14
Chris was shocked to say the least, "Wait, so let me get this straight: there is something being hidden in our school, under a trap door, under a three headed dog, from the Nicolas Flamel that nobody has any idea of what it is?"
"Yeah, that sounds about right" The ginger haired boy nodded in response to the others revelation.
"And Snape is trying to steal it?" Chris asked, quirking a single eyebrow.
While the other boy was about to answer, he got cut off by another exclaiming, "Ron!"
"I know I wasn't supposed to tell him Harry, but he's our friend and he comes from a long line of wizards so it's possible that he could know something about Nicolas Flamel that we don't" Ron defended.
"Honestly Ron," said Harry, "oh well, at least we trust you Chris. So, since Ron asked in case you knew anything about him, is there anything you actually know about him?"
"Uh, I'm sorry to say that there isn't much." Chris said, feeling bad that he didn't have much to help them out, "I mean, besides that he's really famous. Which is why I emphasized the 'the'. As well as that he's famous for alchemy."
"Alchemy? What's that?" Asked Ron and Chris thought back to when his aunt was reading this book called 'The Alchemist' and he asked what it was about.
First off she said it was very good and he should read it sometime.
Then explained a bit about Alchemy.
Though he was only nine then, so there's only so much he could remember.
So he wasn't going to lie, "Honestly, I'm not sure, but I think it's about potions and magic and stuff"
"So Flamel was a wizard?" Asked Harry and the brown haired boy pondered the thought, before saying "I don't know, though I can ask my friend Pj. He's in Ravenclaw, loves reading and is super smart"
"He's like our friend Hermione then" Harry exclaimed and this confused the Hufflepuff.
"Isn't Hermione in Gryffindor, though?" He asked and Ron nodded, "Yeah, I'm still unsure of why. When she knows everything, or well, simply thinks she knows everything. She-"
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, cutting his friend off before he had said anymore,
Which simply gets a shrug and a "What? Everyone's thinking it!" in response out of the Weasley.
Feeling unsure of his place in the conversation Chris spoke up.
Asking "So, do I ask Pj? Or....?", in hopes of getting the other boys' attention.
"Ask"
"Don't"
The two responses came out at the same time and the two friends looked at each other questioningly.
"Wait, why can't I tell him?" Chris pondered and Harry, who was the one that was against telling the Ravenclaw stated, "We can't have a lot of people knowing about the thing that's hidden underneath Fluffy and Snape's plan"
"Wait, who's Fluffy?" Was all Chris got out of that and Harry sighed, "Fluffy's Hagrid's three headed dog"
"So the big, black and scary three headed dog is named Fluffy?!" Chris exclaimed, absolutely dumbfounded by the logic behind it.
Or really, the lack of.
"That's Hagrid for you" Ron shrugged and Harry added, "Though it's not even the first time. He had a little pet dragon living in his hut for a bit too"
"A dragon? But those are-" started Chris, but this time it was his turn to get cut off by Harry, "We know, he doesn't have Norbert anymore."
"Norbert?" Chris asked, genuinely confused, and Harry sighed, "Big, scary, three headed dog is called Fluffy yet naming a small dragon Norbert is still a surprise to you?"
~~~
On Christmas Day, Chris woke up to small pile of packages at the foot of his bed.
Well, really, the bed he's been sleeping in during the Christmas break.
It belongs to a first year, like him and his friends, named Neville.
Neville was nice enough to let the brown haired boy sleep in his bed, while he had gone home to his grandmother.
Chris didn't want to be alone in the Hufflepuff dormitories the entire time.
Especially at nights.
The dormitories were simply vacant.
Which is another thing he doesn't have in common with the Hufflepuff house.
The fact that their family actually wants them over for the holiday, unlike Chris's.
Which makes him annoyed even more.
Why he got into the Hufflepuff house is beyond him.
Looking over at the pile of presents, he thought about the brief moment of happiness he had when he first saw them.
He was actually happy and looking forward to the day ahead of him.
Almost forgetting all about his home situation.
Almost.
Though the Weasley's and Harry Potter are incredibly kind, it still hurt to think of the fact that his whole family was mad at him.
So mad that they didn't even want him to come home for the holidays and they have practically disowned him because of his house.
“Merry Christmas,” said Ron sleepily, snapping the brown haired boy out of his glum thoughts, as he scrambled out of bed and towards his presents.
Harry quickly following in suit.
Looking incredibly excited.
Almost as if he wasn't expecting to get any presents at all.
Though it was likely that he wasn't, for once he saw the small pile he exclaimed, "Will you look at this? I’ve got some presents!”
Each boy went through their presents, some boys having more than the other, though Harry didn't seem to mind seeing as though he was glad to get the small pile in the first place.
