Chapter 10

Christmas, and the mirror

Slowly but surely Christmas was coming, One mid-December morning Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in ice and snow. The lake was frozen solid, and the Weasley twins along with Lee had been punished for bewitching snowballs to bounce off hit the back of Professor Quirrell's head following him around. The few owls that had braved the weather to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid. The classrooms all had an uncomfortable chill in them, but the worst was potions class in the dungeons. There the student's breath fogged around them in a white mist, and they huddled around their hot bubbling cauldrons for much-needed warmth.

"I do feel terrible, for those staying here over the holidays. I mean it must be awful not being wanted at home," Draco said staring at Harry and Hermione with every word while Crabbe and Goyle laughed.

Hermione bit her lip gently and quickly snaked her hand out to grab Harry's tightly in a comforting gesture as she finished measuring out the powdered spine of line fish. Harry steadfastly ignored them giving his sister a small smile.

Draco had been teasing them relentlessly since the Quidditch game, trying without success to find a chink in their armor. Although the twins had been holding each other in check and ignoring him he could always bait Ron into a fight. Malfoy was disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, at first he was taunting saying that Gryffindor would be replacing Harry with a wide-mouthed tree frog next year. This soon stopped when he realized nobody else found it funny, they were all impressed Harry had managed to hold onto his broomstick. Now he was tormenting both twins about their lack of a proper family.

It was true both Harry and Hermione would be staying over the holidays. In fact, last week, when Professor McGonagall had come around with the list of those who'd be staying Harry and Hermione, were the first to sign up. Each was overjoyed when it turned out that the Weasley's would be staying as well. This was because Mister and Missus Weasley would be going to Romania to visit another one of their brother named Charlie. However the two weren't upset about the fact they were unwelcome at Privet Drive, they knew this would be the best Christmas they've ever had.

Quickly making their way out of the frigid dungeon they came face to face with a large fir tree blocking their way. By the wild tufts of hair, and the giant feet sticking out from the bottom they three came to the Conclusion that Hagrid was the one carrying it. "Why hello Hagrid. Do you need any help?" Ron asked poking his head through the branches.

"Naw I'm alright thanks, Ron."

"Would you mind moving out of the way?" Malfoy's cold voice came from behind them. "What are you doing Weasley, trying to earn some extra money? Hoping you'll be head gamekeeper when you leave home I suppose. That hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family is used to." Malfoy said smirking at the red-haired boy.

Hermione groaned as Ron predictably dived at the blonde just as Snape upstairs. "WEASLEY!" He snarled causing Ron to immediately let go of the front of Malfoy's robes.

"He was provoked, Professor Snape." Chimed Hagrid as he stuck his head around the huge fir tree. "Malfoy here was insultin' his family!"

"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules Hagrid," Snape said coolly. "Five points from Gryffindor, like always. Now be grateful it isn't more, move along all of you."

Malfoy Crabbe and Goyle pushed past the tree scattering pine needles everywhere. "I'll get him," Ron muttered angrily.

"I hate them both." Said Harry, "Malfoy and Snape."

"C'mon cheer up it's nearly Christmas." Said Hagrid chipperly. "Tell you what you three come see the Great Hall with me, it looks a treat." So the three of them followed Hagrid to the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were busy putting up the Christmas decorations.

"Aww, Hagrid the last tree! Put it in the far corner would you." Professor Flitwick said pleasantly. Other than Professor McGonagall, Flitwick was Hermione's second favorite teacher, and not because he constantly praised her as the genius. He was just a genuinely good and kind man who truly cared for the students.

The hall looked spectacular with Holly and Mistletoe hung all over the walls, and no less than 12 towering Christmas trees stood all around the room. Some were sparkled with tiny icicles while others glittered with hundreds of candles. "How many days left til holidays?" Hagrid asked.

"Just one, which reminds me, Harry, we need to go to the library before it closes for the holidays," Hermione said looking at her brother.

"Oh yeah, you're right." Said Ron tearing his eyes away from Flitwick who was conjuring golden bubbles and was trailing them over the branches of the new tree.

