Dear Canis and Moony,
GOT INTO GRYFFINDOR! See – I told you I'd write. Classes are alright so far. Snape's not too bad, but sometimes he's vaguely alright and sometimes he has a go at me for no reason (no Canis, you can't hurt him). By the way, was a guy called Malfoy a Death Eater? Because there's a boy who boasts about being pureblood, calls muggleborns 'mudbloods' and is possibly the only boy in existence who I hate more than Dudley. And he's in Slytherin. Big surprise.
I've got flying lessons tomorrow. Should be fun.
Harry
Harry had been looking forward to learning to fly more than anything else and the fact that they would be learning with the Slytherins only dampened his mood slightly. Harry knew he wasn't a bad flyer, but he was determined to be better than Malfoy. Unfortunately, Malfoy seemed to have a lot more experience flying than he did, from what he was telling everyone. The only two people not looking forward to flying lessons were Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom, and they, whilst everybody else was eagerly discussing flying, were exchanging panicked tips on how to hang onto a broomstick whilst it was most definitely not attached to the floor.
Madam Hooch strode onto the pitch towards the First Years, reminding herself not to stare at Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived he may be, but he was also just another nervous First Year and he certainly didn't need the extra attention. She couldn't help grinning, however, when his broom jumped into his hands on his first try. He was a natural.
Minerva McGonagall was sitting in her office reading the latest edition of Transfiguration Today when she saw Harry Potter dive at least fifty feet and catch the ball inches from the ground, pulling his broom straight just in time. Her first thought was that Harry Potter was in serious trouble, and he would be lucky if he wasn't expelled. Her second thought, however, was that Gryffindor really needed a Seeker. McGonagall smiled as she started towards the pitch, she would need to talk to Albus of course, but she had no doubt he would agree. Albus was rather fond of the boy and it wasn't like, despite being Headmaster, he followed the rules strictly. McGonagall forced her strictest expression onto her face as she strode towards the pitch. It wouldn't do to let Potter know he had gotten off just yet.
"HARRY POTTER!"
Dear Canis and Moony,
Allow me to gloat just for a minute. You are talking (or writing or whatever) to the youngest house player in a century. I play Seeker.
What happened was Neville broke his wrist so Madam Hooch took him to the Hospital Wing, but Neville dropped his Remembrall which Malfoy nicked and decided to leave up a tree. So I went after him and caught the Remembrall after a fifty – foot dive. Right outside McGonagall's window. I thought I was going to be expelled, but McGonagall knows when to break the rules. I like her.
I need a broom though. Wood (Captain and Keeper) says a Nimbus Two Thousand or a Cleansweep Seven would be good. You were going to get me a broom for my birthday so is it alright if I have it early? Please?
Harry
Sirius stared at the piece of parchment, then read it through again, "Remus!" he yelled and Remus stumbled out of his room. It was the morning after full moon and, whilst it was better with Sirius there, it still felt like he had a bad hangover,
"Whu?" Sirius was bouncing around like a hyperactive puppy, which only made Remus' headache worse. Sirius waved the letter under Remus' nose and he grabbed it irritably. His expression changed from annoyance to disbelief.
"The jammy bastard," he murmured, then grinned, "so, are we going to get him a Nimbus or a Cleansweep?"
"A Nimbus," Sirius replied.
"Having a last meal Potter? When are you getting the train back?"
"You're a lot braver now you're back on the ground and you've got you're little friends with you," said Harry cooly, fighting the urge to burst out laughing. Malfoy had no idea what he had inadvertently done for Harry. The only down side for Harry was that he couldn't rub it in Malfoy's face since Wood had told him to keep his appointment a secret.
"I'd take you on any time on my own," Malfoy was saying. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only – no contact. Who's your second?" Harry glanced at Ron who nodded grimly,
"Ron," Harry replied, "who's yours?" Malfoy sized up Crabbe and Goyle,
"Crabbe," he said eventually, "midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room, that's always unlocked." He walked away, smirking.
