Title: Legacy of the Father (8/?)

Spoilers: First four books; contains some elements introduced in the 5th book, but is set during Harry's 5th year.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Chapter Eight - The Welling Mirror

Azrael spent most of the night out hunting, but Hedwig wasn't too quick in departing for the Owlery. Harry suspected that her maternal instincts were nothing compared to her need to know that Harry still wanted her around on occasion.

Hedwig flew off as dawn was breaking and Azrael was coming back. The bat looked overstuffed when Harry checked on him. So many bugs, Harry thought as he got dressed.

"Morning, Harry. Azrael come back?"

"Yeah, he's right here. Looks like he did a little feasting last night, too."

"Either that or he's just naturally chubby. Harry, you know, those two new professors left the feast early, too. A few minutes after you did. Weird, huh?"

"Maybe they were tired too. Come on, let's get to breakfast."

"Yeah, we need our schedules. I wonder how many classes we share with the Slytherins this term."

The Great Hall was abuzz as usual. Harry and Ron sat down just as the mail owls started to arrive. Harry doubted that Hedwig had anything, but it wasn't Hedwig that delivered the mail this morning. It was Azrael. Carrying a small package and a newspaper, Azrael was faster than some of the owls his size, but he was quick to drop the mail off and go back out the window.

"Did you sign up for the Daily Prophet this year?"

"No, I didn't, but someone else may have in my name."

"I did, for both of you."

"Morning, Hermione. Thanks for the paper."

"So Hedwig has already come and gone again?"

"Actually, it was Azrael."

"Where's Hedwig?"

"Right there."

True enough, Hedwig was flying towards Harry with another package, somewhat larger than the first.

"What are these things?"

"Haven't opened them yet."

Hedwig dropped the package into Harry's waiting hands, then landed on the table beside his plate. The first package had a note taped to it that read "Happy Birthday, From Hagrid."

"What does the second package's card say?"

"Says 'First period is with me, though second will prove an experience with this. From M.F.'"

"Spooky. Who's M.F.?"

"Well, what do we have first?"

"Potions, with the Slytherins. And Professor Mundungus Fletcher."

"Potions without Snape. Neville is probably thrilled," said Hermione jokingly. Then Professor Lupin had revealed, with the help of a boggart, that Neville's greatest fear was Snape.

"What do you have second?"

"Divination, with Trelawney. Everyday with her is an experience. She'll tell me that I'm doomed to die again this year."

"Probably. Everytime she saw you last year she predicted your death due to some weird force of nature or whatnot."

"Personally, you two should follow my example and find another subject besides that. It's bogus. McGonagall and Dumbledore even said so. So, Harry, you going to open those this century or what?"

Harry opened Hagrid's present first. It was a small stack of pictures. The note that held them together read: "To expand your collection. Hagrid." Flipping through the stack, Harry saw pictures of his parents, happy and apparently unworried, and of various family members, with notes on the backs of the pictures telling Harry who they were. His grandparents, great aunts and uncles and the like all smiled at him, as if they had known him for years on end.

Harry was more leery of opening the second present. After all, how did he know who Mundungus Fletcher was and what his intentions were? Plus, even if he was who he said he was, Harry secretly wanted to open the box when he was alone.

"What about the other one?" Ron sounded impatient.

"I'll save it for later."

"But Professor Fletcher is bound to ask you about it. You should at least know what it is."

Hermione had a point. Harry reluctantly opened the box and found only a scroll and a small circular mirror, no more than 3 inches at it widest point.

"A mirror? Why would anyone send you a mirror and say it was going to be an experience to have one?"

"Who knows. Maybe this mirror is more than it appears to be, eh, Harry?"

Harry wasn't paying too much attention. The images he saw in the mirror drew him in and refused to let him go. Harry had had this sensation before; when he had found Dumbledore's Pensieve by accident, it had drawn him in in a very similar manner. But a Pensieve looks like a bowl of water, not a mirror.

Suddenly, Harry felt the whir of the images passing him stop. He looked around, but all he saw was a graveyard. Then it became clear to him as he saw himself tied to a gravestone marked 'Tom Riddle.' This was his own Pensieve, but he could not remember ever draining his memories into anything.

