Chapter 7 – Stones and Mirrors
25th December 1991
It was 8.00 AM when Harry woke. He got up, bleary eyed and dragged his feet to Blaise's bed to wake him up too but found it empty.
"Oh yeah, he's gone back home for Christmas," he muttered glumly. "Hurray for him." He stretched his hands and yawned widely, shirking the sleep from his mind. His room was a mess and he picked out the strewn clothes and books one by one, feeling his bones creak while he bent. His diary of dark spells was stashed under the bed and everything else was dumped in his wardrobe.
Satisfied with the mild cleaning and knowing that the elves would polish the rest, he freshened up and went down to the common room. It was empty. Every single Slytherin had gone home to celebrate Christmas except for him.
He aimlessly walked around the common room wondering what to do, that is until he saw a small pile of presents addressed to him.
"Hey! I got presents!" he said surprised, "Who would send me presents?" he wondered.
He picked up the first and saw it was from Blaise. He ripped open the wrapping and saw it was a book that read, 'Transfiguration and Defence for the talented'. "Wow Blaise," he said in awe opening the book and reading the contents.
He then proceeded to open the rest of the presents. The Dursley's had sent him a tissue paper. He wondered how their gift had managed to reach the school and he imagined McGonagall or Dumbledore might have had something to do with that. Draco had sent him a box of gold coloured chocolate frogs that were something like a limited edition item in the wizarding world.
There was another large box with his name on it and he was pleasantly surprised to see it was sent by Lillian. "That's a big gift," he muttered. He removed the covering and opened the box.
BANG!
Something shot out of the box and hit him hard in the eye. "Ouch!" he yelped and stumbled and fell behind. He then cautiously looked at the box from a little distance and saw a punching glove hanging out of it with a note pinned to it.
"That… that sneaky shit for brains!" he hissed in outrage. He pulled the note from the glove and began to read.
Hey Potter,
Merry Christmas! Hope you like my present! There's a box of chocolates inside for you.
Cheers!
MaRy
Harry was furious with himself for not suspecting a thing when he too had sent a similar present to her. "That good for nothing bitch, she's going to pay for that. Well I hope she likes my present too and I sure as hell am not going to eat those chocolates, she might have poisoned them."
He was about to go back to his room to change when he noticed another package below the other boxes. He frowned and picked it up and opened it.
A red cloak with silver linings fell out. He picked it up and gasped in awe. It felt like water and the fabric was amazingly smooth. He spread the cloak and a note fell out.
"Your father left this with me before he died, use it well," he read it out loud. "Hmmm wonder what that means."
He tired the cloak on and went to the nearest mirror to see how it looked on him. He looked into the mirror and let out a strangled yell.
"What the hell? My body is missing!" he gasped and threw the cloak down. He looked back at the mirror and sighed in relief when he saw himself intact but now sporting a rapidly purpling eye.
He looked at the cloak curiously and picked it up and covered himself completely and looked in the mirror only to find he wasn't there. He removed and put on the cloak at least ten times before collapsing in one of the chair.
"Wow," he breathed in admiration, "It's a bloody cloak which can make me invisible! Awesome!" he said, his face breaking out into a wide grin thinking about the amount of sneaking he could do with that cloak.
He broke out laughing, gathered his gifts together and went to his room to change and head to the great hall for breakfast.
Gryffindor common room
"Hey Hermione, Mary," yelled Ron, "Get down here we got presents!"
"Coming!" Lillian yelled back and came bounding down the stairs pulling Hermione along with her.
She squealed when she saw her pile of presents and immediately began ripping them open. "Come on Hermione, stop acting like a stuck up and open your presents!"
Hermione huffed and began to open her presents using her wand to remove the wrappers neatly.
"Oh for heaven's sake Hermione, just rip them open!" said Ron pulling her wand from her hand and ripped the covering of her box.
"Thanks a lot Ronald," she said gritting her teeth but smiled nonetheless.
After a few minutes of ripping and laughing and squealing, there were piles of chocolates, books and clothes lying around.
"Hey Mary, you got one more," said Hermione throwing her a box.
"Huh, it's from Potter," she said surprised.
"Why would Potter be sending you Christmas presents?" sneered Ron.
"I sent him one too," she said with an evil smirk.
"And you should have sent him something nice! Not a punching jack in the box," said Hermione glaring at her.
"Hey! I put some chocolates too! You know," she said indignantly.
"Which will ensure he stays in the bathroom for the rest of the day," said Hermione dryly.
Lillian laughed, "Oh yeah, I forgot."
Ron sniggered, "Nice one Mary."
"Thanks!" she said brightly.
"Open his present already, unlike you he might have sent something nice!" Hermione said looking annoyed at their antics.
Lillian rolled her eyes but opened the box anyway. Ron leaned over her to look into the box while Hermione just sat far from them in one of the armchairs.
POOFFF!
Brownish black smoke came billowing out of the box.
Both Lillian and Ron started coughing uncontrollably. Ron swore loudly. "What the hell is this shit!" coughed Lillian.
"I don't know," Ron coughed back.
Once the smoke had cleared Hermione came over to them looking concerned.
"You two smell horrible!" she said wrinkling her nose.
Ron eyes widened in horror.
"What is it?" asked Lillian.
"Those... those were self igniting dung bombs," he said sniffing his arm and nearly puked. "And the smell wouldn't go away for 6 hours!"
"What?" Lillian screeched. "That good for nothing idiotic brainless moronic GIT! I'm going to kill him! Oh god I stink!"
Hermione then started laughing. "Oh this is priceless," she said wiping tears from her eyes, "Both of you really think alike."
"Oh shut up Hermione Granger or I am going to hug you," Lillian said looking peeved.
That shut Hermione up real quick. "Well we better go and change and head down for breakfast."
"What?!" wailed Ron, "I'm supposed to go down smelling like thousand year old shit?" Lillian nodded in agreement.
"You can't help it, now better be a Gryffindor and change and let's go to the great hall," she said firmly.
They grumbled but went to change nonetheless. A few minutes later they were on their way to the great hall.
