Ethereal

by HushDon'tLetThemHearYou

Book 1. The Story of Harry and his twin sister, Mara who enter Hogwarts for their first year. Despite being the Girl-Who-Lived even stranger things are happening. They both receive Familiar Bonds and both of their scars start to hurt. They make friends and they make enemies but there is more than meets the eye. Nothing is accidental in the world of magic.

19. Brumous: Chapter Sixteen

Moonlight peered through the window. Shadows crept and moved along the floorboards like a rehearsed dance between lovers.

The room was unusually silent. Besides, the occasional murmur of a dreaming boy and the loud snore every few minutes, the room was completely silent.

Thoughts and ideas ran through his head at a fast pace, one moving between his imaginary scale with a frenzy in his own silent battle of wills.

One could only watch the shadows silent performance for so long before he too, longed to join their dance.

Silent as the shadows he watched, he rose from the bed. He shivered from the feeling of his bare feet along the cold floors. He timed his movements with the loud snores, making sure no noise came from his slow and deliberate movements.

The shadows accompanied him on his journey, the only company he willingly could keep. Shadows asked no questions he could not answer.

He crept out his room, slowly taking the stairs one step at a time. In his arms, he held the silky fabric that allowed his escape.

'Use it well,' is what his father's letter had said. Mischief was in his DNA, Harry thought. Sneaking out with the cloak is the only right way to use it.

The fireplace was still warm, the shadows continuing their dance along the walls as the flames flickered in pursuit of their own performance.

"Fancy seeing you here," A voice called out from behind him.

Harry spun to face the intruder, alarmed. His sister's familiar face stared back at him giving him an unimpressed look. She crossed her arms, staring him down patiently.

Not for the first time, Harry cursed not being born an only child.

"Go back to bed, Mara," He growled, trying to remain quiet in the already silent common room.

"No," Mara glowered at him, raising her chin stubbornly.

"I'm serious, Mara," he threatened, looking around the room paranoid for any sign of their dorm mates or worse, a Professor. "Go back to bed."

"No!" Mara exclaimed, putting her hands on her hips.

Harry shushed her, taking a step forward. He looked around for any sign that someone had heard the outburst.

"No, I'm not going to let you shut me out again!" She growled, her voice rising in volume.

"Quiet!" Harry hissed. He slammed his hands against her mouth, preventing any words from escaping. Mara's words cut off and she glowered at her brother in a silent battle of wills.

Harry lurched back when he felt something slimy touch his hand. He gave her a disgusted look but she simply went back into her rant.

"No this has been going on since Halloween, Harry, Halloween! I'm frankly tired of this," Mara said, looking at him disapprovingly. "You won't talk to me, you lie to me and even have our friends make up excuses so you can do whatever you're doing! I'm not going to be quiet anymore-"

"Mara," He warned, taking another step forward, glaring at her.

"I'm not going to let you do this to me again! Frankly, I think I've been pretty patient with your behavior. I waited for you to come to whatever conclusion you needed to, I haven't pushed and prodded like YOU-" Here she pointed at him accusingly, "- know I wanted to."

"Mara," He tried again, lowering his voice as hers only continued to rise.

"I'm not letting you keep me out of the loop anymore! This is been going on long enough! You are going to tell me what has been going on right now or so help me, I will tell mum exactly what you've been doing," Mara threatened, her eyes narrowed dangerously at her brother.

"You wouldn't," He narrowed his eyes down at her.

Harry had clearly underestimated his sister's patience for she only took a single step forward, raising her chin in a way that resembled their mum more than his sweet little sister.

"I will," She promised.

Harry gritted his teeth as he glared at his sister. Mara only glared back.

"Fine," He relented reluctantly. Mara sent him a triumphant look, a smirk coming across her face. "But not here."

Mara didn't question it as he gestured her forward, automatically listening to him as he threw the cloak around the two of them.

Luckily, the cloak was much larger than it had any right to be. They could probably fit Hermione, Neville, and Ron underneath the cloak comfortably.

"Where are we going?" Mara questioned, the anger and stubborn tilt to her jaw draining away as if it wasn't there at all.

Once again, he cursed his sister's ability to get anything she wanted.

He rolled his eyes, clutching the cloak around them, making sure everybody part was out of view.

"The library," Harry ground out, irritated by the turn of events.

"Hermione mentioned you were looking for someone before she left," Mara whispered.

"Stop talking or you'll get us caught," Harry growled.

Mara pursed her lips but fell silent as Harry kept one hand on Mara's arm, directing her out of the common room. The two climbed through the portrait hole.

"Who's there?" The Fat Lady looked around the room as her portrait swung open but only huffed in annoyance at not seeing anyone.

"This better not be those Potter's doing, just like they're father, I swear," The lady muttered to herself.

Harry almost snorted at the thought but held himself back.

Harry drew the cloak around the two of them tighter, so they wouldn't get caught and trip on the slippery fabric.

Mara managed to stay quiet through their trek to the library, which Harry could only be thankful for. He really didn't want to hear his sister go on another rant.

Not a single light came from the library, the books on the shelves casting shadows along the floor from the few windows. Everything was eerily silent, a shiver running down Harry's spine from how different it was.

With how many times he had snuck out of his room at home only to end up reading in the library until dawn, Harry should've been used to the silent and dark nature of the library.

The restricted section was closed off with a rope. Harry pulled off the cloak, taking in a deep breath. For how useful the cloak was, it was still stuffy underneath the fabric.

Mara took in a big gulp of air and Harry shot her a look to remind her to be quiet. She pouted.

Harry stepped over the rope carefully, pulling out his wand. He moved closer to the books, trying to read the titles in the darkness.

Silently, his sister waved her wand and the end lit up in a small light. Harry sent her a thankful look. He ran his finger along the spine of the books, attempting to find any that matched Hermione's description.

Most of them were faded, the letters peeling and the majority of the books in other languages he couldn't read. Some had no title at all. A couple had a few stains that looked as if they could be blood. A shiver ran up his spine.

"Harry, are the books whispering?" Mara sounded generally alarmed. Harry frowned at her before listening closely. Sure enough, he could hear a slight muttering though it could've been the wind with how faint it was. Was there a spell to alert anyone if someone had crossed into the Restricted Section without permission?

It would make sense. He could recall at least fifteen charms for that use though he's sure Hermione could recall even more.

"It would be helpful if you told me what you were looking for," Mara whispered to him, still staring at the books suspiciously.

Harry shushed her, his eyes scanning the second shelf. Most of the titles of those he could read, he had back home, except in much better condition. A few though, including one whose title had peeled off leaving only the world Animangus, piqued his interest.

He made a note to himself to check it out if he ever got a permission slip. With the way things were going, it was making it very unlikely that would happen.

Then again, He thought with a brief look to his invisibility cloak, he didn't really need permission, did he?

Harry wasn't surprised when he reached the end of the bookcase without anything even resembling what he was looking for. The closest he could find was 'Famous Wizarding Achievements in the 20th Century' but he could vaguely remember Hermione telling him about the Sleekeazy's Hair Potion his own grandfather invented when she had read it.

She had thought it was amazing. He had fun telling her that the only people it didn't work on was the Potter Family.

Harry ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He hadn't the faintest clue where to start on the shelves.

"Harry," Mara whispered, alarmed and Harry spun around to see a familiar shadow sitting behind the rope.

The cat's narrowed eyes were focused on the twins and Harry felt a streak of fear run through him.

Ms. Norris.

The cat let out a loud shriek as if calling something. No, someone.

In a panic, Harry struggled to throw the cloak over the two of them as the light went out on Mara's wand.

Ignoring the cat, Harry and Mara, still under the cloak carefully climbed over the rope.

At the sight of Filch at the end of the corridor, Harry grabbed Mara's hand and the two bolted out of the library.

The two ducked past Filch, whose wild eyes searched the library, a hard look on his face.

Harry didn't stop until he couldn't hear the cat's yowling anymore. He breathed heavily, stopping under armor and Mara paused next to him, resting her hands on her knees.

Harry stared down the hallway, expecting someone to be following them. Much to his horror, a billowing cloak came across the corner and Harry paled even further.

He heard Mara gasp quietly and quickly threw his hand over her mouth, pressing them to the wall.

Mara was shaking under his hand but Harry's eyes stayed trained on Snape. Snape looked both ways down the corridor as Filch appeared behind him.

The two said something to one another and then split up in opposite directions.

Harry's heart thumped loudly in his chest as Snape passed right by the two.

He didn't lift his hand off Mara's mouth until he was sure he couldn't hear Snape's footsteps any longer.

Harry's eyes searched the corridor for a place to hide. A single wooden door at the end was their only salvation. Harry pulled Mara's arm, who was still shaking from the experience, towards the door.

Harry opened the door as quietly as he could and softly pushed Mara into the room, following and shutting the door behind him.

He threw the cloak off the two of them. Harry's hands were clenched as he stared at the one he had bandaged. The scar was glowing again but Harry hadn't even felt it this time.

He took a few deep breaths to get under control.

"Harry?" Mara asked awe in her voice.

Once he was sure his emotions were under control, he opened his eyes.

It was a classroom, though it clearly hadn't been in use for many years judging from the various objects and the dust on the desks piled against the walls.

Harry's eyes however caught on a giant mirror. Propped against the wall, it was the only object without a fine layer of dust. The mirror stretched from floor to ceiling. Lined with intricate gold designs and standing on two golden feet, the mirror was beautiful.

It looked like something you'd see in an old fairytale book or perhaps a palace.

"Look at the inscription," Mara said, her eyebrows scrunched in confusion and thought. He recognized the look as when Mara was trying to figure something out.

Sure enough, written a flowing golden script on the top of the mirror was an inscription.

Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

"Erised?" Mara questioned aloud. "That's a weird word."

Harry ignored his sister as she began repeating the phrase carved on the top of the mirror, her face scrunched up.

"Ehru oyt? I don't think this mirror is in English, Harry," Mara said, casting him a wary glance.

Harry ignored her, moving towards the mirror until he stood straight in front of the mirror. Somehow, this all felt familiar to him, as if he had seen it in a dream but had just forgotten.

He frowned at his reflection.

Harry watched with wide eyes as, without warning, the sleek surface of the mirror rippled.

The Mirror-Harry wasn't alone.

Beside his reflection in the mirror, Mara stood with her hands held behind her back, a bright smile on her face.

His parents stood behind the two, smiling.

His dad was younger than he had ever seen him. The lines and creases on his face were gone even the few scars that dotted his face was gone. Harry's eyes searched his mirror-fathers face for the jagged scar across his eyebrow. Even that was gone.

He winked at Harry, his eyes alit with mischief, happier than Harry had ever seen him. His mirror-father placed a hand on mirror-Harry's shoulder.

Harry almost expected to feel the comforting weight on his own yet there was nothing. For extra measure, he looked behind him.

Mara was still looking at the inscription, repeating it under her breath with a thoughtful look. The room was otherwise empty.

Harry turned back to the mirror with a frown. The figures were still there, greeting him with bright smiles.

Harry studied his mother's face carefully. She was more beautiful than he remembers, somehow more youthful. Like his mirror-father, the lines and creases he remembered on his own mother's face were now gone. She looked vibrant, much more like he imagined she looked as a Head Prefect in all the stories he had been told.

Was this what she would've looked like had there hadn't been a war?

The most startling difference between the mirror and the world he knew was himself and Mara.

Mirror-Harry grinned at him, tilting his head. The scar on his forehead was red and jagged. The lightning bolt he had become used to seeing on Mara's forehead was now mirrored on his own.

Harry couldn't help but reach up to touch his own scar but what he saw in the mirror didn't match the faint scar he could feel on his own forehead.

Mara was the opposite. Her bangs were pushed to the side, revealing the white line on her forehead. Faded, much like he was (is, he corrected himself). It was almost as if the twins had switched placed.

The spot he was so used to seeing Mara in, front and center, was now his own. Mirror-Mara held Mirror-Harry's hand, smiling as if nothing was wrong.

The family of four looked happy, carefree as they surrounded Harry. He could almost feel the love the family had for his mirror counterpart.

His father's firm but gentle hand on his shoulder, almost as if he was showing off Mirror-Harry. Like he was proud of him.

His mum's head laid on his dad's shoulder, beaming joy through the mirror.

A pang of longing went through his chest. It was wrong, it wasn't real but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the scene.

Softly, he reached out to the mirror, reaching out for the reflection.

"Harry?" Mara's voice felt weak, almost like he was hearing it through the water.

Harry paused, his fingers pausing just before touching the mirror. He blinked a few times, trying to clear the static in his ears.

"Harry, I don't think we should be here," Mara's voice was nervous. Her face swam into his focus, taking his off of the mirror. Her face showed her worry for him but Harry couldn't bring himself to care.

As Harry came to, he felt weird. Like he was feeling nothing and everything all at once.

"There's something weird about this mirror. We should go," Mara pleaded with him.

Go? Why would he go?

"No," Harry shook his head adamantly. He tried to focus on the mirror behind Mara but Mara only stepped in his way again. He gave her an annoyed glance.

"Harry, you're acting really weird. I don't like this," Mara's eyes watered in his vision but Harry just shrugged off her hand.

"It's fine," He said gruffly, pushing past her, attempting to see into the mirror again. Mara fell quiet, looking back at the mirror briefly before studying his face. Harry pushed down his annoyance at the solemn look on her face.

"What did you see in the mirror, Harry?" her voice was much quieter.

Harry frowned at her, realizing tears were building up in her eyes. He blinked a few times as if being lifted out of a fog. He shook his head a few times but his eyes kept trailing back to the mirror.

"Us." He admitted. Mara sent him a surprised look but didn't say anything. "Or well, what could've been our family, I think."

Mara's face dropped. "What could've been?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded, remembering the warmth and love his family had shown in his reflection. "Mum and Dad were younger, I think. They looked, I don't know, happier. Dad didn't have any of his scars either."

Mara risked a glance back at the mirror before studying his face more clearly. "What was different about me?"

Harry frowned at her. "Our scars were switched."

Mara suddenly stiffened.

Harry frowned, pondering what he saw.

"It was like all those photos in the Daily Prophet they have to put out but so much better. I was actually there," He said, only a bit bitterly, "and we were all smiling. Not like the fake smiles you wear."

Harry was startled suddenly by a sniff from Mara. Harry looked down, alarmed to see Mara's face dripping with tears, a sorrowful look on her face.

"Mara?" He raised a hand towards her but she turned away, hiding her tearful face from him.

"Erised. Why would they put such a weird inscription on such a large mirror unless it was important?" She said, her voice thick with tears. "The first word is erised. I didn't understand until I remembered it was a mirror. It's backward, Harry, like you would read it in a mirror."

Erised. Desire. Harry's eyes widened as he turned to look at the inscription.

Of course, the mirror showed them what they desired.

Harry turned to face the mirror again. His family appeared, happy smiles on their faces as if they were delighted to see him again.

Then what did he desire?

As if in response to his question, the background suddenly lit up, more and more people appearing behind them. Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus grinned in delight down at them. His grandparents on both sides, even more, and more people appeared until the mirror was filled with more and more.

Even Ron, Neville and Hermione were standing in the background, smiles on their faces.

He held a palm against the cool glass, the static in his head coming back full-force.

"Harry, we need to go," Mara begged him.

Harry ignored her, uncaringly, his eyes studying his family, drinking in the sight of their loving faces towards his reflection.

They were all focused on him.

Two hands roughly pushed him and Harry stumbled away from the mirror. Mara's tear-streaked face met him, her face between panic and sorrow. Her hands were still outstretched from where she pushed him.

Anger lit up in his bones like a disease. For once, instead of hiding from the flames licking through his hand, he embraced them.

"What is your problem!" He growled.

Mara flinched. "You weren't listening to me, you were too captured in this mirror," She spat the word mirror out like a curse word, glaring at the offending object.

Harry growled out. "I don't have to listen to you! I'm your brother, not your servant!"

"I never said you were my servant!" She yelled back, emotions flashing across her face.

"I don't need your help, Mara," Harry growled out.

"No, I'm not going to let you shut me out again! Please, Harry!"

He wasn't sure if she was begging for them to leave or if she was begging for him not to shut her out but either way, Harry didn't care.

"I don't need your help! Just leave me alone!" He shouted.

"Harry, it's this mirror! You can't let it affect you like this!"

"I'll do what I want!"

"We have to go!" Mara stomped her foot furiously but Harry couldn't care less.

"You go! I didn't want you to come in the first place!"

Mara flinched back from him but quickly found her anger again, facing him.

"I'm not going to leave you here! We're going now!" Mara grabbed a hold of his arm, pulling him to the door.

Harry snarled, the flames in his hand reaching out, running through his body like a drug.

"Stop!" As if responding to his fury, a pulse of magic launched out of Harry. He could only watch in slow motion as Mara's eyes widened with panic and the hand on his arm lifted off.

Mara screamed as she was thrown back, collapsing on the ground several feet away.

Harry stared wide-eyed at his sister's collapsed form. His body refused to listen to him, frozen to the spot. He watched as his sister sobbed on the floor, sitting up slowly.

Monster

Her hazel eyes, normally filled with so much light stared at him now, red and puffy from her tears but even more disturbingly, with fear. Harry could only watch silently in shock as she picked herself up from the ground, grabbing ahold of the discarded cloak on the floor and fled the room.

monstermonster

Harry swallowed, looking down at his hands briefly. What had he done?

monstermonstermonster

'You would never hurt your sister' he remembered Sirius telling him.

monstermonstermonstermonster

Harry collapsed to his knees, a sick feeling welling up in his stomach. His throat closed up and he suddenly couldn't breathe. A hand clawed at his throat, willing oxygen between his panting breaths but nothing filled his aching lungs.

monstermonstermonstermonstermonster

Why couldn't he breathe? He dimly could feel something slow running down his palms from where his hands had been tightly clenched but he couldn't seem to bring himself to care. He couldn't breathe.

Monstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonster

He fell the floor, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to get oxygen to his lungs. He wanted home. He wanted his mum's calming hand running through his hair, his dad softly reading to him. Breathe, just breathe…

Monstermonstermonstermonsteermonstermonstermonster

Dark spots ran across the corners of his vision and Harry clutched his eyes shut, pushing his wet hands into his eyes as hard as he could. Colors and shapes danced across his vision but Harry shook his head, trying to calm, trying to breathe…

Monstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonster

Please, he silently begged, please breathe…

Monstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonster

Harry's eyes shot open as a particularly loud shudder ran through his body. He clutched his hands into his chest, digging the tips of his fingernails into his chest. JUST…

Monstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstermonstrmonstermonster

BREATHE….

Harry's eyes caught the soft glimmer of the mirror. The still smiling faces of his family staring back.

A cool feeling washed over him and suddenly he could breathe. Air-filled his lungs and Harry let out harsh rasps, trying to absorb the air into his oxygen-deprived lungs.

He crawled over to the mirror, tears springing to his eyes as the familiar bright faces of his family stared back at him. They all smiled, as if telling him it'll be alright.

Harry let his head fall onto the cool glass, soothing the sweaty heat of his forehead. He placed his hand back onto the mirror, ignoring the way it stained the glass red.

"I'm sorry, Sirius," He murmured emptily to the mirror.