"This is not a Pensieve, Harry. This is called a Welling Mirror. It calls upon memories to provide an environment. For you, this memory is the one that came to your mind first."

Harry looked around, only to find Mundungus Fletcher standing behind him.

"This was your father's gift to Dumbledore, just before he died. My memories and many others' are here. But, beware, Harry. Like Dumbledore's Mirror of Erised, this Welling Mirror can have strange effects on you."

"You told me that this would prove interesting in Trelawney's class."

"Get her to look into the mirror. When she has, come to see me. Now, time for class."

"Harry?"

"Yeah?" Harry replied, still in a bit of a trance.

"Time for class. Wouldn't want to be late on our first day with the new professor."

"Right," Harry said, distracted. It wasn't until Harry saw Professor Fletcher in person did Harry's trance seem to fade away.

"Good morning, Professor."

"G'morning, Hermione, Harry, Ron."

Hermione and Ron ushered Harry to a lab table and waited for class to begin. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle came in soon after, looking less pleased than usual.

"Hey, Potter. I bet Snape and Voldemort are plotting your death right now."

"Really?"

"Sound scared there, Potter."

"Not so much scared as intrigued. Voldemort always delivers a fascinating show, but I can't see how he could possibly put on a better performance than the last year's."

"Time for class. Quiet now. I am told that Professor Snape has instructed you well and that you are up to speed with all that you should be. Good. Now, open your books to page 6. Draco, why don't you start us off with the newest discoveries in potion-making."

Draco scowled under his breath but began reading nonetheless. As he did, Harry's mind began to wander and he found himself wanting to use the mirror again. Just as four years ago the Mirror of Erised had aroused his yearning for a living family (other than the Dursleys), the Welling Mirror had become a temptation for Harry's need to know everything there was to know about his family, to fill in the blanks that still remained. He still wore the cloud pin, though he had yet to find a way to summon his parents' presences again.

Suddenly, an idea struck Harry's brain with a ferocity that made it twinge slightly. Harry finally understood why Mundungus had told him to show the mirror to Trelawney: he was going to show him how to use the mirror. His daydream was over and Harry was soon smiling broadly and full of energy. He knew what he had to do.

The walk up to the North Tower seemed shorter and less tiring than it had the last two years. Harry was so excited he could hardly contain himself.

"So, something Professor Fletcher told you woke you up, huh?"

"Yeah. For some reason, it wasn't as bad as it could have been."

"Too bad we can't say the same thing about Trelawney. Are you ready for however many forms of death she'll predict for you today?"

"I think I've built up an immunity to her."

Harry was still at a loss as to how to get Trelawney to look into the mirror as Ron pulled down the stairs that led to the top of the North Tower and Trelawney's classroom.

"Better put that mirror away or Trelawney might make us look into it and predict something."

That was it. All Harry had to do was to keep the mirror out and Trelawney was sure to notice it. The classroom was filled with smoke and the faint smell of incense. The fire was roaring and the tea in the teapot was letting off a faint stream of steam.

"Welcome back. I sense that our Auras have faded a bit since last we met, but not as much as would normally be expected. Wonderful."

Harry and Ron sat on the couch near the window. Harry carefully set his books on the table and set the Welling Mirror next to them, clearly in sight.

"Today we're going to review the viewing of crystal balls. Oh, and later, since I see someone has brought one, we may try mirrors."

Harry secretly congratulated himself. She had seen it and, hopefully, she was going to use it. Good. The crystal balls were carefully passed out, and Harry and Ron were looking at the shapes in the ball when Trelawney came by.

"Both of your Auras have grown significantly. What sign told you to bring your mirror?"

"Professor Fletcher told me."

"Ah, his gift for you, yes?"

"Yes."

"May I see it?"

"Of course." Harry handed it to Trelawney and watched as her eyes focused on it. Harry could tell that, like him, Trelawney had been drawn into the mirror's images. What memory was it that she saw? Suddenly, her eyes blinked and she turned to Harry.

"Genuine craftsmanship. Now, please, put it away."

"Is something wrong, Professor?" Lavender asked.

"No, nothing. Class is dismissed."

Harry and Ron were the first two down the stairs.

"Did you see Trelawney? She let us go early and she didn't predict a horrible death for you. Maybe she got the help she really needed."