"So Hermione, did you find anything on Nicolas Flamel?" asked Lillian.
"No, not a thing, I've tried every book listing famous wizards in the past hundred years but found nothing on him."
"Maybe he's not famous," said Lillian.
"Maybe not, but Hagrid said he was good friends with Dumbledore so his name should be mentioned somewhere," she said looking frustrated.
Flashback
"Hey Hagrid!" Lillian said cheerfully.
"Oh hello there Mary, what brings you down here and who're your friends?"
"Oh this is Ron and Hermione," she said pointing at them.
"You're a Weasley aren't ya?"
"How'd you know?" asked Ron looking perplexed.
"I'd recognize the hair anywhere, besides I've spent half me time chasing your twin brothers from the forest," he said chuckling. "So what do you need?"
"Oh nothing just came down to have a chat with you that's all," Lillian said quickly before Ron opened his mouth and blurted out something.
"Well that's nice off you," he said removing a kettle from the fire, "Tea anyone?"
"Yes please, thank you," all three said together.
They sat silently for a while before Hermione said, "Say Hagrid, do you know any three headed dogs living in the castle?"
"What? How'd you find out about fluffy?" he asked surprised.
"Oh we saw it in the castle and it tried to eat us!" exclaimed Ron.
"Oh don't be daft, Fluffy's harmless."
"Well do you know what it's guarding Hagrid?" asked Lillian bluntly.
Hagrid coughed and spluttered, "How... how do you know it's guarding something!"
"We guessed," said Hermione quickly, "Now tell us what's it guarding?"
"I can't, it's a secret. So how's Hogwarts treating ya," he said trying to change the topic.
"Oh come on Hagrid! Please tell us! We promise we won't tell anyone," said Lillian giving a puppy dog look.
"No I can't, whatever Fluffy is guarding is between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel," he said firmly.
"Oh so there is a Nicolas Flamel involved huh," Lillian said looking gleeful.
"I shouldn't hav' told you that," he muttered, "Oye where you three going?!"
"We're going to research on Nicolas Flamel! See you later Hagrid!" Lillian shouted and they ran back to the castle.
End flashback.
"Or maybe we aren't looking hard enough," Lillian murmured, "What do you think Ron?"
"Huh, err yeah whatever you say Mary," he said hastily not really paying attention.
"Well we'll look through more books later," Hermione said sighing.
"Yeah sure, more books," Lillian said unenthusiastically.
Hermione just rolled her eyes, "I hope you two stop stinking soon, it's taking a toll on my nose!"
Lillian face darkened and she balled her hand into a fist and hit the other, "If I see that Potter now he is going to get it from me," she said furiously as they entered the great hall.
At the same time Harry entered from the other end and saw Lillian and group entering the hall. He smirked and walked in her direction. There were a few Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs present in the hall and no teachers had come yet.
"Oh look there he is," Hermione said pointing at Harry. Lillian looked up immediately then looked at Ron and Hermione and said, "You two go ahead I'll just come in a few minutes."
"Don't do anything stupid Mary," Hermione warned.
"Of course not Hermione," she said but held her wand inside her pocket and walked towards him.
"That purple eye really brings out the colour of your eye," she said to him sweetly. "Did you try the chocolates?"
"Oh my god Freckles," Harry gasped wrinkling his nose. "You smell horrible!" Her words were literally drowned in stink and Harry took a few steps away from her, his eyes watering because of the smell.
She clenched her jaws and her eyes radiated fury. "Care to guess why?" she ground out, through her teeth.
"Those dung bombs really bring out the colour of your freckles, Freckles," he said chuckling.
Lillian clenched her teeth in anger, "Haven't I told you not to call me that!" she said trying hard not to lose her temper.
Harry just scratched his hair and with a thoughtful look, he said, "You might have mentioned it once or twice, I don't remember what it was and would you please do something about that smell!" He smirked when he saw how angry and irritated she looked.
"Every breath I take I am reminded of this stupid dung bomb," she growled irately. "I shouldn't have settled for a punching box and laxatives."
"I knew you poisoned the chocolates!" Harry exclaimed. "You're pure evil you know that?"
She temper snapped and she reacted on instinct and her fist smashed into the side of his head. It was totally unexpected and he never expected her to react like that but on the other hand he should have expected it remembering how she dealt with Malfoy.
Throbbing pain burst forth from the spot she punched and he stumbled back feeling completely disoriented. One emotion did force its way through the pain and it was retribution. He too reacted without thinking and he punched her in the jaw, not caring that it was a girl he was hitting.
"Mary!" Hermione screamed in horror. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"Get the away from her Potter!" Ron yelled.
Harry and Lillian didn't hear Hermione and Ron scream. Their livid eyes had sight of only each other and nothing else existed at the moment.
Lillian jumped back up, drew her wand. "You bastard!" she spat, her common sense and self control blinded by rage. "Tarantallerga!"
Harry wanted to apologize for hitting her immediately when he realised what he had done but her curse hit him and his legs started dancing uncontrollably. His temper snapped as well and he yelled, "Furnunculus!" and at the same time she yelled "Densaugeo!"
Both spells rocketed past each other and hit the intended targets. Immediately boils started forming and breaking all over Lillian's body and Harry's front teeth began to grow uncontrollably.
"Scabious!" he shouted cursing her body to itch and Lillian dropped her wand and started itching herself furiously.
She groaned as she started to scratch her skin raw and Harry smiled viciously stopping the growth of front tooth. "Pellopulsum," he shouted sending the punching hex right into her gut.
Lillian went down with a groan. There were boils bursting all over her, she was itching herself like crazy and she felt the air rush out of her body when the punching hex hit her.
"Densaugeo!" He cast the teeth over growth hex on her as well.
Harry raised his wand to curse her again, even though she was down, when someone yelled loudly, "WHAT IN MERLINS NAME IS GOING ON HERE?!"
"Finite Incantatum," said someone else. The boils on Lillian stopped bursting, her front teeth stopped growing and the itch vanished while Harry's legs stopped dancing. He had, to his shame, not learnt the counter spell to stop his legs from dancing.