Having not gotten presents from his parents, or most of his family, Chris was glad he had at least gotten presents from his three best friends, some family from another country that probably haven't heard the news of the 'disappointment son' as well as a burgundy colored sweater with a C on it from Mrs. Weasley who Ron apparently told about Chris staying over.
For the presents he got from his best friend:
From Phil he got a joke book that from America.
From Pj he got a bunch of other books that he swore were so good that they would change his life forever or something like that, Pj always had a habit of over exaggerating things.
And from Dan he got a bunch of candy, like chocolate frogs and Every Flavor Beans. As well as two new quills to write with.
He loved his friends gift and though he only got the recent letter from Phil, who already opened his presents, he was sure that they would enjoy the presents he got them too.
Now he was just awaiting their letters.
Smiling to himself slightly, Chris returned his attention back to the other boys.
Both of which have already put on their sweaters, so Chris took that as his cue to put on his as well.
It was nice.
Really nice.
The Weasley twins had joined the first years and it was quite eventful to say the least.
Though Chris wasn't going to lie.
He wished he could be spending this time with his family and his best friends as well.
Maybe someday he hoped for that was really all he could do.
Hope.
Hope until the time finally comes that he proves himself to be the true Gryffindor he knows he really is.
~~~~
Christmas dinner was quite the trip and after a bunch of food, sweets, and even more presents it was time to go to sleep.
The time was late and everyone had gone to sleep for the night.
Or so that's what Chris thought.
Having been woken up by someone, though he was never the lightest of sleepers, which confused him.
Sitting up into his bed and looking over to where he heard the sound as he squinted, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark.
As it had adjusted his eyes were met with a tuft of black hair.
That quickly disappeared.
For a second it confused the young wizard.
But then again, that's exactly what he was, a wizard.
So a disappearing person is nothing new when magic is such an important aspect of his life every since he was born.
It was likely just due to the fact that he had just woken up and was disoriented.
Which didn't stop him from getting up and walking over to the now slowly opening door.
Quietly calling out a tired "Harry?"
Which he was right about, seeing as though quickly the mentioned had appeared from seemingly thin air.
Or really his camouflage.
An invisibility cloak is one of the gifts Harry had gotten.
"Chris?" Harry replied back, likely confused on why the Hufflepuff was up.
"What're you doing up?" Chris asked the boy back, raising a single eyebrow as he stifled a yawn.
The boy with the scar looked as though he were thinking before saying, "Nothing"
"Nothing?" Chris tested, "you're my friend and all Harry, but I don't quite believe you"
"Alright, fine." The black haired boy sighed, having given up on his lie, "I'm going to go to the Restricted Section of the library to look for more on Nicholas Flamel"
"Oh" Chris replied, "but are you not going to wake Ron?"
Harry shook his head, "no, I think it'd be best if I were to go alone. I'll just look for a bit and then come back soon. You should go to sleep too Chris, you look really tired"
Chris thought about what the other said for a couple seconds before saying, "are you sure you wouldn't like for me to come with? To join you"
The other boys response came quickly, "No thank you. I'll be alright. Go back to sleep"
And with that the cloak was over him and the Potter boy had disappeared.
Too bad Chris wasn't the type to listen.
Or back away from a chance for adventure.
~~~
Okay, maybe too bad wasn't the best word choice for the situation, Chris noticed as he heard the seemingly floating book start to scream.
With the piercing, bloodcurdling shriek splitting the silence Chris knew that Filch would be there soon.
So he got out of his hiding spot behind a bookshelf and called out to Harry, who upon taking off his cloak, looked very confused to see that the other boy was there.
Though there wasn't much time for confusion as Chris rushed over to him and picked up the cloak from the floor.
Quickly putting it on him and his friend.
Having kept in mind that he wasn't going give in and get caught so easily by the schools caretaker, he took one of Harry's hands in his and started to run out the door.
Knowing that due to the grip he has on the others hand, Harry was following.
Only coming to a halt as they stopped in front of a suit of armor.
Hearing two voices conversing.
One of which were Filch, while the other was another male teacher.
Listening closer they heard Snape.
Of course it was Snape.
He wouldn't want people finding out about what he has planned to do.
Though he wasn't the only one who had plans.
Chris had taken the initiative and dragged the other, who seemed panicked, into what seemed like an unused classroom.
Unused seeing as though everything seemed old.
Like the desks, chairs, and upturned waste paper basket.
It was as if they hadn't been touched in years.
As they probably hadn't.
Though everything didn't look like that seeing as though a magnificent mirror was propped against the wall, facing them.
It was so magnificent that Chris doubted that it even belonged there in the first place.
