Tempting as I was to release this on Christmas, I didn't feel like waiting and I think you guys didn't want to either.
Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by Viz Media. Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling.
Special thanks to my s: Sabrina, Shannon, and Shadow Driver
"Alright last chapter for tonight. My turn to read," Yang said grabbing the book from Blake. Opening to the correct page she read out the chapter title. "The Mirror of... Erised?"
"Wonder what that it?" Nora asked.
"Ooohhh. Sounds fancy," Ruby gushed.
December has arrived for Hogwarts. The castle was covered in several feet of snow and Christmas was right around the corner.
"That sounds exciting!" Jaune cheered.
"Wonder if the students will be let off for the holiday?" Pyrrha wondered. "So they can see their family for the occasion."
"It's possible. From what I remember of the note, their 'Christmas' is on the 25th correct?" Ren asked. At the others nod he continues. "Winter Solstice is just before it and it seems like they have some of the same traditions we have around that time."
"So since we usually have a couple of weeks off of school for Winter Solstice, then it would be the same for them with Christmas," Weiss figured. "Guess there are a few things in this world that is the same as ours. If for different reasons."
Fred and George got in trouble for enchanting several snowballs to fly towards Quirrell, which constantly bounced off of his turban.
"As they should," Weiss scolded.
"Thought that is hilarious," Nora chuckled.
"Eh, I would have liked it if they did it towards Snape instead," Yang said.
"You want the twins to die?!" Weiss questioned in shock.
Yang thought back to what she said. "Yeah you're right."
Hagrid had to take care of the owls that delivered the mail as they battled through the storms. Everyone was excited for the holidays to start.
"Wait? Holidays?" Blake asked. "I thought it was just Christmas?" A note appeared in her lap.
There's also Kwanza, Hannukah, Yule, Boxing Day, Zarathustra, and probably a bunch of other ones I'm missing. Google (my search engine) only tells so much. What people celebrate depends on what culture they are apart of.
The Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall had blazing fires. Meanwhile the corridors and classrooms were rather chilly. Snape's room was the worst being down in the dungeons. Students kept themselves warm by huddling close to their cauldron.
Everyone shuddered at that. Ren and Nora more so but no one seemed to notice.
Draco said out loud that he feels sorry for those who have to stay at Hogwarts during the holidays since they're not wanted at home. He gave a pointed look to Harry as he said this. Not like Harry even cared. Malfoy had gotten worse after the Quidditch match since Harry beat the Slytherin team.
"Of course he is," Weiss said with a roll of her eyes.
He started to joke about how a wide-mouth tree frog would be replacing Harry.
"How is that funny?" Nora asked.
"It isn't," Yang said.
However no one was laughing so Draco went back to taunting Harry about having no parents.
"You don't need parents to have a proper family," Ren said softly.
Yes, Harry was staying at Hogwarts. But he was by no means complaining. Professor McGonagall had came around a week ago making a list of those who would be staying for the holidays. Harry was the first to sign up, figuring this would be the best Christmas he's ever had.
"He'll be away from the Dursleys. Of course it'll be the best Christmas yet," Jaune said.
The Weasleys would be staying in Hogwarts as well since their parents would be spending the holidays in Romania visiting Charlie.
"Now it's even better!" Ruby cheered.
"Yeah. No Dursleys and he's with his friends. Best Christmas Ever!" Yang agreed.
At the end of potions, the trio headed out of the corridor and found a large fir tree blocking their path. Going by the puffing sound from behind it, and the two large feet at the bottom, it was clear that Hagrid was carrying it. Ron offered some help but Hagrid said he got it.
"Nice of Ron to offer though," Pyrrha said.
Malfoy's voice then came right behind them telling them to move.
"That one on the other hand," Weiss groaned.
Malfoy asked Ron if he was trying to earn some extra money. Even figuring that Ron would want to be a gamekeeper himself. Hagrid's hut is probably bigger than his place. Ron dove for Malfoy just as Snape came up and caught Ron in the act. Hagrid tried to explain the situation but Snape barley listed and deducted five points from Gryffindor before telling them to move along.
"He should have deducted points from Malfoy too for starting it," Yang said.
Malfoy and his goons pushed the tree aside, spilling pines everywhere. Ron mutters that one of theses days he'll get Malfoy. Harry states that he hates both Malfoy and Snape.
"I think we all do," Blake said.
"Well most of us anyway," Yang corrected side eyeing Ruby who was still defending Snape.
