Hi guys! Wow, this chapter came out long. I had been looking forward to writing this one since I started so it just flowed out of me. This is my longest chapter yet, so tell me what you think! There are some great Harry/Triss moments that I think you guys will really like :)
Enjoy!
I do not own the Harry Potter series and all characters are the property of JK Rowling with the exception of my own OCs
Chapter 12
After Hagrid let it slip about Nicholas Flamel, Triss, Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent any free moment they had searching for the name in the library. They read through dozens of books on various subjects from famous wizards to potioneers, each one turning out to be lacking a certain Flamel.
Soon the grey days of November turned into the chilled days of December. In mid-December Triss awoke to see a blanket of snow covering the Hogwarts grounds. The snow glittered off the grounds in a sea of white that made the castle look like it belonged in a fairy tale. Triss adored the winter and loved the amount that had covered the grounds. They had only ever gotten a few inches if they were lucky back home, so this was a welcome change.
The lake froze solid and Finnick and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban. The few owls that managed to battle their way through the stormy sky to deliver mail had to be nursed back to health by Hagrid before they could fly off again. Poor Gawain got caught in the storm, delivering a letter from her father, so she wrapped up her loyal barn owl in a warm blanket and helped him defrost by the fire. He hooted in thanks and Triss ruffled his feathers affectionately. No one could wait for the holidays to start. While the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms.
Worst of all were Professor Snape's classes down in the dungeons, where their breath rose in a mist before them and they kept as close as possible to their hot cauldrons. Triss had to wear a pair of dragonhide gloves in order to keep her fingers from feeling like they could fall off while she stirred her potion.
"I do feel so sorry," said Draco Malfoy, one Potions class, "for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home."
Triss glared daggers at the pale haired boy and accidently threw a slug at the back of his head when Snape wasn't looking. Harry, who was measuring out powdered spine of lionfish, ignored them, but he did smile when the slug Triss threw, hit Malfoy perfectly on his greasy, blonde hair. Malfoy had been even more unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch match. Disgusted that the Slytherins had lost, he had tried to get everyone laughing at how a wide-mouthed tree frog would be replacing Harry as Seeker next. Then he'd realized that nobody found this funny, because they were all so impressed at the way Harry had managed to stay on his bucking broomstick. So Malfoy, jealous and angry, had gone back to taunting Harry about having no proper family. Triss found Malfoy to be lower than a flea and tried to pay him no mind, but it was difficult when he said horrible insults to Harry and even herself when she stood up to him.
It was true that Harry wasn't going back to Privet Drive for Christmas. Professor McGonagall had come around the week before, making a list of students who would be staying for the holidays, and Harry had signed up at once. Triss and her brother had signed up as well. Although she was looking forward to seeing her dad for the Christmas holidays, it turned out he had to work through most of it anyway. Apparently, there was an anonymous wizard who was hexing muggles out in London, so her dad was out trying to catch him. Ron and his brothers were staying, too, because Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to Romania to visit Charlie. Even though Triss felt disappointed at not being able to spend the holidays with her dad, she felt excited at being able to spend them in the castle with her friends and brother. Plus, she could never let Harry spend them alone.
When they left the dungeons at the end of Potions, they found a large fir tree blocking the corridor ahead. Two enormous feet sticking out at the bottom and a loud puffing sound told them that Hagrid was behind it.
"Hi, Hagrid, want any help?" Ron asked, sticking his head through the branches.
"Nah, I'm all right, thanks, Ron."
"Would you mind moving out of the way?" came Malfoy's cold drawl from behind them. "Are you trying to earn some extra money, Weasley? Hoping to be gamekeeper yourself when you leave Hogwarts, I suppose — that hut of Hagrid's must seem like a palace compared to what your family's used to. Maybe you could lend him some money Selwyn? What with your muggle-loving father living like a peasant."
Ron dived at Malfoy and Triss pulled out her wand to curse him just as Snape came up the stairs.
"WEASLEY! SELWYN!"
Ron let go of the front of Malfoy's robes and Triss put down her wand and groaned at the interruption.
"They were provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid, sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree. "Malfoy was insultin' their families."
"Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," said Snape silkily. "Ten points from Gryffindor, Selwyn and Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more. Move along, all of you."
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle pushed roughly past the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking.
"I'll get him," said Triss, grinding here teeth at Malfoy's back, "one of these days, I'll get him"
"I hate them both," said Harry, "Malfoy and Snape."
"Oh, I don't just hate them, I think I loathe them."
"Come on, cheer up, it's nearly Christmas," said Hagrid. "Tell yeh what, come with me an' see the Great Hall, looks a treat."
So the four of them followed Hagrid and his tree off to the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick were busy with the Christmas decorations.
"Ah, Hagrid, the last tree — put it in the far corner, would you?"
The hall looked spectacular. Festoons of holly and mistletoe hung all around the walls, and no less than twelve towering Christmas trees stood around the room, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles. It looked absolutely magical and Triss wished she had another set of to take it all in. Her heart filled with festive cheer at the sight and, suddenly, she didn't miss home as much as she did before.
"How many days you got left until yer holidays?" Hagrid asked.
"Just one," said Hermione. "And that reminds me — Triss, Harry, Ron, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library."
"Oh yeah, you're right," said Ron, tearing his eyes away from Professor Flitwick, who had golden bubbles blossoming out of his wand and was trailing them over the branches of the new tree.
