Albus told them everything. About his defeat of Gellert. The end of the war. What had happened to his counterpart here. Tom Riddle. The Peverell ring. Sirius was Walburga Black's son. They had been uncomfortable about hearing that. Iris being Tom Riddle's Granddaughter. Riddle's rise to power and the First Wizarding War. The killing curse on Harry that rebounded. The resurrection that backfired. They had looked confused that Riddle could do that. They didn't know of Horcruxes. Remus and Minerva would ask questions about Hogwarts. The Ministry. They were shocked to hear Halfbloods and Muggleborns went to Hogwarts. Albus had explained that yes, there were still issues but not to this extent. Muggles and Magicals often lived side by side. They told them of Riddle uniting with Hitler. Grindelwald's escape. Their slow build up again in the shadows to regain their strength.

Now Dumbledore came to the most important part. The Peverell ring. Riddle's abuse of it had caused the ring to disappear from all known universes back to the source to protect itself. He explained how the dates worked. He told them he believed the universe with the Resurrection Stone was the beginning and end planet Earth. The power generated by the other Stone's had given Iris and her mother the ability to travel to places no mortal should. He explained about Equilibrium and the Angels. The portal to Hell and of Lucifer. All the healing powers it generated. Being able to bring Lily and James back. It could turn the old young again. He spoke of the camps in South America.

Albus continued to explain it all. The Battle of Britain. Grindelwald's slaughter by Death itself. The founders returning. Riddle's possession by Death itself. The lull as Britain regenerated. How the Nazis and Death Eaters were now gallivanting around the globe causing chaos. America was now in the middle of a civil war. Nuclear and chemical warfare had been used to decimate the Middle East and Israel. The Magical and Muggle might combined had been a catastrophe. China was mute. Most governments had been insidiously infiltrated over years. It had been slow, painstakingly slow. But effective. One by one any opposition had been removed silently and with deadly force over many years. Many countries had fallen or had surrendered far too quickly. It was suspicious.

He told them finally about the mirrors. How they had dug them out of the earth, oceans and the mountains. They had thought them all containers for Horcruxes. So far only one had been. Two portals had led to blackness. One to a poisoned Earth. One to a wretched world where Riddle and Hitler ruled together over a poisoned, brutal world. Now they were here. There were possibly hundreds of thousands of worlds.

Gabriel thought humanity was being tested. The more worlds destroyed meant the higher the likelihood their own would be. Gabriel had said the ring symbolised resurrection. Rebirth. They were meeting with them to see how likely it was their own world was on the verge of destruction. The portal had taken them to Hogwarts. They could see it was shut down tight with Propaganda. They wouldn't get the answers there. Which is why they were here.

The newcomers had gradually all taken a seat and listened to all of his intently. Fawkes seemed delighted with this Albus. He kept nuzzling into his ear as Albus chortled.

Iris gave subtle looks through their movie reels. She saw enough to know they were kosha. She relaxed.

'So,' Albus sat back. The sun was getting lower in the sky, 'That is a brief overview of the events on our own planet. Can you explain to us what has happened here on this planet?'

James just gaped at him. Minerva sat forward in her Professor mode.

'Our planet went to Hell in a handcart, Albus,' she said succinctly.

The group nodded in agreement.

'Can you elaborate?' Albus asked when no one said anything else.

'1939 happened,' Minerva said, 'The war. It stopped in your world. It didn't stop here for years. The British Purebloods changed sides in the war. They united with Grindelwald. It changed everything. They assassinated the Royal family. Winston Churchill. They took out all the major players. I was banished from Hogwarts in 1945 for opposing the banning of students who were not Purebloods. I never could abide that way of thinking. Education should be for all. I stand firm in my beliefs. I stole the magical register when I left. I had been teaching them myself instead. In a place away from prying eyes,' Minerva sighed and continued.

