A/N: I apologize for the year-long hiatus this story went on.
Chapter 14: Mirror of Erised
It was one day after Christmas that Harry finally came to Cassia at breakfast. Cassia wasn't sure why Harry was looking spacey, but he was.
"I've seen our parents," Harry said to Cassia.
Cassia looked at him confused. "How?"
"In this mirror," said Harry. "I took Ron to see them, but he didn't see them."
For a few brief minutes, Cassia felt slightly jealous that Harry took Ron to see their parents and not her, but she figured that it made sense that Ron was just closer for Harry to get to. He still didn't explain how they got to the mirror however.
"How did you get to this mirror?" Cassia asked.
"Well, for Christmas, I got Dad's old Invisibility Cloak," started Harry and Cassia felt slightly jealous at that.
Harry got an Invisibility Cloak and all she got was a measly charm bracelet?
"Oh," replied Cassia a little too flatly for her liking. She almost winced at the tone she had used.
"Yeah, and I used it to look in the Restricted Section, last night," said Harry.
"Those books make noise when someone without a note goes in there," said Cassia.
"They did – how did you know?" asked Harry.
"Terrence told me," replied Cassia.
Harry glowered at that, "Your Slytherin friend."
"He doesn't like Malfoy," said Cassia quickly. "Malfoy keeps bragging about how he'll take Terrence's position as Seeker next year. And Terrence knows that Malfoy will do it."
"I hate to see how Malfoy plays," said Harry.
"He's okay," said Cassia, "but Terrence has talent."
"How do you know how Malfoy plays?" asked Harry.
Cassia shifted, "Before he left for the holidays, Terrence took me to the stands and showed me Flint and Malfoy practising Quidditch."
"Did anything happen when you two were there?" demanded Harry.
Cassia shook her head, a little bewildered by how Harry reacted, "No. He showed me and walked me back to the castle. He said that he knows Malfoy's going to replace him and he's upset with it."
"That's not right," said Harry.
"That's Malfoy for you," replied Cassia.
"You know, I don't like you hanging around Higgs," said Harry.
Cassia crossed her arms, "He's my friend, Harry. He's a nice guy. He gave me handkerchiefs for Christmas in my house colors." She hated how she smiled at that. She showed Harry a handkerchief.
"I still don't like him," said Harry bluntly.
Cassia rolled her eyes, "You said something about a mirror."
"Yes, but it showed us and our parents while it showed Ron something else," said Harry.
Cassia felt a little jealous at the idea that Harry showed Ron first, but figured that it was because Ron was closer and was Harry's dorm-mate after all, but it still hurt.
"I guess I can take a look at it," said Cassia. "It won't hurt to look."
Harry smiled at her. "Thanks, Cassy. I'll meet you by your common room's entrance."
"I'd rather you meet me by the grand staircase," Cassia said quickly.
"Okay," said Harry. "I'll meet you here at eleven."
Cassia nodded, "Okay."
Cassia tried to keep up with Harry, but he was walking so fast that she figured that it would've been better if they just ditched the invisibility cloak all together, but she didn't dare say that.
They got to the room where the mirror was at.
Harry whipped the Invisibility Cloak off and had Cassia stand in front of the mirror.
She looked in the mirror.
There was a dark red-haired woman standing beside her, with bright green eyes. On her wrist was the bracelets that Cassia had received. On her other side was a black-haired man, wearing glasses too, but he had hazel colored eyes. Right beside Cassia was Harry, smiling widely too.
A terrible ache welled up in Cassia. They were her parents and she found herself strangely missing them.
She had barely given a thought to her parents, to be honest. Being an orphan was something that she had gotten used to. She never really thought of her parents before, except for when she had to explain to some people that she was an orphan who survived a car crash, then that was it. Sure she got jealous every now and then seeing happy whole families, but that was it.
However, seeing her parents in the mirror made something in her ache at the sight.
Cassia sank down to her knees as she stared up at the mirror at her parents. She felt slightly guilty for not thinking about them as much as she probably should have. But at what point in life did she have to move on with her life?
"Back again, are we Harry?" another voice said.
Cassia jumped up and turned around to see that it was Professor Dumbledore.
"I see you brought Cassia with you this time," Professor Dumbledore continued.
Dumbledore was sitting on a desk.
"I – I didn't see you, sir," said Harry.
Cassia shook her head, "I didn't either."
"Strange how short-sighted being invisible can make you," said Dumbledore. He was smiling. "So, you two, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."
"That's what it's called?" asked Cassia.
"I expect that you both by now realised by now what it does?" asked Dumbledore.
"It – well – it shows us our parents," said Harry.
"And it showed your friend Ron himself as Head Boy," said Dumbledore.
Harry was stunned, "How did you know—?"
"I don't need a cloak to become invisible," said Dumbledore.
Cassia looked at the mirror again, finally noticing an inscription on it. The Mirror of Erised. Cassia read, "The Mirror of Desire."
"Right, Cassia," said Dumbledore. "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You two, who have never known you family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge nor 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."
Cassia nodded, "Okay."
"The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, you two, and I ask you both 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 both put that admirable Cloak back on and get off to bed?"
Cassia went and picked up the Cloak. She was about to put it over her and Harry, but Harry spoke, "Sir – Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?"
"You already did," said Cassia.
Professor Dumbledore smiled, "She's right, but you may ask me one more thing, however."
"What do you see when look in the Mirror?" asked Harry.
Cassia widened her eyes and smacked him upside the head. "That's personal, Harry. You shouldn't ask that."
"It's quite all right, Cassia," replied Dumbledore. "I see myself holding a pair of thick, woollen socks."
Cassia frowned at that, "Socks?"
"One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist of giving me books."
Cassia threw the Cloak over them and stalked out in the hallway.
"He's lying," whispered Harry.
"That was very personal," Cassia pointed out. "You shouldn't ask people that question. I wouldn't want people ask me what my deepest desire is."
Harry had to agree on that. "Should I apologise to him?"
Cassia had to think about it, "No. You shouldn't bother him with it."
They got to the entrance hall and Cassia was taking by surprise by Harry hugging her.
"I'm glad that I have you. I don't know what I would've done without you being there for me at the Dursleys," said Harry.
Cassia hugged him back, "Me too, Harry, me too."
"Even though I don't like your friendship with Higgs," said Harry, releasing Cassia.
Cassia groaned, "Lay off of him, Harry. I know you don't like him because he's a Slytherin. Besides, he's not Malfoy incarnate. Well, that would be hard, considering that he's one year older than Malfoy. You just have to formally meet him, then you'll like him."
Harry rolled his eyes, "Good night, Cassy."
"Good night, Harry," replied Cassia. She watched as he went up the stairs and she went to the door that lead to the kitchens.