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"Schools out!" Quackity shouted from the halls. Every kid smiled as they clambered down the halls, their footsteps filling the halls of Hogwarts Castle.
Wilbur looked down at his book. He wasn't as happy about everything. Looking at Niki, neither was she.
Shelby was going to be with her friends this Christmas, while his parents were on a ski trip. So, he was staying here. At Hogwarts.
Not to say he wasn't happy. Hogwarts was cool and all, but… he wanted a family Christmas. That's all he's ever wanted. And instead, he would get a Christmas at his school.
Niki's situation was unsafe. In the couple years that he has known her, he has learned that her living situation was unsafe. Ever since the ministry has cleaned up they're acts and actually helped the Belova family, Niki and Ranboo had to stay with a foster family.
The foster family wasn't anything near as bad as their previous family, but it wasn't fun there, so they stayed here.
Tommy would stay for Ranboo, but Niki and Wilbur were alone.
Alone. On Christmas.
—
"Are you guys sure you will be okay?" Quackity asked.
"No," Niki said, "But you can't stay here."
"Go. Have fun," Wilbur smiled.
Quackity, picking up his luggage, walked out of the dorm.
Wilbur deflated as he left. All he had now was Niki and a book.
Not to say Niki was awesome. She was his best friend. But Niki's… been through some stuff, so being quiet was his best option.
"Imma get us some cocoa, okay?" Wilbur said, getting up from his chair. Niki nodded, staring at the fire.
Poor Nik, he thought, but continued on his way.
He walked to the kitchen, where the kitchen elves were running away.
"Master Soot!" One, named Lorry, ran up to him. Lorry owed him a couple favors, so the house elf happily got home the hot chocolate, even after Wilbur insisted that he get it himself.
"Master Soot should not worry himself," Lorry said, a smile on his face, "Lorry will always do whatever Master Soot needs!"
Wilbur thanked Lorry, then continued on his merry way. He was walking past the sixth corridor when Friend ran into him.
"Friend? What are you doing out of the dorm?"
Friend moved and ran towards the sixth corridor. Wilbur, dropping off the cocoa, ran after his cat. He was so tired that he slowly ran behind until he stopped, catching his breath. He turned around to see a cold hallway.
Wilbur, curious as he was, walked forward towards the hallway.
He eventually ended up in a room. Sticks and leaves filled the place as each time he stepped, a crunch could be heard.
The main part of the room was a mirror. It was a pointed frame with a cracked mirror screen. At the front of it, inscribed, says "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."
Wilbur walked towards the mirror and gasped. His…
His parents?
Wilbur turned around, looking for them, but they weren't there. Still, in the mirror, there they were.
His father's curly brown hair. His mother's stoic but kind brown eyes. Their crooked, but shining smiles. There they were.
"Interesting, isn't it?"
Wilbur spinned around, facing Philza. The Headmaster smiled, looking at the mirror.
"The Mirror of Erised. It's a beautiful thing if you know how to stop."
"Stop what?"
"Looking at it. It can get you caught in, like a web. Have you figured out what it does?"
"Shows you what you could have?"
"What your heart desires most."
"Oh. That's why I see my parents."
"And why I see Tommy giving me socks while Techno and Kristin stand behind lovingly. With crow socks."
"Crow… socks, sir?"
"Socks with little crows on them."
"Ah. Cause that makes sense."
"Well, the point is, what you see there is what you desire most."
Wilbur stared into the mirror. Suddenly, at the corner of his eyes, he saw Niki and Quackity, laughing with each other. They smiled at Wilbur, and more people started filing in. Wilbur finally understood.
"Family," he muttered, "I want family."
He looked around for Phil, but he couldn't find him. Sighing, he walked out, hoping to find Friend and get back "home."
—
Friend walked into the dorm, Wilbur right behind him.
"Niki?" Wilbur called out, "I'm back!"
Wilbur didn't see Niki anywhere. Instead, he found a note where his friend should be.
Wil.
I'm at the Great Hall.
Nik
It was so vague that Wilbur was worried. He ran at his top speed towards the Great Hall. He was out of breath when he found Niki.
"Niki! What's… wrong?"
"Merry Christmas, Wil."
Suddenly, Kristin, Phil, Techno, and Tommy appeared, smiling and holding out gifts. They all ran over to Wilbur, giving him hugs.
"You said you wanted a family," Phil smiled.
Wilbur was flabbergasted. He was so confused at why these people cared about him.
Still it felt nice. He thought for Christmas he would get no love and family.
Instead, he made some.