CHRISTMAS
As the month of December arrived, the weather was getting even more arrived. Natasha was waiting for her first Christmas at Hogwarts. One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. The lake froze solid 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. The common rooms and dorms had roaring fires, the drafty corridors had become icy and a bitter wind rattled the windows in the classrooms. People were keeping close to the fires under the cauldrons to feel better, as the dungeons were cold. Slytherins have been even more unpleasant than usual since the Quidditch match. They were trying their best to land Gryffindors in trouble, as best as they could. Natasha was trying to ignore all this. She had decided to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas, as she did not want to go back to the Dursley's. She was one of the few people who stayed.
Professor McGonagall had come around the week before, making a list of students who would be staying for the holidays, and Natasha had signed up at once. She knew,this would probably be the best Christmas she'd ever had. Ron and his brothers were staying, too, because Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were going to Romania to visit Charlie. 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.", Hagrid replied. Natasha saw Draco just behind Hagrid, Hagrid was blocking his path. "Can you move so that i can pass?", Draco asked impatiently to Hagrid. ""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.". "Why are you both always fight-", Before Natasha could finish , Ron jumped towards Draco. Thankfully before any damage could be done , Professor Snape came. "WEASLEY!" Ron let go of the front of Malfoy's robes. "He was provoked, Professor Snape," said Hagrid, sticking his huge hairy face out from behind the tree. "Malfoy was insultin' his family.". Natasha was thankful that Hagrid supported Ron. "Be that as it may, fighting is against Hogwarts rules, Hagrid," said Snape silkily. "Five points from Gryffindor, Weasley, and be grateful it isn't more. Move along, all of you.". Professor Snape looked really angry for some reason. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle pushed roughly past the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking.
"I'll get him," said Ron, grinding his teeth at Malfoy's back, "one of these days, I'll get him -". "Maybe if you start being nice to him, he will do the same, Ron", Natasha said. "Why are you always supporting both of them, they are definitely evil", Ron said. "The fact that they don't like you , does not mean that they are evil, Ron", Natasha argued. "Cheer up both of yeh, It is Christmas season.", Hagrid said. "Come to Great Hall, it's beautiful there.". So the three of them followed Hagrid and his tree to the hall , where even the other professors were decorating. One of the professors told Hagrid to put the tree somewhere in the corner. The hall was truly beautiful as Hagrid said. 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. "How many days you got left until yer holidays?" Hagrid asked. "Just one," said Hermione. "And that reminds me- Natasha, Ron, we've got half an hour before lunch, we should be in the library.". Ron agreed and the trio went to the Library. They had started going to the Library to research about Nicolas Flamel. Hagrid was angry when he found out that they were researching about the thing at hogwarts, and told them to drop the matter.
The trouble about the research was they did not know where to begin. Natasha knew that she had read the name somewhere, but just did not remember where. 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. Hermione and Natasha were listing down the subjects they thought he will be in , and Ron took out the books. Ron started to go to the restricted section, but Natasha pulled him off. Unfortunately, you needed a specially signed note from one of the teachers to look in any of the restricted books, and she knew she'd never get one. 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. They left the Library shortly without any new knowledge. "Please keep on researching even when i am away, and send an owl if you get any information", Hermione said. Once the holidays had started, Ron was having too good a time to think much about Flamel. Natasha tried dragging Ron to the Library, but he did not come. She was the only girl who stayed at Hogwarts in her year, and was feeling really lonely. She even missed the daily gossips of Parvati and Lavender.
Ron also started teaching Natasha wizard chess, though she knew how how to play. This was exactly like Muggle chess except that the figures were alive, which made it a lot like directing troops in battle. 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. Natasha kept on winning matches, much to Ron's amazement. On Christmas Eve, Natasha went to bed looking forward to the next day for the food and the fun, but not expecting any presents at all. When she woke early in the morning, however, the first thing she saw was a small pile of packages at the foot of her bed. She was amazed by seeing the presents. No body in her life had given her presents for Christmas. She immediately got out of her bed, and started opening her presents. The top one was from Hagrid, and it contained a roughly cut wooden flute. Hagrid had obviously whittled it himself. Natasha blew it - it sounded a bit like an owl. Second one surprised Natasha as it was from Dursleys. It contained a note. It said: We received your message and enclose your Christmas present. From Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia. It was taped to a fifty pence.