"Professor Flitwick, what spell did you use to conjure those?" Triss asked eagerly. She loved charms and Professor Flitwick was her favourite. She was always eager to learn new spells when she had the chance.
"Oh hello there Ms. Selwyn. This is a neat little trick I'll be happy to show you in our next lesson," He said in his squeaky little voice. Triss beamed with delight at the prospect.
"Teacher's pet" Ron whispered in her ear. Triss lightly punched his shoulder in response. Hermione and Harry only rolled their eyes and smiled at the pair.
The four made their way out of the great hall with Hagrid in tow.
"The library?" said Hagrid, following them out of the hall. "Just before the holidays? Bit keen, aren't yeh?"
"Oh, we're not working," Harry told him brightly. "Ever since you mentioned Nicolas Flamel we've been trying to find out who he is."
"You what?" Hagrid looked shocked. "Listen here — I've told yeh — drop it. It's nothin' to you what that dog's guardin'."
"We just want to know who Nicolas Flamel is, that's all," said Hermione.
"Besides, if he knows Dumbledore then Flamel must be common knowledge. We are just curious is all." Triss said with an innocent smile.
"Unless you'd like to tell us and save us the trouble?" Harry added. "We must've been through hundreds of books already and we can't find him anywhere — just give us a hint — I know I've read his name somewhere."
"I'm sayin' nothin'," said Hagrid flatly.
"Just have to find out for ourselves, then," said Ron, and they left Hagrid looking disgruntled and hurried off to the library.
"I'd really rather have Hagrid just tell us and save us a bit of reading. I swear my eyes are going to fall out of my head if I read one more library book," Triss said.
They had indeed been searching books for Flamel's name ever since Hagrid had let it slip, because how else were they going to find out what Snape was trying to steal? The trouble was, it was very hard to know where to begin, not knowing what Flamel might have done to get himself into a book. He wasn't in Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, or Notable Magical Names of Our Time; he was missing, too, from Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry. And then, of course, there was the sheer size of the library; tens of thousands of books; thousands of shelves; hundreds of narrow rows. Each book contains dozens of chapters and some had words so small you had to squint just to make it out. Some nights they were there so late, Triss would fall asleep in a book of Wizards and Witches and their Greatest Achievements.
Hermione took out a list of subjects and titles she had decided to search while Ron strode off down a row of books and started pulling them off the shelves at random. Triss went with Harry who wandered over to the Restricted Section. The previous night they discussed the idea of Flamel being somewhere in there. Unfortunately, you needed a specially signed note from one of the teachers to look in any of the restricted books, and they knew they'd never get one. Triss wondered if Flitwick would sign off, but she knew he would ask too many questions about it. These were the books containing powerful Dark Magic never taught at Hogwarts, and only read by older students studying advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"What are you looking for, you two?"
"Nothing," said Triss and Harry simultaneously.
Madam Pince the librarian brandished a feather duster at them. She reminded Triss of a worn-out book old and thought her chosen profession was quite fitting. She wasn't very kind and was more than happy to hush any student who talked in anything above a whisper.
"You'd better get out, then. Go on — out!"
Wishing they'd been a bit quicker at thinking up some story, the pair left the library.
"Rats! That woman has the eyes of Hippogriff." Triss said frustrated.
"What in the world is a Hippogriff?" Harry asked with a confused look.
"You'll find out eventually" Triss said with a teasing smile.
Triss, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had already agreed they'd better not ask Madam Pince where they could find Flamel. They were sure she'd be able to tell them, but they couldn't risk Snape hearing what they were up to.
Triss and Harry waited outside in the corridor to see if the other two had found anything, but they weren't very hopeful. They had been looking for two weeks, after all, but as they only had odd moments between lessons it wasn't surprising they'd found nothing. What they really needed was a nice long search without Madam Pince breathing down their necks.
Five minutes later, Ron and Hermione joined them, shaking their heads. They went off to lunch.
"You will keep looking while I'm away, won't you?" said Hermione. "And send me an owl if you find anything."
"And you could ask your parents if they know who Flamel is," said Ron. "It'd be safe to ask them."
"Very safe, as they're both dentists," said Hermione.
Triss and Ron only looked at each other confused. Neither had a clue what a dentist was.
"Oh 'Mione I'm going to miss you," She said pulling the girl into a tight hug. "Don't leave me alone with them!"
"Hey!" Ron and Harry shouted.
"I'll miss you too Triss. Make sure they don't slack off on the research," she said while looking at the boys with a knowing look.
Triss made a dramatic salute and they hugged once more.
Once the holidays had started, what Hermione had said went in one ear and out the other. Triss, Ron, and Harry were having too good a time to think much about Flamel. They had the dormitory to themselves and the common room was far emptier than usual, so they were able to get the good armchairs by the fire. They sat by the hour eating anything they could spear on a toasting fork — bread, English muffins, marshmallows — and plotting ways of getting Malfoy expelled, which were fun to talk about even if they wouldn't work.
"I'm telling you, if we can just manage to learn a sleep walking spell then we could lure him all the way into the forbidden forest." Triss said with a mouthful of toasted marshmallow.
"You really think we could get him all the way outside?" Harry asked, helping himself to a marshmallow.
"Finnick did it to me once before we both started Hogwarts. It was some accidental magic he had casted by mistake after I stole his favourite book. That night he did it while I was asleep and the next morning my dad found me floating on my back in the pond behind our house, fast asleep. I gave him a bit of a fright because it looked like I drowned. That was until he heard me snore like a trumpet."
Harry burst into a big laugh at the thought of Triss laying on her back asleep, in the middle of a pond and Ron joined in.
