Chapter 5

Holdover some stuff for me, will ya?

Winter came much quicker than anyone had anticipated, and with much more force. Before December had even begun, Hogwarts and its surrounding areas were already covered in a thick layer of white powder. Harry enjoyed it, especially since finding out that he didn't need to go home over the holidays, the Dursleys most likely up in arms about this as well. Ron was supposed to go home, though had his plans cancelled a day before the student departure. Hermione was more than happy to spend Christmas and New Years with her parents, the girl living in a suburban area much like Harry grew up in.

Marley was supposed to go home as well. That's as far as they were informed, as anytime a question regarding further detail was uttered, the Slytherin girl had either pivoted to another topic or straight up refused to answer. Harry didn't want to admit it, but he didn't like to see his friend like this. Something told him that he should be worried.

Right, the kids also combed the entire library top to bottom in order to find literally anything on this strange Nicholas Flamel character. Their search bore no fruit and they abandoned it a few days ago.

Trying to distract himself from his various worries, Harry agreed to a few rounds of wizard's chess, which played out essentially like its non-magical counterpart, minus the pieces moving via voice command. This was one of the few times amazing magical technology did not impress Harry as much.

"Knight to E5.", he let out in a matt tone, sitting opposite of Ron on a mostly deserted Gryffindor table in the festive Great Hall. Too focused on their game, neither boy noticed the arrival of their female friends.

"Queen to E5.", Ron spoke after a short pause with a victorious smirk. And so victory came, in the form of his little chess figure sliding by its own volition, getting up from its tiny little chair, and smacking its seating option against the brave sir knight, like any true lady would.

"That's barbaric.", Hermione let out in an angered protest, drawing their attention towards her. Marley found it pretty cool, but chose not to speak up.

"It's wizard's chess.", the Weasley boy relayed the redundant piece of information. He looked to their trunks on the floor, sitting slightly more upright.

"I see you've packed.", he correctly surmised.

"I see you haven't.", she gave back.

"Change of plans.", the boy explained in a slightly grumpy tone, "Mom and dad are visiting my older brother Charlie down in Romania. He's studying dragons there."

"Dragons?", Marley made herself known, a sparkle in her eyes that captured Harry's full attention, "That sounds spectacular! I'd love to see that."

"Yeah.", Ron gave back. The two briefly exchanged their shared displeasure through a dour gaze.

"Sorry to hear.", Hermione said to cut them off again, "At least that way you'll be able to help Harry look for information on Nicholas Flamel."

The boys displayed their shared confusion in a frowned stare.

"How much more do you want us to check?", Ron nagged, "We looked a hundred times!"

To their surprise, Hermione leaned in a tat bit closer, a hint of mischief on her features.

"Not in the restricted section.", she said in a smug whisper. Right after, the girl made for her departure. "Happy Christmas."

With her figure shrinking into the distance, the remaining three shared concerned looks.

"I think we're a bad influence on her.", Ron let out in a proud tone.

"Speak for yourself, Ronald.", Marley shot back in a friendly yet sharp tone that the two had started adapting.

"Alright then, Marles.", he said, rolling his eyes. The girl meanwhile let out a hearty sigh, Harry expecting her to finally open up right after.

"Since I know for a fact that the both of you will do something stupid to get that Flamel stuff...", she spoke precisely, pausing right after, "...just... be careful, okay? Don't get caught, and don't get hurt."

She gave both a nod, the boys returning the gesture seconds after.

"Well... if there's nothing else...", she looked like she was about to pop, but refused on command, "...Merry Christmas, you two."

She left much in the same, abrupt fashion as Hermione did before her, though her exit carried no bravado whatsoever.

The girl didn't talk about it after all, even though Harry very much expected her to open up at some point. With worry clearly stapled onto his face, his eyes refused to let Marley out of sight. Ron was meanwhile back to his next chess move.

"Let's just go to the library once and tell them we've been there a bunch.", he began, "I'm sure Hermione will-"

"Excuse me for a moment.", is all he got for an answer as Harry jolted up from his seat, hurrying after the Slytherin girl.

"Marley, wait!", he shouted after her, caught up three quarters of the way. She turned around in an instant, her pupils dilating, as if she had been lost in thought until now, suddenly forced to talk to someone again.

