November 21, 1991.
The Harry half crept quietly into the boys first year dormitory as the Rose half crept into the girls. The full moon cast light through the windows and the Rose half quickly spotted Hermione. She moved to her and knelt as the Harry half reached Ron, shaking him awake. Ron blinked his eyes open and stared at the Harry half, who insistently pulled him up.
"What, Harry, what?" The Harry half heard Ron ask quietly.
The Harry and Rose being liked the scent of Hermione and the Rose half gently tapped her cheek, her skin cool to the touch. The Harry half helped Ron to stand at the same moment, he yawning and staring at him.
"Come." The Harry half whispered as the Rose half saw Hermione open her eyes.
She watched as Hermione's eyes widened in terror. Before she could scream, the Rose half clamped a hand over her mouth and forced her to look at her, staring into her eyes. The Harry and Rose being had told Hermione about the Rose half's transformation. Seeing it was different, but they wanted their friends with them. At the same time, Ron followed the Harry half, looking confused. Hermione calmed, though was trembling slightly. The Rose half removed her hands and stood, Hermione staring at her.
"Rose?" The Rose half heard her ask in a trembling whisper.
The Rose half very slowly reached out toward her and Hermione took her hand, hers much smaller and cooler. Gently, but insistently, she pulled Hermione up and she stood. The Harry and Rose being knew that Hermione was as fragile as the Harry half, so was very careful with her. The Rose half turned and started toward the door. Hermione stared and she turned around, pointing at the door. As confused as Ron, she followed, meting up with the Harry half and Ron in the common room.
"Hermione?" Ron asked in surprise, keeping his voice down.
"Ron! Harry!" Hermione said in surprise.
The Harry and Rose being smiled and the Rose half moved toward Ron, who backed away in slight fear.
"Never hurt." The Harry half whispered to Ron. "Gentle."
The Rose half reached out and very gently touched Ron's shoulder, enjoying his scent also. She gently moved him toward Hermione, who had made her way over to a seat. The four of them sat down on a couch and the Rose half looked from Ron on her right to Hermione on her left, the Harry half on the left side of Hermione, who was staring at the Rose half in fascination.
"Stay." The Harry and Rose being whispered. "With me."
"We've got potions tomorrow, Mate." Ron said, then chuckled. "Imagine if Snape saw this."
The Harry and Rose being silently snarled at the thought of Professor Snape and Hermione shoved herself back into the couch.
"No." The Rose half said, gently touching Hermione, who stared at her hand with her long, lethal nails. Gently, Hermione touched them and the Harry and Rose being watched with slight smiles. This was the first time they'd been content on the full moon, and one of the very few times they'd said anything also.
"Gentle Hermione, Ron." The Harry and Rose being said, then gently rose Hermione's hand to the Rose half's hair, turning to face Ron as the Harry half moved to stand behind the couch, running Hermione's fingers gently through the Rose half's hair.
Hermione smiled softly and the Rose half rested her chin on Ron's shoulder, patting his head. Ron looked a little awkward, but reached up and did the same. The Harry and Rose being sighed in pure contentment. They were with their friends. Before they knew it, they fell asleep, the Harry half curled in the Rose half's lap, her hands resting on his face.
Hermione shook the Rose half awake the next morning, also looking tired. The Harry half woke with her as always and scrambled to the floor. The Rose half hugged Hermione, then shook Ron awake before standing and gazing at both of them, then up at the clock.
"Thank you." The Harry and Rose being said. "I liked it."
"Why do you change like that?" Hermione asked as she looked at both of them. "I've never heard of this before but it's really fascinating."
The Harry and Rose being smiled and said, "I'm not entirely sure. We need to get ready for classes."
"Right." Hermione said. "And Harry and Rose being, it was nice, but a little scary. I thought you were someone that was going to kidnap me, Rose."
"No." The Harry and Rose being said. "It calmed my rage, made me content this time. Can we do this again?"
"I'm up for it, I suppose." Ron said.
"Me too." Hermione replied with a smile.
Ron and Hermione moved to their dormitories, the Harry and Rose being moving to their room outside the Gryffindor common room. They were glad for the new routine and hoped they could get together every full moon night. It was pleasant with their friends.
