The Mirror of Possibilities

Chapter nine

"The Godfather"

The first day was the hardest. Admitting that, as strange as it may be, he was in an alternative universe made him think of the future. What next? Harry decided while lying down staring at the old dirty ceiling in the bedroom that he woke up in that he would start looking for a way back home. It was the only way he could deal with this new, unheard of situation. It was the only thing he could think about to do next. He had to research a way back home.

As a consequence, Sirius found Harry sequestered in the Black library with books scattered around him in messy piles that first day. It was the start of Harry's stay in this new strange world. But it seemed Sirius didn't agree with the research decision Harry had come to.

It started with Sirius attempting to form a connection with his godson, but ended with a harsh "not interested" and Harry ignoring him and any farther attempts at conversation. He went back to reading in the library where he stayed till late at night regrouping and researching. After all research meant research, it did not mean that he should or had to get to know the people here.

The second day was a new day, with anew plan apparently. Sirius decided not to be interested either and left him be with a glare and an indifferent facade when Harry got his morning coffee. Trying to guilt him into talking to him, Harry was sure. But strangely enough, he didn't care much. Harry returned the indifference without difficulty. After all, Sirius kept his distance and it was easy to win when you didn't have to face the challenge of a glare during the long day.

The next few days passed the same as the second. It started with a morning glare from Sirius, and continued with both of them ignoring the tension whenever they met during the day. But a new development occurred, Sirius started sitting around in the library with him, each time with a different book, not talking, just being around. Absolutely annoying. But as far as Harry was concerned, that was a big difference!

Before he knew it a week had passed. A week where he and the Black library got to know each other more and more each day. If it wasn't for the situation he was in, Harry would say that Hermione would've been proud of how dedicated he was to his studying.

The end of the first week brought another change in the now usual routine between him and Sirius. Sirius gave up on his glare and the entire patiently annoying plan, and was now into "being close to your target and poking at him will wear him down" strategy.

The day started with the usual silence that Harry had gotten used to this whole week. No one but he and Sirius lived in the house, and it seemed to have become a deserted land as no one visited them during the whole week. Of course with both of them not talking, it meant that the house was as quiet as a grave.

Harry was sitting behind the antique wood desk in the Black library with a cup of hot coffee and books around him as was his habit while he continued his research. Sirius sat across from him, lounging in a comfortable chair that he had conjured from a rickety worn wood seat, supposedly reading a defense book. Harry knew better than that though, Sirius probably had a Quidditch magazine hidden behind it. The book was for Harry's benefit, to show him that Sirius could also sit for hours and study. It was a game of upmanship.

Sitting together in silence, each concentrating on his book was the usual routine for them, but today Sirius seemed more interested in looking at Harry and his books, he even approached him several times, taking a look at some of his books and notes. Harry continued to ignore him. After all, he was good at that; he had years of ignoring active taunting from the Slytherins, and Sirius had nothing on them. Of course none of them was his dead godfather, but still.

Letting out a deep sigh, he blinked and turned the page on the book he was reading today, a book on magical theory, after all if he had traveled to an alternative world it would make sense that such magic would be mentioned as a possibility, maybe even researched a little. It should. But he found nothing to suggest it had been done! And it'd been a week.

The book he had kept after Albus left was helpful but it only gave the basics, hardly enough to help him understand the process of how the mirror was created. Also the writer managed to forget to explain how he made it back to his own world, Universe or whatever you want to call it. You'd think that any reasonable person would think that was important enough to mention.

He had researched, read, and wrote. Now he was leafing through his notes and he felt like it had all been for nothing. He'd gotten nowhere, and it didn't help that he wasn't getting much help from Albus. Other than one brief firecall where Albus had asked after his health and if he had made progress in his research, the esteemed headmaster hadn't shown himself again. Ofcourse his suggestion that Harry should take the time to look around and talk to the people around him only annoyed him further. The only person around him was Sirius.

Did the memory Albus see the reason for that? Was Sirius here to get close to him, to get information from him, or was he getting as paranoid as Ron had accused him of becoming.

Anyhow, even if there was no ulterior motive, he knew enough about his own godfather and had no need for any childlike fantasy of a reunion. And as childish as it may sound, even in his own head, he didn't want to get to know these people or his godfather. They weren't real! Not real in his mind or for his feelings. You can't replace what you knew and lost, it didn't work that way! Life doesn't work that way. Every grown up knew that, and if anything, he was a grown up.