"Hey! Don't laugh. I smelled like pond water for a week," she said giggling with the boys.
"You were quite pungent," Finnick said, joining them on the couch with the Weasley twins.
"What else did you two do?" Harry asked.
"Oh, there was this one time when my dad took away our brooms after a big fight and we got so mad, that I put a potion that turned his hair bright green in his morning tea. Triss slipped it in when he wasn't looking, and he was too busy reading the paper he didn't even notice, until he got all the way to work at the Ministry." Finnick snatching a toasted marshmallow off of Triss's skewer.
They all laughed at the story and spent the rest of the evening exchanging stories about their childhood. Harry just sat, listened, and laughed, especially at some of the pranks the Weasley's and Finnick had pulled over the years.
After their brothers had went up to bed, a sad look came over Harry's face. Triss gave Ron a nudge to go up to bed and he took the hint.
"You alright Harry?" She asked after Ron went up.
"Yeah, I'm ok. Just thinking." He said, staring into the dying fire.
"Marshmallow for your thoughts?" Triss said with a smile.
"I'm just thinking about what it would've been like to grow up the way you and Ron did. With parents and siblings and friends to get into trouble with. It all sounds so fun. It just makes sad because I never got that what with growing up on Privet Drive with the Dursleys."
Triss felt immediately guilty and sad for Harry. "Well, it wasn't all fun and games. It was never boring that's for sure, but I would give anything for you to have been there with us Harry. I think what's important is that you are a part of our families now and we get to make new memories and adventures. This time with you every step of the way."
"You really see me as a part of your family?" He asked.
"You are. I think there's more to family then what you're born into. My dad's family was horrible. His parents were very cruel people, and his brother was even worse. So, after he finished school he went out and made a new one. Not only with my mum, Finn, and me but with his friends too. I like to think the Weasley's are as much my family as my own brother and dad. Now you and Hermione are too."
That seemed to have cheered Harry up and he gave her a rare, beaming smile that truly warmed her heart. He reached out and gave her a hug that she returned happily.
Over the Christmas break, Ron also started teaching Harry wizard chess. Triss liked playing but was nowhere near as good as Ron. Her current set was in disarray from how many times Ron beat her. She had been trying to beat him for years to no avail.
Ron's set was very old and battered. Like everything else he owned, it had once belonged to someone else in his family — in this case, his grandfather. However, old chessmen weren't a drawback at all. Ron knew them so well he never had trouble getting them to do what he wanted.
Harry played with chessmen Seamus Finnigan had lent him, and they didn't trust him at all. He wasn't a very good player yet and they kept shouting different bits of advice at him, which was confusing. "Don't send me there, can't you see his knight? Send him, we can afford to lose him."
On Christmas Eve, Triss went to bed with butterflies in her stomach at the thought of presents the next morning. Christmas was her favourite holiday, and she couldn't wait to spend it with Harry and see his face when he opened the gift she got him. He revealed to her that he never got presents before, so she made it a mission to remedy that. Triss woke the next morning to see a pile of presents at the foot of her bed. She raced out of the girls' dormitory and into the boys with her presents in her hands. She rarely ever woke up before them, so she jumped onto Ron's bed and bellowed in his ear, "Merry Christmas Ronald!" Ron burst up and shouted, "Bloody hell Triss!"
Harry burst awake with a disoriented look on his face.
"Merry Christmas Harry! Come on get up lazy bones so we can open up presents together." Triss said trying to pull Ron out of his bed.
"I have presents?" Harry asked surprised.
"Of course!" Triss gave one more tug and Ron fell onto the floor with a loud "OOF"
"Merry Christmas," said Ron getting up, as Harry scrambled out of bed and pulled on his bathrobe.
"You, too," said Harry. "Will you look at this? I've got some presents!"
"What did you expect, turnips?" said Ron, turning to his own pile, which was a lot bigger than Harry's. Triss thumped him on the head.
Triss started opening her own presents. The first was a messily wrapped parcel that said To Pipsqueak, From the better Selwyn child, Finn. Inside was a new swan quill and a pretty violet ink. Next was a new book on famous muggleborn Quidditch players from Hermione; a poster of the Holyhead Harpies from Ron; a new cloak that was a silvery blue and had golden stars on it along with a new box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans from her dad; a bag of sweets from Honeyduke's from Fred and George; and finally, a homemade knitted navy sweater with a T on the front from Mrs. Weasley and a tin of homemade Christmas cookies. Triss loved her new gifts and looked over to Harry who was opening his.
Harry picked up the top parcel. It was wrapped in thick brown paper and scrawled across it was To Harry, from Hagrid. Inside was a roughly cut wooden flute. Hagrid had obviously whittled it himself. Harry blew it — it sounded a bit like an owl.
A second, very small parcel that was from his aunt and uncle.
Taped to the note was a fifty-pence piece.
"That's friendly," said Harry.
Triss and Ron were fascinated by the fifty pence.
"Weird!" Ron said,
"What a shape! This is money?" Triss said holding the coin up. "It's so small."
"You can keep it," said Harry, laughing at how pleased Triss was. "Hagrid and my aunt and uncle — so who sent these?"
"I think I know who that one's from," said Ron, turning a bit pink and pointing to a very lumpy parcel. "My mum. I told her you didn't expect any presents and — oh, no," he groaned, "she's made you a Weasley sweater."
Harry had torn open the parcel to find a thick, hand-knitted sweater in emerald green and a large box of homemade fudge.