December 20, 1991.
December was even colder than November, with the castle covered in several feet of snow, the lake frozen solid. It was nice and warm in bed and the Gryffindor common room, but everywhere else was cold. The worst was professor Snape's classroom where everyone did their best to remain close to their hot cauldrons. The Rose half was less effected by the cold than the Harry half, and due to her higher body temperature, could and did help warm his hands at times.
The Harry and Rose being concentrated firmly on preparing their potion properly. It was one day before the full moon and their anger, as it always was, was at the surface of their mind. Their hands were steady as they worked, though, faces expressionless and eyes filled with emotion. Draco Malfoy's voice echoed across the dungeon as he spoke.
"I do feel so sorry for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts because they aren't wanted at home."
The Harry and Rose being pinned him with a glare as he looked at them and Crabbe and Goyle chuckled. Hermione's voice was loud enough for the Harry and Rose being to hear, but no one else.
"Ignore him, what he said doesn't matter."
The Harry and Rose being looked sharply down at their potion and gripped their measuring cups a little tighter, hands trembling from their anger. Malfoy had been more unpleasant since the Harry half's victory at the Gryffindor Quidditch match, though his efforts to insult them ultimately ended in failure. It took almost everything the Harry and Rose being had to stop them self from knocking Malfoy out. As they thought about Malfoy's insults, they realized he was simply repeating the same ones over and over. The variation in wording might have been different, but the meaning was the same. Much of their anger faded at that and they quietly chuckled a little.
"No creativity at all." The Harry and Rose being whispered quietly to them self.
The Harry and Rose being weren't going back to Privet Drive for Christmas, as they'd signed up when Professor McGonagall had come around with a list of those who were staying for the holidays. They didn't regret it, and more than likely, it would be the best Christmas they'd ever had. Ron and his brother's were also staying, since their parents were going to Romania to visit Charlie.
After exiting the dungeons, a large fir tree could be found blocking the way, nearly filling up the corridor completely. The feet sticking out of the bottom along with the huffing announced Hagrid's presents behind it.
"Hi, Hagrid. Want any help?" Ron asked as he stuck his head through the branches.
"I'm certain he does, Weasley." Malfoy's drawling voice said behind them, the Harry and Rose being turning to face him. "After all, it's the only way you'll earn any extra money for yourself. Trying to be the gamekeeper's assistant, or perhaps be the gamekeeper once you leave Hogwarts? I suppose that hut of Hagrid's seems like a palace compared to what your family's used to."
"You have no creativity, do you?" The Harry half asked as the Rose half grabbed Ron, stopping him. "Poor family this, family doesn't want you that, you should think of something else for once. Such as this, perhaps. You're such a spoiled little baby that I'm surprised you've made it this far in Hogwarts on your own. Oh, wait, you haven't, you've had your troll's Crabbe and Goyle to keep that spoiled attitude of yours up, My, spoiled you really are, I can smell it from here, Malfoy. Take a shower!"
"Five points from Gryffindor, Potter's." Professor Snape stated in a low and unpleasant tone, coming up the stares behind Malfoy and his friends. "I suggest you avoid such insulting in the future."
"Yes, since you're such a fine example of how to insult so well with such subtlety." The Harry and Rose being stated coolly.
"That will be ten more points from Gryffindor, Potter's, and be grateful it isn't more and that I am feeling generous enough to wave the detention. I will not be so generous in the future. Move along, all of you." Professor Snape stated.
Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle shoved past the tree, scattering needles everywhere and smirking. The Harry and Rose being spun, trembling with anger. Silently, they passed the tree carefully and quickly stormed off toward the great hall.
The decorations took their mind off things, and within a few minutes, Hagrid had entered along with Ron, Hermione and a few others. Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were busy with the decorations, and as Hagrid entered, Professor McGonagall said, "Ah, Hagrid, the last tree, put it in the far corner, would you?"
Hagrid did so, making the trees around the great hall number twelve. Once he finished, he asked, "How many days until yer holidays?"
"Just one." Hermione replied. "Which reminds me, we've only got a half hour before lunch. We should be in the library."
"Right." Ron replied, tearing his eyes from Professor Flitwick.
