Alright, we're starting to get back to our normal groove of things, so yay! This is a pretty important chapter, at least in my mind, so cool things. Also ties into the title of the story.

Thank you all for the continued support, I love you all and hand out big hugs. Just think: you are all helping someone become a better writer so she can one day write you all books that will be immensely proud of. It's kind of cool.

I own nothing, so it's time for you lovelies to read!

Chapter 25: Living In A Dream

"Haven, Haven! Wake up! It's Christmas!" Neville hissed, gently shaking her awake. She sat up, shaking away sleep.

"Goodmorning, Neville," Haven yawned, stretching her arms. "Merry Christmas."

The boy smiled at her, the picture of an excited youth. Soon he'd dragged her out to the main sitting room, where a pile of presents awaited them. Quickly, they were separated out according to who they were addressed to.

Haven's smile was short lived when she realized one thing- of all the names of those who'd sent her gifts, she saw no sign of Sam, or Dean, or her dad. It felt like a cold knife to her heart as it sunk it that this was the first Christmas she'd spend without them since becoming Haven Winchester, the first Christmas where she got nothing from them.

Had they opened the presents she'd sent? The books, the pictures she'd taken since coming here, the candies, the curiosities? Had they thrown them out, refusing to remember her? Or, worse, had her presents been delivered to three dead bodies who couldn't enjoy them?

Neville was by her side in an instant, knowing as soon as the smile faded what was wrong. He wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, handing her a warm cup.

"Let's start opening them, okay?" Neville suggested, "It will all be alright, you'll see. Here, this one's from Hermione."

With numb hands she began opening them, hardly paying any attention to what she was doing. The only time she paid any attention was when Neville opened the herbology book she'd found for him, as well as a journal where she'd recorded the various uses of several plants used in Hunting and all the information she could gather about them.

She spent the rest of the break in relative silence, the ache of missing her brothers impossible to ignore any longer. She found herself looking forward to the return of school, of classes, of her busy schedule. It would take her mind off of things, as she'd be too busy and tired to really think about it.

Thankfully, their return didn't take long to occur. Being back allowed her to push aside her fears and worries, focusing instead on classes and the Stone.

The second day back for term was the day when Haven realized that they'd need to call in for backup. There was only so much a handful of first year Gryffindors with the addition of a Hufflepuff could do in the way of watching the teacher notorious for his dislike of anything not Slytherin, especially when it's name was Haven Winchester or Neville Longbottom.

"Guys." she said at breakfast the next morning, "We need help, so we need to to tell someone. And I know who we should tell."

"Wait, stop." Michelangelo replied, "Should we really bring other people into it? Too many people, and we might be noticeable. Someone might let something slip."

"Not who I have in mind," Haven replied, "Face it, we won't be able to watch without being noticed, because our being there at odd hours is out of character… but…"

"Who do you have in mind?" asked Neville curiously.

She smiled as the pair walked in, "The twins."

"But they're always suspicious! That'll only bring more attention to what we're trying to do!" Hermione replied.

"Exactly. They're always suspicious, so them being suspicious- like they normally are- isn't, well, suspicious. Everyone expects them to be planning pranks and getting up to something, so when they are they won't expect more from it. They've pranked the Professor numerous times this year. They always seem to know where everyone is, and they are good at sticking their noses places that they don't belong." Haven explained. As soon as she concluded, the twins took their spots on Haven's left side.

"She's right." Neville replied, "Let's do it."

"Do what?" the twins interrupted as one.

"I was just about to tell you." Haven replied, "Here's the situation, men…"

She gave a rundown of all they had found out so far, the attempt on her life, the stone, and Fluffy in a hushed tone, the others talking loudly to each other so no one else could hear her explanation.

Fred whistled once she reached her conclusion, before saying, "That's… that's bad."

"This is quite a situation you've gotten yourself in, Apprentice," George added.

"We'll admit, we're proud of your ability to get your nose into places it doesn't belong in," Fred commented, "But this is almost ridiculous. You're luck…"

"Yeah, it's Winchester luck." she replied, "It's really weird. Just don't question it too much. Anyway, so will you help us?"

"Why not?" George replied.

