Welcome back my lovely Potterheads!
Phew, it's been a while. In the immortal words of one Rubeus Hagrid, "Sorry about that." Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up next Sunday, for the 20th anniversary of the (film version) Sorcerer's Stone.
Also: In the books, the boys open their presents in the dorm. Since Susanna's there and I've already made the executive decision that neither a boy nor a girl can enter each other's dorms, we're following the movie and having them open their gifts in the Common Room.
And yes, Nanettez, that's the reason! Figured it's just easier for me to keep track of, since I'm putting the movies and books together.
Susanna laughed as she trekked through the thick snow, the fabric of her jeans damp knee-down. Winter had always been her favorite season, the cold weather the only time her mother let her indulge in hot chocolate. It was also just so beautiful, and that was no exception at Hogwarts.
Indeed, by mid-winter the castle had found itself buried under several feet of snow. The Black Lake had frozen so solid that students and faculty alike were able to ice skate. Having taken several lessons, Susanna was familiar enough with figure skating to not make an absolute fool of herself. While she didn't want to do either on her mother's orders, there was something more enticing to the girl about skating above the lair of a giant squid. Harry and their friends played on the snowbank beside the lake as Susanna practiced what few tricks she knew. She'd only fallen once, blaming the slip on the distracting Weasley twins. They had enchanted snowballs to follow Professor Quirrell around the school grounds, each one pelting him in the back of the head.
With the snow came the freezing air, yet another element Susanna enjoyed. She loved snuggling under thick layers and curling up by the fireplace in the Common Room, reading with Hermione while the boys played gobstones. She even liked the chill in the dungeons during Potions class. Her friends griped about the conditions but Susanna would only smile, happily huddling by her cauldron.
Only two things dampened her mood in the classroom. The first was Professor Snape. Despite her telling Professor McGonagall what the Potions instructor had been doing to Harry's broom, she had no proof. He almost killed Harry - for what? - and he was still allowed to teach. In addition, the four Gryffindors still didn't know why Snape had even been around Fluffy the three-headed dog in the first place.
The second dampener was Draco Malfoy and his incessant bullying. She was just glad her brother would never meet him, for if Dudley had been a wizard - and not a Muggle-born - he and Draco would either be best friends, or Hogwarts would be destroyed in their ensuing battles.
As Susanna marched back to the castle, having just finished skating on the Black Lake, she remembered Draco's taunt from the previous Potions lesson. "I do feel so sorry for all those people who have to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas because they're not wanted at home." While she was sure he'd only aimed those words at Harry, it still took all of her willpower - and Hermione's physical strength - to keep her from lashing out. Her cousin had ignored Draco's comment, the blonde Slytherin having reverted back to his quips about Harry's family after the first Quidditch match. His attempts at poking fun at the way in which her cousin caught the Snitch had little effect on anyone. While a small part of Susanna found Draco's comparison of Harry to a wide-mouthed tree frog amusing, it was only because it distracted her from the horror she felt every time she pictured Harry being bucked around on the cursed broom and then nearly choking to death on a winged little ball.
Neither herself nor Harry would be returning to Privet Drive for Christmas. While Harry's absence was a given, Susanna had never bothered to even ask if she could visit. Why would she go back and have to deal with her twin and her parents when she could stay at Hogwarts and enjoy everything the castle and her friends had to offer? Harry had looked guilty when she told him she was staying, but the expression was replaced with annoyance when she spent the better part of their dinner lecturing him for thinking she wouldn't want to celebrate Christmas with him. It entertained Ron at least, who glared at Hermione every time the girl kicked him in the shin for laughing at Harry's expressions.
"Susanna! Oh, you're soaked!" Hermione fluttered around Susanna, slowly drying the other girl's clothes as Harry and Ron watched with grins. While they'd been in the library helping Hermione with research, an earlier incident with Madam Pince involving the Dursley girl and a stack of books led the friends to believe Susanna had to expel her excess energy.
"Nevermind that, what have you found? I'm starved." Susanna batted Hermione away, leading the charge into the Great Hall.
Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Flitwick had done an exceptional job in decorating the Hall. Holly and mistletoe were hung around the walls, the older students - and a few of brazen younger students - having taken advantage of the latter. Twelve large Christmas trees were placed around the room, some sparkling with icicles while hundreds of floating candles shone on the others. Susanna was still unsure how the trees had yet to burn, both herself and Hermione considering the candles a fire hazard.
"So, tell me about Nicolas Flamel." Susanna ordered as she finished her bite of her single scoop of mashed potatoes. She glowered at Harry when he placed some more vegetables on her small plate. There'd been a small ongoing battle between the two cousins about her food intake. They'd found a small compromise in the form of her cousin only adding healthier options to her plate, as long as she had at least three desserts a week. Nothing too large, but also not just a bite of chocolate. Some ice cream, or even a piece of cake. It didn't stop Susanna from staring into the mirror at night, pinching at her skin. She didn't think she looked any different, but worried about what her mother would say if she did. No, it was safer to stick with small portions and limited sweets than to indulge like Susanna wanted to.