'You would never hurt your sister,'

Except, he had.

---

Neville woke to a heavyweight on his chest and something soft brushing across his nose. He lifted a hand to swat it away only to meet the empty air.

The weight on his chest shifted and Neville barely stopped himself from groaning in pain as it pushed against his stomach. He's pretty sure it was leaning directly on his spleen.

Neville opened his eyes to spot the offending object. Two bright, warm amber eyes stared down at him, gold feathers filling up the edges of his vision.

Neville's heart stopped.

The thing on his chest let out a soft trill and a warm feeling passed through him, breaking up the panic welling up in his throat. However, the warmth passed and the never-ending panic he was accustomed to returning.

Neville blinked a few times before recognizing the bird on his chest.

"Aura?" He asked, timidly and still in pain.

The bird let out a brighter trill as if agreeing with him.

Neville frowned deeply, trying to ignore the stabs of pain from where she was standing on his stomach. While he didn't normally interact with the phoenix, he knew her well enough not to freak out.

"Could you please get off me?" He asked the phoenix as politely as he could.

With a large flap of her wings, the golden phoenix lifted off him and Neville let his head fall back onto the bed with a breath of relief.

He rubbed the bruised spot on his stomach, sitting up in his bed.

There was a slight chill in the room meaning it probably snowed, only confirmed by the pile of snow on their windowsill.

Neville could still hear Ron's snoring from where he was and his eyes automatically moved towards Harrys' bed.

It was empty.

Neville felt a nervous feeling run through him. He turned his eyes towards the golden bird, who was now perched on the end of his bed, staring at him.

"Did Harry come back last night?" He asked the bird, feeling foolish for even asking a phoenix (who can't talk).

However, the bird's gaze drifted towards the door and then to him. It let out a sad trill, making an uncomfortable feeling run through his chest.

He swallowed. He got out of bed, shivering from the cold tile underneath his feet and padded his way over to Ron's bed.

He knew this was a long shot but it was all he could do right now. He shook Ron lightly to wake him up.

To Neville's disgust, the redhead only muttered something, before flipping on his other side. His pillow wet from Ron's drooling.

Neville sighed, shaking his head in exasperation.

He eyed the Phoenix before smirking down at his roommate. Payback for leaving his robes all over the floor.

"Can you wake him up?" He asked the phoenix curiously. He wasn't sure the bird even understood him but he figured it was worth a try.

The Phoenix let out another trill, flapping its wings and hovering in the air for a moment before soaring across the room and landing unceremonial next to Ron's head.

Ron's nose twitched as Aura's feathers brushed across it but otherwise didn't move at all.

Aura butted her head against the red-head a few times but Ron only groaned in response, tucking his head further under the pillow.

Aura trilled almost like a huff of anger and Neville smothered his laugh beneath his palm.

"He doesn't like spiders," Neville offered helpfully with a smile.

Aura's response was a single trill.

"SPIDERS!" Ron gasped loudly, falling out of his bed with a loud bang.

Neville blinked in response but knowing how Aura tended to send her messages through peoples head, he figured he was better off not knowing.

Ron picked himself off the ground, throwing a panicked gaze around the room. Neville decided to wait until he got his head together.

It took several minutes before Ron climbed back into his head, though Neville didn't mention that he checked under the covers suspiciously.

"What happened?" Ron rubbed his forehead still jittery.

"Did you see if Harry came back last night?" Neville asked, avoiding telling Ron about how he got to dreaming about spiders. It wasn't unusual for Ron to have nightmares featuring the creepy arachnid.

Ron yawned before his face twisted up in thought. "Harry? He left?"

Neville rolled his eyes, shooting a worried look at Harry's empty bed. He sighed heavily. He had known Harry for nine years and every time Harry was missing- one of three things were bound to happen.

Something bad is about to happen, Something bad is going to happen, or Something bad has already happened.

"Get dressed. We need to find him." Neville said, moving to his trunk to pick up clothes to change into.

"What for?" Ron yawned again, specks of spit flying out his mouth from not covering it. Neville rolled his eyes.

"I just have a bad feeling," Neville admitted, picking at the skin around his thumb.

Aura trilled again, catching his attention. She tilted her head to the door, staring in that direction. Something scratched on the door and Neville's eyes opened in realization.

Neville moved quickly, opening up the door and sure enough, the small black and white feline he usually saw with Mara was there.

'It took you long enough,' Breena said. Neville flinched from the response but the cat didn't seem care as she stalked into the room. He only stared at the cat, his jaw-dropping nearly to the floor.

The cat just talked to him.

'What has your bonded done now?' The cat accused as soon as she caught sight of the golden bird.

Aura trilled again but this time sounding like an indignant huff and not a cry.

'You have no right to talk about my bonded like that. Yours is straying from the path,' Breena hissed at the bird.

Neville shot a look to Ron who looked as flabbergasted as he felt. Ron, too, knew Breena could speak but it never seemed to click that the cat could talk.

Aura screeched, her gold eyes narrowed dangerously onto Breena.

Breena huffed, sitting back on her haunches. She licked her paw, smoothing the fur on her chest with it.

'The humans are confused, as usual,' Breena eyed the two shocked humans. 'I have spoken to you two-legs before, have I not?'

It took a few seconds of Breena simply staring at him before he got the message that she wanted him to respond to her.

"Uh-no," He flushed from how squeaky his voice was. "How-?" He paused, that didn't seem like the right question right now though his insides burned with curiosity.

"What-What are you doing here?" He stumbled out.

'Your friend,' Breena paused on this word as if it felt wrong to say, 'My bond's littermate, he is in trouble.'

"Trouble?" Neville's stomach dropped in fear. He picked at his thumb, trying to calm his racing heartbeat. "What kind of trouble?"

'He has done something,' Breena narrowed her eyes at the golden bird, who only looked into the window, 'Something to have weakened his bond with his familiar. If he does not return to normal, their bond could break.'

"I'm assuming that's not a good thing," Ron spoke up, his eyes narrowed between the two of them.

'A broken bond is of the worst fate for a familiar and her bonded,' Breena narrowed her eyes on the red-head. 'A fate worse than death. You must fix this break.'

"And how do we do that?" Neville asked, eyeing the cat nervously.

'Find what is blocking his mind. What he has done to weaken his bond with his familiar. It must have distressed him greatly,' Breena told them. 'Clear his mind and the bond will be restored.'

"Why can't Aura do this?" Ron asked, almost whining as he eyed his cozy bed. Neville shot him an annoyed look.

'Their bond is newly developed. The hatchling is still young. Any attempts to heal the bond from the phoenix may end with disastrous results,' Breena informed them.

'You in particular, human, have a strong bond with him. Your attempt may yield better results,' Breena said.

"What about Mara?" Neville frowned.

Breena's fur raised as her eyes turned to him, narrowed.

'Her littermate did something the previous night. She is hurt,' Breena told them, her tail flicking wildly behind her.

"She's hurt?" Neville sent her a panicked look.

'Scratches and Bruises physically but her heart is in a far worse state,' Breena said.

Neville felt a pang of guilt run through him. Ultimately, it had been him who had encouraged Mara to confront Harry. He was the one who told her about Harry sneaking out.

'Do not fret, human, simply clear her littermate's head and she shall heal as well,' Breena told him softly.

"Where is she?" He asked.

Breena flicked her tail towards the doorway. 'You may find her sitting by the heat.'

Neville frowned, before turning to Ron. Ron just stared at him with an equally bewildered look.

"I'll go talk to Mara. You go find Harry," He ordered, his anxiety lessening in his determination. Ron only stared at him, seemingly not comprehending what was going on.

"Quickly!" Neville narrowed his eyes on his friend. Ron scrambled out of his best at his order, slamming into the floor but Neville didn't stay to find out if he was okay. He left the red-head with the two familiars.

Mara was surprisingly difficult to spot as he entered the common room. Despite it being early morning, it was still dark in the common room beside the light from the windows and the burning fire.

He almost walked right past her until he spotted the hazel eyes of his friend cuddled into the couch.

She was surrounded by a red plush blanket, cocooning into its warmth. Interestingly, she reminded him of a burrito, wrapped in the blanket. Her eyes and hair were the only things still showing.

Neville softly sat down at the edge of the couch, watching her quietly for any movements. She didn't make any, her eyes focused on the fire.

He noticed, with a pang of increasing guilt in his stomach, that her eyes were rimmed with red as if she had been crying all night.

Knowing her, he thought, she probably was.

"Breena came and got me," He admitted to her, hoping to drive a reaction out of her.

She didn't answer.

"She said something was wrong," He looked at her, hoping she would tell him what was going on.

"Harry wasn't in his bed this morning," Neville didn't know whether to be relieved or upset that this was what got a reaction out of her.

Tears filled her eyes again and she buried even her eyes under the blanket, leaving only her long hair splayed out on the red couch.

"Did something happen to Harry?" He asked worriedly.

He could see Mara shaking her head no underneath the covers.

"Did something happen with Harry?" He rephrased.

There was hesitance and then Mara softly nodded yes.

"Can you tell me what happened?" He asked, his voice as soft and low as he could get.

Mara didn't answer but her two hazel eyes peeked out from under the blanket. They were glistening with tears.

"Can you come out and tell me what happened?"

He waited a few minutes in silence, neither making a move. Mara popped her entire head out of the blanket, sitting up slowly.

Her eyes were trained downwards but she couldn't hide the bags under her eyes or the tear stains on her face nor the slight sniffle as she curled her feet into her body, hugging her legs to her chest.

At that moment, Ron came running down the stairs, huffing. Neville turned to stare at him and Ron only huffed in annoyance before he caught an eyeful of Mara.

