Clay Pinions

By Lochar

Disclaimer: Would you be reading this on this particular site if I owned it?

Chapter 14

Harry and Ron sat on the steps into Hogwarts, waving goodbye to Hermione as the carriages left, taking most of the students with them.

Harry turned to Ron once Hermione was out of sight. "So, what are we going to do for the whole break?"

Ron grinned. "Anything we want. No classes and if we avoid him, no Snape. Come on, let's go find something to eat, it's lunchtime and I'm starving." Ron stood up and pulled Harry up with him. "Come on!"

Harry laughed as he followed Ron back indoors.

True to what Ron said, they avoided Snape for the next two days, doing nothing but playing Wizard's Chess in the common room, with Ron trying to guess what he might get for Christmas. Harry had managed to extend his time in the game to eleven moves, a new record for him. They also had to dodge Ron's bored older brothers, as the twins were always good for a prank if they could. Percy, unfortunately, was good for a scolding about studying to be ready for the next term.

By the night of Christmas Eve, both boys were ready for the next morning to come. Although, neither were able to sleep.

Sitting by the low fire in the common room, Harry leaned back on one of the soft, cushy couches. "You know what I want for Christmas Ron?"

"What?"

"Some decent chess skills." Both boys laughed. "But if I can't have that, this is pretty good anyways. It's nice to just be able to relax at Christmas for once."

"Huh?" Ron questioned, puzzled.

Harry shrugged in the dim light. "It's… tense… at home. My aunt likes me, but my uncle doesn't really. I'm quiet around the holidays, and he doesn't yell. It's not bad."

Ron looked at him sadly for a second before perking up. "Well, you're bound to have a good Christmas this year then. I'd hate to spend the holiday as a Muggle."

Yawning, Harry nodded and stood up. "Alright, I'm gonna go try to fall asleep then."

"Yeah, I'd better too. No presents if we stay up all night." Both boys walked back up to the dorms, where they laid down and were asleep soon after.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

THUMP

Harry started awake, only to find his head covered with a pillow. "Huh, whaza?" He sat up, looking around.

"C'mon! It's Christmas! We've got presents to open." Ron picked up a wrapped box from the foot of Harry's bed and threw it at him.

Not quite awake yet, the present bounced off Harry and landed in his lap. Rubbing his eyes, Harry grinned. "Cool, I've even got a few presents."

"Of course you do! What'd you expect for Christmas, coal?"

Harry smiled slightly and shook his head. Lifting the package in his lap and removing the twine, he opened the box to find a wooden flute, crudely crafted. Double-checking the tag, he saw it was from Hagrid. Blowing it, the flute made a sound vaguely like an owl.

"Hey, what's this? Muggle candy?" He heard Ron ask from his right. Harry looked up.

"Who's it from?"

"Hermione." Ron unwrapped the piece of chocolate and took a bite of it, and promptly spit it back into its wrapper. "Eww, nasty. How can you call this a sweet?"

Harry laughed as he opened his own package from Hermione and looked at it. "It's not quite candy Ron. Didn't Hermione say her parents were dentists?"

Ron nodded. "Yeah, whatever that is."

Harry shook his head. "It's a doctor who fixes teeth when they get messed up. She must have sent us some of her parents' candy. It's called sugar-free candy, and you now know just how bad the stuff tastes."

Ron looked at Harry. "Maybe we can give it to Hagrid? It'd probably go good with his rock cakes."

Harry laughed, and then picked up another package. "Hey Ron, this one is from your Mum."

Ron looked at it. "Yeah, last time I wrote her I said I didn't know if you'd be getting any presents from your Aunt and Uncle, since you weren't going back for the holiday. She probably sent you a Weasley jumper. She makes them for all of us every year."

Harry looked at his already almost completely diminished pile, and pulled one of the two remaining packages. "I think this is from my Aunt and Uncle." He pulled it open and a letter fell out, along with a fifty pence piece.

Ron looked at the coin. "Is that Muggle money?"

Harry laughed. "Yeah, go ahead and take it. I don't want it. It's not worth much in the Muggle world." He grabbed the letter and opened it.

Boy,

Got your message. Here's your present. Be grateful.

Your Uncle

P.s. Happy Christmas Harry, from Aunt Petunia and Dudley. (We added this after your uncle was finished with it)

P.ss. Harry, send me a letter or something. If it has to come by owl like this message did, try to get the owl to leave it in the tree out back. Dudley.

Harry grinned. "Looks like life as usual at home." Ron looked up with a question on his face. "My uncle still hates me, and my aunt has to be careful about being nice."

Harry picked up the last package. It was very light. "Wonder who this came from?" The tag didn't have a 'from' name on it.