"Every year she makes us a sweater," said Ron, unwrapping his own, "and mine's always maroon."
"Hey! I love your mum's sweaters. Be happy she gets you anything at all," Triss said putting on her own. Ron gave her a sheepish look.
"That's really nice of her," said Harry, trying the fudge.
"Thanks for the scarf Triss," Ron said. Triss had gotten him a new scarf that was orange and had the Chuddley Cannon's logo sewn into the end.
"No problem Ron. It matches your hair." She said with a smile and taking a bite of a Christmas cookie.
Harry's next present also contained candy — a large box of Chocolate Frogs from Hermione.
He picked up a small box that turned out to be from Triss's dad. Harry opened it up and pulled out a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and a neat book on Quidditch teams throughout Europe. Attached was a short note that said:
Merry Christmas Harry.
I hope you can visit over the summer if you were interested. I can understand if you would rather stay with you relatives, but our door is always welcome for a Potter. Congrats on making the Quidditch team! I'm glad Triss has someone else she can talk to about the game because after 11 years, I can only tell her so much! I hope Triss isn't getting you into too much trouble. Feel free to write if you ever need anything and hope your first year is going well.
From Mathalus Selwyn
"Triss, your dad is great. That was really nice of him." Harry said.
"Eh, he has his moments", she said trying on her new cloak.
The next one was from Triss. She got nervous, hoping he liked what she got him.
He opened it up and a big smile came onto his face. It was a frame that had the photo her father had sent Triss, of the pair of them as babies. Finn had taught her a tricky charm that could make a duplicate of an object, so she made a copy of the photo. Now she had one and so did Harry. She ordered the custom frame from a wizarding catalogue, and it was charmed so that when you picked it up, the phrase "Triss and Harry, 11 years in the making", would appear in silver letters on the bottom corner.
"What do you think? Is the frame too much?" Triss asked when Harry didn't say anything.
Harry smiled at picture and said "I love it. It's perfect. Thanks Triss."
Triss smiled, happy that Harry liked her gift.
This only left one parcel. Harry picked it up and felt it. It seemed very light. He unwrapped it.
Something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the floor where it lay in gleaming folds. Ron gasped.
"I've heard of those," he said in a hushed voice, dropping the box of Every Flavor Beans he'd gotten from Hermione. "If that's what I think it is — they're really rare, and really valuable."
"No way! I've only ever seen one of those in my life. My dad's boss Mad-eyed Moody has one. Where did it come from?" Triss said getting up.
"What is it?"
Harry picked the shining, silvery cloth off the floor. It was strange to the touch, like water woven into material.
"It's an Invisibility Cloak," said Ron, a look of awe on his face. "I'm sure it is — try it on."
Harry threw the Cloak around his shoulders and Triss and Ron gave a yell.
"It is! Look down!" Triss exclaimed.
Harry looked down at his feet, but they were gone. He dashed to the mirror. Sure enough, his reflection looked back at him, just his head suspended in midair, his body completely invisible. He pulled the Cloak over his head and his reflection vanished completely.
"There's a note!" said Ron suddenly. "A note fell out of it!"
Harry pulled off the Cloak and seized the letter. Triss leaned over his invisible shoulder to read it. Written in narrow, loopy writing she had never seen before were the following words:
Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you.
Use it well.
A Very Merry Christmas to you
There was no signature. Harry stared at the note and Triss had a puzzled look on her face. Ron was admiring the Cloak.
"I'd give anything for one of these," he said. "Anything. What's the matter?"
"Nothing," said Harry.
"I wonder who sent it," Triss said voicing his thoughts. They all shrugged their shoulders and Triss tried on Harry's invisibility cloak. Her bottom half disappeared completely to her amusement.
Triss gave Harry back the cloak and got back to sampling new Bertie Bott flavours, hoping to log a few new ones into her Bott Book. They were interrupted by Fred, George, and Finn who bounded in. Harry stuffed the Cloak quickly out of sight.
"Merry Christmas!" They all said.
"Hey, look — Harry's got a Weasley sweater, too!"
Fred and George were wearing yellow sweaters, one with a large black F on it, the other a G. Finn's was a deep red color with a golden F on the front.
"Harry's is better than ours, though, just like Triss's and Finn's always are," said Fred, holding up Harry's sweater. "She obviously makes more of an effort if you're not family."
"I think she just likes us better," Finn said with a grin.
"Why aren't you wearing yours, Ron?" George demanded. "Come on, get it on, they're lovely and warm."
"Mine is so toasty," Finn said pulling his arms around himself.
"I hate maroon," Ron moaned halfheartedly as he pulled it over his head.
"You haven't got a letter on yours," George observed. "I suppose she thinks you don't forget your name. But we're not stupid — we know we're called Gred and Forge."
"What's all this noise?"
Percy stuck his head through the door, looking disapproving. He had clearly gotten halfway through unwrapping his presents as he, too, carried a lumpy sweater over his arm, which Fred seized.
"P for prefect! Get it on, Percy, come on, we're all wearing ours, even Harry got one."
"I — don't — want —" said Percy thickly, as the twins forced the sweater over his head, knocking his glasses askew.
"And you're not sitting with the prefects today, either," said George. "Christmas is a time for family."
"That's right perc' you're with us this time," Finn said clapping him on the back which made his glasses fall off his head.
They frog-marched Percy from the room, his arms pinned to his side by his sweater. Triss and Harry were laughing the entire way to the great hall. Triss did an impersonation of Percy with his arms in the sweater that made Harry laugh so hard, he actually snorted.
