Mirror Worlds
Disclaimer: Is my name J.K Rowling? No. So I don't own any of the characters then do I?
Dammit.
Chapter 1- I'm Still Here
MIRROR WORLD
On the windswept coast of Cornwall, the crumbling remains of Tintagel perched precariously on what remained of the old headland. When the tide out, the stormy grey seas swirled in and around the caves at the base of Tintagel Head's cliffs. These dark honeycombs were swallowed twice a day, covering the long forgotten entrances to the secret passages beneath the castle. It was in this maze of tunnels and chambers known to its inhabitants as the Warren that the last survivors of Hogwarts destruction hid and waited pensively for Voldemort to discover their location and finish his work.
It had been just over 4 years since the dark lord had returned after taking the Philosophers Stone from Nicolas Flamel. After that, he spent his time gathering giants, Dementors and Dark Wizards to him, including the prisoners of Azkaban. Voldemort waited until he had built up an army of incredible strength before he attacked Hogwarts- the centre of the wizarding world in England. Even under the protection of Albus Dumbledore, the school eventually fell and was overrun with Dementors in moments. Most of the students and teachers died in those first few terrible hours in the last month of summer one year before.
Hermione Granger had seen it all. She had been helpless to prevent a Dementor from administering its fatal kiss to her best friend Ron Weasley. It had sucked his soul out through his mouth and now, if he wasn't dead his existence was worse. But Harry- her burning guilt had consumed her after his death. Hermione had been forced to watch as he was tortured to death by Voldemort and his screams still haunted her even in the catatonic state she had slipped into. There, the agony was a fresh as it had been a year ago.
It was deep beneath Tintagel Castle in a quiet chamber bathed in lamplight and shadows that Hermione lay swaddled in blankets.
The clatter of footsteps on stone echoed down the corridor and into the chamber. The lamps flickered. In the doorway, the silhouette of a 16-year-old appeared and as he stepped into the light, the orange flames made his platinum blonde hair seem to glow. Of course it was a little dirty- everything was down here- but to Draco Malfoy, cleanliness was definitely next to godliness so a long dip in the freezing fresh water lake deep below Hermione's chamber was well worth it. Draco sighed when his grey eyes fell upon the bundle in the corner. Hermione was in that place- wherever it was- that she retreated to when the grief was too much to bear. She had been like this since their escape from Hogwarts, waking only once every few days. Draco came and sat with her when he wasn't needed to help make repairs to the castle and he spent his time just sitting with his friend and talking, hoping that in some small way she took comfort from it.
Today was no different. Outside above ground, it was summer, probably August, but the wind was icy and storms constantly attacked the cliffs. Since Voldemort's return, it had been like an endless winter and few could remember the feeling of the warm sun or the sound of laughter. No one was happy anymore as they cowered in fear beneath an old ruin.
Draco held Hermione's cold clammy hand and brushed a strand of chestnut hair from her face, as she stirred. Her eyes were closed and she appeared to still be asleep, but just as he got up to leave, her eyes fluttered and then finally opened. She groaned, having awakened once more into the living nightmare that was life under the threat of Voldemort.
"I'm still here," she whispered almost inaudibly.
* * *
OUR REALITY
It was only 2 weeks to go until the beginning of term where Harry would be starting his sixth year at Hogwarts and he just couldn't sleep. A warm summer breeze drifted through the bedroom window and a bright full moon shone down onto his feet as he paced back and forth waiting for Hedwig to return.
It had been another miserable summer, suffering through the restrictions the Dursley's had placed on him and being forced to eat according to Dudley's on-going diet. The only thing that had kept him sane was the numerous letters and various items of food sent to him in order to prevent starvation from Ron and Hermione. Harry loved to taunt Dudley about how filling the food was at mealtimes whilst his fat lump of a cousin could only moan and sulk about his unfair treatment. Although he was beginning to shed a few pounds, he still had the relative mass of an elephant seal and struggled to fit through doorways. Harry chuckled at the thought.
