TFA: Chapter 13: The Speaker's Den

> *"It has been so long. You desire entry, I presume?"*
>
>

— Custos to Harry Potter concerning The Speaker's Den.

## Summary:

Harry Potter explores and finds The Speaker's Den, Charlus Potter finds the Mirror of Erised, and Albus Dumbledore has a conversation with Severus Snape that was entirely private.

## Plot:

**December 25th, 1991:** Harry Potter reflects on how much he has enjoyed this Christmas, compared to the miserable Chistmasses he has had in years past. He explores the Slytherin Dorms, and finds Custos, Guardian of The Speaker's Den, who grants him access to the room. Meanwhile, Charlus Potter is exploring the Restricted Section of the library. When he opens a shrieking book, he runs from the library and stumbles across the Mirror of Erised.

**December 26th, 1991:** In the morning, Harry returns to The Speaker's Den. It's a combination meeting room, library, parlour, and study, and has tasteful furnishings, including a plush chair with a stone snake backing. He begins reading his Occlumency & Legilimency book, the Speaker's Den being a great place to read the massive tome without attracting attention.

**December 28th, 1991:** Charlus Potter returns to the Mirror of Erised, looking at the sight of his complete family. Early in the next morning, Harry is having trouble sleeping, so he goes exploring with the Disillusionment Ring. Along his journeys, he feels the presence of someone through the ring, and investigates to find his twin staring at the mirror. He asks what his twin is doing, and Charlus explains what he is seeing. When he looks in the mirror, he sees himself powerful, radiating confidence and power, and adorned in a silvery cloak. Harry realizes that what he is looking at shouldn't be so tantalising, and that it is best not to dwell on those dreams, and tears himself away. After talking with Charlus, Professor Dumbledore enters the room and Harry quickdraws on him, having felt him through the ring.

Dumbledore discusses the strange and terrible nature of the mirror with Harry and Charlus, and implores them to not dwell on such things. They return to their respective common rooms.

**December 30th, 1991:** Harry visits his practice room and sees that Professor Hurst has added a lot of furniture to it, as well as expanding it.

**January 5th, 1992:** The rest of the students return from their Christmas holidays. Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis talk with Harry in the common room, when Draco Malfoy comes up and makes some oblique insults at Tracey and Harry.

**January 6th, 1992:** Draco Malfoy ended up in the Hospital Wing in extreme pain, covered in boils. Coincidentally, the remnants of Neville Longbottom's failed potion that Harry had been saving mysteriously disappeared. Blaise Zabini invites Harry to use his first name.

**January 11th, 1992:** Blaise, Daphne, Tracey, and Harry have an interesting conversation in which Blaise demonstrates his ability to charm almost anyone.

**February 8th, 1992:** Harry overhears the Weasley twins discussing the third floor corridor, and eavesdrops on them with the Disillusionment Ring, with Blaise nearby. He learns there is a trapdoor underneath the Cerberus, and that it's likely guarding something. Blaise and Harry commiserate over Dumbledore's insanity.

**February 22nd, 1992:** After the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff quidditch match, Dumbledore and Snape discuss the third floor corridor and Sinistra's Imperius curse in the Forbidden Forest blatantly overheard by Charlus and Harry.

Chronological Order