Hagrid tells the two to cheer up as it was almost Christmas and invited the trio to come with him to see the Great Hall. They followed and saw that professors McGonagall and Flitwick were setting up the decorations. McGonagall instructing Hagrid on where to put the last tree. The Hall looked amazing. Mistletoe and holly hung on the walls. About a dozen Christmas Trees circled the room. Some donning shimmering icicles. Others glowing with candles.
"Um, that doesn't sound safe," Jaune said. "I mean, I guess that there would be a spell to keep the trees from catching fire but it's still unnerving to think about."
Hagrid asked how many days were left until the holidays started. Hermione states that its just one before reminding Ron and Harry about needing to go to the library.
"It's the last day until break. What do they need to study for?" Yang asked.
"Unless its to find Flamel," Blake suggested.
Hagrid was a bit surprised at that, but Harry explains that they're trying to find out who Nicolas Flamel is. Much to Hagrid's horror, who insisted the three drop it.
"It's not like they're going to do anything with the information," Pyrrha said. "Are they?"
"Yeah but walls have ears," Blake retorted. "If they talk about it in the open someone who would want to steal what we think is the stone will try to go after it."
Hermione insists that they just want to know who Flamel is. Harry asked Hagrid if he could just tell them considering how many books they have gone through already. Although Harry was certain that he heard the name somewhere before.
"I was having the same feeling," Jaune said. Everyone gave him confused looks. "I'm almost certain his name was dropped prior to the last chapter but I can't remember where."
"From the Dursleys maybe?" Ruby suggested.
"Doubt it," Yang shot down.
"Maybe a teacher mentioned it in one of their lectures," Weiss thought.
"We haven't been given much details about their classes," Ren pointed out.
Jaune rubbed his head in frustration. "This is going to drive me crazy!" he groaned.
Hagrid refuse to say anything, so the three students took off to the library. They have indeed been trying to find out who Flamel was since Hagrid let the name slip. How else were they going to find out what Snape wanted. Problem was they had no idea where to look. They've gone through several books regarding great wizards of recent times and came up with nothing.
"Maybe Flamel is older than who's in those books," Ruby suggested.
"Those books regard wizards who've been around the past century. If he's older than that he'd likely be dead but that can't be the case," Weiss said.
Ruby cupped her chin in thought. "You're right Weiss. Hagrid did say he was still in contact with Dumbledore so he must still be alive."
"But then how are they going to find out about Flamel?" Jaune asked.
"Maybe he's so young and he didn't do enough so no one's written about him yet," Blake hypothesized.
"It could be possible. Maybe he's an apprentice to Dumbledore," Pyrrha guessed.
"Why not ask Dumbledore himself then?" Nora asked.
"Because they'll likely get in trouble for discovering Fluffy," Yang replied. "Even if they did stumble across it by accident, it was because they were trying to avoid Filch because they were out past curfew."
"Yang's right," Ren said. "Best if they try to figure it out themselves."
Nora groaned. "This is going to take forever."
Hermione took out a list of books to try and go through while Ron browsed the shelves and pulled books off at random. Harry wandered over to the restriction section of the library, thinking whatever Flamel did was in one of those books. Thing is, you'd need a signed note from a teacher in order to check one of these out. These were extremely dangerous books meant for students studding advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts and not taught in a normal curriculum.
"I don't think Flamel did something to end up in one of those books. Not if Dumbledore is helping him," Ren said.
"Unless he screwed up big time and Dumbledore is helping him clean up his mess," Yang countered.
Madam Prince, the school's librarian, caught Harry near the restricted section and asked what he was looking for. The trio had decided earlier not to ask her for help on finding Flamel on the off chance she'd say something to Snape. Harry said 'nothing' and Madam Prince shooed him out. Harry waited for his friends in the corridor wishing there was a way to look around the library without Madam Prince watching over them like a hawk. Ron and Hermione returned five minutes later with no luck so they went down to lunch.
Ruby rubbed her head in frustration. "Gah! At this rate it's going to take them forever and by then something might happen to the stone."
"There's got to be some kind of clue to help narrow the search," Blake said.
"Well they are on holiday right now so they might have more free time," Jaune said.
Hermione asked the two to write to her if the find anything while she's gone. Ron suggest if she could ask her parents anything about Flamel thinking it wouldn't hurt. Hermione agreed as they were both dentists.
"Yeah I was about to say, isn't she Muggleborn?" Pyrrha asked.