She then went on to unwrap to get a Jumper from Ron's mother. It was emerald green ,and had a big N in the center. Natasha was very grateful ,and made a mental note to thank Ron's mother. She got a bunch of chocolates, and book on famous potioneers in wizarding history. Parvati gave her a nice earing as a present. Lavender's was a shampoo which smelled really good. Her other dorm mates gave her more chocolates, and some cookies. She also got a necklace from an unnamed source,there was only a Note saying "Merry Christmas". The handwriting was not something she recognized. She decided to keep it anyway, and try to find who sent it. This only left one parcel.
Natasha picked it up and felt it. It was very light. She unwrapped it. Something fluid and silvery gray went slithering to the floor where it lay in gleaming folds. Natasha was certain it was an Invisibility Cloak. She knew those were extremely rare and valuable. The cloak was light to touch, like water woven into material. Natasha tried it on and looked went to a mirror and looked. She gasped as she saw no reflection. "Incredible!", she thought. When Natasha went back, she saw a note fallen from the cloak. She took it and read:Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well. A Very Happy Christmas to you. There was no signature even here, just like the necklace. But she knew that they both were not sent by same person, as they had totally different handwriting.
She felt very strange. Who had sent the cloak? Had it really once belonged to her father? She thought all this, and decided to pull a prank on Ron. She went to the Common Room still wearing the cloak. She found Ron sitting on one of the chairs. Fortunately the Dorm door was already open, so she did not worry about Ron noticing her. She went behind the back of the chair and slapped the back of his head. Ron was startled and got out of his chair suddenly. He looked really angry, but was surprised when he did not find anyone. "Who's there?", He asked with a bit of fear. Natasha threw one of the gift wrappers at Ron ,and it hit him right on his face. Ron was surprised and was growing more and more fearful,"Fred, George, is that you?",he asked. Natasha laughed loudly in a scary voice, this made Ron nearly piss in his pants. Natasha then laughed normally and removed her cloak. "Got you, Ron. You should have seen the look on your face.", she said laughing. Ron turned red and told,"H-how did you do that?". "With this.", Natasha said and showed Ron the cloak. "An Invisiblity Cloak!Where did you get this?", he asked. "Someone gave it as a Christmas present,Ron. There was no signature on the note, so i have no idea who sent it.", Natasha said. "Wow!", Ron exclaimed. "The note said that it was my father's ,and he is just passing my fathers possessions to me.", Natasha said. "Oh", Ron said. "Please thank your mom, she sent me a beautiful jumper.", Natasha said.
"Oh, she sent you too huh.", Ron said. Natasha nodded. The boys dormitory door was flung open,and Fred and George Weasley came out. Natasha stuffed the cloak quickly out of sight. She didn't feel like sharing it with anyone else yet. Fred and George were wearing blue sweaters, one with a large yellow F on it, the other a G. "Why aren't you wearing yours, Ron?" George demanded. "Come on, get it on, they're lovely and warm."."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.". Natasha had never in all her life had such a Christmas dinner. 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. These fantastic party favors were nothing like the feeble Muggle ones the Dursleys usually bought, with their little plastic toys and their flimsy paper hats inside.
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. They then went outside and had a big snowball fight. Then, cold, wet, and gasping for breath, they returned to the fire in the Gryffindor common room, where Ron repeatedly lost to Natasha. Natasha thought that Ron might have won, if not for Percy trying to help his brother. 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 Fred and George all over Gryffindor tower because they'd stolen his prefect badge. It had been Natasha's best Christmas day ever. When everyone had climbed the stairs to their Dorms except Ron, Ron came to Natasha and told,"Hey, why don't we use the cloak, and get into the Restricted Section?". "Really Ron, at this time of the night? Its already past curfew. I know it is a great idea, but i think we can also do it in the morning", Natasha said. "But Natasha, Madam Pince will be there in the morning. Its better to go now!", Ron said. "If you want you go, Ron. I will give the cloak. I am feeling really sleepy now.", Natasha said, and gave the cloak to Ron. Ron accepted the cloak happily, and went. Natasha went back to her dorm.
She fell into her bed exhausted. But she just could not stop thinking about the topic of Nicolas Flamel. Can Ron really find something about it?. She could not sleep for so much time thinking about it. After half an hour, she lost her patience, and went to the common room. Ron came bursting into the common room telling,"Natasha ! Natasha! come with me, I have to show you something.". "Did you find something Ron?", Natasha asked. "No! But i found something even more interesting! Come with me! I will show you!", Ron said pulling her hand. "But Ron!", Natasha cried. But Ron pulled her out through the Portrait hole. "This better be something really good Ron,", Natasha said, pulling on the cloak and following Ron. "What happened actually?", Natasha asked. "I went to the restricted section, but could not find anything. I took out a book,and it started screaming. I dropped the torch, and Filch heard it and came after me. While i was running away, I heard Snape threatening Quirrel!", Ron said. "Professor Snape threatening Quirell? What for?",Natasha asked. "He was asking Quirrel, if he found a way to get past Fluffy, and was asking which side he was on! I told you Natasha , he is evil!",Ron said.
