Chapter 2
You were a child, Crawling on your knees toward him
Making momma so proud, But your voice is too loud
A baby is born, Crying out for attention
Memories fade, Like looking through a fogged mirror
Decisions too, Decisions are made and not bought
But I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot, I guess not
(Kids –MGMT)
"But I expect you've realized by now what it does."
"It - well - it shows me my family -"
"And it showed your friend Ron himself as head boy."
"How did you know -."
"I don't need a cloak to become invisible," said Dumbledore gently. "Now, can you think what the Mirror of Erised shows us all." Harry shook his head.
"Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is...It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts...However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible. The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that..."
At dawn Harry was woken from his dream by the familiar sound of Hedwig tapping on his bedroom window. He groaned and got up to let her in. "Couldn't you have been late this morning, Hedwig?" He asked as he closed the window behind her. She perched on his bedpost and stared at him. "Only I've just about had 3 hours sleep, what with sorting Hermione out last night." He took the post from her beak and went to open the door. "Thanks. I'll be down soon, ok?"
The owl hooted gently and took off out the door and down to the kitchen. Harry flicked through the post and decided that it could all wait until later. He threw it down onto his bed and headed to the bathroom.
When he got there, Ron was just coming out. His hair was wet and he was dressed in his orange Chudley Cannons dressing gown.
"Morning Harry." Ron smiled. "You look tired, mate!"
"Yeah. I didn't get much sleep." He saw no point in telling Ron about last night if he didn't already know; the smashing mirror obviously hadn't woken him.
"Oh? Burning the candle at both ends where we?" Ron smirked.
"Do you even know what that means?" Harry quipped with a grin. "Anyway, why are you up so early?"
"I'm off to the Burrow. I promised to help Ginny review the new Quaffles this morning seeing as there's no training today."
"Cool." Harry said. "Sounds like fun."
"Yeah...do you fancy coming along? I'm sure Ginny would be happy to see you." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Err... I think I'll pass, thanks Ron. I need to get on with some work."
"But it's Saturday! Why do you want to do actual work today?"
"Well, some of us are actually grownups, Ron!" Harry joked. "And we actually have real work to do!"
"Oh, shut up!" Ron made to punch Harry's arm playfully, but Harry dodged it.
"You'll have to get up much earlier if you want to beat me, Weasley!"
"One of these days!" Ron smiled. "Well, suit yourself Potter. See you later then."
In his closet, Harry pulled on a faded pair of jeans and searched around for a clean t-shirt. He pulled out his Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds t-shirt which Hermione had bought for 19th his birthday. As he pulled the shirt over his head, he remembered the note that had come with it. He reached up to the top shelf of the wardrobe and pulled down an old wooden box. Inside the box were all his special keepsakes and precious items. He riffled through the papers and photos and found the card she had given him. On the front was a picture of an owl with the words 'Hope your birthday is a hoot!' He smiled and opened the card. Her message inside the card was plain and simple and held no hidden meanings, but the note she had given him with the t-shirt was different. He picked up the small piece of parchment and stared at her neat writing for a long moment.
'Harry,
So you'll never forget the times when it was just us.
All my love, Hermione x'He had never dared show this note to anyone, especially not Ron. Hermione had broken up with Ron about two weeks before Harry's 19th birthday. They had been going out since the war had ended, but Hermione had realised that both of their hearts were not really in it. Harry remembered back to how bad their bickering became, and how they had decided that in order to stay friends, they needed to break up before it was too late. Harry thought back to when Ron had seen the t-shirt. Ron had asked who on earth Nick Cave was and Harry had just smiled and explained that he was a Muggle singer he liked. Harry had hidden the note away in his box, and was surprised that Hermione never mentioned it or acknowledged she had given it to him. Harry felt strangely melancholy all of a sudden. With both a sigh and a smile he carefully put away the box.
He went over to the chest of drawers and fished out a pair of socks. While closing the drawer, he paused, remembering where the piece of mirror had landed last night. Getting down on his hands and knees he attempted to retrieve the piece of glass. There was a knock on the door, and Harry jumped, hitting his head on the half-open drawer.
