Chapter 9: Mer Island
The storm continued around them for some time, but eventually, it finally passed and the sky was soon clear. Once the storm disappeared, the trio suddenly remembered something.
"So you were on a ship with other people?" Sirius asked once they told him what happened. "But they disappeared?"
"Yeah," Ron said at once. "There were at least twenty on board and when the storm came, we were told to go down below deck. But once it got really bad, we went up on deck to see what was going on. But when we got there we didn't see anyone."
"They couldn't have just disappeared," Hermione told him, anxiously. "Either they abandoned ship, or were washed off deck."
"All of them?" Harry asked.
"It was a big storm…" Hermione said slowly.
"I don't see how that's possible," Sirius said as the sun slowly poked it's head out from the clouds and warming the ship with its rays. "Sure, if it had just been one or two of them then sure, I'd believe they'd been washed away. But the whole crew in one storm?"
"How about they just abandoned us?" Hermione asked.
"No," Sirius said. "No real sailors would abandon their ship unless it was about to go down. That was a rough storm, and little lifeboats wouldn't have stood a chance. Even if the ship was sinking, it would've been safer to stay on board until they had to leave."
"But then what else could've happened?" Hermione asked and Sirius only shrugged. "Don't know. Real head-scratcher there. But good thing is that you all made it out alive."
"I just hope they did to," Harry muttered and Sirius clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Whatever happened, if they had been on that ship, they almost certainly would've drown. I don't know what happened, but I'm sure they're fine. Now, help us with the yard here!"
He then began barking orders. "The ship was banged up in the storm and we're going to stop by Mer Island to get it repaired before we take these kids back alright!? Any complaints?"
"None Captain!" they all called back.
"Then get to work!" he screamed at the men, as they pushed the wheel to raise the extremely heavy anchor. "We have to get a move on! We have to be at port as soon as possible! So stop lollygagging!"
For the two days, the trio stayed on deck and helped with whatever they could as they continued sailing on. Ron now knew that if he spent the rest of his life out at sea, he'd never be able to handle a sailor's life like these guys. But he had learned a great deal of things about pirates. These guys were guilty of nothing but loving their freedom… he loved to sit up and listen to them sing songs about their travels and tell stories of all the places they had seen.
He soon grew very fond of them all in no time at all and was also laughing with them all. He couldn't wait to tell this to Fred and George when he got back—he couldn't help but wonder if they'd believe him… well, if Harry and Hermione were there then maybe?
During the late afternoon on the second day, one of the men in the crow's nest called out, "LAND HO!"
Sirius grabbed a spyglass and looked through it to where a small island was quickly growing larger.
"How long?" he called.
"Cap'ain, about an hour from port!" he hollered from his post atop the sails. Sirius nodded up to his crew member, and walked across deck to the wheel house, slowly directing the ship towards land.
After another hour or so, they had all landed and had run the ship ashore.
"Once high tide comes back in we'll be able to leave," Sirius told them once they had touched down on soft sand. "But we'll still be here for about two days, judging from the damage. We'll wait until you get what you need from the village."
"Thanks, Sirius," Harry grinned.
"Course," he grinned as he ruffled his hair fondly. He then pointed up towards a ridge. "I've been to the village a few times. Go up there, and you should be able to see a road. Follow that road and you'll be at the village in no time."
"Thanks, Sirius," Ron said before he then asked, "By the way, why do they call it Mer Island?"
"You don't know?" Sirius asked and began laughing. "Why spoil it for you? You'll understand as soon as you see the village. Oh!" he said thinking something over. "Look for a lady named Murcus. She'll be more than happy to help you guys out. We'll be here if you need us."
"Thanks again," Harry called as he gave his godfather the pirate a quick hug and they went up the slope, and like Sirius had said, there was a long, winding road in the distance.
"This is great," Ron said, feeling more upbeat than he had in a long time. "We finally seem to be getting somewhere!"
