Control
By Fatpunk
Chapter 9
Harry returned to Hogwarts after the Christmas break with a multitude of thoughts running through his mind, the welcome back prank, getting the spells on his Christmas presents, and most importantly what was taken from Gringotts before the break in. Harry strongly suspected that what ever the Stone is it was now in the forbidden third corridor of Hogwarts. Harry arrived alone and began his walk back to the Gryffindor common room wandering aimlessly back towards the fat lady when his eye caught sight of an open door, one usually kept closed. What really caught Harry's attention was the trail of dust crossing the floor. Harry crept to the doorway, peering into the room scanning for danger and searching for any clues in the room. He stepped into what appeared to be an old, unused classroom. Desks were stacked around the room chairs piled high and covered in dust. What stood out most in the room was the spectacular and ornate mirror placed in the centre of the room. Standing ten feet tall, trimmed in gold with an inscription carved across the top of the mirror were the words 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi', Harry paid little attention to the inscription as he was focused solely on the reflection. I was Harry, but not an eleven year old Harry, he had grown to middle age with a women beside him arms draped around each other. Standing beside Harry was a young boy about 3 years old while in the woman's arms was baby, a girl Harry thought. Harry stared at the image before turning and striding purposefully from the room. He was dumfounded, what did this mean? Did the mirror show the future or the past? He strode past the fat lady after muttering the password and travelled straight to his room and bed ignoring everyone, including and excited Hermione.
The next morning Harry woke early and progressed through his morning routine of exercise and meditation trying to process what he saw last night. He also realised that he had completely brushed Hermione off in his shock. It was then that Harry decided he needed to get the girls' help to figure what the mirror was. He feared that if he went back alone he could become lost in the possibilities, what else could the mirror show him? He returned to the common room and dressed for the day then took his seat in front of the fire and waited for Hermione to enter.
For her part Hermione was slightly confused and worried, what pushed Harry into such a state? She had sent a letter to Daphne the night before to see if something had happened but hadn't got a reply yet. She was going to try and catch him early that morning but had slept in after the long day and the night of worry. She went through her own morning routine, trying to refresh herself for the day and tidy herself up before seeing Harry and finding out the problem.
She passed down the stairwell and went to the couches by the fire, unsurprised Harry was already there.
"Morning Harry, what happened last night?" she asked, straight to the heart of the matter.
Harry looked down to his lap slightly ashamed of his actions the night before, "sorry 'bout that Mione, I found something last night that had me somewhat upset, can we talk about this later? I don't want to repeat myself, it maybe important"
They passed down to the great hall where they arrange to meet in the Guardian's room after classes that evening. Hermione spent the rest of the day on tender hooks wondering what could be so important and cause that much worry.
The day passed slowly for all involved Harry fretting on how to tell the girls, the girls worrying on what was to be said. The girls arrived in the guardian's room to find Harry sitting cross legged staring unseeingly into the fire, they each took a seat after a significant look at each other. They all sat in silence waiting for Harry to start, the girls slowly losing patience.
Finally, without moving from his spot "what would you do if you found everything you could ever want? What would you say if you knew it wasn't possible but you still held hope just by seeing the possibility?" he asked, barely above a whisper.
The girls sat pondering the question.
"I found a mirror," he continued "that shows just that I think." Harry paused "maybe found is the wrong word, I think it's more that I was meant to find it. I would like you to look at the mirror and tell me what you see."
Daphne looked at him carefully "there's more to it than that, isn't there?"
The question caused Harry to finally look up, green eyes shining out from behind a midnight back hair "yes Daph, there is more but we can worry about that later I think."
The trio slowly moved out of the guardian's room and began the trek to the unused classroom. Harry stopped for a moment thinking "I'm gonna have to change to find the room I can't remember where it is, I think it's a spell on the room."
"How will new clothes help?" Hermione asked slightly dumbfounded.
Harry smiled in reply "I'll remember the scent" with that Harry transformed into his midnight black Jaguar from. Harry stood at just over three feet high and a hundred kilos of pure muscle he cut an intimidating figure. His stature, combined with heightened senses he could find and kill any prey he wanted, that is if he was a pure predator. With his human mind and temperament he could process the environment and what he planned to achieve. He took a deep breath trying to find the old musty smell with fresh human male traces and the metallic, glassy tinges from the mirror. In the rush of changing and setting his mind to the task at hand Harry didn't notice the slightly fearful glances from the two girls.