"Come in!" he called while rubbing his head.
"Morning Harry." Hermione said brightly. "What are you doing down there?"
"I was just getting something from under here." He scrambled to his feet, narrowly avoiding the drawer again.
"Did you bang your head?" Hermione asked, in that sing-song tone she used when he or Ron was acting like a pouting 5-year old. Harry slipped the piece of mirror into his pocket and smiled in spite of himself.
"Yeah, I did."
They looked at each other in silence for a moment.
"I'm wearing your shirt!" Harry grinned, holding up the hem so the image was clear. "See!"
Hermione's eyes flicked to look at his t-shirt and she smiled slightly.
"Glad you still like it." Then her tone became more serious, her eyes searching out his. "Harry, about last night..."
"Don't worry Hermione. I told you it was fine... Did your mirror work?"
"I don't know. I haven't tried it yet." Hermione lied, turning to leave.
"Hold on!" Harry said quickly. "I want to show you something." He made his way back over to the closet and pulled out his keepsake box again. Hermione sat down on the edge of his bed, watching him. She looked down at the photograph frame on his bedside table. She, Harry and Ron all looked up at her and waved, a bright Auror badge glimmering on Harry's chest. Hermione smiled with pride and then turned her attention to the real-life Harry who was now standing in front of her. He set the box down on the bed and pulled out an old, dog-eared photograph. He held it out to Hermione. "This is one of the only pictures I have of them together." Hermione took the picture, holding it as gently as if it were a tiny baby-bird.
"Oh, Harry. It's beautiful." She stared at the sepia picture of an embracing Lily and James, and it took her a moment to realise that they were not moving. "It's a Muggle photograph."
"Yep." Harry said. "It's the only Muggle one I have of them, so I keep it very safe. Aunt Petunia gave it to me."
"They're so young! Your dad looks happy, and he looks so much like you! And your mum is so pretty..." Hermione said, taking in Lily's pretty eyes, pale skin and red hair. Suddenly a thought struck her, and her heart began to pound; Lily looks like Ginny Weasley. She hastily pushed the photo back into Harry's hands and stood up. He looked puzzled and slightly sad.
"I- I just remembered that I forgot to let Crookshanks out this morning!" She hurried from the room. Harry turned to the window and watched the bandy-legged ginger cat stretch and yawn happily in his favourite spot in the garden, where he had been resting since Harry had let Hedwig in.
Hermione dashed out into the garden and sat down on the bench at the far end, under the apple tree. She put her head in her hands and attempted to hold back the tears threatening to fall. Crookshanks meandered over to her, nuzzling at her legs and flip-flopped feet with his furry orange head.
"Hey Crooks." Hermione muttered, reaching down to stroke him. The cat looked up at her puzzled, and meowed softly. "Oh, I don't know, Crookshanks." Hermione sighed and scooped the cat up onto her lap. "What am I doing? It's all such a mess." Crookshanks meowed at her again, pushing his head into her hands as she stroked his ears. "It all shouldn't be this hard, should it? Why am I denying it?"
Ron apparated into the Burrow's garden with his Nimbus 2006 in hand. Ginny was already outside, dressed in her old Gryffindor Quidditch kit. She was sorting through a large trunk full of brand new Quaffles.
"Hey Ron." She smiled and hugged her brother. "You ok?"
"Fine, Gin." He looked down at the box full of Quidditch balls. "Wow, look at all these!"
"Mmm hmm," Ginny picked one up and handed it to him. "Let's start with this Cleansweep one, and then there's one from Comet, and Universal, and 2 from Nimbus. We need to compare them all." She picked up a clipboard. "I've got the review criteria written down here."
Ron rolled his eyes.
"You're too organised Ginny! You're turning into Hermione."
"Oi!" She said, hitting him with her clipboard. Ron chuckled, "I'm kidding. Let's get this show on the road." He mounted his broom and drifted over to the Quidditch goalposts at the bottom of the garden. Ginny picked up the Cleansweep Quaffle and mounted her Firebolt.