"Right. Her parents likely won't know anything about him," Blake concur.
Of course once the holidays started, Ron and Harry were having too much fun to think about Flamel.
"Of course," Weiss said with an eyeroll.
"Well they do deserve a break. And it's not like the stone will get stolen during the holidays," Nora said.
"I should hope not at least," Ren said.
They spent their time in the now empty common room where they could get the good armchairs by the fire and roasted small food on a toasting fork while plotting ways to get Malfoy expelled.
"I'd love to hear what they came up with," Yang said.
"I have a few ideas myself," Nora said.
Ron even taught Harry how to play Wizard Chess. Which was the same as Muggle Chess except the pieces were alive. So instead of picking up a piece to move it, you direct them with commands.
Ruby grew stary eye at this. "Wow, that sounds amazing."
Jaune was also impressed. "I would love to try that out. Not to brag but I'd like to think I'm a decent chess player."
Pyrrha giggled. "I can actually see that."
Like all of Ron's possessions, the chess set was second handed. In this case, it came from his grandfather. Unlike everything else though, it worked to his advantage. The chess pieces knew Ron very well and obeyed all his commands without question. Harry on the other hand was using chess pieces Seamus leant him and was struggling as the chess pieces were trying to give him advice. Which didn't do Harry any favors.
"Looks like Ron's a good chess player too," Blake noted.
On Christmas Eve, Harry went to bed not expecting any presents.
"Did he seriously forget about Hagrid, Hermione and the Weasleys?" Yang demanded. "The Dursleys won't send him anything but his friends would."
"I'm sure even Ron's mother would send him something for being friends with him," Jaune said. Sometimes his mother made sweets for his friends during Winter Solstice.
When Harry woke up that morning however, he found a small pile of presents at the foot of his bed. Ron was also up with is own pile of presents that was slightly bigger than Harry's. Harry was surprised that he even got presents. Ron joked about how Harry apparently expected turnips.
"Not even the Dursleys would have given him that much," Nora growled.
Harry's first present was from Hagrid. It was a flute that seemed to have been hand made. When Harry tried it out, it sounded like an owl.
"Aww that's so sweet," Ruby gushed.
"First he got Harry's first birthday cake and now his first Christmas present. Hagrid is the best," Yang said.
His second present was a small note from the Dursleys. Taped to the back was a fifty-pence piece.
"That's weirdly nice of them," Weiss noted with suspicion.
Harry found it friendly and Ron was fascinated with the Muggle money. Harry told him he could keep it.
The Beacon kids laughed. "It would seem weird. After all, the currency throughout Remnant stays the same," Blake said. She found a note besides her.
It's not just the Muggle world and the Wizard world. All the countries in my world have different currency. I'd love to show you examples but unfortunately I only have currency from my own country and I keep everything on a card. Sorry.
"Wow, the more we learn about this word the more diverse it gets," Pyrrha said.
"And that's without the magic stuff from this book," Ren said.
Harry counted his presents. One came from Hagrid. One from the Dursleys. So where did the others come from. Ron pointed to one of the other presents figuring that was from his mom as he told her about Harry not expecting any presents. Ron grew embarrassed as he realized she made Harry a sweater.
"Made? As in handmade?" Weiss had.
"That is beyond sweet," Ruby cheered.
"Wonder what's got Ron so embarrassed for?" Pyrrha asked.
Jaune just waved it off. "He's a little boy. Kids like him always get embarrassed when their moms do stuff like that."
Along with the sweater (which was emerald green) Harry also got a box of homemade fudge. Ron explains how his mom makes her kids a sweater every year with his always being maroon.
"Can't he just tell his mom he wants a different color?" Nora asks. Everyone just gave a shrug. Ron probably had his reasons but couldn't really come up with a theory as to why.
His next present was from Hermione which was a large box of Chocolate Frogs. The last present was something light. When Harry unwrapped it it went spilling into the floor. It was fluid and silvery. Ron gasped as he got a good look at it noting how rare and valuable it is.
"What? What did he get?" Nora demanded trying to get the book from Yang. Ren was holding her back.
Harry asked what he thought it was and Ron believed it to be an invisibility cloak. He told Harry to try it on and he did. Ron was convinced by now as he told Harry to look down and Harry saw that he couldn't see his feet. Running over to the mirror he saw his head suspended in midair. Harry threw the cloak over his head and his reflection vanished completely.