"We didn't learn much today." Ron responded, voice muffled as she spoke with his mouth full of steak. Both girls wrinkled their nose, Hermione scolding him with her eyes. "What? No one else was answering!"
In the wake of Hagrid's slip of tongue, the four friends had spent their breaks and a bulk of their free time in the library. They'd yet to find any word on Nicolas Flamel, not even in such books as Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, or Notable Magical Names of Our Time. While they had a gut feeling he could be found in the restricted section, Madam Pince wouldn't allow them entrance without a professor's permission. Susanna knew none of their teachers would allow it, the restricted section holding books on Dark Magic so powerful it'd never be taught at Hogwarts - only read about by older students studying advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Each of the four Gryffindors had tried, but none of them had any luck. Susanna even employed every trick she'd learned so far from the twins, but Madam Pince was still somehow always a step ahead. They had to resort to researching in the accessible stacks, but during the holidays would be one person short.
While Ron and his brothers would be staying at Hogwarts - their parents off to visit his brother Charlie in Romania - Hermione was returning home. She'd invited Susanna and the boys along, but none of them wanted to intrude on her time with her family. The redheaded girl was also under the impression Ron was wary of time in the Muggle world, and figured that despite him and Hermione being friends they weren't quite ready for a shared-vacation.
"I found a wonderful book on the study of runes in Norway. I know we don't get to study Ancient Runes until third year, but it'd help to at least be a little prepared. I checked it out in my name, but I'm sure I'll be done with it by tonight. If you'd like to borrow it after, please -"
"Return the book promptly. Of course I will." Susanna promised Hermione, sticking her tongue out at the amused Ron.
Susanna sighed unhappily as she hugged Hermione. "Are you sure you won't stay?"
"Mum promised me a trip to Diagon Alley. I might have better luck researching at Flourish and Blotts."
"So you're leaving me with the boys?"
"I did invite you and Harry to stay with me."
Susanna smiled. "Yes, yes. I know. I'm only joking. At least one of us should be with their parents this holiday. Expect a letter and presents from Hedwig - I'm not sure Hades is up to task." She joked, imagining if her black cat had wings. Hades was wild enough prowling around the castle - him with the ability to fly only meant trouble for everyone.
Hermione nodded and let the redhead go. "Alright. I'll send you and the boys your gifts in return. Stay out of trouble, will you? The Weasley twins are a poor influence on you."
"Yes, mum." Susanna fixed Hermione's coat and nudged her along. "Right, off you go. Say 'hello' to the Muggle world for me."
"I'll see you in a few weeks." The bushy-haired girl waved goodbye, the boys having already said their farewells the night before.
Susanna yawned as she watched her friend join the other students returning home. It was still early, the sun only just breaking on the horizon. But breakfast could wait, at least until the last carriage began its departure from the castle. Alone on the steps of the courtyard, Susanna sighed and walked inside, nose following the scent of breakfast.
The Great Hall was mostly empty, more students having left Hogwarts than stayed. She noticed the Weasley twins cackling at the Gryffindor table and walked over to join them, not hiding her morose state.
"Oi, Susie-Q. What's got you so blue?" George laughed as he rhymed.
Susanna rolled her eyes and sat beside Fred, pouring herself some tea. "Nothing."
"Ah. Hermione went home, didn't she? I'd be sad too if I was stuck with Ron all break."
Susanna blinked at Fred. "You are stuck with Ron all break."
"Being stuck with Percy is worse." George grumbled, and Susanna narrowed her eyes.
"He's here, too. Did you both lose your brains the last prank?" She questioned. The twins didn't respond, both seeming to realize what they'd said. "You both are a mess."
"Takes one to know one, Susie-Wusie." Susanna snorted in agreement, raising her cup to Fred. "Cheers."
The days leading up to Christmas passed in a blur of toasted marshmallows and games of Wizard's Chess. Susanna was only marginally better than her cousin, but didn't have the same level of patience and strategy as Ron possessed. He more than beat their arses, absolutely demolishing the cousins each game. It impressed Susanna to no end, and also made her question just what Ron could accomplish if he applied himself in classes the same way he did in chess.
She didn't just sit around the Common Room fireplace, though. Inbetween hanging out with her cousin and best friend, she visited the library and continued researching, the boys having ignored it in favor of enjoying their break. She exchanged letters with Hermione every-other day, but so far neither girl had found any information on Flamel. Susanna had even visited Hagrid for afternoon tea, but the giant would change the conversation so often she found herself lost.