When they got to the great hall, Triss had to pause and take a moment to soak it all in. It looked like something out of her dreams, with a dozen beautifully decorated Christmas trees and a feast of food on the tables.
Although their Christmas dinner was always delicious, Hogwarts had somehow managed to put her dad's and Mrs. Weasley's cooking to shame.
A hundred fat, roast turkeys; mountains of roast and boiled potatoes; platters of chipolatas; tureens of buttered peas, silver boats of thick, rich gravy and cranberry sauce — and stacks of wizard crackers every few feet along the table. Triss helped herself to a wizard cracker that Ron pulled the end of and it exploded with smoke and a white dove flew out of it. Harry pulled one with Fred and it didn't just bang, it went off with a blast like a cannon and engulfed them all in a cloud of blue smoke, while from the inside exploded a rear admiral's hat and several live, white mice. Up at the High Table, Dumbledore had swapped his pointed wizard's hat for a flowered bonnet, and was chuckling merrily at a joke Professor Flitwick had just read him.
Flaming Christmas puddings followed the turkey. Percy nearly broke his teeth on a silver Sickle embedded in his slice. Triss watched Hagrid getting redder and redder in the face as he called for more wine, finally kissing Professor McGonagall on the cheek, who, to Triss's amazement, giggled and blushed, her top hat lopsided.
They laughed and ate and exchanged various stories that made them all full of cheer. Finnick managed to slip a potion he brewed into Triss's pumpkin juice when she wasn't looking, and it made her start imitating various farm animals to everyone's delight.
"Finnick Selwyn, just wait until dad hears your still slipping potions into people's drinks again," she said in between the Moo of a cow and the crow of a rooster.
"He only said not to put any in people's breakfast. He never said anything about Christmas feast," Finn retorted with a mischievous grin that made Harry laugh.
When Triss finally left the table, she was laden down with a stack of things out of the crackers, including a trick wand, a canary yellow witch's hat, a game of exploding snap, and a broken quill.
Harry marveled at his collection which included a pack of non-explodable, luminous balloons, a Grow-Your-Own-Warts kit, and his own new wizard chess set.
After the feast, they made their way outside to play in the snow. They spend the remainder of the afternoon having a furious snowball fight on the grounds.
A particularly large snowball landed directly in Triss's face, to which the black-haired owner started laughing like mad.
"Harry I'll get you for that!" Triss said started to make one of her own for revenge.
"Not to worry fair-maiden," Fred said.
"We will avenge you!" George finished. The twins ran over to Harry who was still laughing and scooped him up into their arms, effectively throwing him into a large snowbank.
Ron and Triss couldn't stop their laughter after seeing Harry stumble out of the snow pile with his glasses askew and snow covering him from head to toe.
"I think you and Hedwig match now Harry!" Triss called out to him.
It was a perfect afternoon that Triss didn't want to end but then, cold, wet, and gasping for breath, they returned to the fire in the Gryffindor common room, where Harry broke in his new chess set by losing spectacularly to Ron.
After a meal of turkey sandwiches, crumpets, trifle, and Christmas cake, everyone felt too full and sleepy to do much before bed except sit and watch Percy chase Finnick, Fred, and George all over Gryffindor Tower because they'd stolen his prefect badge.
It had been an amazing Christmas day for Triss, and she was glad she got to spend it with her brother and friends. Triss wished them all goodnight and watched them go up to the Boy's dormitory.
Too full to get off the couch, Triss sprawled out with a blanket and fell into a comatose state of sleep from eating too many sweets and turkey.
All too soon, her peaceful sleep was disrupted by footsteps coming down the stairs.
"I promise dad the Christmas turkey flew away by itself!" she shouted coming out of a food-induced dream.
"What in the world were you dreaming of?" a voice asked. Triss blinked the sleep away and saw only Harry's head. The rest of his body was draped in the invisibility cloak.
"Harry? What are you doing?" She asked yawning.
"I wanted to try out my dad's cloak a bit. Do some exploring I guess," He said sheepishly.
"Well since I'm awake then I suppose I have no choice but to join you. Hermione would kill me if I didn't try to keep you out of trouble." Triss said while putting on her slippers. Harry lifted the cloak and Triss went under it with him, the silk-like material turning her invisible.
They made their way to the portrait and opened it.
"Who's there?" squawked the Fat Lady. Triss and Harry said nothing. They walked quickly down the corridor.
"Where do you want to start?" Triss asked in a whisper.
"How about the restricted section? We can look through some of the books and see if we can find Flamel somewhere."
Triss let out a quiet groan. "The library? Of all the places to explore in this castle, you choose the bloody library? I swear Hermione is having a bad influence on you."
Harry only nudged her shoulder, and they made their way down the halls to their destination.
The library was pitch-black and very eerie. Harry lit a lamp to see his way along the rows of books. The lamp looked as if it was floating along in midair, and even though Triss knew Harry's arm was supporting it, the sight gave her the creeps.
The Restricted Section was right at the back of the library. Stepping carefully over the rope that separated these books from the rest of the library, Harry held up his lamp so they could read the titles.
They didn't tell them much. Their peeling, faded gold letters spelled words in languages neither Triss nor Harry could understand. Some had no title at all. One book had a dark stain on it that looked horribly like blood. Triss started to get goosebumps and took Harry's hand. Maybe Triss was imagining it, maybe not, but she thought a faint whispering was coming from the books, as though they knew someone was there who shouldn't be. Triss and Harry gave each other frightened looks but continued on.