"The library?" Hagrid asked as he followed them from the great hall, the Harry and Rose being trying to remember where they'd seen the name Nicolas Flamel before. "Bit keen, aren't yeh?"
"We're not working, we're trying to find out who Nicolas Flamel is." The Harry and Rose being said tersely.
"You what?" Hagrid asked in shock. "Listen here I've told yeh, drop it. It's nothin' to yeh what tha' dog's guardin'."
"We just want to know who he is, that's all." Hermione responded.
"You could tell us and save us the trouble." The Harry and Rose being said. "A hint maybe, I've read it somewhere before I know I have."
"I'm sayin' nothin'." Hagrid replied.
"We'll just find out for ourselves then." Ron responded and they moved off to the Library leaving Hagrid looking disgruntled.
The Harry half wandered over to the restricted section of the library, considering. They had wondered if Flamel wasn't in there, though it wasn't likely they'd find out any time soon. They didn't know anyone who would sign a note for them to let them in. Madam Pince, the librarian, came over with a feather duster in her hand.
"What are you looking for, boy?" She asked.
It couldn't hurt, the Harry and Rose being thought. Snape wasn't near enough to overhear. Aside from that, the Harry and Rose being were getting rather impatient, which was more powerful than it normally would be due to the full moon being close.
"Information on Nicolas Flamel." He responded, though leaned closer just in case Professor Snape was there to overhear, though the Harry and Rose being didn't believe he was.
"You might ask Ms. Granger." Madam Pince responded. "She checked out a book referencing him. He worked with Dumbledore, you know."
Excitement overcame the Harry and Rose being and the Harry half snapped his fingers, saying quietly, "Thanks." He then hurried from the library as the Rose half said, "Hermione, we found it I think, the Harry half's going to look."
"What, you found Flamel?" Hermione asked.
"I think so." The Rose half responded. "I'm trying to remember, Madam Pince just said he worked with Dumbledore."
"We agreed not to ask her!" Hermione hissed.
"And I'm getting tired of not knowing." The Rose half replied with a sharp frown, then Ron spoke.
"Did he work with Dumbledore on alchemy?" He asked.
Hermione stared, her mouth open slightly.
"What?" Ron asked. "It's on Dumbledore's chocolate frog card."
"That's it!" The Rose half grabbed Ron and kissed him on the cheek, then ran from the library with Hermione, Ron following and looking quite bewildered.
"What!" He called.
"I can't believe it!" Hermione shouted back. "Come on, quick! I've got to check something!"
The Harry half clambered through the portrait hole, closely followed by the Rose half, Ron, and Hermione, who hurried up the girls staircase. She returned after a moment with an enormous old book in her arms.
"Alchemy you said?" Hermione asked.
"Yes." The Harry and Rose being confirmed excitedly.
"I never thought it could possibly..." Hermione muttered as she started flipping through the pages. "I got this for some light reading, I didn't think it would be in here."
"Light?" Ron asked.
"Shh." Hermione said.
After about a minute, Hermione left the book open on a page and whispered dramatically, "There it is! Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the Sorcerer's Stone!"
"The what?" Ron asked, dumfounded.
"Oh, honestly, don't you three read?" Hermione asked, pushing the book toward them. "Look there."
The ancient study of alchemy is concerned with making the Sorcerer's Stone, a legendary substance with astonishing powers. The stone will transform any metal into pure gold. It also produces the Elixir of Life, which will make the drinker immortal.
There have been many reports of the Sorcerer's Stone over the centuries, but the only Stone currently in existence belongs to Mr. Nicolas Flamel, the noted alchemist and opera lover. Mr. Flamel, who celebrated his six hundred and sixty-fifth birthday last year, enjoys a quiet life in Devon with his wife, Perenelle (six hundred and fifty-eight).
"Sounds like that's what the dog's guarding." The Harry and Rose being said with a slight grin, though mostly felt angry at them self for not remembering. "Wish I'd have come up with that sooner, I had it right there in front of my face the hole time."
"Don't beat yourself up over it." Hermione responded gently. "It was an honest mistake. Even I could have made it."
The Harry and Rose being chuckled, then said, "Yes, even Hermione, the fountain of all knowledge."
