Title: Jade Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: Queen Serenity

Fandom: Harry Potter

Chapter: Eleven – Presents and Mirrors

After the Quidditch match, it wasn't long before Jade realized something; Christmas was getting awfully close.

Solluna's fur coat had gotten suddenly thicker, and she looked a bit funny to Jade.

Hearing other people talking excitedly about going home, Jade had come to a decision. It was one which made her feel a bit bad, but one that she felt was smart.

She would not be going home for the holidays. For some reason, she felt, deep inside, that she should draw a line between her Muggle life, and her Magic life. Right now, she wanted to concentrate on magic and stuff, and going home for a bit would serve only as a distraction.
In her free time, she started flipping through some catalogs that belonged to one of her housemates, looking for gifts for her friends. She was completely stuck on what to get for Draco, however. Suddenly, though, she was hit with an idea, and she added something into her letter to her family before sending it.

Even if she hadn't realized right away, Jade would have realized very soon that Christmas was coming. Around mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow.

Fred and George Weasley were punished by Professor McGonagall when they had, to Jade's intense delight, bewitched several snowballs to follow Quirrell around, bouncing off of the back of his turban. After that, the two had taken to trying to trying to catch Solluna by surprise with snowballs. It was, all in all, quite comical.

Excitement buzzed about the castle as everyone waited for the holidays to start. Jade could feel the excitement, too, but she tried to focus more on her studies. In Potions, she was becoming more and more proficient… in that particular class, she surpassed even Hermione. Concentrating on the potions they had to concoct in class, Jade was able to keep her mind off of the bitter chill which pervaded the dungeons.

"I do feel sorry," said Pansy Parkinson one day in class, "For those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home." She was looking over at Jade when she said this, and Millicent snickered.

Jade set her potion to simmer, as the instructions said, and then said evenly to Hermione, "I know who I personally feel sorry for, Hermione. I feel sorry for families who have nasty people coming home to them." She looked up at Pansy then. "I guess your family had better get ready for you coming home and stuff… you know, set out your dog dish, get your leash out of the closet, all of that. I wouldn't want to be the one who has to take you for your walks when you're at home… it's cold out there."

Snape passed by close just then, so Parkinson just glowered at Jade.

When Potions was over, and Jade was heading down the corridor, she heard Malfoy call out her name, and she went ahead and sent her friends on ahead as she waited for him.

When he caught up to her, he greeted her, then asked, "Is it true that you're staying here for the holidays?"

When Jade nodded, he asked, "Why?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I just sorta want to keep my time here and my time at home separate… that's all. I don't need any distractions. Why do you ask?"

Draco shrugged. "I was just curious. But it makes sense, what you said. Me, I'll be going home, for Christmas, though. Almost everyone is."

When they made their way to the Great Hall and split up, Jade found the Great Hall to be magnificently decorated. It was beautiful.

When the holidays started, Jade found herself to be mostly alone, but she hardly minded… the quiet was kinda nice. The only close friend of hers still there was Ron.

There was something she'd been wanting to do, now that there was time, but it took a while to get up the courage for it.

A few days into the holidays, though, she got up the courage. She went down to Snape's office in the dungeons and knocked on the door.

"Enter."

When she came in, Snape looked a little surprised. "Miss Potter. I heard about what happened at the Quidditch match to your choker… are you alright?" For a moment, Jade thought she spotted some indefinable emotion reflected in his dark eyes, but it disappeared a moment later.

Jade smiled slightly, and lightly touched the choker at her throat. "I'm fine. My throat was a little bruised for about a week afterward, but that's all. It was just a little scare, no big deal."

Snape nodded. "I'm please to hear that you are fine. What can I help you with?"

"Ummm…" Jade pulled out what she'd been hiding behind her back; Lisa Turpin had loaned her her Wizard Chess set. "I was wondering, if you weren't busy, if maybe you'd like to play a game of Wizard Chess with me."