They had to start somewhere. Triss grabbed an old looking tome that had red lettering, that she couldn't made out. She opened the book and noticed that it was entirely in Latin. She put hers back, while Harry looked along the bottom shelf for an interesting-looking book. A large black and silver volume caught his eye. He pulled it out with difficulty, because it seemed to be very heavy, and, balancing it on his knee, let it fall open.
A piercing, bloodcurdling shriek split the silence — the book was screaming! Triss jumped with fear and Harry snapped it shut, but the shriek went on and on, one high, unbroken, earsplitting note. Harry stumbled backward and knocked over his lamp, which went out at once. Panicking, they heard footsteps coming down the corridor outside — stuffing the shrieking book back on the shelf, they ran for it. They passed Filch in the doorway; Filch's pale, wild eyes looked straight through her, and the pair just barely slipped under Filch's outstretched arm and streaked off up the corridor, the book's shrieks still ringing in his ears.
Harry came to a sudden halt in front of a tall suit of armor and Triss bumped into him with a loud OOF. She fell onto her bottom and glanced at where they were. They had been so busy getting away from the library, they hadn't paid attention to where they were going. Perhaps because it was dark, they didn't recognize where he was at all.
"Sorry Triss," Harry said and outstretched his hand to help her up.
"This is a bit too familiar don't you think," She teased, her mind drifting back to when Harry helped her, back at that first day on Platform 9 3/4 . Harry smiled at the memory and lifted Triss up to her feet. Triss looked around to see where they were standing.
Before she could say anything else a voice said, "You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library — Restricted Section."
Triss felt the blood drain out of her face. Wherever he was, Filch must know a shortcut, because his soft, greasy voice was getting nearer, and to his horror, it was Snape who replied, "The Restricted Section? Well, they can't be far, we'll catch them."
Harry stood rooted to the spot as Filch and Snape came around the corner ahead. Triss did some quick thinking and threw the cloak over the pair of them. They couldn't see them, of course, but it was a narrow corridor and if Filch and Snape came much nearer they'd knock right into them — the Cloak didn't stop them from being solid.
They backed away as quietly as they could. A door stood ajar to their left. It was their only hope. Triss squeezed through it, holding her breath, and Harry followed in behind her. Filch and Snape walked straight past, and Harry leaned against the wall, breathing deeply, listening to their footsteps dying away. Triss let out a large breath that she had been holding, and her rapid heartbeat started to slow. She gave Harry a relieved smile which he returned. That had been close, very close. It was a few seconds before either of them noticed anything about the room they had hidden in.
It looked like an unused classroom. The dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and there was an upturned wastepaper basket — but propped against the wall facing them was something that didn't look as if it belonged there, something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way.
It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.
Triss didn't get that flip in her stomach like at the Quidditch game but she did feel apprehensive about the mysterious mirror in front of them. Something about it gave her a bad feeling.
Harry moved nearer to the mirror and he stepped in front of it.
He clapped his hands over his mouth as if he was about to scream and whirled around, looking around the room as if he was looking for someone else.
"Harry what is it?" She asked scared about what he saw.
"There's other people in the mirror!" He slowed turned back towards it and looked at his reflection. From where Triss was standing it was just his reflection and no one else's.
Harry gasped at what he saw and started getting closer to mirror, so close his nose was nearly touching it.
"Mum?" he whispered. "Dad?"
Now Triss was scared, but curious all the same. Did Harry see his parents in the mirror? Triss didn't say anything but watched as Harry stared hungrily at the mirror with his hands pressed flat against it, as though he was hoping to fall right through it and reach whoever he saw.
Triss walked over and put her hand on his shoulder, and said quietly "Harry?"
Harry jumped and looked up at her as if he forgot she was even there.
He stood frantically. "Triss this mirror is amazing. I think it shows you your family. I think I saw my parents in it. I saw their faces for the first time. And not just my parents but other people who looked like me too. I think they were my family, grandparents and others. You have to look and see for yourself."
Triss felt nervous but did what he said. She stood next to him but could only see their reflection.
"I only see us Harry."
"Look at them… there they all are. Here stand where I was". Harry moved Triss by the shoulders and placed her directly in front of it.
"I still only… wait a second." Triss froze.
There in the mirror was her own reflection, but she wasn't the only one. Other people surrounded her. On either side of her was her dad with a big smile that he rarely ever uses and the other…. It couldn't be. The other was her mother. She recognized her from the photo Triss had in the locket around her neck. Her mother had the loveliest smile and had her arm around her dad. Her mother's sapphire blue eyes reflect her own. Triss could feel tears start to run down her cheeks. She thought she could hear a voice, but she was too busy focusing on her mother to even hear.
Not only were her parents staring back at her, but her brother was there too, and all of the Weasleys together. The Weasleys were all smiling and dressed in fancy clothes, as opposed to their second-hand ones. Hermione was next to Ron with her buck-toothed grin, and so was Harry. He looked different though. He wasn't so skinny, and she saw a happiness in his face she had only ever glimpsed at. Behind him were two people she didn't know. One was a woman, and she was very pretty. She had dark red hair and her eyes — her eyes are just like Harry's, she thought, edging a little closer to the glass. Bright green — exactly the same shape. The tall, thin, black-haired man standing next to her put his arm around her. He wore glasses, and his hair was very untidy. It stuck up at the back, just as Harry's did. These must be Harry's parents. Triss someone felt like she had seen them before, perhaps in a dream that she couldn't remember. They were holding on tight to Harry and they all looked so happy.
