The Two-Way Mirror
Harry groaned as he fell off the bed and a bunch of dust flew up his nose. He rubbed his eyes open underneath his glasses. The Shrieking Shack looked darker than it had earlier that day. Must be late. Harry thought as he got up and brushed off his clothes. He then picked up his Firebolt in which fell on the floor with him. I guess the Broomstick Kit Hermione got me is going to be in good handy, this could use a polishing now.
Harry put the broomstick back on the bed and stretched out his arms feeling tension growing in his chest. He then thought he heard voices outside saying,
"Check every inch of this place, if we don't find him soon, I'm afraid that someone else will."
"Which way did he go?"
"I don't know, just burst right out of Dumbledore's office. Poor kid, suffered so much…"
"Don't worry we'll find him, sir."
Were they wondering about me? Harry wondered. I don't care! They should just learn to leave me alone! Harry was feeling anger growing into his fists as he longed to punch something now, but knew it would make too much noise.
Harry decided to go down the stairs and walked around the house. It was so trashed, so dusty. Harry started to feel a bit of guilt rise in his chest for the way he reacted to recent events. He wanted to go back to the castle now, but knew he would be questioned to where he went when he got there. Instead Harry went back up to the room he first talked to Sirius in and took his broomstick into his hands. Just then something moved in the corner of the room and Harry jumped only to see something ginger move across the room and into Harry's lap.
"Hello Crooshanks, fancy meeting you here." The cat purred and rubbed its furry head along Harry's torso. Harry stroked the cat thinking, I might've killed Sirius if you didn't jump on his chest. Memories continued to play in Harry's mind and Harry just wanted to jump into them. I could really go for a Pensive right now.
Crooshanks then left and when he returned, he was carrying a bag of food in its mouth. Harry bent down to the cat and thanked it while opening the bag of chips and hungrily forcing some down his throat. He decided that he was going to stay here for longer and asked Crooshanks if he could steel Harry a clean cup. Crooshanks skipped away and Harry thought, well, with my spell to conduct water, and with Crooshanks steeling food from the kitchen for me, then I can stay here as long as I want! Harry plopped himself backwards onto the best as dust flew in the air. Harry dozed off into sleep again.
Harry didn't know how many days he was now staying in the Shrieking Shack, but he could hear tension coming from Hogsmeade.
"You-Know-Who hasn't gotten him has he?"
"I sure hope not, there is still no siteing of him in the Daily Prophet so hopefully little Harry Potter is safe."
LITTLE!!! I guess me going into hiding obviously isn't sticking in their heads! I'm not LITTLE! I can take care of myself! Harry became outraged, having nothing but Crooshanks as company for the past what? Three days, and now he was being considered LITTLE!
That night Crooshanks managed to knick a bit of crème pie for Harry. He ate it gratefully missing the school's food and drank some of the ice water he could make with a spell. Harry then plunked himself onto the now dustless bed about to fall asleep when he heard someone coming up the stairs. He whirled himself around as he ran and hid behind a desk.
"Harry, I know you're here." Came a familiar voice. Frustrated with himself Harry didn't dare move.
"Nice Firebolt, Harry. Could use a good polishing from being stuck in this dusty place. I saw on my way up that you've done a number on it since I was last in here. Ooo left over crème pie ey? Don't mind if I do." Said Lupin now helping himself to some pie that Harry couldn't finish earlier.
"Mrs. Weasly is awfully worried about you Harry, she didn't even get a chance to talk to you at the funeral. Halloween's this weekend is it not? And a Hogsmeade visit. I hear this girl in the castle is awfully upset that she's no longer going to have a special guy to talk to this weekend."
He's lying, no one knows about Jenna. Plus she'd be more worried about Harry's life than to have a chat with him.
"Well I guess you have better luck in girls than your father had. Only liked one girl his whole life, and didn't get her to like him till his seventh year. Come out Harry, your parents and Sirius wouldn't want you to be in hiding away from everyone.
"Fine suit yourself Harry. But you don't want all of those risked lives for you to be put away because you wanted to lock yourself up."
"No one knows I'm here."