Christmas Eve night, Susanna was curled up in bed, petting Hades as he played with a toy mouse Hermione had sent. He happily chewed on it, the redhead wondering just how many real ones he'd done the same to. "Who's my sweet boy?" Hades yowled around the mouse, nearly decapitating it. Susanna smiled and hugged him closer, the black cat purring as he nuzzled into her chest. "Think I'll get many presents? I'm sure the boys will enjoy theirs. Thank goodness the twins were able to sneak into Hogsmeade." She hummed as she looked around at the empty beds. "Should I put itching powder in girls' beds? No, they'd be expecting me to do something. Maybe the best prank is to let them think I actually pulled one. Yeah. I'll do that."
She yawned and shimmied down under her covers, Hades already drifting off.
When she woke up the next morning, she felt an excitement humming under her skin that hadn't happened since she was nine. She excitedly rolled out of bed, Hades grumbling as he stretched. She was quick to brush her teeth, pull on her bathrobe and slide into her slippers. Her cat jumped into her arms before she left the empty room, and she ran straight into her cousin.
"Happy Christmas, Freak!" She shouted when they righted themselves, and Harry grinned.
"Happy Christmas, Sue." He pulled her into a hug, wary of Hades as he hissed up at the Chosen One. "You think your parents sent anything?"
"Possibly some hangers. Maybe you got a pence, too?" Susanna joked, the cousins walking down the stairs together. Halfway down they stopped in wonder, jaws dropped. Ron turned and grinned, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"Uh, Happy Christmas. What's wrong?"
"We've got presents?" Harry gasped out, the cousins' focus on the massive tree close to the entrance of the Common Room. Underneath stood a mountain of presents, all of them separated into smaller piles. Whoever had sorted them had been hard at work the night before.
"Of course you've got presents!" Ron cried out. "Now hurry up, I want to open mine! I've been waiting ages!"
Susanna was the first to act. She ran down the stairs, Hades howling in terror until the redhead slowed down. The cat leapt out of her arms, hissing up at Ron as he hugged Harry's cousin. "Happy Christmas, Ronald!" Then she pulled back, face morphed into a mock-guilty expression. "I'm so sorry we've tested your patience."
Ron narrowed his eyes at her sarcasm, but sighed as she shoved past him to crash down in front of her pile. Harry was quick to join her, and they smiled at each other before grabbing their top parcels. "Mine's from Hagrid."
"Molly Weasley. Aw, you wrote your mummy about me?" Susanna joked, blinking over at Ron as he sat beside them.
Ron rolled his eyes but enthusiastically began opening his presents. As Harry messed around with the flute Hagrid whittled for him - it sounded like an owl - Susanna carefully unwrapped her gift from Ron's mother. She smiled tearfully when she pulled out an emerald green jumper, the "S" embroidered in white stitching. Mrs. Weasley had also sent her a box of homemade fudge, and she glanced at it warily before taking a single bite. It was too good not to finish, and so she shoved the rest of the piece in her mouth and shoved the box to the side before tugging on the new jumper.
One a day was okay. One day was okay.
Her next parcel was from Hagrid. He'd built her a small jewelry chest. While crudely carved, it was no less beautiful than the vintage one her mother owned. This was even more special, as it came from Hagrid's giant heart.
Her third gift was from her parents. Or, more accurately, her mother. The note was simple, merely a, "Hope all is well, love mum." Inside was a charm bracelet, the chain decorated with small pendants all relating to ballet. There was a ballerina, a nutcracker, a music note, and pointe shoes. While pretty, it didn't mean as much to Susanna as the necklace she'd received on her birthday, one she had yet to remove.
"Look at what your parents sent me!" Harry called, showing off a small letter with a fifty-pence piece. The grin was fake, but the mirth in his eyes was real. Susanna snorted, shaking her head.
"Well, at least it's more than we expected. I'll trade you." She offered, holding up the charm bracelet. Harry raised his eyebrows but shook his head, rolling his eyes as Susanna shrugged and gently placed her mother's gift in her new jewelry chest.
"Still, that's friendly." Harry commented, regarding the small coin.
"Weird!" Ron gasped, interrupting the cousins as he reached out towards Harry's gift, leaving Susanna to lunge out of the way. "Oh, sorry Susie. What a shape! This is money?" He asked, eyes glued to the fifty-pence.
"You can keep it." Harry said with a laugh, handing the money over. Susanna smiled as Ron admired the Muggle currency. "Hagrid and my aunt and uncle - so who sent these?"
"I think I know who that one's from." Ron blushed at the lumpy parcel, the shape familiar to Susanna. "My mom." Ah. "I told her you and Susie didn't expect any presents and - oh, no," he groaned, "she's
made you a Weasley jumper."