"You look terrible," He gaped at Mara's face. Mara whimpered softly, hiding her face into her knees.

Neville sent him an icy glare. This was why he had Ron go find Harry and not Mara.

"Sorry but she does," Ron shrugged, unapologetic.

"Go," Neville pointed to the door, shaking his head. Ron huffed, crossing his arms but left through the portrait anyway.

He turned to Mara again.

"What happened?" He asked, gently.

It took a while but Mara finally took in a deep breath. She rested her chin on her knees, her eyes staring into the fire.

"He came down as you said. He got the invisibility cloak from Dad. I knew Dad had been planning on giving it to him. I thought at least, he'd take me with him whenever he would use it but.." Mara trailed off, a sad look in her eyes.

"Harry didn't want me to come. I was making a lot of noise. I told him I'd tell mum if he didn't let me come. How stupid is that? I've never had to use Mum against Harry before. He's always just let me come," Mara said, her eyes glistening again.

"He agreed. We snuck out to the library. Such a Harry thing to do," She shook her head softly. "You can be invisible anytime you want and yet you go to the library?"

A fond smile lifted onto Neville's lips.

"Anyway, Harry wouldn't tell me what we were looking for. We got caught by Filch's cat," Mara told him. "Filch wasn't too far away but we booked it out of there. Harry found this empty doorway and pushed me in so we could hide from him and Snape."

"We.." Mara trailed off, breathing in deeply. Neville's heart broke at the desolate look on her face, curled up with her chin resting on her knees gently. She looked so sad, so alone at that moment. "We found a mirror."

Neville listened quietly, holding onto her hand softly as she told the story. "It had this really weird inscription on the top of it. Erised stra ehryu..I can't remember after that. It was really odd though. I kept thinking why would it be inscribed on the top of a mirror."

"That's when it hit me. It's on top of a mirror, maybe you're supposed to look at it as if it's a mirror. It was still nonsense but I got the first word. Erised. Desire."

Neville's breath hitched but Mara didn't seem to notice. Her hand clenched tightly onto his as her eyes stared at the fire, emotions flickering across her face faster than he could identify them.

"I went to go tell Harry but he standing in front of the mirror. He was acting really odd. He was just staring into it, his eyes all glazed. I asked him what he saw in the mirror. He said he saw us-or what our family could've been, I guess."

"That our parents were young and happy, with no scars. Then...then he said that in the mirror, our scars are switched."

Neville looked over at her, eyes disbelieving. Harry adored his sister. They fought and they argued. They disagreed and they teased one another but they loved them. All his life Neville had wished he had a sibling as great as either of them.

He couldn't imagine Harry ever being jealous of Mara's fame. That just wasn't who he was.

Mara stifled a sob as she clutched onto his hand. "I told him about the mirror- Desire. The mirror shows you what you want. And Harry...He wanted us to be switched. He wants my title and everything that goes with it," Mara cried, her body shaking from her heavy sobs.

Neville only leaned his arm across her and pulled her into his chest. "I'm sorry," Neville swallowed, hoping that he could help somehow.

"I wish I had never had this stupid scar! I wish Voldemort never attacked us! I wish my godmother was still alive! I wish I was never born!" Mara wailed into her arms.

Neville tightened his grip around her, not sure what to say to her. He didn't know if his next words would make everything worse or not. All he knew was that he needed to make this right. Make things better.

He just wished he knew how.

The portrait opened briefly. Neville looked up to see the brown-haired girl from the snowball fight. Paige?

No, Peyton! He remembered. She introduced herself to them two days ago. She was the one who saved Mara from the bludger.

Peyton stopped in her tracks at seeing the two of them. Neville flushed brilliantly red as he realized the position the two were in. Mara was crying softly into his chest, her arms and legs tucked into her while his arm was laid across her shoulders.

"Uh.." He stuttered.

Brilliant job, Neville, he thought to himself bitterly, Now she thinks you're an idiot.

"You two okay?" Peyton asked, raising an eyebrow casually.

Neville wished he could be as composed as she looked.

"Um…" He eyed the tearful girl in his arms before looking at the brown-haired girl again. Truthfully, he needed to go find Harry to straighten out this mess but Mara didn't look like she was calming down anytime soon.

"Could you sit with her? I need to chew out my best friend," He told her honestly.

Whatever Peyton had been expecting, it wasn't that as shock drifted across her face.

"Wait, what?" She said and Neville had a brief moment of triumph at causing the stoic girl to lose her composure.

He sent her a small grin, as he peeled Mara back from him. Mara stifled a sob but didn't protest.

He made sure she was securely on the couch before standing up. Mara's hand caught his wrist and she looked up at him, her wide eyes filled to the brim with tears. Slight snot was dripping from her nose and Neville grimaced.

Her face fell at his grimace but she gripped his wrist tighter, sending him a pleading look.

"There's something wrong with that mirror, Neville. Be careful and don't look at it," The serious look in her eyes didn't falter. He gulped, giving her a soft nod and she let go of his hand with a shiver, curling back up into her ball.

Neville shot Peyton a pleading look, gesturing softly to the shaking red-head.

Peyton sent him a floundering look back as if saying 'What do you expect me to do?'

Neville looked between the portrait and the red-head blowing her nose into a tissue. He sent Peyton an apologetic look before dashing away.

"Hey! Wait, I didn't agree-"

The portrait closing cut off the rest of her words. Neville breathed a sigh of relief leaning against the wall next to the portrait.

"How rude to leave a girl in tears," The Fat Lady scoffed in her portrait, turning her back to him.

Neville only sighed. He had a best friend to rip into.

---

"You could have woken me up," said Ron, crossly. He lobed a glob of butter onto his piece of toast, spreading it around as best he could.

"You can come to see tonight. You and Neville. I'm going back," Harry said absentmindedly.

Ron raised an eyebrow at the green-eyed boy as he took a large bite of his toast.

He looked kinda out of it if he was being completely honest.

Maybe he didn't get enough sleep?

Ron shrugged, "D'you think it shows your family? If so, I'd like to see your parents."

"Dunno," Harry muttered.

"Have some bacon or something. You haven't eaten anything since I got here," Ron said, eyeing Harry's plate.

Harry shrugged. "I'm not hungry."

Ron finished off his toast, pointing at the plate of crepes in front of them. "You sure? You should really eat something."

"I'm fine," Harry muttered, sending him an irritated glare. Ron frowned for a moment. Something felt off about Harry today but he couldn't exactly put his finger on it.

"Harry?"

Ron looked up from his food as Neville approached the table, his brows furrowed in worry as he stared at Harry.

He whirled his eyes onto Ron, who only gave the boy a shrug.

"He said he found a mirror that showed his parents," Ron informed him through his mouth of potatoes.

Neville sent him a disgusted look. Ron just rolled his eyes before swallowing.

"He said he's gonna take us to see this cool mirror tonight."

Neville stilled but Ron paid him no mind.

"What mirror?" Neville finally asked, directing his question at Harry.

Neville worriedly picked at the skin on his thumb, attempting to calm the sick feeling in his stomach.

"I found this mirror last night. It showed me, my family." He told them, his fork scratching at his plate as he pushed around his untouched food. His face was completely blank as if not seeing anything.

"Harry?" Neville asked, nervously. "Did anything else happen?"

Harry didn't respond for a few seconds. He blinked a few times before looking up. Harry blinked his eyes a few more times as if trying to focus.

"No," He mumbled, his gaze falling to his plate again.

Neville sent him a worried gaze but Ron just stuck a piece of bacon in his mouth, focused on the food.

"I spoke to Mara." He said, slipping into the seat next to them.

Harry blinked a couple times, his back straightening. "Mara..?"

Neville and Ron exchanged a confused look. Neville felt sick now. He had never seen Harry like this before.

He nodded in response.

"Oh," Harry said. "I'll show you the mirror tonight."

Neville opened his mouth to protest but Harry's clarity had already passed, his eyes dropping to the plate again.

Neville bit his lip nervously. He really didn't want to go see the mirror. He sent a look towards Ron but the redhead was back to eating his food, chatting aimlessly.

"Okay," He agreed reluctantly.

He really hoped he didn't live to regret it.

---

He already regretted it.

Neville grimaced as Harry pulled out the invisible fabric later that night.

"Whoa!" Ron exclaimed as he put his arm under the fabric. A huge grin took up his face as he watched his arm disappear under the cloak.

Neville sighed as he fingered the silky fabric. He had a feeling this wasn't going to be the only time they sneak out with the cloak.

"Let's go," Harry said, throwing the cloak over the three of them.

Neville gulped as he was pressed in between his two friends, trying to fit under the fabric together. Harry started leading the charge, shuffling carefully along the floor.

Neville tried to keep up, shuffling behind Harry quietly while Ron was pressed behind him.

"It's stuffy under here," Ron commented as they climbed down the stairs one at a time.

"Quiet," Harry hissed.

The fireplace was still burning in the common room, coating it in a soft orange glow.

A messy bush of red hair sat on the couch in front of the fire. As the invisible trio turned to face the couch, Neville could see the red face of Mara.

She looked miserable.

Her eyes were ringed red from tears, while two large dark purple circles trailed under her eyes. Her hair was almost as frizzed up as Hermione's on a good day while her nose was slightly crusty from rubbing it.

She sniffed as they passed, running a hand under her eyes as if she was tired. Her eyes briefly closed but opened once more as she drove her fingers tightly into the skin of her arm.

Neville did at least note that she wasn't crying nor was she trying to throw herself into the fireplace.

So, an improvement.

Neville was pulled from his thoughts by a sharp pain to his knee. He grimaced as one of the books sitting on the table his knee had just connected with, went tumbling to the ground with a loud thump.

Mara jumped, her eyes wide as she turned to the table and the book.

