Authors Note: I DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT own any of the Harry Potter characters, names, places, things, etc. All of this belongs to the ever legendary J.K Rowling. Please Review, Favorite and Follow!
So sorry for the delay in this chapter! But finally, here it is! Thank you all for sticking with this story and all the nice things you've said about it! :D
I shan't keep you waiting, so a-further-a-do (however you spell dat), here we go!
A few nights after Christmas and about a week before the restart of term, I decided the best I could do for the others is at least say I stepped foot in the library. Fred and George were understandably upset with my decision to go and study, which is what I told them I was doing, but it wasn't a total lie... I was studying somewhat. Kinda? No? Not really...
I walked into the disturbingly quiet library. I mean, it's usually quiet in a library, but there was probably only one or two students in here instead of the usual twenty or so. I skimmed the same books we probably already looked at once again, passing the Restricted Section. I picked a random book of the shelf and skimmed through its contents, narrowing my eyes as I tried to look into the room. Soft footsteps were heard and once again Madam Pince was behind me. I turned towards her and blinked at her in fake surprise "Hello Madam Pince."
"Miss Potter." She returned "And what, may I ask, are you doing in the library at such a time? Shouldn't you be spending time with your friends rather than being here?"
"Uh actually Madam Pince, I was just err—trying to see if you had this book… You know, for studying purposes." I mentally cringed at my petty excuse to be peering into the Restricted Section.
"Which book?" She asked me "And do you have the sighed form?"
"I don't." I hedged slowly "But why go through all that trouble if you don't have the book?"
"Which book then?" She repeated, raising an eyebrow.
I opened my mouth, closed it, then opened it again "Can't I just go in and see if you have it?"
"No." She said flatly. "Now which book are you speaking of Miss Potter?"
"Oh wait, darn! Well you see, I've forgotten the name of the book so I'll just run up to my dormitory and see if I wrote it down somewhere."
Madam Pince's distrustful eyes followed me as I walked as fast as I could without looking suspicious out of the library. I took a sharp turn to avoid talking to a nearing Hufflepuff and walked down a corridor. I continued walking in the general direction of the Gryffindor Tower when I heard the sing song voice of Peeves. I immediately panicked, searching for a place to hide. A nearby door was cracked open softly so I took that as permission to enter.
I heard Peeves swoosh by giggling hysterically. As much as I thought the prankster was awesome, he could defiantly get on somebody's nerves. In fact, he was famous for just that.
I bounced myself off the wall with a bump of my hip, taking a chance to look around the room I was in. It was most likely an unused classroom, due to the stacked chairs and desks that lined one of the walls. My eyes followed the rubbish of an unturned wastebasket and landed on a pair of detailed, golden clawed feet.
I tugged on the tarp that covered the rectangular object. It fell to the floor with a swish, revealing a mirror. A mirror that was as high as the ceiling and was carved of intricate gold wood. Along the top of the mirror were the words: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. I ran a finger over the rough carving, tilting my head at the foreign language. It didn't look like Latin or French, it honestly looked like regular English lettering.
I stepped in front of the mirror and nearly jumped out of my skin. I glanced around, looking over my shoulder, but I was alone.
There I was in the mirror, almond eyes surrounded by ink black lashes and a slightly pale face framed by dark red hair, but I wasn't the only one in the mirror. To my right was a woman with dark red hair and emerald green eyes, the exact replica of myself though older. With his arm around the woman's waist was a man with black hair and hazel eyes that appeared larger due to the black glasses on his face. Right beside me, standing directly in front of my dad, was Harry. That's when I understood. They were my parents.
But there were others, too. Standing beside the three or occupying the space behind them. Others with the same features as me, and Harry, and Lily and James. Relatives.
I stared at them for a while, memorized by their loving gaze and warm smiles. My hand rested itself against the cool glass of the mirror, tingling my finger tips. Honestly this should creep my out, I mean, most of them were alive. Harry and my parents were most likely at the Potter Manor. This should creep me out so bad that I should have ran out as soon as I saw it, but I didn't. I stayed.
After a minute or so I shook my head and walked out. The door slamming shut behind me.
I shouldn't have even stayed in the first place.
CcCcCc
The next day at breakfast I watched as poor Ron was sandwiched in between the twins. He would try and take a bite of his food, only to have it fall off his fork as a twin would jostle him.
I shook my head, sipping some of my orange juice. "You two are awful, just let him eat his food."
They pouted, but released their brother who immediately began to shovel food into his mouth. I grimaced at him. All the boy did was eat! All the time! That's ALL he does besides playing chess.
"So Hope, we were all going out to have a snowball fight after breakfast. Wanna come?" George asked me through a mouthful of toast.
"I would love too, but 'Mione sent me a letter asking me to look something up for her. Apparently she doesn't have the book at home." I rolled my eyes as if annoyed by the simple task. Truth is, she didn't send me a letter, but I just didn't want to tell them the truth.
"Boo!" The twins well—booed and started to throw tiny pieces of toast at me.
"Hey!" I swatted at them playfully. Laughing softly. "Stop it."
George met my eyes and tossed a balled up piece of toast at me. This one larger than the others. I glared at him as it smacked into my forehead and dropped into my orange juice.
Crystal blue eyes looked at me in amusement as my lips turned into a pout. I reached across the table and snatched his orange juice, switching it with mine, taking a sip. I stuck my tongue out at him. "At least you made it in."
George looked at his confiscated glass with a frown. "My orange juice."
"My forehead." I matched his same pouted tone.
George met my eyes once more and flashed me the twin's signature, mischievous grin and stood up "Coming Gred?"
"Coming Forge." Was the instant reply.
CcCcCc
I passed by the library, a nearby window revealing tiny flakes of snow littering the school grounds, feeling slightly guilty about lying to George.
The reason I didn't go into library was because Madam Pince was by the door and I didn't want her breathing down my neck the whole time I searched for a book. I turned to go back to the tower, honest, but found myself at the old abandoned classroom once again.
I'm not proud to say the same thing happened for the next few days. I'd skip hanging with the gingers and looking for Flamel and would instead sit in front of the mirror, watching them. We all looked so happy. Like an actual family.
Every night was the same, except for on the third night, which was the last time I ever saw that
mirror. Well, for a long time that is.
"So—back again, Hope?"
I jumped violently and turned to see Headmaster Albus Dumbledore slip off one of the desks. I slapped a hand against my chest, feeling my rapid heart beat. "I didn't see you. – sir."
Dumbledore merely smiled at me "So you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."
"So that's what it's called then." I mused aloud, looking back at the mirror.
"I expect you've realized by now what it does?"
"It shows my family… all of us."
"Now, can you think what the Mirror of Erised shows us all?" He asked.
I shook my head mutely.
"Let me explain then. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?"
"So it shows us what we want, whatever we want?" I asked slowly, still trying to figure it out.
"Yes and no," Dumbledore said softly "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. However, the mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.
"The mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Hope, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you run off, enjoy your break."
Dumbledore then began to leave, but a sudden thought sprang into my mind. "Uh sir—Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?"
"Obviously, you've just done so," Dumbledore smiled, blue eyes twinkling "You may ask me one more thing, however."
"What do you see when you look into the mirror?" I couldn't help but wonder.
"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick woolen socks."
I blinked at him. What?
"One can never have enough socks, another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."
I stood there in silence, many minutes after Dumbledore had left. I continued to stare at the mirror, but ultimately decided to heed Dumbledore's warning. As I walked out the door, it struck me that Dumbledore may not have been quite truthful. But then, it had been quite a personal question.
