Y/N POV
November went by in a flick of an eye and now it is now Christmas time here. Snow was falling and some people were either staying back or going home for the holidays. Lana and I were staying back since Mum was called into an Auror mission with two other people, I believe it was Alastor "Mad-eye" Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt. Harry and Ron were also staying since Harry's despicable relatives probably didn't want to see him and Ron's parents were off to Romania for something. Only bad thing was that Hermione was going back for the holidays. Lana had gotten just as close with her as I have (they might even be best friends too), and we really enjoyed our time with her as we looked for information about the mysterious Nicholas Flamel.
Ghosts fluttered around the hallways singing, "Happy Christmas. Happy Christmas. Ring the Hogwarts bell. Happy Christmas. Happy Christmas." as Hagrid was pulling an enormous tree outside. Ron and Harry were engaged in an intense game of Wizard's chess as Lana and I watched since Ron claimed he was the best at it. Draco did come along to be a jerk like he always is, but he went waffling on.
"Knight to E5!" Harry commanded the tiny piece as it heeded his command.
Ron looked up to him and had a smug grin while Hermione joined us in watching.
"Queen to E5."
The queen listened and made her way toward Harry's piece and whacked the piece with her chair. Hermione looked absolutely shocked at how the game worked.
"That's totally barbaric!" She said with an equally shocked face.
"That's wizard chess." Ron said as he turned to face her. "I see you've packed."
"Absolutely Brilliant, Dr. Watson!" I said sarcastically . "You're a master of stating the obvious."
"See you've haven't." Hermione added.
"Change of plans. My parents decided to go to Romania to visit my brother Charlie." Ron said. "He's studying dragons."
"Wait, dragons?" Lana said as her eyes widened. She absolutely loved magical creatures. "What kinds? Common Welsh-Greens? Urkanian Ironbelly? Norweign Ridgebacks?"
"I dunno, honestly." Ron said. "But I'm staying here regardless."
"Good, you can help Harry, Y/N and Lana." Hermione said. "They're checking on Nicholas Flamel."
"We've looked over a hundred times." Ron whined.
Hermione leaned into the table so only the four of us could hear her. "Not in the restricted section. Happy Christmas."
She then turned to us and motioned us to follow her while Ron turned to Harry. "I think we're a bad influence on her."
As we made our way out of the Great Hall and towards the Hogwarts Express, Hermione turned around to us. "You both will look while I'm gone right?" She asked us.
"Of course we will!" Lana said. "We love a good mystery, don't we, Y/N?"
"Yes, we do." I said. "If we find anything, we'll let you know with an owl."
Hermione beamed and hugged Lana and then me. "Thank you so much, you two. I'm gonna miss you so much." She let go of me. "Bye Lana, Bye Y/N. Happy Christmas!"
"Goodbye, 'Mione." I said with a smile. "We're gonna miss you too. Happy Christmas!"
The Express started to board and Hermione hugged us once more before she got on the train. Just before it left, Hermione waved goodbye to us.
"I'm gonna miss her here. It won't be the same without her with us." Lana said as she put her hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, she was my first best friend, but after you and Luna of course." I said.
"She was there to comfort me when I remembered Dad and Aunt Pandora, and we were there to comfort her when Ron was being a git. She helped me to the infirmary when I broke my arm and she wiped the blood off my face. She kissed my cheek after that whole troll thing and she was the first person to sign my cast. She's an amazing person."
I looked down at my left arm, where my cast had been for a month and was replaced by the watch from Hermione. I visited Madam Pomfrey like she told me to, and Hermione gave me company. The cast was removed, but I asked her if I could keep it. Weird thing, yes, but it had many signatures from my friends and fellow Gryffindors. It was now sitting in my trunk in the boy's dormitories.
Lana's eyes widened once more. "Wow, she does sound like a great friend. I'm glad I got to know her better. But it also sounds like you really have a crush on her, too."