"Mhm. I'm already wearing mine. Boys. So unobservant." Susanna teased, showing off her jumper before smiling at Harry. "Oh look, we match!"
Harry held up the thick emerald fabric, his first initial also stitched in white. He was quick to tug it on over his pajama top, shoving a cube of fudge into his mouth. He groaned in delight and swallowed, smiling wide at the blushing Ron. "That's really nice of her."
Ron shrugged, frowning at his own jumper. "Every year she makes us one, and mine is always maroon." He grumbled, but it didn't stop him from pulling it on.
Hermione had sent each of them their favorite sweets - all purchased in Diagon Alley. She gifted Susanna with a new book as well. Entirely unsurprising, it was a copy of Hogwarts: A History. Attached was also a reminder to continue searching for Nicolas Flamel, one the boys quickly dismissed with excuses. Despite their attitudes, their faces were flushed with guilt, and it amused Susanna so greatly that she had to hide her laughter inside her jumper.
With three more presents left, Susanna was slow to open them, wanting to savor the rest of the morning. One parcel was from the Weasley twins, who'd appeared to have raided a few of Zonko's shelves. Lee Jordan had sent her a gift as well, this one filled with Muggle pranks. Ron was utterly fascinated with the Whoopie Cushion, and pouted when Susanna tucked her gifts away in her jewelry chest.
Harry had one last present to open. He unwrapped the parcel, revealing a large silver cloth. Susanna watched in awe as her cousin carefully draped it over his lap, the material almost water-like. Ron's mouth was opening and closing, but it took awhile for words to escape. When they did, Susanna narrowed her eyes. "I've heard of those. If that's what I think it is - they're really rare, and really valuable."
"What is it, then?" Susanna asked, watching her cousin lift the fabric.
"It's an invisibility cloak." Ron answered. "I'm sure of it - try it on."
"Those are - bloody hell!" Susanna shouted, scrambling back into Ron. The spot her cousin had once been sitting was empty, the Chosen One having disappeared as soon as he'd pulled the cloak over himself.
"There's a note! A note fell out!" Ron pointed down at the small slip of paper. Harry pulled off the cloak and Susanna took it instead, playing with the watery-slick cloth. Harry frowned at the note, then held it out for his cousin. Susanna read the words with a frown, cloak discarded between the cousins.
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.
"'Use it well'?" She questioned, and Harry shrugged in mutual confusion.
"I'd give anything for one of these. Anything." Ron hummed as he admired the cloak, before frowning at the Chosen One. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing." Harry murmured.
Susanna waited for Ron to refocus on Harry's gift before scooting closer to her cousin, wrapping an arm around her cousin. She watched as he reread the note, frowning at yet another thing Voldemort had stolen from Harry when he killed his parents. If the cloak was truly James's, then this was meant to be given to her cousin by her late uncle, not a nameless gifter.
Harry looked over at her, but before he could say anything, heavy footsteps ran down the stairs. The Weasley twins slid into view, arms thrown out in glee. "Happy Christmas! We thought you'd three never wake. George and I were up ages ago. What would Granger say?"
"Hey, look - the cousins have Weasley jumpers, too!" George pointed to Harry and Susanna, smirking.
The twins were wearing blue jumpers, an "F" and "G" embroidered in yellow on each - though they'd clearly switched them.
"Harry's and Susie-Wusie's are better than ours, though." Fred pouted, plopping down beside the Dursley girl to tug on her emerald jumper. She swatted at his hands.
"Come on, Gred, leave the girl alone." George playfully scolded his older twin.
"But she makes the funniest expressions, Forge." Fred smirked at Susanna, attempting to poke her nose. She mocked a bite and he recoiled, shaking out his would-be bitten fingers.
"That's what you get, you git!"
"Oi, it's Christmas!"
"And?" Susanna huffed, smiling wide. "Thank you for the presents, by the way. I'll make you both and Lee proud."
George grinned as he sat with his twin, patting her on the shoulder. "Don't waste it all on one target."
"But Ron's so easy!"
As the twins, Susanna, and Harry laughed at Ron's wounded frown, Percy Weasley stormed into the common room, dressed in his pajamas, robe, and wearing a nightcap. "What's all this noise?" He demanded, angrily stomping past the twins to grab his own parcels. "I was trying to get in a good rest!"
"Percy, sleeping in? Someone write mum." George joked, Percy glaring as he unwrapped his mother's gift and held up a lumpy light blue sweater.
"'P' for 'Prefect'!" Fred teased, pointing at the giant "P" embroidered on his older brother's gift. Percy glowered disapprovingly. "Go on, wear it! Even Harry and Susanna are!" The louder of the twins chortled, groaning as Susanna kicked him in the shin.