'Although none of them can get any employment in the Wizarding World unless it's in Knockturn Alley, it was important they understood their magic. We went underground. Hitler declared global victory in 1965. The world was ruined. British Muggles who had fought against Hitler were executed or put in the camps. There are concentration camps in every country. The white Pureblood and Muggle elite rule it all. They own it all. Everything. Grindelwald let Hitler and his forces decimate the entire human race. Nuclear power was used. Grindelwald turned the American bombs against them. What was destined for Japan he somehow turned around on New York. There were leaks everywhere. Hitler turned on Japan eventually. After he had launched nuclear over China from their bases,' Minerva sat pale as she gazed off in the distance.

Remus sat forward, 'Their lands are still radioactive to this day. So are Russia's. When the war was almost over and he had gained the assets he needed he turned on them. They didn't meet his personal skin tone criteria. We're down to a few hundred thousand Muggles now in this country. We're the only Half-bloods and Muggleborns left. The squibs have all been murdered. Most of the Muggles left are kept alive to do menial work or are in the camps. Similar numbers abroad. Magic and Nazi military can easily suppress any uprising from those numbers. Grindelwald is God here. Hitler keeps him sweet for when he needs any heavy lifting done. He's an old man now but there are plenty of willing replacements. They occasionally drop a few bombs on any country that whisper about an uprising or they slaughter the innocent in the camps to send a message to them. It's over.'

The visitors sighed in misery.

'What happened here with Harry?' Albus asked.

They looked confused, 'Did you hear the prophecy?' Albus continued.

They all looked at him blankly.

'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches?' Albus asked.

James shook his head, 'No, none of us is aware of that.'

'The scar on Harry's head? How did he get that?' Sirius asked him.

'He got that escaping Grindelwald and his Death Eaters,' James told them.

'Is Sybil Trewlaney alive here?' Albus asked.

'I've not heard of anyone by that name,' James told him as the others shook their heads.

Albus looked very confused, 'Why was he escaping Death Eater's?'

James went pale. He took Harry's hand and gave it a squeeze, 'My wife was a very wonderful woman. I met her through Minerva. I wanted to help. I left Hogwarts and went into the real world. I couldn't stand the injustices I was seeing. Remus too. It made us sick. The students we were with at the castle were spoilt. Lazy. Entitled. They just couldn't give a shit about anyone else's misfortune. We were young. We thought we could take the world on. We launched a few attacks at one of the Nazi headquarters. Just to do something. Anything. Lily and I had married in private. Harry was born. We had some happy times for a few years. Five years ago the worst happened. We had a friend. Well. We thought he was a friend.'

'Peter fucking Pettigrew.' Sirius growled. James looked astonished.

'How did you know that?' James said to this man he had never laid eyes on before.

'Because that turd seems to be a fucking turd in every universe I've been in,' Iris said, 'He is a traitor. A rat. I think I despise him most of all.'

James, Harry and Remus blinked.

Sirius spoke then, 'He was the secret keeper for James and Lily in our world. They were, along with Remus, my best friends in the whole world,'

James focused on Sirius intently at these words as Remus looked at Sirius with interest.

Sirius glanced at them, 'Voldemort was hunting them because of a prophecy. He was after Harry. He saw him as a potential threat,' Sirius said, 'He gave Riddle the location. That bastard killed James and Lily and then tried to kill Harry. The killing curse rebounded on him. Then he tried to frame me for the mass murder of Muggles he had killed. He resurrected Riddle by almost killing my wife and was going to kidnap Iris.'

'If it's any consolation I've already murdered the bastard in our world,' Iris told them in what she thought was a soothing voice, 'Actually. Do you know where he is here? I'd very much like to rip him open again. You know. For old times sake.'

James looked at Iris with his mouth wide open.

'Pettigrew got what was coming to him,' Remus said slowly, 'James took care of him. Killing curse.'

Iris, Sirius and Harry all leant back with a sigh of relief, 'That's about the only good news we've heard since getting here,' Harry said honestly.