I smiled to myself. "Maybe I do. Like I said, she's amazing."
Lana chuckled. "Wow, my brother and Hermione Granger. You both sound perfect for each other." She said as we made our way back to Harry and Ron. "Wait... SHE KISSED YOUR CHEEK?!"
Hermione POV
As I sat down in an empty compartment, I couldn't help but miss everything already. The common room, my classes, my friends, Harry, Ron, Lana and Y/N...
Y/N especially.
I missed the way he called me 'Mione, I missed how he would study with me in the library, I missed the way he would smile at me and make me blush every single time. The express had just left for King's Cross and I already missed him that much.
Even the thought of him smiling made my heart skip a beat.
Wait, my heart skipping a beat? It made me feel happy.
Do I have a crush on my best friend?
I think I do.
And before I even knew it, the train had arrived. I guess I was thinking about him the whole time. I stepped out of the train and made my way toward the magical barrier between Platform 9 ¾ and King's Cross. As I ran out the barrier, I was greeted by two familiar faces who ran up to me.
"Hermione!" My mum called out as she ran towards me. "We've missed you so much!"
"Yes, we did." My dad said as I hugged him. "How are you, sweetheart? How is Hogwarts? Have you made any friends?"
I grinned as I heard the last word uttered from his lips. "Yes, yes I did."
"Well, we would love to meet them soon, sweetie." Mum said. "Oh, have you met any boys that you like?"
"Muuuum!" I whined as I blushed hardly.
"I'm not hearing a no... Don't worry, I'm just joking." Mum said with a warm smile. "Why don't you tell us about your friends?"
Harry POV
I woke up to the sound of someone shaking me rigorously.
"Harry, wake up! Come on, Harry, wake up!" said an anxious Ron. I grabbed my glasses from my bedside and rushed out of my bed. As I got off my bed, I found Ron standing near my bed in his pajamas and in a maroon jumper with a big "R" on it.
"Happy Christmas, Harry!"
"Happy Christmas, Ron." I looked down at what he was wearing. "What are you wearing? And where's Y/N?"
"Oh, this? My mum made it for me. She knows I hate maroon." Ron said. "And I haven't seen him yet."
"I'm right here, you ginger prat." A voice called out from another bed. Y/N got out of his bed, revealing his blonde hair to be a little messed up. "Happy Christmas to you too, lads."
As we went outside the dorms, we found a Christmas tree full of presents for all the Gryffindors. "Oh, it looks like you both got a jumper too." Ron said to the both of us.
"I've got presents?" I asked the two boys. The Dursleys never give me anything but useless crap and hand-me-down clothes.
"Well then, Harry, you'll actually have a real Christmas for the first time, mate." Y/N said.
I went over to Mrs. Weasley's present and opened it, revealing a jumper similar to Ron's, but it had a big "H" in the middle. Y/N got one in blue with his first initial on it, along with a book from Hermione, a cork of butterbeer from his cousin (apparently to keep Nargles away, whatever those are.), a set of quills from Lana and a jacket from his mother, which belonged to his father. I also found a bunch of sweets, a coin from the Dursleys (which again was useless, they're probably spoiling Dudley anyway.) and some other gifts including a mysterious package with a note without a signature.
I read the note to myself:
Your father left this in my possession before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well.
I began to open the package and pulled out something closely resembling a blanket.
"What is it?" Ron asked.
I looked back at the blanket thing. "I think it's some kind of cloak."
"Well then, let's see then, put it on." Y/N said.
I wrapped the cloak around my body, making sure it was covering me all-around. Ron gasped at what he saw while Y/N's eyes widened like his sister's the day before. I didn't understand their reaction until I looked at myself.
I couldn't see my body.
"My body's gone!" I whisper-shouted.
"Bloody hell! I think I know what it is!" Y/N said.
"Yeah!" Ron continued. "That's an invisibility cloak. They are really rare. I wonder who gave it to you?"
