Illogical Minds

Chapter one

Hermione Granger was many things, but a fool she was not. Or at least that's what she kept telling herself as she stared at the display, her fingers hovering a scant above the glass surface, so close she could see her eyes looming back at her in the reflection. She knew far too much about the magical world to go round poking mysterious artifacts, no matter how many times Lavender called her a goodie two-shoes. At sixteen, she had seen things she wish she hadn't, things no one could take back. Still, she couldn't quite deny that the mirror hidden behind glass, bronze, ornate and downright old had a certain appeal.

It was not so much that it looked particularly magical or even unusual that held her, it was more the promise of unexplored potential. It was certainly not because of anything as whimsical as romance and love that captivated her – at least, that's what she kept telling herself as her fingers finally connected with the glass.

What was it Lavender had said again?

"I've heard about this mirror," she had said as she clung onto Ron's arm, her cheeks flushed as she stared at the display. "Verus Amor-"she had read from the tiny sign that accompanied it, to which Hermione couldn't quite hold back a laugh. "What's so funny?"

"'True love' in Latin, it's hardly original is it?" She scoffed, not lowering her voice for the benefit of Mr. Borgin who stared at the spectacle with ill-concealed impatience. He was never a fan of students, they always came to Borgin and Burkes in a wash of giggling curiosity that wasted his time, lured in by the promise of danger and unknown artifacts.

"I wouldn't laugh if I were you Hermione," Lavender said, a strange little smile on her face as she tossed her long hair back. "This thing might be able to help even you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that this mirror you laughed at is incredible. I've heard it shows you what you want most-"

"So like the mirror of Erised then?" Hermione interrupted with a roll of her eyes.

"Not quite. It shows a person their soul-mate," with that Lavender turned an awe-filled gaze back to the display, her face nearly pressing up against the glass. "Their other half, the missing puzzle piece. Their"-

"Bloody hell Lavender, calm down. Come on 'Mione, I think we should get these girls away before they start swooning," Ron said, looking to Hermione for support, oblivious to the slight he had made at not including her amongst 'the girls'. Lavender noticed however and shared a glimmer of a laugh with Parvati before they allowed Ron to steer them away.

The afternoon had passed by pleasantly, or as pleasantly as it could possibly be watching a pair snog for hours on end. Honestly sometimes she worried for Ron's lungs as of late. And yet Hermione had come back to the shop, ignoring Borgin's curious look as he watched her make straight for the mirror.

She was embarrassed of course to be seen eyeing a blatantly sentimental piece that was most likely rubbish. She reasoned however that everyone knew she had a natural curiosity for the unknown and this thing was definitely unknown. How had Lavender heard of it and yet she had not? Besides, it's not like she was going to waste money on it – no she just wanted a closer look.

And then her fingers finally made contact with the glass and she swear she felt something, a tiny something that felt like a quick current of electricity moving beneath her fingertips. She leapt back with a gasp, a little taken aback and yet oddly invigorated. So it was magic at least. Borgin –who was no nowhere to be seen- hadn't lied too badly then. She and everyone else knew his tendency to lie about 'artifacts'.

"This thing might be able to help even you."

Even you. The memory of Lavender's retort made her wince even now and she wholly blames it for the thought that came next. After all she was a girl, and one with feelings –no matter how much Ron liked to pretend otherwise. Maybe she could remove the silk sheet that covered most of the mirror from view and take a quick peak. After all, it couldn't hurt right? Moments after that thought she was already berating herself. Hermione was no fool and yet here she was allowing whimsy to get the better of her. Soul-mates, who had ever heard of something so stupid, so downright illogical?

She gave another little laugh to herself, only this time it was devoid of any real humor. It was a hollow sound even to her ears. It had been a long and tiring year for her, and if she were honest, lonely too. After Cedric's death, things hadn't quite been the same between the golden trio. They were close yes, closer than most friends, but Harry had taken to distancing himself from them nonetheless. He had always been prone to self-reflection and guilt and now that was only worse and this time, she didn't have Ron to help break him out of it. No, these days he was far more preoccupied with Lavender on the end of his big mouth than noticing anything was wrong with his friends. As always, Hermione immediately admonished herself for that thought. Ron deserved happiness like everyone else and God knows they deserved it after what they have all been through. It's just – where did that leave her?

Hermione's eyes crept back to the mirror, travelling up the ornate handle and to the sliver of its reflective glass that peaked out at her through the cloth. Decision made, she grabbed the silk in her hands, the black so stark against her skin and yanked it off the display.

Nothing happened.

Hermione stared into the mirror, giving it a few more seconds feeling more and more a fool as she continued to stare at her own face reflecting back at her. The mirror of true love indeed, she thought harshly. It was then that she saw it.

The glass suddenly wasn't glass at all but a dark rippling liquid that bubbled and churned disturbingly. For a moment she considered calling Mr. Borgin to her aid but then the image cleared. It became glass once more, only this time silver with little flecks of green seemingly falling on its surface. It was entrancing and beautiful. Against her better judgement Hermione leant even closer, and there she saw a shadow forming, a body materializing in the foreground.

All of a sudden fear replaced any and all curiosity, fear that whatever she was about to see would change things forever. It was an illogical fear, a fear that Hermione recognized as unlike herself and yet she was powerless to stop it. Without a backward glance, she fled the shop, leaving the mirror gleaming behind her with a face that had only just began to take shape. A face she would have recognized if given the chance.