"The Library!" Hagrid exclaimed looking down at the three first years. "Just before the holiday's bit keen aren't ya?"

"Oh, we're not working." Harry grinned at him brightly.

"Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is," Hermione added with a shrug.

"You what?" Hagrid looked shocked. "Listen here I told you three drop it, it's nothing to ya what that dog is guarding."

"We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is that's all," Ron said looking up at the giant.

` "Unless you'd like to tell us and save us some trouble." Harry added.

"We must've been through hundreds of books already and we can't find anything. Just give us a hint I know I've read his name somewhere." Hermione said with an innocent pout set on her lips.

"Now listen here you three are meddlin' where you shouldn't. I'm not going to help you with anything so drop it!" Hagrid frowned.

"Just have to find out for ourselves then," Ron said when the three left Hagrid looking disgruntled and hurried off to the library. The three had been searching diligently for Nicolas Flamel's name because how else would they find out what Snape wanted to steal?

The trouble was they were having trouble even knowing where to start. They didn't truly know what Flamel did to get himself into a book which only made it that much harder to pick a book and get the correct answers. It seemed that the man wasn't important at all, he was missing from notable witches and wizards of the 20th century, and all other books similar. Ron and Hermione each started off to search for books.

While Hermione had a perfect list. Ron was hurriedly pulling books off at random. Harry wandered off to the restricted section. Unfortunately, he didn't have a note to allow him to look in the restricted books. So the moment Madame Pince the librarian caught sight of him she shooed him away. He sighed in defeat, the books back there contained powerful dark magic not taught at Hogwarts, and were only read by the students studying advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Walking out Harry waited in the corridor for the other two. But when both came out empty handed he wasn't surprised. The three had been looking for at least two weeks, and they couldn't ask Madame Pince. They figured she could tell them exactly what they needed to know, but they couldn't risk the chance that Snape would figure out what they were up to.

Dejectedly the three started walking back to lunch sitting at the Gryffindor table with Angelina Johnson, Lee Jordan, and the Weasley twins. "We'll keep looking when everyone is away," Hermione assured her brother.

"Looking for what?" Angelina asked looking over at her young friends curiously. Angelina was a third-year just like Fred and George.

"We've got them doing prank research for us." Fred cut in smoothly.

"Yeah you know for when we have our own joke shop and we make the twins that live our spokesmen. I mean celebrity endorsement, and it'd be cheap." George said taking a bit of his sandwich.

"Oh yea,h what about Ron?" Angelina asked looking at the twins with a smirk on her lips.

"Well duh, Ron's our slave labor. You can't expect to have a solid business that wasn't built on the foundation of forced servitude." The twins said together causing Angelina to laugh and turn her attention to Alicia Spinnet who was telling Lee a very interesting story. Or so it seemed because Lee couldn't take his eyes off the girl. Hermione just smiled at the twins sending them a silent thank you. "So boys what are we going to do over the break?" she grinned before taking a bite of her sandwich.

"Well, Hermione and Harry you two are spending Christmas with the Weasley's which means," George started in a sing-song voice that Fred immediately picked up.

"That you get to participate in snowball fights, snowman building, and the customary opening of presents."

Harry and Hermione looked at each other both shifting uneasily. Fred and George tilted their heads at the twins and frowns actually marred their usually laughing faces. "What's with the looks?" They asked together.

"We don't usually get anything," Hermione said with a shrug telling them like it was.

"Last time we got a present it was one sock each, and they weren't even new. But we don't need it we're just glad to be here instead of there." Harry smiles and nudged Hermione playfully. The Weasley's, however, were staring at their friends aghast. Even though they'd never had much they always got gifts. Their mother saved up all year to make sure each of her children at least got some candy, as well as the gifts she made. The three brothers looked at each other and nodded discreetly, their mother would hear about this.

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The truth was for that first part of the vacation Hermione and the boys were having so much fun that they didn't even spare Flamel a second thought. With hardly anyone there the three of them were able to get the good chairs by the fireplace. Sometimes Hermione would disappear with the twins, during that time Ron would teach Harry wizard's chest. Which was exactly like Muggle chess but the pieces moved and destroyed one another, as well as talked to the player.

