A/N: Harry Potter books and characters belong to JKR. I take no credit for any repeated quote or event from the original source.
Chapter 12
Hermione Granger was a wich. That word alone had turned her world upside down, not to mention her parents. It had actually made her feel much more at ease regarding all the strange occurrences that happened to her. Flying books, the change of coloured of her clothes, disappearances of her least favourite foods and so on.
If someone had asked her if she was different, she would have answered yes, even if she didn't have the strange ability, which now had the name of magic over it. She didn't understand girls her age and simply didn't fit in their strange obsession with skin products and clothes and what else. Granted she knew that she wasn't considered attractive, but for Merlin sake, they were eleven! Appearances wouldn't get you into University, and much less an actual respectable job.
She would like to think that she got along with her parents, even though she knew that they had been nervous with her bouts of accidental magic, not being able to come up with any reasonable conclusions behind them, and while her maturity had made it harder for them to have a deep parent-child bond, she loved her parents dearly. But maybe, just maybe that's why when professor McGonagall had visited her and explained how she was a wich, she had happily embraced that knowledge knowing that it explained why she had always been left out.
How wrong she had been. Children were cruel, going to a magical school didn't change that, it had actually made it worse seeing how there were many racist's that would have loved to see her suffering. And this time she couldn't cry in her parent's shoulder.
She loved magic, there was no mistake there. She loved learning as much as possible, and the library had been a dream come true, but she was still the neardy-ugly bookworm that had no friends.
And then she had met Ren Rosier. It had been strange, meeting him that is. She had just left the Herbology class when one of her own classmates who was more vocal in their opinion towards her had tripped her over. As they had walked away while laughing with their friends she had simply released a sigh and started picking up her books, already used of this sort of treatment.
Which was why she had been left in complete confusion when someone had not only asked if she was okay but also helped her pick up her books. Ren Rosier was well known for having top marks in every subject, and she would grudgingly admit that they were higher than her's, at least for now anyway.
Her everlasting curiosity had been picked as she started paying more attention to her classmate. He was well-liked, popular, and had heard many of the girls comment on how cute he was. However, it was his clear dedication to learning that had placed him as a rival of shorts she had never had in her life before.
Days later, just after their first flying lesson, the oddest thing had happened. Malfoy had insulted her, and while that was common, it was the sheer anger that Ren had expressed that had surprised her. Shed never had someone defend her, the fact that both Ren and Neville had both defended her and even commented on how she did much better than Malfoy had almost brought her to tears.
After that particular incident, the bullying had greatly decreased. Apparently, the fact that the two most popular lions had been vocal in her defence had caused most of them to back off. She had meant to talk to them, but bad habits died hard, and she instead kept to her books, retreating into her fake safety.
That is until she had quite literally walked into him in the same library she usually held shelter in. Not that it was strange, seeing how he spent almost as much time in here with Neville and Su as she did, but it was once again the unconditional kindness that he had shown that had surprised her.
The conversation that had followed had shocked her. Not only did he tell her the gravity of the situation in the racism of blood purity, but he had also explained how there were people that could read her mind simply by looking at her. Equally, shocking was that he had given her the means to protect her mind, and how much she had loved that book.
After that, there had been quite some few pleasant conversations in the library, either on homework or of the magical world. He generally seemed to enjoy answering her questions, the fact that he had actually solid knowledge of the muggle world had made it much easier as well. And little by little she had started enjoying them. She wasn't very religious, even if her parents where Christian, but if God really existed, then she was pretty sure that Ren was either a saint or an angel, as little by little she started enjoying her experience in Hogwarts.
That is until Halloween arrived. She was used to people bad mouthing her, but hearing Weaslt say that about her, and to see people laughing at her when she had tried so hard to help him had hurt. Shed been strongly considering leaving the magical world altogether and going back to a muggle one, at least there she had her parents support.
That was until Ren found her and started talking about parts of his life. While he hadn't actually said it, and probably not been aware that he was leaving clues, she could read between the lines, realising that Ren probably had an even harder childhood than her own.
It was probably because of that that she had agreed to join their class meetings where, to her surprise, she could actually go head to head with intellectually equals, and some could even be called friends. Maybe Hogwarts will be different. She thought with a faint trace of hope.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
Eventually, the harsh wind's turned into falling snow, indicated the start of Winter, trees decorated from bottom to top, with the symbolic star at its top.
As Christmas approached his thoughts had simply drifted into morning his parent's death. It always did, no matter how much he tried to deny it, he missed them so badly that it was close to near depression. Mary and Aurora tried to change it, and while they didn't replace his parent they did make it better.
