Silence fell then as they started to eat, Harry glad that he was free from Ron's presence as the redhead appeared, looking mutinous between Fred and George. Snorting softly, Harry watched as they forced him to sit down away from Harry, smirking when he saw Ron's scowl.
Severus watched at the dark haired boy snorted and smirked. "Why, Mr. Potter, one would think you don't want to spend your Yule with the youngest Mr. Weasley," he said quietly
Harry, not feeling the need to hide, shrugged subtly, knowing Snape would pick up on it. "I don't," he said.
Severus smirked lightly at the curt reply. "Oh, and here I thought you two had become the best of friends," he drawled.
"Please," Harry said dismissively, "I would never befriend such an idiotic bigot."
"Indeed," Severus commented. "Yet you have spent the holiday with him."
"I could hardly avoid him, I would think he was stalking me with how he keeps popping up," Harry said in quiet exasperation.
Severus hid is humour at the put-out tone of the eleven year old. "He has certainly been persistent," he acknowledged.
"Tell me about it," Harry grumbled.
After having managed to avoid Ron for the entire day, excluding meals, Harry was finally ready to enact the first part of his plan. Putting his cloak on, Harry wandered the halls, eventually coming to the room he knew the Mirror of Erised was being kept. Entering, Harry knew that Dumbledore was watching, hidden in the shadows; keeping that in mind, Harry looked up to the mirror.
Harry remembered how the mirror had shown him his parents for the first time. Yet, now when Harry looked, he saw himself aged around 20 in the arms of a slightly older man who he recognised from his meeting with Tom Riddle. He was tall, with dark brown hair shorter than Harry's, and styled. This was the man Tom could have been and Harry vowed that he would try to make that happen. Around the pair stood Sirius, Neville, and Harry's other friends. They all looked happy.
Knowing he was being watched, Harry removed his cloak and sat down, repeating his actions from his former life. "Mom… Dad…?" he said longingly.
This time when Dumbledore appeared, Harry wasn't shocked.
"Do you know what this mirror shows us harry?" he asked.
Making sure to jump, Harry turned to look at the scheming old man. "I'm sorry sir, I didn't see you there," Harry stuttered out.
"It's okay, my dear boy. Many a man are drawn to the mirror," Dumbledore said sagely.
"I don't know, sir," Harry said, in reply to his earlier question.
"Really, you have no idea?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well, I guess it shows what we want?" Harry replied, making sure to sound uncertain.
"Take a closer look, Harry," Dumbledore prompted.
Walking to the mirror, Harry pretended to observe it before 'finding' the inscription. "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi," Harry mumbled before pretending to figure it out. "I show not your face, but your heart's desire!" he exclaimed happily.
"Very good, Harry," Dumbledore said, his tone just shying away from patronising but still setting Harry's teeth on edge.
"So, I see my parents because they're what I want most?" Harry asked.
"Yes, my dear boy," Albus said, happy that his plans for the boy where falling into place even with the boy in Ravenclaw. He would still get his hero.
"What do you see, professor?" Harry asked.
"Why, I see myself with a warm pair of socks," Albus lied.
"Do you think I could come back here, professor? It's just… I've never seen my parents before," Harry made sure to mumble shyly.
"Oh, my dear boy, you must not despair. You will see your parents again someday," Dumbledore said, making Harry think about how Dumbledore was actively planning on reuniting them sooner rather than later.
"You must remember though, Harry, the images the mirror shows are not real. It does not do well to dwell on them," he warned.
"Okay, professor," Harry said, conveying disappointment.
After that night, Harry had been busy preparing what was needed for him to work his plan. Ron had finally taken the hint and, although he would still come up to Harry to ask about their adventure, Harry was quick to tell him he hadn't found anything new. This left Harry with enough free time to finish his preparations.
Harry pulled out a plain crystal he had ordered alongside his Christmas presents and placed it in the centre of a circle of runes he had spent an hour drawing. The ritual he was using was an old one used by conmen and thieves that had been banned by the ministry in the 1700's, yet it suited Harry's purpose perfectly.
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