An idea seemed to spark in Y/N's eyes as his eyes darted from the cloak to the exit of the Common Room. He ran back into our dorms quickly while he called out. "I'll be right back!"
Y/N POV
I had gotten a brilliant but probably stupid idea to get into the restricted section. Since Harry had gotten an Invisibility Cloak, it would make our plan much more foolproof. Before I told the others, I grabbed some parchment from my trunk and one of the quills I got from Lana and began to write to Hermione to tell her the plan. Snowball watched as I wrote.
Dear Hermione,
Happy Christmas! I hope you enjoy the gift I got you. I'm really liking this Sherlock Holmes book you got me. It's one of my favorite series.
Also, I think I have a plan to get into the restricted section. Harry got an Invisibility Cloak that belonged to his father, so we could use it without Filch catching us in the act. Hopefully we can get some answers on who Nicholas Flamel is tonight.
I know it can be a bit risky, but we are going to be safe, don't worry. I promise. I hope Christmas with your parents is going well. I miss you.
-From, Y/N
As I finished the letter, I went to Harry and asked if I could use Hedwig to send it. He agreed and Hedwig flew off with the letter. Hopefully we get a response soon.
A couple hours later, Hedwig came back and perched herself over Harry's hand and held out her beck to give me the letter. As Harry pet her lovingly, I unraveled the letter to reveal Hermione's response.
Dear Y/N,
I'm very glad you like the book, I knew you would love it! I really like the journal you got for me, it's so nice and I love otters!
The cloak may help to find any information, but I'm really worried if you get caught by Filch. I don't want you to get in trouble because of this. Please, be safe for me. Hopefully you four find some new info on Flamel.
Once again, please be safe and take care of yourself for me. I miss you too.
-Love, Hermione :)
As I read the last sentence of the letter, I couldn't help but blush madly with a smile on my face. Harry took notice of my face and grinned.
"So, about that letter..." He said .
I looked back at him and playfully punched him. "Shove off, Potter." I said as I chuckled. "She agrees with the plan, I just need to tell Lana."
(Time Skip to night)
As I went with Harry under the invisibility cloak, we waited for Lana to come out of the Ravenclaw Common Room. From what we saw from the entrance, their common room was filled with books and such. Lana must like being a Ravenclaw.
Harry then covered us with the cloak and made our way towards the library. Good thing we could see through the cloak, or else we would be bumping into everything. It was rather dark since it was nighttime, so the only thing we stuck out a lantern to help get us there.
Eventually, we arrived in the library and into the restricted section. Harry put down the lantern, pulled the cloak off us and began to look around.
"Nothing about Nicholas Flamel in this book." I whispered as Harry pulled another book. As he opened it, a face came out of the pages and screamed, terrifying all of us. Harry slammed the book and put it back.
'What the hell was that book?' Harry had seemed to have said.
"You can say that again, Harry. It's a book with a face." I said as I eyed the book. "A face-book."
"What? But I didn't say anything-" Harry was then interrupted by a shrill voice.
"Who's there!" Filch yelled out. "I know you're in there. You can't hide!"
"Oh hell no, not him again!" I whispered.
Harry pulled the cloak backup to cover us away from Filch and Mrs. Norris if she was there and trust me, she was there. As we ran across, we ran into another problem. Snape had cornered Quirrel into the wall and began to talk to him threateningly.
"Severus... I-I thought..." Quirrell stuttered out.
"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell." Snape said slowly.
"W-what do you m-mean?"
"You know perfectly what I mean." Snape paused for a moment as he looked in our direction. I clasped my hands on my sister's and Harry's mouths as Snape reached out to grab the cloak. Luckily, he didn't grab it and turned his attention back to Quirrell. "We'll have another chat soon...when you've had time to decide where your loyalties lie."
After Snape finished his talk, Filch came running and got himself the attention he wanted.