'He told the Nazis where we were,' James said, 'Where the school was. Gellert himself came along with all his men. I suspect he was bored. It was a school day. There were children there. He killed my wife, he killed my Lily,' James clenched his fist and gulped. He took a breath, 'She was protecting Harry. He went to kill Harry too. He was gloating. I was in a rage. I remember him smiling at me. Mocking me. He held me in a body lock. He was going to force me to watch. He used a slicing spell on him. He was going to cut my son to ribbons. It backfired. The spell slashed back when it hit Harry. I managed to grab Harry and Hermione and got us out of there.'

Albus frowned, 'Perhaps. Yes. That seems credible. Had you and your wife thrice defied him?'

'We had completed three attacks together,' James confirmed.

Albus confirmed the prophecy to James and the others. It was too late now to keep secrets.

'Grindelwald may well know this world's prophecy. It would explain why he took such a personal interest in you,' Albus said.

'What is your resistance like?' Sirius asked curiously.

The other Hermione snorted bitterly, 'You're looking at it.'

'Surely not,' Albus said in shock, 'There must be others. What about other the other countries?'

'We're not a resistance,' James said, 'We told you. Everyone else is dead. International travel is blocked for everyone not in the elite,' he sounded very weary, 'We're just surviving now. We did sabotage two of their bases. We tried to break open one of the camps but, in return, they murdered a thousand of the people in there. It's hopeless. Whatever we did they would kill the innocent in retaliation. After Mad-Eye was killed we gave up. We live with Minerva now at her cottage in the Highlands. We have every protection known to man. We have a little of my family's money left. Should tide us over for a little while longer. I closed my vault when Lily and I ran away together. I knew what the risks were. We use polyjuice when we need supplies. Grindelwald wiped everyone else out. Hermione was already with us. She had escaped one of the camps when she was young using accidental magic. They didn't know she was a Witch. She had been living off the grid for a few years. Her family had died in the camps. Minerva tracked her down with the magical register.'

Minerva spoke quietly then, 'Grindelwald's men slaughtered everyone at the school and I mean everyone they could find. All the children. No one was spared. He took the magical register. He executes any name that appears on the list that is not a Pureblood. Cedric here made the mistake of sticking up for a Half-blood in Diagon Alley who was being raped in broad daylight a few years ago. It's just a sick game for them. Lucius Malfoy was the instigator. He didn't like being disturbed. Cedric wrote his own death warrant. Public rape is a common sight now. The Purebloods just walk around it when they see it happening. There aren't any Half-bloods or Muggleborns left. We're it. They abuse the Muggle women now. Lucius takes pleasure in torturing them to death afterwards. Some of them pay to see the Pureblood elite do it at the theatre. It is considered entertainment. They are not seen as human by the elite.'

The visitors were horrified by this, 'I see what Luna meant now,' Iris whispered.

'Luna Lovegood? Remus said, 'Is she in your world?'

Iris nodded.

Remus smiled sadly, 'She was a decent sort. I'm afraid she was killed here. Last year. Any Pureblood who helped us was in danger.'

'I knew Luna couldn't be evil in any world,' Iris said with a watery smile.

They all sat there quietly as they absorbed the information.

'I think this planet won't be here soon,' Iris said out of the blue.

Albus stroked this Fawkes, 'I fear you are right. Judgement Day is fast approaching.'

Fawkes trilled and stared intently at Albus. He blinked, 'Thank you, Fawkes.'

Albus turned to them, 'Indeed. The time is fast approaching here.'

Iris huffed, 'Where does Lucius live? I can deal with that scum and make it home for dinner by six. It will help me sleep better.'

'Bella told you not to decapitate anyone,' Hermione warned her, 'This is strictly an information retrieval mission. He'll get what he deserves soon enough, Iris. Their Lucifer is going to have a lot of fun with him.'

Iris sighed but brightened up a little at that thought. The other group were looking very perturbed.

'You can be 'ome by six?' the other Hermione asked.

'Yeah. It only takes a moment to get through. We can portal back to Hogwarts and bosh. Gone. In the mood I'm in right now I might blow the shitty place up before I leave. Fucking Pureblood pigs!'