Together they made their way up the length of sand with the sun rising behind them; the sand was soft and warm. Sometimes they passed fallen palm leaves and small and big rocks making small rock pools from where the tied had come in from the night. Walking side by side they made their way around the island finding nothing but sand, rocks and leaves the sun was fully risen in the sky and they were hungry.
They jogged along the road, wondering what the village was going to be like. Thankfully, the map and Dumbledore's message that Hermione had were still there—having been charmed by Dumbledore to make it impossible for them to get ruined by water or sun.
"So all we have to do is go there and show them this letter, get the stone, and then head back to Sirius and the others," she said, also sounding dangerously optimistic. "Then we'll head back to the harbor and head north to get the sword."
"Sounds like a plan," Harry said smiling. "Oh! I think I see a lake!"
He did… but when they got nearer, their jaws dropped. It was a beautiful lake… sparkling in the bright sunlight as if the surface had been made of diamonds… but they didn't see anything… at least until at that moment, a mermaid jumped out of the lake, her fins flashing in the sunlight.
Their jaws dropped as she spun in the air and gave a great dive into the water.
They stood there, staring.
"I guess we just found out why this place is call 'Mer Island'," Harry said as he stared at the water.
"Merfolk," Ron and Hermione both gasped out, still gawking at the water.
"So the stone should be at the bottom of the lake?" Ron asked, as he cautiously made his way to the water's edge.
"Hey?" he called. "How do we get in? I mean… can anyone here breathe underwater."
"Yes," Hermione said, a little smile back on her face as soon as she came out of her shock. "There is a way."
"How?" Harry asked. She grinned as she pointed to some weed growing just below the surface in the shallow parts of the lake.
"Gillyweed!" Hermione gasped, kicking off her shoes and socks before she went wading through the water and grabbing a handful of the slimy-looking weed. "Just a handful of this stuff will let you breath underwater for an hour!"
"How do you know?" Ron asked startled as Harry took off his boots and followed her. She gave a 'shut up I know what I'm doing' look and swallowed some of the plant. Ron watched skeptically for a few moments as Harry pulled out a handful as well and swallowed. It happened suddenly…
Hermione suddenly grabbed hold of her neck, gasping for breath. Fear gripping his heart he went splashing out to them both for Harry was also holding onto his neck. That's when Ron saw it… GILLS!
There were gills growing on their necks… skin was stretching across their fingers, and their toes were growing at an alarming rate. His two friends both dove straight into the water and disappeared beneath the waves.
Ron stood there with his jaw opened in shock before a splash from Hermione's new flippered feet brought him back to his senses. "H-HEY! WAIT FOR ME!" he yelled, diving for some of the plant and swallowing as much as he could stick into his mouth. He knelt there in the water for a short time, thinking that it wasn't working, but then he suddenly couldn't breathe.
He gasped, his hands going up to his neck, feeling the little slits on either side of his neck appear. Then he flung himself into the water, breathing the water and getting the air he needed as the liquid passed over his gills. He opened his eyes and could see the strong rays of sunshine in the water, making everything crystal clear. He could see them… Harry and Hermione were testing out their new webbed hands and feet, obviously enjoying themselves.
Ron looked down at his hands and his feet as well and could see that they had changed as well. He grinned widely as he joined them in their water dance. He couldn't wait to tell Fred and George this when he got home.
Once they were done playing around, remembering that they had to get down to the village, they dove down. Down… down… down…
The light was so bright, the sand so clean that they couldn't help but stop and stare at all the rainbow colored coral that was glittering from the sun. the fish, of all different sizes and colors swam around them, like birds in a blue sky… he saw Hermione stretch out in the warm sand for a moment before he heard her laugh.
"Can you hear me?" she asked him, her voice was oddly faint and echoed a bit in the water, as if he was speaking to her at the other end of a tunnel. He nodded, "Yeah," he called back. "I can hear you fine."
"This is so cool!" Harry laughed as he reached out, trying to grab one of the silver fish that darted past his face, but he missed by a mile as it went off in one direction. They all laughed as they continued to go down to where it was darker.