"I - don't - want - to! George Weasley, you release me this instant!" Percy hollered as George pounced onto his brother, Fred aiding him in untying their older brother's robe and shoving the jumper over his wayward red curls. Horn-rimmed glasses askew, he spat like a mad cat as he was trapped in his mother's knitting, arms pinned to his sides as they'd not been led through the sleeves.
"And you're not sitting with the prefects today, either!" George tugged Percy up - again, with Fred's help. "Christmas is a time for family."
And with that, the twin's frog-marched Percy away from the rest of his presents and out of the common room. "Stop! I'm not even appropriately dressed, you insufferable -" Percy's voice trailed off as the portrait closed, leaving the three laughing first years alone.
In her eleven years of life, Susanna had yet to see a feast as grand as Hogwarts' Christmas dinner. Even the start-of-term meal and Halloween dinner weren't as impressive. She believed even her father would sing the Wizarding World's praises if he was privy to such a meal. There were a hundred roast turkeys, all huge and glistening with juice - there wasn't a dry cut of meat to be found. There were mountains of boiled and roasted potatoes, platters of chipolatas and buttered peas. There was no shortage of gravy and cranberry sauce. Susanna - having not eaten all day, except for the single piece of fudge that morning - felt less guilty than usual about eating a full plate of food without substantial vegetables to compensate. Hades sat curled on her lap the whole time, purring happily or hissing at Mrs. Norris as she walked past.
Most excitingly - even more so than the desserts, which consisted of flaming puddings - were the stacks of wizard crackers placed all around each of the Houses' tables. They were nothing like the ones her parents had bought, filled only with flimsy trinkets and party hats. Susanna had only pulled a few, but received a new sack of gobstones, playing cards, and a toy Golden Snitch.
She also discovered that wizard crackers opened with more than just a bang. Susanna had to cover hears when her cousin and Fred pulled one, the cracker exploding as loud as a cannon, engulfing them in blue smoke. Harry enjoyed them far more from his cousin, walking out of the Great Hall with a stack consisting of a Rear Admiral's hat, a new wizard's chess set, non-explodable luminescent balloons, a Grow-Your-Own-Warts kit, and more. The white mice that had come out of the cracker he'd pulled with Fred escaped rather quickly - a couple of which were no doubt Hades's dinner.
The real joy of the feast came from watching Hagrid. He sat up at the faculty table - Dumbledore conversing nearby with Professor Flitwick, the headmaster having swapped his hat for a flower bonnet he'd gotten in his wizard cracker - face steadily growing redder and redder as he drank more wine. Eventually he pressed a quick kiss to Professor McGonagall's face. Ron and Susanna had to cover their laughter as they watched her giggle, cheeks flushed.
While Hades ran off to either terrorize the remaining mice or battle Mrs. Norris, the cousins and the Weasleys burst out of the castle and onto the grounds. Having run up to grab her transfigured skates, Susanna happily danced on the ice. Most of her time skating was spent dodging wayward snowballs from the boys snowball fight. "Oi! For three Quidditch players, your aim is horrid!" She laughed through her shouting.
"Sorry, Suze!" Harry apologized.
Once they'd all tired themselves out - and were half frozen - the small group of exuberant Gryffindors rushed back to the warmth of their dorm. Susanna refused to remove her new jumper, using a drying spell so she wouldn't get sick before changing into her pajama bottoms and fuzzy slippers. She curled up on the couch, Hades on her lap. They watched Ron absolutely destroy Harry and her cousin's new chess set. Halfway through their third game, Susanna shivered. A warm blanket descended over her, and she looked up to see Fred tucking her in. He gave her a brotherly smile, hitting her on the head with a rolled-up Daily Prophet for good measure. She scrunched her nose and he snickered, hitting her again before George shoved him out of the way. The other Weasley twin jumped onto the couch, smothering Susanna as he practically laid down on top of her.
"I hate you both!"
"But you were so cold!" Fred teased, urging George to move down the couch. He shoved the first year next, sprawling out on the space beside her. Susanna rolled her eyes, the trio refocusing on Harry's nearing devastating loss.
"Dolts." She spat out fondly, groaning as they messed with her red waves. Harry's creative cursing distracted his already irritated cousin, sparring the Weasley twins Susanna's fiery wrath.
Susanna exhaled frustratedly as she glared up at the roof of her canopy bed. Hades was asleep, curled up on her pillow. His gentle breathing was soothing, but his human had too exciting of a day to join him in a deep slumber. While Christmas Day hadn't been as terrible for her back at Privet Drive as it was for Harry, it wasn't the same as before her father discovered she was anything but normal.
This Christmas had been even better than the years before that fateful day.
She grumbled and rolled over, back of her head pressed to Hades's small frame as she pouted at the empty bed beside her. She missed Hermione, which was a thought she never even considered crossing her mind three months ago.
A sudden soft knock had Susanna sitting up. She frowned at the door, relaxing as soon as she heard her cousin whispering on the other side. "Suze? Are you awake?"