Hermione, who had been sitting just a few seats away, chewed her bottom lip. She had just overheard the conversation between Harry, Ron and Malfoy and was now wrestling with her conscience but eventually she decided she had to do it. She had to stop Harry and Ron from breaking the rules.
"Excuse me," Harry and Ron looked up and saw her.
"Can't a person eat in peace in this place?" asked Ron sarcastically. Hermione ignored him and spoke to Harry. She was on a mission and she would not be distracted.
"I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying -"
"Bet you could," Ron muttered, again Hermione ignored him,
"-and you mustn't go wandering around the school at night, think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and your bound to be. It's really very selfish of you."
"And it's really none of your business," said Harry.
"Goodbye," said Ron. Hermione turned. If they weren't going to listen to her she would have to take drastic measures.
Drastic measures like following Harry and Ron out of the portrait of the Fat Lady. As she shivered down the dark corridors, convinced they were about to be caught at any second, Hermione had to admit that this was not one of her better ideas. Then came the three headed dog at which point Hermione decided that she was never going to break the rules again, even if it was for a good cause.
The next morning Harry woke with a start, one clear thought running through his head. He had forgotten the Invisibility Cloak. Harry couldn't believe how stupid he had been, but, he conceded, if he had remembered the Cloak he would never found out about the three headed dog and whatever mystery it was guarding. Next time he decided to do some nighttime wandering he would not forget the Cloak.
Draco Malfoy sat at Slytherin table, confident that Harry Potter would not be at Hogwarts much longer and boasting of it to his fellow Slytherins, so when Potter and Weasley arrived in the Great Hall looking tired but perfectly happy, Malfoy couldn't believe it. It seemed that Potter had once again wormed his way out of trouble.
Harry and Ron could talk of nothing but their brief adventure and the mysterious package that they were sure the dog was guarding, "It's either really valuable or really dangerous," said Ron.
"Or both," said Harry, then, in a low voice, he told Ron all about the Invisibility Cloak. Harry was determined to try out the Cloak as soon as possible.
As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a long thin package carried by six large screech owls. The owls dropped the parcel in front of Harry and yet another owl dropped a letter on top. Harry ripped open the letter first which said:
Our Brave Seeker!
Congratulations on breaking rules, not getting expelled and becoming Seeker. The giant package (as you might've guessed) is your new Nimbus Two Thousand. Probably best not to open it at the table.
James would've been so proud. He was the best Chaser Gryffindor ever had.
Canis and Moony
Another note said:
Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch pitch at seven o'clock for your first training session.
Professor M. McGonagall
Harry handed the notes to Ron as he grabbed the package, eager to open it before their first lesson but ran into Malfoy halfway up the stairs, "You'll be in for it this time Potter," he sneered,
"I don't know," replied Harry cheerfully, "I've survived so far haven't I, despite you trying to get me expelled. Maybe the teachers just like me, or maybe they just hate you," Malfoy went for his wand but Professor Flitwick appeared at his elbow.
"Not arguing I hope, boys?" he squeaked.
"Potter's been sent a broomstick Professor," said Malfoy quickly. Professor Flitwick beamed.
"Yes, yes. Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"
"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir," replied Harry, fighting the urge to laugh, "and it's really thanks to Malfoy that I've got it," he added, smirking at Malfoy.
Harry and Ron headed upstairs, smothering their laughter, "Did you see his face?" Ron crowed, "he couldn't believe it," Harry laughed,
"And it really is thanks to Malfoy that I've got it. If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be in the team ..."
"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" came an unmistakeable voice from behind them. Hermione was stomping up the stairs.
"Yes," replied Harry simply. Hermione marched away with her nose in the air as Harry and Ron laughed.
Oliver Wood walked onto the pitch, a large wooden crate under one arm, his mind on the mystery of the Boy Who Lived. He knew Potter had to be good, McGonagall didn't break the rules for anyone, but how good could an eleven year old with little previous experience be? His question was soon answered as he saw Harry Potter flying around the pitch with obvious natural skill.
