Having overcome the initial shock which the sight of Ron and Hermione kissing evoked in Harry, and subsequently making fun of Ron to his hearts content afterwards, Harry pulled on his robes and started energetically brushing his hair. He had pulled on his normal school robes, he would change into his dress robes later. He suddenly remembered the money he had given the twins to buy Ron some new robes, he wondered if they had ever got round to buying them. He fervently hoped so, he guessed Ron would be even more embarrassed about his old lacy ones now that he had finally plucked up the courage to ask someone he actually liked to the ball. Harry ran to the door to make his way down the steps to the common room to ask Fred and George about it. At the door he suddenly stopped and quickly hurried back to the mirror to check on himself. Ginny might be downstairs after all. The thought surprised him and made him faintly cross with himself. It wasn't as if Ginny hadn't seen him a zillion times before. He shrugged off the nervous feeling at the pit of his stomach- almost like the wait before entering McGonagalls study for detention, he thought- and slowly walked downstairs.

Ron was already downstairs with the twins standing around him. Harry could see the new dress robes in Ron hands.

"Why the hell did you get me these!" he was shouting worriedly

George gave him a smile, "We knew your old ones were pretty awful, we thought it was time to get our little bruv some new ones." "Yeah, aren't we allowed to do a few good deeds here an' there? We're not completely bad you know," Fred frowned.

"Where did you get the money from though? Oh no, you didn't steal it did you?" A look of horror passed through Ron's face.

A look of equal horror passed over both twins simultaneously. "Don't be so stupid, course we didn't steal it. Look, just wear it and give it a rest will you. We're going."

The twins left Ron standing there, holding the rich, velvety robes in shock.

"Wow Ron, those are amazing" grinned Harry. "You'd better get those upstairs for later"

So Ron, in a confused daze, ambled upstairs while Harry sat waiting for him in the warm common room. There was no-one else there and Harry could hear nothing except for the soft buzz of powerful magic which both students and teachers got used to without really noticing it. Harry walked slowly towards the common room entrance and stood outside in the corridor for a moment. At first he thought no- one was there, but then he heard a soft murmuring, as though someone was talking absent-mindedly to themselves. Harry peered round the statue in front of him. To his surprise he saw Professor Mc Gonagall standing in front of a mirror.

"Er, Professor McGonagall" said Harry cautiously.

She didn't seem to hear him. She was still talking into the mirror, but it was obvious that she was not talking to herself. She was talking to someone else, and she didn't appear to be looking into the mirror, but through it.

Harry repeated himself more loudly but she still didn't respond. Harry assumed she wanted to be left alone, but he was still confused. He gingerly muttered the password and walked back into the common room.

Hermione and Ron were inside and Ron was obviously now telling her about the dress robes Fred and George had bought him. Ron looked less worried now and they were both laughing warmly. Harry could see the way Ron looked at Hermione. He was almost glowing and Harry wondered that he hadn't really noticed before.

"Hi Hermione" said Harry absently.

Both Ron and Hermione knew something was up.

"What's the matter Harry?" they both asked almost at the same time. Harry told them about Professor Mc Gonagall and paused to see their reaction.

"I always knew McGonagall was batty."

"Mirror magic!"

"What?" said Harry

"I said I always knew-"

"Oh shut up Ron he means what did I say" said Hermione impatiently. She gave him a quick grin to show she didn't mean it.

"What's mirror magic?" asked Harry

"Well," said Hermione, "It's very advanced magic and it is very dangerous. It can drive even the best wizards and witches mad. Did you say she was just using one mirror, which was in front of her?"

Harry nodded, yes.

"That's not possible," said Hermione frowning, "you need one in frond of you and one behind. You see, The reflection of the reflection keeps going, an infinite number of times, feeding back into itself again and again, forever. If something comes between the mirrors, it also starts feeding back into itself. Of course, you don't just stand in between the two mirrors, you actually have to get into them through your mind. It's mental magic, no wands, no spells, nothing."

"Cool" grinned Ron.

"But what can you use it for?" asked Harry.

"Well, if you're dying, it can keep you alive, but it is dangerous. Like I said, It is really easy to go mad."

"Oh no," said Ron "you don't think she's dying do you?"

They all looked at each other. "She could be. That's awful. But Professor McGonagall is too sensible to do that given the dangers" said Hermione, as though she was trying to convince herself.

"You're right" agreed Ron, "she always says 'don't do magic if you don't have complete control over it and you don't know what exactly it could do to you'"

Both Harry and Hermione looked at him in surprise. "Since when have you been paying attention in McGonagall's lessons" laughed Harry

Ron shrugged

"Listen, said Hermione "I don't think we should get worried. Mirror magic is also used to look at places all over the world through your mirror. You see through another mirror in the place you want to look. Look Harry, show us where you saw her."

Harry took them outside in the corridor. Professor McGonagall wasn't there. The small mirror she had been looking through was no- longer there. He showed the other two where the mirror was before.

Look, said Hermione, "It's obvious. She was using the window directly behind her as a mirror to get a reflection. I was right. She must be doing mirror magic. But why?..."

Phew...That's it for today folks. Thank you very much to Mango for a positive review!

Cheers to all those about to click the little "Go" button below, I appreciate it! Review honestly please, I don't mind criticism as I just want to become a better writer. *She sings*: "Cruel to be kind in the right measure, cruel to be kind it's a very good sign...la la la" (From the soundtrack to 'Ten things I Hate About You', I know I'm really saaaad but Heath Ledger is still d-d-gorgeous). (Drop-dead)

Sal

P.S. Do you Americans also use the word 'sad' to mean uncool? Maybe it is originally an American thing and I didn't notice...hmmm...