Harry set off down the corridor naturally falling into the shadows nearly disappearing from view. The girls waited before Harry stopped, turned and purred back at the girls, reassuring the girls he was in complete control of his faculties. The three set off, Hermione and Daphne trotting to keep up with Harry's four legged strides. The trio made good time pausing briefly with Filch a corridor over. Arriving outside the room Harry returned to normal and turned to the girls, "here we are, unless the mirror has been moved it should still be here, it didn't smell like it had moved but you never know with magic."
Harry turned around and opened the door entering. Standing there, pride and place in the room was the magnificent mirror. Moving slightly in front of the mirror Harry saw a similar reflection as the night before, Harry, a woman and his child, but this time in the background was his parents and what looked like his grand parents on both sides, further confirming his thoughts on the mirror.
The girls followed Harry to the mirror standing beside him. "I don't see anything," observed Hermione, slightly surprised.
"You probably have to stand directly in front of the mirror Mione, I can see something myself now similar to last night but different all the same" replied Harry.
The pair changed positions, allowing Hermione to view the mirror. "So what do you see?" asked Harry.
"Myself, only I'm older, it looks like graduation, I'm receiving highest honours in the school, and I'm head girl! I've got the badge!" She replied
Harry nodded "Daph your turn."
Daphne took Hermione's place in front of the mirror. Took a breath and looked into the mirror. A slow smile graced her face causing Harry to smile as well.
"So? What do you see Daph?" Harry asked.
"I'm dressed in a power robe with my parents," she paused "their smiling, their proud of me and showing it. They never show it" she mused before she blinked returning from her moment "did anyone else notice the inscription?"
Harry looked to the mirror, finally reading the inscription across the top, "no" he whispered under his breath.
"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi, what language is that?" asked Hermione.
Harry and Daphne chewed over the passage.
"Let's go back to the guardian's room, we'll think better in some comfort" suggested Harry, the confusion showing in his face.
The trio made their way back to the room in silence each pondering the passage's meaning. Few answers to be found on the short walk they arrived in front of the Dragon guardian statue and entered after giving the password, they were all quiet until Daphne muttered "It's English," to herself.
"What's that Daph?" asked Harry.
"The inscription, its in English, backwards" she replied "I show not your face but your heart's desire."
"Well I'll be damned" Harry whispered.
"As intriguing as that is I doubt that is what had you worried Harry" observed Hermione.
"No, I was worried about the pull the mirror had Mione. Its as though the mirror compels you to return and not to leave and it does that by answering to your heart, first time I saw I had a future, the second time I had a future and my family, it changes the desire it shows becoming greater."
"So when it showed my parents openly proud of me this time, next time I see it, it could be my parents proud of me being head healer at St Mungo's, while Mione saw herself graduating as Head Girl and top of the year, next time she could be Minister of Magic" offered Daphne.
"Exactly and each time you leave it's harder and your more compelled to return. It's a rather sadistic bit of magic and I wonder why it would be in a school full of inquisitive teenage magicians?"
"What do we do about it? I mean were only first year students" queried Hermione.
"I'm going to go back one more time and either seal the room as best I can or see if whoever left it there is going to return" Harry replied while thinking 'I'd like to see what it shows next as well' falling directly into the trap of the mirror, the same tape he was worried about to start with.
"Anyway, enough of the depressing thoughts" Harry said changing the subject did you like the necklaces I got you?"
Hermione frowned slightly "mine was very beautiful but it looked so expensive, my book hardly compares" Daphne nodded her agreement in the background.
"No, not at all, I loved your book Mione, and your notebook Daph. This gift is just as much a gift to me as it is to you, there's an enchantment we can put on them to allow us to communicate and allow us to tell if everyone is safe, its good for my piece of mind" Harry replied justifying the gifts. "Besides they had to be pure metals and gems so the magic could act properly"
While Daphne accepted the explanation easily and gracefully, being raised in a pureblood family (the closest to thing to nobility in the wizarding world) she was used to being given expensive gifts to court the family and the expense was less impressive to those in the socialite circuits. Hermione, however, was less inclined to accept the reasoning. She wasn't used to the extravagance associated with pure blooded families. What was strange about the whole episode was that Harry thought he was getting the better end of the deal. He truly believed that the gift was more about the spells than the jewellery, and the spells they could do together.