By the time that they found the bottom of the lake, it was very difficult to see anything by… but they could still make out the forms of what looked like buildings in the distance.
"This way!" Harry called, taking charge and leading the way as they followed.
"You think that they'll help us?" Hermione asked nervously as they drew nearer and nearer.
"Dumbledore said they would so long as we brought the letter right?" Ron asked and he watched as Hermione went to her pocket and pulled out the letter.
"Yes," she said, and she looked a little more reassured. "All we have to do is find this Murcus person that Sirius said and show her this."
Once they were near enough, they could see that the buildings were made of a strong, rainbow coral like the ones they saw earlier. There were mermaids and mermen there… dozens of them all swimming around, some playing music on coral instruments, others were playing game in the streets of sand…
When they approached, they eyed them all warily, but they didn't do anything but keep a close watch on them. Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, Harry asked the first merman he saw, who was tending to a garden of seaweed and asked if he knew someone named Murcus.
"Near the temple," he before he picked up his spear and went back into the house.
"To the point," Ron told the other two.
"At least they're not attacking us," Hermione muttered nervously as they continued off. They continued walking for what felt like a mile before they saw a great temple made of stone and shell. That was where a particularly wild looking mermaid was there, looking for something among the seaweed bushes in front of the building.
Ron and Hermione looked to him and Harry gulped as he made his way forward. "Ah… e-excuse me?" he called to her. She stopped and looked over at them.
"Yes?" he called gruffly.
Harry summoned up his courage and asked, "Are you Murcus?"
"Yes," she said in a song-like voice, now looking at them in curiosity, "Now, you know my name, but why do I not know yours? What brings humans here?"
Harry looked to Hermione, who had already fished out the letter and handed it to him. Harry swept forward and held the note out to her. Once again, glad that the paper was waterproof. "We-we were sent here by a man named Albus Dumbledore. He said that something very important was being kept here. We're here to get it for him."
"Oh!" she said smiling. "You know the old man?"
"Yes," Harry said a little more confidently. "He sent us here."
"That explains it," Murcus said looking at the message. "But why you?"
"We're here to pick up a stone for him," Harry said at once. "Is it here?"
"Yes," she answered, and Harry looked back at the other two to see their faces lighten up in excitement. "It's in the temple. We've been keeping it here for him since he gave it to us over fifty years ago."
"Fifty years?" Ron repeated, coming forward.
"Yeah," she sighed drifting off towards the front doors. "Said a great tragedy fell on good friends of his and we're keeping it safe until someone comes for it."
"Well," Harry said. "We're here to get if for him. So could you help us? Sirius said…"
"Ah!" she laughed. "So you know Sirius too?"
"Yes!" Harry smiled. "He's my godfather."
"Godfather?" she repeated, before her eyes widened. "Are you him? Harry? Sirius talks about you all the time."
"Really?" Harry laughed. "Yeah. That's my name."
She grinned again before she led the way through the temple. "I am pleased to have finally met you. Sirius goes on and on about you every time he comes here."
"I'm flattered," Harry laughed as she pushed the doors open, leading them inside with a flick of her glittering tail.
"What's this temple for, Murcus?" Hermione asked, looking around interested.
"Built years ago," she explained simply. "We use it to store food for the year, and for the stone's protection."
They all looked up eagerly as she led them to the wall directly opposite them and pushed it open to lead them to a room near the back. "His orders," she told them. "He said that if anyone ever came to the island looking for it, then to take them here. If they're really here on his orders, then they'll be able to get it."
"Jeez," Ron muttered glancing around at the dark and gloomy hall. "Dumbledore, could you have picked a creepier place to hide something?"
There was something there leaning against the back wall.
"What's that?" Hermione asked as she went forward. "Oh, wow!"
Standing there in the center of the room was a tall, ancient mirror that stood about ten feet high. Harry couldn't explain it—but he felt a strange draw coming from it… almost as if it had been waiting here for them and it was softly calling his name. Even in this darkness he had been able to read gibberish words etched along the top.
Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi
"What's that mean?" Ron asked Hermione.
