-MIRROR MIRROR
CHAPTER 2
By: Piton
It took both women some time to realize Dumbledore was offering a handshake; they kept staring at the old man's hand without moving.
With a chuckle Dumbledore grabbed Tethys' hand with no ceremony and shook it softly, covering the handshake with his other hand. In a gesture of reassurance, that they were safe there.
Tethys body tensed at the contact and her first instinct was to pull away, but as she met Dumbledore's blue eyes, she felt herself relax. If she was the kind of woman who could trust no one, this was an exception; she saw real honesty in the old man's eyes and was instantly taken by his warm good nature.
Sensing that Tethys was no longer afraid, Hydra stepped out from behind her and started checking her surroundings better. She glanced at Dumbledore who promptly shook her hand as well and she understood why Tethys had let her guard down.
No one spoke for a few seconds and McGonagall was the one who broke the silence.
"Are you two alright? I hope we have not frighten you?"
"Who are you?" Tethys asked McGonagall and Dumbledore, although her eyes were trying to make out the figure that stood in the shadows.
Tethys wasn't the only one intrigued by that, Hydra was actually going in his direction and with a quick reflex, Tethys pulled Hydra's shirt, making her stumble back to her side.
With an innocent look Hydra asked, "What?"
Tethys just shook her head and turned her attention back to the old man who seemed very amused. She was getting impatient, waiting for their response.
"Why don't we all step into my office where I can explain everything?" he said beckoning them to the door, "My name is Albus Dumbledore and this is Professor Minerva McGonagall."
McGonagall nodded politely, moving towards the entrance and the sisters went along a little uncertain but strangely curious to see what was outside that dark room.
Dumbledore turned back to the room and said, "Aren't you coming Severus?"
A reluctant Snape came out of the shadows and for the first time Tethys could see his face. They locked eyes instantly and she immediately told herself not to trust that man. There was something amiss hidden behind those pools of deep blackness in his eyes.
She tried to reach Hydra to warn her, but she was way ahead of her, looking amazed at the walls covered by paintings in the corridor. By the time she reached her, she forgot all about the man, only to stare in awe at hundreds of paintings, moving like real people inside the frames.
........................................................
"What is this place and why you want us here?" Tethys impatience had increased after meeting that strange man.
Dumbledore had asked them to sit in two chairs by the window while McGonagall and the man who had been introduced as Professor Severus Snape, sat on the opposite side. Dumbledore went around his desk and sat heavily, bringing his hands together and gazing in the distance as if trying to find the right words to answer the woman's question.
Hydra was very accepting of the whole thing; she was even excited to see what was coming next. Her sense of adventure used to blind her ability of worrying about danger. Her eyes were flying around the office, taking everything in, when they settled on the dark man called Snape.
He glared back and raised one eyebrow. She thought it was funny how surly and angry he looked, even though she sensed something completely different. Without hesitation she smiled at him.
For a moment he wasn't able to conceal his emotions and he looked truly surprised at her behavior, but as fast as the expression appeared on his face, it disappeared, leaving only a cold glare.
Dumbledore coughed lightly bringing everyone's attention back to him.
"As I said before, this 'place' is called Hogwarts which is a school of witchcraft and wizardry. You just crossed a dimension through that mirror you touched," he paused to give them time to take the information, "Of course it was intentional, I was expecting you to."
"Why?" Tethys asked.
"For me to explain that, I have to go further back into your past, and reveal a few things, so it will be easier for you to understand your importance in this matter." Dumbledore said.
"Our past... you mean our family?, Hydra spoke for the first time.
"More specifically your father," said Dumbledore.
"Oh God, he was from here wasn't he? From your world?" asked Tethys as she remembered little odd things that almost went unnoticed in her childhood, and adding to what she and her sister could do, that explained a lot.
"I'm afraid you're right," Dumbledore said pleased at how quickly she picked that up.
"But he never done anything remotely magical," Hydra said more to herself than to the others.
"That's where you're wrong," Tethys said, "you were too young to remember!"
