Violet Summer: The Philosopher's Stone

Chapter 16: Christmas Holidays Part Three

 The following night, Harry, Ron, and Toni stealthily navigated the corridors of Hogwarts in search of the mysterious mirror that had captivated Harry's attention. Toni's curiosity burned within her, eager to witness the mirror for herself. If it truly held a connection to the mirrors in her dreams, she hoped to uncover its significance. Her mind wandered to the enigmatic stone, wondering if Harry had overlooked its presence. The memories of the room flooded her thoughts, fueling her desire to experience it firsthand. While both Ron and Harry were aware of her dreams, they seemed oblivious to the potential connection between their findings and her nocturnal visions.

As the trio turned a corner, an unfamiliar path unfolded before them. Harry was certain they had found the right place. Their wandering through the vast school had come to an end as they stood before a locked door. With a wave of his wand and a whispered "Alohomora," Harry unlocked the door, and they hurried inside, removing the invisibility cloak and sealing the door behind them.

It was then that Toni's gaze fell upon the mirror, positioned in the center of the room. Her eyes widened, and a deep silence enveloped her. The mirror's frame, the ethereal shimmer cast by the moonlight—they mirrored exactly what she had seen in her dreams. She cautiously approached the mirror's perimeter, her eyes locked on the enchanting sight, while Harry and Ron eagerly positioned themselves before it.

"Look at them!" Harry exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. "It's my entire family!"

Ron appeared perplexed. "I don't see anyone besides the two of you."

Harry scoffed. "Come here. Stand right here and look."

Harry guided Ron to the center of the mirror, stepping aside himself. Toni's focus remained fixed on Ron, observing his initially confused expression transform into a mix of wonder and excitement.

"Do you see them?" Harry asked eagerly.

"No... I see myself, but older... and I'm Head Boy!" Ron beamed, his voice filled with joy. Toni couldn't shake off a sense of unease at Ron's revelation. "I'm wearing the badge, just like my brother Bill used to, and I'm holding the Quidditch cup! I'm the captain!"

Ron tore his gaze away from the mirror, his eyes shining as he turned to Harry, who stood there bewildered by Ron's revelation.

"Do you think this mirror shows the future?" Ron pondered aloud.

"How could it? My family is dead," Harry replied, his tone tinged with sadness. Ron looked away, a peculiar expression crossing his face.

"Go on, Toni, give it a try!" Ron encouraged.

"N-No, thank you," Toni nervously declined.

"Why not?" Ron pressed, with Harry joining in.

"Let me have another look," Harry urged.

"No! I'm still observing—" Ron began. They pushed and jostled each other like irate toddlers. Toni's nerves spiked, and her intuition urged her to glance toward the door. To her alarm, Mrs. Norris, Filch's vigilant cat, sat there, watching their antics intently. Toni swiftly intervened, forcefully separating the boys and directing their attention to Mrs. Norris.

"Stop! Mrs. Norris is here!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency.

The boys froze, their eyes following Toni's gaze as they spotted the watchful cat. Acting swiftly, they retrieved the invisibility cloak and hurried out into the hall, racing back to the common room to avoid Filch's discovery.

The next morning, an air of distance hung between the three friends. Harry appeared particularly preoccupied, his thoughts consumed by the mirror. Despite Ron and Toni's best efforts to uplift his spirits and distract him, it became increasingly apparent that Harry's infatuation with the mirror had grown troubling. Toni shared their concern, harboring her own profound curiosity about the mirror's secrets. Despite their warnings and pleas, Harry had succumbed to its allure once again.