Disclaimer: I own the plot, the rest belongs to JKR.
The Mirror of Etamluos
"Luosruoy Fo Flahreht oehtnah treht ono it celferon wohsi"
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Chapter Two: The Mirror
Harry went over to the mirror, braced himself, closed his eyes and stood in front of the mirror. He waited a good minute before he opened his eyes. When he opened his eyes he nearly screamed, he barely made the noise into a controlled squeak. Sirius, concerned for Harry said, "What is it Harry? What's wrong?"
Harry just shook his head not believing his eyes, he blinked, rubbed at his eyes, slapped his own cheeks and gave up. That reflection wasn't going to change. His eyes went slightly wide and Albus asked gently, "Is there something wrong with the person in the Mirror Harry?"
Harry just shook his head again and managed out a strangled, "Just a bit of a shock."
Harry slowly walked back over to his chair, sat in it and stared at the wall above Albus's head. Fawkes landed on his knee and Harry absently patted the Phoenix on the head. Remus asked Harry, "Are you going to tell us who you saw Harry?"
Harry shook his head, looking more serious then perhaps anyone in the room had ever seen him and said, "Not with Sirius within two continents of Hogwarts."
Remus blinked, Minerva gasped, Albus grinned, Severus's jaw dropped and Sirius sat there dumbfounded. Remus stood up and grabbed Sirius by the scruff of the neck and said, "Right then, let's go Sirius. And if you don't come willingly I'll stun you and float you back to our rooms. Harry come by after classes tomorrow to talk with us will you?"
Harry nodded as Sirius objected, "I'm not going anywhere Moony. I want to know whom my godson is getting married to! Come on it can't be that bad!"
Remus finally managed to get Sirius out of the room and Albus said, "Well Harry?"
Harry turned to Severus and asked, "Why don't you go take a look in that Mirror?"
Severus blinked, walked over to the mirror, took one look and nearly fainted. Severus turned to Albus and Minerva and said, "Maybe we should rethink this plan."
Albus chuckled and said, "I think not. Unless you have a reasonable objection to it Severus?"
Severus sat back down and said, "He's my student. I'm old enough to be his father. I went to school with his father. I dated his mother. His godfather would kill me first. It would mean no more spying for Voldemort for me. It would make me more hunted by both sides of the war than I already am..."
Harry interrupted with, "And it would make you my husband. Do you honestly think anyone besides Voldemort is going to openly object to me marrying you willingly?"
Minerva and Albus grinned watching them, but kept silent. Severus glared at Harry and said, "You can't be serious. You do realize everyone will label you a Death Eater supporter, not to mention you'll probably be shunned from your house."
Harry said firmly, "You're not a Death Eater any longer. And my house has turned it's back on me more times then I can count. They'll always come back when they realize I still catch the snitch faster than the other seekers on the pitch regardless of who it is. And besides, I happen to know a certain reporter who owes Hermione, Ron and I big time for a little secret of hers we're keeping."
Minerva interrupted this time with, "Which reporter Harry? And I seriously hope you're not talking about blackmailing a reporter into..."
Harry snorted, "Yes I am talking about blackmailing a reporter. Wouldn't want anyone to find out how Ms. Rita Skeeter actually GETS all her information now would we? Don't tell me you haven't noticed she's printed nothing since the third task."
Albus leveled a gaze at Harry and said, "Why do I have the feeling you have something to do with that?"
Harry grinned and said, "I could answer under the strongest truth serum and truth spell that I have nothing to do with Rita Skeeters unwilling imprisonment in a glass jar around Hermione's neck."
Albus blinked, Severus's jaw dropped and Minerva gapped. Albus recovered first and said, "Excuse me?"
Harry just smiled and said, "Rita is an illegal animagus. She was in the infirmary last year when Sirius transformed from a dog to himself. She was there when Severus pulled up his sleeve to reveal his Dark Mark. She was there to hear the entire story of what happened, where you sent Sirius afterwards, what you asked Molly Weasley to do. She heard EVERYTHING. Of course she also heard the list of Death Eaters that were present that night. And Fudge's blatant refusal to do anything about it."
Albus looked at Minerva and said, "Would you go collect Hermione and Rita for us?"
Minerva nodded and left the room. Albus smiled at Severus and said, "Well it would seem that Harry has no objections, would you agree to all of this Severus?"
Harry and Albus both smiled and turned to see Severus's response. Severus gulped realizing he was outnumbered and said, "Alright, if you're both sure about this. You are sure, aren't you Harry?"
Harry blushed a bit and mumbled something that neither man heard. Albus grinned guessing what it was and said calmly, "Would you repeat that a little louder, Harry?"
Harry coughed and said very quietly, "I uh, happen to, um, like you."