Harry's hand grabbed Neville's tightly, all three of them pause.

Neville frowned, gazing between Mara's wide-eyed panic and Harry's tightly scrunched up face.

"Harry?" Mara croaked like she hadn't spoken in hours.

Neville caught Harry's eye, sending him a slight jerk of his head towards Mara's position. Harry narrowed his eyes, shaking his head slightly.

Harry let go of Neville's arm and continued to shuffle forwards, carefully making no noise under his socked feet.

Neville sent Mara a worried look, as she continued to look around, trying to spot them.

They were almost five shuffles from the portrait entrance when a loud sneeze came from behind them.

Instantly, Harry and Neville froze. Neville risked a glance at Ron, who was rubbing his nose softly.

He shrugged in a silent apology while Harry glared daggers at the two of them.

"I know you're there," Mara's voice called out to them. Risking another glance to the red-head, her eyes were soft and sad as she stared right through them.

"It's okay," She said quietly. "I know you're mad at me."

Neville sent a glance to Harry whose voice contorted as if he was in pain for a moment before he caught Neville's gaze and turned to stare straight at the entrance again.

"Just...Come back safe, please," She pleaded.

Neville and Ron shuffled quietly behind Harry as he led them the remaining steps to the portrait, the entrance opening quietly as they shuffled out.

As the portrait opened, revealing to the red-head that they were indeed there, her face fell.

"I'm sorry," Her arms wrapped around her middle as if holding her together as she stared sadly after them.

No one said a word.

The portrait closed behind them, leaving Mara to stare after them.

---

"Whoa!" Ron exclaimed upon seeing the intricate mirror.

The mirror's size and delicate details were impressive enough on its own but Neville knew it held a darker tone. Mara's warnings held firmly in his head, along with her crumpled face as they left her alone in the common room.

Harry hadn't said a word since they left, only guiding them down the hallways until they reached the former classroom.

Harry hadn't hesitated, tracing it like he had memorized the way. Knowing his best friend, he probably had.

As soon as they had entered the room, Harry had dropped the cloak and ran to the mirror.

The tension in his shoulders disappeared as he stared into the mirror. Neville felt sick as the two of them stared at the mirror.

"What does it do?" Ron asked warily, eyeing the mirror. Neville was relieved to see whatever trance Harry was in wasn't affecting him.

"Here- stand when I am," Harry stepped aside from that glazed look back in his eyes. Ron sent a look to Neville who shook his head slowly. Ron shrugged, stepping in front of the mirror.

Ron's eyes went wide though Neville could only see himself reflected back in his pajama's.

"Look at me!" He breathed out.

"What do you see?" Harry asked eagerly.

"It's me but I'm different! I look older! I'm head boy! I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to! I'm holding the house cup and the quidditch cup! Bloody hell, I'm quidditch captain too, like Charlie!"

Ron tore his eyes from the mirror, his face lit up with awe and excitement.

"Do you think this mirror shows the future?"

"No," Harry shook his head, staring back into the mirror longingly. "It shows you whatever you desire."

"Oh," Ron's face fell slightly, turning back to the mirror disappointedly. He tilted his head at the mirror.

Ron wasn't looking as entranced as he was a few minutes ago but Neville shifted from foot to foot in his nervousness.

Neville swallowed, his fingers already heading towards his already messed up fingers.

"Harry-I...I don't think we should be here," He said, his voice shaking a bit.

Harry turned to face him with that glazed-over look. He scrutinized him for a few seconds while Ron stared into the mirror, his eyes narrowing.

"Here- What do you see, Neville?" Harry asked, his glazed green eyes focusing on him.

Neville froze.

The million-dollar question. The one he knew was coming but didn't want to have to face. A million thoughts ran through his head. What did he want? More than anything, what did he want?

Mara's cracked voice, heavy from tears was running through his head.

'There's something wrong with it, Neville. Be careful and whatever you do, don't look into it.'

Neville's feet moved of their own accord. Despite the weighted stone, he felt he had swallowed, Neville moved.

Harry and Ron, both moved away as Neville came to stand in front of the mirror. Neville gulped, his gaze still lowered to the floor.

Didn't he already know what he wanted?

Neville grimaced, remembering the tin he had filled with candy wrappers and other useless objects.

Didn't he already know what he desired?

When Neville looked up, he wasn't surprised at what he saw.

Alice and Frank Longbottom were amazing. His mother's face, unlike the gaunt and skinny one he knew, was filled with vibrancy. Her eyes, a lighter hazel with more green flecks than his own, was filled with laughter.

His father, his face carefree and unburdened from the scars of that fateful night. He stared back at Neville, a bright smile on his face, holding his wife's hand. The two looked at each other and tears prickled in the corner of his vision at the love and care the two shared.

He wished he had known the two faces that stared back at him, looked at him with love in their eyes and not the blank look he was used to.

Wished with all his heart that he could have the beautiful picture the mirror showed him. An ache in him longed to reach out to the mirror as if he could just touch it and fall into it. Have his mum throw her arms around him, have his dad pick him up after he fell, his mum cook breakfast every Sunday, his dad to teach him how to properly brew potions.

To have them be his parents and not the ghosts he had now. He reached out towards the mirror, hoping with everything in him that the image would not disappear.

Neville lowered his hand to his side, his eyes falling to his shoes.

It wasn't real.

No matter how much he wishes it or hoped with his being, no one could change the past. No one could fix his parents because whether or not they are what he wanted, they are his parents.

Even if they still stared at him blankly, he would always love them regardless. The people the mirror showed weren't his parents. They were the perfect versions of broken people and that's not what Neville wanted.

Neville breathed out, taking a few steps back from the mirror.

He understood now, what Mara had said. What she had been so afraid of.

"Harry, I'm going back," Neville told Harry, all the fight drained away from him. He tiredly rubbed his eyes, wanting nothing more than to curl up in his bed.

" What did you see?" Harry asked, his eyes now focused on the mirror.

"I saw my parents," Neville informed him.

That seemed to shock his two friends out of the glaze they had found themselves in. Ron spun to face him, his face bewildered.

"I've never heard you mention your parents before. I always thought they were-" Ron cut himself off, his ears turning pink as he realized what he almost said.

Neville kept his eyes trained on Harry. Harry's eyes were bright and filled with guilt now as he looked at his best friend.

"Were they.." Harry couldn't seem to finish.

"They were happy," Neville told him, nodding his head. "They knew who I was."

"What?" Ron asked, bewildered.

Neville ignored him in favor of staring at Harry's guilt-ridden face.

"It's not real, Harry," Neville said, raising his voice in a way he never had before. The irritation and stress that had been building since Harry had found this stupid mirror coming to an explosion.

"You're parents at home," Neville bit out, just a bit bitterly. "Your mum sits up and worries about you every night. She writes you a letter every week even though you don't respond. Your dad goes to work and catches bad guys, hoping that his efforts make you and Mara just a little safer. They love you, Harry."

Harry flinched back from the slight venom in his voice. Neville swallowed the guilt building but he knew that he needed to snap Harry out of the illusion he has.

"It's not real!" Neville said, pressure building in the corner of his eyes but he refused to shed any more tears. "Those aren't my parents and it isn't your family either."

Harry's face fell, taking a step back from Neville. Neville breathed in, digging his fingers into his palms to calm himself. He wanted his friend back.

His wanted his mum. He wanted his dad.

But those were wishes that wouldn't come true.

He softened his eyes, staring into Harry's glazed emerald.

"When you're done sulking in front of an illusion, We'll be here for you. Even though it's not what you want," Neville looked at the mirror one last time before turning away. "It's real."

With that, Neville turned and stalked from the room, his breath coming in heavy gasps as held back sobs.

Ron shot a look between Harry and where Neville disappeared, confused.

"I'm not sure what exactly is going on but I don't think I've ever seen Neville that upset," Ron said, a frown on his lips. "I do agree with him on one point though. Your obsession with this mirror isn't healthy."

"Don't you want what you saw?"

"Yeah," Ron agreed easily. "But I'd rather get it on my own terms than stare at the mirror until it becomes real."

Harry flinched back from his words. "That's easy for you to say," Harry stared at his feet, his eyes glistening. "You can do make what you want real."

"Maybe, but maybe not," Ron admitted, staring into the mirror sadly. "Most likely not but I'm okay with that."

Harry stiffened, looking at Ron disbelievingly.

Ron sent him an easy grin. "I've got you guys. Sure, Hermione's a know-it-all who is obsessed with books, Neville's a scaredy-cat on his best days and Mara's a chocoholic who doesn't know how to stop but you guys are the first friends I've ever had."

Ron pretended not to notice a few tears falling out Harrys' eyes. "I wouldn't change you for the world."

He reached forward, patting Harry on his shoulder, giving him a soft smile.

"When you're ready, We'll be here for you, mate," With those words, Ron turned to leave. As he opened the door, he suddenly stiffened. Harry watched as he turned back, eyeing Harry warily.

"You might want to study the people you see a little more closely. Even I'm not that handsome," Ron sent him a teasing grin before he too, disappeared through the doorway, the door falling shut quietly behind him and leaving Harry alone with the mirror and his thoughts.

---

Harry's own emerald eyes stared back at him. His face, so like but unlike his own was bright, filled with a youth that his own just didn't portray.

His reflection's lips creased up into a smile, alit with a happiness that he didn't feel. It felt wrong to see his own face so happy when all he felt was…

Empty.

None of his friends had spoken to him at breakfast that morning, not that he would've noticed if they had. Ron had sent him a nod but Neville had ignored him completely. He had no clue where Mara even was the entire day but when he had come back during the early morning, she was fast asleep on the couch, still waiting for him.

She was there again when he crept out but he didn't have the heart or focus to speak to her. He didn't know what to say.

