Doppelganger
Part XI: Reflections

By Krystiana
insanebunny@peoplepc.com

Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue. (aka HP and all other characters belong to JKR and whole bunch of other people, blah, blah, blah...)

Warnings: Slash, of the H/D nature. You should probably also read the previous chapters before tackling this one, or else you'll be MAJORLY confused.

Archive: My site (), FanFiction.net, Noire Sensus (if they should somehow get a hold of this), Schnoogle (eventually). Anywhere else, please e-mail me first. ^_^

Emma Grant beta'd this, as well as all previous parts. Thank you for tearing it apart, and thank you for unintentionally inspiring me to finally finish this chapter. ^_~

Harry opened his eyes to darkness. The only thing he could hear was the sound of breathing, although he could not tell where it was coming from. He felt his arm moving, his lips moving in a silent incantation, and a torch flared up a few feet away, casting a dim light on Harry's surroundings.

Harry felt his body stand up, walking a few paces forward until he was standing in front of a mirror. The glass was spotless, but there was no reflection. Harry tried to lift his hand to touch the mirror, but found he had no control over his actions.

"Soon, he will stand beside me."

That voice was coming from… himself? Harry recognized the tone, and he would have shivered if he had control. It was Voldemort's voice. He was trapped inside Voldemort's body, like in the dreams he'd had in his fifth year.

Now Voldemort was touching the mirror, as Harry had tried to do only moments before. He could feel the cold surface underneath Voldemort's fingers, and a surge of joy came from inside him.

"With a very Slytherin Potter standing by my side, Dumbledore and the Ministry will crumble." Voldemort flashed a twisted smile at the mirror. "I will rise in their place.".

"My Lord?" Another familiar voice came from a dark corner of the room. "You called for me?"

Voldemort turned, and Harry spotted Bellatrix Lestrange through his eyes. "You will send the package I gave you. It should arrive tomorrow morning."

"Yes, my Lord." Bellatrix smirked, and Harry felt rage building up inside him. She'd had that same damn smile on her face right after she had killed Sirius.

Voldemort froze, noticing the anger in his mind. He had no reason to feel angry at Bellatrix… "It's not polite to eavesdrop, boy."

With a jolt, Harry forced himself out of Voldemort's head.

Someone was standing over him. Harry looked up to see Harry James staring down at him through narrowed eyes.

"So what did you see?" Harry James asked, not waiting for Harry to say anything.

Harry squeezed his eyes shut again, and managed to sit up. "A mirror."

Harry James raised an eyebrow, squatting down beside Harry. "A mirror?"

"You were right - you and Draco Lucius were brought here because of Voldemort." Harry pressed his palm to his scar, which was still giving him a splitting headache.

"I don't understand, though," Harry James said, his eyes narrowing. "I'm the one that killed Voldemort in our world. Why would he bring us here?"

"He thinks you will 'stand by his side,' and take over the wizarding world together," Harry said, finally managing to open his eyes.

"He's fucking insane."

"We knew that already."

"But why does he think I'll help him?"

"Hermione!" Harry's eyes lit up, and he abruptly stood up. "She already KNOWS what brought you here!"

"What?" Harry James rose to his feet beside Harry, his mouth forming a snarl. "Why the hell didn't she tell us before?"

Harry blinked, and then shook his head. "No, no. She doesn't know she knows. When we were trying to figure out what was happening - before you came here, she showed me a book on Morgana."

"Morgana? What does that old witch have to do with this?"

"It's HER mirror. The book said that Morgana made the mirror with the intent to visit other versions of yourself." Harry bit his bottom lip in thought. "But the mirror would only show you glimpses of the other world - it wouldn't give you the whole picture, and it wouldn't allow you to meet your other self face to face."

Harry James crossed his arms, staring down at the pitch. "That might explain why he thought I would be willing to join him. He saw Slytherin, and automatically assumed so." His upper lip curled back. "Voldemort IS a bloody Slytherin, and he's still just as prejudiced as the rest of the world."

"I need to find Hermione," Harry said, already starting down the hill. "Now that we have a REAL lead, she can help."

"Wait." Harry James reached out and tried to grab Harry by the arm, only to watch his hand sail through Harry's side. "Damn, that's annoying," he muttered before narrowing his eyes at Harry. "You need to explain something to me, first."

Harry blinked, but turned to face his double again. "What?"

"Why haven't you learned occulmency yet?"

Harry sucked in his breath, his eyes widening, unable to bring himself to answer the question.

"What the hell is Dumbledore thinking?"

Harry looked down. "It... it's not Dumbledore's fault. It's mine. I was training with Snape..."

"And?"

"And I did something really, really wrong, and Snape refused to instruct me anymore. I don't want to talk about it - it'll just make me feel worse."

Harry James studied his twin's face for a moment, considering prying the secret out of him, but decided to let it go. "I can teach you."

Harry looked up, his mouth falling open slightly. "Really?"

"You need to learn. That's the only way you'll be able to beat him, you know."

Harry let out a shaky breath. "Is that how you beat him? With occulmency?""

