Chapter 5: Quidditch, Astronomy Tower, Mirror of Erised

Classes were unbearable the next few days, being the genius that he is, Harry passed all the tasks his teachers set for him with flying colors and spent half the class reading his advance spell book. Even so, Harry had been looking forward to flying lessons, it was a custom that only the first years had flying lessons and he had impressed Madam Hooch with his reflexes and flying ability, telling him that he would fit perfectly as a chaser or a seeker; the next thing Harry knew was that he was being introduced to Marcus Flint, who was the current Slytherin captain.

After flying in the presence of the entire Slytherin Quidditch team, Flint was duly impressed and wasted no time in getting Harry his green Slytherin robes. Draco and Blaise were ecstatic that a first year broke the tradition and got into the house team the first time ever in Hogwarts long history. Harry woke up early and was eating breakfast in the Great Hall when he saw Selena fly majestically to him with a somewhat large package in its talons.

The snow colored owl dropped the package in her master's hand and settled on his shoulder. Harry grabbed an owl treat from his pocket and watched with amusement as the owl gobbled it. Then Harry turned back to his package and took the note that was bonded with the package. Harry tore the envelope and his smile grew as he read the letter

To my dear Harry,

First of all, HOW DARE YOU TACKLE THAT TROLL ALONE, YOU ARE A SLYTHERIN, NEXT TIME THINK BEFORE CHARGING IN LIKE A STUPID GRYFFINDOR, on a separate note, I cannot believe that you defeated that troll so easily, it seems that teaching you combat spells before you left for Hogwarts was the correct decision. You have continued to make the Black family proud, and me as well. Even more so when your Aunt Narcissa has informed me that you have made it into the Slytherin Quidditch team, if there is one family that breaks traditions, it's our family. This is my gift to you, make mommy proud.

With lots of love,

Mum

P.S. If you do another stupid thing, the troll would seem like a walk in a park.

Harry folded the letter and stowed it in his robes before unwrapping the packaged item and gasped, it was a Nimbus 2000, the newest broom that came out in the summer. Draco and Blaise arrived in the Great Hall and their jaws dropped all the way to the floor. "Harry, is that a Nimbus 2000?" Draco asked, awed. Harry nodded and delved back into his sandwich, ignoring the stares of the other students.

Saying the match against Gryffindor was intense would be an understatement, the Quidditch arena was packed full, throughout the practice sessions, Harry had grown quite close to Emily Anderson, a slender third year chaser with shoulder length blonde hair and dark green eyes, she was considered to be one the sexiest witches in her year and Christina LeVoux, another third year chaser with long, silky brown hair and turquoise eyes with a body to die for, she like Emily was also very desirable.

"Feeling nervous, Black?" Christina teased while nudging the first year's ribs. Harry yawned and said boringly, "Not at all, LeVoux. If I can handle a troll with my eyes closed, a game of Quidditch would be a piece of cake as the yanks say.", Emily giggled and then had Harry in a head lock and gave him a knuckle sandwich. "Black, LeVoux, Anderson, quit flirting and get your arses here." A crossed Flint barked.

The team marched into the Quidditch stadium and the two teams faced each other. Harry couldn't help but laugh as Flint shook hands with the Gryffindor captain; both were trying to break each other's hands. After quick handshakes with the opposite team, Harry positioned himself between Christina and Emily and kicked off from the ground as soon as Madam Hooch blew her whistle. Slytherin quickly led with 30-10, it was evident that the partnership between Christina and Emily was tearing apart the Gryffindors, after all the golden duo of Hogwarts was a title that was well earned.

Harry yawned as he dodged an oncoming bludger with relative ease, and that was when he saw a glittering movement and realizing it was a snitch, he rocketed his Nimbus 2000 towards the glittering ball and caught it with one grab, it was the easiest catch in his entire life, it wasn't even funny. "Slytherin wins the match, 190-30" The commentator said with disappointment in his voice, "No doubt a Gryffindor." Harry thought as he lowered himself to the ground and felt himself being strangled in a bone-crushing hug by Marcus Flint. Flint released him and went to hug his other teammates and Harry just shuddered, he wasn't looking forward to the matches if Flint decided to give him the hug of death each time they won.