"Oh wow," Ruby breathed.
"That is so cool!" Jaune cheered.
"And very useful," Weiss noted.
"But who sent it to him?" Ren wondered.
Ron discovered a note falling out of the cloak. Harry removed the cloak and picked up the note. The handwriting was unfamiliar. Narrow and loopy. It read that Harry's father left the sender of the cloak with them before his passing. Now is the time to return it to Harry. With instructions to use it well the note ended with a Merry Christmas. There was no name.
Everyone was silent at what the note revealed. "It was his dad's," Ruby whispered. She pulled her emblem off of her belt and gazed at it longingly. She remembered how she found it on top of the book her mother had read to her and Yang the morning after she left for her mission.
She had originally kept it in a box under her bed in order to keep it safe until her mother's return. But as time went on with no news of what had happened to her, Ruby decided to adopt the emblem as her own.
Yang saw this and placed a hand on the emblem. "You okay there Rubes?"
Ruby wiped at her eyes as they had started to moisten. "Yeah." She placed the emblem back on her belt. "I'm just glad Harry has something to remember his dad by now."
Ron was saying how he'd give anything to have one of these before noticing the solemn look on Harry's face and asked if anything was the matter. Harry said it was nothing but he couldn't help but feel strange. He wondered who it was that gave him the cloak and if it really belonged to his dad. At that moment though, Fred and George busted in and Harry quickly stashed the cloak away, not wanting to share it just yet.
"Can't blame him," Ren mused.
The twins were already wearing their sweater with a F on one and a G on the other.
"Five lien says they're wearing the wrong sweater," Jaune whispered to Pyrrha. To which she giggled.
The twins gave them a Merry Christmas and noted that Harry had a sweater too. Noting that his is better saying that Mrs. Weasley makes more of an effort if it's not for family.
"I seriously doubt that," Pyrrha said.
"Ah they're likely just ribbing Harry," Nora waved off.
George wanted to know why Ron wasn't wearing his yet. Ron pulls it on, grumbling about how he hates maroon. George also noted that Ron's didn't have a letter on his like the twins do. He figured that was because Ron wouldn't forget his name. Which was silly because they know that they're called Gred and Forge.
"I love these twins," Nora laughed. Everyone else also found the joke cute.
Percy then came in, wanting to know what all the noise was. He too, was in the middle of unwrapping his sweater. Fred made a grab for it and saw that it had a P on it which clearly meant for prefect. The twins then forced it on him despite the eldest's protest. George also stated that he was sitting with his brothers for dinner tonight and not the other prefects. The two then marched Percy out of the room, his sweater pinning his arms to his sides.
It took a minute for everyone to catch their breathes. "Leave it to those to to destroy any tension," Yang said.
Christmas dinner was a real treat. Dozens of turkeys, roast, boiled potatoes, chipolatas, butter peas, gravy and cranberry sauce.
"Ugh! Why is this book making me so hungry?!" Nora complained after wiping off the drool.
"I'd honestly suggest ordering some pizzas if it wasn't so late and this wasn't the last chapter for the night," Yang said also feeling hungry.
"Maybe we can do that tomorrow since we'll likely reach the climax by that point," Jaune suggested.
"Oh great idea," Ruby said.
There was also wizard crackers, which were far different than the ones Harry's seen in the muggle world. The one Fred gave to Harry went off like a cannon, engulfing the two of them in thick smoke. Several white mice spilled onto the floor and Harry found himself with a rear admirals hat.
"Nice," Yang cheered.
At the teacher's table, Dumbledore had swapped his wizards hat out with a flower bonnet while laughing at a joke Flitwick told him.
Weiss couldn't help but give a couple of surprise blinks. "Interesting choice," was all she could say.
Pudding followed the turkey with Percy nearly breaking his teeth on his slice as there was a silver sickle embedded in it.
Everyone grimaced, wondering how that got there.
Harry left the table with his own prizes from the wizard crackers, including non-explosible luminous balloons, a grow-your-own-warts kit, and his own wizard chess set.
"Why would anyone want to grow warts?" Weiss demanded.
Harry and the Weasleys had a fun snowball fight on the grounds before returning to their common room where Harry played with his new chess set against Ron. Harry lost real bad and figured it would have been better if Percy didn't try to help him so much.
"Ugh, no one likes a back seat player," Yang groan. Ruby nodded.