"Harry...", dropped from her lips, nothing else following it. The boy finally stood in front of her now.

"I just wanted to ask if you're doing okay.", burst from him, a little out of breath, "You said you don't want to talk about it, I know. But..."

It became clear now that the boy hadn't prepared a speech at all.

"I just... I don't like seeing you worried.", felt like the most natural thing to say. Her facial expression spoke whimpers at his compassion. "If there's anything I can do to help you – i- if you'd like to talk about it after, maybe. Then... well... we'll be there for you, Marley."

He finished off his disorganized ramblings with an honest smile, one that almost brought her to tears.

"You're very sweet, you know that?"

He flushed just ever so slightly at her assessment. Moments later, a buzzing announced Leaghon's escape from Marley's necklace. Shining in a more cohesive reddish colour scheme, the insect-like creature swirled around Harry's head for a moment before landing gently on his right cheek. For a short second, the boy experienced a tingly sensation on his skin, before Leaghon departed from his face and back into its locket.

"I felt a tickle.", he relayed with a joyful sense of unnerve. Marley giggled briefly, blushing a tiny bit as well.

"That's called a pixie's... kiss. It's like when a dog gives you a weak bite. It's how they show their affection."

She played with her necklace as she awaited Harry's response.

"Well...", he stammered, "...sounds like she likes me."

Her mouth formed a faint smile as she nodded.

"She does. A lot."

As a final goodbye, she engulfed Harry in a soft hug, one that lasted perhaps a few seconds longer than either had expected. It gave him a sense of warmth and intimacy that he never got from his aunt or uncle.

For Marley it felt like all her worries had momentarily vanished.

Right after the embrace Marley whispered something in his ear, allowing him to return to his chess game as she went the opposite way, a lot more jolly than before.

"What did she whisper in your ear there?", Ron inquired with a raised eyebrow. Harry shrugged, his blush only slowly dissolving.

"Might have been something like this...", was the last thing that Ron heard before his confidence shattered. Three moves later and his queen was surrounded, with nowhere to go.

"Checkmate."

Christmas was never something Harry particularly fancied. Occasionally he'd catch a glimpse on the telly, giving him a vague impression of what the festivities are supposed to feel like, especially in American movies. One time, when the Dursleys failed to find a babysitter for him, Harry was allowed to come along to the theatre, were he and his (technically) family would watch Home Alone, providing the boy with a rough outline on what Christmas is all about. That night he cried himself to sleep thinking about Kevin McCallister joyfully reuniting with his mom and dad.

Hogwarts was different. And it was Christmas specifically that cemented the feeling that he finally had a home. The tree in the common room, handconjured by McGonagall herself, shone brightly all throughout the quiet holidays, Harry and Ron the only first year Gryffindors spending their time in the castle. Some of the other houses contained more holdovers, ironically Slytherin having the most, which, based on everything Marley told him, made Harry raise an eyebrow. He had been thinking about her a lot, Hermione too, though obviously the Slytherin girl's troubles kept him more active. At some point Ron actually reacted annoyed when he mentioned it for the twentieth time. The Weasley boy was of course sympathetic to her misfortune as well, he simply handled such things differently. Harry did wonder if his reaction would be different if it was Hermione struggling. Probably not, though.

It also explained Ron's dry reaction to getting their mail.

"Marles wrote you.", he let out in a dull tone, grabbing a handful of chocolates from a nearby bowl as he gave the envelope to its recipient. Harry picked the letter up with a curious look, only finding his first name spelled very beautifully in cursive writing. He adjusted his glasses, switching over to a bored Ron falling into an armchair.

"Do you want me to read it out loud?", the boy asked politely.

"No thanks.", Ronald gave back, returning to his comic book. "You can tell me about it if she mentions me. But I have a feeling it's meant for you."

He popped his eyebrows and left Harry to it. Slightly nervous with anticipation, he opened the envelope, taking out one singular piece of parchment.

Dear Harry,

I feel rather silly writing to you when we are about to see each other in a few days. Perhaps I should just be patient and tell you in person, but then again, I don't know how much longer I can wait to talk to someone I actually like for a change.