Being in the same room and being watched was disturbing, but he knew how to play this game. Sirius wanted him to talk to him and he wanted to ignore him, well then, thought Harry sarcastically, let the tension filled silence begin! If he thinks I'll break first then let him, He snorted, then checked himself, he wasn't supposed to give Sirius an opening to ask questions and any sound might give Sirius the opening to do so.

"Anything interesting that I should know about?"

Damn. Sirius took the snort as an opening to start talking, Harry thought with an annoyed twist of his mouth, too arrogant that's your problem, Potter.

Harry looked up and gave Sirius one of his trademark blank faced expressions with a raised eyebrow before turning quietly back to his book. This look had become something of a challenge to Sirius. After all, when every one of his occasional questions were ignored with only that look as acknowledgment, Sirius had decided it was time to become as annoying as possible. It started with him hanging around in the library and making sounds while reading like he actually read something of interest, probably just wanting to see Harry start whenever Sirius made a sound. That was another grievance that Harry had; the starts weren't going away. Whenever he got too deep into his reading and studying Sirius would make one of his "hmms" or laugh or even just clear his throat and Harry would jump like someone had physically poked him. It was as absolutely annoying as only Sirius knew how to be. It was also annoying on another private level, for he could admit to himself that he wouldn't be so on edge if it was any one else here with him in the library. Or even in the house.

Still, a week had passed and nothing changed. Harry still managed not to give much reaction. But today, Sirius wasn't giving up as easily as before, not with just one look. So after receiving the blank face from Harry, he continued casually talking like they talked all the time.

"So do you know what day it is today?"

So today was the day for another change in the let's annoy Harry plan. Great!

"No. Do you know what day it is today?" was his sarcastic reply.

The reply he got was unusually chipper. "It's Monday."

Okay! He was missing something. Sirius was playing it secretive and it wasn't like him; he was as blunt as blunt can be.

Not raising his head from the book he was reading Harry replied with a bland "nice for you". Maybe that'll end this ridiculous conversation.

"You're not gonna ask why I think this Monday is important?" Was the casual though, Harry detected, gleeful reply.

"Do you want me to ask?" Let's see how long he'll suffer my indifferent replies was Harry's amused thought. And it was amused because as much as he wanted to ignore the resemblance, this Sirius had some of his godfather's most endearing traits. Being annoying wasn't one of them, but thinking that he was playing it secretive was. So as much as Harry knew he should just ignore him and stop replying, he found himself playing along. What harm would it do?

"No, I mean yes." Sirius frowned thoughtfully, then with a shake of his head he grinned and sing songed. "It's the thirty first of July, Monday"

Harry froze. Oh hell! His head had gotten so messed up with the last week's events that he forgot his own birthday. He was nineteen years old!

Thinking Harry was not replying because he was in too much shock that he remembered his birthday, Sirius grinned, jumped up from his chair and walked, with what was supposed be a casual walk, to approach Harry with a triumphant smile. "Not to worry I didn't forget your birthday." Then he added with a mock frown, "Even though you've been so unpleasant to me this week, but I forgive you. Albus said you were probably too weirded out from being here and all."

With that little speech he looked at Harry expectantly, like he expected an apology Harry thought feeling numb. Then anger came to his rescue. So Albus gave excuses for his behavior to Sirius. This meant he was right, Albus wanted Sirius to get closer to him, probably for good intentions as well as self serving ones. To give me a familiar face, a face that Albus thought Harry would know and care about from his own world. But on the other hand, it wouldn't be too bad for Albus and the order to know more about their "intruder" and his world.

Albus was too curious for his own good. Like recognizes like, Harry thought heavily. He couldn't get too angry at the old Headmaster; he had too many fond memories of him and his interferences to look at them like they were meant simply as intrusions on his privacy.

Harry had stayed quiet too long for Sirius. When Harry looked up he was met with a grin. "Of course we weren't so sure what to do about your special day," Sirius chuckled with glee ignoring Harry's silence after his last statement. "So after consulting Albus, it was decided to do a little dinner gathering where everyone can meet you. Officially that is." With that he waited expectantly for a reply or a reaction which didn't take long in coming.

"No."

Blinking at the rather abrupt reply,Sirius watched the boy he had come to know as cold and stubborn,flush with anger before he bent down back to his book trying to hidehis reaction to the news.

"No? No what?" Was Sirius's rather confused reply.

"No. No I am not interested in meeting any more of you people." It was time for him to make himself clear, Harry decided, so Sirius wouldn't go on thinking that he was this scared young man who needed his hand held. And he definitely didn't want him to think that Harry had any intention to get to know everyone and become a part of this place.