Snape seemed to consider. "I have some time… Very well, Miss Potter. I'll join you."

They played for about an hour and a half. Jade wasn't very good, since she had not much practice, and Snape obviously wasn't really trying. As they played, they talked mostly of potions. Snape seemed rather impressed by Jade's understanding of them, commenting that her comprehension was astonishing for her age.

At the end of the game, Snape was the winner, of course. Bidding him goodbye, Jade headed back to the Great Hall, where she met Ron. He saw the chess set she was carrying, and asked her to join him for a game, which she did… they played in the Ravenclaw common room, which was no big deal, since no houses hated Ravenclaw in general. It was nothing like with Slytherin and Gryffindor, both of which were really quite competitive.

She lost, of course. She promised herself that come summertime she'd practice a lot, so that she would get better.

On Christmas morning, Jade awoke to many, many presents on her bed. She was literally half buried in them. It took many trips to haul them down to the Ravenclaw common room, where she'd promised she'd meet Ron to open their gifts together. She went over to the portrait to let him in, and they seated themselves comfortably before digging into their presents.

First Jade opened her presents from the Dursleys, all of which had Ron staring in astonishment at the sheer number of them. He counted them, and told Jade it was thirty-three presents.

Jade smiled and rolled her eyes. "They always go overboard."

Most of the presents were books. Lots and lots of very cool-looking books. There was also a very fancy, very expensive-looking quill with an ever-lasting ink charm on it, so that she'd never have to dip it. It was tipped with a wicked-looking red and black feather.

They'd also included a very nice set of school robes. The ones Jade already owned were one of the cheaper types, but they'd gotten her some made from nicer materials, and were more comfortable, and luxurious… like something Draco would wear.

There was assorted other things from them, mostly jewelry and stuff, and she set them aside so she could move on to presents from other people.

From her Aunt Marge was a two-hundred dollar gift certificate for her favorite store.

Hagrid had given her a hand-carved flute which sounded like an owl. Very cool.

Jade picked up a lumpy parcel. "Wonder who this one is from?"

Ron turned a bit pink at this. "My mum. She knows we're friends and oh, no," he groaned. "She's given you a Weasley sweater."

Jade had torn open the package to find a thick, hand-knitted sweated in emerald green and a large box of home-made fudge.

"Every year she makes us a sweater," said Ron, unwrapping his own, "and mine's always maroon."

"I'll have to write her a letter with my thanks," said Jade, nibbling at the fudge, which turned out to be quite tasty.

Her present from Hermione was an enormous tomb on the history of magic. Inside the cover was a note from Hermione, saying that Jade could learn a lot from it, and that it would prove to be more interesting for her than the actual class.

Lisa had got Jade a ginormous box of assorted Wizard candies, since Jade hadn't tried that many kinds.

The next present Jade picked up was wrapped in black velvet and was tied with a green silk ribbon. Jade rolled her eyes – she didn't even have to see a label to realize who this was from – and slowly untied the ribbon, setting it aside before she removed the velvet from the gift. On top was an envelope, which she opened to find a letter written to her.

Jade –

Don't think I didn't see those glances you were sneaking towards the Restricted Section.

I found this a couple of days ago when I was in a certain shop with my family. If I were you, I wouldn't let anyone else see it, since it isn't exactly… well, you'll understand, I'm sure, when you see it.

I know that you'll enjoy it.

Happy Christmas.

Sincerely, Draco

Looking at what he'd given her, Jade suppressed a gasp. It was a very old tome, Forbidden Magic Throughout the Ages. She looked up quickly to see that Ron hadn't seen it, as he was distracted by busily trying to unstick two Bertie Botts beans he had nicked out of Jade's candy. Quickly, she hid the book under a pile of her other presents, knowing that, if he saw it, his reaction wouldn't exactly be what you'd call good.

There was only one present left… one that had hardly any weight when Jade lifted it.