The reason why I didn't fancy coming back for Christmas is because me and my parents don't get along very well. I don't like to talk about it in detail, but I feel like I need to share at least that much. And... this may sound weird but... I felt like I needed to share it with you in particular. I'm feeling quite alone over the holidays and I wish I was back with you and Ron in Hogwarts. I'd love to hear what you two got for Christmas! Did your awful aunt and uncle even bother with anything? I'm getting distracted...

I hope this doesn't come off as creepy or anything but... at night, when I can't fall asleep... I think about you sometimes. Not just you, Hogwarts and everything in it. But... I don't know. I guess because you're the reason I like it there. You make me feel safe and happy and I'm... really missing that right now.

Hope I'm not overstepping any boundaries. Please don't be mad when I get back.

See you in a bit!

Love,

Marley

Ps.: Leaghon misses you too!

Harry didn't even notice his jaw loosening while reading her words, his pupils having dilated at an increasingly worrying level. His heartbeat had started feeling strange, off-beat and wildly erratic, a soreness in his throat and a tingling heat on his skin giving him a strange dizziness.

"You okay there, mate?"

Apparently Harry's physical reaction was so bad that even Ron caught on.

"Is she okay?", the Weasley boy asked in a worried manner.

"She's... feeling lonely.", Harry caved to his demands, "She misses us. A lot. Asked what we got for Christmas."

Ron acted with relief, settling back in his comfy seat.

"Sounds like nothing new.", he returned with a neutral voice, "We'll make sure to do something nice with her after the holidays."

Still obsessed with her words, Harry briefly looked to his friend with a surprised grimace.

"That's very nice of you to say, Ron."

Ron shrugged it off.

"I can annoy Hermione when I need to. Marley gets some time off."

Harry smirked at this, though clearly not with all of his energy. Whether or not Ron truly grasped the weight of the situation, Harry couldn't tell. Regardless, something about her words seem to have gotten a hold of him on a deeper level. Much like a certain mirror.

And he would return to it that night, as he had many nights before. An empty class acting as a junk room, the object of his desire right in front of him, as he sat on the floor. This time around though, he brought Marley's letter with him. Why, he wasn't sure.

"Back again, Harry?"

The boy turned around in an instant, the piece of parchment crumpling slightly as his hand squeezed it and his invisibility cloak. He didn't find the words to answer, the warm smile of an old man dressed in shiny robes gifting him a weird sense of calm.

"I see that you, like so many before, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised. I trust by now that you realize what it does."

Harry looked to the item again, the tall reflection showing his parents in a clear image, smiling, as if they had never left.

"Let me give you a clue. The happiest man on earth would look into the mirror and see only himself, exactly as he is."

He already knew the answer, but entertained Dumbledore's little spiel regardless. The boy felt like it would lead to something.

"It shows us what we want. No matter what it is."

The old man gave a crooked smile behind his glasses.

"Yes, and also no."

Dumbledore paused, most likely for dramatic purposes.

"It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire in our hearts. Now you, Harry, who have never known your family, you see them standing beside you. But remember this... "

As Harry began to worry, the image of his parents started to blur just ever so slightly.

"...this mirror gives us neither knowledge, nor the truth. Men have wasted away in front of it. Even gone mad. That is why tomorrow it will be moved to a new home."

The boy flinched, feeling a part of him shatter at the words.

"And I must ask you not to go looking for it again."

As he sought reassurance from Harry, he spotted the strange item in his hand.

"Is that a letter?"

Harry looked down at it again, almost having forgotten about it while staring into the mirror before.

...when I can't fall asleep... I think about you sometimes...

The words rang in his ears as if Marley had spoken them herself.

"It's from a friend.", he finally responded, "She's... feeling lonely. Misses... us."

Dumbledore gave a reserved nod.

"There might perhaps not be a better way to make you understand what I'm trying to say."

The old man stepped a little closer as Harry scanned the letter again, Dumbledore refraining himself from reading it also.

"When you get lost in that mirror, you dwell on dreams. Eventually, you'll forget to live."

See you in a bit!

Love,

Marley

"Whereas the contents of this letter, its author, and its intended purpose, are very much real."