Severus blinked, flushed and mumbled back, "Feeling's mutual."
Albus smiled broadly and said, "Well then, would you both like to just get it over with now, when Miss Granger and Minerva return or shall we wait until Friday? If you wait until Friday I can at least offer you a small vacation from life to get used to being married and bonded to one another."
Harry looked at Severus and said, "I'd like to be able to talk some sense into Sirius before we do this, I really would like both him and Remus to be there for this."
Severus nodded, "We'll wait until Friday then Albus."
Albus nodded, "I'll have an extra dresser and desk added to your rooms Severus. And Harry, Minerva insists that she takes you shopping for some clothes that actually fit you, no more of this hand me down from Dudley business. What I wouldn't give to hand over the Dursleys to Voldemort wrapped in a big bow with a sign that says, 'Muggles, feel free to torture! No need to send back the corpses! Love, Albus Dumbledore'. He'd probably die of shock."
Harry chuckled and said, "You could add my name to it too, then we'd get rid of some of the Death Eaters at the same time. When exactly is she planning on taking me?"
Albus smiled, "Tomorrow night, she's taking you by floo to Diagon Alley and from there you'll both go to Muggle London. You'll be getting new glasses too Harry, you've had those same ones far too long. Severus you could always go along with them, Harry will need to be disguised regardless but I'm sure you could also be disguised to go along if you like."
Harry blushed and offered Severus a shy smile as Severus responded, "I suppose so, you could always get Black to use Polyjuice potion and have him pretend to be me while we're gone to keep up appearances."
Minerva came back in with Hermione, who was holding the glass jar with Rita in it glancing curiously at Harry. Once inside the room she smiled grimly and said, "Give me Ms. Skeeter please, Miss Granger."
Hermione flushed but handed over the beetle. Minerva took out her wand and ticked it at the bug and said, "I should torture you for what you've done to my great-grandson and his friends you little tart. If you're lucky I'll stand in the way of Albus when he gets his hands on you, but that one word out of line and even Merlin won't be able to save you missy."
Hermione gapped at the Deputy Headmistress, while Harry and Severus snickered. Albus coughed slightly before saying, "Minerva, dear, bring me that vermin will you please?"
Harry caught Hermione's eye and said, "Sit down already you look silly standing there Mione."
Hermione smiled slightly at Harry and sat down next to him and Severus and said, "Harry? What's going on? Why on earth did you tell them about Skeeter?"
Harry smirked, "Because it's time to cash in Mione."
Severus snorted off to the side at the two and the three of them turned to see Albus and Minerva hunched over whispering angrily at the beetle. Albus and Minerva explained the situation to Hermione who advised Harry profusely not to tell Ron a word of it. To which Harry chuckled and said, "I wouldn't tell him, but seeing as how I'll be moving into Severus's rooms with him this weekend and the ceremony is on Friday, I kind of have to tell him. It's either that or he'll read it in the papers. I'm not worried about telling Ron, I'm worried about telling Sirius."
Albus smiled at Harry and said, "Why don't I tell Sirius for you Harry? I'll help him see the light, so to speak regarding the situation. I'll tell Sirius and Remus myself when I'm done here with Rita. We'll see about possibly putting it in the morning edition shall we? And Severus, you'll not be spying anymore so don't dream of leaving the castle when that Mark burns."
Severus snorted, "As if I'm going to leave while I know Voldemort knows."
Hermione jumped in and said, "Harry you do realize Sirius will kill him without blinking if he can find him once he knows what's going on? I hope, Professor, that you have ways of making sure no one other than Professor Dumbledore can get in your rooms?"
Severus blinked, "I'm not going to be so stupid as to let anyone know where I am when Black finds out. That would be a death wish. Are we done Albus, Minerva? I have Wolfsbane to brew."
Albus nodded, "Of course, go on Severus. Harry and Hermione you may as well return to your rooms. Minerva and I are going to have a long chat with Rita here. Harry I'll send you a copy of the article with Hedwig in the morning if that's alright?"
Harry nodded, looked right at the beetle and said, "If you write one negative comment regarding Severus's past I'll feed you to a dragon. I doubt anyone will miss you. And as far as the Wizarding World is to know, I'm happy with him and the relationship is one that I've not been forced into, one word otherwise and it will be your head on a platter over my fireplace. Nice seeing you again by the way. Goodnight Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, Severus."
Albus and Minerva blinked, nodded and said, "Goodnight Harry."
Severus walked Hermione and Harry out only to stop and send Hermione ahead. Harry and Severus stared at one another for a while before Harry leaned up and pulled Severus in for a kiss. It was a small, gentle first kiss, which both knew would be followed by many more. Harry smiled up at Severus when they were done, kissed his cheek and whispered, "Goodnight Severus."