With its height that's as tall as the ceiling, decorative gold frame and the fact that it was standing on two clawed feet it looked out of place.
Though what stood out most to Chris, of the entire thing, was the inscription that was carved around the top that said, 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'.
Deciding he was interested in what the mirror said, he decided to get out from under the cloak and go towards it.
Wanting to read the inscription, to figure out if it were in another language or something.
As he studied the wording, he got pulled from his deep thought by a sound that sounded like a muffled scream.
Which was from Harry.
"What happened?" Chris questioned and when it seemed that he wasn't going to get a response from the other, he didn't ask again.
The only response he gets being, minutes later, and a slight whisper of two words.
Those two words being, "Mom? Dad?"
'Mom? Dad? But they're dead' Chris thought to himself, seeing as though he knew the story of the other boy.
The story of 'the boy who lived'.
After the slight mutter, there wasn't much said.
Besides that Harry continued to babble on about his parents in the mirror.
Which, to be noted, Chris could not see as he looked over the other boys shoulder.
~~~
Harry had reluctantly gone to bed a bit earlier.
Only leaving when Chris promised that he would come back to the dormitories later.
Having not gotten caught.
Even without the cloak.
It had been about ten minutes since then and Chris still stood in front of the mirror.
Trying to figure out its significance and why Harry could see his parents while he could see nothing.
Not even his own reflection.
It was a magical mirror, to say the least.
For what mirror could not simply serve it's one sole purpose?
"I see you have discovered the 'Mirror of Erised'" a voice called out and quickly Chris turned to face them.
Them being simply the headmaster.
"I'm sorry professor I know I shouldn't b- wait, did you say the 'Mirror of Erised'?" Chris asked, genuinely interested, and Dumbledore nodded 'yes'.
"I'm assuming you know what the mirror does" the older said and Chris shook his head, "No, not really professor. It's a mirror, yet I don't see my reflection, and Harry who was here a bit ago saw his parents. Who are dead."
"Ah, I see" Dumbledore nodded and this confused the first year even more, "Am I supposed to see something but I can't?" He asked.
Then a thought occurred to him and a frown took over his face, "Is there something wrong with me, professor?"
The older wizard shook his head, "Wrong? No. Different? Yes."
"Different? How so?" Chris questioned and as he asked, the other responded with a, "You don't see your deepest desire in the mirror as others do"
"I'm sorry professor but how is that supposed to be good?" Chris tried and the wiser explained, "Men have wasted away before this mirror, not knowing if what they had seen is real, or even possible. You however, you see nothing"
"Is that to say that I do not desire anything?" Chris asked.
"Not quite"
"So what exactly does it mean?"
"It means you're different. Special even, young Christopher. In a good way. The best way even. As most men find themselves wasting away, holding onto a false sense of hope that the mirror gives them, you don't. You don't need the mirror to show you what your deepest desires are."
Chris gulped, fearing what would be said next, though he still waited for the headmaster to go on.
Which he did.
"Having not given into the thought of only needing a mirror to get what your heart pleases, you have set your mind and heart to the thought of you achieving it yourself. Making it possible. Not a lot of people could do that. Though you, you can. And it's the same reason why the hat had told you not to give up on the hope that you will get into the Gryffindor house."
"Oh" was all Chris could make out by then.
He knew he should be happy upon finding out this information, but he still felt like something was missing.
"I see" the headmaster said and Chris began to question if he said it out loud or if his professor could just read minds.
"Close your eyes and look again if you'd like" he said and Chris did exactly that.
Trusting him.
Opening his eyes to see what he expected the reality to be like.
Though it isn't.
It was Christmas morning.
He was at home and his robe was graced with the red and gold lion crest that he wore so proudly.
All around him, as he was opening his presents were his family, his three best friends and their families all joined together.
It appeared that Dan had said something to Phil that he found incredibly hilarious as he was laughing like crazy.
While Pj was opening his present from Chris right next to them.
And once he opened it up, a smile graced his lips.
Chris knew he'd love it.
He picked it out just for that.
Though he didn't have much time to be smug as the thing he knew was Pj had stood up from his seated position and walked up to him.
Pulling him into a hug as he muttered what Chris thinks is a 'thank you' since he can't actually hear anything.
Since it's just a mirror.
A vision.
His heart messing with his head and his head messing with his heart.
It was quiet after that and Chris couldn't even tell if Dumbledore was still stood there.
Though, at the time, he didn't really care.
Feeling tears falling from his eyes, with no sound, at the happy site in front of him.
In the mirror it was quiet.
Around him it was quiet.
But the only place it wasn't quiet was in Chris's head.
For one thing had been stuck in his head for the majority of the day since George had first said it, early in the morning to his brother Percy.
"Christmas is a time for family."