There in front of her eyes was everyone Triss held dear, happy and together. She got closer to the mirror and put her hand on it. She couldn't bear to leave. She wanted to stay and look at them all together a little more. A hand on her shoulder interrupted her thoughts and she felt a twinge of annoyance at whoever would stop her from looking at this beautiful sight. She looked over at Harry's face and realized she had been crying.
"What did you see?" Harry asked.
Triss wanted to tell him but couldn't get the words. Instead, she flung her arms around his shoulder and burst into a sob.
She choked out, "I saw my mum Harry. She was there and she was alive, and she looked so happy. But it wasn't just her, it was everyone. My dad, Finn, the Weasley's, Hemione, you and I think your parents were there too. We were all so happy and together and just… perfect."
They stood like that for a moment, Harry being too stunned to say anything but rub her back in comfort, while Triss let out every emotion she was feeling. Eventually, she calmed down and wiped her tear rimmed eyes.
"Sorry, it was just so… overwhelming, but beautiful at the same time. Oh, am I making any sense? You must think me mad." She said.
Harry smiled. "That's how I felt. I was able to see my parents' faces for the first time." Something dawned on him, "We need to show Ron. I wonder if he'll see his family too."
Triss nodded and they quickly made their way back to the dormitory, both agreeing to show Ron the next night.
Triss could hardly sleep that night. She couldn't stop thinking about what she saw. She held the locket in her hand, slowly drifting into a restless sleep of her mother and family.
"You could have woken me up," said Ron, crossly.
"You can come tonight, I'm going back, I want to show you the mirror." Harry said at breakfast.
"I'd like to see your mum and dad," Ron said eagerly.
"It's amazing Ron. You have to see it," said Triss eagerly.
"And I want to see all your family, all the Weasleys, you'll be able to show me your other brothers and everyone. I couldn't see Triss' but maybe I can see yours. She saw your family and mine."
"You did Triss? Well, you can see them any old time," said Ron. "Just come round my house this summer. Anyway, maybe it only shows dead people.
"But I saw people who were alive. It doesn't matter. I just have to show you." Triss said.
"Shame about not finding Flamel, though. Have some bacon or something, why aren't you guys eating anything?"
Triss and Harry glanced at each other and probably thought the same thing. Triss couldn't eat. She had seen her mother alive and well, and would be seeing her again tonight, along with everyone she held dear. Triss had almost forgotten about Flamel. It didn't seem very important anymore. Who cared what the three-headed dog was guarding? What did it matter if Snape stole it, really?
"Are you guys all right?" said Ron. "You two look odd."
What Triss feared most was that they might not be able to find the mirror room again. With Ron covered in the Cloak, too, they had to walk much more slowly the next night. They tried retracing Harry's route from the library, wandering around the dark passageways for nearly an hour.
"I'm freezing," said Ron. "Let's forget it and go back."
"No!" Harry hissed. "I know it's here somewhere."
"Come on Ron, we have to find it," Triss said refusing to go back.
They passed the ghost of a tall witch gliding in the opposite direction but saw no one else. Just as Ron started moaning that his feet were dead with cold, Triss spotted the suit of armor.
"It's here — just here — yes!"
They pushed the door open. Harry dropped the cloak from around their shoulders and ran to the mirror.
"See?" Harry whispered.
"I can't see anything." Ron said with a yawn.
"Look! Look at them all . . . there are loads of them. . . ."
"I can only see you."
"Look in it properly, go on, stand where I am."
"Hurry up Harry, I want to look again." Triss said impatiently.
Harry stepped aside, but with Ron in front of the mirror, he couldn't see his family anymore, just Ron in his paisley pajamas.
Ron, though, was staring transfixed at his image.
"Look at me!" he said.
"Can you see all your family standing around you?"
"No — I'm alone — but I'm different — I look older — and I'm Head Boy!"
"What?" Triss said.
"I am — I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to — and I'm holding the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup — I'm Quidditch captain, too!"
Ron tore his eyes away from this splendid sight to look excitedly at Harry.
"Do you think this mirror shows the future?"
"How can it? All my family are dead — let me have another look —"
"Come on Harry, you already had a turn now it's mine," Triss said stepping forward.
"You had it to yourself all last night, give me a bit more time." said Ron.
"You're only holding the Quidditch Cup, what's interesting about that? I want to see my parents."
"Don't push me —"
"You guys aren't being fair—"
A sudden noise outside in the corridor put an end to their discussion. They hadn't realized how loudly they had been talking.
"Quick!"
Ron threw the Cloak back over them as the luminous eyes of Mrs. Norris came round the door. Triss, Ron and Harry stood quite still, all of them thinking the same thing — did the Cloak work on cats? After what seemed an age, she turned and left.
"This isn't safe — she might have gone for Filch, I bet she heard us. Come on."
And Ron pulled Triss and Harry out of the room. Triss looked back at the room desperately wanting to go back and just get one more look.
The snow still hadn't melted the next morning.
"Want to play chess, Harry?" said Ron.
"No."
"Triss what about you?
"No thanks Ron," Triss said passively.
"Why don't we go down and visit Hagrid?"
"No . . . you go . . ." said Harry, his mind on the same thing as hers.
"I know what you're thinking about, you guys, that mirror. Don't go back tonight."
"Why not?"