After a moments thought Hermione capitulated, she knew the gift was beautiful and she loved it. What she couldn't accept, until talking to Harry, was the expense. The necklace was something that her mother kept locked safely away at the bank, only to bring it out on special occasions.
"I still don't like it. You shouldn't be spending so much money, but since you won't back down, when can we do the enchantments?" she said with a smile.
The three students made their way back to the common rooms that night and slept we'll, know longer worried about the mirror knowing that something would be done about it. The day's classes went quietly going through the motions of wand movements, theories and potion ingredients. That evening Harry crept out of the common room, Hermione stayed back to complete some homework. She wasn't too concerned about not going, Harry was just going check if the mirror was still there and to lock the door if it was.
He transformed into his jaguar form and made his way to mirror's room. He crept inside and stood before the mirror. This time only a single man was present in the mirror. His long hair and beard was showed his age but his back was not yet bowed by time. In his right had was a staff, it held striking similarities to Harry's own staff, excepting some small things. The staff was longer, six feet compared with the five of Harry's, and it held an emerald surrounded by rubies rather than a ruby surrounded by emeralds. It was then, after noticing the differences, the figure gave Harry a slight nod and drew a shrunken trunk from his. On enlarging the trunk he noted it was a barely competed trunk, his trunk, meaning this was the founder of his line, Merlin.
"I see you, like so many before you have discovered the joys of the Mirror of Erised" came a voice from behind him braking Harry from his epiphany.
Harry spun the shock showing on his face. He stared the professor in the emotion draining from his eyes.
"Hello Professor Dumbledore, fancy seeing you here."
"Do you know what the mirror shows?" Dumbledore enquired.
Harry smiled "'I show not your face but your heart's desire', what is really interesting professor is the pull the mirror has on a person's heart, dragging them back time after time."
"Yes Harry, people have wasted away before the mirror, not sure if what the see is real or even possible."
"The drag on your heart…" he paused shaking his head slightly "you know it's there and you know you've got to be careful about it, yeah. I only came back here to lock the room make sure that no other students could be caught by the mirror's pull."
"May I ask why you didn't come to a teacher with this knowledge?" the professor enquired.
"I figured that the mirror was here the teacher's knew about it, I had only just been put there."
The professor nodded seeing his point "fair enough Harry. The mirror will be moved tonight and I must ask you not to search the mirror out." When Harry agreed the professor stood. "Before I go Harry I have something your father left me before his death, he would commonly use it to go the kitchen for midnight snacks, hopefully that is the worst you get up to with it" Dumbledore added with a smile causing Harry to laugh himself.
As the professor turned to leave Harry asked "What do you see in the mirror yourself professor?" a very personal question Harry knew, but he was curious.
"Most days I see myself, a new pair of socks in my hand, another year has passed and everyone insists on giving me books. One can never have too many warm socks, can one" he said with a smile.
"And the rest of the time, Professor?"
The smile on the old wizard's face his age showing more than normal "it would be a relief, Harry, for me to sit back and run this school in peace only seen as 'Headmaster Dumbledore'," he said becoming introspective "I doubt that will happen for a long time, only when someone else steps forward to take the mantel of 'leader of the light' willingly can that happen, they've also got to have the respect of the community. Until then I will bear my burden as best I can and wait for the day I can retire. As much as I want too, I have a responsibility to people who believe in me before I can have the quiet life I dream for."
"There's a lesson there isn't there, professor?" Harry asked.
"One must always remember where you came from and who put you there. Always remember, Harry, the world is a cynical and fearful place and people don't always appreciate change or progress. Good evening Harry"
"Good evening headmaster" Harry replied as the wise old wizard left.
The following days Harry was thrust into Quidditch training as Wood's fever for the sport and the Quidditch Cup. Late into the night Harry could be found trudging back to Gryffindor common room cold and wet. The training had the secondary effect of helping Harry to avoid 'making sure the mirror was safe'. He had no clue where the mirror was but his gut told him it was still in the castle. He still hadn't worked out if it was a good thing or not, but where else could be safe? Gringotts definitely, but evidently the headmaster didn't trust the bank or he had and ulterior motive for moving 'The Stone', 'I really should find out what the stone was' he would muse occasionally, never quite doing anything about it.
It was late, practice had just finished. Harry walked back to the equipment shed, dropping his pads and changing out of his Quidditch strip. Leaving the shed, broom slung over his shoulder Harry started his trek back to the common room, only to stop after seeing a figure crossing the lawn from the entrance hall. While not strange in itself, the fact it was past curfew, there were no students about and the person was a teacher.