Harry deemed this the best Christmas ever, but as he tucked himself into bed, he thought back to the cloak he received this morning. Ron was so full of food he passed out immediately so he didn't notice Harry pulling the cloak out. His hand ran over the material and he remembered what the note said. "Use it well." Harry decided to try it now. He got out of bed and put the cloak on. All of a sudden he was wide awake. He could go wherever he wanted and Filch could never know.
"I wouldn't get ahead of myself there," Ren said unsure.
Ron grumbled in his sleep and Harry contemplated waking him up. But this was his father's cloak. He figured, at least for this first time, he should use it alone.
Ruby nodded. Her hand gripping her emblem again.
"Our second time sneaking around the castle," Nora cheered. "Now where should we go."
Harry went down to the common room and out of the portrait hole. The Fat Lady asked who was there but Harry didn't answer. He thought about where he should go. It quickly came to him. The Restricted Section of the library.
"That's a great idea!" Jaune said. "Now he has all the time in the world to figure out who Flamel is."
"But Harry needs his sleep. He shouldn't be sneaking around all night just to figure out this mystery," Pyrrha disagreed.
Harry set off. The library was dark and eerie. Harry lit a lamp so he could see the row of books. With the cloak, the lamp looked like it was floating in mid-air. It kinda creeped Harry out, despite knowing his arm supported it. He made his way to the back of the library, where the restricted section was and stepped over the rope separating the section from the rest of the room.
"That's all that's stopping people from stealing these dangerous books? A rope?" Blake asked disturbed.
"Magical school," Ren reminded her. "There's probably several spells keeping students out of the books without permission."
The spines on the books either had titles in different language or were completely blank. One tomb had a stain that looked an awful lot like blood.
"I have my doubts. Madam Prince seems like the type of person to keep every book in pristine condition," Weiss said.
The hair on the back of Harry's neck stood up. It might have been his imagination, but he thought he heard a faint whispering coming from the books. Like they knew someone was here and wasn't allowed.
"Probably," Pyrrha said.
Harry had to start somewhere. Taking a random book off the shelf he opened it up. The book started screaming. Harry quickly closed it and stuffed it back into the shelf but it kept screaming.
"Okay time to bail!" Ruby shouted.
He backed up and accidently knocked over the lamp which quickly went out. Footsteps were heard coming down the corridor and Filch appeared. Harry swiftly ducked down Filch's outstretched arm and bolted down the hallway. He was so focused on getting away buy the time he stopped, he didn't realize where he was.
"Great. Now he's lost," Weiss complain.
"At least it can't get worse," Ruby said.
Wherever Harry was however, Filch must have known a shortcut as he heard his voice telling someone to report to them if anyone was wandering around after curfew and someone was in the restricted section of the library. To make matters worse, Snape was the one who responded, figuring they couldn't be far.
Weiss glared at Ruby who ducked behind her sister.
Harry froze as the two came around the corner. While they couldn't see him, the cloak didn't make him intangible. Backing away as quietly as he could, he spotted a door ajar ahead and was able to sneak in. Filch and Snape passed, not noticing anything.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief. "That was way to close," Ren said.
Harry leaned against the wall catching his breath as the footsteps of the two adults grew further away. Once he calmed down, he took a look at the room he hid in. It look liked an unused classroom. The desk and chairs were up against the wall. But there was something there that didn't look like it belonged. It was a mirror. As tall as the ceiling and framed in gold. An inscription was on the top.
Yang struggled to read it but she was able to get out "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on woshi."
"What kind of language was that?" Blake asked.
"That made no sense," Jaune said.
Yang shook the book. "Hey, person who keeps sending us notes, can you explain to us what that means?"
An index card fell out this time as opposed to the usual envelopes.
Later
"Fine," everyone grumbled.
Harry had now calmed down and went over to the mirror. He couldn't see his reflection until he stepped in front of the mirror. He had to stop himself from screaming and looked around the room but it was empty. He looked back at the mirror again and found a dozen people standing right behind him.
"Huh?" everyone asked.
Was this the trick of the mirror. To show people whether they are invisible or not.
"Is Harry still wearing the cloak at this point?" Jaune asked.
"It doesn't say," Yang said.
Two people from the mirror approached him. One was a pretty lady with red hair and eyes- just like Harry's. Same color. Same shape. And Harry could see the tears in it, despite the smile on the woman's face.
"Is that?" Nora asked afraid to finish her thought.
The man standing next to her placed an arm around her. He wore glasses and had unkept hair similar to Harry. The young wizard drew even closer to the mirror and called out his parents.