"Ok Ron, don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because you're my brother." She smirked. "I need to thoroughly test these balls..."
Ron burst out laughing. "Oh Ginny, you're too funny...Balls. Ha ha...oh!" The Quaffle soared right past him and through the hoop to his left.
"Ding!" Ginny cheered. "Ginny 1, Ronald 0!"
"Ok, ok." Ron said, "No need to rub it in!"
They continued reviewing the Quaffle and enjoying their sibling banter, until Ron decided it was time to take a break and have a cup of tea and some breakfast.
In the kitchen, Molly made them a hearty breakfast and told Ron how good it was to see him – her famous Quidditch player of a son – looking so healthy and happy. He beamed at her words, and Ginny knew that Ron was finally able to experience and enjoy his own recognition instead of being Harry Potter's ginger mate.
"How is Luna?" Molly asked, sitting down between Ron and Ginny.
"She's fine." Ron said, wiping ketchup off his chin. "I'm seeing her this evening."
"That's good." Molly said. "And how are Harry... and Hermione?" Even after all these years, and the countless times Ron had told her it was fine, she still spoke of Hermione with trepidation.
"Harry's good – his usual cheerful self. I've told you a thousand times, mum, that Hermione and I are cool! She's ok, I think. She's been a bit quiet recently, but then again she is buried in a stack of new books which need going over for the Ministry."
"What's new!" Ginny smiled, picking up the copy of the Daily Prophet which was lying on the table. "Did I tell you that it's the Prophet's staff party tonight to celebrate the 100,000th issue?"
"Yes!" Both Ron and Molly said together. "Every day for the past month!"
"I'm so excited!" She chuckled and finished her tea. "Well, come on Ron. We need to get a move on with these Quaffles if you want to be home in time for your date!" She waggled her eyebrows at him. "And I want to have enough time to get ready for the Prophet's soiree!"
Harry picked up the mail from his bed, and pulled on a pair of trainers. He went downstairs into the kitchen. After feeding Hedwig, Harry turned to the sink to pour himself a glass of water. Through the window he saw Hermione and Crookshanks sat on the bench. Hermione was hugging the cat and looked like she had been crying. Harry sighed; it hurt him to see her like this. He downed his glass of water and stepped outside.
"Hermione." He called, approaching where she was sitting. "Are you alright?"
Suddenly Crookshanks jumped down from the bench and faced Harry. He hissed menacingly and his hair was on end.
"Cut it out, Crooks!" Harry said to the cat, but before he knew it Crookshanks had jumped up and scratched his arm. Harry swore violently at the cat who was now retreating back to the house. Harry healed his arm quickly and sat down beside Hermione. Her eyes were red and she was still staring across the garden. "You're not going to scratch me too are you?" Harry said with a smile.
Hermione slowly turned to face him and smiled sadly. "Sorry about that Harry. You know what Crookshanks gets like if he thinks I'm upset..."
"Yeah." Harry decided to get straight to the point. "But you are upset, aren't you? About something." He paused. "Did I do something, Hermione?"
She shook her head. "No. You're fine. It's just me."
"Want to talk about it?"
"No, I'll be fine. I just need a minute to think." Her tone told Harry that their conversation was over.
"Ok. As long as you're sure...I'll leave you in peace then." He stood up, but squeezed her hand before he walked away. "When you feel like coming back inside I'll make us some breakfast."
In the kitchen, Harry began to look through his post: junk, bills, junk, a pay-cheque, a postcard from Andromeda and Teddy, and an envelope addressed in the familiar ink of the Ministry of Magic. Harry slit open the envelope. Inside was an invitation addressed to 'Mr H Potter and Guest'.
The Ministry of Magic requests
the pleasure of your company
at the first Candlelight Ball for the benefit of
the Quidditch for All Foundation
on Saturday 25th June,
Fountain Ballroom, The Ministry of Magic.
Champagne Reception - 6pm, Dinner - 7pm
Charity auction and dancing to follow.
