Chapter Fourteen: The Mirror of Erised

With the confrontation between Harry and Snape still being talked about by the entire castle, Professor McGonagall decided it would be a good idea that Harry and Snape not be in the vicinity of one another and so it was decided that neither Harry, Ron nor Hermione would go to Potions for the foreseeable future. Instead the three of them stayed in the common room and did their other homework. Homework for Potions was passed on to them by Professor McGonagall.

Meanwhile, Harry still had detention with his Head of house. The detention itself was not so bad. Harry had been regaled with the tales of his father's wrong doings while at school.

However, on the way back from his detention, Harry almost walked into Professor Snape so he made a quick detour to another corridor using the Marauder's Map. The Marauder's Map was a very useful tool that had been invented by his father and his friends during their own days at Hogwarts. The map was a map of Hogwarts, and it showed all the secret passageways, exits and shortcuts, but more even more usefully, the location of every single person in the castle. This proved useful when he and his friends wished to walk around without meeting Malfoy or Snape. He also, for good measure, put on his invisibility cloak. When he was away from Snape he took it off again and went into an empty, disused classroom at random.

However the classroom was not empty at all.

Inside was a magnificent mirror. Harry spotted an inscription above the glass.

'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi,' Harry read aloud.

Despite having no idea what that could mean Harry took of his cloak and stuffed it back into his bag before stepping in front of the mirror.

It was no surprise to see his own reflection staring back at him as Harry looked. However, something was different. He was sure of it, and sure enough he spotted the difference.

The Harry looking back at him did not have a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead.

But then, suddenly, the Harry in the mirror was not alone. He was becoming surrounded by some very familiar people. To his right were Ron and Hermione, to his left were Charlus and Dorea, but behind him were his parents, his godfather, and his honorary uncle. Harry could not take his eyes away from the scar-less Harry though.

A loud crash from somewhere jerked Harry back to his senses, he looked at his watch and saw it was getting late so he left the classroom and went back to Gryffindor tower.

The following evening Harry took Ron to see the mirror as Hermione was taking a nap in Ron's bed. Once in the classroom, he tried to show Ron what the mirror showed him the previous night.

'Harry, I only see us,' said Ron.

Harry then moved to the side and allowed to view the mirror alone.

'Bloody hell …' Ron whispered, after a few minutes.

'You see it, don't you? A me with no scar?' asked Harry.

'No, I see me … and … I'm older, taller, and fucking hell, I'm Head Boy and Quidditch captain!'

Harry and Ron shared a look before Harry said, 'So, what does this mirror do?'

'Dunno, but there's more … Hermione's there, she's older too, she's gorgeous, er, I mean she's Head Girl and –' Ron broke off and shook his head as if to clear it before looking at the mirror once more, 'I think she's my girlfriend … maybe more …'

'Do you reckon this mirror shows the future?' asked Harry.

'I … don't know … but something isn't right about this mirror, we should go …' said Ron.

'You reckon?' said Harry.

'Yeah, I just have a feeling …' said Ron.

'Can I just have another look?' Harry asked.

Ron stood aside and allowed Harry to see is scar-less reflection once more before they went back to the common room.

The following night Harry snuck out again to look at the mirror. He knew it was stupid going to look at a mirror just to see himself without his scar. How he wished that he did not have it, how he wished he could just be normal, and just Harry.

'Back again, Harry?'

Harry turned sharply to see Professor Dumbledore standing there.

'I see like many before you that you have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised?' said Dumbledore.

'I didn't know that's what it was called, Professor,' Harry said.

Harry called him by his title as he was now a Hogwarts student and didn't think it was appropriate to call him "Dumbles" as he was most likely out of bounds.

Dumbledore gave Harry a reassuring smile telling him that he was not in trouble before saying, 'Have you managed to figure out what it does?'

'Er, no,' said Harry.

'Allow me to enlighten you … if the happiest man in the world were to look into this mirror he would himself just as he is, does that help?'

Harry took a moment to think for a moment before saying, 'It shows us what we want … whatever we want?'

'Not exactly, it merely shows us the most desperate desires in our hearts. You, Harry, see yourself without your scar, a normal child and with no-one staring at you like something from out of a zoo … it showed Ronald as Head Boy and Quidditch captain, standing alone with Hermione, the best of all his brothers …'

'How –?' began Harry, but was forestalled by Dumbledore.

'I do not need a cloak to become invisible, my boy …'

'Of course …' said Harry.

'Now, Harry, I must warn you that this mirror gives neither truth nor hope, men have wasted away in front of it, and I must ask you not to go looking for it again … it will be moved to a new home, so why don't you put on that cloak of yours that you use to avoid Mr Malfoy and Professor Snape, and go back to your friends?'

Harry stood up and made to put on his cloak.

'Oh, and Harry?' said Dumbledore.

'Yes, Professor?' asked Harry.

'Please ask Ronald to try and control his language, thank you,' said Dumbledore, as he gave Harry another reassuring smile.

'I will, Professor, goodnight,' said Harry, before leaving the Headmaster alone.

When Harry had returned to the common room he sought out Ron and Hermione and told them about the mirror.

Ron then clapped his hand to head and said, 'Erised is desire backwards! Oh, fucking hell …' he said swallowing as realised what it all meant.

Harry chuckled and passed on the message to Ron from Dumbledore.

Ron gave a nervous chuckle as Hermione sat there thinking about what she might've seen in the mirror.