It was worse this year. Whenever he went, there were people that kept discussing what they would be doing at Christmas, and while he had never felt jealous about anyone, he couldn't deny that when Fred and Gorge had explained that they simply had a fulfilling meal and simply spent time with each other that he had probably come close to feeling that same emotion.
Quite ironically, it was probably because he directly linked that particular emotion to Petunia Dursley that he managed to not be bitter and cold inside, even if the way that she, alongside the other two Dursely's had treated him had been inexcusable.
It's not that he wasn't grateful, he really, really was. But there was always a missing, longing like felling in his chest that he could feel as if something was missing. There weren't any siblings to argue with, or to open presents with, no father that would buy him a broomstick behind his mothers back, and no mother to hug him as he arrived at the train station just before berating his father for being so irresponsible. Aurora had made it clear that his father had been quite capable in driving his mother mad, and from what he heard of him, while he knew full well that he was a good man, Ren probably would have joined his mother in the hexing.
He blamed it on the mirror that this was starting as his worst possible Christmas. While he had been trying out the magic that the hat had recommended, he had stumbled into a surprisingly large room inside of the castle, with its only content being a large mirror of strange shape and material with even stranger engraved words into its frame.
Until then everything had been fine, no, it had been when he had looked into the mirror that his chest had felt strange. His reflection was looking back at him, but there weren't any black rings under his eyes, his skin much healthier looking, but a strange smile that he had never seen on himself before, which sounded like a strange sentence when said verbally.
No, what had caught his breath were the two people standing behind him. His mother and father were both behind him, smiling proudly between him and him in the reflection. He reached out a hand, his palm coming into contact with the cold ice like glass of the mirror. They only existed in the mirror.
His mother was at his right, hugging him affectionately as she seemed to softly laugh. She had dark red hair and his bright green, slightly less tall than his father, who was roughing his hair as he seemed to let out a much more loud laugh. He could hear it, almost hear it.
"Mom?" he whispered. "Dad?"
He hated crying, it reminded him so much of the Dursleys, but he couldn't help it, he really couldn't. He wasn't sure how long he spent there, the reflection had stayed there and he wanted to stay with them. The words carved on the frame suddenly clicked in place in his mind. Desire! The mirror was showing him what he most desired.
Suddenly he could feel the pull of the mirror. Danger! His thoughts screamed just before feeling a sudden shock in his hand, immediately pulling it back as he quickly stood up, suddenly becoming much more aware of his almost daze light state.
"It seems that you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised." A voice said as Ren quickly span around to see the headmaster of the school.
He raised his left eyebrow thoughtfully before it hit him. "Desire mirrored, how clever." Ren said before he became much more guarded.
After seeing the headmaster for over two months had convinced Ren that Dumbuclore wasn't an evil man, he still didn't trust him, raising his occlumency shields he waited for the older man to start the conversation.
"You managed to figure it out? Most impressive, then again, I suppose should have expected it with all the positive feedback that the teacher gives me about you, how such a sharp mind of yours avoided Ravenclaw is beyond me" He said offhandedly as he looked into the mirror.
"The Mirror of Erised, shows us nothing more or nothing less than our deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible." He explained more to himself than to Ren.
"So in a way, it reflects our very soul, or at least it's nature?" Ren asked interested in the mirror raising, even if he still felt that it was dangerous.
"A most curious way to describe it, but that is an accurate description" The headmaster agreed thoughtfully.
"Sir, I don't mean to poke my nose where it doesn't belong, but what is such a dangerous artefact doing in an empty classroom?" Ren asked curiously.
Dumbledore simply smiled."Alas, all I can say is that it was needed. And like all needed things that must remain hidden, are found." He said not moving his gaze of the mirror.
It then clicked in his mind why the headmaster kept glancing at the mirror."You've lost someone as well, haven't you?" Ren asked.
The headmaster quickly tore his gaze from the mirror and carefully looked at him."Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Ren quickly apologized, realizing that he had just asked a personal question, not to mention it was probably a painful one.
"No need to apologize, curiosity is something I will always encourage. However, I, see myself holding a pair of thick, woollen socks."
Ren simply blinked in an owl-like manner and nodded.
"One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore, quite clearly amused from his reaction. "Another Christmas will come and gone and I fear I still won't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books or ancient artefacts that will simply serve to decorate my shelves, even if I do find some to be quite fascinating."