Hermione let out a huff, though despite having found Flamel, there was still quite a bit they didn't know.
December 25, 1991.
The Harry and Rose being blinked and rubbed their eyes Christmas morning, stared, shook their heads and scrambled from the bed, putting on their bathrobes and feeling shocked. They shook their heads again as they looked at the pile of gifts at the foot of their bed, something they'd never before received. The Rose half scooped most of them into her arms and the Harry half grabbed the others. Calmly, they left their room and entered the Gryffindor common room, then proceeded to the dormitories. They entered to see Ron waking and smiled.
"Thought we could open ours together." The Harry and Rose being said. "It's hard for me to believe I've got presents. I've never gotten presents before."
"What did you expect?" Ron asked.
"The Dursley's usually wouldn't give me anything on Christmas but something they didn't want." The Harry and Rose being responded, then grinned and sat on what was Neville's bed, their presents around them.
The Harry and Rose being opened their first gift, which was from Hagrid to Harry. It was a roughly cut wooden flute. Curious, the Harry half rose it to his lips and blew into it. It sounded almost like an owl.
A second package was rather small and it contained a note.
We received your message and enclose your Christmas present. From Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia.
"This is nice of them." The Harry and Rose being said, pulling a fifty-pence piece off the note. "Here, Ron, have a look."
He took it from the Rose half, who was closer and stared at it.
"Weird. This is Muggle money?" He asked.
"Yeah." The Harry and Rose said with an amused grin. "You can keep it if you want it."
"Who sent that one?" Ron pointed to the flute.
"Hagrid did." The Harry and Rose being responded.
"I think I know who those are from." Ron said, turning a little pink. He pointed to two rather lumpy packages. "My mom. I told her you didn't expect any presents and oh, no," he groaned, "she's made you a Weasley sweater."
The Harry and Rose being had torn open their packages to find thick, hand-knitted sweaters in emerald green along with boxes of homemade fudge. Finding a letter H on the one the Rose half held and a letter R on the one the Harry half had, they swapped and pulled them on with a grin.
"Every year she makes us a sweater and mine's always maroon." Ron said as he unwrapped his.
That's really nice of her." The Harry and Rose being said, trying the fudge. "And this is good too, I'll have to thank her."
Another package was from Hagrid, with a card taped to it.
Merry Christmas Rose, thought you'd like these, picked them from the garden, they're magical ice roses. Hagrid.
Tearing it open, the Harry and Rose being gazed at what looked like roses. They glittered and the Rose half reached out, touching them carefully. They were covered in frost. There wasn't a scent that they could smell, but the gift was nice all the same. They looked to be packed in ice, which seemed natural if they were ice roses.
"Wow, cool." Ron said as he stared at them.
The next gift was from Hermione. To their delight, she'd addressed it to Harry and Rose Potter. They tore it open to find a box of chocolate frogs, grinning.
Only one more package was left. The Harry half picked it up and felt it. Clothes again, they thought. It was certainly light enough to be clothing of some kind.
After unwrapping it, something fluid and silvery gray fell to the floor in neat folds. Ron, who was looking over, gasped.
"I've heard of those." He said in a hushed voice, dropping a box of something he'd received from Hermione. "If that's what I think it is they're really rare and really valuable."
"What is it?" The Harry and Rose being asked as the Harry half carefully picked it up. It felt like water woven into material and felt quite strange.
"It's an invisibility cloak." Ron replied with awe in his voice and on his face. "I'm sure it is, try it on."
The Harry half swung the cloak around his shoulders as the Rose half gazed on eagerly. They gasped and Ron let out a yell.
"Oh, wow!" The Harry and Rose being said, then the Harry half pulled the hood over his head and stood, completely invisible.
"A note fell out of it." Ron said suddenly.
The Harry half pulled the cloak off and the Rose half put it under her robe as the Harry half grabbed the note and gazed at the narrow, loopy writing.
Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you.
Use it well. A Very Merry Christmas to you.
"I wonder who sent it." The Harry and Rose being said. "No signature."
"I'd give anything for one of these." Ron said. "You okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine." The Harry and Rose being responded, blinking tears from their eyes and carefully picking up their packages. "The father of the Harry half owned this cloak." The Harry and Rose being took deep breaths, overwhelmed with emotion. After a moment, they managed to calm down.
