Hello everyone! I hope you all are enjoying the story!Thank you all very very much for all of the reviews/favorites/alerts! They make me want to write more and more!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters or the plot to Harry's life.
Chapter 8: Invincible and Invisible
It was almost Christmas. Many kids were leaving Hogwarts for the break. I knew Harry was staying at Hogwarts. He obviously wasn't planing on going back to the Dursley's. So as the kids left, Harry and Ron stayed. Malfoy was teasing Harry about Lily and I being dead. Which made my blood boil. That was far over the line. I just hoped that Harry would be able to make good decisions and not be a jerk back.
I was also keeping a close eye on Sirius. He was doing okay. But I knew it must be hard on him.
I opened the portal up to watch Sirius. He was awake. Sitting in the corner of his cell. He was rocking back and forth on the ground. I cringed. It was hard to watch. There was a dementor outside his cell.
It was sucking out his happy memories.
Sirius screamed. His scream made my stomach churn. It was the sound of pure terror.
I had heard that scream only once before.
Sirius had just appeared at my door. I invited him in and my parents allowed him to stay. That night we had trouble getting to sleep.
I had made him forget about his family while we were awake. But at night, he was a victim to his subconscious.
When he finally fell asleep I heard his breathing slow. I was awake thinking about Lily.
That's when I heard it. The scream.
It was scary. It sounded like a man being tortured beyond belief. Not just physically, but mentally too. The memory still gives me the chills. It was not a thing you wanted to hear from your best friend.
I shook his shoulders awake.
His eyes snapped open, they had a crazed look in them. He looked like he was about to attack me. And cry.
"Padfoot!" I yelled trying to snap him from this daze.
His eyes relaxed. He was drenched in sweat.
"James..." he whispered.
"Yeah? Mate what's up?"
Then he passed out.
When Sirius had woken up, he never spoke of it. Eventually I had figured out what had happened. His mother had tortured him. He had almost lost it. He had almost snapped. His mind was always a bit different after that. He was never the same man, but he hid it well.
I knew that he was reliving it.
By the scream. I could tell.
I shuddered.
After what seemed like an eternity, the dementor left.
Sirius sat in the corner. Broken all over again.
He sat there and cried. Silently he cried out the tears of the horrors from his past.
I watched as he fell asleep.
I tried to talk to him.
"Padfoot. You okay mate?"
"N-No." he replied shakily.
It was weird. I saw him laying in the cell fast asleep. Yet I heard all of his thoughts in my mind.
"I was watching..."
"Lucky you. G-Getting to see me like t-that. Again."
"Sirius, it's okay to be messed up after that. You have a dark past. They're going to affect you like no other."
"I thought I was strong enough to handle it.."
"You are strong. But you aren't invincible."
At this point, Lily walked into the room. Her face lit up. "Is that Sirius?" she chimed.
"Yes Lil, it's him. The dementors were just there."
"James! Is that Lily? Oh my god Lily! I haven't talked to you since you died! Oh Lily, sweet Lily. I miss you." Sirius said excitedly.. Hearing Lily must have put him in a much better mood.
Tears were brimming in Lily's eyes. "Sirius, I miss you too. It's not the same. James is great, but you were something else."
"Oi!" I blurted out.
"Oh James! I love you, but let's face it, Sirius is hysterical!"
"She's got a brilliant point mate. I am delightful"
I laughed, "It's true mate. I'm glad to talk to you! I just wish the circumstances were different though."
"I'll come join you two!" he said a little too excitedly.
"NO!" Lily and I both yelled.
"Sirius, live a happy life. You'll join us eventually." I said.
"Don't rush death," Lily said.
"Hahahahaha! I won't I wanted to see your reaction though! I love living. But not in here, might I add. I just like talking to you two so much. I miss you both."
Lily sniffled. She was about to get emotional. "W-We miss you too Sirius."
"Lily-flower, don't cry love."
"I-It's not f-fair that you're in A-Azkaban!"
"I'm fine Lily! Just take good care of James for me."
"I-I will S-Sirius. I p-promise."
And with that she got up and left.
"Is she okay?" he asked me.
"No. Being dead and watching everyone live is really killing her. Seeing Harry...it's the Christmas holidays...she wishes he could come home to her.."
"Ahhh...I see. How is he?"
"He's doing good. He reminds me so much of us back in our school days. He's going to give McGonagall a headache."
Sirius smiled in his sleep.