He didn't know what to say to any of them.

Harry let his forehead collide with the mirror's coolness, soothing him.

As the hours crept by, Harry lost track of just how long he had been sitting in front of the mirror. His legs and arms ached from the cramped position and he had lost feeling in a few of his toes.

Harry knew he should care. He knew he should be worried, be concerned, be horrified about the way he was acting. He just wasn't.

He was just empty.

His hand pressed firmly against the cool glass as if enough pressure could make it sink into the reflection. His eyes studied each of the faces reflected back at him except they weren't the way he remembered them.

His father had a mole on the right side of his neck. He knew his paternal grandmother shared the same mole. They didn't exist.

His maternal grandfather had blue eyes, something no one else in the family seemed to share yet here, they were the same emerald sheen as his mother's.

Underneath the scars that lined his Uncle Moony's face, his cheeks were sprinkled with freckles, so light you could only notice it under certain lights. Here, his face may be clear of those scars but there were no freckles to be found.

His Uncle Sirius's front teeth were crooked a bit to the right. Here, His Uncle Sirius was as perfect as every other face staring back at him.

Neville's ears were too big for his head- they stuck out at odd angles reminding him of a mouse or a rat. Neville tried to keep his hair long enough to cover them due to his insecurity. Here, they fit in perfectly.

"It's not real" Neville had practically shouted at him.

It didn't make him feel any less empty.

Harry wasn't stupid. He knew the mirror and all the wonders it contained were about as real as the fairytales his mother used to read to him- before he had demanded that he was too old and he didn't need her to read fairytales, he could read them himself.

As he stared at the grin of his pale sister's reflection, a single memory wiggled itself up from the deepest depths of his heart.

Wables Fables.

For as long as he could remember, Mara never liked to read. She was much like their father in that regard. She was too active, too nervous, too anxious ridden to relax in the pages of a book.

Harry was much more like their mother. Since from the first moment his mother taught him how to read, he loved books. He enjoyed devouring the pages of books like he was starved.

He knew his sister did not.

While Mara was out in the public eye, fidgeting under the intense stares and cameras- Harry had locked himself away in the library. By the time he was seven, he had read every book in the library regardless of whether he needed the information or not.

During their studies, Mara had complained and whined about reading the books, forcing herself maybe a fraction through before she got bored, her brain already on a different task.

At night, when her anxiety returned over the tests and quizzes their mother would procure for them, Harry would read the books out loud to her. It was the only way she could sit still long enough to take in the information.

It didn't always work. In fact the majority of the time, she had fallen asleep only a few chapters in.

But there was one book Mara had managed to read all the way through.

Wables Fables.

Harry never knew what it was about that stupid book that she loved so much. She got the book signed in gold by the great-granddaughter of the author. She had the pages coated in every spell possible to make sure it was never destroyed.

She owned no less than six copies of the book. Every time she found a new friend or family member, she somehow procured a copy of that damn book, giving it to everyone around her like a prized treasure.

Like she was giving out pieces of herself.

Mounty Mirror's Journey into Particular Destinations.

Harry had heard every rendition of every story in that book. Heard Mara recite it like poetry, had been forced to act out every scene in the story like a play. He heard Mara make up her own adventures to add to the story, had even participated in the brainstorming ideas.

Mounty Mirror was a man who had been cursed to have a mirror for a face. There wasn't an explanation of why the man had been cursed or who had cursed him, another fault of the thoroughly unthought through book but Mara had adored the story.

No matter where he would go, no matter who he talked to, no one could see him. They could only see the mirror and their face reflected back at them. Until someone could see past the reflection, he was cursed to be a lonely soul wandering across the world.

Mara had said it was a beautiful rendition of the humanity of flaws. Harry said it was an idiotic representation of why you shouldn't mess with curses.

Even in the end, there wasn't a happy ending. No one had seen through his mask despite all the adventures he went through. Harry had said it was a bad story but Mara had said it was brilliant.

The fable only ended when Mounty Mirror headed into the mountains once again- to find someone who could look past the mirror. The Last page of the fable was a mirror. An actual mirror that someone had stuck onto the page, only your face is reflected in the end.

It was just a simple mirror. It only reflected your face and nothing more. It wasn't special, it wasn't magic in any way. It was just there.

Harry never understood the ending of the book.

Mara had.

Harry didn't know why that particular memory stuck him at the moment but it did.

Mara had never looked into that mirror. She had taken one look, giggled and never looked again. Harry, however, had spent hours gazing into the mirror waiting for something- anything to happen.

Surely they wouldn't have just put a plain old mirror into the book?

Except, they had. They did.

"It's a fairytale, Harry," Mara had told him, "you need to look underneath. That's how you break the curse!"

Staring at the Mirror of Erised now, he couldn't help but wonder. How do you look underneath the mirror?

He didn't know.

"Back again, Harry?"

Harry's spine stiffened, his blood running cold as he recognized the voice speaking to him. Slowly, he looked behind him.

Albus Dumbledore had a curious smile on his face, as he looked straight past harry, right into the mirror.

"I didn't hear you come in, sir," Harry told him, his guard already up. With how much the man had been keeping tabs on him, he should've known he would've known where he was going.

"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you," He said, his blue eyes finally connecting meaningfully to Harry's.

Harry swallowed, making sure to keep his focus on Dumbledore's crooked nose and not his penetrating gaze.

"By now, you should have some idea of what the mirror does?"

Harry swallowed, focusing on the cold feeling of the mirror beneath his palm and not on the anxiety bubbling up in his stomach.

"It shows you what you desire," Harry said.

Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling.

"Ah, you always were a clever one," Dumbledore admitted.

Not really, Harry thought bitterly, Mara was the only one who could see through the mirror, no matter which mirror.

"The Mirror of Erised, Harry, can show you many wonders. Mr. Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself- the best of them all. Mr. Longbottom, who had never known the love and care of his parents-sees them here. They way they would've been had that fateful Halloween never happened."

"Our desire," Harry said,

"Yes and no," Dumbledore paused, "This mirror shows only what it is you want most in this world. No more- no less."

"And I want to steal my sister's fame?" Harry bit out without any heat. He was so tired and he felt so drained. He didn't even question how Dumbledore knew what each of them saw. The headmaster had probably been watching them for quite some time, he thought bitterly.

"No, at least, I don't believe so, Harry," Dumbledore's eyes were back on the mirror, gazing across it almost longingly.

"You, who have always been tormented by the fame of that scar, always second best in the eyes of everyone around you, even yourself, see yourself here. Your family, your friends, every eye upon you."

"So I want fame?" Harry lashed out, glaring at the old man. The man simply chuckled.

"If you truly wanted the fame, Harry, why would it not show you the roar of the crowd?"

Because, Harry realized with sudden clarity, as he turned back to the mirror, staring his family in the eyes. That wasn't what he wanted.

He didn't want the scar or the fame, he realized. He wanted his family and friends.

The haze he had felt all this time was finally released as he gazed into the mirror- he knew. He still wanted what he saw so badly. There was no reason he should be as entranced as much as he is.

"If it's not real then why do I want it so much?" He asked, more out of curiosity than anything. He gazed longingly into the mirror, the want an almost physical ache inside of him.

"You are not the first to become entranced by the power of the mirror, Harry. Men have wasted away staring into its false promises. Surely by now, you realize there is more magic on the mirror than you know," the old wizard answered.

Realization struck Harry like a bludger to the head.

"It's enchanted," He blurted, horror sitting in his bones. "It's enchanted to make you want it."

The Mirror of Erised didn't only show you want you desired, it made you desire it so badly you were willing to do anything to have it.

'Wasted away' Dumbledore had described it. Wasn't that what he was doing now?

Dumbledore didn't say anything and Harry shivered from the bite of the cold. Looking back in the mirror, Harry felt the fog being raised, as if awakening from a long sleep.

"You are correct in a way, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Human nature is a powerful force. We can be horribly selfish creatures. The Mirror's intent was meant to prey upon this weakness."

"I fell for it," Harry shook his head in disbelief, finally letting his hand fall from the mirror. He shut his eyes, everything he had done since he had come across this mirror suddenly choking him alive.

He had screamed at his sister, told her he didn't want her around, hurt her with his anger, literally pushed her away. He had snapped at his friends, forced Neville to look into the mirror and confront his worst secret. He had ignored his sister's tears, ignored how much he had hurt her all so he could look into this damn mirror.

Clenching his teeth, rage shook his bones. He wanted nothing more at that moment to slam his hands into the mirror until it shattered beneath his anger.

His hand had lit up in response to his emotions but Harry simply didn't have the energy or the self-control to hide it anymore. He was already 90% sure Dumbledore already knew about the condition anyway, with how much the teachers and ghosts had been stalking him.

"It is a curious thing, is it not?" Dumbledore asked, his gaze focused on the mirror. His low voice cut across his anger, slicing it to pieces and grounding him back to where he was. The stiffness in his legs returned to him, the fresh cutting pain of his hand and the emptiness that still lingered inside of him.

"Your sister, who had every right to wish for a different life, to desire for a new hand in this unfair dealer of life, was not tempted once to gaze into the Mirror. Why do you think that was?"

"Because she's happy with her life," Harry muttered darkly. Unlike him, hung in the air between them.

He closed his eyes, grounding himself in case his anger returned.

"Ah but if that were true, Why not look into the mirror? The happiest man in the world would gaze into the mirror and see nothing but himself. If she were truly happy, she would have no reason not to look," Dumbledore answered.

"Maybe she's scared," Harry bit out. Scared of him, he remembered the fear on her face, having been knocked back from the wild pulse of magic from his hand.

"It is for the same reason this mirror calls to you," Dumbledore said.

Harry looked up at him surprised.