"It was part of it," Harry James said. "You need to be his equal, like I already told you. Voldemort knows occulmency, and you need to know it, too. And sticking your wand into some Dark Arts wouldn't hurt, either."

Harry frowned, shaking his head. "No way."

"If you want to be able to kill him -"

"The prophecy says I need to be his equal. It doesn't say I need to BECOME Voldemort."

Harry James smirked. "Do I look like Voldemort to you?"

"No."

"Can you see what I'm saying, then?"

"Yes, but I don't want to learn any Dark Arts."

Harry James's expression darkened. "I thought you would have learned by now that this isn't about what you want. Whether you want it or not, you need to let your Slytherin side out to play."

"I don't have a Slytherin side," Harry said haughtily. "I'm a Gryffindor."

"That has nothing to do with it. Draco has said I've got a nasty streak of Gryffindor in me, but that doesn't make me any less Slytherin."

Harry couldn't find a response to that.

Harry James had a grin spreading across his face. "Besides, just think of how much you'll shock Snape when you show him that you've got some Slytherin in you. He nearly had a stroke when I was sorted into Slytherin."

"Why would I want to show Snape anyth..." Harry trailed off, his eyes widening in horror as he suddenly remembered something. "Oh, shit."

"What's wrong?"

"I forgot to do my Potions essay. It's due tomorrow."

"He'll excuse it. You've had a hell of a weekend, with two people dropping out of the sky."

Harry let out a sharp laugh. "Snape never excuses anything for me. He hates me more than anyone else."

Harry James raised an eyebrow. "More than Longbottom?"

Harry nodded. "I need to at least go scrape something up. I can't show up for class tomorrow morning with nothing to turn in." He started down the hill again.

Harry James followed him, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I can give you a hand."

"In Potions?"

"In my world, I'm top of the class. Snape adores me."

Harry stopped walking altogether and stared at his double in shock. "Who the hell ARE you?"

Harry James stared back, confused. "What do you mean?"

"The day that Professor Snape adores Harry Potter is the day that Ron Weasley kisses Pansy Parkinson."

Harry James let out a sound of pure disgust. "That's too gross for me to picture. Don't insult Pansy like that."

"I'm not insulting. I'm telling the truth."

* * *

Books tucked under his arm, Harry finally trudged into the Gryffindor common room five minutes after curfew.

"Where have you BEEN all night?" Hermione asked as Harry collapsed into the sofa beside her.

"Harry James was helping me with my Potions essay. I forgot about it in all the confusion." Harry let his head fall back on the arm of the sofa. "I helped myself with my homework. That sounds so weird."

"It sounds like a bad idea. You're horrible at Potions, Harry."

"But Harry James is the best in his class."

Hermione's eyes widened. "You're kidding."

"Nope. He's really... smart, Hermione," Harry said softly.

"You sound sad."

"I could have been smart."

Hermione smacked Harry in the leg. "You are smart, you git. You're just chronically lazy." Harry smiled weakly, and Hermione scooted closer to Harry, her voice dropping to a whisper. "What's wrong, Harry?"

Harry looked away from Hermione, staring into the fireplace. "I know what the prophecy said, Hermione."

"Did Harry James tell you?"

"No." Harry glanced at Hermione, raising an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"

"Because he was ranting and raving about how Dumbledore didn't tell you about the prophecy before he ran off to find you." Hermione relaxed into the seat, studying Harry's face. "So Harry James told you what it said?"

"No. Dumbledore told me at the end of last year."

"Hah!" Hermione let out a smug smile. "And Draco Lucius said you shouldn't trust Dumbledore!"

Harry sat up, resting his elbows on his knees. "And I don't trust Dumbledore."

Hermione's eyes widened. "Why? Because Harry James told you not to?"

"No. I haven't trusted him for a while, actually."

Hermione sat in silence for a moment. "Why haven't you told me and Ron about this?" she asked. "About the prophecy, about Dumbledore? Do you still trust US?"

"Of course!" Harry quickly turned his head back towards Hermione. "I trust you and Ron with my life. It's just... it's hard to talk about." He glanced around the common room, searching for the familiar red hair of his friend. "I want to tell both of you at once. Where's Ron?"

"He's up in the dormitory. In case you haven't noticed, he's a bit angry with you right now."

"Oh. I figured he would be." Harry relaxed back into the sofa again, frowning. "You knew what was going on, but he didn't. He's probably pretty pissed."

"You need to talk to him, Harry."

"I will tonight."

"Good."

Harry was silent for a moment more before changing the subject. "It's Morgana's mirror that brought Harry James and Draco Lucius here. You were right."

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise. "When did you figure that out?"

"I had a vision while I was outside."

"WHAT?!" Hermione exclaimed, attracting the attention of the few other Gryffindors in the common room. She lowered her voice to a whisper again. "I thought you said you were studying occulmency with Dumbledore!"

"I was lying. I was trying to figure out what was happening to my brain, remember?"

"Oh." Hermione paused for a moment. "Well, we know what caused this problem now. It will be easier to research now that we've narrowed it down. Have you told Dumbledore yet?"

"No."