"I'm glad he's filling in the Marauder footsteps."
"Me too mate."
"I miss you Prongs."
"I miss you too Pads." ..we were so corny sometimes.
"Gah! We're like a sappy couple!"
"I was thinking the same thing!"
"Yeah well, we're men. Yeah!" he said pretending to be tough.
"Hell, no we're not. I love you mate!"
Sirius laughed. "Love you too mate, but I gotta go. I feel the connection dying."
"Bye Sirius."
I watched as Sirius stood up and brushed himself off before I waved the portal away.
All the kids were gone from Hogwarts. Harry and Ron, as well as the other Weasley children, were the few Gryffindors left. On Christmas morning, Harry woke up to presents. He looked absolutely delighted. The sight brought joy to me and Lily.
Lily and I decided to not get each other presents this year. Instead I was taking her out to dinner. But not until much later.
For Christmas, Harry had received a family heirloom. My Invisibility Cloak. My face lit up when I saw it. I hadn't seen that thing since I lent it to Dumbledore. Oh the mischief I used to get into under that cloak. It was sentimental seeing that old cloak again.
It was priceless watching Harry try it on for the first time. He looked so exhilarated. I knew he would use it well.
The day passed quickly and Harry and Ron ate a filling Christmas dinner before heading up to bed.
Harry pulled out the cloak and took a walk down to the Restricted Section in the library to try to find out more about Nicholas Flamel. He opened a book and it started screaming. Getting worried, he ran out of the library and into a mysterious room.
There on the far side of the room was a mirror.
Harry walked over to it. He stood dead center in front of the mirror, and looked in.
My vision blurred. I felt like I was Apparating.
But where?
I opened my eyes and the swirling had stopped. In front of me there was a boy. A small boy. I looked to my side, Lily was standing there. There was a mirror in front of me.
I looked in the reflection.
It was Harry.
I was standing with my son and wife.
Harry's face registered all the emotions I was feeling.
I opened my mouth to speak but air came rushing in and drowned out my voice. Instead, I smiled and waved.
It was so hard to see my son and not be able to talk to him. I missed him so very much.
And he barely remembered me.
I wouldn't let myself cry in front of Harry.
I wanted this to be a happy memory for him.
Lily put her hand on his shoulder. There were the traces of tears in her eyes.
Tears of joy. But tears nonetheless.
Eventually, Harry had to go. He whispered "Goodbye Mum and Dad. I love you." Before stepping out of the mirror frame.
My vision blurred again and when I opened my eyes again I was standing on our front step.
I looked at Lily. She smiled at me.
I opened my mouth to speak. But I couldn't find the right words. I'd never be able to. There was no possible way of describing everything I felt at that moment.
But it was great seeing Harry, not through a portal. Having him be there right beside me. I wished for that scene to actually come true, but it never would.
Lily and I silently Apparated to the restaurant that I had booked. We sat down and shortly after, our food arrived. We talked mostly of Harry.
It was hard not to talk about him.
But eventually the night came to an end and we went home.
The next night, Harry came back to the mirror with Ron. I felt the sensation taking hold of me and when I looked next Harry was there again. When Ron came to look in the mirror he didn't see me or Lily. We were invisible to him. He told Harry that he had seen himself holding the Quidditch Cup. Harry looked longingly into the image of Lily, him and I. I understood what he was thinking. He wished that it was true. I smiled at him and winked. He caught it and grinned madly. It was the one way of communicating with my son, and I wasn't planning on losing that.
Harry came back the night after that. He was alone. I didn't mind. Neither did Lily. He stood there in between the mother and father he never had. He was smiling. Shortly after arriving, Dumbledore showed up. He explained to Harry that this mirror was called the "Mirror of Erised". It showed the heart's greatest desire. He also told him that the mirror would be moved after tonight and that he should never look for it again. Harry agreed but I saw the pain etched on his face.
I took one long glance at my son. He was alive and alone. No one he could call mum or dad. But he was alive. He had survived the curse. He was living proof of love. I soaked in the image of my son holding on to it for the coming years. A single tear rolled down my cheek. Harry saw it and smiled at me. Then he winked. I saw it and I couldn't help but smile back.
"I love you mum and dad. I'll see you again."
And with that, he walked out of the mirror frame. And I was brought back home.
A/N: I tried to make it more of a happy chapter rather than sad. I know how depressing this story is to read. r&r please!