"I suppose it comes with fame" Ren said more to himself, thankful more than ever that Harry Potter didn't attend to Hogwarts.
"Unfortunately, I nowadays feel that I am more famous for being famous than for any of my other achievements. Though, from my understanding, the younger generation nowadays want to be famous, almost as badly as they wish to be rich." He said slightly bitterly.
"Not all, there are many things that surpass being famous." Ren said thoughtfully.
"Such us?" The headmaster said intrigued.
Ren gave a slight smile. "I wouldn't know, all I can do for now is walk in the dark and wish for the best." He answered in a philosophical manner much similar to the one he would usually use with the students.
The headmaster chuckled in amusement, enjoying the child's company more and more."I think my bad habit of talking in a philosophical way may have rubbed off on you, Minerva would have my head if she found out." He said before becoming more serious, "The Mirror will be moved to a new home soon, Mr Rosier." He said becoming somewhat more serious. "And I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that."
"I understand headmaster" He said honestly."Merry Christmas"
"Merry Christmas indeed" He said with the faintest hints of sadness.
True to his word, he hadn't returned to the room, slightly fearful of the mirror, but his thoughts had remained on the mirror for the rest of the day, and even today, the last day of school in the year, he still thought about it. He tried moving his thoughts towards a more bright and positive direction, mainly everything that had developed over the past month. Their small club had quickly become well known through the younger years, and it had somehow become a rule that no one was allowed to join. It wasn't a secret that all of them were top of their year, but somehow that had developed into the other students believing that they were some sort of group of geniuses that discouraged the rest of them from asking.
The most surprising part of the group had possible been the deep friendships that had been formed between all of them. Friends, the word still seemed so foreign to him, to the point that sometimes he asked himself if this was real, and maybe he was still sleeping under the cupboard under the stairs instead, dreaming all of this instead.
It had taken a while, but Hermione had also started to fit in once she realized that everyone was fully capable of pulling their own work, if not pulling the others in the areas they excelled in. He had a bad feeling that the previous people that had claimed to be her 'friends' had forced her to do they work, and had actually started smiling more often.
He really hadn't meant to start building a political power, but somehow he had done so and was now at the very centre of the most politically powerful families of his year with the exception of the Malfoy's. And that was if you didn't add the Black and Potter families with the title of Boy who lived into it.
He had asked them not long after they had started if they practised occlumency, and surprisingly they all noded. Something related to all noble families having to practice to protect themselves from mental intrusions. He really disliked the fact that he kept the Potter part of himself a secret from them, and felt that at this point they deserved to know. Unbeknown to him everyone else realized that it hadn't been a rhetorical question, and had started practising the art more seriously.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
Ren sat down next to the window opposite to Neville as the train started to move. It had started snowing again and the hole landscape outside was completely white, with more coming on its way.
Soon they all started talking with each other about the different magical concepts and theories that they could come up with, how something could work, how it could be improved. Every person had a sharp mind with different views, and that was something that Ren really loved about the club...no, his friends, it had been such a foreign concept not that long ago.
Neville was shy and always nervous, which seemed to be what greatly affected his magic casting but he was quickly growing to become an amazing mix of a Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Su was also growing from her shyness and had recently started to slowly open up to the rest of their friends.
Susan on the other hand, may have been looked down upon for her house, but if someone messed with a friend then the viciousness that they could show was much more terrifying than any lion, added to that her admiration of her aunt and wanting to follow her footsteps and she would one day be a terrifying force to reckon with.
Su could be quite easily defined as a Ravenclaw. She craved for knowledge but also knew when and how to balance it while spending time with friends. Unfortunately, she had become somewhat secluded from the rest of her house for 'interacting with the lesser sort'. It seemed that most of the Ravenclaws were arrogant people that believed they were above the rest of the school, and to an extent, above each other. I'll have to bring it up at some point with Filius, maybe he can come up with something to get rid of the huge ego's.
Daphne was possibly the most curious two of the group. Daphne, the 'ice princess' was surprisingly easy going with a sense of humour when she wasn't the cold intimidating character that she showed in public. Because of this, it was almost like she was two different people when she was or wasn't present in public.
"Anyone doing anything interesting this holiday?" Susan asked curiously.
"Not really, never liked the parties with all the political stuff going on, always gave me a hade ache, but Gran always says I have nothing better to do, and to be honest she right." Neville explained with a clear dislike for the celebration.
"You could come to my place, I'm going to be staying there all Christmas so you could use it as an excuse. For that matter, all of you are invited to visit." Ren offered.