Hermione after being beaten by Ron far too many times for her pride to allow stopped taking an interest and left it to Harry and Ron. She and the twins were as thick as thieves, only most people didn't seem to realize that. Spending time together was rare for the three, and since they were on holiday the trio was excited to finally prank and hang around each other.

Hermione while not typically a rule breaker enjoyed the mischief. It was almost like when she was creating chaos with the twins she was closer to something, there was a hum in her blood which made her feel almost less alone. Not that she was ever alone with Harry, but she almost felt like someone was shooting her full of parental pride.

She and the twins had spent most of the break pranking Percy as often as possible. His reactions always made the act worth it. The second day of break McGonagall stopped them with a disapproving glare about to send the twins, and possibly Hermione herself to detention after the break when Fred just pushed Hermione in front of them.

Looking at the professor calmly Hermione explained that technically by drawing a mustache and glasses on Percy's face with a semi-permanent marker they hadn't truly broken any rules. Because the marker would wash off by Christmas, and it wasn't degrading, nor had it caused bodily harm.

McGonagall stared at the young witch who was as brilliant as her mother, yet as wild as her father. It was an interesting mix, one she'd yet to see in Harry. Truthfully staring into those amber orange eyes that were sparkling with mischief reminded her so much of James it was almost painful.

James Potter and the rest of the marauders had always been her favorite students. Now to look upon his daughter, who looked so much like Lily she had to look away. Looking up at the twins she was hit with a slight flash of memory causing her words to leave her mouth.

"Professor come on, you know we'd never do anything harmful!" Sirius Black said his voice smooth as silk as he flipped his hair out of his face with a smirk. The four of them had just been caught red-handed setting up a trip wire that would seemingly unleash a bucket full of color changing potion on any unfortunate student to walk by. Crossing her arms she looked at James Potter.

"Detention!" She said determinedly. James smirked and pushed Remus up to the front, the boy with shabby hair looking gaunter than ever. McGonagall's furious eyes warmed at the sight of him.

Remus raised his blue eyes to hers with a slight smile."Technically, professor, no student's been harmed and they won't be. The potion will come out eventually with no adverse side effects. And the rules clearly state we can only be punished if we have an intended target, one who could get truly hurt. We aren't hurting them just giving our fellow Slytherin students a new look. Giving them some house spirit mind you."

McGonagall sighing in defeat crossed her arms fixing each of the boys with a glare so nasty it had Peter sniveling and drawing away. "Fine! No detention but you can't do it here! Or anywhere, so take down your little trap and go back to the common room!" She said in defeat turning on her heel and shaking her head at the groans of the four students.

"I believe Ms. Potter, that your father would've been proud of you. He was after all one of the greatest pranksters to pass through these halls." McGonagall said unable to help herself, not a day went by that she didn't regret the death of James and Lily. Looking at one of their children she just sighed. She wanted her to know that she was much closer to her parents than she could've ever thought.

"Your brother is much more like your mother, has her even temper quick wit and you are both blessed with her brains and kindness as well as her humility. A trait your father was lacking, I've never met a more confident teenager, except for perhaps Sirius Black. Yes, your parents would be very proud Hermione of both you and Harry." McGonagall finished warmly before she turned away adding over her shoulder. "Make sure my prefect is cleaned up by dinner tonight."

Hermione just stared after her professor. Then she looked at the twins and gave them a warm smile. "Well, boys it looks like pranking is in my blood." This caused the twins to grin back at her. Hermione was the smartest witch of the age, with her brains they would be unstoppable.

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That was the way it went 'til Christmas, everyone would lounge around eat good food, the Twins would be planning pranks, with Hermione's help. And Harry and Ron would goof off and play Wizards Chess. Then every night the gang would have a snowball fight that would last until their lips turned blue. It was better than either Harry or Hermione could've ever pictured it being. Once Hermione told Harry about their father, and what McGonagall said he took a bit more interest in the pranks, but ultimately it was Hermione who was the mastermind.