Opening it up, he pulled a long, silvery cloak out of the wrapping paper. Ron stifled a gasp, and Harry looked at him. "What?"

With wide eyes, Ron spoke almost reverently, "If that's what I think it is… Put it on Harry." He urged. Harry shrugged, and pulled the cloak around him. "Blimey! It is. It's an invisibility cloak. Those things are really rare. Who gave that to you?"

Harry looked down, only to not find his body. He pulled the cloak off, and both the cloak and his body reappeared. On the inside of it, there was a note pinned.

Harry,

This belonged to your father, and was left in my safekeeping. I thought you might enjoy having it back.

Merry Christmas

"No name, but they left a note." He handed it to Ron.

"That'll be fun to have, no matter who gave it to you." Harry grinned his agreement. "C'mon, let's go see what everyone else got."

Harry carefully folded the cloak and put it inside his trunk, locking it, and then stood up. Pulling his new emerald green jumper over his pajamas, he to Ron. "Alright, let's go."

Downstairs, the twins were found playing with the fire, wearing their own jumpers their mother had sent them.

They turned around to see the two first years coming down. "Alas, it is as we feared, brother mine." He pointed to Ron's shirt. "She fears us forgetting our names, while she is assured that the youngest of us will not."

Harry laughed. Fred and George's jumpers did have an F and a G on them. "I think she sent them so we'd have an easier time telling you two apart."

The one with the G nodded. "Of course! Now it all makes sense! You can now tell that I'm Forge and that one over there is Gred!"

Footfalls were heard on the dorm steps, as Percy came down the stairs holding his own jumper. "Would you two kindly be quiet? I'd like to enjoy the holiday, if you don't mind?"

"Of course not."

"But of course,"

"You have to enjoy-"

"The day with family."

The twins alternated saying, and then grabbed Percy. "Hey, look. He's even got a P for Prefect on his jumper!" They grabbed the sweater and pulled it over his head, trapping his arms at his sides. "Come on, we're going to breakfast. And you don't get to spend it with the other prefects."

Fred and George, -or was it Forge and Gred?-, marched Percy downstairs, Harry and Ron following and laughing the whole time.

Down in the Great Hall, a truly interesting sight was to be found. The Headmaster was sitting at his normal place, but with a giant Santa's hat on his head instead of the normal wizard's hat. Snape and Quirrell sat on his left, both looking quite surly and trying to fend off Dumbledore's attempts to have them wear the Santa caps as well.

Professor McGonagall sat on Dumbledore's right hand side, with a resigned look on her face. Harry discreetly pointed her out to Ron.

"I think she gave up arguing with the Headmaster."

Ron looked at the professor and almost couldn't stop himself from laughing. Instead of being a Santa, apparently the Headmaster had wanted her to play the part of Mrs. Santa. Her cap was like Dumbledore's, but didn't extend halfway down her back. Her robes were also a bright, cheery red color and she seemed to be wearing a white apron.

Fred and George sat Percy down at the table and then sat on either side of him. Harry and Ron took seats across from all three.

Dumbledore stopped trying to get his teachers to wear the hats to wave to the students that had come in, Harry and the Weasleys included. "Merry Christmas everyone! The Christmas Feast will be out all day, and will change to lunch about ten thirty." He then turned back to Snape, attempting to get him to put the hat on.

Along the tables, breakfast was laid out and the whole group dug in. Every few feet there were little crackers, which when pulled, shot out little presents.

Unlike the ones that his uncle allowed Dudley to play with, the presents inside these were better. George held one for Harry as he pulled the string on it, allowing a loud boom to come out of it as confetti was shot all over Percy, who it had been pointed at. Several white mice crawled out of the tube as well.

Ron and the rest of the group started picking up the crackers near them, and soon an impromptu war started.

By the time the war was over, Harry had managed to receive a new set of wizarding chess pieces, several pieces of wizarding candy, and one of the hats that the Headmaster had been trying to get Snape to wear.

Putting the hat on, Harry found out why Snape and Quirrell had been refusing them. Ron started laughing and pointing at him, so Harry looked down, only to see over the huge belly and Santa suit that he was now wearing. Grinning, Harry pulled the hat off his head and he returned to normal.

Harry stood up. "Come on Ron, you said the chess pieces learn with practice? I'll let you beat me down a few more times with my pieces, so they can maybe learn to help me against you."

Ron laughed as they both walked out of the Great Hall, loaded down with little presents.

Harry's new chess pieces didn't stand a chance.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

That evening, Harry lay in bed staring at the ceiling. With that cloak, I could go anywhere in the castle, and couldn't get in trouble. Filch couldn't see me, Snape couldn't catch me, or anyone. Harry nodded to himself and quietly slipped out of bed. He unlocked and grabbed the cloak out of his trunk, and turned to face the sleeping Ron. Next time. This time is just for me Ron, I want to do what my Dad did.

