The author ducks to avoid flying objects as she races to the podium on the stage in front of the angry crowd. She glances at the enraged faces and clears her throat nervously, "I might have had slight writer's block and limited time to write due to a school project, a video documentary for Civics (I'm pretty sure my Boggart has changed. There is nothing scarier than following people around with a camera and then editing hours of video into a short 8 minute period. It sounds like fun until you actually do it.) Our teachers crammed tests in. Long story short, I got side tracked by the real world. And then it just wasn't sounding the way I wanted it too. Oh well, um, enjoy."

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Hermione has got to be the most single-minded person on the entire planet. Her entire vacation must have revolved around Flamel. She started grilling Harry and Ron the second we reached the castle. Hermione probably would have pestered Rigel and I as well, if she hadn't thought I'd forget about it, despite the letter she sent about it. I wasn't that bad. Granted I'd forgot about it until the very last minute the train left the station, but that was just a small detail that I could over look as I enjoyed the humorous scene in front of me.

The five of us were sitting curled up in several of the armchairs in the common room. Hermione was giving Harry odd sort of scolding. Halfway through her thought, she'd change subjects. Hermione was stuck between the horror of Harry being out of bed and approval at his attempting to find the true nature of Nicolas Flamel.

"If Filch had caught you! Well it's really a shame you didn't find Flamel, but you shouldn't have been in the restricted section. Those books are off limits for a reason. You had the right idea though. It's hard to get anything done with Madame Pince there, but that doesn't mean you should sneak out in the middle of the night. Why? You could have searched during the day. Honestly, wasn't it obvious there was nothing on Flamel in the restricted section after the first night? Filch would have been keeping an eye on the place. His suspect would return to the scene of the crime and you did-"

Harry cut her off. He was looking slightly annoyed. "I didn't go back to the library. I found a mirror the first night. It was ornately carved and nearly covering the wall of one of the spare rooms on the fourth floor. There were nonsense words inscribed at the top of it."

"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi," I muttered under my breath. I'd seen the mirror too.

Harry shot me a shocked look.

"Harry, you have to leave the mirror alone. Dumbledore said not to go back. It doesn't feel right."

Hermione and Rigel were giving us skeptical looks. I hadn't told Rigel of my midnight escape from Filch. It seemed unimportant after all the chaos of the opening prank and the detentions following. I wasn't really sure what I saw was real either. It was the middle of the night. Sleep was a very welcome thing.

"What'd you see?" I asked Harry. Maybe my vision was an average one, something that was normal in ornate magical mirrors.

Harry grew somewhat solemn. He absentmindedly ran his hand over the lightening bolt scar on his forehead. "I saw my parents and my extended family."

Oh, Harry looked so miserable. He stared at the fireplace. Flames licked the edge of a paper someone had discarded there earlier. Ron threw his arm around Harry's shoulder in a brother like fashion before hastily trying to change the subject. "The Cannons lost again, though they're going to make a comeback any day now. Gorgevitch is an amazing chaser. I can't believe Puddlemore was willing to trade him."

"Yeah for a record sum," Rigel said, "He's past his prime. Wimbourne has the cup in the bag."

Harry steadily joined back into the conversation. Hermione had an odd expression on her face. I wasn't sure if it was from the Quidditch (which generally confused her) or the Mirror. "Amira, you said something was inscribed at the top. What was it?"

"Do you have a quill? It's most likely a different language. It doesn't make sense."

She fished one out of her pocket and handed it to me. I scribbled the odd words there. Hermione flipped the paper around. She folded it over so the letters lined up with each other. Then an idea seemed to hit her. "I'll be right back I just have to go-"

"To the library," we all said despite the fact the boys were engrossed in Quidditch talk. I happily joined them.

Hermione huffed. "I was going to say to our dorm. I just have to check something-"

"In a book?" Ron suggested.

Hermione stormed up the stairs.

Harry still hasn't picked a team to support yet in the Professional Quidditch League and so there might be some heated competition for support.

"The Cannons have the best coach in the entire league. The other teams don't stand a chance."

"If we don't have a chance, why was the score of the Wasp/Cannon game 470-10?" I countered.

"And let's not forget the only goal they scored was a penalty shot right after a bludger had hit Trebond in the head so he couldn't see two feet in front of him."

"The Cannons have a stronger defensive front."

"Offense is the best defense."

Hermione raced down the steps. "I thought about it. What better way to read a message on a mirror than in a mirror?"

I glanced at the others to make sure I wasn't alone in my confusion.

"What?" Ron asked bluntly.

"I held the words in front of the mirror in our room. Backwards they spell 'I show not your face but your heart's desire."

