Once I begin to see the room, truly see it, I find it impossible to look away. There are no words to describe this place. I finally understand why they call it the "Department of Mysteries", not the "Department of Secrets", or any other ill-fitted name. Everything is a mystery. Colors are strange and unnamed in here as I stare around in wonder. Shadows swirl out into the light, taking unknowable forms before my eyes. With a herculean effort, I manage to pry my unbelieving eyes away from the scene unfolding before them, and find that the little man I followed in here has disappeared.

The room I am standing in appears to be circular...or spherical. Or anything, really. It is somehow continuous; an echo of forever, engraved here in the magical world. There are identical doors all around me, and I know that I shouldn't check every one without knowing if Rockwood truly lies beyond. I place my wand flat in my outstretched palm, and whisper, thinking of Rockwood and sweet revenge - point me! The wand spins to the left, then to the right, and then quivers before it points to the second door to my left. I scurry towards it, but the floor begins to rotate unexpectedly and I lose my balance. My knees hit the floor with a loud cracking noise that is muffled by my swearing. I scramble back up into a standing position and realize that I don't know which door is which anymore. Seemingly out of options, I fix my eyes on a one at random and make my way towards it. I place my hand on the doorknob, holding my breath.

It turns under my outstretched hand, and I push it open cautiously. I can see tiny planets in the distance, and stride towards them with ease, until I notice that they aren't getting any closer. I point my wand into the distance and silently shoot a ball of light towards the planets. The light gets smaller and smaller as it approaches the planets, before hovering near a Saturn-looking planet. I shake my head, puzzled, and turn to go back into the rotating room, when I hear a voice. It is a grotesque, scratchy voice,"Who's there? Show yourself! Croaker? Is that you?"

Rockwood. I wonder at my luck… What are the chances? The man I am looking for just happens to be in the random room I choose to enter...

I sprint towards the planets at full speed, and still they don't get any closer. My feet hit the starry ground, one in front of the other, and I am moving and going nowhere at the same time. Then I see a figure appear in front of the planets. He appears to hear my noisy footfalls, and Rockwood makes his way over to me, growing bigger and more life-size with every step. Suddenly, he sprints forwards and I leap backwards. Accio Cloak! He cries, and the incantation sounds almost like a question in the infinity of this room. I grab hold of the Cloak and feel my heart skip a beat, but the Cloak does not move. A short, humorless laugh escapes my shocked lips, and his wand flashes through my air, synchronized with mine as I block his curse. We duel silently; I cast all spells and curses non-verbally to avoid giving away my location. I am slow at dodging the curses he sends flying at me, partially because of my earless imbalance.

In one brilliant stroke of thought and memory, I remember one curse I can use… one curse he might not expect, or know how to block. I can feel my face contort in a cruel smile and I cry out Sectumsempra!, slashing my wand through the air. I feel a slight itch where my ear used to when I use the curse, but I ignore it, wishing only to inflict as much pain as possible. I watch from beneath the Invisibility Cloak as he crumples to the floor, twitching and moaning in agony.

I repeat the curse again and again, so many time I lose count.

Slash!

Flesh rips.

Rockwood begs for his cowardly life.

I don't speak, aside from screaming the incantation.

I let him wonder at the darkness in agony.

Wonder who is out there, killing him.

The same way Fred had probably wondered.

My fallen twin had never known what had happened.

He never saw it coming.

This is what his murderer deserves.

Rockwood twitches one last time before he goes still and his cries cease.

I fall to the ground, panting as tears stream down my face. Tears of grief and joy and shock wind down my cheeks and drip onto my bent knees. More painful memories cascade into the depths of my weakened consciousness. And I'm not even sure that some of them are real…

I see Fred, he is smiling at me. Right after we had invented the Extendable Ears. His eyes are dancing with a bright fire, and I know that this fire will never go out.

I see Fred, he is frowning at me. Right after I had insisted on him not cursing his own ear off. His eyes are burning brightly with a fiery anger, anger not directed at me, but at Severus Snape. Somehow, I know that the fiery anger cast in those paradoxical icy blue depths will never die.

Then, I see Fred a third time, and he is crying for me. Right after he died. He watches me tear the mirror apart. His eyes burn with understanding. "I know you would have taken my place in a second. Don't blame yourself. I know. You're my brother. Now quit crying like a girl and get on with it!" He chuckles, and I know that he will always understand. His wish for my happiness confuses me, because deep down, I know I don't deserve it.

I breathe deeply and wipe the pitiful tears from my face. I push myself up off the ground, wondering if I am going crazy. Tightening my grip on my wand and digging my dirty fingernails into the worn-down willow of it, I turn towards the door. I don't look back. I don't look back at the grotesque pool of blood that is seeping onto the twinkling stars of the Planet Room.

As I walk out into the Rotating Room, my head echoes with the aftermath of what I've just done. I bury what I've just done behind the fact that I'm that much closer to saving him. I just need to find Snape. And then all will be well.

Standing in the strange room of identical doors, I realize that I have no idea which door leads to the exit. So I walk towards the third door on my right, hoping for another lucky strike, and find that there's no way in. The doorknob pops back inside the door as I approach it. I groan and pound my fist on the door in resignation. Much to my surprise, my fist falls through it.

Cautiously, I step forwards and through the door. For an instant, I float in a peacefully, painfully painless world of memories. Self-sacrificing love encompasses me in a poisonous caress. I can feel the riptide of love wash me ashore onto a beach of pain and pity and powerful powerlessness.

The world shifts beneath my feet.

I know now that if I were to look into the Mirror of Erised, that I would see Fred and I, standing together at the peak of our youthful mischief.

I know now that if I were to come across a Boggart, that I would see Fred dead at my feet, with that sinister laugh forever etched upon his face.

In the painstakingly quiet bliss of whatever mystery room I am in, I forget everything that isn't Fred.

Hours sneak by disguised as minutes, and the long-forgotten Time-Turner clings to my chest.

Sand grains fall to the beat of my hourglass heart.

To the beat of our hourglass hearts.