Dumbledore continued, "You see, Preston Solas was a brilliant wizard, he could do things not many wizards can. The most remarkable of them was his ability to travel through dimensions. The same way you two did, only he didn't need the Mirror of Erised, he could do it at his will. For a long time our world has been at war against one of the most powerful and evil wizards of all time, Voldemort."
The name made Hydra skin crawl and all the hairs on her arms shot up in a terrible shudder. Dumbledore continued.
"Voldemort knew of your father's abilities and he wanted to gather as much power as he could, recruiting wizards to work on his side. Your father was invited to join his followers more known as Death Eaters."
Snape almost unconsciously touched his arm and rubbed it over the place where the dark mark laid hidden under his clothes.
"He refused to do it and from then on his life became... difficult... until he came home one night to find his family dead, slaughtered by death eaters," Dumbledore gave them a sad look, "The only thing he could do was to flee the scene and come straight to me. We sat together in this very office and all I could advise him to do was to travel into your world and live as a muggle. If he performed anything magical, it could bring attention to him."
The sisters looked shocked and sad for their father's faith.
"Excuse me sir, but what is a muggle?" Hydra asked.
"It's a person who doesn't possess magic, like your mother. I know about your mother because he sent me news from time to time, even though it was very risky, but thankfully it led me to know about how he met her and about the two of you."
"So you're saying that we might possess magical abilities like our father?" Tethys asked.
"I'm affirming you do. Haven't you known that already my dear?" he looked at her over his spectacles, his blue eyes twinkling.
"I never thought of it that way... I knew we could do things, but I didn't know there were actually magical people..." Tethys answered.
"Well, Preston confided to me some time before he died that you were witches and he was sorry that you couldn't have the opportunity to learn more because of his problem," he paused and smiled as he remembered, "he made me promise to help you get your education as soon as Voldemort was defeated. Unfortunately this is not the case."
"Then why did you bring us here if this man is still alive?" Tethys asked.
Dumbledore gazed at Snape and the younger man fidgeted in his seat. With a smile Dumbledore said,
"That my dear, is because we need your help."
**************************************************************************** *******
reviews please!
CHAPTER 2
By: Piton
It took both women some time to realize Dumbledore was offering a handshake; they kept staring at the old man's hand without moving.
With a chuckle Dumbledore grabbed Tethys' hand with no ceremony and shook it softly, covering the handshake with his other hand. In a gesture of reassurance, that they were safe there.
Tethys body tensed at the contact and her first instinct was to pull away, but as she met Dumbledore's blue eyes, she felt herself relax. If she was the kind of woman who could trust no one, this was an exception; she saw real honesty in the old man's eyes and was instantly taken by his warm good nature.
Sensing that Tethys was no longer afraid, Hydra stepped out from behind her and started checking her surroundings better. She glanced at Dumbledore who promptly shook her hand as well and she understood why Tethys had let her guard down.
No one spoke for a few seconds and McGonagall was the one who broke the silence.
"Are you two alright? I hope we have not frighten you?"
"Who are you?" Tethys asked McGonagall and Dumbledore, although her eyes were trying to make out the figure that stood in the shadows.
Tethys wasn't the only one intrigued by that, Hydra was actually going in his direction and with a quick reflex, Tethys pulled Hydra's shirt, making her stumble back to her side.
With an innocent look Hydra asked, "What?"
Tethys just shook her head and turned her attention back to the old man who seemed very amused. She was getting impatient, waiting for their response.
"Why don't we all step into my office where I can explain everything?" he said beckoning them to the door, "My name is Albus Dumbledore and this is Professor Minerva McGonagall."
McGonagall nodded politely, moving towards the entrance and the sisters went along a little uncertain but strangely curious to see what was outside that dark room.
Dumbledore turned back to the room and said, "Aren't you coming Severus?"
A reluctant Snape came out of the shadows and for the first time Tethys could see his face. They locked eyes instantly and she immediately told herself not to trust that man. There was something amiss hidden behind those pools of deep blackness in his eyes.
She tried to reach Hydra to warn her, but she was way ahead of her, looking amazed at the walls covered by paintings in the corridor. By the time she reached her, she forgot all about the man, only to stare in awe at hundreds of paintings, moving like real people inside the frames.