"Who knew Lavender's mirror would be good for something?" I joked.

"No one but Parvati, that's for sure." We shared a smile. The boys have not figured out the hierarchy of the girl's dorms and they won't anytime soon. They're coming nowhere near our dorm.

"That's what Dumbledore said. What'd you see? Ron saw himself as Head Boy-"

"-And Quidditch Captain. We won the house cup too, but it's not like the mirror shows the future." Harry smirked at that. It was obvious they had had that part of the conversation before. Ron's desire was a little weird though. He wasn't uptight with the rules like Perfect Prefect Percy. Ron was rather laid back, just as excited about nighttime wanderings as we were.

"I saw myself, my friends and some weird old people floating in the background."

"Weird."

Fred and George came into the Mini Marauders meeting, muddy and disheveled. Their faces were pulled into identical frowns.

"We come bringing-"

"Good news-"

"And horribly sinister news."

We ignored them for the most part. Lee was twisting his wand through the air and pointing it a biscuit taken graciously from a house elf in the kitchen. He was trying to see how big "Engorgio" would get it to go. He set the biscuit on the desk, as it was getting too heavy to hold. The biscuit swelled slightly larger from its dinner plate size.

Eloise had a crossword puzzle. Rigel and I were "helping" her finish it by reading over her shoulder.

"That one's supposed to be swallow."

"No it's not. It has to begin with an n."

"Insurance is wrong then. "

Eloise started crossing out the previous word. She ran her finger along it and to all its connecting words. "Alright," her voice sounded uncertain. "But no, that doesn't work."

"Is anyone listening to us at all?"

"Come and Bow before your-"

"Pranking leaders."

That definitely triggered the reaction they were hoping for. General disarray followed. When the fight for leadership was over and we were a fully established democracy again, Rigel finally asked the question the twins were waiting for, "What's the bad news?"

"Should we tell them Fred?" asked Fred.

"I think not George. They doubted our abilities. " George replied, adding to the mayhem of trying to get us to mess up their names.

"Very funny guys, now what's the news?" I asked.

"Wood has just informed Fred and I, " began Fred.

I reached my wit's end. Honestly, no wonder Lee could never tell them apart. They were always switching.

"Stop it. " I motioned with my arms, "This is Fred. Fred will be referred to only as Fred and not as George. " I pointed at George. "George will also stop making the switch jokes, at least at Mini Marauder meetings. Annoy your mum all you want but stop doing it here."

"Yes, Mum," Fred and George grinned. "Are you done? "

"Or do you have another rant just waiting to make an appearance?"

I shrugged. That was absolutely pointless but they were at least referring to themselves properly, for now.

"As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, Gryffindor could overtake Slytherin for the house cup."

Eloise was confused. To be frank, so was I. "And why is that bad news? I'd prefer it to be Hufflepuff but upsetting Slytherin's streak is much more important."

"Patience small one. It all depends on the results of the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match. There's one problem though-"

"Snape's refereeing."

He couldn't be. Was Snape that meddling? He wouldn't stop at anything to make sure his precious Slytherins continued to win.

"But that's not fair!" (Rigel) "He's biased." (Eloise) "Hufflepuff will win by so much!" (Lee) "We. Are. Doomed!" (Me!)

Lee had a sudden thought. "What about the good news?"

"We've got the idea for our next prank."

"It's a good one too."

"Well what is it?" Eloise asked.

"We will even the odds a little."

"Besides itching powder never hurt anyone."

"What about our chances? We have just as much chance as you do at winning the cup."

Everyone else in the room exchanged glances.

"What? There are five of you losing points for Gryffindor everyday, where as Hufflepuff only has me… and miscellaneous troublesome older kids, not to mention Zacharias Smith."

"It's okay, Ellie. They just didn't realize how loyal you were to your house. You're always with us. They've made you an honorary Gryffindor and no one deserves that title more," Rigel said wrapping his arm around her. "I'll try to stop them from doing anything too rash."

Eloise smiled slightly. "That's sweet, but don't call me Ellie, ever again." She glanced at us. "Plus I don't think that's possible."

Eloise and I hadn't spoken in nearly a week. Rigel sat with Eloise during History of Magic. I was forced to horror of all horrors actually listen to Binns. Harry and Ron were playing hangman. Parvati and Lavender were gossiping over a copy of Witch Weekly. Seamus and Dean were passing notes and breaking out into spontaneous laughter. I was left by myself and it was all my fault.

I'd mention the detail to Hermione about Flamel. In addition to a chocolate frog card, they were able to figure out about the Philosopher's Stone. I didn't really care. I don't think being able to live forever would solve anything. Gold wouldn't be too bad but gold couldn't laugh with you, or tease you or help you. It was a non-feeling cold metal.