'Iris!' Albus admonished, 'That is exactly the sort of talk that got us all into this predicament in the first place. It divides us all. Remember. It's a very different world here. A whole different history. It affects people.'

'Not to that extent,' Iris murmured, 'You know. I'm starting to think a lot of Witches and Wizards have always been arseholes. Just secretly. It's just here they have allowed their masks to come off. This is their true selves.'

'Now is not the time to psychoanalyse people,' Hermione said, 'They've been born into this. Brainwashed.'

'Gabriel is right. This is definitely a test,' Iris said, 'Thousands of variables. Millions maybe. It's seeing who we really are.'

The other Hermione had been watching all this with great interest.

'So, what's the plan then? There's fuck all 'ere for us. Can we go back to yours? Dinner by six?' she said in her heavy accent. The other Hermione winced.

Iris looked at Dumbledore, `We've bought a few people through already from the other world. They seem alright. They haven't faded into oblivion or anything.'

Albus stared at Fawkes again who gazed back, 'Fawkes seems to think that would be very wise.'

Iris glanced at Cedric, 'You can be my early birthday present to Lavender and Parvati,' she stated with a grin. He looked confused.

The other Hermione scoffed, 'This Lavender and Parvati. They are to keep their mitts off my man. One finger touches 'im, it's getting broke,' she warned with menace.

Iris beamed at this information, 'You and Cedric?'

She nodded, looking smug. Cedric smiled softly at her, 'Two years now,' he said proudly as he wrapped his arms around her.

'He's my teddy bear,' this Hermione said with a smile that lit her whole face up as she squeezed him back.

'And you're my snuggle bunny,' Cedric said back to her with a soppy grin.

It was a long moment that passed as the visitors absorbed the knowledge of this coupling.

Sirius did the responsible thing and reminded them of all of the dangers they were facing in this new world. They each nodded vaguely.

'So, shall we get going?' James Potter asked as they completely disregarded Sirius's warnings.

'Don't you want to collect any belongings?' Albus asked in a perplexed voice.

'We've got everything of any value with us,' Remus said.

'Yeah, can we haul ass pronto? I need to get off this shithole planet asap. Anywhere is better than 'ere,' the other Hermione said loudly in a jubilant voice as she put her arm through Cedric's.

Iris's Hermione went very pale. Iris clenched her lips together as firmly as she could manage.

'Yes,' Dumbledore said with a twitch of his lips, 'Let's, how did Miss Granger word it? Haul ass,' he said with a grin.

Iris opened up the portal to Hogwarts infirmary, 'Let's go. There was no one in there when we left but we need to be quiet.'

The other group looked at this portal with wide eyes.

'You lot go first. Just in case it's a trap,' James said, 'I'll believe this new world when I see it.'

'Oh, Prongs. Seeing is believing,' Sirius said with a grin.

'Prongs?' James said in a confused voice.

'Are you not an Animagus in this world?' Sirius asked in disappointment.

James nodded, 'I am. I'm a stag. Minerva taught me how. But I call myself Rudolph.'

Sirius threw his head back and his barked laughter filled the field, 'Oh, Merlin. Rudolph! It was worth the trip just to hear that,' he wiped his eyes.

James gave him a wry look.

'Come on, let's go.' Sirius said. He made his way through the portal quietly as the others crept through behind him.

Iris closed the portal as they all breathed lightly. The infirmary was just how they left it. Silent. The mirror stood quietly. Iris tiptoed over. Albus sighed and put up a silencing spell.

Choosing to ignore that, Iris started to pull people through to the other side.

So began the retrieval. They moved swiftly. Anyone could come in at any moment. One by one they disappeared from this macabre universe with immense relief. James and Iris were the last ones through.

Albus waltzed over and sealed the mirror shut. He stood for a moment looking at them, 'I think it's time to destroy them,' he told the group, 'We have learnt all we can learn. It's time these links were broken.'

The others gave solemn nods. They trusted his judgement. Albus levitated six of the mirrors out of the room. Only one remained. Albus was very reluctant to touch this particular one. The others turned to each other's counterpart and stared at each other in undisguised interest.