On Christmas morning Harry woke up not expecting to find anything at the foot of his bed except maybe something from Hermione. So when he opened his eyes he was incredibly surprised to see the packages that were waiting for him. From Hagrid he received a hand-carved flute, from Hermione a package of Chocolate frogs, the Dursley's even sent him fifty pence, which Harry gave to Ron because the boy was absolutely fascinated, then he received homemade fudge and an emerald green sweater with a black H on the front from Mrs. Weasley. Never having gotten this much Harry was so thankful and happy for his gifts he couldn't stop smiling. That was when he noticed the last package. Opening it out came a silvery kind of cloak. Picking it up he looked at Ron completely confused.

"Well put it on then." Ron encouraged with a grin.

Harry needed no further encouragement slid the garment around his shoulders. Looking at Ron he found the boy looking at him with a pale face. "That's not just any old cloak, that's an invisibility cloak! They're supposed to be really rare! Who sent it to you?" Harry grabbed the card read aloud.

"Mr. Potter, your father left this in my possession before he died. Use it well." Looking at Ron the Raven haired boy frowned shaking his head. "Just says use it well. Anyways c'mon we've got to get down to the common room to see what Hermione got."

Hermione was the only girl in her dorm and woke up to find a pile of presents neatly at the foot of her bed. She was astonished when she opened the first, it was a muggle chocolate bar from Harry, from the Dursley's she received fifty pence, from Hagrid a hand-carved whistle that made Crookshanks' ears pin back as he walked up to her almost like she'd called him, she opened a mystery package to find homemade chocolate fudge and a thick navy blue sweater with an emblazoned yellow H on the front.

That's when she saw her last package. Taking it she first read the note attached. "Dear Ms. Potter, this belonged to your mother, inside you'll find a picture of her and your father on one side, and them with their best friends on the other. Keep it with you always, it protects against certain dark magical artifacts, and the curses put upon them." Opening the package Hermione found a dainty golden locket with a lion on the front. Opening it she met to pairs of familiar eyes one a hazel brown, and the other emerald green.

The couple was smiling until the man leaned forward capturing the woman's lips, they seemed so in love. On the other side stood a lanky teenager with blonde hair and scars, he looked haggard but was grinning. Beside him was a mousy man with watery eyes who was shorter and fatter than the rest. Then there stood a man with long black wavy hair and cobalt blue eyes with an easy yet confident grin who had his arm around her father.

She could easily see the messy expanse of raven hair that Harry and to some extent herself had gotten. Her dad's grin was easy and light but he lit up like a Christmas tree when he looked into her very pregnant mother's eyes his hands going to her belly. Causing the redheaded woman to blush and grin before kissing him and pushing the black haired man away.

Hermione felt her eyes watering as she pulled on her new sweater and hurried off downstairs to meet her brother. Grinning widely when she saw Harry she handed him the locket. "Those are our parents Harry!" Hermione said softly with a grin as Harry looked up at her with wide eyes. "This was Dad's too!" He said suddenly showing Hermione the old cloak telling her it was an invisibility cloak. Hermione just seemed happy to have something that was their parents' it made her feel even closer to them. That was when she looked up to see Fred, and George walking down the stairs.

"Morning," She grinned at the two, who looked up at them. Fred and George grinned when they saw her wearing her Weasley sweater as well as Harry.

"I think she makes 'em better if you aren't family." Fred declared sitting on the couch beside Hermione and casually throwing his legs over her lap.

"Harry and Hermione's are better than ours." George pouted as he looked at Ron suspiciously. "Why aren't you wearing yours?"

"Yeah c'mon Ron their lovely and warm." Fred smirked at his baby brother.

"I hate maroon," Ron grumbled as he pulled the offending piece of clothing on. That's when George gasped and Fred looked up sharply.

"You haven't got a letter on yours, suppose mum thinks we don't know our own names. But we aren't stupid we know we're called Gred and Forge." Fred smirked proudly as George snickered and Ron just rolled his eyes.