"It is, because, this mirror, no matter how long you stare into it, cannot give you the thing which you most desire."

"What? Love?" He asked mockingly, looking back into the loving eyes of his family.

"Acceptance, Harry."

Harry flinched.

"This mirror cannot accept you any more than it can cure young Mr. Longbottom's parents."

His words cut like a knife into his heart but Harry knew he needed to hear it.

"I believe there is but there is a simple line between reality and fantasy. For one like your sister, who has one foot on either side, it is but a rather simple answer," Dumbledore continued, unaware of Harry's growing turmoil.

Or perhaps he was aware, he just didn't care.

"Perhaps, your sister did not gaze into the mirror afraid of what it would show her but afraid of what she would do when confronted with the truth it showed."

That sounded exactly like her but not at the same time. The little girl who had stared so deeply into the Mounty Mirror's story, assuring him over and over again the story held some deeper meaning he couldn't understand would never have been afraid.

"This is, of course, only a hypothesis. I'm afraid only she can answer why she did not look into the mirror."

"However," This time Dumbledore's voice lowered into a more serious tone. Harry turned to look at him, compelled by the seriousness on Dumbledore's face. "This mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow. I ask that you nor your friends go looking for it again. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, Harry, remember that."

As Dumbledore stood, turning away to leave out the door that he and Mara had stumbled into only a few days ago, Harry couldn't help but ask.

"What do you see when you look in the mirror, sir?"

Dumbledore stopped, before turning around with a light smile on his face. His eyes were suddenly old, full of a sadness that Harry hoped he never understood.

"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks."

Harry didn't have the heart to call out his lie. He simply nodded, allowing Dumbledore to leave.

"I suggest you take that admirable cloak and get off to bed, Harry. Daylight shall soon be upon us."

Harry nodded, allowing the headmaster in his odd violet cloak and long beard to slip off into the stillness of the night.

Harry paused for only a moment, turning to look into the mirror once more.

It no longer filled him with an ache to gaze into the happy faces of the mirror.

The emptiness was gone.

As Harry stood up, his bones cracking with a pop, he couldn't help but focus his eyes on his sister's reflection.

He noticed, with growing satisfaction, that the reflection fingernails were perfectly clean and unbitten.

He wondered for a brief moment what his sister would've seen in the mirror. What she desired beyond anything else.

Yet, he thought, as he recalled her delighted eyes as she gazed into Mounty Mirror's mirror page, her eyes bright and her lips curved into a smile as she glanced at him as if she could see something he could not.

Like she held a secret he would never know.

As he was realizing, he didn't know if he ever would be able to see what she saw.

As he slipped on the cloak and dragged his aching limbs to the common room, quietly shuffling through the empty and dark hallways, he realized that he didn't need to know.

And as he quietly whispered the password to the fat lady, whose portrait swung open, though the fat lady herself only waved a hand at him to enter, half-asleep in her chair and he entered the gold and red decked room, he realized that maybe this was one secret he wasn't supposed to know.

After all, there was no one else in the world who could read the Mounty Mirror story and see the secret words hidden beneath the terribly written tale.

On his way to the staircase to the dorms, he spotted a bundle curled up on the couch in front of the fire.

Guilt rumbled in his stomach as he spotted the red hair of his sister curled up in her favorite push blanket.

Even though she had been there when he had left, Harry didn't think she'd actually wait up for him.

But then, how many times had she fallen asleep in the library, waiting up for him to go to bed because he just needed to read one more chapter?

Harry sighed, guilt coiling in his stomach like the serpents that coated the Slytherin's crest.

Softly and carefully, he lowered himself onto the couch, near her head, careful not to sit on her hair which splayed out like a firey fountain.

"Harry?" Mara's voice, coated heavily with sleep mumbled from her cozy mountain of blankets. Blearily, she looked up at him, her hazel eyes unfocused.

He sent her a fond smile. "I'm right here."

"Mm, glad you're okay," she mumbled reaching her arms out to hug him around his waist. She buried her head into his stomach, before letting falling still once more.

He snorted when she let out a small snore, relaxing in his lap.

He rolled his eyes. "You're impossible."

Harry couldn't help but let his eyes drift to her hand, curled up next to him.

Her fingernails were bitten down to the quick, red and irritated.

He smiled. "You're a dork," He ruffled her hair softly before leaning back into the red couch. He let the comforting warmth of his sister and her dull, soft snores lull him to sleep.

---

'Human,'

Something soft padded at his nose. Neville groaned, curling deeper into the blankets.

'Human'

Whoever was calling him sounded irritated but Neville just didn't care. He had waited up in the common room with Mara all night until she had begged him to go to bed. He didn't want to until she had fallen asleep next to him and his exhausted state had forced him to go to bed.

'Human, you need to awaken,' the voice snapped.

Something batted at his face. Neville growled, pulling the blankets up to the top of his head.

'I warned you, human,'

Just as he started to relax back under the blankets, ten sharp claws tore into his arm.

Neville yelped, jumping away and the claws tore against his arm before releasing. Neville grabbed his arm to his chest protectively, searching for the offender.

His eyes narrowed on the black and white cat sitting delicately on his bed.

Neville hissed as he clutched his arm, the adrenaline fading into the throb. He rolled up his sleeve. He wasn't surprised to see the imprint in his arm from where her claws dug in.

He sent the feline a sharp glare, holding onto his arm as small beads of blood flowed out of the wounds.

'You have done well, human,' Breena remarked unaffected by his glare. She blinked softly at Neville, meeting his glare evenly.

When he finally registered what the feline had said, he nearly fell over in surprise.

"So, Harry's okay?" He eyed the cat warily, almost afraid to hear the answer.

"My bond and her littermate are together,' Breena said, 'She is at peace. You have my gratitude, human.'

A squawk came from the left and aura's golden feathers were ruffled, staring intently at the cat.

'And those of the little bird,' Breena scoffed, jumping off the bed. She padded over to Neville, cautiously.

"You said they're together? Where?" Neville asked curiosity and worry for his friends overwhelming hi cautious instincts.

'In your indoor pyre,' Breena said simply.

That was all Neville needed before he sprinted from the room. Neville climbed down the stairs in a hurry, stumbling over the last step but managing to right himself by grabbing onto the wall.

His injury all but forgotten, he searched the common room, his eyes landing on the familiar red couch.

Sure enough, two figures lay slumped on the chair.

It looked like Harry had fallen asleep sitting up though his head was now tilted to the right in what looked like a very uncomfortable position. Harry's neck was going to be quite sore when he woke up.

Mara slept away on his lap, curled up with one hand grasping the edges of his robes tightly. The plush blanket had somehow gotten kicked off her sleep and he wasn't surprised to see it piled on the floor.

A breath of relief went through him.

He smiled at the siblings, glad things seemed back to normal. He didn't know how much longer he could handle the stress between the twins.

He sighed, collapsing into the armchair across from them, exhausted in more ways than one.

Harry groaned. Neville watched silently as he stiffened, his eyes opening.

Harry stirred slightly, wincing. He rubbed his neck as he slightly sat up. Neville stiffened as he looked into his eyes, expecting to see the glaze that had been present the past few days.

He breathed a sigh of relief when Harry just looked at him questioningly, his emerald eyes bright with his intelligence.

Neville sent him a smile. Harry's face quickly morphed into one of guilt. Neville pursed his lips as Harry stared at him, his eyes conveying his apologies.

Neville just smiled with a nod.

Harry smiled back, relieved.

They were okay.

Mara stirred slightly, cuddling closer onto Harry's lap, who huffed as her arms wrapped around his middle a little too tightly. He rolled his eyes but sent her a fond smile.

A trill Neville had begun to recognize as Aura came from the staircase. Aura glided over to the couch, landing with a light huff on the red cushions. She and Harry seemed to stare at each as if having a silent conversation.

Finally, Aura brushed up her face against his, her eyes closing as she let out a happy trill.

A burst of happiness went through him. Neville grinned at his friend, who softly stroked Aura's head.

"Thank you, Neville," Harry spoke up, locking eyes with his best friend. Neville gave him a confused look but Harry just smiled.

"You knocked some sense into me when I needed it. So thank you," Harry bowed his head slightly.

Neville grinned. "You'd do the same for me."

A puff of pride went through Neville, warming inside his chest like a bright fire.

"Can you get Ron up?" Harry asked, a mischevious glint coming across his eyes.

Neville frowned. "What for?"

Harry looked down at his sleeping sister, running a hand softly through her red locks.

"It's time to tell her."

"What part are we telling her?" Neville raised an eyebrow, unsurely.

Harry sent him a grin but Neville could see the insecurity behind it and Neville knew.

"Everything."

---

"It glows?" Mara exclaimed, staring openly at Harry's hand.

The four friends had crowded around the fireplace. Ron lounged back on the couch while Harry had the armchair across from them. Neville sat on the arm of the couch.

Mara kneeled in front of Harry when he had revealed his hand, gasping in the horrific sight.

Harry rolled his eyes, ignoring his sister's flabbergasted expression as she turned his hand around to view it.

"Why does everybody ask that?" He scoffed.

"It's not exactly a common thing, Harry," Neville said with a placating smile.

"It's really weird," Ron said, lounging on the couch.

"Thanks, Ron," Harry sent him a dry look.

"No problem, mate," Ron grinned. Harry rolled his eyes.

Mara turned Harry's hand, tugging it forward to get a better look. The scar was still as red as the day he discovered it. The red and irritated skin still looking as if someone had slashed a knife threw it.

Mara's eyes were focused intently on his hand, a frown on her features.

"Hermione thinks it only glows when Harry gets stressed or too emotional," Neville informed her.

"Why?" Mara asked, not looking up.