Fred continued, "After all, we can't let you get into trouble without us. You're still in training."

"Thank you." she replied gratefully, wrapping an arm around the twin next to her, George, in a sort of half-hug. The look on his face was a mix of amusement and discomfort as he patted her on the head, before she let go to return to her forgotten plate.

"In other news, you better free up some time tonight," Fred said, "We have work to do tonight, apprentice. We have to see how much you forgot over break."

"Goody." she replied drily.

And so that night she ended up stalking the empty halls of Hogwarts, setting up these small charmed objects in certain places as the twins had specified. She had no clue what they would do, but she'd been told to be careful and not drop them so she was understandably wary.

She'd debated on bringing the invisibility cloak she'd been sent for Christmas by a mysterious figure. However, she'd decided against it, due to the fact that she didn't know who'd sent it to her. They may have said it was her father's originally, but as they hadn't signed it she dare not trust it, no matter how useful it could be.

Maybe she'd run some tests on it, later. For now, however, she'd go without and use her own skill to overcome the silly test the twins had for her. At least it was good practice.

Once she'd set up every device they'd given her, she began heading back to the common room. It was actually pretty calming to walk through the empty, cold halls of the school in the middle of the night. There was no one nearby to stare at her or whisper about her. She could enjoy peace and quiet. Sure, there was always the worry that she'd get caught, but she'd learned ways of slipping away through several passages from Fred and George, who would never have forgiven themselves if they hadn't taught their 'darling' apprentice how to evade authority and escape any punishment. Not that she hadn't already had somewhat of a talent for slipping through the fingers of authority- after all, being a Winchester had it's perks.

On her way back, her eye was caught by a door left slightly ajar. Haven didn't know what was in the room, but she felt an irresistible urge to investigate, so she shrugged and slipped inside with hardly a sound. It wasn't like she didn't have plenty of time in which she could investigate. She'd done all the homework she needed to, and she still had time to squeeze in a solid four hours before she woke up for a jog around the lake.

The room she'd entered was an unused classroom, with desks piled against the walls. However, what caught her interest was the mirror facing her on the other side of the room. It was magnificent, with a gold frame and two clawed feet. Across the top was an inscription: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

Idiotic curiosity still guiding her steps, she approached the mirror. What she saw drew a strangled gasp from her lips.

There, in the mirror, was a reflection of herself- smiling, happy, her brothers at her sides. Dean had an arm thrown around her shoulders, laughing as he used his free hand to ruffle her unruly hair. Sam was giggling as he wrapped his arms around her middle. Neville was sitting to the side, giggling at the three of them. Uncle Bobby was beside Neville, cleaning his shotgun with a grumpy expression on his face, but the amusement in his eyes made it clear he wasn't irritated by the shenanigans of the siblings.

"Dean?" she whispered, the longing in her voice permeating the air, "Sam?"

She looked behind her, only to see empty air. Yet, the figures remained in the mirror, happy and laughing. The air behind her was empty when she reached for Dean, she could imagine their touches but she couldn't feel them despite her strong desire too.

Haven looked back to the mirror, slowly falling to her knees as she reached forward, touching the mirror's cold surface. She wanted, more than anything, to fall right through the mirror, to where Dean was ruffling her hair, and Sam had his head buried in her side, and Uncle Bobby was fondly watching them, and Neville was a part of her family. She stared and stared, but she remained out here, alone in the cold, while another her was laughing, happy and surrounded by family. Their images didn't fade as time passed.

Eventually, with a supreme amount of willpower, she tore herself away with a whispered vow to her family, "I'll be back tomorrow."

As she made her way to the Gryffindor dorms, every step felt like another bit of her heart was chipped away, leaving her hollow. Her heart was back behind her, in that mirror with her family. Haven nearly turned back, just to see them one more time. Somehow, to her amazement, she didn't, returning to her room and going to sleep.

Neville's POV

"Neville!" Haven's voice was the first thing that greeted him at the foot of the staircase leading up from the common room to the dormitories. "You have to come with me tonight- I found this mirror, and it's amazing. Neville, I saw- I saw my family. And we were happy, and I'm going to look again tonight. You'll come with me, won't you?"