He was then in a head lock as Emily and Christina ruffled his messy hair, "Nicely done Black, very rarely does Flint give the hug of death to anyone." Harry scowled but felt his cheeks heating when the two attractive chasers swooped down and kissed his cheeks. The audience was now whistling, giving wolf howls, dog barking and lots of kissing sounds. Harry saw his cousin and Blaise in the stands giving him thumbs up and shook his head before disappearing into the changing room to change back into his school robes. Tracey Davis watched the whole scene with amusement and turned to her best friend, "I think you have some serious potential competitors, hon." Daphne just frowned but said nothing.

"That was brilliant, you basically snagged the golden duo of Hogwarts." Draco teased. Harry merely ignored him and together they headed to the dungeons, "You coming Harry?" Draco asked at the entrance of the common room. "Later, I have something that I want to clear up" Harry replied and went to the path that led to Professor Snape's office. Harry knocked and the door opened, Severus Snape was looking at Harry with amusement. "Well well well, if it isn't the ladies man. Obviously you are your father's son, back in the day, he was quite the playboy." Snape teased. Harry blushed slightly and closed the door behind him before Snape added, "Well done, I expected no less from you. Now what is it that you wish to ask me?" Harry began to protest but Snape let out a chuckle, "No I did not use Legilimency on you Harry. Your face gave it away." Harry looked annoyed but asked, "Uncle Sev, do you have any ideas of the enchantments protecting the Philosopher's stone?" Snape narrowed his eyes and pulled his wand and muttered, "Muffliato, better to be safe than sorry. I have an idea of the protecting enchantments, the plan was that Professor McGonagall, Flitwick and myself each devise an obstacle or challenge to stop the person who might want to steal the stone." Then Snape proceeded in telling him his assumptions and Harry left his godfather's office with a pensive look on his face.

He ignored the celebrations going around in the common room and headed straight for bed. "So, riding a broom grabbing a flying key, a giant chest set and choosing the right potion…doesn't seem much." He thought as he slipped into bed, and noticed a note on his bedside table, even though he was sleepy he read it.

Dear Harry,

Could meet you at the Astronomy Tower at midnight tonight?

DG

Harry narrowed his eyes and looked at this alarm clock, it was five p.m. right now and once setting the alarm, he fell into a deep sleep. Daphne paced around, Tracey was doing her best to calm her down. "What was I thinking? How am I suppose to face him again?" Daphne said, with her hands covering her face. "Simple, you go meet him and give him the snog of his life." Another voice said, Daphne and Tracey immediately traced the voice to Pansy Parkinson who was leaning at the entrance to their dorm. Pansy had an aristocratic face, slender body with short-cropped brown hair and chocolate brown eyes. Daphne flushed but said nothing, Pansy narrowed her eyes and added, "Seriously Greengrass, if you want something, you have to get it yourself. And I suggest you move fast." With that Pansy left.

Harry heard the alarm and grunted, he instantly casted a silencing charm to prevent Blaise and Draco from waking up and bombarding him with pestering questions. He stepped out of bed, and after pulling on a light jacket, casted a disillusionment charm on himself, he snuck out of the dormitory. Harry smiled to himself as he thought about the first time he tried to cast a disillusionment charm on himself, he ended up making his left arm and right leg invisible as well as half his face, it drove Bella mad and it took quite some time to revert the changes.