"I-I don't know," she answered truthfully. She swam cautiously forward and started to examine it. "I don't see anything special about it. She looked around to the back side of the mirror to see if there was anything there while Ron looked in the corners of the chamber. Harry stared up at the top of the mirror's words for a moment before he drifted right in front of it.
For a moment nothing happened. But then his reflection, of him swimming there, had changed. Instead of seeing himself with gills and fins, floating through the water as if flying… he was standing there, looking like he normally did on two legs and gill less.
He came forward, trying to get a better look at what was happening. Just then someone appeared behind him… bubbles burst from his mouth as he let out a muffled cry of surprise. It was her. The girl from his dreams… How… Why was she here?
He turned around in excitement, convinced that she was there as well… but she wasn't.
The only one behind him was Ron, who was still looking in the corners for anything. Frowning, Harry turned back to the mirror, and to his delight, there she was again. But what was going on? She was standing there in a beautiful green dress—the same one she was always in—and was standing right behind him. He stretched out his hand… but felt nothing except for water behind him.
Was he just losing his mind? Just what kind of mirror was this? Just then, his reflection self turned to her. She smiled at him and held up her arms to show a small, blood-red stone in her hands. He stared as she then handed it to his reflection who put it into his pocket… his eyes never leaving hers.
And the instant he did, Harry felt something pressing against his side and he slowly reached his webbed hand into his own pocket.
He stared, as if transfixed by the girl's face, as she continued to smile at him. His heart suddenly started beating faster and he was more confused than ever.
"What's going on Harry?" Ron asked as he noticed that Harry hadn't moved. Hermione came out from behind the mirror as well.
"Harry?" she asked concerned.
Wordlessly, Harry simply pulled his hand out of the pocket and held the little red stone. Predictably, they gasped.
"Harry?" she gasped, leaning in to look at it. "How…?"
He suddenly came back to life, as if breaking from a trance. "What?" he asked startled and confused as he looked around at them.
"How did you get it?" Ron asked, taking the stone from his hand and staring at it.
"I… I don't know," Harry stuttered, his hand going up to his head, trying to remember what happened. "I was just looking into the mirror, and my reflection…"
"I only see you," Ron said looking at it as well.
Harry stared at her and at Ron, "You don't see her?"
"I only see us," Hermione said carefully. "What do you mean her?"
"But…" Harry gasped, but then he stood back, "Try being where I am."
Ron did, but as soon as he moved, the girl had disappeared and he was there with his friends. Ron though, was staring as if transfixed at the glass.
"Ron?" Hermione asked.
"I… I see now what you mean," Ron gasped, his face turning slightly red.
"You see the girl?" Harry asked.
"What girl?" Ron asked in surprise.
"That girl," Harry repeated annoyed. "The one with… wait, what are you seeing?"
"I… I do see someone with me, but I see my brothers there," Ron said looking back at the mirror. "They're standing around me, congratulating me. Praising me… telling me I did great…"
He looked back at them and asked, "You think that this mirror shows the future? You think that we really are able to save them?!"
"I don't know," Hermione said, moving forward so that she could see into it.
"Well?" Harry asked. "What do you see, Hermione?"
"I see…" she whispered, and Harry had never seen her look more uncomfortable. "Nothing."
But Harry could tell she was lying.
"Look," she said at once, looking back at them. "We have the stone now don't we? Let's just go… I want to get back to the ship. I'm sure they must be wondering where we are by now."
"Ok," Ron sighed, looking longingly at the glass, but he didn't say anything else.
Harry pulled out his moleskin pouch and offered to put the stone in there. Once it was safely inside, he tucked it inside his shirt and turned with them. But before they left, he turned back to see the mirror… and for a moment, saw the girl there standing beside him once again. Why did he see her?
They left after that, thanked Murcus and swam straight for the surface. None of them ever suspecting what the mirror truly meant.
(What do you all think? Any ideas for future challenges they'll have to get through to get the sword and the key? Please tell me if you have any ideas!)