"Oh and what am I? The werewolf in the corner?"
"I don't want to face anyone. I'm sick of people feeling sorry for me. I'm sick of people who meet me for the fist time's eyes travel up to my forehead to see my scar. If they want to see it so bad they can have it! With all the curses it brings!"
"Harry you're not going to feel better by locking yourself up in here like this."
"I like it."
"Harry don't lie to me. Come out, let me see your face."
"No."
"Harry come on—"
"I haven't showered in days and I—"
"Harry I don't care about that! Come on now, stop hiding from behind that desk."
"I like it." Harry lied.
"Harry, don't do this. Just come out from behind there." Harry, feeling no want in continuing this fight over coming out from behind where he was sitting, knowing how it was going to end, stood himself up and faced Lupin. Harry's face was completely covered in dirt and dust, and so were his clothes. Lupin looked into Harry's eyes and Harry could see Lupin's had the same glow that Sirius's eyes once contained.
"Now Harry that wasn't so bad."
"How'd you know I was here?"
"Well no one's been able to find you for days, and I knew no one would think to look for you right underneath a tree which tries to kill anyone who goes near it so… and I knew this is where you had first met Sirius, only logic for you to hide here. And with Crooshanks here to get food for you Harry, seems like you've got a great place going here." Lupin laughed.
"It's not funny. Nothing is."
"No, you're right, its not. But Harry, you can't keep yourself locked in here forever –"
"Why not?"
"Harry, you and I both know that answer. Your father wouldn't have wanted you to waste away your life in here. Plus I can already see in your eyes how bored you're getting." Harry just looked down at the floor. "Harry, listen, I lost them too, after having a whole childhood with them, so this is really hard for me too. But you don't see me in hiding do you? No, I'm out there fighting for their deaths, and for you."
"Please don't fight for me, people who do end in death."
"Harry, they may have died to protect you, but it's just making you that much stronger. You don't know it now, but someday you will. Harry come on, let's go to the Three Broomsticks, and grab a butter beer. It'll make you feel better."
"I don't want anything but a normal life."
"Harry, what exactly is a normal life?"
"Not mine."
"Well no, but normal lives are usually boring and pointless. From before you were born you've had a destiny. You've been on so many adventures and you've made two lifelong friends. You are also the captain of the Quidditch team, with the best broomstick ever made. I can't see how all that could be bad."
"THAT'S not bad, all of the deaths are. AND the fact that I was the cause of them."
"Harry, they all existed to protect you. You don't know it now, but destiny is made for each person, and there is nothing that we can do about it. You just have to try to make the best of what was given to you. Your parents died in creating the downfall of Voldemort, and putting a protective spell in your blood. You were also given some powers of Voldemort, if I'm not mistaken. Notice when they found out their fate they didn't get rid of you? They didn't hand you in to Voldemort openly, as you told me when trying to learn the Patronous. They knew what their priorities were and they put you in front. The reason you look so much like James isn't only because your are his son Harry, but because he too is with you. And if Neville were the chosen one for he too was born at the end of July, then your parents would have been in the state that Neville's are, which Harry, is worse than death. But you were meant to be the chosen one, for as I hear you and Voldemort both have a muggle-born parent. Harry, the Weasly's won the draw for their paper to be put in the paper for Sirius to see. Crooshanks was born for Hermione to fall in love with and take here to try and get Scabbers. Crooshanks also came between your wand and Sirius's heart, as I recall walking into three years ago. All of this was meant to happen Harry. And now Sirius is with you along with some of his powers making you stronger. You were meant to see that vision of Sirius being tortured by Voldemort to get the Prophecy, just like clumsy Neville was meant to drop the Prophecy for it not be heard. Dumbledore now knew that it was time for you to let you hear it for yourself, thus, you seeing your destination. Now all you have to do is continue to grow stronger and fulfill your destiny. Harry you can't let all of these lives go down without a defeat of the one who caused it all. It was Voldemort who caused all this pain, not you. So don't even think on it for one second. Just learn from your past and get stronger from it." Harry just sat here letting Lupin's words sink in. Everything made sense, it all fit.