Throwing the cloak over himself and lifting the hood, Harry quietly made his way down to the common room. No one was there, so he pushed to portrait door open.

The Fat Lady squawked a startled, "Who's there?" but Harry paid her no attention. He wandered around the school, peering in at classrooms, wandering up to the Astronomy tower, and just going wherever his feet took him.

Eventually, he passed a door that was slightly open, in a part of the school he hadn't ever been in. His curiosity taking a hold of him, Harry pushed open the door open partially and looked inside. There was nothing in the room, besides a tall standing mirror in the back. Shrugging to himself, he opened the door fully and walked in.

There was a soft light coming from the window, where the moon shown in. The light fell on the front of the mirror. Softly walking up to it, Harry took a good look at it.

The mirror was encased in a dark wood that Harry didn't know the name of. It was intricately carved, and had some strange language carved into it at the top.

Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

What in the world? Harry got up closer to the mirror to see the lettering better, and found his reflection looking back at him.

Harry started, and fell backwards. I'm under my cloak! He got back up and took a step closer to the mirror. He reappeared in the mirror's reflection. Taking another step closer to it, a few more people appeared. A red-haired woman with his eyes, and a man who was older than him, but looking like his mirror image were behind him.

Taking another step towards the mirror and touching it, he felt only the smooth glass. At that touch, another person appeared. A red-haired girl, maybe a little younger than him had appeared by his side, smiling at him from underneath the arm he had lifted to touch the mirror.

Not moving his arm an inch, Harry thought for a moment. Does it show other invisible people as well?

The woman behind put her hand on Harry's shoulder, smiling at him. Harry turned his head. No one behind me; But if they're invisible as well... Not moving the arm that was still touching the mirror, he tapped his shoulder with his other hand. In the mirror his image laid its hand on the woman's, but outside the mirror he just touched his shoulder.

Removing his hand from the mirror, the girl at his side faded. Touching the glass again she slowly wavered back into existence. Harry touched the mirror with both hands now, and then dropped his arm through where the girl was supposed to be.

Again, his mirror image did something different. The image's arm went around the girl as Harry's arm fell to his side. Studying the image closely, something clicked in his mind. The girl from when I was out of the Quidditch match. Elly! I know, I know her! Harry's other hand dropped in shock, and the girl smiled at him one last time before fading. He touched the mirror again, but she did not come back. But where do I know her from?

Confused, Harry turned his attention back to the two people behind him.

'Yeh look so much like yer Dad, but only with yer Mum's eyes.' Was what Hagrid had told him. Could it be his dad? He looked at the male closely. He was older than Harry, but had the same unruly dark hair. "Dad?" Harry quietly whispered.

The image nodded and grinned at him. Harry turned to look at the woman. "Mum?" A sad smile and nod from the woman. Harry collapsed in front of the mirror. "Are…Are you real?" The images neither agreed with nor denied Harry's question.

Harry stood up, touching the mirror one last time to make sure the girl didn't reappear. "I'll be back tomorrow night." He quickly left the room, his mind going in a thousand directions at once.

Harry stumbled back up the floors to the Gryffindor tower. Pulling off his cloak, he woke the Fat Lady and gave her the password. He fell into bed to get a few hours of sleep.

-

After what felt like only five minutes, Harry heard a voice.

"Come on Harry, wake up. You don't want to sleep half the day away, do you?" Ron yanked the pillow out from under Harry's head.

Harry groaned. "Actually Ron, yes. I do want to sleep half the day away. I was up most of the night."

"What in were you doing all night? And why didn't you wake me up if you couldn't sleep?" Ron demanded.

"I was trying out the cloak. And I wanted to do it by myself the first time Ron. If I had gotten in trouble, at least it would have only been me. Although, I found an interesting mirror. It showed me my parents. If you want, we can go look at it tonight and I'll let you see them. I know my way back to it, so we'd get there a lot faster this time."

"Deal." Ron grinned. "So was it fun? What'd you do?"

Harry spent the next few minutes telling Ron about his midnight wanderings, before shooing him off so he could fall back asleep.

That evening found Harry retracing his footsteps, with Ron along to see the mirror as well. Harry retraced his steps, and soon both boys found themselves back in the room with the mirror.

Harry stood in front of it again, close enough for the image of his parents to appear. "Do you see them?"

Ron shook his head. "No, all I see is your reflection."

"Well come on, stand here where I am then. You'll be able to see them." Harry pulled Ron to where he was standing, and then backed up. "Well, do you see them?"

