The Dark Heir
Chapter 13: The Mirror
Harry couldn't deny he missed Hogwarts. He would be a fool to deny the fact that he misses his mothers and aunts.
Upon their return, Harry decided to explore the castle before the rest of the student body returned and classes resumed.
Harry wonders around the castle, seeking to find the many hidden wonders of Hogwarts.
Harry opens a door and finds a very large room.
The room was dark with little light.
Inside the room was a very large mirror.
Harry walks forward to get a good look at this mirror.
He grew up with magical mirrors, but this was the largest he's ever seen.
Harry walks up and reads the letters on the upper frame.
'Erised stra ehru oty ube cafru oyt on woshi'
Harry didn't understand what this meant.
He walks forward and sees a very strange sight.
He was looking at a young man.
Long black hair. Wild yet neat.
The young man wore dark robes that appeared like a dark wizard, almost like Aunt Bellatrix Death Eater robes.
The most intriguing aspect about this man was his eyes. They were dark red.
One thing that drew Harry was the many young women surrounding the man.
Twelve of them, in fact.
They were wearing nothing but incredibly witches' lingerie.
They also had a slight bulge within their bellies, showing they were with child.
They all appear to revere the wizard.
With her dark red hair and green eyes, one witch sits on the wizard's lap as he rubs her pregnant belly.
Harry recognizes the witch.
His mother. Lily.
He could see Delphi and Dora sitting by his feet.
There were other witches he couldn't see or identify.
They all had one thing in common.
They were pregnant, and it was clear it was the wizard's child.
"Hello, Mr. Black," said a voice behind Harry.
Harry breaks out of his thought and turns to see Professor Dumbledore standing behind him.
"Hello, Professor. I'm sorry, am I out of bounds?" said Harry.
"No, though I should have made sure this room was locked. I didn't think a student would stumble upon this room on the night before classes would resume," said Professor Dumbledore.
Dumbledore had a soft approach towards Harry.
His mother and aunts warned him about Dumbledore his politeness and gentle approach for students to like Dumbledore.
"I see like many before you have discovered the wonders of the Mirror of Erised," said Dumbledore.
"I wasn't aware of its name, sir," said Harry.
"Indeed. Many are unaware of its name. I trust you know what it does," said Professor Dumbledore.
Harry shakes his head.
"Let me explain. The happiest man on Earth would stare into the mirror and see himself exactly as he is. He would see nothing to fulfill himself. For you, you see the mirror showing your deepest desire and possible future. You see yourself, a powerful wizard, surrounded by the women you love and are loved equally in return," said Dumbledore.
"So it shows my future," said Harry.
Dumbledore shook his head.
"The mirror doesn't show truth, knowledge, or foresight. It only shows you what you truly desire. That doesn't mean what you see is real. Wizards have stood before this mirror and have been driven mad upon seeing their deepest desires," said Dumbledore.
"You think my desire is wrong?" said Harry.
Dumbledore looks at Harry closely.
"No. The Wizarding Community has entered a series of declines with few births every year. You are seeking to expand your bloodline and show growth towards magic. Be advised. Even if what you see in the mirror revealed your greatest desire, it doesn't mean it will happen. Don't think about it too much. You are young and still have much growth. A wizard's desire can easily change with the flow of time," said Dumbledore.
Harry nods his head in understanding.
"The mirror is being moved to a new home tonight, Mr. Black. I should ask you not to go looking for it. Your dreams are wonderful, but don't let them consume you," said Dumbledore.
Harry nods his head and heads back to the dungeons to the Slytherin Common Rooms.
Harry pauses as he sinks in his bed, thinking about what he had seen.
Yes, the wizarding bloodline was in a state of decline.
There were few pureblood families left.
For two hundred years, keeping the muggle world and wizarding world separate has proven not to work out so well for the wizarding communities.
Harry turns and falls asleep.
Even though Dumbledore's warning about the mirror didn't offer any insight toward's one future, Harry couldn't help but be shaken by the fact of how he saw himself.
A couple of weeks ago, he dreamed of the strange witch who called him a guardian, and now he sees all these women surrounding him.
Perhaps the mirror was showing some parts of his future.
The Guardian's were those who protected the Wizarding World.
Harry falls asleep and wonders what the future would hold.
Harry finds himself looking at his future self.
He was floating above a lake and saw his reflection like the one in the Mirror of Erised.
Harry felt uneasy staring at himself.
Sure his older self looks dark, but there was power radiating off of him.
That was the intoxicating part.
The mirror may not have revealed Harry's future.
But it did strengthen Harry's desire.
Harry looks behind and could see people standing behind him, wearing black robes with a hood over their faces.
Followers?
Were they Death Eaters?
No.
They were his followers.
Harry wakes up to hear the sound of some movement around his four-poster bed.
Realizing the new term was starting, Harry gets up and quickly prepares to get dress.
Harry enters the tub and thinks about all the time he would take a bath with his mother.
Harry had a lot on his mind and knew deep down. His mother loved him.
She never spoiled him, but she always made sure he was a proper lord.
With wizarding families on the decline, the idea of mass-producing wizards was a must as muggle-borns were becoming the new rise.
Harry couldn't afford to think too much regarding his dreams.
The Quidditch season was restarting, and once again.
Slytherin's impressive win again Gryffindor caused many to question if Harry should be the Slytherin Quidditch Captain instead of Flint.
Marcus Flint didn't take that well.