While wandering around the school wasn't unusual for a teacher. The problem was this teacher wasn't walking. The figure ran across the lawn searching for something making sure no one was following him. This meant that he should be followed, more often than not if someone doesn't want to be seen it's cause what their doing isn't all above board.
Harry slipped back onto his broom and took off rising very high into the air becoming a black spec in night sky. Harry followed the figure as it raced toward the forbidden forest. As Harry's prey disappeared into the trees he dove towards the ground and disappeared into the top of the trees hunting the errant person. Harry stepped off his broom onto the nearest branch he carefully shrunk his broom, paced it into his pocket before transforming into his phoenix form, his sharp hearing of the helping him locate the professor, but he also heard another person, a stuttering timid voice, Professor Quirrell. Harry took off gliding silently towards the voices to far away to tell what was being said but easy enough to follow.
As he drew closer he could see who he was following. They stood in a small clearing facing each other down.
"So Quirinus, have you made your decision?" came the easily recognised tones from Harry's most hated Professor.
"I d-d-don't know wh-wh-what your talking about S-S-Severus" was the stuttering reply thus answering the question of who was stalking the Forbidden Forest. Professors Snape and Quirrell knew something and it was important enough to keep secret, but what?
"I am not one to displease Quirinus, now what bit of magic did you use to secure the stone. Tell me now and I will make it worth your while, don't…well lets just say my reputation is deserved" the oily professor sneered, a small smile gracing the corner of his mouth.
Quirrell opened his mouth to reply only to be silenced with a wave of Snape's wand. "Someone is listening. We shall continue this conversation later, when you've had time to…consider your options" the decidedly sinister look in Snape's eyes was enough to chill the most hardened of souls. With that he turned and left leaving a stuttering wreck of a professor to fend for himself.
It was also Harry's queue to leave. He spread his wings and propelled himself into the black Scotland night retreating to his dorm room leaving a number of questions to ponder.
The next morning Harry rose early and progressed through his katas all the while clearing his mind and meditating on the problem that was the elusive "Stone". Harry drew to a close of his regular exercises and moved on to the new kata he had planned. The simple routine of kicks and punched was made more difficult by the addition of magical releases. Harry would release bursts of sorcerer's magic with each of his strikes increasing the physical exertion and improving his magical control.
Harry returned to his dorm for a shower and to talk to Hermione about a problem he was facing. Harry dressed and returned to the common room to await the evitable confrontation.
Hermione walked down the stairs early, as was her custom, just beating all the other girls in Gryffindor and beating the boys, most of whom where probably still asleep.
"Morning Harry" she announced cheerfully sitting beside her fellow Gryffindor.
"Morning Mione," Harry replied without turning "Mione, I've got a problem. It's a bit personal but it might affect you, I'm not sure" he said babbling some while finally turning to face his friend.
A confused look passed Hermione's face "what is it Harry? Is it bad?"
"It could be, I suppose, I hope not though. There's this girl I like, I want to ask her out, but I don't want to upset anyone too much. I wonder if its worth the effort" he added with a rye smile.
"It can't be that bad, can it? If you don't like each other you just break up and continue with your lives. So, who is it?" she asked with a smile.
"Hmmm, that's the problem, isn't it" Harry muttered before saying "it's Daphne."
The stunned silence confirmed Harry's fears, only to confuse him but the happy smile forming on the older witches face.
"Well
I'm sure she will be happy and can finally move on to more
important things, like finding someone for me. Can't be the odd one
out now, can I?" She replied with a smile.
"You're not
upset? I was worried you might not want the group tinkered with like
that" he replied looking into the fire before snapping his head
round to examine his friend. "What do you mean 'you sure she'll
be happy'?"
"You'll have to ask her now wont you. Now let's get down to breakfast." She said standing to leave the room "you coming?"
Harry rose smartly, jogging to catch up with the witch. "hey there's something else we need to talk about but that can wait till later. Besides which we need to plan our next prank, don't want to upset the guardian now, do we, Mione?"
Hermione pursed her lips "No, we don't, all the resources in that room would help us with our studies. I have, however, been thinking and I have an idea."
The three friends made their way to the Guardian's room, soon after finishing their study session in the library with a group of other first years. Their homework finished Harry decided it was time to address the issue of 'The Stone'.
"Have either of you heard about the break in at Gringotts just after school started?" Harry asked.