"You should talk to him-" Hermione cut herself off. "Never mind. I'll tell him tomorrow. I'm supposed to go see him anyway."

Harry raised an eyebrow. "What for?"

"I'm... helping research a project for him." Hermione pursed her lips, silently letting Harry know that she couldn't say anymore than that.

Harry sighed. "I should go talk to Ron, and then go to bed. I'm exhausted." He moved to stand up, but Hermione put her hand on his arm.

"Take care of yourself, Harry. You can't get too wrapped up in what Harry James's life is like."

Harry blinked, staring down at Hermione. "I'm not."

"I know you, Harry. You can't forget who you are - a great, brave Gryffindor who has saved the lives of many people, myself included." Hermione gave her friend a bright smile.

Harry couldn't help but smile back.

* * *

Draco stared up into the darkness, hoping he would simply drift off to sleep.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Harry Potter.

He saw Harry catching the Snitch. He saw Harry laughing with his friends at the Gryffindor table. He saw Harry staring in determination as he fired a disarming spell. He saw a small, child-like Harry curled up in a cupboard under the stairs.

He saw Harry smiling at him, licking his lips, beckoning him. He saw Harry lean in closer, sealing the gap between their lips...

"ARGH!!" Draco sat up in his bed, snarling into the darkness.

He saw his own pale hand reach out to trace the curve of Harry's jawline...

~I don't like Harry Potter. I don't like Harry Potter. I don't like Harry Potter.~ Draco chanted his mantra in his mind, grabbing his sheets so hard that his knuckles were turning white.

He saw Harry pushing him down to the bed, placing soft kisses down his neck and chest...

Draco's breath quickened. He was awake! Why couldn't he stop these fleeting visions?

He saw Harry staring deep into his own eyes. The fantasy Harry said something to him, and although Draco couldn't hear his voice, he knew exactly what was said.

I love you.

Draco buried his face in his hands.

~I don't like Harry Potter. I don't like Harry Potter...~

* * *

When Harry entered his dormitory, he was surprised to find it dark. The light from the window revealed a human-shaped lump underneath the blankets on Ron's bed.

"Ron?" Harry said quietly.

The lump gave a snort, but didn't wake up.

"Damn." Harry sighed and shrugged himself out of his clothes, pulling on his pajamas. He drew back the curtains on his four-poster bed and settled himself in.

He was nearly asleep when he felt the mattress sinking underneath someone else's weight. A warm body crawled up next to him, and he felt a head lay on his chest. Harry glanced down, his eyes widening at Draco's shining hair. Eyes that appeared to be carved from ice stared back into his own.

"What-" Draco cut him off by wrapping his arms around Harry's shoulders, using the leverage to pull himself up to Harry's lips. As Draco's lips touched his own, Harry felt himself melting inside. He kissed the boy back, and let out a small moan when Draco thrust his tongue into Harry's mouth. Desire rose within Harry, and he reached his arm around to pull Draco even closer.

As soon as Harry's fingers touched Draco's back, the Slytherin disappeared. Harry gasped in shock of losing that intimate contact, and he sat up in his bed, panting.

He'd been dreaming again.

* * *

"Aren't you homesick?"

Harry James and Draco Lucius smiled at each other. Pansy had been talking up a storm all morning, reminding them of the Pansy they knew. It was somewhat of a relief that Pansy was relatively the same person that she was in their world.

"I suppose we're homesick, but it's a very strange kind of homesick," Harry James said.

"We're still at Hogwarts, but it's not OUR Hogwarts," Draco Lucius said in agreement.

"Well, I certainly don't mind the extra Slytherins," Pansy said, grinning at them from across the table.

Suddenly, a small brown package fell in front of Harry James. He stared at it for a moment, noticing his name scrawled on the tag, and then reached for the package.

Draco Lucius grabbed his arm. "Don't touch it." Harry James looked at his lover in confusion, who narrowed his eyes. "Who would send you a package in this world?"

Harry James looked back at the package again. "I know who," he said. "But we can't just let it sit there." He picked up the package, turning it over in his hands.

"Are you going to open it?" Pansy asked, eyeing the package. She watched as Harry James scraped a nail across the brown paper, making a small tear. Pansy was suddenly blinded by a bright light that filled the hall. It quickly faded, and she stared across the table at Harry James and Draco Lucius, who appeared to be glowing. The glow faded, and the two boys stared at Harry James's now empty hands.

"Are you okay?" Pansy asked. Neither of the boys answered her, so she reached across the table and shook Draco Lucius's arm. The blonde snapped out of his trance, staring back across the table at Pansy. "What just happened?" she asked.

"I have no idea," Harry James said, glancing up and down the table for the package, which had completely disappeared.

"I think I know," Draco Lucius said, staring down at Pansy's hand, still grasping onto his arm. "We're solid."

Across the hall, Harry had only glanced up at the flash, thinking it had merely been a stray spell. He took another bite of his eggs and began peeling back the seal of the envelope in his hands.

Inside, there was only a piece of parchment. It wasn't addressed, nor was it signed. It had only one line written across it.

I know who you really are.


to be continued