From that point, they started discussing what day they could visit, at the end agreeing that boxing day was the best choice and they would use the floo to get there.
"Remember what I asked everyone in the defence club about occlumency?" Ren suddenly asked as they all turned around to look at him.
It had been on his mind for a while now, telling them on the train was the second best option, while telling them just before summer was the best. But he felt like he was lying to them, even if it hadn't been a 'Are you Harry Potter? No' situation. A small confirmation from all of them and Ren takes a deep breath.
Suddenly becoming much more nervous he started going through different possibilities the conversation could go. How exactly do I go about this?
"I'm...well, Its something that I've been keeping secret that hardly anyone knows" He started thinking on which way was the best way to put it. "If anyone doesn't want to have that weight on them then they can wait outside for a minute...it's a big secret, like real big...so..."
"Don't be silly Ren! We friends, and friends stay with each other through thick and thin." Neville stated quite confidently alongise many comments of agreement.
"Thanks" He said as a small smile formed on his lips, he wasn't quite sure how he ended ups with such good friends. A small wave of his wand and the door locks while the blinds fall, the silencing charm already placed.
"It's actually quite straightforward, to be honest. I haven't always gone by the name Ren Rosier." He starts as they all stare at him in confusion.
"Please tell me it wasn't Malfoy!" Daphne said with fake horror, though he could tell she was doing it to ease the tension.
"Most definitely not!" Ren stated in mock offence, which wasn't too hard, following her example as they all snickered at the thought.
Taking a deep breath he resolved himself. "I'll just go out an say it, the name I used to go by was Harry Potter." He finishes as the chuckling suddenly stopped, all faces share a look on shock on them.
"Wait, as in the Harry Potter?" Su asks not quite believing what she's hearing.
"Defeater of he who must not be named?" Susan added just as shocked.
"Yes, that Harry Potter" Ren confirmed slightly restlessly.
"Bloody hell" He heard Neville added in shock.
"Why change your name? I mean, as Harry Potter you could probably get anything you wanted." Hermione asked curiously. At least she doesn't seem to mind, that's a good sign, right?
"The short answer? Dumbledore." Ren said simply, with slight disbelief looks coming from all his friends.
"Huh?" Hermione asks scandalized at Ren's answer.
"Long answer would be greatly appreciated" Daphne stated, her interest growing per second.
"He abandoned me with horrible people leaving me ignorant of the magical world and never once visited me, that and quite some few other things to be honest." Ren tried explaining as briefly as possible.
"That still wasn't that long..." Daphne said having noticed that he was trying to avoid the subject.
"So simply put, you hiding from Dumbledore?" Neville asked.
"Yeah, he illegally ignored my parent's will and made himself my magical guardian, so even if I am emancipated, I don't want to take any risks." Ren tried explaining.
After personally meeting with the Headmaster he could understand why they were finding it hard to believe. He personally thought that the Headmaster was really nice, slightly mad, but definitely a nice person.
"He did what!?" Hermione said finally finding her voice. "Cant, you just get him arrested? or sue him? Are the layers in the magical world?" She asked the last question almost as if she was annoyed with herself for not knowing the answer.
"We talking about a corrupt ministery were everything works through favours and money" He said as the name Malfoy was heard."Not to mention it would be the century-old leader of light, the man that defeated Ginderward's word against an eleven year old's one. Also, yes, there are lawyers." Ren explained.
"But that's' so...so...uh!" She started outraged how horrible the magical world really was, unable to say a coherent sentence.
"If you emancipated that means that you Lord Potter?" Daphne asked curiously with a predatory glim in her eye. Slytherin's!
"Lord Potter-Black." Her corrected, a small smile gracing Ren's face.
"Wait, what?" Daphne asked, a lot more interested now that it had moved to politics.
"So you lord of the two former most powerful political families on each side" Neville said thoughtfully.
"How did that happen?" Susan asked in confusion. "I mean I understand Potter, but Black?"
"Apparently, my Godfather left everything he owned to me, which included being heir to the house of black. It's allowed since my grandmother was Dorea Black" Ren explained as she nodded thoughtfully.
"Wait, you had a godfather?" Su asked confused.
"Sirius Black" Ren explained as many cries of confusion and even fear sounded."
"What!?" Most of the children present shouted.
"But...but that shouldn't be possible" Neville blurted out in confusion.
"Who's Sirius Black?" Hermione asked not having recognised the name.