"Yes!" She answered, a little too loudly as Hades's ears twitched. Susanna was more careful climbing out of bed. She pulled on her robe and tied it as she crept towards the door, slippers shuffling as she moved. "What's wrong?" Susanna questioned Harry as she opened the door. Her eyes flicked down to the fabric in her hands, and she smiled wider than the Cheshire Cat. "Sneaking out, eh, Harry?"
"I was going to rouse Ron as well, but I thought perhaps we could try out my father's cloak together?" He posed. "I'd like to think he would've wanted us to."
Susanna's grin became softer, and she nodded. "You don't have to twist my arm, Harry. You know I'm always up for some mischief."
"No mischief!" Harry argued, and his cousin rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Whatever. A boring adventure, then."
Harry huffed but stepped aside, waiting for Susanna to close her door before they tiptoed down the staircase. They walked through the freezing common room and out the portrait hole. Susanna was quick to tug her cousin into the shadows, the Fat Lady waking too quickly for her cousin to cover them with his new cloak.
"Who's there?" The portrait squawked.
When her question was answered with silence, the Fat Lady happily returned to her snoring slumber. Susanna nodded at Harry, and he wrapped his mysterious gift around them. The fabric was cool to the touch, the cousins careful not to trip on the hemming and risk being discovered. They traveled through the halls of the castle as quietly as possible, the red-haired girl content to have her cousin lead the way.
They ended up in front of the library, and Susanna reached over to feel Harry's forehead. He slapped her hand away, a confused frown on his face. "I was just checking to see if you'd fallen ill." The redhead defended herself, holding in her laughter as her cousin glared at her.
The interior of the library was pitch-black, giving the normally warm section of the castle a haunting effect. Susanna huffed, a touch annoyed. She loved the library, but she also wasn't Hermione - she didn't need to spend every moment of her life there. She'd hoped her cousin would have been more interested in exploring hidden passages, but she supposed spending time with family was the most important part of Christmas.
"Lumos." The redhead whispered, the tip of her wand illuminating the interior of the cloak, while also helping to light the way.
"Thanks." Harry responded with a smile.
"You know, I could teach you the spell."
"Maybe after the holidays. For now, let's focus on Nicolas Flamel." A mischievous little smile appeared on her cousin's face, and she hugged him tightly.
"I'm so proud of you!"
"Get off me!" Harry hissed back as she ruffled his unruly hair. Still, Susanna practically skipped towards the Restricted Section. The cousins carefully stepped over the rope separating the more guarded books from the rest of Hogwarts's collection. Susanna held her wand up higher so they could read the titles of each book. Or, they tried to read the titles, which were written in languages they didn't yet understand. Some were even untitled, and one book had dark stain Susanna could have sworn was blood. She reached out to grab it, morbidly curious. Harry slapped her hand once more, narrowly missing her elbow to his ribs. "Are the hairs on the back of your neck raising, too?" He questioned as they walked further down the row.
Susanna shook her head, stuttering out her lie. "N-no."
She bumped into Harry when he stopped moving, nearly knocking them both to the ground. He winced as she silently slapped his shoulder in retaliation. "Sorry!" He hissed. She only rubbed at her elbow - which she'd hit against the wood - and glowered as Harry began perusing the bookshelf. As he ducked down to search the bottom shelf, Susanna held out her wand while keeping a lookout for any sign of company. Feeling the cloak beginning to slip off she ducked down, green eyes wide as she surveyed the entrance to the Restricted Section.
"I think we're alright for -" No sooner had Susanna given the all clear than a blood curdling shriek filled the library. Startled, she jumped and tripped backwards, nearly falling out of the cloak as Harry slammed the screaming book shut. It still howled, and the cousins wasted no time in grabbing each others' hands, Susanna putting out her wand's light as they ran out the library. The approaching footsteps in the dark corridor were revealed to be Filch's, Harry barely ducking in time so that the caretaker missed grabbing the invisible boy.
"I hate you. I'm never going to be able to hear again!" Susanna snarled to her cousin, rubbing her ears as they ran.
"Wish we could do something about your whinging." He snarked in response, poking out his tongue as she'd done to him. "Wait, hang on - where exactly are we?"
The redhead paused, looking around with a dropped jaw. "I've no bloody clue. Why is this castle filled with suits of armor?" She groaned, staring up at a tall knight. "Do we even know which floor we're on?"
"Fifth, I think." Harry mumbled. "There's another suit of armor by the kitchens."
Susanna huffed and took her cousin's hand, preparing to retrace their steps. They froze when their ears picked up on Filch's voice, the caretaker having the advantage of knowing the castle better than the two Gryffindors. "You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library - the Restricted Section."