It was Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, who looked angrier than Harry had ever seen her.
"Will somebody please explain to me what is going on here?" she said, her voice soft but deadly.
"I think we should take them to the hospital wing first, Minerva and then bring them to your office," said Dumbledore his eyes twinkling in amusement.
McGonagall glared at him but nodded. "You two follow me," she said looking at Ron and Hermione. "And you two, do not expect me to levitate you so get up and move towards the hospital wing," she said sharply.
Immediately Harry and Lillian shot up, Lillian rather painfully.
In the hospital wing Madam Pomfrey was muttering about irresponsible and rash children while Harry and Lillian were sitting on the bed with their backs faced to each other.
Outside McGonagall stood in front of Ron and Hermione, "Now please explain to me how those two ended up cursing each other."
"Well professor," Ron began importantly. "We were calmly walking into the great hall when Potter comes out of nowhere and starts cursing Mary. Mary was forced to retaliate and Hermione screamed at me to find you which I did."
McGonagall looked at him in disbelief and Hermione just looked shocked. "Is that what happened Ms. Granger?"
"I… yes… I mean no, professor," she stammered.
"Then what did happen?" she said glaring at Ron.
Hermione then told her about the Christmas present Harry and Lillian had sent each other. How she swore to get back at him and who exactly started the fight.
After Hermione was done McGonagall didn't say anything but took out a piece of paper and wrote something on it.
She then looked at Ron and said, "Mr. Weasley I would appreciate it if you took a bath." Ron blushed and muttering something about Potter and dung bombs.
"Take this note to Filch Mr. Weasley. You are to serve detention with him now," she said.
"What! Why?" he exclaimed.
"For trying to get a fellow student into trouble and for lying blatantly to your head of house, now go," she said angrily. "And Ms. Granger, get back to your common room."
"Yes ma'am," Hermione said and ran back to the common room while Ron, cursing under his breath, went looking for Filch.
McGonagall sighed and went back into the hospital wing. "Are you done Poppy?"
"Of course, you can take them to the headmaster now Minerva."
Harry and Lillian exchanged nervous glances and followed McGonagall out.
McGonagall led them to her office and ushered them in. It was a rather plain office with a single table and loads of paper scattered everywhere. There was a dark green cupboard at one corner, which too looked like it was overloaded with assignments and tests. There was a door beside it, which Harry assumed was her bedroom.
"Ah Mr. Potter, Ms. Austin, please do take a seat," said Professor Dumbledore conjuring two chairs out of the thin air.
They went and sat in the chairs in front of McGonagall's table. Harry looked around and saw Professor Snape standing near him and Professor McGonagall near Lillian. He gulped when he saw the look in Snape's eyes.
Dumbledore opened his mouth to say something but Lillian broke in, "It's all Potter's fault sir. I'm innocent!"
Harry gasped, "She's lying professor! She started it!"
"That is quite enough, the both of you," Snape said softly and they shut up immediately.
"Professor McGonagall, would you kindly tell us what you learned from Ms. Granger?" Dumbledore asked her.
She nodded and relayed the entire incident from the incident with the Christmas gifts to the sadistic duel.
Dumbledore didn't say anything but frowned and interlocked his fingers.
"Clearly my student is innocent in this matter," said Professor Snape "He only acted in self defence."
"Really Severus, he didn't have to curse her so badly for a punch," McGonagall said defending Lillian.
"I punched her back then cursed her professor," Harry said sullenly.
"You could have gone and told a Professor!" she said sternly.
Harry snorted. "And look like a weakling in front of her and two dumb Gryffindor's?"
McGonagall spluttered at the unconcealed disrespect while Snape grinned, his opinion of Harry changing for better.
"This does not change the fact that both of you duelled in the great hall and you know that duelling is strictly prohibited in Hogwarts," Dumbledore said severely.
"So as punishment I will be taking 50 points from Gryffindor and a detention for starting the fight and 20 points from Slytherin for retaliating when he could have gone to a professor."
"That's so not fair," Lillian mumbled.
"I am not done Ms. Austin," he said, the twinkle in his eyes at full blast now "You two will also be spending the rest of the Christmas vacations together."
"What?" Harry asked, not understanding the last part.
"In other words," Dumbledore continued. "You will be living together for the rest of the holidays."
"NO!" they both said together in horror. Even Snape and McGonagall looked surprised.
"Yes," he said. "Professor McGonagall, Ms. Austin is weak in transfiguration is she not?" he asked her.
"That is correct headmaster," she said, the sides of her lips twitching as she realized what the headmaster was planning.
"Very well, Mr. Potter you will be teaching Ms. Austin the subject until your punishment is over. Your food will be delivered to you inside the room and you will be allowed to leave your rooms for two hours every day to stretch your legs. It is up to you when you wish to leave. Both of you will have separate bedrooms to sleep – naturally, but will have to bear each other's company for the rest of the day," he said.
"No! Professor you can't do that!" Harry cried. "She'll kill me in my sleep! She's a monster!"
"Oh don't be ridiculous, Potter," McGonagall snapped. "She won't do anything to you, will she?" she said looking at Lillian.
"Oh I don't know professor accidents do happen," she said under her breath.
"SEE! She's already planning my horrific death!" he yelled.
"That's quite enough Ms. Austin, Mr. Potter!"
Both of them became quiet and settled for a glaring contest.
"Will my friends be allowed to visit me?" Lillian asked sullenly, resentfully accepting her fate.
"Yes Ms. Austin, they can come for half an hour at any time each day," Dumbledore said.
"Thank god for that," she said relieved.
"This is bullshit!" Harry burst out. "Why am I being punished because of her stupidity! She's the one who started the fight, not me!"
"You did send her a dung bomb as a Christmas gift did you not?" Dumbledore said. "Whether she started it or not, I think it's safe to assume you two will get into a fight in the future as well."
Harry stared at the ground angrily.
"Alright, if you'd follow me, I'll take you to your new living quarters," he said standing and moving out of his office.