"Oh, wow." Ron replied.
The dormitory door was flung open and the Harry and Rose being stood, clutching packages to their chests.
"Merry Christmas!" Fred and George Weasley said together.
"Hey look, Harry and Rose have Weasley sweaters too!" George added.
The Harry and Rose being gazed at Fred and George, who both wore blue sweaters, one with a letter F, the other with a G.
"Both of yours are better than ours." Fred added. "She obviously makes more of an effort if you're not family."
"Why aren't you wearing yours, Ron?" George asked. "Come on, get it on. They're lovely and warm."
"I hate maroon." Ron moaned in a half hearted manner as he pulled it on.
"You should be glad, grateful for it." The Harry and Rose being said. "I'd give anything to have a family like yours, Ron."
"They're right." Fred said. "Harry and Rose, they've got the right idea." Fred and George clapped them on the shoulders with matching grins.
"At least people can tell the two of you apart now." The Harry and Rose being said.
"That's right." George added brightly. "We're not stupid, we know we're called Gred and Forge."
"What's all this noise?" Percy asked disapprovingly as he put his head through the doorway. He also carried a lumpy sweater over his arm which Fred grabbed.
"P for prefect!" He said. "Get it on, Percy, come on, we're all wearing ours, even Harry got one."
"I don't want..." Percy began as the twins pulled it over his head, knocking his glasses askew and pinning his arms to his sides.
"And you're not sitting with the prefects today, either." George said. "Christmas is a time for family."
As Percy was marched from the room, the Harry and Rose being chuckled at the antics of the twins, then took their packages to their room and placed them on a desk they shared, accept for the invisibility cloak which they placed carefully under the pillow. The day was quite fun, involving snow fights and having a good time with Ron and the other Weasley's, all but Percy, who was one for the rules and regulations, perhaps a bit too much.
The Christmas dinner was quite an experience, too. Mountains of food, which they'd come to expect at Hogwarts, were on the table. Stacks of wizard crackers were every few feet. The Harry and Rose being pulled one that went off with a blast like a cannon. The Harry and Rose being whooped with laughter and as the smoke cleared, saw a rear admiral's hat and several live white mice.
"Come here you cutis!" The Rose half said with a wild grin, grabbing for them as they moved, the Harry and Rose being feeling pure joy and delight.
At the high table, Professor Dumbledore had switched his wizard's hat for a flowered bonnet and chuckling. The Harry and Rose being enjoyed the desserts as much as the meal, and when they left the table, had quite a bit of things from the crackers including a wizard chess set. Wizard's chess, unlike the chess Muggle's played, had live figures which tried to give advice and moved where they were directed. It was fascinating to play with Ron, who trounced them, though they didn't mind. The white mice were nowhere to be found and the Harry and Rose being idly commented, "Those will probably be dinner for the kitty Mrs. Norris."
"What?" Ron asked.
"Oh, nothing." The Harry and Rose being said with a grin.
The evening was filled with yet another snowball fight on the grounds, then a chess game with Ron which Percy tried to help the Harry half with. He still lost but the game was quite good anyway. After yet another meal, everyone was tired and sleepy, watching Percy chase Fred and George all over Gryffindor tower because they'd stolen his prefect badge.
All the while, the thought of the cloak and whoever had sent it was at the back of their minds. Finally, having returned to their room, they pulled it from under the pillow and stared at it, the Rose half letting the cool material flow through her fingers. This had been the Harry half's father's cloak. Use it well, the note had said.
Heart pounding with excitement, the Harry half put it on as the Rose half watched him vanish, then reached forward and touched him, her hands appearing to be grasping at nothing but air. With a grin, the Harry and Rose being walked to a window that let them see the outside, then the Harry half pulled the cloak open and the Rose half moved under it with him. It draped over both of them and they grasped hands, feeling wide awake. Hogwarts was completely open to them and Filch would never know they'd gone anywhere. Quietly, they crept from their room and moved down the corridor. They would go to the library first, the Harry and Rose being decided. While they already knew something about Nicolas Flamel, it couldn't hurt to try and get more information, and aside from that, they felt sheer curiosity about the restricted section. Also, they'd always wanted to explore, now they could do so without being found.