He was angry that he had been outshined and outdone by the young Black heir after one game.
Flint wanted nothing more than to cure Harry Black but refrain from doing anything.
Even he knew better than to mess with a Black.
The Black Family is an ancient family and a powerful one at that.
Their influence would destroy him in one day.
His father would also punish him for having the Black family destroying their family.
The Slytherin Quidditch team found themselves in an awkward position between Marcus Flint and Harry Black.
Slytherin was taking on Ravenclaw next, and they were a very good team. After they destroyed Hufflepuff in their opening game, they looked like favorites to win the Cup.
Harry found himself busy with homework and quidditch practice. He hardly had time to hand with his cousin and sister.
Harry grumbles after coming in from practice.
Flint has been very hard on him, and Harry knew it was because he had become the Quidditch Star of Slytherin.
"Looks who is all alone, boys," said the drawing voice of Neville Longbottom.
He looks up to see three people he didn't want to see.
Neville Longbottom, James Potter Jr., and Ron Weasley.
"What are you up to, Black?" snaps Longbottom.
"Why do you care, Longbottom?" Harry said with a raised eyebrow.
Harry was already an excellent duelist. Thanks to Aunt Bellatrix's intense training. He very much doubts that Longbottom, Potter, and Weasley even knew the basics of dueling spells.
"Manners Black," said Longbottom.
"I'm going to tell you this only once, Black. Stay away from my sister!" snaps Potter.
Harry raises an eyebrow at Potter's demand.
"She's free to make her own choices. If she doesn't want to be near her worthless brother, then that's her choice," said Harry.
Potter's face turns red with fury.
"Boys, let's teach Black here, some manners," said Longbottom.
They approached Harry.
"Hello, Professor Snape," Harry said, causing the three to freeze in fear. They turn to look back up the stairwells but saw no one.
That was all the time Harry needed to draw his wand and start jinxing the trio.
"You three are nothing but gullible fools, aren't you," said Harry.
The trio moans in pain as they lay on the staircase.
Harry walks past the smirking as he pockets his wand.
Harry said nothing as he returns to the Slytherin Common Room.
Harry wanted to enjoy himself, but his mind kept going back to the dream he had on Christmas and what he saw in the mirror.
Dumbledore was right in the end. The mirror did have a tenancy to drive people mad.
Harry sleeps without changing his quidditch robes and tries not clear his mind from his madness.
A knock on the door opens, revealing Professor Snape.
"Mr. Black," said Snape.
"Not now, Professor," said Harry.
Harry turns over, trying to get some sleep.
"I understand you're tired, Mr. Black. A couple of students have filed a complaint against you. They claim you attack them without warning," said Professor Snape.
Harry knew who that Longbottom, Potter, and Weasley must have gone to, Professor McGonagall.
"Can't this wait, Professor?" said Harry.
"I'm afraid not, Mr. Potter," said Snape.
Harry groans as he gets up.
He was tired and exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep right now.
He swears Flint was trying to kill him with his new training exercises.
Snape pulls out a potion from his robes.
"Here, Mr. Black. Drink," said Snape.
"A wideye potion?" said Harry.
Harry wasn't surprised to find Professor Snape had a wideye potion in his pocket. He could only imagine how many nights he's been forced to stay up late. Forced to wake up early in the morning to deal with students.
It would explain why Snape was in a cranky mood all the time.
Harry follows Snape to the Healer Wing, where Ron, James, and Neville were rested in the beds.
"What's going on?" said Harry.
"Where was Mr. Black?" Professor McGonagall asks Professor Snape, ignoring Harry's question.
"In his bed," said Snape.
"Mr. Black. Misters Longbottom, Potter, and Weasley claim you attack them without reason or provocation," said Professor McGonagall.
Harry still had bags underneath his eyes, showing he was still half asleep.
"Professor, I had quidditch practice. I think Flint is trying to kill me. Once practice was over, I went straight to my common room and into my bed. I haven't seen your students since we had charms. Other than the times in the Great Hall," said Harry.
Professor McGonagall looks at Harry before turning to look at Snape.
"He was asleep in his Quidditch Robes, McGonagall," said Snape.
"How bad are their injuries Madam Pomfrey," asks Professor McGonagall.
"Not serious at all, Professor McGonagall. They are cleared to go," said Madam Pomfrey.
"I trust you understand. While solving this is the correct thing, your students claimed that my student attacks them without warning. Even if a fight did break out, a three-on-one assault isn't exactly one-sided, Professor," said Snape.
It was clear Professor Snape was telling Professor McGonagall something with his words.
Harry briefly remembers hearing his mother telling him about her former friendship with Snape. His obsession with the Dark Arts drove them apart.
Harry also knew Snape joined the Death Eaters after Hogwarts.
Even though his mother Lily was his father's mistress, she wasn't a believer in the cause. More like she was a supporter to some extent.
Harry began to rethink the true purpose of the Dark Lords and the meaning behind their rise to power.
In this century, both Grindelwald and Voldemort have risen to power with few if any capable of stopping them.
Then what his aunt's told him regarding the Guardian.
The Guardian's role was to protect the wizarding world.
They answered to no one and ensure to focus on the Wizarding World's issues and protection.
Lily, Andromeda, Bellatrix, and Selene were all researching what they could on the Guardian. There was little information regarding the Guardian.
While his mother and aunts look into the Guardian on their end, Harry decided he would look into Voldemort and Grindelwald.
Harry wanted to understand their rise to power and their downfall.