Ron shook his head. "No, but… It's me. But I'm older. I'm holding both Cups. The Quidditch and the House Cup. Merlin, I've even got the Head Boy badge!" Ron turned to Harry. "Do ya think this thing predicts the future?" Ron's eyes seemed to be begging to hear Harry say yes.

"I don't think so." Ron's face fell. "How could it? I see my parents, and they're dead."

Ron grimaced. "Well, maybe it's showing me, my future. It's gotta be." Ron looked at the mirror again, walked around it, and then stood in front of it again. "Just gotta be." He seemed to whisper to himself.

Harry froze. A sense of Chi had just washed over him. It wasn't Professor Maison's, so who could it be? It wasn't malignant, so Harry quickly memorized the feel of it, before carefully not paying attention to it.

"Ron, come on. I want to see my parents again then." Harry pushed Ron out of the way, so he could stand there and see his mother and father again. Better not try to touch it. Don't want to know if whoever it is behind us can see what I am.

After a few minutes, Harry moved back again to let Ron see himself. He stepped back enough to almost bump into the source of the Chi, but it moved.

"C'mon Ron, before we get caught out." The Chi source quickly moved away and left the room and Harry's senses. He grabbed Ron and pulled him out the door as well.

As they made their way back to Gryffindor Tower underneath Harry's cloak, they heard arguing voices coming from an antechamber near the Great Hall.

"Headmaster, that dog is a menace, and should be gotten rid of. It is not fit to be a guardian of any sort, much less what you want to protect." That was Snape's voice. He was apparently arguing with the Headmaster.

"Regardless Severus, I trust Hagrid's pet. And even if it does prove to be an inadequate guard, there are still the others that have left their guards as well." Dumbledore could be heard saying.

"With all due respect for your decisions sir, Hagrid is an oaf, and anything he leaves is bound to be just as bad as he is. For Merlin's sake, he named a blasted three-headed dog Fluffy!"

Harry and Ron looked at each other. "They're talking about the dog in the third floor corridor!" Harry fiercely whispered. Ron nodded and they both kept listening.

"Be that as it may. I trust Hagrid's ability to provide a guardian, just as I trust you to do your part as well. Nicholas Flamel trusts my decisions on how to guard his treasure, and I will trust in the staff. Is that clear?" Dumbledore's tone brooked no arguments, and Harry felt some Chi leak off of the Headmaster. It was the same as had been in the room with the mirror.

Snape sighed. "Yes sir."

"Now, I think it's time we get to bed. There are several early risers, and we don't want to be caught out arguing, do we?"

Both walked out of the antechamber and went their separate ways.

Both Harry and Ron as silently as they could, ran upstairs back to the tower.

Curious... Why would the Headmaster just watch us, instead of sending us back to bed? Were Harry's last thoughts before he slipped off into sleep.

-

THUMP

Harry groaned and pulled the pillow off his head. "You know, I've got this curious sense of déjà vu." He sat up to find Ron grinning at him. "If you throw a present at me, I'm running away screaming."

Ron looked puzzled. "Why would I do that?"

"Never mind." Harry sighed. "What'd you wake me up for then?"

"Because I can only destroy your chess pieces in so many games of Wizard's Chess before I want to have someone there to watch me. Or play against."

Harry got out of the bed and pulled on a robe. "And how long have you been up?"

"A couple of hours."

"And how long ago did we sneak back in here?"

"Umm… About six hours?"

Harry sighed. "Alright, I got at least some sleep. I don't see how you could not want more than four hours."

"Great, let's go get some breakfast, I'm starving!"

As they were walking down the tower, they discussed the last night's happenings quietly.

"I know that mirror was telling the future for me. It had to be." Ron argued.

"Then why didn't it tell me the future, instead of showing me my parents?"

Ron shrugged. "I dunno."

Harry thought for a moment. "You said you looked older. Maybe it showed you a possible future? And maybe it showed me a possible present, one with my parents in it?"

Ron grinned. "Exactly!"

"I'm going back tonight then. I want to see them again." Harry was adamant.

"I wouldn't. What if Snape or the Headmaster is out again? We were lucky they didn't catch us last night."

"I don't care. Just one more night. I want to see my parents again." Harry paused. "And besides, I don't think they'll be out again, since the Headmaster put Snape in his place about that dog."

"Ya know, Snape was hurt back at Halloween, remember? Maybe he's trying to get to whatever treasure that Dumbledore is guarding for Nicholas Flamel. He tried to get the Headmaster to move the dog, since he didn't know a way past it."

"Probably. But we can't ask them why they were arguing about it unless we say we were out." Harry agreed. "But I still want to see the mirror again."

"I don't think it's a good idea Harry." Ron shook his head. "You're starting to get a little too attached to that mirror, mate."