Only now did it truly dawn on Harry what Dumbledore meant.

"Choose to live, Harry. Choose the people that love you. For whatever might happen, they have what the mirror lacks."

Surprisingly, he spoke no more words, exiting the room quickly and quietly. Not long after, Harry would do the same. For some reason he went to sleep feeling silly that he ever needed the Mirror of Erised in the first place.

The boy dreamt of Marley that night.

As the castle was visible from the windows, Marley's nervous state worsened.

"Please stop worrying.", Hermione spoke with a mixture of concern and commandment, "He will not be angry."

"But what if he is angry?", the girl blurted out with a fearful tremble. Hermione calmly grabbed her hand with a reassuring, smug expression.

"Then we won't be their friends anymore."

Marley felt slightly comforted, though couldn't restrain herself from letting out a whimpering sigh.

"I never should've sent him that stupid letter! Now Harry probably thinks I'm a psycho, or that I'm a freak, or that I'm... in love with him..."

"I sincerely doubt he thinks any of those things, Marley. He likes you, a lot. He had been wondering about how you were doing all the time before we went home. He was probably glad to finally hear something from you."

As her speech subsided, the Hogwarts Express slowed down, the platform covered in a thin coat of snow.

"Did you think the letter was weird?"

"I only thought it was odd that you kept your drafts. And yes, I will be honest in telling you that it was a bit much."

Her firm but sincere criticism forced Marley to go through the motions once again, as she had been for the past few days.

"I do tend to talk a lot once I've started...", she spoke in an unsure tone.

"That's precisely the reason why we like you, Marley."

The weight on her shoulders was briefly lifted.

It came smashing down minutes later, as Marley dragged her luggage across the train station, lost in thought as she was prepping her apology, Hermione too far behind to listen in. That's ignoring the fact that there was a massive crowd of students there also, all engaged in chatter amongst themselves.

"I want to say sorry... the letter was too much, I know..."

Her line construction failed in a miserable groan.

"That doesn't sound good at all. Get it together, Marlene!", she mumbled to herself, "So... Harry-"

"Marley!"

She gasped with the subtlety of a 50s romantic flick.

"Harry...", her voice cracked.

"Hey, Marles.", Ron brushed past by them as he saw Hermione struggling with her comically large trunk.

"Need some help there?", he tossed at the girl with a venomous smile. Very apparently, Hermione was not delighted by this at all.

"Oh, you just love asking me that – don't you, Ronald?!"

As the two started bickering and more students went around Marley and Harry in an arc, the both of them finally focused on each other.

Her heart was practically clawing its way through her ribcage, her words dragged back into her windpipe alongside it.

"Harry... listen..."

"How are you, Marley?"

His question shot out like a pistol, yet somehow remained simultaneously unbelievably sincere.

"I hope it wasn't too bad for you. I should've written something back. I'm sorry."

For a moment Marley thought that she was caught looking into a bizarre, mirrored version of herself.

"You...", she finally stammered, "... y- you didn't think the letter was weird? That I was... telling too much?"

Her thumbs were engaged in a hectic battle against one another as Harry expressed a confused sense of kindness.

"Of course not. I love listening to you. And I'm glad you feel comfortable sharing that kind of stuff with me. I feel a bitt honoured about it."

His simple smirk sealed the deal as all the worry in the world, the troubles that made her feel like walking with twice the gravity, suddenly dissolved.

"Harry, I..."

"Did you tell Marles about the almond cakes yet?", Ron interrupted them, having been convinced to help Hermione with her trunk. The girl of course insisted on them carrying it together, as there was nothing she didn't want to be able to do on her own.

"Almond cakes?", Marley's sombre tone shifted to a blunt squeak.

"Yeah, Harry and I have been saving up on them, since you told us you like them so much."

"Like them? I am absolutely obsessed with almond cakes!"

She turned to Harry again, the boy looking as if he could not be happier about seeing Marley like this.

"Ron and I even used that longevity spell that Hermione taught us. They should still be fresh."

Informing her himself, watching the accompanied reaction up close – having all of his friends with him in general, was a feeling more ecstatic than anything Erised could've ever created.