Chapter 12:
Mirror of Erised
The morning following Christmas I woke up with a bad back and still entangled between Fred and George. I released their hands and unlatched their arms from my waist before gently pushing Fred off of me and back onto his bed. I carefully moved away from George and got off the bed then quietly slipped out of the boys dorm and back to the girls. I went to the bathroom and cleaned myself up before dressing into my purple Weasley sweater and some black pajama shorts before leaving the common room and going downstairs to the Great Hall.
I silently sat beside Jesse and grabbed a piece of toast taking a bite out of it.
"Good Morning, Raven." he greeted.
"Top O' the mornin' to ya!" I greeted back.
"Alright, no need to go Irish on me." he joked.
We both shared a laugh and continue eating our breakfast. Not long after Jesse and I finished our breakfast did Harry and Ron come in.
"You could have woken me up," said Ron crossly walking past Jesse and I and sat down closer to the large fire place.
"You can come tonight, I'm going back," said Harry. "I want to show you the mirror."
"I'd like to see your parents" Ron said, eagerly.
Mirror? His parents? They're dead, what kind of mirror shows you your dead parents. I looked to Jesse and could see he was thinking the same thing as we listened to the rest of their conversation.
"And I want to see all your family, all the Weasley, you'll be able to show me your others brothers and everyone."
Oh god, that's got to be one HUGE mirror to show the entire family. Why in Merlin's name would he want to see our family.
"You can see them any old time. Just come around my house this summer." I couldn't help but giggle, it was true. Bill and Charlie did come around during the summer to spend time with the family. "Anyway, maybe it only shows dead people. Shame about not finding Flamel, though. Have some bacon or something, why aren't you eating anything?"
"Flamel?" I whispered to Jesse, who shrugged and we got up and left.
We went for a walk around the grounds for most of the morning, then relaxed by the Black Lake for the rest of the morning before returning to the Castle for lunch. After a quick lunch Jesse and I parted from there, Jesse going to the dungeons for a nap and I going back up to the common room to finish up what little homework I had left.
"Oi, there you are!"
"We've been looking for you."
"What do you want, Fred, George?" I asked not even needing to lift my head to see who it was. I re-read the passage in my text book and continued to write.
"We just wanted to hang out." replied the twins.
"I'm a bit busy right now." I answered, dipping my quill into some ink. "Why not go finish your homework, Merlin knows you haven't finished it."
"Well you're not any fun." sighed George.
"I never said I was fun." I said, slightly annoyed as I scribbled on the parchment.
"We order you to come with us." demanded Fred.
"I don't have to listen to you." I said as calmly as I could.
"But we're older than you," said Fred.
"So you have to listen to us." finished George.
"What's age got to do with anything." I sighed as I rolled up my parchment for Professor McGonagall.
"Everything!" they replied. I packed everything away and stood up walking past the twins and up the winding staircase to the door for the Girls Dormitory.
"Hey, where are you going?!" they shouted rushing up after me. "To finish my homework in peace." I replied, opening the door. "Wait!" they shouted, one of the twins grabbing onto the back of my sweater causing me to jerk to a stop and fall backwards. I gave out a gasp and closed my eyes waiting to bust my head open on the stairs, but instead felt
arms wrap around me.
"Geez, George, kill her why don't you!"
"Oh, shut it, Fred. That fall wouldn't have killed her."
I opened my eyes and peered up at Fred's face with a blush streaking across my cheeks. His face was so close to mine and it was embarrassing, at least we're still on break so no one didn't see us. I adverted my eyes to the left only to find George's face staring longingly at me. Pushing down the blush that darkened further across my face I pulled out of Fred's grasp. Standing up straight and brushing whatever dust got on my clothes I gave a nervous cough. "Thank you, Fred."