No one could say anything. Their eyes started to grow wet. It took Yang a moment before she could continue reading.
His parents just stood there. Smiling at him. Harry took note of the other people behind his parents. Some had eyes like his. Others had the same nose he did. Harry even found a little old man with his knobbly knees. For the first time ever, Harry was looking at his family.
Harry didn't know how long he stood in front of the mirror. He placed a hand on the mirror wishing it would open up so it could reach him. His emotions a strong mix of happiness and terrible grief. The image never faded and it seemed like he could just look into it forever. A distant noise brought him back to reality and he knew he had to go back to bed. As he left he whispered that he'll be back.
"This isn't good," Pyrrha said.
"How do you mean?" Ruby asked.
"An artifact like that could be dangerous," Ren explained. "If Harry didn't snap out of it. He could have wasted away in front of the mirror until someone found him."
"And Harry might have lost his temper if they tried to pull him away from it," Pyrrha continued. "It seems like the mirror could have put a hold on him."
"But what could a mirror do other than just make Harry sit there and stare at it?" Jaune asked.
"There could be more to the mirror that we don't know yet," Blake responded, letting Yang continue with the reading.
Ron was annoyed that Harry didn't wake him up when Harry told him about what happened but Harry promised Ron that he could go with him tonight. Ron was curious, wanting to see his parents. Harry also wanted to see Ron's family but Ron insist that he could see them over the summer if he wanted. Besides it might only show dead people.
"Tack Ron! Try to learn it," Pyrrha scolded.
Ron also said it was a shame that Harry didn't learn anything about Flamel before noticing that Harry wasn't eating anything. Harry wasn't hungry. All he could think about was seeing his parents again. It no longer matter why Flamel was so important, what Fluffy was guarding, or the fact that Snape was after it.
"Okay I am starting to see your point Pyrrha," Jaune admits. Everyone else grew concern. Hopefully Ron could snap him out of it tonight.
Harry was worried that he couldn't find the mirror room again as he traversed the halls with Ron later that night. They tried retracing his steps and have been wondering around the halls for about an hour. Because the cloak was now hiding two, they had to move a lot slower. Ron complained about how cold he was and suggested that they go back to bed. Harry insisted that they were close and found the suit of armor that he noticed last night. They quickly went into the room and Harry saw his parents in the mirror again. But Ron didn't see anything.
"Looks like the mirror can only be used by one person at a time," Weiss said.
Harry stood to the side so Ron could look into it properly. But what Ron saw was an older him who was head boy and holding both the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup. He was even Quidditch captain.
Jaune felt his face flushing. That sounded a lot like what he would see in the mirror. A great huntsmen. A proud hero to the people. Just like those in his family.
Harry doubted it since his family is dead. He started to shove Ron to the side, wanting to see his parents again but Ron didn't want to give it up. They started to argue.
Weiss slapped her palm against her forehead. "So much for Ron trying to bring him back. He's succumb to the mirror's powers too."
"To be fair they are only just eleven," Blake reminded her. Weiss let out a sigh. Blake was right. She likely would have done the same at that age. Seeing her restore the company to it's former glory would be a tempting sight.
A sudden noise outside broke up the argument. It just occurred to them just how loud they were being. Ron threw the cloak over them just as Mrs. Norris came into the room. Silently they wondered if the cloak worked on cats.
"Mrs. Norris may not see them but she could smell them," Blake said.
Mrs. Norris left and Ron pulled Harry away in case the cat went for her owner.
"On the plus side, it seems the mirror doesn't have that strong of a hold on Ron," Ruby said.
The next morning Ron offered Harry a game of chess which Harry refused. Ron tried again with a visit to Hagrid but Harry just told him to go on his own. Ron knew that Harry was still thinking about the mirror and urged him not to go back tonight. Saying that he had a bad feeling about it and Harry was nearly caught a few times already.
"I see Hermione's been rubbing off on him," Yang said cheekily.
Harry said that Ron sounds like Hermione.
The teens chuckled while Yang shakes her head. "I hate it when that happens."
Ron kept insisting but Harry was determined to go back to the mirror tonight. Harry found his way back faster than ever. He probably made more noise than wise but he didn't care. His mother and father were smiling at him from the mirror. Harry was contempt to stare at it all night long with no distractions. However there was one in the form of a calm voice. Asking that he was back again.