"But Lupin, what if I don't defeat Voldemort, what if I can't do it?"
"Harry you can't doubt yourself, destiny and fate wouldn't have gone through that much trouble in creating you and the Prophecy just for you to meet your downfall and Voldemort to come back stronger and worse than before."
"But Lupin I- I just can't do it. I can't. It's too much. I know everything your saying it all makes sense, but there's something missing."
"Which is what we call life Harry. Every choice you make and continue to make will affect you in the future, Wormtail, is in debt of you, he may not be too reliable as we have seen in the past, but you were meant to save his life for him to return to the Dark Lord to come back to power."
"And you – what do you play in this?"
"Ahh, well I am the one explaining all of this to you am I not? I am the one who is taking you out of your miserable spot right now. I was best friends with your father and Sirius for a reason Harry. Now come on, let's go back to the castle." Lupin made way to touch Harry's shoulder, but thought better of it and drew back his arm. Harry made no movement to the door. "Harry, maybe afterlife has a bigger plan in store for you. You have everything to gain, and nothing to loose by living out your life."
Harry thought this over and made toward his Firebolt. He shouldered it as he started to follow Lupin out the door. "Ahh Sirius told me when he saw you fly that for the first time. He said that James could only dream about riding a stick like that Harry."
"How do you do that?"
"What?"
"Talk of them so casually?"
"Well Harry, I am a grown man, and like you, I find time to release my anger and pain on my own. But could you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Mess up your hair on purpose for me? And, let this fly out in front of you and catch it." Lupin took out a little golden snitch. Harry smiled at Lupin remembering watching his father in Snape's worst memory last year messing up his hair on purpose and letting the little snitch fly almost just out of his reach before snatching it again. Harry knew Lupin had missed this. Harry took the snitch gratefully as he messed up his hair casually on purpose before letting the snitch fly just out of his reach before throwing his hand out and grabbing it. Harry continued to do this for a little while and Harry could see so much happiness rise in Lupin's face.
"Sorry," he said after Harry had finished. "You just look so much like James, and I – I missed him doing that. Quidditch was his life." Said Lupin looking ashamed of himself.
"I wish I could've seen him fly… Hey Lupin, I was wondering if I could have this?" Asked Harry holding up the struggling Snitch.
"Yea, it's one of the Snitches you're father nicked from the Quidditch supplies. I took it from him cause it was about the fifth one he took." Said Lupin laughing. "I can't believe I still have it."
Harry looked down at the Snitch, my father held this snitch, it was one he used to play around with.
Harry and Lupin made their way out of the Shrieking Shack and out of the tunnel. The Whomping Willow was completely still, and Harry and Lupin casually walked to the castle.
"Harry!" Screamed Hermione as she caught site of Harry and Lupin sneaking their way past the Great Hall. Hermione ran and basically jumped into Harry's arms. Then she punched him really hard, "You had me worried sick!"
"Where's Ron?" Harry wondered.
"No I don't get as much as a hello Hermione, it's nice to see you too. I get a 'Where's Ron'?"
"Sorry—"
"No, no, it's fine, I just thought that you could've been dead or something, but NO BIG!" Hermione sounded upset, exited, and mad but sarcastic all at the same time.
"Hermione, it's so great to see your cheery face again. Now where—"
"Detention with Snape."
"WHAT? He's not even in his class anymore!"
"Well if someone hadn't run off, then he wouldn't have gone off at Snape saying that he'd done something to you…"
"HE DID WHAT!"
"It slipped a bit actually, but man Harry, what a great argument to watch, lost us about two-hundred points to Gryffindor, but you know every Gryffindor is behind his argument." Hermione told him.
"Well I better be getting Harry off to Dumbledore's Hermione, but can he catch up with you later?" Asked Lupin impatiently.
"Oh yea, sorry Lupin, sir." Hermione could never say an adult's name casually. "Bye Harry!" And with that Hermione ran toward the Gryffindor Tower.
"I'll give it about five minutes for the news to travel around the school that you're back." Lupin smiled as he and Harry made their way to the Gargoyles.
