Chapter 160: Harry and Ron's Tryst
The next morning, Harry awoke in surprise.
He had fully expected to catch a cold after sleeping on the stone floor all night. But to his astonishment, he felt warm and comfortable. Not even a hint of panic or fatigue lingered. He looked down at the Invisibility Cloak draped over him.
"Was it you?" he muttered softly.
Shaking his head, he stood up and stretched, watching as his feet once again vanished beneath the enchanted fabric. The cloak was truly fascinating.
He approached the door carefully and slipped outside.
It was already dawn. With most Ravenclaw students having gone home for the holidays, the sixth floor was eerily quiet. Harry held his breath as he moved cautiously toward the spiral staircase. He climbed slowly, the morning exertion bringing a slight sweat to his brow, until he reached the wooden door with the bronze eagle knocker.
Thankfully, neither Filch nor Professor Snape were lurking nearby. After answering the riddle quickly, the door creaked open.
Unbeknownst to Harry, a figure stood silently nearby, completely obscured by a well-cast Disillusionment Charm. Dressed in a long black cloak, with a complex expression on his face, Severus Snape had been keeping watch the entire time, waiting for Harry's safe return.
Snape gave the faintest smile. This boy… he really isn't like James.
James would have rushed back without a thought.
But Harry… Harry Evans… he's Lily's son, through and through.
Lost in his thoughts, Snape turned away at last, his cloak billowing as he strode down the corridor.
---
On the other side, Harry nearly bumped into Ron, who was sneaking out to search for him.
It was just like back in primary school—when you shared a dorm and woke up to find your best friend gone, the cold space next to you left behind nothing but worry. Ron had panicked.
After Harry returned the Invisibility Cloak, Ron dragged him into the Great Hall and scolded him.
"You should've woken me up!" he snapped. "I wanted to see your family too!"
"You can come tonight," Harry replied, poking at his porridge but not eating. "I want you to see them in the mirror."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Ron hesitated. "What if Filch or Snape are watching it now?"
Ryan, seated nearby and petting his kitten, Jerry, raised an eyebrow in surprise. Ron, using common sense? That's rare.
But Harry ignored the warning. "Let's just go after dinner and not return to the common room. We'll go straight there!"
"Alright…" Ron relented, clearly eager despite his doubts. "I really do want to see your parents…"
His tone, however, made Ryan grimace. It was oddly affectionate—like someone going to meet their in-laws.
Harry was unfazed.
"I also want to see your whole family, the Weasleys. You can point out your brothers and all your relatives."
"You can see them any time…" Ron said, a little confused.
To be honest, Ron had originally chosen Ravenclaw not just for Harry, but partly out of some early fondness for Hermione. But now? Hermione was long forgotten. His focus was entirely on Harry.
He suddenly blurted, "Come to our house this summer, Harry."
"But only those who've passed on appear in the mirror," he added, sounding oddly formal.
"Harry, eat something, will you?" Ron urged. "You slept on the floor last night! At least have some bacon."
Ryan rolled his eyes again. Ron's ability to read the room was always situational. When uninterested, he could ignore even the most obvious hints. But when emotionally invested—like now—he became oddly perceptive and attentive.
Though Ryan had been lightly projecting his presence to draw attention to himself—and Jerry—neither Harry nor Ron noticed him at all. They were in their own world, completely oblivious.
Ryan, somewhat bored, offered Jerry a bit of egg, smiling as the kitten gently licked his fingertips.
"Ryan… is that… Jerry?" Harry finally noticed, glancing down at the tiny cat.
"Merlin's beard!" Ron exclaimed. "Where did you get a cat?! It doesn't eat mice, does it?"
"Of course Harry remembers Jerry's name," Ryan said lightly. "He's always been here. Just a baby, really—he likes to nap in my pocket."
"As for mice… remember the hamster I drew the other day? It's still around."
"I remember," Harry said reluctantly. He'd always felt something strange about Jerry. Ever since his first encounter with the kitten, his instincts had screamed danger.
He was convinced Jerry wasn't just any ordinary cat—probably carrying blood from some magical creature. He had never trusted Jerry.
"My Scabbers is already old," Ron added. "You'd better not let that cat near him!"
"Alright, alright," Ryan finally chuckled. "I'll keep an eye on him."
---
By 9:35 p.m., curfew was still a while off.
Harry and Ron, looking incredibly guilty, told Ryan they were heading to Gryffindor Tower to visit Ron's brothers. Ryan pretended not to notice their excuse, watching as they packed the quilt from the Lucius Malfoy gift bag.
This time, the Mirror of Erised wasn't in the library corridor like in the original timeline—it was much closer to Ravenclaw Tower. Having stayed there overnight, Harry now knew exactly where to find it.
Under the cloak, the two made their way swiftly and silently.
"It's here—right here!" Harry whispered excitedly as they reached the abandoned classroom.
He threw off the cloak, dropped the bag, and rushed to the mirror.
Ron blocked the door cautiously, then pulled the quilt from the bag and wrapped himself in it.
"I'm freezing," he grumbled. "What's the rush? We've got the whole night."
"Just look!" Harry said breathlessly. "Can you see them?"
"I can't see anything," Ron muttered, peeking out from the quilt.
"They're all here… Mum… Dad… so many of them…" Harry's voice trembled with emotion.
"I only see you," Ron replied flatly. "Are you joking with me?"
"Come here—stand where I'm standing," Harry said, grabbing Ron's arm and dragging him into position.
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(End of Chapter)