He led them towards the staff room and into and abandoned class room. He pulled out his wand and began transforming the room.
After about five minutes, a dirty classroom had been transformed into a room having four comfortable chairs along with a dining table and a fire place. There was a study table in one corner and two separate rooms plus a single bathroom. It was well lit and was quite comfortable and cosy. Suddenly the arrangement didn't fell all that bad.
"This Ms. Austin, Mr. Potter will be your new rooms for the next seven days, until everybody returns. Your trunks and other belonging are already in your respective bedrooms, you can go and inspect your rooms if you wish," Dumbledore said.
They both nodded and headed towards the same door. Harry caught the handle before she did and her hand scraped his. He raised his eyebrows at her and she huffed and moved to the other room and went it.
Dumbledore chuckled. "What's so funny Albus?" McGonagall asked.
Dumbledore didn't say anything but began to count, "Five, four, three, two…" And on cue the doors opened and them both walked out, Harry red in the face. As he passed by her he muttered, "Ugly pink panties."
Lillian turned bright red and hissed furiously, "You opened my trunk!"
"How was I supposed to know it was yours!" he hissed back.
"My name was written on it!"
"Well I didn't see it!"
"I hope the rooms are fine children," Dumbledore interrupted trying not to chuckle.
"Yes sir, they're fine," Harry muttered.
"Fine my arse," Lillian said looking furious.
"Ok then, we shall take our leave while you two get comfortable. If you need anything just press that blue button on the wall. Tomorrow at 10 in the morning Professor McGonagall will come to supervise Mr. Potter teaching Ms. Austin. Have a good day," he said and walked out of the room, Professor Snape following him out.
"Professor McGonagall, will you inform my friends where to find me?" Lillian asked her.
"Yes of course," she said and went out shutting the door behind her.
A minute after the Professors left, Harry jumped up and tried to open the door only to find it locked.
"Damn, they actually locked the door."
"Of course you fool, it wouldn't be much of a punishment if it weren't," she said sinking into one of the chairs.
"This isn't punishment, this is torture," he said dropping himself into another chair opposite her. "And it is your entire fault," he added accusingly.
"My fault!" she exclaimed, "You're the one who sent me the dung bomb!"
"And you didn't send me anything did you?" he said sarcastically, "And you didn't punch me first at all!"
Lillian didn't say anything but just stared at the fireplace.
"You really wear pink underwear?" Harry asked sniggering.
"SHUT UP!" she yelled throwing a pillow at him turning red.
Gryffindor common room, 12.30 pm
Professor McGonagall entered the common room looking around for Ron and Hermione and found them sitting in front of the fire place with books around them.
She walked over to them and greeted them, "Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger."
"Oh, hello Professor," Hermione said quickly shutting the book she was reading, "What happened to Mary?"
"She is serving her punishment with Mr. Potter for the rest of the vacation."
"What punishment did she get?" Hermione asked fearfully.
McGonagall smiled, "Oh nothing much, just that she'll be staying with Potter for the rest of the Christmas holidays and he will be tutoring her in transfiguration and defence."
Both Ron and Hermione had horrified looks on their faces.
"She has to stay in a room with that… with that Slytherin?!" Ron said, shocked.
"Yes, Mr. Weasley. That is what the headmaster decided."
"Can we go and see her?" Hermione asked.
"Yes you may, but for 30 minutes only. The room is next to the staffroom and the password is Peace, have a good day," she said left.
"Blimey, poor Mary," Ron said looking at Hermione.
"Well she does deserve it, more than him."
"Deserve it! Hermione, she punched a Slytherin who sent her dung bombs. Why would she deserve it?"
"She deserves it Ron, because she punched him first and she'd also sent him a gift equally bad as the one he sent her."
"He's a Slytherin Hermione. And Slytherin's deserve nothing better than what she did to him."
"You are a prejudiced, narrow minded idiot Ronald. Now get back and read those books I gave you. We should have a little good news for Mary when we go and meet her."
"Yeah, yeah," he grumbled and picked up a book and started flicking through it.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Later that day, both Lillian and Harry were sitting in their make shift common room. Harry was reading the book Blaise sent him and Lillian was eating some chocolates and writing in her diary.
She kept scribbling in her diary and occasionally stared out of the window. After a while she closed her diary started drumming her fingers on the table. She kept shifting her position on the chair and glared at Harry from time to time.
Harry for his part didn't even move. He was completely engrossed in his book and didn't even notice her making noises and glaring at him.
"This is so boring," she said. Harry just nodded.
"Aren't you bored?" Harry didn't respond.
"I'm talking to you, you know," she said getting irritated. Harry still didn't respond.
She picked up a piece of chocolate and chucked it at him but he just raised his hands and stopped it in mid air and moved it back to its box.
"How he gets on my nerves," she muttered under her breath. She then got up and moved next to him.
"POTTER!" she yelled in his ear.
This time he did respond, he dropped his book and fell out of his chair.
"What the hell do you want!" he said angrily, rubbing his ear.
"Nothing," she said smugly and went back to her chair.
Harry just growled in annoyance, picked his book up and muttered, "Bitch," under his breath but she heard it.
"What did you call me?" she said, her voice low and menacing.
He didn't bother replying again.
"I asked you a question Potter."
Still no response.
"Four eyes, scarhead, green eyed freak, slimy Slytherin, scumbag," she said trying to get him to react but he still didn't do or say anything except turn the page of his book.
She then picked up the jar of water and was going to throw it at him when it was suddenly jerked out of her hand and she was levitated into the air.
"Put me down Potter!" she screamed, "Put me down you slime ball!"
But Harry just moved her to the entrance of the bathroom with his wand, lifted his other hand and opened the door and dropped her inside. He then shut the door and murmured a locking charm.
Lillian started banging the door and screaming, "Let me out you jerk! Let me out or you're going to pay!"
Harry just smiled and continued reading his book calmly like nothing had happened at all.
After five minutes of shouting and banging she started pleading, "Potter, I'm sorry! Being locked in this room is really messing with my head! I won't bug you I promise!"