"Chocolate Mint."
The Gargoyles flung themselves aside as Harry and Lupin went up the spiral stairs to Dumbledore's office. Harry was hesitant at first, but he made his way through the door.
"It's nice to see you Harry." Came Dumbledore's calm voice. Harry said nothing. He just stared into Dumbledore's blue twinkling eyes. "Harry, everyone's been worried—"
"I don't care."
"Harry, you have to stop living off the past—"
"Why? The past created my future."
"Harry, for you being able to feel this pain and endure it is one of your greatest strengths. That is where Voldemort is weak. You need to continue to gain strength, and by hiding away from everyone, with the exception of Crooshanks, isn't going to help you. You've missed Occlumency lessons, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, the two most important subjects for you to master."
"Can I go back to my tower now?"
"Harry—"
"Please, I just want to be with my friends now." But truly, Harry couldn't stop thinking about the two-way mirror.
"Remus, walk Harry to his tower, we can't afford loosing Harry again. Come back to my office when you're done. Harry, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Of course Headmaster." Said Lupin as he headed toward the door Harry was eager to get to. They made their way back out of the staircase and started walking their way to the Gryffindor tower.
"He let me off easy." Harry told Lupin.
"Well he doesn't want you to leave again Harry. Neither do I. Please stay in the castle this time."
"Whatever."
"Harry don't say that! Your life is at risk here, and Voldemort can break that charm at any time. Please stay in the castle. Remember the talk we just had about fate and destiny? Please don't ruin yours. If we don't have you, then we don't have a future." Lupin said a tone of urgency in his voice.
"I wish I had no one else's future but mine."
"And I wish I was never bitten and became a werewolf."
"But then Sirius would have never became an Animagus and he wouldn't have escaped from Azkaban—"
"See my point Harry? Everything happens for a reason."
"HE IS BACK!" Came a voice from around the corner as the person ran away hurriedly.
"See, didn't take long at all Harry." Lupin laughed.
"Yeah I guess." Harry shrugged.
They didn't talk the rest of the way to the tower. Just stared at the floor. Even though Harry wasn't showing it, he was glad that Lupin was with him.
"Well all right Harry, take care of yourself." Said Lupin as they made it to the fat lady's picture.
"Bye, Lupin. Thanks."
"Harry I'm always here." Said Lupin smileing.
"Yeah…"
"I'll see you soon Harry—"
"Wait Lupin, please, please—" Harry didn't know how to word it. "Stay alive." Harry muttered out.
"Harry, I wouldn't worry about me if I were you. Just concentrate on school and Quidditch." Lupin smiled.
"Was my dad ever captian?"
"For three years I think. He was really good."
"I wish I could've seen him play…"
"Just watch yourself, you fly just as good as he did, maybe better."
Harry smiled.
"See you round Harry." Harry nodded his head up as he said (crinkle buskins) and entered the Gryffindor common room.
He looked up and saw a huge banner dedicated to him. He smiled as people started to rush to where he was standing.
"Harry where'd you go?"
"Did you escape from you-know-who again?"
"You look hungry want some chocolate cake?"
"Are you—"
"I'm tired, and cold. Thanks for all this but I'm just going to hit the showers and head to bed." Said Harry as he made his way to his Dormitory to get towels. Ron ran up to him.
"Harry! Hermione came and told all of us. How d'ya feel?"
"Like a cold monkey who hasn't gotten a banana." Harry told Ron.
"Well Harry," he came up to Harry and punched him just like Hermione did earlier. "Stop running off! You had me worried sick!"
"Sorry Ron I just needed time alone. But I really stink—"
"Don't say more! You need to brush your teeth too!" Ron laughed.
"Ha! Well I'll catch up with you in a bit, you can tell me how Snape's detention went."
"All for you mate." Harry laughed and picked up his towels, clean clothes, and toothbrush as he went to the bathroom and took a nice long hot shower. He brushed his teeth and washed his glasses before heading back to the Gryffindor common room again. He raced up the stairs to his dorm before anyone could rush him with questions and put away his dirty things.
