Chapter Eight

"Harry?" Ember swallowed nervously as she stood before a table of glaring Slytherins.

"What do you want, Potter?"

She ignored the sneers as she shifted in place, waiting for Harry to take the small box in her hands. She knew one of the many Potter owls had reached him, telling them of their parents' decision and permission to allow their children to spend the upcoming Holiday with friends as work wouldn't allow them home time. Although, they, meaning Dad, was worried and hesitant if Harry went off with his friends. She smiled as Harry murmured his thanks then biting her lip as she, just as softly, asked, "Are you staying?"

"What's the matter, Potter? Afraid to stay without your other half? Bet you never been apart, maybe that's why your crying now."

"Parkinson." Pansy immediately went silent, turning back to her mid-day meal. She learned her lesson, at least when Harry used that emotionless tone. All the Slytherins barely held back shivers and chills at that tone. They did not like what usually came from the quiet boy when he went all cold and scary, especially when he said things that made them think of tiny prophecies coming to bear fruit. Nor did they like the equally empty emerald eyes, like now, only sighing in relief as the boy returned his attention to a shifting group of Gryffindors, "Yes, Em, some of us are remaining."

She nodded, "Unless I don't see you, Happy Holidays." Then she rushed away to the sighing relief of her two best friends. In a way, she was glad Harry was staying. Sure, that may seem selfish but she just wasn't ready to admit he was making other friends nor did she really want to share. Plus, she could probably use his help as she and her friends were on a small mission. She didn't know if Harry had noticed but something was seriously wrong at the school, especially since the Quidditch incident. She remembered the first rules set by the Headmaster about the Forbidden corridor, finding it later on to discover a very very large puppy. Then she gets almost knocked her broom and could have been seriously injured or died. When Hermione described how she and Ron noticed the moving lips of Snape, they were sure he was involved, only to discover through Hagrid, it was really Dumbledore and some wizard named Flamel who should be involved. And then they discover the Daily Prophet telling about a break in. They were absolutely sure whatever was there was now being guarding by the large puppy called Fluffy and had to be something that belonged to Flamel, whoever he was. Mentally, she slapped her forehead, stupid! Harry would probably know! Or Hermione as she did mention reading the name. I should have asked!

She'd have to remember that for next time.

***Later during the Holiday***

Harry wandered aimlessly through the shadows, wanting the silence it came with. He knew he would have to soon hurry back to the Common Room, it is almost curfew. But his curiosity won when he slipped through a nearby door to be faced with a very beautiful ornate full-length mirror, curious. Why would a mirror be in a magical school? What is its purpose? He stepped forward, fingertips brushing over the silvery cool surface as emerald eyes locked onto shadows moving behind a dense fog.

"Amazing, isn't it?"

He glanced behind him to find an amused Headmaster, "Sir."

Albus Dumbledore was rarely stumped in his life but never as badly as he was now. Ember Potter was chose, fated to be their savior, but her twin, Harry, was an unknown factor. No one, not even a Seer, could predict this mysterious Potter's path or influence upon his sister. For now, they would have to watch and hope. "Your sister had the unfortunate meeting with this same mirror the other day. I came down to remove it to a new location, only to find you, my dear boy."

"What exactly is it?" He followed blue eyes to the inscription above the shiny surface, murmuring to himself as he read, "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi." He blinked rapidly at the strange words flowing from his lips as his mind raced to translate.

"This is the Mirror of Erised. It's a magical mirror unlike any other. This particular mirror shows one's true desire, their very heart no matter what they once believed. As one views what is the truth, it comes with a terrible price."

Harry nodded, "One wastes away while pining at the sight."

"Yes, that is the price, my boy, but as I had told your sister, this mirror will be removed and I would suggest to not try finding it again"

Harry nodded once more; eyes pined on the moving shadows. If it was to show one's heart desire, then why was he only seeing the shadows in fog? "Of course, Sir." One last glance and Harry walked away, wandering back down the hallways for his way back to his room.

"Ouch!"

Emerald eyes blinked as he stared at fork in the hallway. Someone had hissed around the corner, to the left in which he would have to go, especially since he heard his Head of House hissing, "Where your loyalties lie." What made it worse was that he could feel the energy of his sister nearby. She was somewhere around that same corner and if Snape couldn't see her, then she was using Dad's invisibility cloak again. Confidently, he stepped around the corner, uncaring he was to be caught, just to allow her freedom to flee, after all Mum would most likely pull her out every Holiday and keep her locked in the House come summer.