Music provided by the Moonlight Classical Quartet
and The Hobgoblins
Dress Code - Black tie.
R.S.V.P.
"Hey." Harry said when Hermione finally entered the kitchen. He dropped the letter, stood up and went over to the fridge. "What do you fancy? Bacon and eggs?"
"Yeah, sounds good." Hermione said as she sat at the table; she had regained her composure now.
"There's a postcard from Andromeda and Teddy there." Harry said as he began to cook. "It sounds like they're having a good time." Hermione picked up the card with a picture of the Coliseum on the front.
"Wow. Looks like they've done everything!" Hermione said, reading the message written by 8 year old Teddy. "I'd love to go to Rome. It's full of history and culture and..."
"Flirty Italian men?" Harry interjected with a chuckle, pouring out two cups of tea.
"Yeah, them too!" Hermione laughed. For now everything seems back to normal, she thought.
"Here you go." Harry placed two plates of food on the table and sat down next to her.
"Thanks Harry." She began tucking in, and Harry just watched her for a moment before starting to eat.
"Oh, I meant to ask you. Did you get an invite to that Ministry thing?" Harry said, polishing off the last of his food. Hermione nodded.
"Yeah, Hedwig brought it to me this morning. It sounds like fun."
"Oh okay... Who are you going to take as your guest?" Harry blurted out.
Hermione looked at him, her head tilted to one side. "I haven't thought about it yet. Who are you taking?"
Harry smiled, "Well, I was going to ask you..." Hermione opened her mouth in shock. "But seeing as you got invited too, I could ask Ginny. I don't know if she got an invite."
Hermione dropped her fork, and felt tears prick her eyes once more.
"Oh."
"Ron will obviously get one, seeing as he's a patron of Quidditch for All, and he'll definitely take Luna. But then again Ginny has probably already got..."
Hermione stood up hurriedly from the table. "Thanks for the breakfast, Harry."
Harry decided to leave Hermione alone, and retreated to the pile of papers waiting for him in his study for the remainder of the morning. Some new details about the remaining Death Eaters, including Antonin Dolohov, had come to light in the last few weeks. Harry read and reread the statement which had been given to the Auror Office by an anonymous source. He was determined to get Dolohov no matter what it took. He had taken Remus from him and Teddy, and he had almost taken Hermione... Harry sighed and put down the document. He was finding it difficult to concentrate, and his mind kept drifting back to how distracted Hermione had been acting. One moment she was fine, next she was teary, next she was running out on him. He sighed again and rubbed his eyes, a coffee craving taking over his senses.
Hermione sat at the window in her room with a book open in her lap. She was trying to do some of the proof-reading work that the Ministry had assigned her, but she couldn't focus. After years of denying how she felt about Harry, suddenly all of her feelings had risen to the surface and she was having trouble keeping them buried. Sometimes she just wished she could tell Harry how she felt. 'I mean', she thought, 'he hasn't been seeing anyone for ages. He never got back together with Ginny after the war, and he hasn't been on a proper date with anyone in years...The last time was last year when he had coffee with Cho and she burst out crying about Cedric...he couldn't deal with that again!' Hermione sighed and looked out of the window.
"Sometimes I think he sees something in me, and then he mentions Ginny and the moment's gone... and it hurts me! And everyone knows Ginny still pines for him!" She said aloud in frustration. "Maybe I am just a friend! Urgh!" Her angry noise startled Crookshanks who was dozing on her bed. "What should I do Crookshanks, huh? Should I just tell him? He is my best friend after all...and he didn't judge me when I broke up with Ron. In fact I think he was pleased when we ended it. He smiled." The cat watched her dolefully. "I know we were only kids then... I'm a Gryffindor, but having courage is so much easier said than done." Crookshanks meowed quietly and looked at her. "Oh come on Crooks! I can't just tell him out of the blue! I have to be sure..."