But now Harry was far away from Privet Drive, staying with Ron at the Burrow and even if he wasn't happy, the pain of losing Sirius wasn't quite so raw surrounded by friends.
Ron turned over and began to snore as Hedwig fluttered onto the window sill with three letters tied to her leg. As Harry untied the letter addressed to him, Hedwig nibbled his finger affectionately. "Thanks, Hedwig," he whispered, opening the envelope, "You were gone so long I was worried." Hedwig made a quiet screeching noise as if for reassurance as he pulled at the letter marked with the Hogwarts coat of arms and began to read:
Dear Mr Potter,
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave King's Cross from platform nine-and-three-quarters at eleven o'clock.
A list of the school books required this year is also enclosed.
Yours Sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
After finishing the letter, Harry carefully placed the letter addressed to Ron on his bedside table and quietly padded out of the room. As he climbed the stairs up to Ginny's room where Hermione was staying, he thought he could hear very faint sobbing. Entering the room, Harry looked over to the bed by the window and at the sleeping figure bathed in harsh moonlight. The sole occupant of the room was Hermione, as Ginny had gone to stay with friends and Harry was right. She was crying.
"Hermione?"
* * *
He took her hand and helped her to her feet. Everything was dark- not a single candle or lamp could be found and they could still hear the distant shrieks and yells.
Hogwarts had been invaded. This was it.
"Come on, Hermione," he said gently, "we'll make it, just follow me."
She grasped his hand tightly and they set off down the corridor running. They planned to get to the roof and escape by broomstick along with all the other survivors, but the dozens of twisting, turning halls seemed to be leading them no where. On and on they ran, ever upwards trying to reach the top of the astronomy tower for what seemed like hours.
She felt hot tears run down her cheeks. They were alone. They were alone because Ron was gone and he was never coming back. Another wave of anguish overcame her and she fell to her knees. "Harry," stubbornly she pushed herself up. Harry stopped running and turned to face Hermione. They gazed into each other's eyes for an eternity. She was the first to break eye contact, "There must be other survivors, Harry. We haven't seen any more students for an hour," she said, "I have to find them, so go on without me."
"I'm not leaving while you're still here, so I tell you what," Harry suggested, "I'll go check the other way and we'll meet back at the astronomy tower."
Hermione took a few steps toward Harry. The pale moonlight shone brokenly through the window and across his tired and pained features. The years had not been kind to him and he was almost unrecognisable as the boy who had stood wide eyed with awe when he first entered the great hall of Hogwarts. It seemed so long ago now, and as she looked up into his face, Hermione noticed that it was his eyes that had changed the most. Once sparkling green, they had darkened as if all he had seen had tainted them.
He focused on her and his eyes seemed to change, they were flooded with emotion.
"You know that I…" she began.
"I know," said Harry softly, "and I understand. Go."
Hermione stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him gently on the lips. Before he could react, she spun around and ran, hearing him do the same. "I love you," she whispered to herself.
* * *
The dream was fading, the images were distorting and Hermione was losing her grip on this strange, haunting hallucination. In the distance, she could hear a familiar questioning voice.
And then she awoke.
Hermione returned to reality with a jolt and already her memories of the dream were diminishing. She looked up at the ceiling and a great feeling of relief washed over her, but she couldn't remember why, "I'm still here," she breathed.
"Hermione?"
Her gaze darted to her left and settled on Harry's moonlit face. "Harry?! What on earth are you doing here?"
Harry stood up from where he had been sitting beside her on the bed and looked embarrassed, "I brought your letter," he held up the envelope as if to prove it.
"Letter?"
"From Hogwarts," he replied and placed it on the table beside her bed. "Are you alright, Hermione?" he asked haltingly, remembering her crying in her sleep.
"What? Oh yes- nothing's wrong." She smiled unconvincingly. Harry wasn't satisfied with her answer, but he nodded anyway and turned to leave.
"Harry?" Hermione asked. Her voice had changed. She sounded…frightened.
"Yes?" he said turning back.
"Stay with me. I don't want to be alone."