"Why not?" Sirius asked, sounding annoyed.

"Because, believe it or not, I have no intention of staying here long enough to get to know any more of you pleasant people. Meeting you and James has been more than enough. I am not part of this place nor do I have any intention of becoming part of it or of anyone's life. That said I should add something that apparently you have missed this whole week."Taking a deep breath and looking Sirius in the eyes Harry said slowly. "I am not 'weirded out' nor am I feeling lonely. I do not need company while I research. And no, as hard as it is to believe, I do not want to get to know you." Raising one eyebrow he watched Sirius's face darken with anger at every word, before adding, "Now is that understood or do I need to clarify it more?"

After a minute of silence where both of them stared at each other, Harry with his impassive face and Sirius with his face turned red with anger and frustration, Sirius said with a slow precise emphasize on his every word. "Tonight we're having a birthday gathering. You are invited."

When all the reaction he got was another raised eyebrow, Sirius exploded. "Whether you believe it or not, a lot of people want to meet you. The poor people that they are think of you as someone who might need help, a familiar face or a friendly word. Merlin knows I told Albus about you being a stubborn bastard, but it's out of my hands. If you want to come down for the gathering that some very nice people arranged and worked on you're welcome to. If not, then stay here alone with only books to keep you company for all I care."

"If you're done?" Harry said with not one emotion showing on his face, and turned back to his book not waiting for a reply, ignoring the seething man breathing heavily over his head.

With an inarticulate sound close to a low, frustrated scream, Sirius turned and left with a slamming of the library door.

Letting out a breath Harry wasn't aware that he was holding, he threw the book aside, and let his head drop into his hands. Damn it, was he wrong in distancing himself from everyone here? He didn't want to get to know them. It wasn't that he was being cold, as Sirius called him, it was basic self preservation. Why meet these people who he didn't need in his life, but he still might get attached to them now that they were there. It was a heartache that he didn't need. He lost enough family and people he cared about during the war, why would he put himself in a situation where the end was clear! He would be going back home, there was no question about that, but what of the people he started to care for here? They'd be worse than dead after he went back. There wouldn't even be a grave to visit.

A brother. Merlin! What would he do with him? Josh. With a snort Harry shook his head, was he being a coward? A coward who hid behind excuses of "I'm going lose them anyway so it's better not to care?" Or an excuse of "I don't need replacements anyway?" It was self preservation at its best. Was he becoming a Slytherin? That was the last horrific thought Harry had before he was interrupted again by a knock on the library door. It opened to show Albus smiling gently at him.

"Albus!" Harry abruptly exclaimed before he got a hold of himself. After all of that self exploring he just had, he needed to go back to his calm place, mentally speaking.

Albus smiled at him and nodded before closing the door behind him. With a "Harry" he walked toward him, conjured a comfy chair, and sat opposite him.

Harry waited, and watched Albus look at him with the smile he entered with that hadn't faded since. Clearing his throat, he asked the still quiet headmaster. "It ake it you had some progress with you own research, Headmaster, and that's why you're here?"

Albus's smile faded slowly, and he looked at Harry like he was examining an alien. Harry frowned back at him impatiently when the silence continued.

"Well? Did you?" He asked again impatiently. His cold mask had exploded to hell and back. He couldn't calm himself enough to reform his face back to its usual cold mask after his introspection. He was too upset. Damn.

The only reaction he got was Albus getting his soft smile back before saying "Why are you so upset?"

"I'm in an alternative universe, why the hell wouldn't I be upset?" Was his sarcastic reply.

"Indeed. But Sirius said you've been cold and unresponsive this whole week. I saw that when we last spoke. But now you seem upset, my boy. What has happened?"

Harry looked back at the calm, patient headmaster, and thought what had really happened? Was he this upset about being half Slytherin? Hardly, he had known that he was one for some time now. No, it was the fact that for the second time this week his safe bubble was about to explode. First by arriving to this place and now by this gathering where he had to face the fact that a week had passed and no progress had been made. A fear that maybe he wouldn't be going back, wouldn't be able to find a way back to Ginny, to his friends, his family, hell even to his job. It was home. He felt like everyone here wanted to get to know him because after a week nothing was certain, especially not him going back.

Harry's head dropped back into his hands. He could feel his hands shaking. He was dealing with a piece of reality he had stubbornly refused to face this whole week. Harry had acted like he was in limbo, a place he didn't need to get to know because he wouldn't be there long.

"Will I be going back home?" The confused, upset question was out of his mouth before his thoughts got arranged enough for him to consciously think about the question.

