The end of the christmas holidays came much faster then Harry would have liked, and soon the Weasley house was thrown into disarray as everyone was rushing to be ready to leave for school,
"Harry! Where's my sock?"
"What colour is it?"
"Blue!"
"It's the bag with Scabber's food!"
"Why?"
"Scabbers liked it."
"Ron?"
"what?"
"where's Hedwig?"
"attacking Scabbers!"
"oh..."
Mrs Weasley stood at the front door,
"Will you all hurry up!" she bellowed up the stairs,
"Coming!" The children bellowed back, Harry pushed his trunk to the edge of the stairs,
"Harry." Said Mrs Weasley in a warning tone, but it was too late, Harry's trunk was toppling down the stairs, and, with a leap, Harry was perched on top. Harry and trunk skidded to a halt in front of her,
"oops?" Harry said, looking up at Mrs Weasley, who tutted. Ron ran down the stairs, munching a piece of toast whist pulling his trunk behind him,
"multi tasking" he cried, through a mouthful of food. Hermione ran down the stairs, book in hand, whilst yanking her trunk along, which was weighed down with books.
"eurgh!" Cried Ginny, perching on her trunk and trying to force it shut, "Close damn you!" Finally it snapped shut and Ginny leapt up, "Finally!" She shouted, just as her trunk popped open again, "why...?" She whispered in a heart broken voice, before letting out a roar and leaping on her trunk again. Neville began laughing as he rounded the corner, he tripped, landing on his trunk and sliding down the stairs yelping. Harry began laughing hysterically, falling off his trunk and rolling around on the floor at Mrs Weasley's feet.
"I hope you all had a good Christmas!" Smiled Dumbledore, "now, dig in!" And with a clap of his hands, the tables were stacked with food. Harry grinned.
It was good to be back.
Harry clambered from bed, it was dark. He wasn't sure why he was awake, he had felt a tugging of longing in the back of his mind, one that most definately wasn't his own. Harry let his feet lead him through the corridors until he found himself in a room just off from the library. He stepped into the shadows and watched as his brother stood in front of the Mirror of Erised. The boy was gazing at the mirror with wide eyes.
"Hello Damian." Said Dumbledore, making Harry jump, the man had been concealed in the darkness in the other side of the room. Damian span around,
"Professor... I-"
"The mirror of Erised is quite remarkable, is it not?" Dumbledore said calmly, "I take it your parents told you of it's abilities to see one's hearts desire." Damian nodded and let out an audible gulp,
"I- I see Ginny... And she's laughing with me. And- and she's in Gryfindor. Those dumb Ravenclaw friends of hers are alone." Dumbledore frowned,
"what do you have against her friends so much?" Dumbledore inquired,
"it's more that they exist." Damian said with a faint smile as he quoted his father
"do not return to this mirror again." Said Dumbledore, "it has trapped far greater men then yourself. Don't loose yourself in your wants." Damian nodded,
"yes sir." He said, before departing. Harry felt the feeling of longing in his mind fade.
"You can come out now Mr Black." Said Dumbledore. Harry smiled and stepped from the shadows, "what do you see?" He asked nodding towards the mirror, Harry stepped in front of it.
"I see myself." He started, "and I'm laughing with my friends and the Weasleys. I'm free from the past." Dumbledore smiled,
"Perhaps you shall get your hearts desire someday, my boy." Harry glanced at the Professor,
"If you'll excuse me for asking Sir," Harry started, "but what is such a valuable object doing in Hogwarts." Dumbledore frowned,
"it was used for the protection of a very important object, however, someone overcame the protection, and the mirror is soon to be removed from the castle." Said Dumbledore, Harry nodded.
"Thank you Sir." He said, before leaving.
TBC