『Isabella Lestrange and The Two-Faced Reflection 』

Forgotten Masks

(2,010)

Isabella had gotten no sleep that night, and was the first person to arrive at the great hall for breakfast the next day. As more people joined several tried to lull her into conversation without success, even Cedric couldn't convince her to cheer up.

She attended classes, at which none of the golden trio were present. According to the rumour going around, they had all managed to get into some form of trouble last night and ended up in the hospital wing. Most people were surprised that she wasn't with them.

Over the next month she couldn't be brought out of her sulk, not by Ron and Hermione, not by the twins and not even by Cedric. Ron had left the infirmary a week after the incident and proceeded to tell the whole school everything that had happened, making the three of them 'Hogwarts Hero's', as they had been so lovingly dubbed by the school population. Most people assumed she was just upset about moving into the orphanage with school coming to a close, which she hadn't even thought about until it was brought up.

But no. She was upset because Voldemort was gone, Harry had taken him away from her. She was sure that he would come back and she would have another chance to prove herself, but who knew how long that would take, how long would it take for her to get her old life back together?

Another thing that was plaguing her was the vision shown to her in the damned mirror. Not the image of her with the death eaters, the one of her with the members of the light and those two mystery men. She didn't even know half the people that were shown to her but somehow, she wanted that image to become real just as much as the other. It was all very confusing for her.

Harry was still in the infirmary and she occasionally visited him in order to keep up appearances, truthfully every time she saw him lying on the bed unconscious she just wished she could finish what Voldemort had started. She felt murderous whenever she was around him, but the last thing that Voldemort had asked of her was that she continued on as she was.

She had to remain his friend, she had to convince everyone around her that she was kind and loving and would fight with them at all costs. In order to cheer herself up she tried to imagine all the different ways they would react when they realised the depth of her betrayal. She would do whatever it took to become as close to them as she could. She would find out all their deepest darkest secrets, their schemes and plans, she would ruin them at every turn and only when they were at the mercy of her wand would they know why they had failed so badly. That was what she had planned for them, in this moment she hated them. Regardless of any mirror fantasies she had seen.

I·L·I·L·I·L·I·L·I·L·I·L

Another 3 weeks passed and the next day they were all due to take the Hogwarts Express home, Harry was still knocked out in the Infirmary but had apparently shown signs of waking that morning. As soon as she heard the news she started toward the infirmary, Ron and Hermione were sitting their last exam so she would be going to see him alone. When she got to the entrance of the Infirmary Professor Dumbledore was already there talking with him. She hid herself around the corner and listened in to what they were saying.

"Does that mean, with the stone gone that is, that Voldemort can never come back?" Harry asked Dumbledore, he had obviously been caught up on the events that had transpired since he was attacked.

"Ah I'm afraid, there are ways in which he can return. Harry, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bear to have you touch him?" Isabella couldn't hear a response from where she stood, but he must have given one as Dumbledore continued on. "It was because of your mother, she sacrificed herself for you and that kind of sacrifice leaves a mark. This kind of mark cannot be seen, it lives in your very skin."

"What is it?"

"Love Harry. Love"

Isabella rolled her eyes upwards. It made sense what he was saying, but that didn't make it any less sappy. As much as she idolised the dark lord, it was no secret that he barely had any contact with his emotions, the man wouldn't know what love is, he would never have felt it. Then again, neither had she.

"Ah 'Berty Botts Every Flavour Beans', I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit flavoured one. Since them I'm afraid that I've rather lost my liking for them, but I think that I could be sae with a nice toffee." Dumbledore changed the subject to a lighter topic, feeling that now would be a good time to interrupt she began to walk into the Infirmary.

"Alas, Earwax."

Harry was laughing at the unfortunate headmaster, when he caught sight of her his smile instantly widened.

"Isa!" He shouted, the headmaster's attention was now on her too.

"Ah, Miss. Lestrange. I wonder if I might have a moment of your time when you are finished catching up with Harry here?"

"Of course Headmaster, would you like me to come to your office?"

"That would be lovely my dear, the password is Kopp Kopps."

The headmaster left quickly after that, she went over to Harry and sat on his bed. As she was catching him up on everything that had happened while he was out, he shyly took one of her hand into his and held it there until she had to leave.