"Last night, I swear. It's just… I've never seen them before now." Harry head hung down. "This is the only way I'll ever get to see them."

Ron nodded. "Alright. Just don't get caught, alright?"

The two boys reached the Great Hall and Harry looked at Ron and nodded. They sat down to eat, but it was a quiet meal, with both of them thinking over what they had seen the night before.

That night, Ron sat in his bed watching Harry put his cloak on. As his body disappeared, but before he pulled it over his head, Ron spoke. "Last night, you promise?"

"I promise Ron. I just want to get a good look at them." He pulled the cloak over his head and ducked out of the room.

"Good luck." Harry heard Ron say as he made his way down to the common room.

Harry didn't say a word as he quietly moved his way though the common room, where Fred and George were still up, playing Gobstones and discussing something about the wizarding village and their next visit. He paid them no attention, and quietly slipped out through the portrait. The Fat Lady was luckily asleep and didn't alert anyone to the portrait opening.

Making his way through the halls, corridors, and the rest of the tower, Harry was forced to stop several times and hide pressed up against the wall or behind a suit of armor. Filch, Mrs. Norris, and several of the ghosts were more active tonight than they had been the past two nights.

Finally making his way back to the room with the mirror, Harry sat down in front of it. His parents appeared again, and he sat there, just trying to memorize what they looked like. As he reached out to touch the mirror again to try to bring back the girl, Harry stiffened.

The sense of untrained Chi was there again. The Headmaster. He dropped his hand and sighed. "Am I in trouble, Headmaster Dumbledore?" Harry turned around to face where the Chi was coming from, to find Dumbledore staring at him, slightly surprised.

"No, Harry. You are not in trouble." Dumbledore looked at the mirror. "Do you know what this mirror is?"

Harry looked at it as well. "No sir, but I do know it doesn't show me correctly. I see my parents, who are not alive anymore."

"And last night it showed your friend Ron older, winning both trophies, and being Head Boy-"

"I brought him here, by the way. He shouldn't get into trouble if I'm not going to be." Harry interrupted.

"No, your friend will not be in trouble either. But it showed him what he wanted, which was to outshine his five older brothers that have been here as well. You, who have never known your parents, see them."

Harry nodded slowly. He heard us talking last night then. He didn't see it, because then he would have mentioned Elly. "It shows us what we want to see then?"

"Partially. What this mirror -the Mirror of Erised-, shows you is nothing but your deepest, most heartfelt desires." Dumbledore smiled gently. "It does not do to dwell in dreams and forget to live. It would do you well to remember that."

Harry stood. "Can it show you the future as well? Ron was asking that last night, you know."

Raising an eyebrow at Harry's choice of words, Dumbledore answered. "Many men have spent their lives, wasting away in front of this very mirror, asking the same question. But if it was a possible future, would it come to pass if you spent the rest of your days waiting for it here?"

Harry shook his head. "I guess not. Ron would have to work for something like that, I guess."

"Exactly." He looked at Harry. "Now, after tonight, the mirror is going to be moved to a new home. I would ask that you don't go looking for it." Harry nodded and Dumbledore motioned for Harry to exit the room.

Harry walked out with Dumbledore behind him. As Harry slipped his cloak back on, Dumbledore stopped him. "Although, if you ever do see the mirror again, at least you will know how to work it."

Harry stared for a moment. He's setting me up for something. He nodded and ran back to Gryffindor Tower, giving the Fat Lady the password and climbing in quickly, thankful that George and Fred and gone to bed.

He rushed up the dorm steps, finding Ron asleep and dead to the world. He grinned evilly. My turn. Grabbing a pillow from his bed, he swung it down hard onto Ron's face.

THUMP. Ron jumped up, looking around. "Huh, wah? Whaz's up?" He looked at Harry. "What's the matter?"

"I went down to the mirror and the Headmaster was there." Ron paled. "No, I didn't get into trouble. We actually had a talk about the mirror."

Harry sat down on Ron's bed and relayed the Headmaster's words. He then paused. "Ron, I'm pretty sure he was there last night too, he talked about what you saw in the mirror."

Ron blanched. "Do you think I'm gonna get into trouble?"

"No." Harry shook his head. "I didn't get into trouble, so you shouldn't either. If you do, I'll tell the Headmaster to give me your punishment, I brought you down there."

Ron grinned. "Hopefully not, because wouldn't you hate it if he gave the detention with Snape or Filch?"

Harry laughed. "After that other detention, I don't think Instructor Snape would want me for detention." He sobered. "But the Headmaster did say that if the mirror told the future, you couldn't wait for it to happen. Maybe you could get those things."

"Yeah! That'd be great. I'd love to be Head Boy, and get both the trophies." Ron smiled dreamily. "I'd show 'em all."