"Harry please, open the door!" she tried, saying his first name but to no avail. Inside she had a mug of water ready in her hand if he did open the door. She really was bored to death and this was the only way she could entertain herself.
Suddenly the door to their room opened and in walked Ron and Hermione.
"Oh, it's you two," he said looking up from his book.
"Yes it's us," Hermione said rather coldly while Ron just sneered at him. "Where's Mary?"
"Bathroom," he grunted.
Lillian started banging the door again, "Harry, please let me out! I swear I'll leave you alone," she begged.
"You locked her in!"
"She was irritating me," he said looking back at his book and turning the page casually.
"You bastard! How dare you lock her in, who the hell do you think you are?!" Ron yelled.
"Shut your dirty mouth Weasley, why don't you unlock the door and ask her why I did it."
Hermione pulled out her wand and said, "Alohomora," pointing her wand at the lock but nothing happened. She frowned and tried again but it didn't unlock.
"You used a different locking charm didn't you?" she asked curiously.
Harry smiled and said, "Yep."
"Well unlock the damn door then you slimy shit!" Ron sneered.
"You watch your tongue Weasel or it just might vanish one of these days," he said but pointed his wand at the lock and murmured, "Patefacio."
The lock clicked open and Ron yanked the door open.
SPLASH!
Ron was drenched and water spread all over the floor.
"Ron!" Lillian yelped, "Shit, I'm so, so sorry I thought it was him," she said jerking her head towards Harry who was leaning back into his chair smirking.
"N-no it's alright," he said shivering.
"Need a drying charm Weasley," Harry drawled.
"Not from you," he spat, "Hermione a drying charm please," he said looking at her.
"I don't know one," she said looking at Harry incredulously. She couldn't believe that he knew more spells than her.
"Oh come on lets go to the study," Lillian said impatiently pulling the two of them. "Please tell me you found out something, I've been dying of boredom in here."
Hermione sighed, "We, I mean, I couldn't find anything while Ron here was no help at all."
"Awesome, now what do we do?"
"I thought you could, you know ask him," Hermione said.
"Are you crazy Hermione, for all we know he might be trying to steal it!" hissed Ron.
Lillian rolled her eyes, "He didn't even know about the dog Ron. I'm sure he isn't trying to steal whatever is down there."
"What you mean he didn't know? Does he know now?" Hermione asked.
"Err… yeah, the night of the troll incident we were chatting and I told him what happened," she said running her hands through her hair.
"Why would you do that?" Hermione hissed.
"We were talking alright! And it was his parent's death anniversary! He was looking miserable!"
There was silence for a while.
"So how is it living with a Slytherin Mary?" Ron asked her.
"Yeah and why did he lock you in the bathroom!" demanded Hermione.
She blushed, "Oh yeah, about that. It was kinda my fault."
Hermione raised her eyebrow demanding a further explanation.
"I was irritating him, throwing stuff at him and yelling at him because I was bored and he wasn't responding. So I got pissed and was about to throw that water jug on him when he suddenly levitated me and locked me in the bathroom," she said sheepishly.
"He levitated you? With what spell?"
"Don't know and don't care."
"Dirty Slytherin," muttered Ron.
"Honestly Ron, you utter another word about Slytherin's and I'm going to seal your mouth," snapped Hermione said, quite irritated with his rants about Slytherin's.
"Anyway, we got to go now," Hermione said looking at the clock.
"What! So soon?"
"Yeah, sorry Mary but our half hour is up. If we don't go now we won't be allowed to visit."
Lillian sighed, "Yeah, see you later then."
"And don't forget to ask him about Nicolas Flamel," Hermione whispered.
"Yeah sure," Lillian said unenthusiastically.
"See you later Mary," said Ron walking out of the room.
"Bye Ron, Hermione," she said and shut the door.
She then went back and sat in the chair next to the fire place staring at the fire burning and crackling merrily.
"Hey Harry," she said suddenly.
"What is it now?"
"What do you know about Nicolas Flamel?" she asked holding her breath in anticipation.
"Why do you want to know about him?" he asked curiously.
"Just answer the question."
"Not until you tell me why."
"But you know who he is right?" she asked annoyed.
"Yeah I do, now why do you want to know?"
She closed her eyes for a moment and debated whether she should tell him or not.
"You remember the dog I told you about."
"Yeah," he said wondering where this was going to go.
"I also said it was guarding something."
"And you found out what it was guarding?" Harry asked sceptically.
"No, of course not, but we found out it is guarding something that belongs to a Nicolas Flamel."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Hagrid let it slip. He said whatever the dog was guarding was between Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel."
Harry didn't say anything but was lost in his thoughts. Nicolas Flamel is known for making the philosopher's stone, he thought. So if the dog is guarding something that belongs to him then it has to be the stone.
"Harry! You going to tell me who he is now?" she asked him.
Harry didn't reply but dug his hands deep into his pockets and pulled out a card and gave it to her.
"A chocolate frog card of Dumbledore?" she asked him uncertainly.
"Just turn it over and read it," he said.
"Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood and for his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel! That's him. So he's an alchemist, what about it? How is that going to help us to find out what the dog is guarding?" she asked without stopping, the excitement evident in her voice.
"Geez, you don't read at all do you? Nicolas Flamel is the only known maker of the philosopher's stone," he said.
"The philosopher's stone? What's that?" she asked looking confused.
"Man, you really are useless aren't you?" he said cleaning his glasses.
"Will you just tell me?"
"It's a stone which produces the elixir of life which for your information is a potion which grants immortality and it can convert any metal to pure gold."
"Wow," she whispered.
"Wow is right and apparently Flamel and his wife are about 600 years old," he said.
"That's just unreal! The guy must look ancient!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah, now you mind telling me why did you want to know about the stone?"
"We think someone is trying to steal it," she said bluntly.
"Whoa rewind, what you mean someone is trying to steal it?"
"What I mean is Hermione, Ron and I think someone is trying to steal the stone."
"So what you mean is you, the know it all and the weasel think someone is trying to steal the philosopher's stone, which has been hidden by Dumbledore under his nose without getting caught?" he said slowly.
