Jasper by Tiger Lily

Author's Note: Hey all! I know it's been a REALLY long time. Life got in the way. But, here's an update, and more to come shortly. Enjoy!!! Please, Please, Please send lots of Reviews. They help spur me on to write further chapters. The more reviews, the faster I write! (

See previous chapters for summary, disclaimer, etc.

Okay, here goes.

Jasper

Chapter 10

As Hermione peered into the mirror she expected to see what any normal person would, her own reflection and, in this case, the reflections of her friends.

She saw herself in the mirror all right. However, what she saw wasn't the tired, weepy, stringy-haired, red-eyed witch she'd become accustomed to. No. This Hermione was red-faced and starry -eyed. She had tears streaming down her face and she was clutching her stomach. The Hermione in the mirror was trying desperately to catch her breath and was nearly doubled over. . . in laughter.

She watched, fascinated, for a few more moments as her reflection laughed like a mad thing. Then, without taking her eyes from the mirror, as though she was hypnotized, she tapped Harry on the shoulder and whispered, "Harry, I think your mirror has gone a bit daffy."

Harry and Ron had been watching Hermione's puzzled reaction.

"What do you see Hermione?" asked Ron hopefully.

"Well, it seems to be.laughing.at.me."

Hermione was getting more and more puzzled as the laughing continued.

Ron and Harry exchanged knowing glances and Ron began to chuckle. Then Harry, trying to control the impulse, began to laugh as well.

Hermione tore her gaze from the mirror and looked at each of them in turn. The boys just continued to laugh. Hermione rolled her eyes. "What is so blessed funny?" she squeaked, her temper welling up inside.

Ron just laughed harder, as Harry tried to explain through his breath- stealing guffaws. "The mirror.shows.deepest desires." He paused here to indulge in his giggles. By this time a very irritated Hermione stood staring at him with her arms crossed over her chest, tapping her foot and waiting.

Harry caught her expression and immediately tried to control himself. Ron, however, continued to chuckle quietly behind her.

Harry continued. "Erised is Desire spelled backwards. The mirror shows us 'the deepest and most desperate desires of our hearts,' so says Dumbledore."

"Hermione," Ron chimed in, "when was the last time you had a good laugh?"

Hermione shrugged and looked at the floor, embarrassed at the state of her psyche of late. "I wish it were that simple," she mumbled.

"It is darling. Just look in the mirror," Ron said as Harry turned her around and lifted her chin so she was once again looking into the mirror.

The image had changed.

It was no longer Hermione, alone, laughing uncontrollably at some unseen comic wonder, but Hermione surrounded by her friends, all laughing the same way. Harry, Ron, Remus, Ginny, Luna, Fred, George, Lavender, Parvati, even Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, all laughing like a bunch of loons on cheering charms.

As if the laughter in the mirror were contagious, a smile started to pull at the corners of Hermione's lips. Soon, in spite of herself, she allowed a soft giggle to escape.

It was as if that one giggle was the crack in a very old dam. Hermione could no longer suppress the laughter, and she soon stopped trying.

This set Harry and Ron off almost immediately, and within minutes the three of them were nothing but a tangled heap of laughter on the floor in front of the mirror.

Eventually, they regained their composure, on by one. As they stood and helped one another to wobbly feet, Hermione kissed each of them fondly on the cheek. "Thanks," she said simply. "Merlin knows I needed that."

"No problem," said Ron, planting a wet kiss on her forehead.

"Anytime," finished Harry, giving her a warm hug.

"Let's get back. I'll make us some tea," Hermione offered. Then she turned to the mirror out of habit to straighten her ruffled hair.

The sight that met her in the mirror made her gasp audibly, and she blushed all the way up to the roots of that unruly hair.

Hermione cleared her throat and stepped away from the mirror, looking down to straighten her robes. She was clearly extremely affected by whatever desire was manifesting itself in the mirror before her.

It was then that she noticed the red jasper pendant around her neck. She's barely looked at it since Dumbledore had explained what it was. And now.the jasper stone was glowing.like a red beacon in the darkness of the room.

"Oh Sweet Morgana," she exclaimed. "Jasper." Then she tore from the room, Ron and Harry on her heels.