"I dunno, I've just got a bad feeling about it — and anyway, you've had too many close shaves already. Filch, Snape, and Mrs. Norris are wandering around. So what if they can't see you? What if they walk into you? What if you knock something over?"
"You sound like Hermione." Harry said.
"I'm serious guys, don't go."
But Triss only had one thought in his head, which was to get back in front of the mirror, and Ron wasn't going to stop her.
"Don't tell me what to do Ron, you're not my brother." Triss said getting up. Ron gave her a hurt look, but in that moment she didn't care.
She didn't know why she said that. Ron practically was her brother. She just felt so bothered about the idea of not going back. She just had to get one more look. Besides, Ron didn't know what it was like to have a parent who was dead. To not see them every day, not tell them about what's going on in your life, for them not to be there for every milestone…
The mirror however…
It gave her a glimpse into a life she could've had. A life Harry and Ron could've had.
Harry came over to her and gave her a look that didn't need any words. They were going back tonight, and no one was going to stop them.
That third night, Triss came down to the common room to find Harry there with his cloak in hand. They draped it over themselves and began walking down the cold corridors. They found their way more quickly than before. They were walking so fast they knew they were making more noise than was wise, but they didn't meet anyone.
They walked in and Triss sat down first.
There they were. Her parents and everyone she loved in this world. They were together and happy and alive.
Triss and Harry alternated turns. Each taking a few minutes to look.
There was nothing to stop them from staying here all night with their families. Nothing at all.
Except —
"So — back again, you two?"
Triss felt as though her insides had turned to ice. Her and Harry looked behind them. Sitting on one of the desks by the wall was none other than Albus Dumbledore. They must have walked straight past him, so desperate to get to the mirror they hadn't noticed him.
"I — I didn't see you, sir" Harry said.
"We didn't know anyone was in here," Said Triss
"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you," said Dumbledore, and Triss was relieved to see that he was smiling.
"So," said Dumbledore, slipping off the desk to sit on the floor with Harry and Triss, "the two of you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."
"I didn't know it was called that, sir," Harry said.
"But I expect you've realized by now what it does?"
"It — well — it shows me my family —"
"And it shows mine — but Harry's and Ron's as well. I also see Hermione too," Triss said.
"And it showed your friend Ron himself as Head Boy."
"How did you know — ?"
"I don't need a cloak to become invisible," said Dumbledore gently. "Now, can you think what the Mirror of Erised shows us all?"
Harry shook his head and Triss had look of deep thought. All his life, Ron had talked about how much he wanted to be like his brothers.
"I think it shows us what we want sir… whatever we want…." Triss said slowly.
"Yes and no," Now Triss felt confused.
"Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You Harry, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. Trissella, however, sees not only a mother she has never known, but everyone she holds dear, together and happy in peace. That's why you see Harry's family. You deeply wish to, not only have your family together, but Harry's as well." Triss blushed at this
Dumbledore continued, "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."
"The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, and I ask you two 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 put that admirable Cloak back on and get off to bed?"
Triss and Harry stood up.
"Sir — Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?" Harry asked.
"Obviously, you've just done so," Dumbledore smiled. "You may ask me one more thing, however."
"What do you see when you look in the mirror?"
"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks."
Harry stared and Triss felt puzzled.
"One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."
Triss gave a small smile. Whatever Dumbledore truly sees is something she would probably never find out.
"Well now I know what to get you for Christmas next year sir," Triss said feeling like a weight that had been on her shoulders for three days, was suddenly lifted off.
Dumbledore gave a chuckle and gestured them to go back to bed.
Triss and Harry walked back in silence.
Once they reached the common room did Harry finally speak, "Triss… What happened to your mother?"
Triss felt startled. She didn't expect him to ask her that. Harry must've been wondering for some time now but had never asked her.
Triss gestured to the couch in front of the fire and told him what had happened to her mother on that frightful, July day. She told him of how her father had been raised by pureblood crazed parents, how her uncle had been a follower of You-Know-Who, and how their house elf saved them the day her mother was murdered. Harry listened quietly, asking a question here and there when she said something he didn't understand. After she finished, she said, "I think that's why I saw your parents in the mirror Harry — because I know what it's like to growing up without one, and I guess that's something I don't wish on anybody, especially you."
HPOV
Harry listened intently to Triss's story. He wasn't sure why he asked her about her mother, but he was glad he did. What she said was horrible, and he couldn't believe her own uncle was the one who murdered her mother in cold blood. What she said sounded eerily familiar to his own parents' demise and could finally understand why the two of them became such close friends. When she mentioned seeing his parents in the mirror, a recent memory came to mind. Of before Christmas, when they were roasting marshmallows over the fire and Triss had said, "I would give anything for you to have been there with us Harry".
He suddenly felt very touched by the girl who was sitting in front of him. Not only was her deepest desire having her own family together, but his as well. Harry stared at her for a moment, feeling truly grateful to have her in his life. Ron and Hermione were two of his best friends, but because of the history they shared, there seemed to be this connection between him and Triss that he was still trying to understand. After Triss was done talking Harry said, "I'm so sorry Triss."
She took his hand and responded, "Don't be. Having you, Ron and Hermione in my life has only made me happier. I hope the same goes for you."
Harry smiled and pulled her into a tight hug.
They said their goodnights and Harry made his way up to bed. Ron was fast asleep, snoring. He shoved Scabbers off his pillow and eventually fell into a peaceful sleep. He had been quite tired the past few days.
Ok what did you guys think? Leave a review and let me know! Favourite, Follow, and Review :) Next chapter will probably be up next week.