"Yes that's what I'm saying."
"And who do you think is trying to steal it?" he asked her.
"Your head of house."
Harry stared at her and then started laughing, "And why would you think that!"
Lillian sighed looking annoyed. "Would you stop laughing?"
"Sorry, please do continue," he said still chuckling.
"Do you remember the night the troll attacked us?"
He immediately stopped laughing, "Yeah, what about it?"
"After you passed out, Snape, the headmaster, McGonagall and Quirrell came running to find the troll. But all they found was you passed out and the troll dead and nobody knows how."
"Yes, I know all that, your point?" he said impatiently.
"I noticed Snape's leg was all bloody as if it had been bitten and he was limping, and the only way that could have happened was if he were in the third floor corridor. What I thought was he might have let the troll in as a diversion and tried to steal the stone."
Harry thought over what she had just said and then replied, "I don't think it's Snape who is trying to steal it, if anybody is actually trying to steal the stone."
"Why would you think that?" she asked.
"Because I've seen him with Quirrell, and half the time they're arguing over something. Snape keeps warning him but Quirrell just stammers back his innocence."
"So how does that make Snape innocent, I mean if he's threatening Quirrell then maybe he's trying to get Quirrell to steal the stone for him and how do you know all this?"
"I'm a Slytherin," he said simply, "and whatever Weasley says about Slytherin's being evil, well tell him to stuff his head down the toilet.
The reason I'm saying this is because every time I look at Quirrell my scar starts itching and he always gives me the creeps," he said a shiver running down his spine.
"Oh come on Potter, you've seen the way he is! He stutters half the time and stuffs garlic in his turban!" she said laughing.
"Appearances can be deceiving. If anyone is trying to steal the stone, it's got to be Quirrell and Snape must be trying to stop him."
"Yeah maybe, but whoever is trying to steal the stone, we got to stop them!" she declared.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there. There is no we, it's just you, Weasel and Beaver. No Potter involved, you got that?" he said firmly. "Well I'll leave you to your plotting. I've got a book to read and dinner to eat. Bye, bye," he said and went and sat on the window with his book in one hand.
Soon dinner appeared on the table and they both ate silently.
It was already night time when they finished. He had spent more than an hour talking to Austin. He sighed and went back to reading his book.
Lillian meanwhile was sitting next to the roaring fire thinking about what Harry had just said. She was so deeply lost in her thoughts that she didn't notice the fire licking her hands as if it were caressing them lovingly.
But she did notice the cold December air rushing in through the window chilling her bones up and making her move closer to the fire.
"Potter, close the damn window! The cold air is freezing my bones!" she said.
"What are you talking about? There's a nice wind blowing outside."
"Well I'm feeling cold, so please shut the windows!"
"Fine, fine I'm going to bed anyway. Good night," he said and went to his room, changed and went to sleep almost the second his head hit the pillow. It had been one hell of a Christmas and he was glad it was over.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
27th December 1991
Harry was mad, that girl had been in the bathroom for more than half an hour now and he really needed to go fast. Why the hell hadn't Dumbledore provided two bathrooms he thought irritably.
He banged on the bathroom door again, "Freckles, you better come out right now or I'm coming in regardless of your current state of dress!"
"You dare not Potter, I'm sure you don't want to see me naked," she yelled back.
"Damn she's right," he muttered to himself but yelled back nonetheless, "I don't care I'm coming in."
He moved to open the door praying that she was dressed and as he reached out to the handle the door opened and she came out her hair all wet and with a towel in her hand but fully dressed. "Jeez Potter can't you wait for a little while."
"Little while?! You were in there for almost 45 minutes!"
"Yeah, yeah and I'm out now so get in and wash yourself, I don't want to have a smelly tutor."
"Shut up," he said annoyed and went into the bathroom banging the door hard.
An hour later both Harry and Lillian were sitting at the table while McGonagall just hovered in the background.
"Alright Austin, transfigure this matchstick into a needle," Harry said removing a matchstick from his pocket.
"Yes sir," she muttered and pulled out her wand and pointed it at the matchstick and muttered it incantation half heartedly.
"Will you do it seriously, I'm not exactly having the time of my life here you know!" he said clenching his teeth. "Now, do it again."
She tried it again and again and again, but the matchstick refused to change into a needle completely.
"Alright stop," he said after fifteen minutes, "What are you thinking when you're trying to transfigure the matchstick?"
"I'm thinking about changing the matchstick into a needle."
"And….?" He asked her.
"And what? That's it. What else do I need to think about?"
Harry sighed and pinched the front of his nose, "Freckles… I mean Austin," he said hastily after McGonagall and Lillian gave him a nasty glare, "Transfiguration is all about intent, not spell work like the 'know it all' believes. You have to want to change the matchstick into a needle. You have to imagine a needle in your head. It's shape, how it looks, how it feels when you hold it and then say the incantation. Think of the matchstick not as a matchstick but a needle. All you're trying to do is change it to its original form."
All this time she listened to him giving her undivided attention and McGonagall was rather impressed by his understanding of transfiguration. Not many students were able to grasp the true meaning of transfiguring an object.
"Now try it," he said to her.
Lillian closed her eyes and did all he told her to do and then said the incantation. The matchstick slowly changed into silver but was still as brittle as wood. He waved his wand over the matchstick and changed it back into its original form and told her to try again.
After an hour of rigorous practice, Lillian had finally managed to change her matchstick into a needle and was looking pleased with her work.
"Good, tomorrow we'll work on changing it back into a matchstick and then we'll move on to bigger and tougher things," Harry said.
"Excellent work Mr. Potter," McGonagall said looking at him approvingly, "The headmaster will be pleased to know that you two are getting along fine."
"Oh, we aren't getting along at all Professor," Lillian said cheerfully, "We just make it a point to stay away from each other."
"Right, that's some improvement I suppose," she said slowly and left the room.