Natasha was shocked at what Ron had said, but refused to accept that he was evil. "There have to be another explanation.", she thought. Ron lead her to a large room. It only a large mirror. "Why did you bring me here Ron?", Natasha asked. "Stand in front of the mirror Natasha and tell me what you see.", Ron said. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. Natasha went in front of the mirror, and looked into it but saw no reflection. She stepped in front of it. She had to clap his hands to his mouth to stop herself from screaming. She whirled around. Her heart was pounding far more furiously than when the book had screamed - for she had seen not only himself in the mirror, but a whole crowd of people standing right behind her. But the room was empty, except Ron. Breathing very fast, she turned slowly back to the mirror. There she was, reflected in it, white and scared-looking, and there, reflected behind her, were at least ten others. Natasha looked over her shoulder - but still, no one was there except Ron. Or were they all invisible, too? Was she in fact in a room full of invisible people and this mirror's trick was that it reflected them, invisible or not?.
She looked in the mirror again. A woman standing right behind his reflection was smiling at her and waving. She reached out a hand and felt the air behind her. If she was really there, she'd touch her, their reflections were so close together, but she felt only air - she and the others existed only in the mirror. Then she realized that the woman looked like an older version of her. "Mom?", Natasha asked. The Woman smiled and nodded. he tall, thin, black-haired man standing next to her put his arm around her. He wore glasses, and his hair was very untidy. He had a similar looking ears and his neck had the same length as Natasha. "Dad?",she asked. The man nodded with tears in his eyes. Natasha felt tears in her eyes. And slowly, Natasha looked into the faces of the other people in the mirror, and saw other pairs of green eyes like her, other noses like her, even a little old man who looked as though he had Natasha's knees. Natasha was looking at her family, for the first time in her life. The Potters smiled and waved at her, and she stared hungrily back at them, her hands pressed flat against the glass as though she was hoping to fall right through it and reach them. She had a powerful kind of ache inside her, half joy, half terrible sadness.
"What do you see?", Ron asked curiously. "I-I see m-my family.", Natasha said. "Y-you see y-your f-family?", Ron asked with wide eyes. "Y-yeah. w-what do you see?", Natasha asked. "I see that i am the Head boy, and the quidditch captain,holding the cup", Ron replied. Natasha was shocked. "Why is he seeing things differently?",she thought. "Do you think this mirror shows the future?", Ron asked. "How can it? All my family are dead!", Natasha said. 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. Ron and Natasha stood quite still, both 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 Natasha out of the room.
The next morning Natasha was in a really sad mood. Her mind was thinking about the mirror. Ron was trying to cheer her up. "I know what you're thinking about, Natasha, that mirror. Don't go back tonight.". "Why not?", Natasha asked. "I dunno, I've just got a bad feeling about it. But Natasha only had one thought in her head, which was to get back in front of the mirror, and Ron wasn't going to stop her. That night she found her way somehow on her own. She was walking so fast she knew she was making more noise than was wise, but she didn't meet anyone. And there were her mother and father smiling at her again, and one of her grandfathers nodding happily. Natasha sank down to sit on the floor in front of the mirror. There was nothing to stop her from staying here all night with her family. Nothing at all.
"So - you have come alone today, Natasha". Natasha felt as though her insides had turned to ice. She looked behind her. Sitting on one of the desks by the wall was none other than Albus Dumbledore. Natasha must have walked straight past him, so desperate to get to the mirror she hadn't noticed him. " - I didn't see you, sir.". Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you," said Dumbledore, and Natasha was relieved to see that he was smiling. "So," said Dumbledore, slipping off the desk to sit on the floor with Natasha, you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised.". "I did realize that was what it does, i understood what was written at the top.", Natasha said. "Aah.. I knew you would figure it out fast, Natasha.", Dumbledore smiled." 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, Natasha, and I ask you 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?". Natasha stood up and ran back into her dorm and fell into the bed. She promised herself no to go looking for trouble again. But she never realized that, in her case she never finds trouble, but trouble always finds her.