He smiled at me and asked, "Since I saved your life will you come with us now?" Both him and George grabbed one of my hands with theirs and used their free one to make me look at them. They both looked at me with their twin puppy pout face. The corners of my mouth twitched in annoyance. Are you serious? Is it that important? With a sigh I nodded my head. "Alright, but just this once. Got it?" They nodded happily and with their hands still gripping onto mine they took off down the winding staircase and out the portrait hole.
They dragged me out onto the snow covered grounds and down to the Quidditch Pitch. What? Why there? Are they seriously dragging me outside to play Quidditch? "Fred, George, why are you dragging me out into the freezing cold without a coat on?" I asked. "More importantly to the Quidditch Pitch?"
They turned and gave me a devious smile but said nothing. When we got down to the pitch Fred and George took me down onto the field and told me to wait there. I rubbed my hands up and down my arms to regain some sort of warmth. "Come on, boys! It's freaking cold!" I hollered into the snow that began to fall. I let out a sigh and watched it come out visible and disappear. I looked for any signs of the red heads but only saw bits of snow picking up and swirling in place. Wait swirling in place? How strange. The swirling snow began to dance in the wind towards me, my face twisted into confusion as it began to swirl around me. From my feet and up to my head then went up and danced above my head. It flew off towards the center of the pitch and began to swirl until it became a tornado of snow, a white blur. Then it there was a loud boom and the twister of snow became a huge crystal. The crystal started to take shape and when it settled I couldn't help but give out a shocked gasp.
The crystal took shape and it was me, and it was spot on! Right to the last detail. The crystal started moving and began to dance and twirl around me. As it twirled past me it grabbed my hand and made me dance along with it. I stared up into my copies face and saw it smile softly at me. It then twirled me and let me go to twirl into someone else's arms. I landed into the warm arms one of the twins, whose arms wrapped around me. I blushed and looked up at the twin who held me and smiled before another pair wrapped around me from the other side. "What did you think?" asked one of the twins.
I stared at the crystal being as it blew up and snow sprinkled around us, I couldn't find any words to describe what I thought. I felt something wet slide down my face, I reached up and felt the tears the flowed from my eyes. "I think she likes it, Georgie." noted Fred
"I don't like it." I sniffled looking up at the twins with tears. "I love it!"
Fred and George smiled brightly and the hugged me closer, both pressing their lips to my cheeks. I smiled and turned to give each of them a kiss, I couldn't contain the blush that crept to my face as my lips met theirs. They smiled and they each brought me in for another kiss, before we departed hand in hand back up to the castle joking and laughing. I giggled as Fred picked me up and ran away from George after he whispered something to him cause George to yell at him. They carried me all the way up to the Gryffindor common room and plopped me down on the couch, where we joked and laughed until dinner.
As night approached and what few remaining students stayed during the break were filled with dinner and gone off to their respected house common rooms, I sat in the common room reading a book. Even the twins retired to their rooms for the night, so reading was quite peaceful for once. I spent sometime reading in the common room before the peace was disturbed by almost silent footsteps. "Honestly, boys, can't you be a bit more quieter?" I asked not looking up from my book and turned a page.
Ron poked his head from underneath the cloak along with Harry and looked at me, surprised I knew they were there. "How'd you know?!" shouted Ron.
I closed my book and stood up, "Ronald Weasley, if you think I am going to let you leave this common room with Harry, you are sadly mistaken!"
"But-"
"At least not without me."
"What?! Really?"
I nodded and got the boys and I scrunched together underneath the cloak and left the common room. We retraced Harry's steps that he took from the library to wherever it was that we were going. Ron was complaining about how cold it was and that we should go back while Harry kept insisting that we'll find the room. Then Harry spotted something familiar and dragged us into a room. Inside the room was practically emptied all except for the tall mirror that stood in the middle of the room with gold trim and words written across the top. Harry went and stood in front of the mirror and beamed at whatever he saw in the mirror but I only saw his reflection and only his reflection.
"See?" whispered Harry.
"I can't see anything." replied Ron. The two boys looked to me to see if I saw anything. I shook my head, "All I see is your reflection, sorry."
