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Albus Dumbledore was standing in the Great Hall, waiting for the students to reappear. He was annoyed. Harry Potter hadn't stayed over the winter holidays like Albus had assumed he would. Now the Mirror of Erised would need to stay in the classroom, waiting for Harry to find it, while all the other students were in the school. It was a disaster waiting to happen.
Albus had left the cloak of invisibility on Harry's bed for weeks now, waiting for the boy to open the gift and start exploring with it. Only his annoyance at the boy failing to locate the room with the Mirror of Erised led him to seek the boy out and guide him to the destiny Albus had chosen for him. Finding the boy wasn't even in the castle almost had Albus reclaim the cloak but the plan was too important for that. If Nicholas Flamel found out Albus had stolen the philosopher's stone, there would be real trouble. What Nicholas didn't know wouldn't hurt Albus.
The students started trickling in. Albus paced near the doors. Harry and his group of inappropriate friends entered the room in a content and calm gaggle. It made Albus even more annoyed to see it.
"Harry, my boy, please, come here for a moment," the Headmaster said, commandingly. Harry and his friends paused. They exchanged glances.
"Anything you need to say to me can be said in front of my friends, Headmaster Dumbledore. Please, refer to me as either Lord Potter or Mr. Potter. I prefer to keep an appropriate professional relationship between the two of us," said Harry, stiffly. Hermione and Daphne gently touched Harry's arms. It made Dumbledore scowl.
"Young man, I asked you to step over here for a moment so I can have a private word with you. I am not prone to asking twice," he said, giving Harry a disappointed look.
Harry took a deep breath to help maintain his calm. "I appreciate that, sir; however, unless this is relating to a disciplinary issue or a specific issue with classes, then I am not required to accede to your request." Harry was trying to be as lordly as possible.
Dumbledore huffed. "This is about a disciplinary issue. You were out of bounds over the holiday. I did not give you permission to leave the castle, yet you did leave."
Harry's eyes glowed with anger. His friends were getting restless. No one noticed Blaise slip away into the Great Hall to fetch Professor Flitwick. The two returned as Harry responded.
"I was unaware I needed special permission to return home to my family during school breaks. Is this a rule for all students or just for myself?" Harry growled.
Flitwick had enough. "I beg your pardon, Headmaster. The rules are not yours to apply as you please. Students are authorized to return home for all school breaks with no special permission needed. I do not recall taking up a list of students that planned to leave for your review," Flitwick hissed. He was getting right sick and tired of the headmaster's behavior.
Dumbledore had a sour look on his face. "Harry is a special case, I'm sure you can agree."
"He is not. He is a student of this school and deserved to be treated the same as every other student of this school. His behavior is exemplary. I do not approve of this harassment that he cannot seem to escape," Professor Flitwick said, hovering about a half meter off the ground in his rage. Dumbledore gulped and backed down.
"We can discuss this issue later. As Headmaster, I deserve to be informed of where the students are located, at a minimum," Dumbledore said, gathering his lurid lime green and magenta robes.
"Indeed," sneered Professor Flitwick as Dumbledore flounced away.
He turned to Harry. "Mr. Potter, are you alright? I apologize for the behavior of the Headmaster. He seems to have an unhealthy interest in you that he does not generally display towards students," said Professor Flitwick. It was an understatement.
A still annoyed looking Harry answered. "I will be fine, professor. I don't understand the Headmaster's obsession. It is quite trying at times. I greatly appreciate your assistance in these matters. It has been instrumental to a fair and timely end to these interactions."
Flitwick laughed. "That does seem to be the case. If you ever have need of me, please call for me. In fact, I think I will be teaching all of you a very special charm that can be used to call me. Do you have time on Saturdays from 1pm to 2pm free? We can work on it until you get it right," offered the professor. Harry glanced at all his friends. Everyone seemed excited about the possibility of learning such a charm. Harry turned back to the professor.
"That sounds fantastic. We would love to. We do take some lessons on Saturday afternoons but our teacher will be amenable to moving our lesson times. He might even help us practice," Harry enthused.
Flitwick's interest was piqued. "Do tell? Who is your tutor and what sorts of things are you learning?"
Hermione answered. She just couldn't help herself. "Our tutor is Mr. Remus Lupin. He is a wonderful teacher. He coordinates our education. Every day after classes, he tutors us on our Mundane education. He also arranges for our fencing and martial arts education, which occurs every day after our Mundane tutoring. He also tutors us as we need for our classes here at Hogwarts. On Saturdays, we do a review of everything we learned during the week to increase our understanding! It makes studying for exams so much easier!" she enthused. Flitwick couldn't help but smile at her. His little Ravens always loved learning so much. It was heartening to see.