Harry laughed quietly. "Alright, I'm going to bed." He got off Ron's bed and crawled under the covers of his own. "Lumos." Harry looked over at Ron. "Hey, first lesson in the morning, so I'm getting up early enough to start."

Ron nodded. "Alright, g'night then."

Harry let go of his magic, allowing the light at the tip of his wand to go out, and fell asleep himself.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Harry stood motionless. He was standing in front of the mirror again, and could see his mother and father in the reflection. A sickly green light slowly crept up around the mirror from all directions.

As the light touched the mirror itself, his parents noticed it as well. His dad held his mother, protecting her from the light. He pushed her down, covering her with his body, but when the green glow touched him, his body collapsed. Then it touched his mother and the light in her eyes faded, as she was staring at Harry.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Harry sat up in bed, his breath racing and heart beating wildly. He looked around quickly. "Just a dream. It was just a dream." He kept repeating to himself. Should I go look at the mirror, just in case? He shook his head. No, I can't. The Headmaster said it was being moved.

He slid out of bed, noticing Ron was still sleeping. "Shower, need a shower." Mumbling to himself, Harry hurried to the bathroom. He took a long shower, trying to chase away the memories of his dream. Dream? Harry snorted. Nightmare. I hope to God I don't have that one again. I don't want to see my parents die.

Finally finished, Harry walked back into the dorm and got dressed.

"Ron, you're still asleep. Don't you want to start learning?" Ron mumbled something vague, and then turned over. Harry poked him. "Ron, wake up." Another mumble from Ron. "Alright, but when you sleep through breakfast, don't blame me."

Rolling back over to face Harry, Ron sat up swinging his feet over the bed. "Alright, alright. I'm up. How much longer until breakfast is over?"

"Oh, there's another hour or so." He laughed as Ron glared at him. "But I told you that if you want for me to teach you, we're starting today. Let's go eat breakfast, then we'll start."

After breakfast, they both headed for Professor Maison's classroom.

"Professor Maison said we could use his classroom for practicing. When classes start back, we'll have to use it in the evenings though."

Ron nodded. "Alright. Hey mate, how long do you think before I can do moves like what you were doing?"

Harry stopped. "Really Ron? I don't know. Hopefully I can teach you good enough to do them right. Professor Maison will have to be there if we want to spar though, because I don't want for either of us to get hurt and not be able to get to Madam Pomfrey. Or have to go to her if the Professor can heal me." Ron laughed at that. "Laugh all you want. You haven't even had to be treated by her once yet, and I've been twice."

Harry started walking again and Ron walked beside him. "Really though, if you meant using Chi, remember that the Professor said it took him years and years to ever be able to use his. I guess you're that way too. But maybe you'll be able to do the moves good enough."

They reached the Muggle Studies classroom and Harry pushed the door open. Apparently Maison had already prepared the room for them, as the desks were nowhere to be found, and mats had been placed out for them to work on.

"Come on, we need to do some stretches first." Harry walked out onto the mats. "And your pajamas are probably better for doing this than Hogwarts robes anyways."

"Stretches? Why would I need to do that? I thought you were going to be teaching me kicks and punches and stuff like that." Ron complained.

Harry turned to face him. "Because, if we went straight to that, I can bet you any number of Galleons you want that you'll be in Madam Pomfrey's hands before the end of the day. You'll hurt your muscles because they won't be used to being used this way, and you'll have to wait a week before we can try again."

"Hey, I'm in good enough shape; I still don't think I need to do stretches." Ron protested.

Harry sighed. Demonstration it is then. "Alright, look. Can you do this then?" Harry dropped down into the splits, going all the way down until his legs were out at a 180-degree angle.

Ron stared at him. "No, but what does that have to do with learning how to kick and punch?"

"Because." Harry stood up. "If I can do that on the ground, then my kicks can do this." Harry got into a stance, and did a snap kick. His foot went several inches above his head. "I can kick higher than my head easily. It helps to be able to hit something taller than you, say maybe a troll?" Harry said with a laugh.

Ron looked down. "Okay, okay; I'll stretch."

Harry nodded, and they both stretched and warmed up for the next fifteen minutes, before Ron was stopped by Harry.

"Alright. We'll start on Tai Chi. It's one of my favorite types of Martial Arts. And it deals with energy, so even if you can't use Chi, maybe you can use magic a little better?"

Ron looked at him, puzzled. "Whaddya mean?"

"Remember what Professor Maison said about magic being more powerful if you use it more?" Ron nodded. "I learned to control my Chi first, but once I found my magical core, I can use it kinda like my Chi. Maybe you could learn to control your magic like that?"

