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[Alexander Sowerby]

Looking down at his watch, it read 6 o'clock in the morning. The Great Hall was empty. The House Tables were clear and clean of all plates, goblets and trays which usually were full of different types of meals. It was the last day of term, tomorrow everyone would be off for their respective homes, unless of course they were staying at Hogwarts. For whatever reason, some like Alexander were not wanted at home while others like Luka Chancery did not have a home to go to.

Alexander listened intently for the sound of footsteps as he stood in the middle of the Great Hall. Slipping a brown paper package out from underneath his Uniform Sweater he placed it neatly at the spot that Chancery usually sat. He wasn't here and no one else was, which gave Alexander the chance to not be caught and not worry about what anyone could say. There was also a chance that if Chancery did not know who it was from, he would be more likely to open it. Although of course, him being a thief he was likely to be cautious and potentially throw it out. Which, would obviously not be preferential. Since it was made of glass.

The grubby package was tied with string and on it in Blockish letters in purple ink shone the following message.

To Luka Chancery, may these two identical gifts be useful tools for you. All you need to do is speak the name of the person who has the other.

The package bore a gift of two identical mirrors, Alexander couldn't be certain if Luka would figure it out although he was sure that the boy was clever enough, even if they didn't see eye to eye. He wasn't sure why he did this, but the small voice inside his head that often made him feel ashamed for how he acted had told him this would be a good idea. Even if they could never be friends, it was a way of redeeming himself for the privileged lifestyle that Alexander had been given even if only in his eyes.

He had other presents to give away, but he chose to do so at another time. He'd probably get one of the house elves to deliver them for him, but now was not the time. It would cast too much suspicion if every person he had a gift for had received their gift at their respective tables.

Sitting down at his usual spot, he waited for the shuffling of feet which would announced the arrival of students to the Great Hall. No sooner than he thought to look at the time, did a peck of fifth year students from Gryffindor come through the door, closely followed by a group of fourth year Ravenclaws, some Seventh Year Slytherins and Sixth year Hufflepuffs.

Edited by Alexander Sowerby, 31 October 2011 - 12:22 PM.

[Luka Chancery]

Everyone is going home tomorrow.
It was Luka's first thought when he woke, and no wonder. The Ravenclaw students had talked of nothing else all evening, the other boys in his dormitory were all but packed. Luka wondered for a moment what it would be like to sleep in a room on his own. He had never done that before. In London he had been surrounded by boys piled together like puppies. Here they had beds, but he still fell asleep to the gentle snores of the others...
Well, so what. It wont bother me.

Luka tumbled out of bed. He dressed and joined the students streaming down to the Hall. Some second year already at the table yelled his name.
"Hey Chancery! You got an early Christmas gift."
What....?
The package was thrust into his hands. It was grubby, small but strangely heavy. At once he was suspicious. He could count on one hand the people who would give him a gift, and they would all have left their name.
Some kind of jinx. It has to be.
But still, he was so curious...  All you need to do is speak the name of the person who has the other. What did that mean? What would happen to the person who's name he spoke? What was inside?
There was a short, fierce battle between Luka's wisdom and curiosity. It ended in a compromise.
I will open it, but not here. In private. Then if it's a jinx, I can cure it before anyone sees.

Luka slid the package into his pocket and abandoned breakfast. There was that room near the Hall where Sowerby had caught him with those leaves that time. It would be perfect.
Inside, Luka crouched on the floor like a thin red-haired demon. He turned the package over in his hands.
"Go on, get it over with," he murmured, and tore open the paper.
Twin mirrors. The glass clear and perfect, set in an intricate silver frame. Beautiful. Luka's thieving heart admired them.
But of course, they couldn't be normal mirrors.
All I have to do is speak the name of the person who has the other....
Some kind of spying device? If he gave the mirror to Cat, and said 'Catnteris Scott', would he see his friend in the mirror, no matter where he was?
Luka's heart skipped a beat.
Hero.
But he would have to test it on someone else first. Just incase it was a jinx.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Alexander watched as Luka picked up his package and crept out of the Great Hall looking curious at the package. He had half the mind to follow him but chose to stay; Luka would undoubtedly become suspicious and there was no point in seeing what his reaction would be.

Picking up a platter of bacon, he placed some on his plate before taking a jug of hot apple cider which he poured into his mug. Alexander was glad today was the last day of term, he could look forward to having more time for revision and reading books and making friends with the odd few people who remained. Of course, Emmanuelle and Luka were staying behind, but all he had to do was just stay out of her way and who knew, maybe she wouldn't be nearly as bad as she usually was.

A sixth year boy who sat beside Alexander stood up and said. "Happy Christmas in case we don't see each other. I'm going home tonight", he shook hands with the boy and placed two sunny side up eggs on his plate before starting on the bacon.

Edited by Alexander Sowerby, 02 November 2011 - 11:54 AM.

[Luka Chancery]

Luka ran his fingers thoughtfully over the edge of one mirror.
If it was a jinx, he would at least understand.... but if it was a true gift, who could it possibly be from? A Professor might leave an unsigned gift if they didn't want to show favoritisam... but no Professor liked him well enough for this!

I need someone to test it on...
Oh. Wait. He was being such an idiot. Luka rolled his eyes at his own stupidness. Why hadn't he seen it before? Here he was, with both mirrors in his hands. If the mirrors did what they promised, all he had to do was to speak his own name. Then he should see his own face.

Luka held one of the mirrors close to his eyes, and the other in the other hand, carefully angled so that he could not see his face.
"Luka Chancery."
Glancing down, he saw the second fill with swirling mist. The mist parted, and his own face looked back at him. It grinned.
"So it does work," Luka said, and his reflection said it back to him like an echo.
"But how do I stop it...?" he wondered and laughed as his second reflection said it too. Well, Finite Incantum was all he could think of... and luckily it worked. The mirrors were blank again.
Luka smiled, got to his feet. He would send it to Hero at once. No one would see; they were all at breakfast. Feeling lighter than he had in days, he made his way to the Owlery.

[Daniella Cruz]

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