Harry ignored the chilly air and wasn't surprised when he walked right around the caretaker Filch, disillusionment charms weren't meant to grant the user invisibility but because Harry unknowing to himself was descended from Le Fey and Merlin, his magical aura was unique. Harry arrived at the Astronomy tower and sighed at the beautiful night sky. Then he heard footsteps and saw Daphne walking very sneakily towards his direction, "She's going to be beautiful…" Harry though, before shaking the thought away and scowled. "Looking for someone?" Harry asked before disabling his disillusionment charm and smiled as he heard her gasp and widen her eyes in surprise. Daphne could do nothing but stare into his emerald green eyes, even in the night, they were like two gleaming emeralds.

She watched as Harry walked closer, his eyes never left hers. "Well, here I am." Harry said softly, the chilly breeze was messing up his hair, making him more handsome than ever. Daphne composed herself and said, "I would like to thank you, for saving me from that troll…and for comforting me throughout this year." Harry merely raised his eyebrows in amusement and said emotionlessly, "You're welcome…it's the least I can do." Then a moment of awkward silence engulfed the two before Harry mumbled, "If you're not too busy over the Christmas break…maybe if you want, we can have a get together, you know, Draco, Blaise, Tracey…" Daphne gasped, never in her wildest dreams would she imagine that Harry ask her something like that, "He's so cute when he's blabbering." She thought to herself before responding with a smile, "I would love that." Harry nodded and smiled, which surprised himself, and quickly strengthened his Occlumency shields. Daphne saw the change and kept her questions to herself as Harry raised his wand and cast disillusionment charms on her and himself. As they walked from the Astronomy tower, Daphne stared at the messy black haired wizard who had saved her life on more than one occasion and smiled to herself.

The two Slytherins were heading back to their common room when they both saw an open room and like with any children their age curiosity led them inside. The room was practically empty, with the exception of a mirror. Daphne watched as Harry walked up to the mirror and covered her mouth as she saw tears rolling down his eyes. Harry in her memory was a cold and distant boy who never showed his emotions but now she saw him fall to his knees and sobbing. Without another thought she went over to him and embraced him, "What is it Harry? What's wrong?" she whispered. "My parents, I can see them, smiling back at me." Harry said in a quiet voice. Daphne raised her head and looked into the mirror, what she saw shocked her speechless, she saw herself, much older than she was now, her blonde hair was shoulder length, her bright blue eyes beaming with happiness; she was utterly beautiful and next to her was a man with untidy black hair, a lightning bolt scar on his forehead and emerald green eyes that could stare into one's soul. Daphne saw her older self looking adoringly at the adult Harry and she watched as the adult Harry wrapped an arm around the adult Daphne's waist and gave her a passionate kiss.

"I see that you two have discovered the Mirror of Erised." A grandfatherly voice said gently. Harry wiped his tears away and whipped his head around, and pulled the strongest mental barrier he could muster. "Very impressive Harry, your disillusionment charm renders you invisible, very few people can do that."Albus Dumbledore said honestly. Harry scowled and flicked his wand and he and Daphne appeared out of thin air. Dumbledore sighed, the boy he had wanted to protect was here yet he didn't trust him, "I'm sorry Harry, I should have never tried to enter your mind the night you came here, it was a foolish mistake made by a senile old man." Dumbledore said, a tear trickling out from his twinkling eyes. Harry said nothing as he held Daphne protectively. "The Mirror of Erised? I have never heard it before." Harry murmured, Dumbledore smiled, "At least he's talking to me." He thought to himself. "Harry, the Mirror of Erised lets the person to see their deepest desires, in your case…your parents." Dumbledore explained, Harry nodded while Dumbledore gave Daphne a knowing and encouraging smile.

The headmaster then bade them both goodnight and hummed to himself as he walked out. "So, what did you see in that mirror Daffs?" Harry asked as they made their way back to the dungeons. Daphne blushed and lied, "I saw myself with my sister." Harry narrowed his eyes, he always knew when he was being lied to but did not press on the matter and did not say a word after that. The pair returned to the dungeons, Harry muttered the password, went into the common room and murmured a quiet goodnight and disappeared into the Boy's dormitories, not even bothered with hearing her response.