'Blimey. Me actually on Hogwarts grounds,' cockney Hermione said in wonder, 'Never thought I'd live ta see the day.'

Cedric nuzzled into her neck, 'Oh, my darling. You would have shown them all up. It's incredible to even say this, but your superior intellect surpasses even your beauty.'

'You're such a cracking bloke, Ceddy. You certainly know how to lay it on thick. Keep talking to me like that. It gets me all hot,' Hermione murmured to him as they embraced, kissing deeply as their hands roamed over each other.

The people who had been waiting for them in the Dungeons could not look away.

'So. Cedric and Hermione together in a different universe,' Ginny said with a smirk, 'Never saw that one coming.'

The cockney Hermione had let go of her lover as she assessed these new people, 'Oh. Yeah. Ok. Just call me My. Hermione is such a bleeding mouthful, innit.'

Iris snorted. Hermione looked livid.

'That will be for the best,' Iris said with a straight face. She couldn't resist, 'I wouldn't want to confuse you for the other. You're just like two peas in a pod.'

Hermione narrowed her eyes at My, 'That name happens to have been carefully chosen,' she snapped, 'It is from a Winter's Tale. Hermione is one of the principal characters.'

My blinked, 'Well aware of that mate. I ain't a moron. I've read the classics. 'Ucking 'ell,' she huffed.

'If you must use expletives in every other sentence you utter could you at least use the correct pronunciations?' Hermione said slowly with as much calmness as she could muster, 'It is Fucking. It has an F at the start. And Hell begins with an H. It is fucking hell,' Hermione rolled these words out slowly and deliberately and put emphasis on the two letters, 'Your elocution is appalling.'

Iris watched with bated breath. Then My threw her head back and laughed loudly, 'You're brilliant. Fuck me. That's so fucking funny.'

Hermione stood like a stone statue as her eyes widened.

'When one is cursing please use the correct pronunciation, lest one should offend,' My said in a fake received pronunciation accent. She giggled, 'Oh, you're priceless,' she wiped her eyes.

Hermione pursed her lips, 'Mum and Dad love my name,' she said quietly. That made My freeze.

'They're here? They're alive?' she whispered.

Hermione gave a small nod.

'Gran?' My spoke so quietly they could barely hear her.

'Yes,' Hermione said. She couldn't believe the quick change in My.

My looked at Hermione in earnest, 'Can I meet them? I was so young when they were taken. I can't remember what they look like. I don't have any photographs of them.'

Hermione put her hand to her mouth in shock as the mood in the room changed swiftly, 'You poor thing. Of course. Iris. We'll be back later. Can you do the portal?'

Iris opened the portal to the Manor immediately.

'I'll message you when we're done,' Hermione said as she hugged Iris goodbye as the two Hermione's left.

Draco was rubbing his eyes, 'Did that just happen? Is there really a version of Hermione Granger like that?'

Ron looked just as astonished.

Sirius gave them all a brief summary of what they had found in that world. The group were settling down. The two Minerva's had sat down already with each other. The two Remus's had been intrigued by their other selves.

Iris would take them and James through to Equilibrium to regenerate the next day.

James and the other Harry were looking around with interest. Iris had gone to call James and Lily from Equilibrium. They had explained there would be differences. James had a soft look in his eyes, 'My Lily exists somewhere. I'll see her again. I just would like to see her face again. She always gave me strength.'

Harry had patted his dad's arm as he looked around, 'We want to help, if we can. To be able to do something, anything, is more than we could have hoped.'

Iris came back, 'They're on their way. I've explained. They weren't too surprised actually. People are getting very blase at this stage.'

Sirius had been looking at this James and Remus with a grin. Rudolph. He shook his head. This James wasn't nearly as arrogant as his James had been. He looked tired. There was a lot of courage still there but frustration as well. He had found his Lily in that world too. Sirius mused. At least there had been some light in his life.

James and Lily emerged out of thin air as James and the two Harry's walked slowly towards them. Lily looked at them with a small smile. The two James shook hands as they gazed at each other.