"The Restricted Section? Well, they can't be far. We'll catch them." Snape responded, horrifying Harry and Susanna.
Seeing her cousin was frozen, the redhead spared no time in taking his arm and tiptoeing further down the corridor. The two men turned the corner, and Harry sprung into action, pointing out a door that had been left slightly ajar.
As the Potions Master and the caretaker continued exploring the narrow corridor for their troublemakers, the cousins squeezed through the door, Susanna barely making it. Harry leaned against the wall and the redhead peeked outside, smirking as Snape and Filch disappeared from sight. Not wanting to risk their newfound sanctuary, the cousins left the door open. The cloak dropped to the ground, and Susanna carefully folded the silk fabric.
"Suze." Harry whispered. She turned towards him, frowning at the mess of an unused classroom. Desks and chairs had been piled against the walls, an upturned wastebasket had been left... right in front of a mirror?
It was far too grand to have belonged in the room. It was something out of a fairytale - Susanna half expected the mirror to begin talking, as the Evil Queen's had in Snow White. As high as the ceiling, its ornate gold frame shone in the moonlight coming in from a nearby window. The inscription carved above the reflective surface read, "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."
"What does it say?" Harry asked, having heard his cousin subconsciously whisper the foreign phrase.
Susanna shrugged, green eyes frowning. "I've no idea. I'm going to check the hall once more." She spun away, tearing her eyes from the words, never once looking at her reflection, missing the image it tried to show her.
Harry looked, though, and Susanna jumped at the muffled scream. "Harry! Shh!" She turned to scold him, head tilted as he ignored her in favor of walking closer to the mirror. She stayed rooted at her spot by the door, watching as Harry crept closer to the glass, his nose nearly touching his reflection.
"Mum? Dad?" He asked, pressing a hand to the mirror.
Susanna frowned in confusion, stepping closer. "Harry?" She asked worriedly, but was still too far from the mirror to see what had her cousin so shaken. She paused when a distant noise echoed towards the abandoned classroom. It seemed to knock her cousin out of his trance as well, because Harry dashed over to her, letting Susanna throw the cloak over them. They hurried back to Gryffindor Tower, both of their minds stuck on the mirror.
The next day, Ron was none too pleased when he heard about the cousins' adventure. He glowered, tone cross as he said, "You could have woken me up."
"You can come tonight, I'm going back - I want to show you the mirror." Harry reassured him.
"I'd like to see your mom and dad." Ron smiled, Susanna grinning as she blinked over to her happy cousin.
Harry was practically glowing. "And I want to see all your family, all the Weasleys - you'll be able to show me your other brothers and everyone!"
"Yeah! I've grown tired of only being around you, Percy, and the twins!" Susanna teased, ducking as Ron threw a roll at her head.
"You can see them any old time." The red-haired boy grumbled. "Just come around my house this summer." Ron then looked at Susanna, lips twitching downward. "Did you see his parents as well?"
Susanna shook her head, shrugging. "To be honest, I wasn't really paying attention to the mirror. I was more interested in the words. It didn't look like latin - not that I know much, of course -"
"You've been spending too much time with Hermione. Ow!" Ron cried out, rubbing his shin. Susanna merely shook out her foot before continuing.
"Anyway, I just want to figure out what it means. Maybe when I read it out loud, I unknowingly cast a spell?" She guessed.
Ron hummed, glancing warily at the happy Harry. "Mate, what if it only, you know... shows dead people?"
Harry looked away, deep in thought. "I don't care. I still want you to see them."
Ron grinned. "Alright. Shame about not finding Flamel, though. Have some bacon or something, why aren't you eating?" He scolded the Boy Who Lived, earning a loud burst of giggles from Susanna at his maternal tone. In response, Ron loaded her plate with eggs, broiled tomatoes, and mushrooms. "You as well. Can't have you fainting on our adventure because you were too unfocused to eat!"
Susanna thanked him, but the smile she offered didn't reach her eyes. She played with her food, voices ringing in her ear reminding her of calories and balanced nutrients. Had the food at Hogwarts always been this greasy? Her mother would shriek if she came home with blemishes on her face, and Susanna was sure she could feel a pimple forming on her nose, like some sort of wart. That would really get a laugh out of her father. She'd be the spitting image of the stereotypical witch.
"-usie. Oi, Susie!" Ron's gentle scolding jolted her from her thoughts. "Eat. Come on, you love broiled tomatoes."
"They're greasy. I've got a pimple." Susanna muttered. She yelped and rubbed her shoulder, glaring at Ron. "What the bloody hell was that about?"
The redhead shrugged, eyes flicking over to the still-distracted Harry. "Susie, you don't have a pimple. The tomatoes aren't greasy, you're just grumpy. Eat your breakfast."
Susanna did as requested, glaring at her friend with every chew.