"That sounds wonderful. I remember Mr. Lupin. He was a kind and gentle soul. Very intelligent, too. You're a lucky bunch to have his educational assistance," Flitwick praised. The students beamed at his approval. Flitwick wasn't sure how Lupin was getting in the castle so often. He didn't want or need to know. Flitwick loved a good prank.
The students all expressed their appreciation for Mr. Lupin.
"Well, I think I've taken up enough of your time. Please, find your way into the Great Hall and have a seat. Dinner will begin shortly," Flitwick said. He led the students into the Great Hall and retook his own seat as well.
Dinner was quickly started and the usual start of term notices were read. The meal was enjoyable, as was the company. Several students stopped by to say hello and make small talk. Harry and Dudley were master schmoozers. The other students took notes.
Soon, it was time to head back to their dorm rooms. The friends walked back to Harry's dorm room to decompress from the long day of travel. Oddment took such good care of the group that their rooms were already cleaned and unpacked when they arrived. An after-dinner tea set was sitting on the center of their table, steaming away, waiting for their arrival.
Harry grinned. He learned that House Elves placed no value on money or gold. Instead, they valued ingredients and recipes, cleaning gadgets and scented potpourris. Harry and Dudley brought Oddment a new cookbook on modern British recipes and a box of ingredients that could be used in their recipes, including a couple gallon jugs of Lee & Perrins Worcestershire sauce. Neville and the girls had worked in Neville's greenhouses to make a lovely scented potpourri that could be shared wherever the elves desired it. Blaise and Daphne worked to source some enchanted cleaning products that worked like a charm. They arranged the gifts in a lovely basket that Tracy had found in her family's attic. She and her mother had cleaned it up nicely. They left it in the center of the table with a note of appreciation for Oddment and for all the elves.
Harry was relaxing near the fireplace, looking over his winter break homework, when he glanced over and noticed something laying on his bed.
"What's this?" Harry asked, laying down his homework and standing up. He walked over to his bed and saw a silver package laying on it. He cast a few spells Remus had taught them to make sure the package wasn't dangerous. He lifted it up and opened it. He saw the water-like material laying in the box. He lifted an edge and pulled it out.
"What is it?" asked Dudley, who was watching Harry. The rest of their friends looked up, too. Harry held the material out in front of him. Everyone gasped.
"What?" asked Harry looking down. He gasped too. His entire body below the shoulders was gone. He looked behind the cloak and saw he was just fine.
"It's an invisibility cloak!" gasped Blaise. "My grandfather had one. It faded during my childhood years but it was a fantastic item. They're very rare and expensive."
Hermione and Daphne got up and came over to take a look. The rest of the group followed.
"It looks like water somehow made solid," said Hermione.
"It feels slightly slick to the touch, too," said Daphne.
"Put it on. Let's see if you disappear completely," said Dudley.
Harry slipped the cloak over his shoulders and flipped the hood over his head.
"You're completely gone!" said Tracy, reaching her hands forward. She bumped into Harry. "You still feel solid."
Hermione leaned forward and sniffed. She had learned very early on from Remus that smell is a very useful sense. "I can still smell you, too."
"Can you hear me?" Harry asked. The group nodded. "So, not full proof but still brilliant!"
Daphne picked up the note. "The note says it belonged to your father. It's amazing that it still works so well," said Daphne.
Harry removed the hood from his head. "Sirius told us stories about the trouble he and my father used to get into with this thing. I'm so glad someone returned it to me. I just wish I knew who it was," said Harry.
Hermione examined the note. "I've seen this handwriting before. Let me think," she said, tapping her chin with her index finger. "Aha!" she said. Then, she ran from the room. A few minutes later, she reappeared, with a grim look on her face.
"This. This is where I've seen that handwriting before," she said, handing Harry her invitation to attend Hogwarts.
Harry growled. "The Headmaster. I should have known he'd have my father's belongings. He should have returned a valuable item like this right away but instead he kept it and tried to pass it off as a holiday gift. That blighter!"
The other children couldn't help but agree. "I bet he's trying to get you in trouble. There's probably a tracking charm or something on that," said Tracy in disgust.
"Take it off. Let's check," said Daphne. Harry laid the cloak on the bed. Daphne and Hermione started casting at it.
"There!" said Daphne. "This thread. It's different from the others. Pull it out and burn it," said Daphne decisively.
Hermione quickly, yet carefully, removed the thread and smoothed the hole it left behind. She ran to the fireplace and threw the thread in. She and Daphne cast more spells on the cloak. They nodded in satisfaction.