I·L·I·L·I·L·I·L·I·L·I·L

"Kopp Kopps"

The giant gargoyle shifted from its position as the stairs to the Headmasters office revealed themselves to her, for the second time during her stay at Hogwarts. She ascended the stairs and made her way to the open door at the top of them. When she walked in Dumbledore welcomed her warmly and escorted her over to an armchair in front of his fireplace, while he took the chair opposite.

"Now my dear, what I need to talk about today will be rather difficult, but I ask you not to interrupt while I am speaking." He looked at her seriously, waiting for her acquiescence before he began. She nodded her head cautiously, wondering what he wanted to talk to her about.

"As you know, two months ago Harry Potter was attacked by Lord Voldemort in the dungeons beneath the castle. You will also know that Professor Quirrell was the one who assisted him in his plight, trying to procure the Philosophers Stone on his behalf. However, today's meeting will be about what I know.

"I know that you figured out what was being hidden in the castle many months ago, I know that you were aware of Voldemort's activities and Quirrell's involvement and I know that you assisted in the incident yourself."

She straightened up in her chair, her head was spinning, she had been so careful she had no idea how he knew. She went to interrupt and defend herself but he put his hand up to stop her, infuriating her with his rudeness.

"We agreed I could speak uninterrupted Bell."

He waited until she relaxed back into the chair again before he continued on.

"I know how you have been raised, and it only makes sense that you believe in everything you have been told up until this point. If fact, I am sure that outside your family you were not met with much kindness due to your name, but things are different now.

"Your family have left you Bell, and the world has accepted you. When you had the hat placed on your head at the start of the year, everyone expected you to be just like your mother, but the hat saw more in you. You defied everyone's expectations, it is because of that reason that I want to help you.

"Never in my time at Hogwarts has there been a cruel or unkind Hufflepuff, and I refuse to believe that you are the only one in existence. I believe that with some time away from the bad influences in your life, you may learn what it is like to live in a world where everyone is equal. I know that this will work for you and though it may seem scary, your views will start to change and so will you. All for the better.

"Therefore, I think that it is best that you don't rush into any decisions Bell. Don't make an alliance that you won't want to keep in 5 years' time, you have spoken to Voldemort and you have seen him face to face, but you have not seen him clearly. Soon enough you will see, when you have been around good people in a good environment, things will start to work out for you, and you will be able to live your life the way any 12-year-old should. Not doing the dirty work for dark lords, and hiding in the rubble away from those that would help you."

So, he had seen her hiding from them in the chess room.

"You think that I don't know what I'm doing? You think that I have rushed into a decision and shouldn't make an alliance?" She said to him, furious after his speech, she stood up and walked towards the door.

"You're too late Headmaster, I have spoken to the dark lord and I have seen him clearly. I promised him things and he promised to reward me when I delivered. No matter where you put me, or who you put me around, I'm already smart enough to know I have made the right decision.

"Mudbloods and Blood Traitors alike should be hiding in their homes or running away scared. I am going to bring the dark lord back, and no-one, not even you will be able to stop me, because that is the right thing to do."

Her mask had completely fallen off in her fury, but Dumbledore didn't even seem to be surprised by it.

"I believe you. I believe that this is what you think now, but I also believe that it is going to change. The only reason you would have been sorted into Hufflepuff, is because you are one"

"I am not a fucking Hufflepuff!" She spat at him.

"What did you see in the mirror?" He asked, with a small smile on his face. He hadn't even flinched at her vicious words or behaviour, she had a feeling that he knew exactly how this would all plan out.

She also had a feeling that he knew exactly what she saw in the mirror. Without replying she began to walk out the door again but was interrupted by his voice.

"The way the mirror works Bell is rather spectacular. In an instant it assesses every experience you have ever had, every wish you have ever made and decision you have ever made, with this information it creates an image of what you want most in the world. Sometimes though, very rarely, it can show something else. If you yourself truly do not know what you want most in the world, it will help you decide. It will show you your options, places that your future decisions and wishes may lead you, it not as solid as a prophecy when it comes to telling the future. However, I honestly believe that whatever it was you saw in the mirror, you have the power to make one of those things happen for yourself, but only by giving up the other.

"Think on that over the holidays, I will see you next year Bell."