reflects?"

The redhead bit his lip. "Um...is it what Charlie said before, sir? Our heart's desires?"

"Ah, a smart Ravenclaw you are," Dumbledore praised Charlie. "Yes, it shows us our deepest, desperate desires of the heart. You have stumbled upon the Mirror of Erised like many others before you. But you must not dwell on what you see. It does no good to strive for what might never be and forget to live."

Ron ducked his head in shame and Dumbledore smiled gently. "I can assure you Mr. Weasley, more experienced and older wizards than you have come across the mirror and gone mad trying to solve whether what they see is possible or not. What you want more than anything is to stand out-not be overshadowed by your brothers, correct?"

Stunned, Ron nodded. "Mr. Weasley, to say you will not ever become Head Boy is something we cannot decide at this very moment. But you can work for it, but do not obsess over it. You need not worry that you'll be lost in the hustle and bustle of your family-you stand out by being who you are."

"How-how did you know we were here?" Ron finally asked hesitantly.

"Madame Pince is in quite a tizzy," Dumbledore chuckled. "She alerted me as soon as the wards went off. But I'm afraid I'll have to report to her and say I couldn't find the intruders."

Ron looked confused for a moment before understanding. "Thank you sir. I really am sorry, sir."

"Just remember that the mirror shows us neither knowledge nor truth. I trust that you will have no need to find this mirror again, so I shall be relocating it. And if you ever happen to stumble across it again, you will both be prepared. Now why don't you put on that remarkable cloak and scoot on back to bed?"

The two kids thanked their Headmaster, relieved that he overlooked their little midnight trip and did not question the purpose of it. They had left the library, hidden by the Cloak, when Irma Pince hurried into the abandoned room Dumbledore stood in. "Did you find them Albus?"

Albus smiled at her. "I assure you Irma that you have nothing to worry about. The intruders are gone and will not come back after hours again."

Irma wanted to ask what he meant by that, but decided that he probably would not elaborate. She simply nodded curtly and headed back to bed.

Dumbledore peered at the mirror and nodded thoughtfully. He had the perfect place to put it.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!