Grinning, Ron remarked. "Hermione's going to kill you, you know. I might be able to use magic better? She's gonna go nuts."

Harry shrugged. "I don't know for sure. It may be you'd have to learn to use your Chi first, then you could do it with your magic. Either way, it took me about three years before I got any sort of control over my Chi, so it'd be a long time for her or you."

Harry spent the rest of the morning showing Ron each of the separate moves in Tai Chi; and by lunchtime, Ron was completely worn out.

"Great Merlin, how can you keep going?" Ron sat on the floor, staring at Harry who was now going through his own forms.

Harry stopped, and looked at him. "I've done it for a long time. Not to mention this is easy compared to when I spar with my cousin. Oh! And speaking of my cousin, I need to send him a letter this afternoon."

When they got back to their common room, Ron ran upstairs saying something about a shower. The twins, who were in the common room as well and heard the comment, smiled at each other.

Fred pulled out his wand, and walked over to one of the walls. He tapped it with his wand, muttering something that Harry didn't hear.

Moments later, Harry did hear something. "BLOODY HELL! It's freezing! Fred! George! I'm going to kill you!" echoed down the stairs.

Both twins were laughing along with Harry. George walked over to the wall and poked it with his wand. "What in the world? Hey Forge, the charms still making the water pipes cold. He's actually taking a shower in it!"

Fred ran over and poked the wall too, looking at the charm that he had cast. "Bloody crazy-"

"-Our brother is."

"That water is right above freezing."

Still chuckling, Harry grinned at the twins. "He wanted to learn what I am. So he probably really wanted a shower, regardless."

The twins grinned at each other, then turned to Harry. "Oh, and what exactly is little Ronnekins Learning from the Great Boy-Who-Lived?" Fred asked.

Harry groaned, hoping they wouldn't want to join. "Some non-magical Martial Arts."

The twins shrugged. "Definitely not something we need to know then."

"Yeah, because we have magical martial arts!"

Harry looked at them, eyes bright. "Oh? What type of martial arts is that?"

Fred looked at him with his nose in the air. "It's a very solemn thing."

"Very dignified. Not many people know it at all." George added.

Harry paused, puzzled. "You two don't know it, and it doesn't exist, does it? There's no way the two of you would do anything that made you be dignified."

"Alas, caught in our own web of lies." Fred held his hands to his cheeks.

"We can only pray that the spider doesn't eat us." George sat on the floor, holding his heart.

"Not the spider! Hold me!" Fred fell into his brother's arms, and both wept hysterically.

Harry laughed at them. "And that's why I didn't believe you."

A few minutes later, Ron came down, clothed but teeth chattering. "I- I'm.. going…t-to kill you… t-t-two." He managed to get out.

"Come on Ron, sit by the fire." Harry pointed to the merrily flickering flames. Ron sank down in front of it, not bothering to sit in a chair or on the couch.

Ron ignored his brothers pestering him about his icy shower.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The rest of the holiday break went by reasonably peacefully, with Harry having his lessons with Professor Maison and Harry attempting to teach Ron the basics of Tai Chi. Ron still had his cold showers, as the twins were always waiting for Ron after the end of one of those lessons.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Harry and Ron sat on the steps leading to the Hogwarts' front doors in the snow, waiting on the carriages to return from the train station.

Looking at Ron, Harry asked the question he'd been wondering. "Hey, you think Hermione will know who Flamel is? I looked in a couple of books in the library, but couldn't find anything."

Ron snorted. "She may have us for friends, but she's still a walking textbook. She'll probably tell us what book, where in the library, along with the page number and probably the exact sentence that has his name."

Ten minutes later, the carriages arrived. A flood of students came out, and Hogwarts welcomed the students back home. Harry and Ron found Hermione and pulled her to the library.

Once they got there, Hermione paused. "Who are you two, and what'd you do with Harry and Ron? I don't think I'd ever see the two of you actually bringing me TO the library."

They all sat down at a table in the far back, and Harry explained in a whispered voice what the problem was. Once it had been explained, Hermione was thoughtful.

"It doesn't ring a bell, but maybe we could find it."

Harry looked to Ron and smirked. "Looks like you were wrong. She didn't know exactly where it was."

Hermione flushed and Ron laughed nervously. "Oh well."

Hermione went to one of the many shelves and pulled down several books. "While we're here though, we can at least start looking." She put them on the table and then grabbed one for herself. "Come on you two; if you want to know, help."

Harry grabbed a book and started looking through the pages.

Ron groaned. "What have I got myself into?" He whispered, but grabbed a book all the same and started looking as well.

The trio searched through as many of the library's books as they could that day, and whenever they managed to get a chance for the next few weeks between classes, Harry's Quidditch practice, and Harry and Ron's training sessions.