"What's all this noise?" Percy said as he came downstairs obviously unwrapping his own gifts since he had his own sweater hung over his arm. George instantly grabbed it and grinned. "Look 'P' for Prefect! C'mon Perce put it on, even Harry and Hermione got one." In an instant, Fred was on his feet and the twins started forcing their big brother into the homemade sweater causing Hermione to laugh.

"I… Don't… Want… To…" Grumble Percy as the twins wrestled him into the sweater.

"And you aren't sitting with the prefects today Percy." Fred Chided.

"Yeah, Christmas is a time for family!" George grinned as they marched Percy out of the room with his arms pinned to his sides by the Christmas sweater.

Harry and Hermione had never had such a Christmas dinner. A hundred fat roasted turkeys, mountains of roast and boiled potatoes, with buttered peas, boats of rich creamy gravy, and cranberry sauce, and finally stacks of wizard crackers all along the table.

These were much better then muggle crackers that the Dursley's would get with little paper hats in them. Harry pulled one with Fred while George with Hermione and when they cracked they opened with a bang filling the whole table with smoke, Harry's had a rare admirals hat and several live white mice, while Hermione's had a an intricate looking top hat, as well as a wizarding chess set, which she promptly gave to Harry. "There now you have your own." She grinned at him and looked at Fred and George for a moment. Frowning she crossed her arms and looked at the twin with a 'G' on his sweater. "Fred, why do you have on George's sweater?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Mione, I'm George." Fred declared with a smirk.

"Well, then I'm Harry." Hermione deadpanned crossing her arms. "I know you're Fred so why do you have on George's sweater and how did you to change so fast, you were only in the bathroom for a minute."

"Bloody hell Hermione, not even Mum can tell them apart like that." Ron said looking at the two twins who were looking at Hermione with tilted heads.

"Honestly Ronald they aren't the same person, no matter how much they'd like for you to believe it." Hermione laughed rolling her eyes at the red head.

At the high table, Dumbledore was now wearing a flowered bonnet and was laughing merrily with Flitwick at some joke. Hagrid's face was getting redder and redder as he ordered more wine until finally he bent over and kissed McGonagall's cheek. Which to everyone's surprise just caused the professor to blush and giggle with a lopsided top hat somewhat like Hermione's.

As they left the Great hall Harry was loaded down with things from the crackers. Although he lost his mice, who would inevitably become Mrs. Norris' Christmas dinner. He also had a "grow your own warts kit," and luminous never pop balloons. Hermione had a box of sugar quills a new copy of "Quidditch through the ages" and a charmed quill that seemed to splatter ink into the users face. Happily, she made her way back to the common room where the twins separated going to their dorms to change.

They once again had an all-out snowball war with the Weasley's, until they were soaking and unable to stay warm even with a charm. They returned to the fire in the Common room where Harry tried to break in his new chess set, and unfortunately lost spectacularly. They ate turkey sandwiches and cakes until they were all too full to do much else before bed except sit and watch as Percy chased Fred and George all over Gryffindor tower because they had stolen his prefect badge. Little did Percy know Hermione had it in the pocket of her robe, and if he would just ask nicely she would happily give it to him.

Harry and Ron had gone to bed early Harry thinking hard but unable to grasp what was bothering him. Hermione stayed downstairs talking with the twins and laughing. The three of them were planning a welcome back prank, but that was when she felt it. Someone looking at her, turning around she tilted her head. She couldn't see anything but she knew Harry was there that's when the portrait door opened. Frowning she shook her head figuring he'd tell her when he was ready.

Her hand on the locket she'd received she turned her attention back to the twins who were arguing about something. "Honestly boys, we need to think much bigger if we're even going to try to make a splash." Hermione said with a shake of her head. Rubbing her face she bit her lip looking at them. "Have you ever gotten Snape?"

"Snape? Well I mean we've tried but the man is just so damn perceptive he gives us detention before we have a chance." Fred told her leaning back in his seat.

"What do you have in mind?" George grinned at the little bushy haired witch.

"I say we charm a mop bucket and a few brushes to wash his hair periodically throughout the day. At random intervals, and we should do a fading camouflage, that way when they aren't washing his hair he can't find them." Hermione smirked grinning at the twins in triumph.