They did nothing for the rest of the day except get thoroughly bored and argue occasionally. Harry was almost done with his book and was practicing a few spells from it while Lillian kept walking around the room making weird noises when she passed Harry. At times she would sit and pretend playing the drums on the table and sometimes she would just stare at the ceiling lost in her thoughts.
"Catch," Harry said suddenly throwing his book at her after he finished it.
"Huh, Ahhh!" she yelped startled to see a big book coming flying at her but managed to catch it.
"What the hell was that for?"
"Read it. Maybe then you'll stop moving around making sounds like a monkey and actually do something useful."
She just gave him a nasty glare, "How I wish I could just wring his neck right now," she muttered under her breath opening the book to see what was so interesting in it that had him so engrossed in it.
Harry on the other hand just went back to his room and came out with another book titled 'The Big Book of Charms'.
"You're gonna read another book!" Lillian exclaimed.
"Yeah, and you're going to read that and not annoy me today or I'll be locking you back in the bathroom," he said. She was going to say something but Harry cut in again, "And you know you can do nothing to stop me."
She was peeved at the fact that she actually couldn't do anything to him. She sighed, tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and turned her back on him and decided to read the damn book, which was named Defence and Offense. She glanced at the clock from time to time wondering when Hermione and Ron would show up. She couldn't wait to tell them all she had found out about Nicolas Flamel, but it was still was just 3.00 pm.
She sighed, folded her legs and began to read.
An hour later Ron and Hermione finally came to visit. "Hermione, Ron!" she squealed and jumped up and hugged Hermione. "Finally, you guys show up!"
"Hey Mary, how you been doing?" asked Hermione smiling.
"It's been utterly, completely and horribly boring."
"Really? I thought Potter had to tutor you and you would have been busy practicing?" said Hermione frowning.
"That was only in the morning, I've done nothing after that."
"Well you should have been revising or at least reading some books," Hermione said looking disapproving.
"Oh shut it Hermione, you're sounding like Potter now. He does nothing but read books all day. Here he gave me this book to read, check it out, I'm sure you'll like it," she said handing the book to Hermione.
"Defence and Offense," she read out loud. She then checked out the contents and her eyes widened in shock. "Mary! This is almost fourth year level transfiguration! He couldn't be actually doing this stuff!" she said in shock.
"Beats me," Lillian said shrugging, "he's done nothing but read this book and practice magic since we've been in here."
Anyway I got great news for you two!" she said her eyes glowing.
"What! Did you find out about Flamel?" Ron said finally opening his mouth.
"Yeah, and you won't believe it," she said.
"He knew didn't he?" Hermione asked her. Jealously rose in her like a poison at the fact that Harry was better than her in every field she could think of.
"Yeah, but I had to tell him why we needed to know and all the other details."
"What! Why would you do that!" spluttered Ron, "He's a bloody Slytherin Mary! And Slytherin's are always up to no good!"
Both Hermione and Mary just ignored him. "And what did he say?" asked Hermione holding her breath in anticipation.
"Fluffy is guarding the philosopher's stone."
Hermione gasped.
"So I guess you know what it is, huh?"
"Will somebody please tell me what this stone thingy is?" Ron said confused, like he always was.
"It's a stone which can produce a liquid which can make a person immortal and can turn any metal into gold," she said looking amazed.
"Wow," whispered Ron, "A stone that can turn anything to gold, anybody would want it," he said to himself, "Just imagine how rich you could get," and he was lost in his own world imagining himself rich and famous.
Suddenly Ron snapped out of his day dreaming and turned to Hermione and said, "Did you tell her about Hagrid?"
Hermione looked uncomfortable, "I don't think we should make her worry about that considering the situation she is in."
"What! What is it? Tell me Hermione," she demanded.
"Well….. You see, Hagrid err kind of has a baby dragon in his hut," Hermione said.
Lillian just stared at her mouth opened. "He what!" she shrieked.
"Yeah, but don't worry," Ron said trying to look important, "I wrote to my brother Charlie, who works with dragons in Romania. He'll be coming over tonight and take the dragon from Hagrid."
"That's great, but still where did he get the dragon from?"
"Didn't ask, we were too shocked at seeing a dragon coming out of an egg," Ron grunted.
"Ok, well you better tell me what happens tonight when you come here tomorrow, you understand?" she threatened.
"Sure, sure, we'll see you tomorrow then, ciao," Hermione said rolling her eyes.
"See you later then."
Little did Lillian know that the next time she saw her friends would be only until her punishment was done with.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
The week had been utterly uneventful except for Ron and Hermione getting caught in the astronomy tower after successfully giving the dragon to Charlie and his friends. They were caught by Filch. Apparently he heard a lot of noise coming from the tower and when he went to investigate he found those two standing there doing nothing, that's what he told McGonagall leading her to dock 100 points from Gryffindor and banning them from visiting Lillian.
Harry continued tutoring Lillian and they had progressed up to larger inanimate objects.
Lillian would continue trying to provoke Harry into a fight to amuse herself but he had grown immune to her taunts and just kept reading his books and kept himself busy practicing the spells in them much to her disappointment. It resulted in her doing some reading and practising magic on her own time as well.
10th January 1992
It was the last day of their confinement and Lillian and Harry were sitting in their tiny common room with the headmaster.
"I hope you two have learned not to jump at each other's throats at any given time and I sincerely hope that there will be no more incidents such as this," Dumbledore said looking at them in the eye.
"It was just one incident and you all are acting like we've been doing this from day one," Lillian grumbled.
"Excuse me?" McGonagall said, shocked.
"Why are you acting like we hate each other?" she demanded. "We've been civil with each other even though we are from houses that apparently hate each other and one funny incident results in all of you behaving like we're sworn enemies or something!"
"She means to say we've learnt our lesson," Harry said hastily. "And it won't happen again."
Lillian just huffed and looked away.
"Good, the whole idea of this punishment was to make you realize that you can get along with each other if you just tried," Dumbledore said happily.
Lillian wanted to punch him as well.
"You may go back to your respective common rooms now; the train will be arriving anytime now."
"What about our belongings?" Harry asked.
"They will be in your room once you get there."