The Harry and Rose being watched a lamp floating in the Rose half's invisible hand. It looked rather creepy, but it lit the library enough for them to see where they were going. Carefully, they moved through the dark library toward the restricted section, heart pounding. When they reached it, they carefully stepped over the rope leading to it, holding the lamp higher to read the titles.
They didn't tell them much. The letters were pealing and faded, written in languages they couldn't understand. Some books had no titles at all. One of the books had a dark stain that looked like blood. The hairs on the Harry and Rose being's necks were prickling and they felt goose bumps on their arms. They thought they could hear faint whispers from the books, as if they knew someone was there who shouldn't be.
They would try one book and leave, they decided. If they didn't get any information about anything interesting, then so be it. Setting the lamp carefully down, the Harry and Rose being looked along the bottom shelf and found a large black and silver volume. The Rose half pulled it out easily and placed it on her knee, the Harry half reaching over and opening it.
A shriek loud enough to hurt the Rose half's sensitive ears came from the book and she slammed it shut, heart pounding. The book fell to the floor and the Harry half stumbled, knocking over the lamp. The Rose half grabbed him and they stood completely still as footsteps started to approach, then quietly but quickly moved off. They passed Filch, who was looking wildly into the library, then streaked up the corridor, the shrieks of the book still ringing in their ears. After a minute or so, they stopped in front of a tall suit of armor, not recognizing their location at all.
"You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library, Restricted Section." Filch's voice was heard in the silence.
The Harry and Rose being gulped. Filch seemed to be getting closer.
"The Restricted Section? Well, they can't be far, we'll catch them." Professor Snape responded.
The Harry and Rose being gripped trembling hands tightly, staring as Professor Snape and Filch rounded the corner and began walking nearer. The corridor was narrow and the cloak didn't stop them from being solid. Carefully, the Harry and Rose being backed toward a door that was open a little, the Rose half's back pressed to the doorway as she squeezed in next to the Harry half. To their relief, the Professor's noticed nothing, passing them without stopping.
The Harry and Rose being calmed and stared around the room they'd taken refuge in. It looked like a classroom of sorts, though abandoned. The dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls along with an upturned trash can. Facing them was something that seemed not to belong, as if placed there to stay out of the way.
The Harry and Rose being moved closer. It was a mirror as high as the ceiling with an ornate gold frame. It stood on two clawed feet with an inscription carved around the top. The Harry and Rose being read it.
Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.
"Erised." The Harry and Rose being whispered to them self as they moved closer to the mirror, gazing into it.
Almost immediately, the Harry and Rose being stared behind them, completely startled. They had seen them self in the mirror along with a whole crowd of people behind them. The room was empty. Trembling, the Harry and Rose being looked back at the mirror and stared, trying to take more detail in.
The Harry and Rose being saw them self reflected in the mirror, faces scared looking. Behind them were about ten, twenty other people. Carefully, the Rose half swept her hand through the empty air to determine that no one was there behind them. They kept staring at the people who existed in the mirror alone.
Two women were behind them, one behind the Harry half and the other behind the Rose half. They moved closer. The woman behind the Harry half had his eyes and was very pretty. The one behind the Rose half almost had her eyes, though hers were a lighter blue. The woman behind the Harry half had red hair and the one behind the Rose half had her black hair. They were smiling, but crying at the same time. Beside the red haired woman was a tall, thin black-haired man who's hair was messy just like the Harry half. In fact, he looked quite similar to the Harry half. Next to the woman behind the Rose half stood another man who was also tall. His hair was black as well and his gray eyes looked out at her. The Harry and Rose being stared between the two men and the women, then came to the only conclusion. These were their parents. A mixture of anger, sadness and longing twisted their insides as they stared at the Potter's and Black's, though there were more of them than just their parents. There were people who had the Harry half's same nose, the Rose half's high, aristocratic cheek bones, the Harry half's green eyes, the Rose half's long legs and shoulders. By now, they were so close their noses almost touched the mirror.
"Mom, dad?" The Harry and Rose being whispered quietly.