I watched as Harry pushed Ron in front of the mirror and stepped off to the side. I stared at Ron's reflection in the mirror as he beamed at what he saw. "Look at me!" gasped Ron.
"Can you see all your family standing around you?" asked Harry.
"No," replied Ron. "I'm alone- but I'm different, I look older—and I'm head boy!"
Harry looked at Ron in confusion as Ron continued. "I am- I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to." I couldn't help but smile softly at the mention of Bill. Ron had always looked up to the two eldest brothers of the family, Bill and Charlie. Ever since Bill was in school Ron had always had a high view and Charlie, well, who couldn't love Charlie. "And I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup- and I'm Quidditch captain, too!"
Ron tore his eyes away from the mirror and looked to Harry before they began to argue about who got the mirror next. I gazed at the mirror from where I stood before there was a noise outside in the corridor and then we scrambled to get back underneath the cloak. As we did so Mrs Norris came round the door. She hissed and stood there for a minute or two before she turned around and left. We threw off the the cloak and side with relief. Ron was saying how it wasn't safe and suggested we leave but I protested, "I haven't gotten a look in the mirror yet. Doesn't seem fair that you two got a look and I didn't." I walked over and stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection.
After I stared at the mirror for a minute or two we threw the cloak back on and quickly rushed back up to the common room. I bid the two boys goodnight and gave each of them a kiss on the cheek before the retired to the boys dormitory. After they went through the door to their dorm, I sat on the couch in front of the fire and gazed into the flames as I thought back to what I saw in the mirror.
"I haven't gotten a look in the mirror yet. Doesn't seem fair that you two got a look and I didn't"
I walked over and stood in front of the mirror and stared at my reflection. She, I mean me, was a few years older than I was now and smiled at me softly as I stared at the older me. My reflection looked like she wanted to speak to me but wasn't able to get out a word. The I was embraced by two sets of arms that held her tightly and kissed her. I instantly recognized the two red heads as the twins, my twins, who looked at me with their mischievous twin toothy grin. I blushed as I seen how close the twins and I were as another person popped up and hugged me from behind, the person behind me was also older than he was now. The twins turned to glare at the person behind me as the reflection me sighed and looked at me. I smirked as I saw them arguing with Charlie, then one by one Mum, Dad, Bill, Percy, Ron, Ginny, Harry, Hermione, Theodore, Blaise, and Draco appeared in the mirror. They were looking older and looked like they fought a great battle. My reflection opened her mouth and mouthed,
"They're all safe."
My eyes widened and I held a hand to my mouth trying to fight the tears that threatened to fall as each of them smiled at me. I wiped my eyes and smiled at everyone in the mirror, my dream come true. Have everyone I cared about safe and sound, out of harms way.
I could feel the tears prick my eyes once more as the I recalled the memory. I knew it was just a mirror that couldn't possibly predict the future but the mirror gave me hope that one day my family and everyone I care about would be safe. Safe from him. I got up and retired to the girls dormitory and changed out of my clothes and into my pajamas then went to sleep.
The next day I noticed Harry was distant and snuck off once more that night but the day after that he was back to his old self again. He never went back out to look for it again even after term started. I smiled as I sat down at the Slytherin table the morning of the first day of the second term. "How was your holidays?" I asked as I sat next to Blaise and Jesse.
The whole morning up till classes were spent talking about the holidays then we stood up and went our separate ways. I barely payed attention to the classes and when lunch came around I already had my head down on the table as Draco and Jesse joined me.
"Already bored out of your mind?" asked Jesse as he took his seat.
I groaned and nodded and lifted my head, "I miss the holidays!" I whined.
Draco and Jesse chuckled at my childishness. "Don't we all? But we have to move on." said Jesse. I nodded solemnly and sighed before smiling at the two.