Severus smiled back and said, "Goodnight Harry."
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The Mirror of Etamluos
"Luosruoy Fo Flahreht oehtnah treht ono it celferon wohsi"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Two: The Mirror
Harry went over to the mirror, braced himself, closed his eyes and stood in front of the mirror. He waited a good minute before he opened his eyes. When he opened his eyes he nearly screamed, he barely made the noise into a controlled squeak. Sirius, concerned for Harry said, "What is it Harry? What's wrong?"
Harry just shook his head not believing his eyes, he blinked, rubbed at his eyes, slapped his own cheeks and gave up. That reflection wasn't going to change. His eyes went slightly wide and Albus asked gently, "Is there something wrong with the person in the Mirror Harry?"
Harry just shook his head again and managed out a strangled, "Just a bit of a shock."
Harry slowly walked back over to his chair, sat in it and stared at the wall above Albus's head. Fawkes landed on his knee and Harry absently patted the Phoenix on the head. Remus asked Harry, "Are you going to tell us who you saw Harry?"
Harry shook his head, looking more serious then perhaps anyone in the room had ever seen him and said, "Not with Sirius within two continents of Hogwarts."
Remus blinked, Minerva gasped, Albus grinned, Severus's jaw dropped and Sirius sat there dumbfounded. Remus stood up and grabbed Sirius by the scruff of the neck and said, "Right then, let's go Sirius. And if you don't come willingly I'll stun you and float you back to our rooms. Harry come by after classes tomorrow to talk with us will you?"
Harry nodded as Sirius objected, "I'm not going anywhere Moony. I want to know whom my godson is getting married to! Come on it can't be that bad!"
Remus finally managed to get Sirius out of the room and Albus said, "Well Harry?"
Harry turned to Severus and asked, "Why don't you go take a look in that Mirror?"
Severus blinked, walked over to the mirror, took one look and nearly fainted. Severus turned to Albus and Minerva and said, "Maybe we should rethink this plan."
Albus chuckled and said, "I think not. Unless you have a reasonable objection to it Severus?"
Severus sat back down and said, "He's my student. I'm old enough to be his father. I went to school with his father. I dated his mother. His godfather would kill me first. It would mean no more spying for Voldemort for me. It would make me more hunted by both sides of the war than I already am..."
Harry interrupted with, "And it would make you my husband. Do you honestly think anyone besides Voldemort is going to openly object to me marrying you willingly?"
Minerva and Albus grinned watching them, but kept silent. Severus glared at Harry and said, "You can't be serious. You do realize everyone will label you a Death Eater supporter, not to mention you'll probably be shunned from your house."
Harry said firmly, "You're not a Death Eater any longer. And my house has turned it's back on me more times then I can count. They'll always come back when they realize I still catch the snitch faster than the other seekers on the pitch regardless of who it is. And besides, I happen to know a certain reporter who owes Hermione, Ron and I big time for a little secret of hers we're keeping."
Minerva interrupted this time with, "Which reporter Harry? And I seriously hope you're not talking about blackmailing a reporter into..."
Harry snorted, "Yes I am talking about blackmailing a reporter. Wouldn't want anyone to find out how Ms. Rita Skeeter actually GETS all her information now would we? Don't tell me you haven't noticed she's printed nothing since the third task."
Albus leveled a gaze at Harry and said, "Why do I have the feeling you have something to do with that?"
Harry grinned and said, "I could answer under the strongest truth serum and truth spell that I have nothing to do with Rita Skeeters unwilling imprisonment in a glass jar around Hermione's neck."
Albus blinked, Severus's jaw dropped and Minerva gapped. Albus recovered first and said, "Excuse me?"
Harry just smiled and said, "Rita is an illegal animagus. She was in the infirmary last year when Sirius transformed from a dog to himself. She was there when Severus pulled up his sleeve to reveal his Dark Mark. She was there to hear the entire story of what happened, where you sent Sirius afterwards, what you asked Molly Weasley to do. She heard EVERYTHING. Of course she also heard the list of Death Eaters that were present that night. And Fudge's blatant refusal to do anything about it."
Albus looked at Minerva and said, "Would you go collect Hermione and Rita for us?"
Minerva nodded and left the room. Albus smiled at Severus and said, "Well it would seem that Harry has no objections, would you agree to all of this Severus?"
Harry and Albus both smiled and turned to see Severus's response. Severus gulped realizing he was outnumbered and said, "Alright, if you're both sure about this. You are sure, aren't you Harry?"
Harry blushed a bit and mumbled something that neither man heard. Albus grinned guessing what it was and said calmly, "Would you repeat that a little louder, Harry?"
Harry coughed and said very quietly, "I uh, happen to, um, like you."
Severus blinked, flushed and mumbled back, "Feeling's mutual."