"Hey, Potter, come down!" he yelled and Potter flew down with an instinctive grace few Quidditch players possessed. "Very nice. I see what McGonagall meant … you really are a natural," he grinned. Wood quickly went over the rules, he didn't doubt that Harry knew them, but it never hurt to make sure. Then came the part that Oliver Wood was sure he would remember for the rest of his life. They practiced with a few ordinary golf balls and Potter didn't miss a single one. Wood felt ecstatic. "That Cup will have our name on it this year," he told Harry happily as they trudged back to the castle.
Perhaps it was the euphoria of the Quidditch that made Harry think that that night should be the Invisibility Cloak's first outing. Perhaps it was the history of the Cloak that made Harry think that he should be alone on the Cloak's first outing. Whatever the reasons, that night Harry decided to explore the castle alone.
Harry found a mirror. An ornate, magnificent mirror that stood as high as the ceiling in what looked like a disused classroom, he stepped closer to it, then almost screamed. He had not only seen himself, which was impossible since he was still covered by the Cloak, but a whole crowd of people standing right behind him. Was the room full of invisible people? He stepped up to the mirror again and saw, to his surprise, two people he recognised – Sirius and Remus except they looked different. Sirius looked younger, happier. He looked like the man in the photo of his parent's wedding, the lines that Azkaban had given him were gone. Remus, too, looked younger and happier. The scars and the constant, ill, prematurely aged look were also gone. Instead there was a man looking tall and proud.
There was a woman standing right behind his reflection smiling and waving. She put her hand on his shoulder and Harry tried to convince himself he could feel it, but he knew the truth. She only existed in the mirror. She had dark red hair and her eyes, her eyes are just like mine, Harry thought as he edged closer to the glass, reaching out. Bright, piercing green, exactly the same shape, crying and smiling at the same time. A tall, thin, black haired man put his arm around her, comforting her, but he was crying the same happy tears. Harry was so close to the mirror that he felt like he could step into the reflection, but he didn't dare get any closer or it would break the illusion.
"Mum?" he whispered, "Dad?"
They just looked at him, smiling, but Harry didn't need their confirmation. He had seen a thousand pictures, but the recognition that they were his parents went much deeper than that. He didn't need a photo to recognise them. Harry looked at all the others in the mirror, all smiling and waving, he saw his eyes, his nose, his hair. Harry saw his family, his real family, not just the family of his blood as he saw Sirius and Remus there as well.
Harry didn't know how long he stayed there, staring hungrily back at them, dreaming of falling through the glass. He had a powerful kind of ache inside him, half joy, half terrible sadness. He looked and looked until the sun started to rise and he realised he needed to find his way back to bed. He tore his eyes away from his family, whispered, "I'll come back," and hurried from the room, resisting the urge to look back, knowing he would not leave if he did.
Harry wanted to tell Ron what he had seen, but realised he couldn't. He couldn't tell even Ron about Sirius and Remus and so Ron could not know about the mirror. Harry couldn't eat, he couldn't concentrate in lessons. All he could think about, all he could bring himself to care about, was the mirror and the thought that he would see his family again tonight.
"Are you all right?" asked Ron. "You look odd."
Harry didn't hear him.
Harry ran, making far more noise than was wise, but he was desperate to see the Mirror again, until, "So, back again Harry?" Harry's insides turned to ice as he recognised the calm voice of Albus Dumbledore.
"I – I didn't see you sir," Dumbledore smiled kindly and Harry relaxed slightly as he realised the Dumbledore didn't look angry,
"Strange how short – sighted being invisible can make you," he replied. "So, you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised. I expect you've realised by now what it does?" Harry was silent, thinking. What the mirror showed him was so completely impossible, but yet, so completely … seductive.
"It shows me what I want. What I want more than ..."
"What you want more than anything else in the world." Dumbledore finished softly. "The deepest and most desperate desire of your heart. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. People have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing of what it shows is real or even possible. Even the wisest of men and women have been seduced by it, you need not be ashamed. However, the Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you do run across it again, you will now be prepared. Remember, it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. Goodnight Harry."