"All done. I'd still have Remus check it over, but that should do it," said Hermione.
Harry gave Dudley a significant look. Dudley grinned, evilly.
The students hung out and looked over their homework for another hour or so before they all started drifting off to bed. Dudley was the last to leave.
"Meet you at 2am?" Dudley asked, quietly.
"Definitely," said Harry.
The hours went by quickly. Soon, the two boys were sneaking through the halls in the invisibility cloak. They made it to the Great Hall without incident. They quickly affixed the small wooden disks with the runes for their prank carved on them to the bottoms of the tables. They put a special rune under the Headmaster's seat and the seats for McGonagall, Flitwick, Snape, and Quirrell. They giggled as they hurried to leave the Great Hall.
They were heading back to the room when they heard something. Someone was coming their way. They dipped into an empty classroom and hid flat against the wall in the corner of the room as someone entered. Harry had sweat rolling down his spine.
The Headmaster came into the room and looked around. He huffed angrily and went to stand in front of the ancient mirror leaning against the wall.
"I see myself with the elder wand, the cloak of invisibility, and the resurrection stone. I call death down upon my enemies and especially that obnoxious brat, Harry Potter, who won't do what I demand and that buffoon Tom Riddle who won't follow my plans either! All I do is for the greater good! My greater good!" he ranted, smacking his palm down on the mirror. "I see what I desire so clearly. Why won't they just do what's required of them?" The man stared morosely at the mirror for what felt like hours. Harry's feet were numb from standing so still.
The Headmaster finally turned and walked out of the room. Harry and Dudley exchanged a glance. They waited until the sound of footsteps was gone and then waited a few minutes more.
"What's this?" Dudley whispered, going to stand in front of the mirror. His mouth dropped open. "Come see! I think it's the future! I see myself in front of a dozen Dursley & Sons jewelry shops. We manage them all as a family! I have a beautiful wife and two sons of my own. I look so happy. Do you think it'll come true?" asked Dudley. Harry was confused. He ran over and stood before the mirror. He saw only himself.
"I just see myself," Harry said, confused. He studied the mirror and read the strange writing. Harry turned his head sideways and read it again. It was either some strange language or … Harry watched the mirror's edge for a few more moments. He saw the reflection of one of the words in the mirror out of the corner of his eye. It said desire.
"I got it! It says, I show not your face but your heart's desire!" said Harry, excitedly.
"Huh?" said Dudley, dully. He didn't look away from the mirror. Harry was concerned. He grabbed Dudley's arm and pulled him away. Dudley shook himself like he was coming out of a trance.
"What did you do that for?" asked Dudley, annoyed.
"I think it had you entranced. Best stay away from it," said Harry, cautiously. Dudley looked at the mirror, suspiciously.
"Let's go," Harry said. The boys got back under the cloak and hurried from the room. They made it to the third floor before they ran into trouble again.
It was after 4am, which is about the time that cats like to prowl. One such cat, Mrs. Norris, was on the prowl right now. She suddenly appeared on the stairs before the two boys. They froze, trying to trick her into thinking whatever she sensed was gone. She sniffed the air.
"She can smell us. Run!" Harry said, dragging Dudley with him off down the corridor. They ran to the end of the hall. The now yowling cat was running fast behind them. She stopped a few meters away and started yowling even louder. Harry panicked. The door behind them wouldn't open. He slipped out his wand and tapped the door handle. It didn't unlock.
"Alohomora," muttered Harry. The door popped open with a soft click. The two boys fell inside and slammed the door shut behind them, locking it as they fell.
They froze in silence.
"What's this my pet? What has you so upset?" asked the caretaker, Argus Filch, in a disturbing, crooning voice. "Is it that nasty dog? Don't worry. It can't get out. Let's go, darling. It can't hurt you," his voice growing softer as he walked away.
The two boys looked at each other in confusion. What dog? That's when they heard a soft growling noise. They turned around and saw a three headed dog, just starting to wake. In just a moment, all six eyes were open and staring at the two boys, a now loud growl echoing from its many throats.
Harry quickly unlocked the door and ran out, Dudley hot on his heels. They slammed the door shut just as one of the heads made a snap towards them. Harry locked the door and turned to flatten himself against the hallway wall. He pulled Dudley beside him and covered them both with the cloak. They waited a few minutes then cautiously made their way back up the stairs and into Harry's dorm room. They didn't breathe a word until they arrived.
"Did you see that thing?" asked Dudley, completely freaked out.
"It almost got us! Did you see the trap door it was guarding?" asked Harry, just as freaked out.
"No, and I hope I never get the chance to again," Dudley said with a shudder. Harry couldn't help but agree.
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