Albus smiled broadly and said, "Well then, would you both like to just get it over with now, when Miss Granger and Minerva return or shall we wait until Friday? If you wait until Friday I can at least offer you a small vacation from life to get used to being married and bonded to one another."
Harry looked at Severus and said, "I'd like to be able to talk some sense into Sirius before we do this, I really would like both him and Remus to be there for this."
Severus nodded, "We'll wait until Friday then Albus."
Albus nodded, "I'll have an extra dresser and desk added to your rooms Severus. And Harry, Minerva insists that she takes you shopping for some clothes that actually fit you, no more of this hand me down from Dudley business. What I wouldn't give to hand over the Dursleys to Voldemort wrapped in a big bow with a sign that says, 'Muggles, feel free to torture! No need to send back the corpses! Love, Albus Dumbledore'. He'd probably die of shock."
Harry chuckled and said, "You could add my name to it too, then we'd get rid of some of the Death Eaters at the same time. When exactly is she planning on taking me?"
Albus smiled, "Tomorrow night, she's taking you by floo to Diagon Alley and from there you'll both go to Muggle London. You'll be getting new glasses too Harry, you've had those same ones far too long. Severus you could always go along with them, Harry will need to be disguised regardless but I'm sure you could also be disguised to go along if you like."
Harry blushed and offered Severus a shy smile as Severus responded, "I suppose so, you could always get Black to use Polyjuice potion and have him pretend to be me while we're gone to keep up appearances."
Minerva came back in with Hermione, who was holding the glass jar with Rita in it glancing curiously at Harry. Once inside the room she smiled grimly and said, "Give me Ms. Skeeter please, Miss Granger."
Hermione flushed but handed over the beetle. Minerva took out her wand and ticked it at the bug and said, "I should torture you for what you've done to my great-grandson and his friends you little tart. If you're lucky I'll stand in the way of Albus when he gets his hands on you, but that one word out of line and even Merlin won't be able to save you missy."
Hermione gapped at the Deputy Headmistress, while Harry and Severus snickered. Albus coughed slightly before saying, "Minerva, dear, bring me that vermin will you please?"
Harry caught Hermione's eye and said, "Sit down already you look silly standing there Mione."
Hermione smiled slightly at Harry and sat down next to him and Severus and said, "Harry? What's going on? Why on earth did you tell them about Skeeter?"
Harry smirked, "Because it's time to cash in Mione."
Severus snorted off to the side at the two and the three of them turned to see Albus and Minerva hunched over whispering angrily at the beetle. Albus and Minerva explained the situation to Hermione who advised Harry profusely not to tell Ron a word of it. To which Harry chuckled and said, "I wouldn't tell him, but seeing as how I'll be moving into Severus's rooms with him this weekend and the ceremony is on Friday, I kind of have to tell him. It's either that or he'll read it in the papers. I'm not worried about telling Ron, I'm worried about telling Sirius."
Albus smiled at Harry and said, "Why don't I tell Sirius for you Harry? I'll help him see the light, so to speak regarding the situation. I'll tell Sirius and Remus myself when I'm done here with Rita. We'll see about possibly putting it in the morning edition shall we? And Severus, you'll not be spying anymore so don't dream of leaving the castle when that Mark burns."
Severus snorted, "As if I'm going to leave while I know Voldemort knows."
Hermione jumped in and said, "Harry you do realize Sirius will kill him without blinking if he can find him once he knows what's going on? I hope, Professor, that you have ways of making sure no one other than Professor Dumbledore can get in your rooms?"
Severus blinked, "I'm not going to be so stupid as to let anyone know where I am when Black finds out. That would be a death wish. Are we done Albus, Minerva? I have Wolfsbane to brew."
Albus nodded, "Of course, go on Severus. Harry and Hermione you may as well return to your rooms. Minerva and I are going to have a long chat with Rita here. Harry I'll send you a copy of the article with Hedwig in the morning if that's alright?"
Harry nodded, looked right at the beetle and said, "If you write one negative comment regarding Severus's past I'll feed you to a dragon. I doubt anyone will miss you. And as far as the Wizarding World is to know, I'm happy with him and the relationship is one that I've not been forced into, one word otherwise and it will be your head on a platter over my fireplace. Nice seeing you again by the way. Goodnight Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, Severus."
Albus and Minerva blinked, nodded and said, "Goodnight Harry."
Severus walked Hermione and Harry out only to stop and send Hermione ahead. Harry and Severus stared at one another for a while before Harry leaned up and pulled Severus in for a kiss. It was a small, gentle first kiss, which both knew would be followed by many more. Harry smiled up at Severus when they were done, kissed his cheek and whispered, "Goodnight Severus."
Severus smiled back and said, "Goodnight Harry."
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