They nodded and went to their respective common rooms.
Harry slowly walked back to his common room thinking about all that had happened since he had come to Hogwarts. He had found a good friend in Blaise, an enemy in Weasley, an interesting friend in Lillian, and was Flitwick's favourite student.
His life had changed so much just by receiving a single letter. But he was glad that it had, if not he would still be stuck at Privet Drive and be attending some substandard school that they Dursley's would chose for him.
His eyes darkened as he remembered what had happened on Halloween. It had certainly been an eventful night but what had happened to him while he was unconscious made the troll attack pale in comparison.
He reached the entrance to his common room and went up to his room. He was surprised when he saw Blaise sitting on his bed unpacking.
"Hey Blaise, what are you doing back early? I thought the train wasn't due for another hour or so?"
"Oh hey Harry, I didn't come by the train, came by portkey. Where have you been? I thought you'd be in here waiting for everyone to come back?"
"My solitary confinement just came to an end."
"Say what? Care to repeat that?" Blaise said looking lost.
"I said that my punishment which lasted the whole vacation just came to an end," Harry said, making it sound like an everyday occurrence.
"What the hell! Sit and explain to me what in Merlin's name are you trying to say," he said unable to make heads or tails of what his best friend was saying.
Harry sighed, "You have the brain power of Weasley, Blaise," he said and explained to him what had happened over the last week or so.
After he was done Blaise had a pensive expression on his face before he broke out laugh uncontrollably.
"Oh, this is hilarious! You were stuck with Austin for a whole week! I'm surprised you didn't tear each other apart!"
"Laugh all you want Blaise," Harry said annoyed at his reaction, "We didn't kill each other even though everyone assumed that we would. She did try her level best to irritate the crap out of me but it didn't work."
Now stop acting like an idiot and let's go for the feast."
"Yes sir," Blaise mocked.
Later in the night, Harry lay on his bed unable to fall asleep despite having a satisfying meal. He had been in a dull mood all day long for no reason at all and couldn't concentrate when he tried to read his books.
He got up from his bed and poured himself a glass of water. He glanced at his trunk remembering he still hadn't put his cloak to good use. Would it harm anyone if I toured the castle invisible? He mused. Suddenly making up his mind he removed his cloak from his trunk and snuck out of the common room.
He walked around aimlessly appreciating the freedom of not being seen by anyone and being away from all the whispers and glares. He kept walking examining the beautiful sculptures and paintings, fully appreciating the beauty of Hogwarts. On his way past the trophy room, he noticed a silver light coming out of a room close by.
He made sure he was covered with the cloak completely and made his way cautiously to the room and entered.
It was a small room with a huge silver lined mirror in the centre. It was shining under the moonlight streaming in from the open window and he stepped in front of it expecting to see his reflection but instead, he saw nothing. "Weird," he muttered. He then noticed some writing's on the top of the mirror 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'
It absolutely made no sense to him. He looked back at the mirror and to his surprise he saw a waterfall. He leaned closer and the scene in the mirror expanded.
It was beautiful.
There were several mountains around and one of them had a large waterfall pouring from it. At the bottom of the mountains there was a large open space which was covered in ice and they were shining like diamonds under the open sky. A little river was flowing from the river and there were trees growing from the river itself.
Suddenly he noticed three people running around, laughing and playing with each other. They came closer and closer to him and when he saw who they were he gasped and backed away in shock.
It was him with a man who looked very similar to him and a woman who had dark red hair and green eyes just like his. It was the same woman he had seen in his dreams.
He slowly went closer to the mirror and touched it. Immediately the man and woman stopped and looked at him curiously while his mirror image just smiled happily.
Then his mind froze in shock, "It can't be! It's just not possible!" he muttered to himself shaking his head. He calmed himself down and whispered, "Mum? Dad?"
They nodded and waved at him, hugging the Harry standing with them.
Harry was shocked, he just couldn't believe it. He dropped his invisibility cloak to the floor and went tried to touch his parents, his eyes watering. But he couldn't, it was like they were just out of reach.
Suddenly he was enraged, how dare this mirror show him the things he was missing in life! How dare it try to give him false happiness and keep it just out of reach! How dare it mock him like this!
He pulled out his wand ready to blast the thing out of existence.
His hand began to shake with indecision. He really wanted to destroy the mirror and at the same time he wanted to keep staring at the image of his parents.
He didn't want to have to make a choice.
"Hello Harry, what might you be doing here?"
Harry turned around quickly and saw Headmaster Albus Dumbledore standing in the doorway.
Dumbledore had just arrived and was alarmed to see a furious Harry Potter standing in front of the mirror, his wand out and ready to destroy the mirror.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise at seeing the headmaster but quickly regained his composure and hid his wand up his sleeve.
"Are you going to punish me?" he asked the headmaster not wasting time with pleasantries.
"Why would I do that?" Dumbledore replied amused.
"I'm out of bounds, it's," he glanced at his watch, "2.00 in the morning, so yes I think you would want to give me detention."
Dumbledore laughed, "Sorry to disappoint Harry but I'm not quite in the mood today. So did you figure out what the mirror is?" he asked Harry.
"No."
"It's called the Mirror of Erised. It shows a man his hearts deepest desires."
"I see," Harry said indifferently.
"What did you see in the mirror Harry?" he asked the boy gently.
Harry's eyes clouded in pain and anger, "I saw life and death," he replied.
If Dumbledore was surprised at Harry's answer he didn't show it.
"If you're not going to punish me, I'm going back to bed professor."
Dumbledore nodded and motioned him to leave, but before Harry left he spoke again, "Oh and Harry. I could advise you not to go looking for the mirror again; it can cause even the bravest of wizards to go mad."
Harry didn't reply immediately, "Don't worry headmaster, if I see that mirror again you might just find its remains," he said and walked out of the door leaving behind a slightly thoughtful and worried headmaster.
"I wonder what he saw that made him react like that," he mused. "He is not what I expected him to be though," he added looking sadly at the reflection of a man with golden hair and a woman laughing in the mirror.