"Maybe," Harry said, thinking of the mirror.

"Harry, where are you going? Lunch is this way."

"I'll be there in a second. I need to talk to Professor Fletcher about something."

"Harry, is something wrong?"

"No, just want to talk to him about this mirror he gave me. I need to know how to use it."

"Then I'm coming too."

"What about Hermione?"

"What about me?"

Hermione walked up behind Harry and Ron.

"Ron and I were just going to see Professor Fletcher to find out how this mirror he gave me works, but we remembered that we were going to meet you in the Hall for lunch."

"Oh. Well, I need to see Professor Fletcher as well."

"About what? It's only the first day of class."

"Well, I was hoping to learn something Lupin taught you, Harry. The Patronus Spell."

"Oh. Well, come on."

Ron and Hermione talked on the way to Professor Fletcher's classroom. Harry was absorbed in thought. What had Trelawney seen in the mirror? How did Fletcher know how to use it? And why were all these items that were once his father's suddenly finding their way to him?

"Hello, Harry, Hermione, Ron. What brings you?"

"Well, Professor, you told me to come back after Divination."

"So I did. Did she...you know?"

"Yeah."

"Great. Now, Harry, set the mirror just here. Ron, Hermione, whatever you do, don't look into this mirror until this is done. Now, Harry, I need you to shut your eyes and concentrate on the mirror and Trelawney."

Harry did as he was told. A minute, maybe two, passed. Suddenly Hermione gasped, but Harry resisted his first impulse to open his eyes. He felt a sudden jerk, similar to the sensation he had with a Portkey.

"It's okay to open your eyes now. Look."

Harry saw a scene totally unfamiliar to him. He was not at Hogwarts, he could tell that.

"This is Trelawney's home. I've visited it a few times."

"I thought Trelawney lived in the North Tower."

"She moved up there when Voldemort came. This is her home from before Voldemort. Not too far from Hogwarts, as I remember."

"Professor, what was Trelawney's first real prediction?"

Before Fletcher could answer, the scenery changed. Harry and Fletcher watched as Trelawney, some 20 years younger, walked onto the scene and sat before a table decorated by only a crystal ball. She sat for several moments, running her hands this way and that over the ball. Then her hands fell and she became very still.

"The Heirs have always been at opposite sides, but now the sides shall meet in deadly fire. But each shall remain, unable to fight. Thence, after 15 years shall find them quarreled but unbowed, the flight of both shall end. Then 3 years war will end the fight, and one Heir alone will stand."

"Does she mean me and Voldemort?"

"Your family and Voldemort's, more correctly."

"My family?"

"You'll learn soon enough, Harry. Now, if I remember correctly, our time here is just about up."

Even as Professor Fletcher said the words, the world of Trelawney's past evaporated. Hermione and Ron were still by the door.

"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked, a twinge of fear in her voice.

"Sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

"No reason," she answered.

Harry packed the mirror away in his bag and was walking out the door when Professor Fletcher called out a final warning.

"Harry, be careful who looks into that mirror. Some who look into it may discover its true potential and take it from you. It is one of your weapons against Voldemort and, therefore, priceless."

Harry nodded, then left with Ron and Hermione. A few moments later, Remus Lupin appeared from Fletcher's office.

"So, Mundungus, he knows what to do with it?"

"I think so. He has been taught well. Now, let's see if he can piece two and two together."

"With Ron and Hermione's help, I have no doubt he will. No doubt whatsoever."

"Oh, Remus, is your black dog still with you?"

"Of course. He goes with me everywhere, though he has been very shy lately."

"He has his reasons, no doubt."

"No doubt. How is Arabella doing?"

"Her first class went well. Her class with the fifth years is the second to last one of the day."

"I hope Harry realizes how much protection is around him this year. We can't afford a repeat of last year. Far too close," Remus said, serious-faced. He sat down in the seat across the desk from Mundungus.

"Yes. I fear Voldemort's wrath may be too great for all of us combined to protect Harry. He must be cautious this year. He must."

"Dumbledore agrees. McGonagall will be keeping a closer eye on Harry and his friends than in previous years."

"Do you really think he'll attack Harry now, when everyone expects him to?"

"He's tried before. Like you said, Harry is still vulnerable at times, even here. Especially now."