Their parents, their family, smiled at them. Hot tears rolled down the Harry and Rose being's faces and they pressed their hands to the glass. Despite the hot anger they had toward Black, they wanted to see the rest of them, desperately wanted to sink through the mirror and go to their family. The mirror remained solid, though. Silently, they cried and stood there, staring until a distant noise brought them back to their senses. They ripped their eyes from the mirror as they whispered, "I'll be back." Slowly, they turned, moving from the room and finding their way back to theirs. They carefully observed where they were going, remembering where the room was and how to get back.
"You could have woken me up." Ron said to them, sounding rather cross.
"You can come tonight. I'm going back and I know where it is. I want to show you the mirror." The Harry and Rose being said.
"I'd love to see your mom and dad." Ron responded eagerly.
"And I'd like to see the rest of your family." The Harry and Rose being responded with a smile. "You'll be able to show me your other brothers and everyone else."
"You can see them any old time. Just come round my house this summer." Ron said. "Anyway, maybe it only shows dead people. Have some bacon or something, why aren't you eating anything?"
Nothing else was more important than returning to the mirror to see their parents. Who cared if the Sorcerer's Stone was stolen by Professor Snape? It wouldn't effect them any.
"Are you all right?" Ron asked. "You look odd."
"Yeah, fine." The Harry and Rose being said.
It was only the Harry half who went with Ron that night, since he was smaller and it wouldn't do to try and fit the three of them under the cloak. Confidently, the Harry half took Ron through the corridors, to the suit of armor, and into the class room before throwing off the cloak and running to the mirror.
"Here it is!" The Harry half said with eager excitement, staring into the mirror at his family, at the family of the Rose half. "See?"
"I can't see anything." Ron said as the Harry and Rose being noted that, despite only the Harry half being there, the Rose half was also in the reflection, just as she'd been before. It was somewhat strange, but they delighted in the natural reflection the mirror gave them.
"Look!" The Harry half replied. Both of them were speaking in low voices. "There's all of them, even..." The Harry half spoke with slight bitterness, "Black." He added with excitement, "But the rest of them..."
"I can only see you." Ron said, bewildered.
"Look in it properly, go on. Stand where I am." The Harry half invited, stepping aside.
The Harry half stepped aside and only spotted Ron's reflection. Ron, however, stared, transfixed as the Harry and Rose being had been.
"Look at me!" He said in awe.
"Can you see all your family standing with you?" The Harry half asked.
"No... I'm alone, but I'm different... I look older, and I'm head boy!" Ron responded.
"What?" The Harry half asked, the Harry and Rose being confused.
"I am... I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to, and I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup... I'm Quidditch captain, too!" Ron tore his eyes away to look at the Harry half, excited. "Do you think this mirror shows the future?"
"No, my parents are dead." The Harry half replied longingly. "Let me have another look."
"You've had it to yourself all last night, give me a bit more time." Ron responded.
Hot rage tore through the Harry and Rose being and the Harry half grabbed Ron, yanking him close.
"You don't understand what it's like to see your family, now let me look!" The Harry half said, raising his voice and glaring furiously.
Since it was still within a week of the full moon, their anger could manifest, though it was much less common now than it was on the days closer to the full moon. With Ron threatening what they had, the Harry and Rose being knew they had to defend it.
"Don't push me!" Ron said to the Harry half, also sounding angry.
A sudden noise outside put an end to their argument. The Harry half frantically grabbed the cloak and threw it around them, both he and Ron staring at the door. Mrs. Norris came through and the Harry and Rose being wondered if the cloak worked on cats. After what seemed to be a long time, the cat left.
"This isn't safe, bet she's gone for Filch. Come on." Ron whispered, pulling the Harry half out of the room.
"Want to play some chess?" Ron asked the next day.
"No." The Harry and Rose being replied, their thoughts dwelling on their parents. Tonight, they would return.
"Why don't we go and visit Hagrid?" Ron asked.
"No, you go." The Harry and Rose being replied.
"You're thinking about that mirror aren't you?" Ron asked knowingly. "Don't go back tonight."