In the kitchen Harry put on the kettle and grabbed milk from the fridge. The house was quiet apart from the low rumble of the kettle starting to boil. Harry assumed that Hermione was in her room. He made two cups of coffee and carried one back to his desk, and then took the other upstairs. As he made his way up the stairs, Harry heard Hermione's voice speaking softly to her cat. He smiled and raised his hand to knock on the door, but paused when he heard Hermione say agitatedly; "But now, all I can think of is what I saw in the mirror. I can't think of anything else!"
Harry waited a moment, trying not to breathe, urging her to continue. He wondered what she would see in the mirror... "Oh, this is silly!" Hermione continued. "How does that mirror know that he's what I want the most? It's just a mirror..." Harry's eyes widened. "Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I want him!" Harry heard Crookshanks meow loudly. "Ok, Crookshanks. I'm sorry, but who else am I supposed to talk to about this? Harry? Don't make me laugh."
Harry's heart wilted slightly; weren't they supposed to be best friends? Hermione had stopped speaking now, and Harry waited a few beats before shuffling his feet so she would think he was only just coming up the stairs. He knocked gently on Hermione's door.
"Come in." She called.
Harry smiled, seeing her seated on her window seat, a large book in her arms and a quill behind her ear. "I thought you might want a coffee." He handed her the mug. "What are you up to?"
"Just proof reading this." She gestured to the book in her lap. "It's a new History of Magic text-book."
"Urgh..." Harry shuddered, remembering back to all of Professor Binns's lessons. Hermione smiled at his childish reaction. Harry laughed to himself. "How long are you going to be? Because I wondered if you wanted to come with me to Diagon Alley for an hour or two later? I've got a meeting with a goblin at Gringotts at 2.3o."
"Oh yes, that would be nice. I need to pick up a few things." Hermione smiled. "Thanks for the coffee, Harry." She paused. "I – I'm sorry if I acted a bit weirdly this morning, I've got a lot on my mind at the moment."
"No worries." Harry smiled dashingly, squeezing her shoulder before leaving. "Just remember that you can talk to me about anything. I'll see you later."
Once Harry had left the room, Hermione let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. They were going to Diagon Alley together, just the two of them. She squealed happily and sipped her coffee; the now neglected book in her lap slid to the floor with a loud thump. Crookshanks hissed from his spot on the bed and jumped down to investigate the large book. The noise pulled Hermione out of her reverie and she got up from the window seat, scooping up Crookshanks before he had time to tear into the book. From her dressing table she picked up the shard of mirror. "What do you see in here, Crooks?" She asked, holding the piece of glass in front of the cat's face. He mewed quietly and Hermione smiled to herself, sitting down on her bed again to stare into the mirror, not knowing if her vision would ever become reality, but hoping it could.
Ron returned home from the Burrow just as Harry and Hermione were about to leave for Diagon Alley.
"How were Ginny and the Quaffles?" Harry asked lacing up his trainers.
"Ginny's fine. She says hi to you both. Oh, the Quaffles were so good!" Ron said excitedly. "You'll have to get Ginny to let you have a go with them before she takes them back to the office. They were so fast, so streamlined..."
Hermione rolled her eyes; "Boys!"
"Ok Ron." Harry laughed, putting an end to Ron's fanboy gushing.
"Where are you guys off to?" Ron asked, taking off his shoulder pads and throwing them on the floor. When Harry asked Ron if he wanted to tag along to Diagon Alley, Hermione's heart dropped slightly.
"Oh, no thanks guys. I'll leave you to it." Ron said, pulling off his Quidditch boots. "I'm just going to have some lunch then take a nap. I need the rest." Ron continued, and Hermione's heart rose hopefully.
"Ok, we'll see you later." Harry said, and stuck his old Gryffindor cap on his head. Taking Hermione's hand he asked, "Do you want to do the honours, Mione?" Hermione's heart fluttered at the feel of his hand on hers, and it felt fit to burst as he used her nickname. She must have blushed too, because Ron was smirking at her.
"S-sure." She stammered, avoiding Ron's eyes, before apparating them away with a pop. Mimicking Hermione, Ron rolled his eyes with a grin; "Women!"