He then, instead of heading back downstairs, opened up his photo album and took another look at his parent's wedding. Sirius is happy, Harry thought. He put it back in the chest at the end of his bed and then took out the two-way mirror and looked at himself through it. A miserable confused boy was staring back at him. Sirius, if only I knew that this is what you gave me. Then I wouldn't have risked the fire in Umbridges office. Something surprising happened… Harry's face turned into Sirius's smiling up at him. Harry jumped in shock and tried to shake his head to make sure he wasn't dreaming. When Harry was sure that he wasn't, he smiled back at Sirius.
"Hey Sirius. I can't believe it!"
"Hey Harry, I was hoping you'd figure out I was a part of you to see past yourself in this mirror. We can talk anytime you want to now. From me still having mine, I was able to keep it when I went into your mind and soul."
"Anytime I want! So we—we can still—oh man!:"
"Yes Harry, this mirror is a great tool is it not?"
"Yeah! I was wondering Sirius, what's beyond the veil?"
"Beyond the veil is what I showed you. It's memories, it's your fears, and it's the highlights and worst parts of your life. It's anything you want it to be."
"Sirius… I miss you so much, why, why did you have to come to save me? You should have just stayed at the order!"
"Same reason you came to save me. Harry it's one thing to watch the order go about their business in trying to find Voldemort, but its another thing to sit and let them save the soul I sworn myself into protecting."
"Sirius, Dumbledore told me that the thing you cared most about in the world was—was me…"
"Well you were, and you still are! Oh man, I should have forbade Kreacher from mentioning you to anyone, how was I supposed to know he'd leave the house?"
"I know… Sirius…did…. did…. did it… it hurt?" Harry forced out.
"Harry, when I was struck by the curse, the last thing I saw was your face and you running after me. That made all of my pain go away, whatever I was feeling, so don't think about it."
"Harry, who are you talking to?" Asked Ron as he came into the dorm and made his way over to Harry's four-poster. Harry couldn't respond to Ron for what Sirius said made Harry's heart burn. "Harry, you can't live off of that mirror thinking Sirius is going to come back, you don't want to make it an obsession." Said Ron comfortingly, hoping Harry wasn't going to run off again.
"No but Ron, he is here, look!" Said Harry pushing the mirror at Ron.
"Harry, all I see is myself. Now come on, let's go down to the common room, Hermione's –"
"No Ron, I see him, he's a part of me and I can see him. Tell me to ask him something for you, anything!"
"Harry…"
"No Ron, please, you have to understand. Just ask him a question only he would know the answer to."
"Alright, ask him… oh I don't know… ask him… how he met James." Ron's question was brilliant for Harry never thought to ask Sirius that question. Harry looked into the mirror and tried to see past himself. He then saw Sirius and asked him,
"Sirius, how, how did you meet my dad?"
"Well we were sorted into the same house and we both found a hate for Snape, so we started a relationship out of making fun of him. We then started sneaking around in his invisibility cloak and started to share our ideas about things. We were always thinking of ways how to break some sort of rule. Remus and Peter then joined and we just continued to bond off from there, especially when we were trying to become Animagus's."
"Oh, thanks Sirius. Ron did you hear that?"
"Harry I didn't hear anything." Ron looked down trying to not make Harry upset. Harry told Ron the answer to the question that he had Harry ask Sirius.
"Is he really there, Harry?" Ron wondered.
"Yes Ron, I swear he is." Harry told him firmly.
"Harry! That's awesome! Tell Sirius I said hi and I miss him!" Ron laughed. And Harry did too. All of a sudden everything seemed a bit funnier having the ability to talk to Sirius at free will.
"Well Sirius, Ron says hi—"
"I can hear him." Sirius told Harry.
"Well I'm going to leave you and Sirius alone then, everyone's about to head up, it's getting really late anyways." Ron told Harry as he made his way out of the dorm leaving Harry and Sirius alone.
"Harry, please don't feel any pain or anger from my death, I've seen what you've been going through… everything… I saw Lily and James's graves… first time I ever saw them either. Harry, your parents wouldn't want you to feel any pain and anger from their deaths, they died for you and for you not to feel any."