Her mood ebbed as the day went on, having been whisked away by Fred and George to prank Filch. The two hour long shower to relieve her body of the stench had been worth it, if only because Susanna knew the caretaker would be too busy guarding his quarters to do his rounds. It'd be all the more easy to sneak back into the empty classroom. Which is just what she, her cousin, and their friend needed, seeing as how three people under the cloak meant a slower journey.
"I'm freezing." Ron complained, not for the first time. They'd been wandering the halls for nearly half an hour, neither Harry nor Susanna quite sure which way they went the night before. "Let's forget it and go back."
"No!" Harry hissed, Susanna jumping at the abruptness of his mood. "I know it's here somewhere. Susanna, back me up?"
His cousin sighed, but agreed all the same. "Shh, Ron. We'll find it."
They continued walking, pausing only when the ghost of a tall witch floated past. Thankfully, she was going in the opposite direction, and the trip came across no one else as they continued their journey. Just as Ron began to groan and grumble once more, Harry and Susanna jolted. Just a few steps ahead was the suit of armor, which meant -"
"It's here! Just here - yes!" Harry nearly shouted with glee as he herded his cousin and closest friend into the empty classroom. The cloak dropped onto the ground as they all ran towards the mirror, determined to see Harry's parents. "See? It's them!" Harry gestured to the mirror, smiling wide.
Susanna and Ron frowned, shrugging at each other. It was only them and the Boy Who Lived.
"I can't see anything."
"Me, neither." Ron and Susanna admitted, confused.
"Look! Really look!"
Ron shook his head. "Mate, I'm sorry - I can only see you."
Harry groaned, frustrated. "Look in it properly, go on, stand where I am - one at a time, maybe. Yeah. Maybe the mirror's confused or something."
Susanna sighed and stepped forward, only to be shoved out of the way by Ron. Too excited to pay attention to her scolding, her redheaded friend began to admire his reflection, completely absorbed. She didn't know why - all Ron was wearing were his paisley pajamas.
"Look at me!" Ron cheered.
Susanna blinked. "I am. I'm not impressed." She barely had time to dodge Ron's playful strike.
"Well, you should be!"
"Do you see my parents? Your parents?" Harry questioned, eager.
"No, I'm alone - but I look different, older... I'm Head Boy!"
"What?"
"You?" Harry cried out while Susanna snorted. Ron glowered at her, but it was about as threatening to the redheaded girl as a kitten - not that she'd ever tell him that. Or maybe she would, if he pissed her off.
"I am." Ron insisted. "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 reluctantly turned his back to the mirror, eyes bright as he looked excitedly towards the cousins. "Do you think this mirror shows the future?"
Harry exhaled, shoulders slumping. "How can it? All my family are dead -"
"Wow." Susanna whistled, but Harry paid her no mind. She frowned as he and Ron argued over who got to look in the mirror next. "Boys!" She finally whistled. "It's my turn."
"Fine. Alright." Harry mumbled, he and Ron still slapping at each other. They only stopped when she glared at them so darkly that it was as if Professor McGonagall was possessing her. Susanna blew her lips as she stalked up to the mirror, hands in the pockets of her jumper.
"Well, what do you see?" Ron asked.
She tilted her head. "Just me. And you two. Hermione -" Susanna turned, but her closest girl friend was nowhere in sight. Why would she be, she was home. "All of us, together." She turned back to the mirror, eyes narrowing. "That's it."
"C'mon, you've gotta see something else!" Ron urged.
Susanna shrugged. "No. I don't. Wait!" Susanna gasped, hands covering her mouth. "Oh, wow."
"What? What's the matter?" Harry asked.
Tears filled his cousin's eyes. "It's my parents and Dudley. They're with us, smiling. My dad - he looks so proud." Susanna wiped away her tears. "I wish it was real." Susanna murmured, jolting when she felt a hand take hers. She looked over to see it was Harry, smiling as Ron took her free limb in his. The trio stared back at the mirror, only seeing their reflections. The fantasy had ended.
As had their time. A sudden noise out in the corridor brought them back to reality. "Quick!" Susanna whispered. Ron sprang forward and grabbed Harry's invisibility cloak, throwing it over himself and the cousins just as Mrs. Norris came around the door. They all stood as still as possible, and after what seemed like ages the cat strutted away, tail swishing behind her.
"This isn't safe - she might have gone for Filch." Ron warned.
Susanna nodded, yanking at Harry, her cousin having returned to being enamored by the mirror. "Harry, come on." She spoke gently, but no less firm. "I don't know how much longer we have - Filch would follow Mrs. Norris anywhere, no matter how busy he was. Let's go."
"Fine." Harry growled. "But I'm coming back.
Susanna and Ron frowned worriedly at each other, walking just behind Harry.
Just what exactly was the mirror doing to him?