The others moved away to give them all some privacy. Severus had left immediately. Dealing with one James Potter was always a little arduous. Two was pushing it. This was sort of family time anyway.

Cedric was looking around as Ron and Draco introduced themselves. Cedric had looked at them in an appraising way. His eyes looked surprised.

'Did you know our counterparts?' Draco had asked in a halted way.

Cedric nodded.

'And?' Ron asked, 'Were they awful?' he stammered.

Cedric shook his head, 'Not awful. Just oblivious to it all. They were pampered little princes hiding away from the real world. Lazy. Soft. Entitled and privileged. They were in an ivory tower looking down on the peasants.'

Ron grimaced. Draco looked a little relieved.

'So they weren't, you know, cruel?' Draco had asked nervously.

'I didn't know them well enough. They were a few years below. I don't think they knew much about anything. They only seemed interested in themselves,' Cedric said in a matter of fact tone.

Ginny sidled up to this Cedric, 'So. Hermione and you? When, How?'

Cedric grinned, his handsome face glowed, 'Two years ago. She's fantastic. So tough. Funny. I feel so safe with her. If we get out of this alive I'm going to marry her.'

'Hermione Diggory,' Ginny gave a smile, 'We didn't have that one on the cards but, you know. Anything seems to go right now.'

Cedric looked around at their faces. 'You look very different to them.'

'Iris said that,' Ginny said.

'You look better,' Cedric said shortly, 'More like real people. They didn't seem properly formed. Something was lacking in them.'

They sat down with him and got to know each other better. Cedric was happy to chat. He was a social person.

Bella gazed around at this new group. Most probably the last group. The last mirror beckoned. It wasn't like the others. Maybe it was in her head but she felt the occasional soft ripple of something floating out of it.

Bella tilted her head. Only six had travelled from that world. She had been listening to the reports of that other world. She had often wondered what a world without Riddle would have been like. Just as shit by the sounds of it. It seemed like whatever happened in the timeline it seemed to always lead to misery. Bella was no bleeding heart but concentration camps and poisoned lands sickened her.

Her eyes glanced over the new arrivals. So few. To go against so many who had so much power. Iris and the portals could only do so much. She couldn't be everywhere. Why these people? There didn't seem to be a pattern. Bella knew this was the calm before the storm. And the world was already raging. This was a build-up. She looked again at the solitary mirror. Was it friend or foe? Iris moved stood closer to her as she looked at the mirror as well. Luna had joined her quietly as they stood together. They stood in mutual comfort for a while.

'What do you think, Luna?' Bella asked her, 'What's in there?'

Luna's blue eyes seemed to look at nothing, 'It's changing. It isn't what it was. I don't know what it is now.'

'Is it a threat?' Bella asked again.

Luna put her hand on the frame and stared at the mirror, 'It feels dangerous. Powerful.'

Bella studied the mirror some more.

'I expect that our curiosity will be sated very shortly,' Luna said airily, 'The domino effect looks like it is underway.'

Bella sighed, 'It's tough to stop a moving train,' she said in a wistful tone.

Luna nodded, 'We just need to make sure we stay on the train,' she said in that spacy way she had.

Iris took a few steps nearer to the mirror. She couldn't feel anything from this mirror. It felt like any other mirror. She trusted Luna's judgement though. She lifted her hand to touch the frame gently. Wondering if she could feel anything like Luna could.

'Iris,' Luna said nervously, 'I think you should leave that...,'

Iris had gone.

'Alone,' Luna ended.

Bella stepped back, 'What? Where did she go?' she managed to shriek out.

Luna bit her lip. She shrugged, 'I couldn't say. She's not here.'

'But. She just disappeared. She didn't go through,' Bella went up to the mirror and put her hand up to it. It was solid.

The others in the room had noticed the commotion and had moved over.

'What's happened?' the younger Remus asked.

'Iris. She only touched the mirror. She disappeared. In an instant. Quicker than apparating. Just like. Less than a second,' Bella was in shock.