"He was said to both have been You know who's second in command and the man that betrayed the Potter's" Daphne explained before he frowned thoughtfully.
"I know" Ren said to Daphne. "Strange, isn't it? How the same person that in his will, some few weeks before he supposedly betraying my family, left me everything he had."
"Now that you mention it you do make a point. What did they say in his trial?" Daphne asked curiously.
"He didn't get one." Ren answered.
The whole compartment was filled with silence, registering that the ministry itself had pretty much broken the law. The silence itself was broken when Hermione practically shouted in outrage.
"Didn't get one? You telling me the Ministry ignored its own laws?" Hermione practically screamed.
"It definitely seems that way. The goblin nation is looking into it, and by next year, should have a case to present to the Ministry." Ren answered.
"And you telling us this because?" Daphne asked curiously as everyone looked at her questioningly. "Don't get me wrong, we grateful that you did so, and I can speak for everyone that we won't tell anyone, but wouldn't it be safer just to keep it to yourself?" She pointed out.
"Honestly? It kinder feels like I'm lying whenever someone calls me Rosier." Ren tried explaining.
"Only that? I mean it makes sense but I wouldn't have said anything if I was in your situation." Daphne countered to which Ren had to think his answer.
"Well, there's also the part that Magical Britain practically worships me for supposedly defeating Voldemort" He said as almost all of them flinched when hearing his name.
"My father had access to ancient family magic and my mother was the smartest witch of her generation, I think it's much more likely that one or both of them found some way to kill him rather than a one-year-old. The fact that everyone claims that I survived the killing curse and yet no one alive was there apart from me says a lot about it." Ren finished slightly more emotional than what he usually let on.
"That does make a large amount of sense." Susan agreed finally capable of getting out of her shocked stage.
"Yes, well, I was hoping this wouldn't change anything but Ill understand if…"
"And you right, it doesn't change our friendship" Neville said.
"Thank you for trusting us enough to tell us, it means a lot, to all of us." Hermione finished happily.
"That being said, all the books said you had red hair and green eyes, were they wrong?" Hermione asked almost scared of the thought of a book telling a lie.
"No, I simply used hair dye and eye contact." Ren answered as Hermione nodded in understanding.
"The what?" Daphne asked confused.
Hermione immediately jumped at the opportunity of explaining that they were from the muggle world, and how magic wouldn't detect them slightly prideful of her world. As Ren looked at the members of the compartment a small smile graced his face.
Yes, having friends truly is amazing.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.
"Wake up Ren! It's Christmas!" Someone shouted from downstairs as he bolted upwards.
He was discouraged from looking at the time, one look outside and he knew that it must be much earlier than whatever time he wanted to wake up at, or for that fact any time he had ever woken up. Indeed, one look at Aurora and he could tell that she was as annoyed as he was for being dragged out of her bed, and the cause was jumping right next to them.
Ill prepare hot chocolate" Ren stated lazily as he walked towards the kitchen, with Aurora soon following not in the mood to deal with her friend's antics.
After they had finally managed to somewhat calm Mary down to bearable levels, present's started being opened as the first rays of the sun reflected on the snow outside.
That being said he was shocked to the huge pile of presents he had gotten for Christmas, all sitting next to the Christmas tree that they had decorated but a day before.
Su, Hermione, and Patil had each gotten him books, with Hermione being the non-magical one. I never did get to read the last Narnia book. Daphne and Tracey had seemed to join forces Hanna and Susan having bought him muggle clothing to keep on teasing him on needing clothing fitting your cute face. I know you were involved Hermione.
Blaise had gotten him an Arimathy book of unpublished theories while Neville had gotten him a book on plants. All in all, he felt that those presents defined they senders quite well.
He had also received many small gifts from classmates or older students he had talked to, mainly sweets that built up quite the sugar pile. He was only glad he had had the foresight to also send gifts for them as well.
All in all, Christmas was good, but he couldn't help but look forward to tomorrow, when all his friends would be coming to visit on boxing day. God help him when Hermione saw the library.
.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o.o0o
I've been going over chapter's 1 to 8, witch I've already replaced, thus the reason why I didn't spend no where near as much time as I usually do on this chapter. I will re-edit this one sometime soon (Yes, I know it was lacking and I'm sorry for that).
I've kinder gotten into a rightists block, I know what I want to right but I don't know how to right it. Hopefully by next week that will be shorted.
Also I'm trying to have a constant updated per week on Saturdays, In case you were wondering.
That's all that I can think of for now. Thanks for reading and Ill see you in the next chapter. Chau!