........................................................
"What is this place and why you want us here?" Tethys impatience had increased after meeting that strange man.
Dumbledore had asked them to sit in two chairs by the window while McGonagall and the man who had been introduced as Professor Severus Snape, sat on the opposite side. Dumbledore went around his desk and sat heavily, bringing his hands together and gazing in the distance as if trying to find the right words to answer the woman's question.
Hydra was very accepting of the whole thing; she was even excited to see what was coming next. Her sense of adventure used to blind her ability of worrying about danger. Her eyes were flying around the office, taking everything in, when they settled on the dark man called Snape.
He glared back and raised one eyebrow. She thought it was funny how surly and angry he looked, even though she sensed something completely different. Without hesitation she smiled at him.
For a moment he wasn't able to conceal his emotions and he looked truly surprised at her behavior, but as fast as the expression appeared on his face, it disappeared, leaving only a cold glare.
Dumbledore coughed lightly bringing everyone's attention back to him.
"As I said before, this 'place' is called Hogwarts which is a school of witchcraft and wizardry. You just crossed a dimension through that mirror you touched," he paused to give them time to take the information, "Of course it was intentional, I was expecting you to."
"Why?" Tethys asked.
"For me to explain that, I have to go further back into your past, and reveal a few things, so it will be easier for you to understand your importance in this matter." Dumbledore said.
"Our past... you mean our family?, Hydra spoke for the first time.
"More specifically your father," said Dumbledore.
"Oh God, he was from here wasn't he? From your world?" asked Tethys as she remembered little odd things that almost went unnoticed in her childhood, and adding to what she and her sister could do, that explained a lot.
"I'm afraid you're right," Dumbledore said pleased at how quickly she picked that up.
"But he never done anything remotely magical," Hydra said more to herself than to the others.
"That's where you're wrong," Tethys said, "you were too young to remember!"
Dumbledore continued, "You see, Preston Solas was a brilliant wizard, he could do things not many wizards can. The most remarkable of them was his ability to travel through dimensions. The same way you two did, only he didn't need the Mirror of Erised, he could do it at his will. For a long time our world has been at war against one of the most powerful and evil wizards of all time, Voldemort."
The name made Hydra skin crawl and all the hairs on her arms shot up in a terrible shudder. Dumbledore continued.
"Voldemort knew of your father's abilities and he wanted to gather as much power as he could, recruiting wizards to work on his side. Your father was invited to join his followers more known as Death Eaters."
Snape almost unconsciously touched his arm and rubbed it over the place where the dark mark laid hidden under his clothes.
"He refused to do it and from then on his life became... difficult... until he came home one night to find his family dead, slaughtered by death eaters," Dumbledore gave them a sad look, "The only thing he could do was to flee the scene and come straight to me. We sat together in this very office and all I could advise him to do was to travel into your world and live as a muggle. If he performed anything magical, it could bring attention to him."
The sisters looked shocked and sad for their father's faith.
"Excuse me sir, but what is a muggle?" Hydra asked.
"It's a person who doesn't possess magic, like your mother. I know about your mother because he sent me news from time to time, even though it was very risky, but thankfully it led me to know about how he met her and about the two of you."
"So you're saying that we might possess magical abilities like our father?" Tethys asked.
"I'm affirming you do. Haven't you known that already my dear?" he looked at her over his spectacles, his blue eyes twinkling.
"I never thought of it that way... I knew we could do things, but I didn't know there were actually magical people..." Tethys answered.
"Well, Preston confided to me some time before he died that you were witches and he was sorry that you couldn't have the opportunity to learn more because of his problem," he paused and smiled as he remembered, "he made me promise to help you get your education as soon as Voldemort was defeated. Unfortunately this is not the case."
"Then why did you bring us here if this man is still alive?" Tethys asked.
Dumbledore gazed at Snape and the younger man fidgeted in his seat. With a smile Dumbledore said,
"That my dear, is because we need your help."
**************************************************************************** *******
reviews please!