"Yeah well…"
"And Harry, I don't want you wondering off like that! Voldemort could've found out and gotten to you! I know how your feeling, being a part of you myself, but please, please don't go and do anything you're going to regret later. Remus is really being there for you."
"I know. Everything he's saying…"
"He's right Harry, every word. Tell him that he made that speech too good for me!" Sirius laughed.
"Ha! No! Sirius you deserve so much more…"
"Harry I never knew how much you cared!"
"SIRIUS!"
"Well Harry you should get some rest now. You've had a rough week."
"You mean a rough life…"
"Yeah well, at least you were able to go around outside, I was stuck in Azkaban for twelve years!" This made Harry feel better. "Good to see you smile Harry."
"Good to talk to you!"
"Harry, I'm happy, so stop making me feel bad by getting upset!"
"Sorry… it's a big loss you know. You just had to go and make me attached to you!" Harry joked and laughed. Sirius did too. "Do you know why the plants reacted in that way last Herbology class?"
"Well since Voldemort was with you at the time, I can feel his presence too, and every animal and plant reacts to his presence."
"Oh, well then Professor Quirrel must have stayed away from the greenhouses when he was a teacher here!"
"Oh yes I heard about him and Voldemort…"
"Did you ever play Quidditch?" Harry wondered totally changing the topic.
"No that was your father's profession. But Harry you should really get some rest now."
"Sirius, I don't want to! I finally get to talk to you again!"
"You can anytime you want Harry. Just keep that mirror in a safe place and don't tell anyone else about it, well except Hermione. She's such a sweet and brilliant girl Harry!" Speaking of girls…
"Sirius you're not with me at the times I'm talking to—to—"
"Jenna? Well I block you out then yes, of course, your love life! But I do watch the Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons; I can't believe how good you are. I was so mad when I couldn't help you with Voldemort's last attack. I can't believe how much pain you have to feel from him! Man having a scar on your forehead really hurts!"
"You're telling me!"
"Oh yes and Harry, before you go—"
"I'm not going to."
"Yes you are! And before you go, I want to tell you not to talk to me through the mirror unless you're sure that the charm is still on you. Voldemort will destroy this somehow and at the moment I don't know any other way we can communicate."
"I hate Voldemort."
"You and basically every other witch and wizard alive."
"Well I have a right to."
"So do others Harry."
"I'm going to get Bellatrix for what she did to you Sirius, don't worry."
"Harry, I don't care about her, just keep yourself safe. Goodnight Harry."
"But Sirius—"
"Goodnight, and have another Quidditch practice soon, I like the feeling of the flying! James was so lucky for his talent. You have it too."
"Thanks Sirius, and I will! I'll talk to you soon—" and Harry thought about it for a second and looked around before saying something he wish he said to Sirius a long time ago, "I—I love you Sirius, you are the best Godfather anyone could ever wish for. And keep showing me memories of my parents, I like to see them."
Sirius paused taken away by Harry's words and answered, "Bye Harry, I love you more than you will ever know. And I will show you every memory I have with your parents in! I'm sorry you were never able to have a little sister, or your parents, and the dream life… Now get some rest." And with that Harry forced a smile as he put the mirror in a box and then hid it at the bottom of the chest at the end of his bed. Harry then looked around the dormitory to make sure no one saw where he put it. I'm not loosing Sirius again. Harry thought as he closed the chest safely and jumped into his bed and took off his glasses before drawing the covers around him.
Author's note: I know the chappie was a little mushy at the end, but come on now! Harry is getting his second chance with Sirius who wouldn't tell the person that died that they loved them huh? Precisely my point. Anyways yeah so we've got dueling club coming up soon, Quidditch practices, more talks with Sirius, um… what else, Halloween and Hogsmeade, which should be fun. And Christmas too. SO just stick around! I think that it's def. Going to take more than a week to finish this story up. Whew! pg. 142 single spaced on Microsoft word baby! Now no more sadness for the time being, RELIEF OF TEARS! Hehe. Anyways Enjoy!