"Oh no," Ruby said. "He is going to get in so much trouble."
"It said calm voice so I doubt it is Snape or Finch," Ren said.
"Maybe McGonagall," Jaune suggested.
"Nope not her," Yang said.
Harry turned around to find none other than Dumbledore sitting in one of the desks against the wall.
"Dumbledore himself?" Weiss cried out.
"That is surprising," Pyrrha said.
Harry was surprised. Not knowing the headmaster was there. Dumbledore smiled and joked about how being invisible can make one near sighted.
Ruby sighed in relief. "Okay looks like Harry isn't in trouble."
Dumbledore asked Harry if he knew what the mirror does giving it's name. Dumbledore also knew that it showed not only what Harry wanted but Ron as well. Apparently Dumbledore didn't need a cloak to become invisible.
Weiss scoffed. "Well then he should have broken up their fight. It's clear he knows that this mirror is dangerous."
As Harry tries to figure out what it does Dumbledore gives a hint. The happiest person in the world could use the mirror as a normal mirror. Nothing would reflect back at him. Harry figures that the mirror shows whatever it is they may want. Dumbledore clarifies, stating that it shows the hearts most deepest desires.
Before Yang could continue an envelope appeared on the page. She opened it up.
Erised stra ehru oyt ube carfru oyt on wohsi
Put this in front of a mirror and fix the spaces.
Weiss took the note and did as instructed in the bathroom connected to their dorm. She comes out a minute later. "It reads 'I show not your face but your hearts desire'."
Everyone wondered what the mirror would show if they stood in front of it. Most of them knew the answer already. The only ones that didn't were Nora and Pyrrha. True Nora was orphaned at an early age and she and Ren went through things no child should go through. But other than that her life was good. She had Ren, she was training to become a huntress, she had a good team even if Jaune was a little lacking in combat. And she considered Team RWBY her close friends as well. What more could she want?
Pyrrha had an idea of what the mirror could have shown her a couple of months back. Being taken off her pedestal and seen as just Pyrrha. But she managed to achieve that here at Beacon. Jaune didn't even know of her accomplishments when they first met. Ren and Nora never brought up her status either. Weiss was the only one of Team RWBY to do so and she apologies for her actions a couple of days ago. Would the mirror show her something she didn't know she wants? Or would it just act as a normal mirror?
Dumbledore used Harry and Ron as examples. Harry had never knew his family and so the mirror shows them there with him. Ron feels overshadowed by his brothers and so the mirror reflects him with the best of his brothers qualities.
Dumbledore continued that the mirror shows neither knowledge or truth. People have wasted away before the mirror. Too entranced by what they see or driven mad with longing.
"And yet it was just sitting there in an unguarded classroom," Pyrrha said with distain.
"Dumbledore should be more careful," Ren said.
"This is the same guy who keeps a giant three headed dog behind a simple locked door to keep some kind of magic stone safe," Weiss pointed out. "I doubt he understands the meaning of careful."
The headmaster informs Harry that the mirror will be moved to a new location tomorrow and asks Harry not to seek it out again. On the off chance Harry ever did encounter it again, he will be better prepared this time. After all, it does not do good to dwell on dreams and forget to live.
"Now those are some wise words," Ren said. Everyone nodded.
Harry made to put back on his cloak when he asked Dumbledore what he saw in the mirror. Dumbledore responds that he sees a pair of thick, wooly, socks. Much to Harry's surprise.
"Of all the answers I was expecting, that was not one of them," Blake said.
Dumbledore admitted disappointment that he didn't get any for Christmas this year. People keep giving him books. It was only after Harry tucked himself into bed that he realized the headmaster was likely lying. But then again it was a rather personal question.
"Of course Dumbledore would be lying," Nora said. "But you'd think he'd come up with something less random.
Ruby gave a yawn and her eyes start to droop. Yang dropped the book into Blake's waiting hands. "Alright I think that's our cue to call it a night."
Jaune nodded and he and Pyrrha got off Ruby's bed. "Right. We'll meet up for training in the morning right?"
"Count on it," Ruby said, crawling into her bed. Everyone bid each other good night and Weiss turned the lights off of their room.
If I did miss any holidays around December that you might celebrate I do apologize. I wasn't joking about that Google remark.
Reviews are appreciated. Please follow to know when the next chapter comes out. Favorite once the story is done and I will see you all in the next chapter. Stay awesome and to all my fellow Americans have a great Thanksgiving next week.