When she opened it, she gasped; she'd read about these!

Ron saw what she had, and a look of awe came over his face. "Wow!" he said, "those are really rare and really valuable."

Jade tried on the invisibility cloak and grinned at Solluna, who blinked at her sleepily from where she lay by Jade's chair. "Don't I look stylish, Solluna?" she asked, teasing.

Solluna blinked sleepily again. You look like a decapitated head.

And it was true. With the hood down, this was what Jade looked like, since her body was hidden by the cloak. She took it off and placed it with the rest of her stuff, and read the note that was with it.

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.

Later that day, Jade went outside with Ron and Solluna to play in the snow, and they found Fred and George out there in their Weasley sweaters, rolling a protesting Percy, who had somehow gotten the arms of his sweater tied around him like a straitjacket, around in the snow.

They untied Percy and decided to have a snowball fight; on one team, George, Percy, and Ron. On the other team were Fred and Jade, and Solluna transformed into her humanoid form to play, too. When Ron saw Solluna transform, he freaked and practically fainted.

Hours later, when they all made their ways inside for dinner, their cheeks were all flushed from the cold but their eyes were twinkling with good humor.

The Christmas dinner was simply amazing… even more so than the beginning of the year feast, and the Halloween feast. There were many, many dishes… and it all looked simply delicious. Jade couldn't help but giggle as she saw what Dumbledore was wearing… a flowered bonnet. Solluna pigged out even more than usual, downing two whole platters of fish and a roast rabbit.

From the wizard crackers, Jade won many things, including a neat wizard chess set of her own.

Another comical thing to see was when a very drunk Hagrid kissed a giggling Professor McGonagall.

All in all, it was nice. Very nice.

That night, Jade couldn't sleep… she felt inexplicably antsy, like she wanted to get up and do something.

It was way past curfew, but still…

She got out of bed and pulled her father's old invisibility cloak from her chest.

As she held the slick, liquid-like material in her hand, watching it shimmering eerily at her in the moonlight, Jade contemplated what it was that she held in her hands.

Years ago, this very same cloak had been in the hands of her father.

Her… father…

She didn't know she was crying until she noticed the tears falling upon the material.

It hadn't even really sunk in until now. For the longest time, she had been able to keep herself sort of… separate… from the fact that her parent had once existed. Since she'd never really had them, she had tried not to miss them.

But sitting here, holding something that was most likely one of her father's most personal possessions once…

…it made them all too real…

Jade?

Jade turned with a snap to see Solluna staring at her from the edge of the bed. What is it? She'd grown accustomed to not using out-loud words with Solluna unless she had to.

Are you… Why are you not asleep?

Jade shrugged; she had a feeling that Solluna had seen the tears upon her face, but she didn't really want to talk about it. "I was thinking about going to test my cloak out… wanna come with?"

The werecat nodded her head once in ascent and, after Jade had covered herself with the cloak, followed her mistress. Briefly, Jade considered taking a lamp, but decided to just go by the moonlight.

It wasn't long before she found herself outside the portrait of the reading girl, who had fallen asleep reading her book.

Jade looked left and briefly thought of checking out the library's restricted section, but she decided not to… there were probably certain alarm spells on some of those books. Besides, she had that book from Draco which she could check out later.

Jade walked aimlessly through the halls, simply wanting to stretch her legs. Once, she walked by Filch, and she was surprised that he couldn't hear her heart hammering as she passed right before his eyes, but he didn't even flinch. The whole time, Solluna kept, unseen, in the shadows.

Eventually, Jade turned into a corridor where something caught her eye; a door stood ajar. Her curiosity tugged her through the door.