Neville wasn't all too sure what she was talking about, but he was aware that by 'tonight' she meant 'after curfew'.

"I don't know." he replied, reluctant to sneak out in the event they were caught, "We could get in trouble."

"But Neville, you have to come with me, tonight. Please?" The desperation in her eyes convinced him as much as it terrified him. He nodded, eyes a bit wide at the fanatical look in her eyes.

He could tell all day that she wasn't concentrating on classes as she always did, and she rushed through her homework, no care for how sloppy it looked. It was obviously nowhere near her standards, and everyone noticed, though no one seemed to have the bravery to ask. The look on her face was terrifying, as if she'd been possessed, or gone mad. She waved off watching Professor Snape with them, despite her previous determination. She barely had anything to eat, and that was only because Neville had begged her to eat something.

Finally, it was time. Neville was determined to see what all the fuss was about at this point. It was freezing, but he didn't dare comment on it.

"Here it is!" she whispered excitedly, dragging him into an empty classroom characterized by the giant mirror awaiting them. Haven ran towards it, nearly falling over in her haste. She stopped just in front of it, her eyes taking on an obsessive quality as she stared hungrily at the mirror. Neville frowned, seeing nothing but her reflection.

"See?" Haven said.

"I can't see anything but you." Neville replied.

She stepped aside, beckoning him forward, "Here, where I am, you'll probably be able to see my family then."

He did as he was bid. When Neville peered into the mirror, what he saw caused him to give a strangled cry as he fell backwards.

"Do you see them?" Haven inquired. Neville, no longer having the power of speech, simply shook his head.

Haven's sharp, "What do you see?" sounded foggy and distant in his ears.

"It's… it's..." Neville whispered, his voice cracking, "They… they recognize me…"

There were tears blurring his vision, but he couldn't bring himself to care. His parents were smiling at him, pride in their eyes. They looked so healthy and young, no trace of the insanity that had darkened their eyes all of his remembered life. They recognized him, knew who he was. It was all he'd ever wanted.

Haven's voice was concerned as she asked, sounding as if she was far, far away, "Who recognizes you?"

His eyes didn't leave the image of the two figures standing at his sides as he replied in a longing voice, "My parents."

Haven's POV

The next night, her and Neville once more went together to see the mirror. The night after, he'd fallen asleep before she went, and she decided not to wake him. She rushed down the now-familiar path, eager to once more see the image of her family, to live in the fantasy where she could convince herself that all was well, and Sam and Dean were laughing at her sides.

"Back again, Alexandrite?"

She jumped, turning around with her hand involuntarily reaching for the knife she carried on her person. Haven couldn't believe she'd walked straight past Dumbledore, but realized that she'd been so focused on the thought of seeing her family that she's done the unforgivable and ignored all else.

"I didn't see you, sir." she replied, wondering what he'd do to her for sneaking out. But he had said 'back again', so did that mean he'd been watching her when she visited the mirror for the last few days?

Dumbledore was smiling in that grandfatherly way of his as he said, "So, you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."

"Uh-huh." she replied, glancing at the words across the top of the mirror. The word Erised was the first one in the sentence. "Wait, isn't Erised just desire spelled backwards?"

It was odd how Haven had only noticed that now.

"Then you realize what the mirror does?" the headmaster inquired.

"Well, it shows me my family, and Neville his as well… but his are better, and they can recognize him in his. In mine, we're just… happy." she replied, "So it shows us what would make us happy?"

"Close. It shows us the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who lost your family at a very young age, see yourself happy with family. Neville Longbottom, whose family has never been whole, sees himself with parents no longer driven to insanity. 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 is shows is real or even possible. The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Alexandrite, 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. Now, why don't you get off to bed?"

Haven stood with one last glance at her brothers. A dream, huh? Maybe that was all they were now, a dream that existed only in her mind.

"Yes, sir." she replied, tearing her eyes away from the dream.

By the way, Dumbledore totally thought she saw the same thing canon Harry saw in the mirror. It would make sense from his perspective, and you say family to her and she'll always think Winchesters.

I thought it fitting that Neville be a part of her family at this point. I was pretty heartbroken writing his vision in the mirror, cause that poor baby needs hugs.

Thank you all for reading!