"If you mean why does she think that It's because every time Harry starts getting angry or upset, it ends up glowing. She wanted to test it by annoying Harry all day a few weeks ago," Ron said, bored.

"It worked," Neville said sheepishly.

Mara pouted. "I wanted to see that."

"Sorry," Neville apologized lowering his head guiltily.

"If you mean why does it glow, let me know when you figure it out," Harry replied to her, trying to keep his irritation low. It's kinda hard when his sister was poking the skin around the cut.

"Harry thought since it showed up on Halloween that it had something to do with whoever let the troll in. That led us to Snape getting bit by the Cerberus, talking to Hagrid about the three-headed dog, whose name is Fluffy by the way," Ron added. "So far nothing to do with Harry's hand problem."

"That's a stretch," Mara raised her eyebrow, turning to Harry disbelievingly.

"Shut up, it's the best I got alright," Harry snapped. "Stop poking it!" Harry jerked his hand away from Mara's fingers, covering it away from her intrusive poking.

"Just wanted to see if it hurt," Mara shrugged.

"Of course it hurts! My hand got cut open!" Harry snapped. He hissed when he felt the familiar heat on his hand. He grabbed a black glove shoving it onto his hand roughly. Luckily the fabric didn't show the glow.

"Where'd you get the glove?" Mara asked, pointing to the object.

"Hermione," All three boys answered simultaneously. Harry shot Ron and Neville a glare before turning back to Mara. "She thought it would be easier to conceal with a glove and not the bandages."

"That's smart," Mara nodded in approval.

"Yeah, well, if you haven't noticed, Hermione's really smart," Harry sighed, rubbing the back of his head softly.

"You said Aura couldn't heal it, right?" Mara directed the question to Neville, who nodded.

"Harry said she cried on it and Phoenix tears are supposed to be able to heal anything. He said it just opened back up."

"He is right here," Harry said irritated.

Mara hummed thoughtfully before asking "Did you talk to Professor Dumbledore about it?"

Harry stiffened.

Neville coughed, turning away from the situation.

"Harry's not exactly on good terms with Professor Dumbledore," Ron shrugged, throwing a SQUEEZE Ball into the air. "He's been keeping a rather close eye on Harry ever since the troll incident."

Harry glared daggers at Ron, who gave no notice.

"Hermione noticed that the portraits have been watching him now. They've even been listening in on our conversations sometimes. The ghosts have been popping up everywhere now, conveniently when we're discussing something important," Ron continued, unaware of Harry's growing anger.

Mara and Neville could only watch with wide eyes.

"Even the professors have been watching him in class-"

"Ron!" Harry snapped, his eyes flashing.

Mara leaned back in her seat, startled from Harry's out of character burst.

Ron's mouth fell close with a snap, his eyes widening at his friend's enraged state.

"Sorry, I thought we were telling her everything," He grimaced, slightly irritated himself.

"What Ron means is that it doesn't seem like any of the adults trust Harry," Neville told Mara, gently as Ron and Harry continued to glare at one another.

Mara frowned, thinking back to all the classes they've had since Halloween.

The Professors did always seem to keep a close eye on Harry now that she thought about it.

Professor Snape practically hovered around him whenever he was doing a potion as if he was waiting for something to go wrong. When something did go wrong, He never hesitated to berate Harry, disappearing his potion like he often did when Mara or Neville messed up.

She had brushed it off as Snape just hating the twins but if they were keeping a closer eye on Harry, it made sense that Snape would be more obvious about it.

Professor Flitwick had been the most obvious about it, she realized. Normally, he kept an eye on the whole class but he did seem to always be pacing around wherever Harry took his seat, usually going up and down his row. No matter which row Harry chose, Flitwick was always right there.

Now that she thought about it, Professor McGonagall had been walking the first years to the common rooms every night. She hadn't thought it was unusual but it was only the first year Gryffindors. None of the other houses were being watched so closely.

She didn't remember Professor McGonagall doing that on the opening feast. Percy had taken them to their dorms.

But why were they watching Harry?

"What are they scared of?" She wondered sending her brother a baffled look.

"For me to lose control," Harry muttered, a dark look coming across his face.

"Harry thinks they're waiting for something to set him off again like what happened with the troll," Neville told her, eyeing Harry's expression warily.

"Was it that bad?" she asked. "I thought you just distracted the troll until the Professors could get there. At least, that's what Professor Dumbledore told me."

She realized as soon as she said it. Mara frowned heavily, watching the mixed emotions flittering around Harry's face.

"It was kinda scary," Ron admitted, looking between Harry and Mara warily.

Neville sighed. "After you passed out, Harry just sort of lost it."

"He tried to kill the troll," Ron said, bluntly.

Harry sent him a glare but Ron only shrugged helplessly.

"Sorry, mate but I don't know how else to describe it," He said, weakly.

"What do you mean he tried to kill it?" Mara demanded.

Harry sighed.

He turned to his sister, regretting this conversation but knowing it had to happen.

'Nothing's wrong with you, Harry.'

He recalled his godfather's word during that day in Diagon Alley. How much he had needed to hear that.

Harry took a deep breath before letting it out slowly.

"I wanted to hurt it," He admitted, watching Mara's eyes widen in surprise.

"We came in and I saw you push Hermione of the way," He recalled, keeping an eye on Mara's reaction. "We didn't' know if you were hurt or worse until you screamed."

Mara paled as he told the story. Harry closed his eyes remembering the incident.

"There was blood," His voice wavered. "You were hurt and I was just so angry."

He looked down at his lap, his leg shaking with the excess anxiety.

"I remember my hand started to hurt and then there was this...anger just pouring through me. Like it was me, it was my anger but at the same time, it wasn't. Whatever it was wasn't...me," he finished lamely.

"I was angry and I just wanted to hurt it as it had hurt you. I wanted it..." he trailed off, swallowing thickly.

"He hit it with some pretty nasty spells," Ron mentioned, seeing as Harry couldn't continue. "He wasn't even saying them aloud. He just kept throwing spell after spell. He got it pretty good, using its own club against it."

Ron didn't mention how he used the club. He figured Mara didn't need to know that and Harry didn't need to relive it.

Harry winced. "I don't remember much about what I did. It was like I was a completely different person."

Harry risked a glance up at his sister.

Mara's lips were pulled into a heavy frown as she stared at the floor deep in thought. Finally, she let out a shaky breath.

"Okay," she nodded to herself. She looked up meeting Harrys' emerald eyes with her hazel ones.

"We're going to find out what happened to you," Mara nodded determinedly. "And if you feel that this is the way to go, then that's what we're going to do."

Harry felt the familiar rise of pinpricks in the corner of his eyes.

"But," Mara paused. Harry's stomach sunk. "You don't shut me out anymore." She frowned at him.

"No more hiding, no more lies. We do this together or not at all," Mara told him, her eyes trained on him.

Harry swallowed thickly. Unable to respond without letting the tears gathering in his eyes from spilling over, he just nodded.

Mara gave him a kind smile. "Okay then, what's the next step?"

"When we went to see Hagrid, he let it slip that whatever the Cerberus is guarding on the third floor is between Professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel," Neville said, turning to Harry with a frown.

Harry nodded, gathering back his composure. "We've been trying to find Nicholas Flamel but it's like he doesn't' exist. That's why we were checking in the restricted section, it's the only place Hermione hasn't been able to look. She wanted us to go over the break."

"That worked out great," Ron snorted.

Harry sent him a withering look and sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not sure where else to look."

The room fell into silence. Harry frowned, turning to look up at Mara.

Mara was livid. Her face darkened as she glowered at the three boys with a fury he never knew she had. She didn't even look to be breathing as she simply stared at them.

"Mara?" Neville asked timidly.

"You...idiots," She bit out, harshly.

"Hey," Ron protested weakly but even he was terrified by the dark look on her face.

Mara suddenly jumped out of the chair, the chair falling back onto the floor with a crash. She suddenly tore off up the staircase, leaving the three boys in stunned silence.

Harry, Ron, and Neville exchanged a bewildered and scared look until a thumping down the stairs had them tensing up again.

Mara appeared in a flurry, something clutched in her right hand.

"All this time," She muttered, giving them a furious glance. Neville flinched.

"If you had just talked to me weeks ago," Mara continued to mutter, giving a harsh glance to Harry, who just stared with wide eyes.

"But no," She exaggerated the word, "You had to be a noble git and try to protect me. You had to make everything complicated!" She shouted the last word, thrusting a finger at Harry, who flinched back.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked timidly.

"No, I'm not okay!" Mara snapped. Her eyes softened when Ron flinched back, cowering slightly. She took in a deep breath, calming herself with the breathing technique.

Harry swallowed slightly. He had never seen Mara that angry before.

"If you had talked to me earlier, we could've moved past this weeks ago," Mara said, before thrusting whatever she had in her hand at Harry.

Harry raised an eyebrow grabbing what looked like a card. He blinked in surprise as he recognized Albus Dumbledore's face staring back at him. Albus Dumbledore winked at him, before disappearing from the card.

"A chocolate frog card?" Harry gave her a bewildered gaze.

Mara rolled her eyes. "Nicholas Flamel is an alchemist. He's known for his work on the philosopher's stone."

"And you know this from a chocolate frog card?" Harry raised an eyebrow disbelieving.

"Look on the back, idiot," Mara rolled her eyes.

Harry turned it over, reading the description. He froze.

"What is it?" Ron asked, sharing a confused look with Neville.

Mara snorted, turning to the two boys.

"Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicholas Flamel." she recited the chocolate frog word for word.

Ron and Neville both turned to Harry with wide eyes.

Harry sighed tiredly, shaking his head.

"Hermione's gonna strangle us."

"That's if she doesn't strangle herself first," Ron added.