Hearing a sigh he looked up to see Albus looking at his hands, he was examining them like they were the most interesting thing there was in the room.

"Will I?" It was a fierce demand now.

"My boy …"

With a fierce shake of his head Harry set his angry eyes at Albus who was now meeting his eyes with a sad look. "No! A clear answer for once in your life Albus! Yes or no? Will we be able to find a way home?"

Looking at Harry closely now, Albus nodded slowly before speaking again. "Clear answer it is then. I do not know. I have looked through all of the books in my possession, but as of now, I have found no way to duplicate what has happened". With a tired sigh he added looking in to the stricken eyes looking back at him. "The mirror was the way you came to be here, but we have it no more. It was broken beyond repair. Even with magic it cannot be brought back to its former power. And by power, I mean the power to be a path between our world and other universes."

Albus rubbed his eyes tiredly and looked at Harry who was staring fixedly at the wall behind Albus, nothing showing on his face.

"So that's it? You're saying there is no other way to go back home?" Was Harry's stilted question.

"No, I'm saying we don't have the way back to your world, but your family might have a way to bring you back to them, if, and that's a very big if my boy, they find the mirror's counterpart in your world. Other than that, we will keep looking for additional ways back to your world other than the mirror"

Harry nodded, then shook his head to stop himself from nodding like a robot. He was in shock. His body felt cold and he couldn't manage to control his movements. They felt jerky. How in hell will his "family" as Albus called them find the mirror! They didn't even know he was in an alternative universe much less that the mirror was the way he got to be here.

"Ok," was his only reply. He couldn't handle a more complicated answer till he understood the implications of this conversation. But Albus seemed to understand as he sat opposite him with a sympathetic look.

After another period of silence, Albus broke it this time "will you be joining us this evening, my boy?"

He looked up at Albus, his head such a mush of questions and thoughts that he didn't understand what Albus meant. It took him a minute to get a hold of his thoughts. "My birthday gathering." Then he grimaced remembering the way he reacted to that gathering and with a sigh said, "I don't feel up to seeing people this evening Albus."

"I believe it would only do you good, Harry, to see some people from this place." When he got no reaction he added softly. "It's only a little gathering, and most of them are people you'll probably know from back home. They haven't been coming around because I asked them to give you some time to get used to the fact that you're here. They do need to come here from time to time though, and I thought it would be better to introduce you this way and not meet them randomly when you are by yourself."

Harry grimaced, because it was true. No one had come this whole week, and he hadn't appreciated that Albus might have had a hand in it. He had given him some time to come around to him being here, and not meet people who he knew, but weren't the same. Harry admitted that it might have freaked him out to see them during this week. He had still been in denial, but now he knew that whether he liked it or not, he was here and he had to make a place for himself until he went back. Yes, he knew what Albus had said, but he would find a way. His life had been one big impossibility after another, this will just have to be another one, and that's that.

Harry looked up from staring at the carpet, where his gaze had went while he was thinking things through, and said, "I'll come."

His reward was a big smile. "Great, great, my boy. I must admit I was afraid that I'd have to be the one to tell Molly that all her effort in making dinner will be for nothing as our guest of honor wouldn't be coming."

Harry smiled, but it turned into more of a grimace. Hey, he was trying at least.

Albus stood, and Harry mimicked him, walking with him to the library door. Albus looked at Harry questionably.

"I think I've had enough research. I'm going lie down for some time."

"You do look tired, Harry." Albus's replied quietly.

Harry looked back at him closely, and not for the first time he noticed how old Albus looked. Sure he was old, but his headmaster had always had his young spirit to make him look much younger. But this Albus just looked plain worn out, with more lines than Harry ever remembered his headmaster having. He replied honestly, "So do you, Albus. What happened to you?"

He hadn't meant to be offensive, he just reacted to what he saw, and he never held back with his headmaster so he didn't see a reason why he shouldn't be as honest with this one too. The only reaction he got was a slight tired smile and a murmur. "Life happened to me."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

The commotion woke Harry up from his restless sleep. It was like a horde was racing through the house, but what was more disturbing were the eyes watching him from the edge of the bed.

"Kreacher! Merlin! What is it?" Then he blinked slowly. Oh wait, this wasn't his house elf, it was an alternative one! That would explain why Kreacher looked like this, like an older version of his own house elf. Harry looked at the bloodshot eyes staring at him and couldn't help but feel sorry for him, he couldn't see the rest of the elf's body as it was hidden by the bed he was lying on, but he remembered how bad he looked.