It was, like several other rooms in the castle, an unused classroom. It had the typical piled-up chairs and desks that an unused classroom would normally have, except… there was one thing that drew her attention…

Propped against the wall across from her and Solluna was a mirror with a beautiful, ancient-looking golden frame, standing on two clawed feet. As Jade moved closer, she noticed the inscription: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

Jade moved a bit closer, wanting to see her reflection. What she saw made her jump about a foot in the air and whirl around to look behind her, but all that met her eyes was Solluna's own crimson ones, staring up at her from the shadows. Slowly, Jade turned back around.

They were still there.

In the mirror was, as expected, her reflection… but with her was a couple. Her eyes widened when she noticed a certain familiar face. The only other time she'd seen it was in that photo of hers, but… she could still recognize it.

One of the people reflected in the mirror was her mother, smiling at her and crying. Seeing her there, beside her, Jade could see what everyone meant when they said she reminded them of her mother. Her eyes were exactly the same, along with the shape of her face. The primary difference was Jade's long raven hair and the darker tone of her skin from being exposed a lot to the sun.

The man standing next to her mother put his arm around the woman. Even though she'd never seen him, Jade knew immediately who he was… he was the one who'd given her the color of her hair. It was her father, James Potter.

Jade? What is the matter? Solluna had come up to stand beside Jade.

Can't… can't you see? Jade gestured at the mirror. It's… my parents…

Solluna blinked as she looked into the mirror. No… no, I cannot see what you are seeing, Jade.

Jade blinked in confusion. Why couldn't Solluna see them? She looked back up at the mirror's inscription. She'd only glanced at it before, but now that she was really looking at it, it didn't really look like another language.

To be honest, it kinda reminded her of those word riddles she'd seen in books a couple of years ago.

It only took a few minutes for her to figure it out. All she had to do was reverse the order of the letters and take away the spaces, putting them in the proper places: I show not your face but your hearts desire.

So that was it. They weren't really there, but still…

Then, surprisingly, her parents in the image waved a tearful goodbye to her, and walked off into the shadows of the mirror. When Jade turned her gaze back to her own self in the reflection, she got a surprise.

The reflection was her, and yet it wasn't. She looked slightly older, and her eyes seemed almost to glow with an inner light as she smirked at the real Jade.

Not long later, Jade went ahead and went to bed.

She tried to stay in her room the next night, but found her curiosity pulling her back to that mirror.

She made her way back to the mirror, wondering what she would see, still pondering the changed reflection she saw the night before.

"Back again, I see."

Jade whirled around to find Professor Dumbledore sitting on one of the desks by the wall, smiling gently at her. Jade didn't know what to say, and so said nothing.

"So," he said, slipping off of the desk to come over to her, "you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the joys of the Mirror of Erised."

Jade finally found her voice. "I… didn't realize it was called that."

Dumbledore spoke quietly. "But of course you've realized by now what it does?"

Jade nodded. "Yes. 'I show not your face, but your heart's desire.' It shows your deepest desires… possibly desires so deep that you may not know of or even understand them."

"Very insightful, Jade. This mirror will be moved to a new home, tomorrow, Jade, and I ask that you not go looking for it again."

Jade nodded. "I understand, sir. There's not really any reason for me to, anyway. I've already seen what it had to show me."

Dumbledore nodded. "I'm glad you realize this."

And so, they bid each other goodnight and Jade headed back to her room. In bed, Jade reflected…

I'll put it away for now… but I can't help but wonder… what other adventures will my father's cloak enable me to have in my time here?

QS: In case you were wondering, I purposely left Jade's other family out of the mirror. Why? She has no reason to miss extra family. She hasn't gone without that. I know one thing… Jade's gonna enjoy torturing Pansy in her years at Hogwarts.

Do any of you think that I should have Jade lay off of Pansy? Is she being too cruel? Or should I keep it up?

Would some of you please join my C2 group? I have no members… -tear-

Well, all, that's all for now! In the meantime, can any of you recommend some good girl who lived stories for me to read, or dark HP stories? By dark I mean like a non corny Hermione/Voldemort story, or something like that.

Bye for now!