Sirius was looking very concerned, 'She must be somewhere. James. Lily. Can you check at Equi?'

'On it,' James said. The new arrivals James and Harry looked a little bit put out about seeing this Lily leave so suddenly, but they understood the situation.

'I'll get Albus,' the younger Minerva said as she ran off.

'Shit,' Ron said. The reality of this was sinking in.

'She'll be back,' Draco said confidently, 'She's always gallivanting around.'

'Not like this Draco,' Bella said. 'I've never seen anything like that before. It was waiting for her. Luna and Albus have touched the frame. So did Kingsley and Tonks when they brought it in. This didn't happen with them.'

'The Peverell ring,' Luna said, 'The mirror was waiting for it.'

'It's a trap!' Ginny exclaimed in terror, 'Riddle must have her!'

All the colour drained out of Sirius's face.

'Iris will kick his ass,' Luna said nonchalantly, 'He's scared of her. She's the last person he wants to see. It's not him.'

Sirius felt a bit better. They all calmed down at Luna's logic.

'Well, what then?' Ron said, 'Where is she?'

Albus came trotting into the room with Minerva and Severus.

'Iris has definitely gone?' Albus clarified.

They all nodded. Bella clicked her fingers, 'Faster than that. Woosh. Gone.'

Albus frowned.

'Lily and James are checking Equi,' Sirius said.

'I doubt Iris will be there,' Albus said in a quiet voice.

'Where then?' Ron said.

'You say she didn't go through the mirror?' Albus asked.

'No. She only touched the frame,' Luna said. She froze. The mirror was starting to emanate a glow, 'Do you feel that?' Luna said slowly. She could feel a distant beating. Albus inhaled sharply as he stared at the mirror.

'Everyone. I suggest we take precautions and step away from the mirror,' he turned to see everyone on the other side of the room. Their eyes on the mirror.

'Is it going to blow?' Ron called over to him.

Albus made his way over to them, calling Fawkes on the way. They might need to evacuate. He had just destroyed the other mirrors in the Room of Requirement with Fiendfyre. It could be a coincidence.

The mirror was glowing white. They could all feel the incessant beats. They were deeper. Pulsating. They could feel white magic pouring out. Albus brightened a little. He could barely discern a figure falling out of the mirror. His blood pressure went through the roof as the figure dropped to the floor and collapsed. The beats stopped. The white magic withdrew. The mirror returned to normal.

A split second passed as Albus then ran back across the floor with his wand raised. Sirius close behind.

He looked down at the motionless figure. It was Iris. He bent down to take a closer look. She looked a little older and in a messy state. She wasn't wearing the clothes she had been in earlier that day. These were ripped and torn. She wore a leather jacket that had been almost shredded. There was blood on her. He put his hand to her throat. He could feel a pulse. She was unconscious. She was still wearing the ring. He could feel the force of her magic. It was stronger now.

'She's alive,' Albus said as they all breathed a sigh of relief, 'I'll take her to the infirmary,'

He levitated her up as he sent a Patronus message up to the two Madam Pomfrey's. Sirius was pale.

They all scuttled up behind Albus to the infirmary.

Iris was tended to, prodded, analysed. Both Madam Pomfrey's agreed she was physically fine. They would need to wait.

They all peered at her. She looked like Hell. Too thin. Too pale. There were cuts on her arms and a fine scar on her neck.

'I expect when she wakes we'll get all the answers we need,' Luna said.

They all jumped as Iris sat straight up, looking around with eyes wide in panic. She grabbed Albus by the collar and pulled him down.

'KILL THE SNAKE NOW!' she demanded, 'Otherwise we're all fucked!' Iris hissed as she promptly fell back down again, eyes shut, unconscious again with the exhaustion of the moment.

'Short but sweet,' Luna said calmly, 'Right. Well. I think that brings us all up to speed. Headmaster Dumbledore. You know what to do.'

Albus did indeed know what to do.

He swept out of the room with Severus, young Remus and two Minerva's in tow.