"Why is the Mirror of Erised at Hogwarts?" I asked, with quiet, lethal rage.
Albus jumped and spun round to face me in shock, clearly not having heard me enter his office. I folded my arms, my face pale but my expression calm, cold. Albus had the nerve to look a little guilty.
"You found it?" he asked evasively.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Yes," I began curtly, "and so did Harry. So I'll ask you again. Why is the Mirror of Erised at Hogwarts?"
Albus shrugged sheepishly. "It's only here temporarily. For safekeeping."
"So why didn't you tell me?" I persisted, a dangerous tone lacing my voice.
He shrugged again. "I didn't think it was important."
"That Mirror," I said, my tone as sharp as a knife, "is dangerous. You have no idea what it can do to a person. I want it gone. Now."
When Albus didn't reply immediately, I knew he was hiding something. He shifted uneasily on his feet, clasping his hands in front of him.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" I asked quietly, wishing that he was less powerful so I might be able to look into his mind and unveil his secrets.
There was a long silence, Albus avoiding my gaze. At last, he gave in. "The Philosopher's Stone is at Hogwarts. I was going to use the mirror to seal it away, so Voldemort wouldn't be able to get his hands on it."
"What?" I breathed in disbelief.
"I'm sorry I kept it from you," he explained placatingly. "I heard a rumour a while ago that Voldemort was searching for the Philosopher's Stone as a way to regain a body. So I contacted my friend Nicholas Flamel, and asked if the Stone could be transferred here for safekeeping. That's all."
I stood for a moment in stunned silence, amazed that he could've kept all this from me.
"Are you trying to lure Tom to Hogwarts?" I asked eventually. "Because you know that once he finds out the Stone is here, and he will, he'll be coming. And it's possible that he could get in. Unlikely, but possible. He's powerful, and he will have only become stronger over the past years, even if he has no body."
"Better to have him come here, where we can deal with him, than not know where he is," Albus said gravely.
"I don't like this," I replied. "I don't like this, and I don't trust you. You always have an ulterior motive."
"But?"
"But I agree that we're better off knowing where Tom will be headed than not knowing at all. Now, at least, we can prepare for his arrival," I said reluctantly, hating the way my chest compressed painfully at the thought of Tom's return.
As I turned to leave, suddenly tired and drained, Albus accosted me. "Wait," he said. I looked over my shoulder at him, and saw a shadow of sadness on his face. "What do you see, when you look in the Mirror?" he asked curiously, almost desolately.
"The same thing I suspect both you and Harry see," I said gently, a hint of despondency in my voice. "Family."
The Christmas holidays arrived, and, to my surprise, Draco asked if I wanted to come and stay with his family. Harry would be going home to Sirius, so I'd been planning on staying at Hogwarts- especially now that I knew Tom could be arriving any day over the break. I'd considered turning Draco's offer down, but Albus' words regarding taking care of myself rang in my ears, and I eventually concluded that getting away from Hogwarts for a little while would probably be good for me.
Draco and I caught the train back to King's Cross to be met by the Malfoys' chauffeur, who drove us in a sleek back limousine, complete with internal jacuzzi and mini bar, to Malfoy Manor. I couldn't help a pang of nostalgia as we drove through the towering wrought-iron gates, past peacocks sheltering from the snow under fir trees. We pulled up to the colossal manor with a crunch of gravel, Draco getting out first and then offering me a hand in a surprisingly gentlemanlike move that reminded me of his grandfather. I took it, and emerged into the snowy air, gazing up at the impressive white columns. Draco looked at me anxiously to gauge my reaction, uncharacteristically eager to please.
"What do you think?" he asked, still holding my hand.
I smiled at him, looping my arm around his. "It's beautiful," I replied sincerely.
We entered the hallway, which was exactly the same as I remembered it, except for one detail. Suspended there, on the dark-panelled wall, was a portrait of Abraxas. I stood there for a second, gazing at it with a small, melancholy smile. And Abraxas, even though he couldn't have known who I was, offered me a slight, warm smile in return.
Draco noticed what had drawn my attention, and gestured towards the portrait. "My grandfather, Abraxas Malfoy."
"I can see the resemblance," was all I said.
Draco frowned a little, perhaps sensing that I was out of spirits, but didn't comment.
I was later introduced to Draco's parents. Although I'd known they were both Death Eaters during the war, I genuinely liked them. Well, Narcissa a little more than Lucius. They were kind, welcoming, homely. They treated me like their own daughter, and maybe it was because they thought I was some pureblood heiress, but I didn't care.
Christmas Day was incredible, full of presents and glitter and food. The entire house seemed wreathed in tinsel and glowing lights, every windowsill decked in candles. We ate, and played charades, and listened to old Christmas songs on a vintage record player, and it felt…
It felt like being a part of a family.
Draco found me upstairs that evening, watching the snow fall from my window. He padded quietly across the room and sat down cross-legged on the window seat next to me.
We were silent for a while. Then he said, quietly, "You're sad."
I studied the snowflakes as they swirled and danced in the inky night. "Not sad," I said slowly after a while.
"Then what?"
I shrugged, looking down at my hands. "I don't know."
"Is it- is it my family?" Draco asked, sounding a little panicked. "Or- me- or—"
"No!" I interrupted, looking up at him. The purplish glow of my fairy lights reflected across the panes of his face. "No, of course not. It's just that- I've lost a lot of people, and sometimes- sometimes Christmas can be hard for me. That's all."
He was silent for a while. "I'm sorry," he said at last. I didn't reply. Suddenly, as if hit by inspiration, he got to his feet and held out a hand. "Come on," he said, offering me a half-smile. "Let's dance."
"What?" I blurted.
He shrugged. "Dancing solves everything. It'll make you feel better."
I mean, he wasn't wrong. I got up slowly and tentatively took his hand, smiling a bit. "Are you sure you'll be able to keep up with me?"
"I'll have you know," he said, a touch pompously, "that I have received nothing but the very best dancing instructors since birth."
"Of course," I replied mockingly, walking over to the record player and dropping the needle. The music came on, slow and sweet and melodic. A bit melancholy, but also a bit hopeful. I turned to face Draco. "And did you also have instructors for how to be a prat?"
He took my hand and my waist, and I laid my other hand on his shoulder. We began to sway, turning slowly.
"Not at all," he replied. "That just comes naturally to me, I'm afraid."
I grinned. "I should've known."
Without warning, he spun me, and I laughed sporadically, clutching onto him to regain my balance.
"I thought you said you were a good dancer," he said, smirking.
"Oh, shut u—" I began to say, but he dipped me, and I let out another laugh, giddy and exhilarated. When I came back up, I punched him lightly in the chest, still a little breathless. "Not fair!" I complained.
He just shrugged, still smirking. And more and more, I found myself smiling back.
Later that night, I thought about my last- and only- Christmas with Tom, back at the Cambridgeshire house, drinking mulled wine and eating roast chestnuts. Then I thought about this Christmas, about dancing with Draco in the glow of fairy lights whilst the snow fell silently outside.
I fell asleep surrounded by deafening quiet, and was blessed with a dreamless night.
It feels like so long since I've last updated! But here I am, back with another chapter!
Is anyone else wishing it was Christmas now?
Many thanks as always for sticking with me :)
Amy Grace xx