Hermione had declined to join Ron in training, saying she would rather study her classwork.

One Friday evening, the trio were taking a break in the common room. Harry looked over, and saw a crowd bunched up near the twins. He poked Ron.

"Hey, what's up with your brothers? Why are they so popular?"

Ron looked over at them and noticed the crowd. "They're taking orders for Hogsmeade candy. I guess tomorrow is a Hogsmeade weekend."

"Huh?"

"Third years and up, upon receiving parental or guardian permission, are allowed to visit the nearby Wizarding village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends." Hermione said, without looking up from her book.

"Yeah, and they're trying to make some money by buying candy and whatnot for the people that can't go." Ron explained.

"What do they have down there?" asked Harry.

"From what Percy told me, everything that was on the trolley on the train, plus more." Ron shrugged. "Doesn't matter anyways, I can't get any."

"What would you get if you could?"

"Chocolate Frogs. The only Chocolate Frog card left that I need is Agrippa. There's got to be one out there somewhere."

Harry grinned and walked over to the twins. "Hey, you two are getting stuff from the sweet-shops?" Two heads bobbed up and down. "I want some Cauldron Cakes, and can you get a few Chocolate Frogs too?" He pulled out two Galleons from his pocket.

The twins nodded. "Not a problem Harry." Harry handed the coins over, and went to sit back down.

"Well, I'm getting some Cauldron Cakes, and a few Chocolate Frogs." Harry mentioned when he sat back down.

"I don't need you buying things for me Harry." Ron's face was red from embarrassment.

"They're not just for you Ron. Hermione can have a few, and I'll eat a few. And any Agrippa cards we find are yours."

Ron calmed down slightly, his face returning to its normal color. "Alright, but next time, warn me. I could have gotten one myself; I've got a Sickle or two I think-"

Ron let out an, "Oof!" as Hermione dropped a book in his lap. "Keep looking in this one. I'm going to go grab another book." She wandered through the portrait, muttering to herself. "Not Modern Magical Achievements, or Great Wizards of the 20th Century. Where could he be?"

Ron looked at the book in his lap. "She's crazy I tell you. Totally barking mad." He laughed as he opened the book.

Hermione returned with more books, and the three spent the next hour looking through them.

"Hermione, I'm going to bed. We're not going to find him tonight. It's Saturday tomorrow, and I've got a lesson with Professor Maison. Good night." He looked at Ron. "Night mate."

Ron nodded. "I'm coming in a few minutes too. My brain's hurting from all the words." Harry laughed and nodded his agreement.

The next morning dawned bright and clear, and most of the castle left for Hogsmeade. Harry went to his morning lesson with Professor Maison and Hermione kept looking for Flamel, while badgering Ron to help her.

That evening, Fred and George came back, loaded down with sweets. "Best idea we've had, brother mine."

"All of my ideas are grand, you should know that by now."

"Hey, wait a second, I thought this was my idea?"

"It was. I stole it from your brain before you could think it, so it could be my idea."

"Alas, my poor idea, I never knew you well."

The gathered first and second years laughed, but quickly demanded their candy.

Fred nodded. "On to business then. I've got a box of Sugar Quills for you Neville." He handed the box to Neville, who grinned. "Thanks." Fred nodded.

George grabbed the next couple of boxes. "Oy! Harry! Here's your stuff!" Harry grabbed it as George tried to give him the change.

Harry waved him off, not looking at it. "Keep it, there probably wasn't much left anyways."

"You sure Harry?" Fred asked.

"Yeah, I just wanted the candy. Thanks."

Fred nodded and pocketed the change.

Harry walked over to Ron and tossed one of the boxes. "Says a box of ten frogs Ron, pull me one out then go find Agrippa."

Ron laughed and tossed a smaller box back at Harry. He grabbed it. Pulling the frog out, he looked at the card underneath it. "'Albus Dumbledore'. Hey, I got one of the Headmaster!"

Ron looked up. "Yeah, I've got about a dozen of him."

Harry shrugged. He turned the card over to read it, and dropped the frog, which then made a hasty escape.

"Holy… Ron, Hermione! I found Flamel."

Hermione and Ron looked up, their eyes questioning him.

"It's on the Headmaster's card. He's an alchemy partner of the Headmaster."

Well, there it ends. Not really a cliffhanger, as you all should have read Book 1 by now. grin We all know what's coming next.

Thanks go out to all my great reviewers. Please review again! Not that I won't keep writing, but it's always grand to know you're there.

Oh, and a special comment for Nyeshet. Are you fishing for future plot developments? Bad boy. I'm not giving those up just yet. Although, I will tell you it's not the Rune that's part of the blocking problem.