"Mudblood master d...d..didn't leave!" Was the wail from a mouth still hidden from view.

Harry grimaced. Okay, so this was like the old Kreacher with all of his old vocabulary. He couldn't blame the poor house elf. He had gone through enough in his life to excuse his language and behavior. Maybe Harry could help him again. But that brought another memory of how he helped him, using the locket, did that mean the locket …

Before he could finish his train of thought someone knocked on his bedroom door, and a freckled face peered from around it. Ron.

Harry looked at his alternative best friend's freckled face that was becoming redder with each second that they stared at each other quietly. Harry decided to help him out as Ron looked too freaked out to say anything.

"Yes, Ron?" Was his quiet, gentle question, but Ron reacted like someone had shot him. He was startled so badly that he knocked his head into the wall beside the door. Harry grimaced in sympathy, that must have hurt, but a pop made him startle in turn too. It was only Kreacher who left while he was being ignored by both of them.

Clearing his throat Ron said hurriedly, "I didn't mean to wake you, but Mum told me to tell you everyone is here and you should be there for your own party."

Ron sounded like he was quoting word for word what his Molly would've said. His friend didn't usually talk like that.

"Right. I'll be right there. Thanks."

With a nod, Ron turned, about to leave, when Harry recalled something. "Wait." When Ron turned around, surprised that he was called back, Harry added, "Who is everyone?"

"What?" Was Ron's confused question.

"Who is downstairs?" Harry clarified.

"Oh," Ron was looking more and more flustered while talking to him. "Everyone." Then realizing that Harry might not know who everyone was, he explained. "My parents, brothers and Ginny. Uncle Gideon and Uncle Fabian, Sirius of course, and the Potters." with that he glanced up at Harry fast then continued "Tonks, Auror Shacklebolt, the Longbottoms, Professor McGonagall, and the Headmaster too." Finished, he looked up at Harry with an expectant face.

"Well! Not a lot of people you mean?" Was Harry's sarcastic reply, but his hands had a fine tremble which he hid by clutching his wand. It helped ground him. He had faced Voldemort with less fear, was his furious thought. This shouldn't make him so damn nervous. But the thought of some of the people downstairs gave him the chills. And a thought kept playing in his head, the same people but not the same. It was important that he remember that.

Ron grinned at that. "Yea, sorry about that mate. It was supposed to be less people. The headmaster said that my family should come cause you knew us back in your, well you know your other place." He finished awkwardly.

Only Ron could call being from an alternative universe "His other place" and make it sound like he was this crazy person who had just came back to his senses. Harry shook his head with a weary smile, "Don't worry about it". Then he added, "Your uncles are here too!" He knew he was trying to postpone the moment he had to go downstairs, he could admit it, but he didn't care. It was a weird situation and he had the right to feel out of place and worried.

"Yea, the whole family," Ron said. "You knew us back home right? They're twins, my mum's brothers. Fred and George's mentors." He said the last with a disgusted face.

"Oh, I thought they looked up to the marauders." Harry said with a slight smile, but all he got was a shrug. "Hell if I know mate, they have enough ideas and pranks without mentors or people to look up to. I don't know how well you know them, but trust me, don't take anything they give you to eat." Ron cautioned. Then with a thoughtful look he added, "Maybe you shouldn't shake their hands either. You know what, maybe you should just stay away from them till you get to know them better."

Harry grinned, then laughed, a burst of surprised amused sound. "Yea I know, thanks though, for the warning."

"No problem. Well I'll see you downstairs I guess." With a last look at Harry, he turned and closed the door behind him.

Harry fell back on the bed with a sigh and smiled, well some things didn't change at least. With that he rolled off the bed and went into the bathroom to wash his face and get ready to face the masses, he thought amused. Amused beat worried or scared any day, and he was a Gryffindor after all. Scared wasn't in his vocabulary.

Maybe if he kept telling him self that he'll believe it, eventually.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Author Note – I got this review that said its been a month and I should post my new chapter so here it is. I sent it the day after I got that review to my beta and she made sure to correct all my run in sentences and punctuation even though she's busy with more serious stuff, like writing essays and preparing for her tests. So a big thank you for her :)

I actually removed the gathering scene at the end, my chapters are just too long! Next chapter will be intense; I just need to finish writing the second part of it, after the gathering. So be patient.

Meanwhile please read and tell me what you think.

A big thank you to all the reviewers, I had the longest and best reviews ever this last chapter, I hope to get more. Reviews make my life go round :D