"Oh, Professors. I found this, in the Restricted Section." Filch says as he showed them the lantern we used, now shattered in his hand. "It's still hot. That means there's a student or students out of bed!" He smiled wickedly.
Since we were under the Invisibility Cloak, we kept it on us and speed-walked out the library and into another room.
One empty with nothing but a large mirror in the center.
The mirror was very large and outlined in gold. At the top of the mirror, a sentence was etched into it.
"ERISED STRA EHRU OYT UBE CAFRU OYT ON WOHSI."
Harry walked up to the mirror, wondering what it was doing in an empty room when suddenly his expression went from wonder to amazement.
"Mum? Dad?" He said as he looked to his right and left. He then took his hand to his shoulder, expecting for someone's hand to feel, but there was nothing but air.
"Um, Harry?" I asked him. "You good, mate?"
"My parents. I can see them here!" Harry said. "Can't you see them?"
"Uhh no, Harry." Lana said. "We can only see ourselves."
"Ok then, I'm gonna go and get Ron," Harry said as he grabbed the cloak. "You two stay here."
As he left us in the room, we went back and stared at the mirror. "What do you think it says, sis?" I asked Lana.
"That last word looks like 'desire' backward, doesn't it?" Lana says. "And the first word sounds like 'I show'? Wait, hold on a minute."
She dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out the journal I got her for our birthday.
'Hold on a second... maybe... yes! I show not your face but your heart's desire!' I heard her say.
"Ok, so it says-" She was cut off by me,
"I show not your face but your heart's desires. Yes, I heard you the first time." I said.
"Exactly... Wait, the first time?" Lana asked. "You could hear other people's thoughts, too?"
"Yeah, I heard Harry just now in the library and he said the same thing too!" I said. "You can hear them too?"
"Yeah, mine started right after the troll incident after Hermione took you to the infirmary." Lana said. "We should talk about this later. Right now, let's figure the mirror out."
"Yeah, Harry said he saw his parents. He probably desires that most of all after what he's gone through" I said. "So let's see what we see."
I walked up to the mirror and stared at the same spot where Harry looked. The mirror started to make something come into frame and suddenly, I saw someone that I didn't recognize. It was a man to be sure, with short blond hair and rather attractive too. He also wore a blue overcoat with an eagle symbol on his breast pocket that Mum gave me. He had gray eyes that pierced into my soul, but also had a smile that said nothing but caring. He looked similar to Uncle Xenophilius.
That's when I realized something.
This man... is our father.
This man is Landgen Lovegood.
I really did look like him. I can see why everyone says that. Dad walked behind me, placed his hands on my shoulders and mouthed something. I already knew what he was saying.
"I'm so proud of you and your sister."
"Lana." I managed to say. "I see our dad." Lana walked over to the mirror and looked into it as well.
"Y/N. I see him too." Lana says.
Dad then took his right hand off my right shoulder and placed it on Lana's. Through the mirror, I could see that the both of us were starting to tear out of our eyes. Even Dad was crying.
Lana turned to me and hugged me tight and sniffled into my robes, while I was still on the verge of tears.
"Y-Y/N." She cried. "I miss him so much"
I patted her back as I continued to hug her. "Me too, Lana." I let go of Lana and looked back to the mirror, expecting to see our dad again. But he wasn't there.
The mirror had shifted to make something else appear through the frame next to me.
I now stared at myself. I was taller and seemingly older too. I also had better style since I sported a blue plaid button-down with black jeans and black boots along with the same overcoat that my dad wore. My hair was better and raised up. Someone else came into view and I became focused on who it was. As they no longer came in a blur, I gasped at who I saw.
Lana, who had stopped crying, looked back and wondered at who I saw. "Do you see something different?" She asked.
"No. Someone different." I answered.
"I see Hermione."