"And why not?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"I dunno, I've just got a bad feeling about it, and anyway, you've had too many close shaves already. Filch, Snape, and Mrs. Norris are wandering around. So what if they can't see you? What if they walk into you? What if you knock something over?" Ron asked.
"You sound just like Hermione." The Harry and Rose being shot back coolly. "Drop it, Ron."
"No." Ron responded, looking bravely at them. "I'm serious, don't go."
"I'll do what I want, Ron, leave me be about it." The Harry and Rose being said with irritation.
"Okay..." Ron trailed off, then looked down with a sigh.
Nothing would stop them. The Harry and Rose being probably made more sound than was wise, but they didn't care. They moved into the room and there they were, smiling and waving at them. Their family. They sat down to stare at the mirror, gazing into it and feeling the familiar twist of emotions, anger at Black, the trader, a deep sadness and longing to be with them. They stared hungrily, tears in their eyes, desperately wishing to join them.
"Back again, Harry and Rose?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
The Harry and Rose being glanced back at Professor Dumbledore, feeling as if their insides had turned to ice. They swallowed hard.
"I... I didn't see you, sir." The Harry and Rose being said, then swallowed again.
"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you, isn't it?" Professor Dumbledore said, smiling. The Harry and Rose being sighed with relief, and to their surprise, he slid off the desk and sat with them.
"So." He added. "You, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the mirror of Erised."
"The inscription?" The Harry and Rose being guessed.
"Quite right." Professor Dumbledore responded. "Given that, I assume by now you know what it does."
"It shows me my family." The Harry and Rose being responded. "And Ron being head boy."
"Indeed true, as well as having that which none of his brothers did. Isn't that right, Harry and Rose?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"How did you know?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"I don't need a cloak to become invisible." Dumbledore replied. "Now, can you think what the mirror of Erised shows us all?"
The Harry and Rose being glanced at the mirror for a moment.
"No, sir." The Harry and Rose being said.
"Let me explain." Dumbledore said. "The happiest man on earth would be able to use the mirror of Erised as a normal mirror. That is, he would see himself within it, just as any ordinary mirror would show. Does that help?"
"It shows us what we want, whatever we want." The Harry and Rose being responded in a thoughtful voice.
"Yes and no." Professor Dumbledore responded. "It will, in fact, show you what you want. But it isn't you who consciously controls the image shown. The mirror of Erised will show us the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing before you. Ronald Weasley, always overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of them all. However, this mirror gives neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or driven mad not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible. If you require any further explanation, I suggest you look more closely at the inscription."
The Rose half stood and stared at it. The words were backwards and not spaced quite right, but they thought about it for a few seconds in silence.
"I show not your face but your hearts desire." The Harry and Rose being said. "Erised, that's desire backward."
"Indeed." Professor Dumbledore said as the Rose half sat down. "The mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry. I ask that you not look for it again, but should you come across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. Remember that, Harry and Rose. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and head off to bed."
The Harry and Rose being stood.
"Sir... Professor Dumbledore, can I ask you something?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"Obviously, you've just done so." Professor Dumbledore said with a smile. "You may ask me one more thing, however."
"What do you see when you look in the mirror?" The Harry and Rose being asked.
"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks." Professor Dumbledore responded. The Harry and Rose being stared. "One can never have enough socks. Another Christmas come and gone, and no one gets me a single pair. People insist on giving me books."
"Sir?" The Harry and Rose being said.
"No more questions for tonight." Professor Dumbledore said gently as he stood. "Remember what I have said, Harry and Rose."
"Yes, sir." The Harry and Rose being responded, put the cloak on, then walked from the room and didn't look back.
As they headed through the corridors, they wondered if Professor Dumbledore had been entirely truthful when he'd told them what he saw in the mirror. Perhaps not, though the question had been rather personal. As they entered their room and lay down to sleep, they thought again of Black. From the mirror, they knew what Sirius Black looked like, but wondered if he was the trader they believed he was. Their mind strayed to their conversation with Professor McGonagall near the beginning of the school year, how she'd stated a trial wasn't necessary. The evidence was enough, she'd said, but they felt that was somehow wrong.
"I wonder, are you really the trader, Sirius Black?" The Harry and Rose being asked, closing their eyes. It was some time before they fell asleep.