"You win!" George smirked looking at his brother. They sat for a little while more talking, but eventually, Fred and George went upstairs and Hermione waited for Harry. It wasn't long when she woke up to someone shaking her shoulder rubbing her eyes she saw her brother with the invisibility cloak and Ron standing beside him. Rubbing her eyes she sat up looking at the two boys in confusion.

"C'mon Hermione, I have to show you something!" Harry exclaimed excitedly grabbing his sister's hand and pulling her under the cloak with himself and Ron. Hermione to tired to really protest just followed Harry alongside Ron who looked just as confused as she felt. As the trio trekked their way through the castle unable to be seen Hermione became more and more lost. That was until Harry pulled them into an abandoned room, where in the middle of it sat a mirror. It was beautiful with an inscription over the top.

"Erisedstra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi" Hermione stared at it in wonder and then looked at Harry as he stood in front of it. Biting her lip she watched him as he lead Ron right where he was standing. "Okay now stand here and you'll see them too." Harry told Ron looking at Hermione excitedly.

"See who? I don't see anyone but me, and bloody hell I'm Head Boy! And Captain of the Quidditch team, I've just won the world cup. Harry, you don't suppose this mirror shows the future?"

Harry frowned and looked at Hermione quickly grabbing her hand once Ron moved and pulling her in front of the mirror looking at her expectantly. "Do you see Mum and Dad, and the rest of our family?" he asked her nervously thinking maybe he'd gone crazy.

When Hermione looked into the mirror she saw herself and Harry with Fred and George and Ron. Then there were Hagrid and McGonagall all smiling and happy. She just shook her head at Harry frowning. "Harry I only see our friends."

"How can you not see our family?"

"I'm telling you it tells the future!" Ron exclaimed loudly. With that sentence, the meow of Filch's cat was easily heard and the three of them hurried to get under the invisibility cloak and make their way back to the dorms.

With a heavy heart, Hermione made her way back to her room and laid down. All throughout the day, she couldn't get her mind off the mirror, and she knew Harry couldn't either. Closing her eyes the following night she got up and went to the common room almost running straight into Harry.

She knew that he was going to the mirror as well. She wanted to see their family, she truly did, but she just remembered how content she was with their friends looking back at her. "Well c'mon Harry you and I both know we're going to the mirror."

With that Harry and Hermione got under the cloak and walked side by side to the room. Each taking a seat in front of the mirror silently holding the other's hand. Hermione still saw their friends, and Harry still saw their entire family. The two didn't know how long they'd stayed like that until they heard a throat clearing from behind them. Each glancing back they saw Professor Dumbledore looking at them with a twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Sir we were just…." Hermione started only to be silenced when the Headmaster put his hand up.

"I understand… This mirror is quite something, tell me Harry Hermione what do you see?"

Hermione swallowed before glancing at Harry she sighed. "I see myself and Harry along with all our friends we're all happy and me and Harry aren't alone," she told him honestly crossing her arms. "Ron saw himself as Quidditch captain and Head Boy."

"I see mine and Hermione's family, all of it including our ancestors. Professor, how is it we all see different things?"

"This my dear children is the Mirror Of Erised. It shows you what your hearts greatest desire is. Harry for you it's to have your whole family, Hermione yours is to have your friends as your family so you and Harry are no longer alone, and can feel accepted and loved. I believe Ron's shows his desire for attention, he's the youngest boy in his family and now he's friends with the two most famous siblings in the Wizarding World he must feel a bit left out…" Dumbledore told them both with a thoughtful look upon his kind and aged face.

"What about you Professor?" Harry asked causing those kind blue eyes to gaze at him and Hermione curiously.

"I see a nice warm pair of socks. Now I think it's best if you two head to your dorms and got to bed." The twins nodded making their way to the door. "Oh and do me a favor, after tonight please don't come looking for the mirror again." This caused Harry and Hermione to stop and turn towards the professor looking at each other they nodded their agreement. Slipping underneath the cloak each twin was reflecting on their Headmaster's words. Each coming to the conclusion that his answer was false, but neither really dwelling on it.