She looked just as old as me but her hair was no longer bushy as it was now. She was taller but was still a little shorter than me. She was wearing a reddish scarf around her neck along with a grey jumper, pink top, dark grey jeans and brown boots. The older Hermione stood next to older me, took his hand and smiled at me. If I thought she was cute now, I would be amazed at how beautiful she became.
Older Hermione then took her free hand and placed it on the older me's cheek, turning his head to hers, pulling us closer to her and planted her lips on ours. As the two continued their embrace, the both of them smiled through the kiss. I smiled at what I saw. Would this happen in the future with the both of us? Did Hermione like me more than a friend?
"You look... happy." Lana said. "You said you saw Hermione?"
"Yeah, but now I do know something for sure." I said to her. "I do have a crush on Hermione."
She grinned. "Okay, we're definitely talking about this later when we get the time. I'm gonna make sure you two get together."
"Come on, come on!" We heard Harry call out to Ron, who followed after him. "Come look, it's my parents!"
Ron looked at Harry as if he had gone to the loony bin. "I only see me." He said.
"Look in properly." Harry directed to him. "Go on. Stand there. You see them, don't you?"
"That's just me, Harry!" Ron called out to him. "Wait, I'm Head Boy... and I'm holding the Quidditch Cup! Bloody hell, I'm Quidditch Captain too! I look good."
While Ron went on about what he saw, Harry turned to us and asked, "Did you see anything in the mirror?"
We looked to each other in hopes of what to say.
"We, err, we saw our dad in the mirror." Lana said.
"And for the first time too." I continued.
"Hey, Harry!" Ron called out to us. "Do you think this mirror shows the future?"
"How could it, Ron?" Lana said. "Our dad is dead and so are Harry's parents. No offense, Harry."
"No problem." Harry said. "We should get back to our Common Rooms before Filch catches us.
Before we left, I looked back one more time at the Mirror of Erised. I couldn't help but think,
'Does Hermione like me more than a friend? Did it really show what our future together would be like?'
I really hope it did.
Hermione POV
The Christmas holiday went by quickly and it was finally time to return to Hogwarts. I was definitely excited to go back and see everyone again, although I would miss my parents a lot. My mum and dad were just as sad, but I would get to see them again in the summer.
We arrived at the barrier to Platform 9¾ and I said goodbye to my parents one more time before running to the barrier, being greeted once again by the scarlett red engine.
The ride to Hogwarts was admittedly a long one, but it would be worth it. I spent the time by reading and writing in the journal that Y/N got me for Christmas. It was really lovely and I love writing anything in it. It even had my favorite animal on it. As I wrote in it, I still thought about Y/N. Ever since the holiday started, I still thought of my feelings towards him. He's really kind, brilliant, protective of his friends and really, really cute.
Yep. I realized that over the holidays too.
As the Hogwarts Express arrived, I quickly exited the train with my luggage, excited to see everyone again. At this time, all the students would be in the Great Hall and hopefully, Y/N, Harry, Ron and Lana would be there.
And sure enough, I was right. At the Gryffindor table, Y/N and Harry were sitting on one side of the table, while Lana and Ron sat on the other.
I walked down to them quietly and once I got behind Y/N, I covered his eyes with my hands.
"Hey, who turned out the lights?" He asked as his hands went toward mine. I blushed as his hands touched mine. Harry and Ron were about to laugh as he saw me behind him while Lana smiled at me.
I giggled at his statement and leaned down to his ear. "votre meilleur ami, vous le crétin." (Translation: "Your best friend, you prat.)
I removed my hands from his face and as he turned to me, I hugged him tightly. "I missed you so much." I said to him.
He smiled and he hugged me back. "I missed you too, 'Mione."
I took a seat next to him after we let go of each other. "So, what did I miss over the holiday?" I asked the four as they all began talking at once.
It was really great to be back again.
(A/n: Dang... This could be one of the longest chapters I've ever written. Might even be my favorite for Book 1. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter for today and I can't wait to put out some more soon!)