My stubborn pride made it almost unbearable getting ready for the match. Nymphy's old scarf seemed itchy against my neck. My new tie was way too tight. I tugged on the pair of black and yellow socks. They felt constricting. I grabbed the face paint off the bathroom counter. I cringed as I smeared it over my skin. Neon Yellow.

I was banned from helping Lee commentate the match. Professor McGonagall was there when I showed up. She gave me a bewildered look. If McGonagall hadn't used my name while kicking me out of the announcer's seat, I would have sworn she had no idea who I was.

I was there early too, ridiculously considering how long it took for Hermione to get me up in the morning. I skipped breakfast to try to get the seat and avoid my fellow Gryffindors. I was being a coward but that didn't matter to me right now. I was doing what I should have done days ago.

I sat in the Hufflepuff stands, near the back. I wanted to stay unseen until Eloise and the other first years showed up. Older students filled in not giving me a second glance. The Slytherins were cheering with Hufflepuff not that either of the houses were getting very close to each other. There was a definite line between them.

The first years came in all as one large group. I wasn't surprised that every one seemed to be paired off with their best friend. I noticed it a lot more when I no longer had one. Hannah, Susan and Ernie walked side by side. Megan Jones and Leanne Phipps kept giggling and bumping into each other, trying to knock the other off balance. Zacharias was looking at the world through Justin's Muggle binoculars. He pointed at odd places in the crowd. Whenever he did, Justin would start snickering. Eloise brought up the rear, a small Hufflepuff flag in one hand and a book in the other. When they were all seated, I snuck my way down to join them, scrambling over empty benches and around towering older students. I sat down next to Eloise.

"Are you actually going to watch the match? Or are you going to read your book the whole time?"

"Amira! What are you doing here? What are you wearing?" Eloise exclaimed. Her face went into the comical o-shape found on cartoons.

"I am here to apologize. I was being a prat. I should have thought about your house," I began. "I didn't think, I mean I was being an idiot. I just-"

"Stop babbling already. Amira, I forgive you honestly. It's not like you betrayed me to Filch. I'm still here, still detention free, and you are possibly the biggest contradiction here. "

"What's that supposed to mean?"

She looked at me again as if it should be obvious. "You're the bravest Gryffindor there is, wearing enemy colors, especially with George staring at us the way he is. "

George was staring. He sat back on his broom as Snape gave Hufflepuff a penalty on the argument that George had nearly hit him in the head with a bludger. It was a very nice shot. George was bewildered that's for sure. He kept blinking and glancing in our direction even after play had resumed.

"Let him stare all he wants. I like yellow."

"You didn't have to do this," Eloise mumbled.

"Course I did. I needed to have intelligent conversation without someone nagging me to do something or expecting something of me. Where was I supposed to get that when I offended you terribly?"

"Amira. I mean. Just I overreacted, you didn't -"

"Now you're the one babbling."

And we were laughing. Just because our whole conversation sounded bizarre and strangely cliché. Because it felt nice to half someone who understood you completely, not because they were related to you and had to. Nice to have a best friend.

Harry went into a spectacular dive. I would have sworn he was aiming for Snape if I hadn't seen a faint flash of gold. I rose to my feet to start cheering, forgetting momentarily that I was in the Hufflepuff stands covered in yellow face paint. When I did, I hesitated and started to sit down again. Eloise joined me though. She leaned against the railing in front of her. "GO HARRY!"

Gryffindor won. It was the shortest game on record, four minutes and 23 seconds. It beat out the previous record set in 1953 by nearly 6 minutes. A lot had happened during our match though. I wouldn't change one thing.

"'Kay Eloise I'm abducting you. We have two options. You can join the party in the Gryffindor common room or we can head to the kitchens."

"Kitchens. I could use some of Wiggle's hot chocolate. I'm sure one of them will be willing to help us get that paint off as well."

I fake whined, "What if I like the paint?"

"Then I'm sneaking you into the Hufflepuff dormitories. I'd like you alive tomorrow."

"Very funny."

Eloise gave a fake bow. "I try my best. I really do."

A.N. I have decided that since I told you I'd be updating soon, my updates have slowed drastically. I'm going to try something. The next chapter will be ready when it gets done. My documentary is due the 20th, so after that I will be free to write.

There is a poll regarding the Chamber of Secrets on my profile. Please go vote. Also, I have a companion one shot to this story called That Special Place in her Heart. I'd be honored if you read it. Thank you so much for putting up with me and a very Happy New Year to you!