"P-potter!"

Severus froze as the stuttering man beneath his fisted grip cried out again. Onyx eyes immediately locked onto a calmly watching Harry Potter. It seemed his little tête-à-tête would have to be postponed. "Mister Potter?"

"I was returning but the Headmaster stopped me, something about a Mirror of Desire."

Severus frowned as he allowed Quirrell to slip his grasp, "Very well. Follow me, Potter."

From beneath an invisible cloak, hazel eyes watched the preceding departures. She had been out simply because she wanted answers and Ron wouldn't wake up, at least not to the prodding of his roommates. So, she had snuck out, getting caught in the library by Mrs. Norris, who alerted Mr. Filch, but got away before he discovered who it was, only to once again almost get caught, this time by Snape and Quirrell, who seemed to be arguing over some strange topic.

As they all hurried away to new destinations, Ember rushed off for bed, remembering the same mirror Harry was talking about. When she had looked into it, she didn't see much except a tiny boy who seemed her age with dark hair and green eyes. He was awkward standing alone as people moved around him. Harry. She wondered if her heart's desire was really hoping Harry was the savior in a world without her, why else would she see him as a lonely boy without affection.

Then again she also saw a glimpse of him happy and carefree, surrounded by those who seemed to care about him. Perhaps she was quarreling with herself. Yes, that has to be it. She didn't want her baby brother to fight such a battle, knowing it could break him. She was willing to stand in the limelight, soaking up everything around her, allowing him to hide. Sure, every sibling had to have that one moment of wishing to be a lonely child with no burdens or pushing their responsibilities off to someone else. But she cared too much about her brother to make him suffer such a fate. He seemed happy to stand back and give her spotlight, until that changed she would remain as such a figurehead in the eyes of public. For now she would simply forget what she ever saw and settled down on solving the riddle she and her friends were trying to decipher.

***After the Holiday***

Ember sighed heavily. She had wanted to question Harry about what he saw compared to what she seen. But she couldn't crush him, not when he was surrounded by his friends. Yes, she was jealous they were monopolizing his time and that they also had a clue about his personality. That was until she would remember that in the end Harry was hers and no one could dare take him away, proving that when she wouldn't let death take him.

"Ember!"

She jumped, barely landing back on the hard bench instead of stone floor. She twisted from her gazing of Harry among snakes to find an excited Hermione with a rolling suitcase in hand, "Hermione!" She had actually forgotten that Hermione was due to return that day.

They hugged tightly as the brunette looked around, "Hey, where's Ron? I thought he knew I was returning today?"

Ember giggled, "According to Neville, its still to early for Ron to be awake, though they all tried." Yawing Gryffindor First Year boys suddenly tromped inside, "then again I don't think Ron will ever miss coming to a meal on time."

They shared a laugh as Ron sleepily dropped into his chosen seat. He grunted as he reached out to eat the food that suddenly appeared before him, not really caring what he was eating or where he was. That was until Hermione deliberately dropped a very heavy and large book upon the table, causing many students to jump in fright, "Awake yet, Ronald?" the blue eyed boy whimpered as he eyed the book, "Good." She smiled brightly, belying the devilish book in her brown eyes, "I meant to write about this earlier but I didn't know if anyone else would listen in." She waited until her two friends leaned close for her to whisper, "It's about Flamel."

Blue eyes blinked rapidly, destroying the last of his sleep but not his confusion, "Uh?"

Both girls giggled as Hermione rushed in excited whispers, "Nicholas Flamel is the inventor of the Philosopher's Stone, in which has the ability to turn objects into gold and prolong life, granting the drinker immortality with a potion called the Elixir of Life, though one must continue to drink to remain in such a state."

"That has to be it then! The stone must have been taken from Gringotts and brought here."

Ron waved a hand, ignoring the cries as some of his food flew off the fork, "Why would it be here? I mean," he swallowed and shoveled in more food, "who'd be stupid enough to go for it?"

Hermione sighed, grimacing in disgust like every other girl at his terrible table manners, "Ron's right." He whooped and sprayed food, "Oh, gross! Ronald Weasley, don't you have any manners? Chew your food and swallow before speaking!"

"Yes, Weasel, that is such bad manners. Then again looking at your family it must be considered good manners as you've seemed to confirm you were born in a pigsty." Ember sighed as Ron jumped up to defend himself, knowing they just couldn't start the day without the usual throwing of barbs and taunts.