After the day was over I wandered about outside toward the Quidditch Pitch, where the Gryffindor team should be practicing. I snuck onto the pitch and watched as they practiced, Wood pushing them hard as usual, saying something about Snape refereeing the next match. Oh what fun that would be! I snorted at my own sarcastic remark but smirked when one of the twins fell off their broom. I watched as the rest of the team landed and began to gripe and moan about Snape refereeing a match and how unfair it would be. I rolled my eyes as I watched Potter walk back up to the castle as the other team hung back to bitch and moan about it. I looked back to the twins and back to Harry before running off to catch up with Harry.
"Hey, Harry!" I called halfway up the hill.
He stopped and turned around, "Hi, Raven." greeted Harry.
"Have a nice practice?"
Harry nodded but I could clearly see he was exhausted. "You should take a nap when we reach the castle, I can tell by looking at you that you look exhausted. Wouldn't want our house's seeker failing us on the next match because he couldn't get enough sleep."
Harry nodded tiredly as we reached the wooden bridge that led to the clock tower. As soon as we got under the safety of the bridge it began to pour down rain. Harry said a quick goodbye and told me he was going to hurry up and get back to the safety of the castle before the rain got too bad. I said goodbye and took my time and when I got out to the open courtyard I stood out in the rain for a good few minutes letting the rain soak my being before I heard voices and rushing feet coming from the bridge. I moved to stand behind a pillar, out of their sights but still standing in the rain. I closed my eyes as I embraced the cold drops of rain on my face. I opened again when I heard the group go thundering by and peeked out to make sure they went inside. I kept my spot by the pillar as I slid down to the ground feeling my eyes grow heavy. I tried to keep them open and stand back up but I couldn't so I settled for crawling to the nearby corner of the courtyard where it was covered and took a short nap. I love the rain and embrace it but after a while it makes me so tired I fall asleep where I stand, in a sense.
When I woke it was nearing the evening hours and I could smell dinner being cooked. I got up and cringed in disgust when I felt my clothes cling to my body, I had no problem with the shirt but the robe and the skirt, I cant handle wet things that cling to my legs. I raise my wand and with a wave my clothes were back to being nice and dry and didn't cling to my body. I quickly rushed inside and went up to the girls dormitory in the Gryffindor common room and changed into a pair of black pajama shorts and a white tank top with a black button closure hooded knitted sweater with black flats. I skipped down to the great hall and opened the door to the chattering students. I approached the Slytherin table and sat in between Theo and a Slytherin girl I didn't know the name of.
"Where have you've been?" asked Draco as soon as I sat down and placed food on my plate.
I took a bite of my shepherd's pie before replying. "I fell asleep out in the rain, just woke up a few minutes ago. Had to change out of my robes before I came down for dinner."
"You seriously fell asleep out in the rain?" asked Theodore.
Jesse decided to reply for me so I could eat, "She does that sometimes. When it rains she tends to fall asleep wherever she stands and is asleep for a good few hours. Last time she fell sleep in the rain she was asleep in the middle of the Quidditch Pitch and I had to carry her all the way back up the school and have her get a cold the next day."
I rolled my eyes, "At least it was just the cold. But this time I manage to crawl under some coverage before I went to sleep." I said proudly.
"Yeah, this time."
I scoffed and we talked about up coming exams as we ate. After dinner I bid them goodbye and went down to the dungeons where I would have my lesson with Professor Snape. To say the least, that lesson went rather well with an early dismissal after Sev found me nodding off when I heard the faint pelts of the rain hit the walls of the castle. I nodded and cleaned up before making it as far as I could up the stairs. I walked into the common room and plopped myself down on the empty couch in front of the fire.
Over the next couple of weeks it was rather slow all except for the Quidditch Match that was later this afternoon, Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff. The pressure was intense for Gryffindor's team, if they didn't win this they wouldn't get to play for the Quidditch cup. Wood would have a bitch fit if they didn't win today. I sat out in the clock tower courtyard reading a book when the twins found me. "There's our girl!" they greeted
"Afternoon, Fred, George. Ready for the match this afternoon?" I asked.