Hermione thought while Daphne replied "yeah that was in the Prophet, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, but there's more to it than that. The vault that was robbed was cleared out earlier that day. The only thing that was removed was a Stone. I think it was brought here. I don't know why the only reason it could be was Dumbledore's presence, meaning he's probably the reason I was removed. Personally I think we need to know as much as we can find out. Something's going on and no knowing could be dangerous. Snape is trying to find out what is protecting the stone and Quirrell knows what one of the protections is."
"I think the first thing we need to know what is being protected what 'stone' is being protected?"
"I remember, my parents saying that Dumbledore used to work as an Alchemist with Nicholas Flamel, maybe it's got something to do with the Philosopher's Stone. That would be the only Stone worth trying to improve any security over Gringotts" offered Daphne.
"Makes sense, eternal life and the gold to pay for it. But why would the teachers be involved in the security?" Hermione agreed.
Harry thought for a moment "the teachers at this school are some of the most powerful and skilled in a single place, Mione their respective skills are recognised world over, it's not surprising. And the Philosopher's Stone is the most logical. I also think we know where it is, remember the Cerberus on the third floor corridor?"
The implications were extensive but it still left to many questions. "I think we need to speak with someone who knows animals, the gamekeeper, Hagrid, knows a lot about animals, both magical and muggle, plus rumour has it he has an affinity for the more exotic and dangerous animals."
"Your right, Harry" Daphne agreed "we should probably try and have a chat with him at some stage. He's not the sharpest tool in the box unless the conversation is about animals, especially the dangerous ones."
"Then it's settled, after the next Quidditch match we go and have a chat with the friendly school gamekeeper. I'm off to bed I'll see you guys later" she said giving a wink back to her friends, neither knew who the wink was directed to but it didn't really matter.
Hermione left the room causing an uncomfortable, nervous silence to fall over the pair.
"Harry…" "Daph…" they both started a once, causing both to start laughing.
Harry looks across with a smile before gesturing Daphne to go first "Harry" she began "I wanted to know how you felt about relationships. I was talking to Mione earlier and she was hinting that you wanted to talk about our situation"
A disappointed look fell across Harry's face, resulting in some fear crossing Daphne's.
"Your not interested in any relationship are you?" he questioned face dropping further.
"Harry…" Daphne began before being cut off.
"It's okay, Daph really" he tried to reassure her "I never really thought you would be interested. But now that's sorted out I spouse you want to get some sleep, good night" he said somewhat dejected before rising and trying to leave quickly.
Daphne was shock. Here was the boy she wanted to out with admitting he wanted something more but dismissing his feelings in the same sentence. "Harry stop!" she cried to the retreating back of her friend, causing him to stop. "Mione never told me what you talked to her about. She knew I liked you and said I should have a chat with you about relationships. Harry please don't go."
Harry was stumped "Did you say you liked me?"
"Yes" Daphne sighed in relief, Harry wasn't leaving yet.
"As in more than a friend?"
"Yes" she sighed again.
Harry turned "this isn't a prank you two cooked up?"
"No"
"Oh, that's good" Harry replied somewhat stunned before snapping back to reality "well seeing as you like me and I like you," he continued his mind slowly catching with the reality while Daphne was nodding "Daph, would you like to be my girlfriend?"
Daphne nodded "yes Harry, I would like to be girlfriend." Daphne stood and walked over and took Harry's hand "now with that settled could you walk me back to my room?" she asked rhetorically leading the dumbfounded boy out of Guardian's room.
The walk back to the Ravenclaw common room was rather quiet. The only sounds were those of leather shoes against hard stone floors. The two faces were contrasts in emotion, Daphne's possessed as satisfied smile after successfully getting herself a boyfriend.
Harry's face on the other hand was somewhat blank, resembling a stunned mullet more than a young wizard. Although he had being away from the Dursley home for five years the legacy of neglect at his blood relative's hands still remained. During the most impressionable years of his life Harry was neglected and unloved and the second half of his life was in isolation, company only from house elves whose understanding of human emotions was limited to whether their master was hungry or not and whether their environment was clean and tidy.
I short order the new couple made it to the Ravenclaw common room "Thank you Harry, I'll see you in the morning" Daphne said before standing on her tip toes and kissing Harry on the cheek.
That action finally brought a contented smile to Harry's face "Good night Daph" Harry replied seeing the young eagle turn and head to bed.