They smiled and nodded, "We're ready!" replied George.
"Will you be there to cheer us on?" purred Fred as he tilted my head up to look at him. I hid the blush that wanted to creep onto my face as I set down my book. "Who said anything about cheering you on?" I teased. "Maybe I'll cheer on Wood, or perhaps Potter."
The boys feigned hurt and held a hand to their chests. "Raven, how could you-" whined Fred.
"Not cheer for you own brothers?" finished George.
"Just as easy as not being there at all." I shrugged with a smirk.
Fred and George pouted and turned away from me. I let out a giggle as I got up and left them sitting there as I crossed the bridge and started running when I heard the twins come running after me. I took off towards the direction of the Quidditch Pitch. I couldn't help but laugh as I ran down the hill with them trailing behind me. I slowed to a stop to catch my breath before I was tackled to the ground by the twins. I released a small squeak as we fell forward and when I felt one of the twins land on top of me. I opted to laugh it out instead of revealing to the twins that I was blushing from the position that we were in. Both Fred and George helped me up and we laughed even more before it was silenced out by them placing their lips on my cheeks. Fred picked my up and held me in his arms as he went inside the Quidditch Pitch as he did I noticed the two teams coming down to the field. They carried me up to one of the stands and sat me down. I smiled at the two and gave them a nod as they told me to stay there while they did a pre-game practice. I watched both of the twins enter into the wing where the Gryffindor team would meet and talk one last time for a game strategy.
The sun was set high in the sky and the stands quickly started to fill up with students moments before the match began. The Quaffle was launched into the air and the game began, Gryffindor snatched the ball first and took off towards the Hufflepuff goals, Lee commented on who passed the quaffle to who and when one team made a goal it would either be a cheer for the Gryffindors or a snide comment about the Hufflepuff team. Up until George hit Snape with a bludger and awarded Hufflepuff with a penalty it was going good. I rolled my eyes as George shot me a smile then looked to the over to another one of the stands when something caught my attention. I seen Ron dive at Draco and began to wrestle each other and not soon after Neville Longbottom joined them. I raised an eyebrow as I stood up from my seat and squeezed through the students and made my way over to the commotion.
"Hey!" I shouted down to them. The boys stopped and looked at me for a moment before continuing. "Knock it off!"
They looked back up, flinched, and separating themselves before I could get out my wand. I smiled when they sat back down in their seats. Harry was in a nose dive as he sped past Snape with his arm outstretched and reached toward the small glittering golden ball that was mere inches away from his hand. He pulled up out of the dive with perfect timing as he caught the snitch in his hand and raised it up for the crowd to see. The students shot up out of their seats and cheered and jumped for joy, cheering out Harry's name.
Later that night Fred and George snuck up food from the kitchens and Gryffindor house was throwing a party in celebration of today's victory. I, however, knowing what would happen check out of the Gryffindor commons early and headed up to the Room of Requirements after dinner. I took out my books and spread them out on the floor as I began my Divination homework, what a drag that is. I mean seriously all this use your inner eye to see the future thing was just a bunch of jumbled up nonsense. I worked well into the night and went uninterrupted until I got hungry and went down to the kitchens for a midnight snack. After that I went back upstairs but stopped at the second floor portrait where Jesse came out of. He must have been up late studying for the exam in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Evening, Jesse." I greeted stopping in front of him.
"Evening." he greeted back tiredly.
"Heading to bed?" I asked nodding my head behind me.
He nodded and with a wave went down the stairs. "Night!" I called after him.
"Night..."
I giggled and went on my way upstairs but instead of going back to the Room of Requirement I headed back up to the common room, in hopes that their little party was over. I said the password and crept inside when I hear nothing but stone silence, I looked around and seen the place a mess but vacated of any students. Sighing, I waved my wand and the trash disappeared and everything was put back into place like it was before the party. I put my wand away and crawled up to bed, changed into my pajamas, pull back the curtains, and fell asleep.