Disclaimer; I own nothing!

A/N Hello, here is the update for this story a few hours early since fanfic is updating their site tonight. As for updating 'The Deal' I am so sorry to everyone but I just can't get the next chapter right. I have started over and over a few times and it just isn't what I want. (Screams loudly) I am working very hard but I am also stressed due to trying to sell our house and buy a new one. It is the worst experience of my life. Anyway I will try to finish the next chapter of 'The Deal' and post it asap. As for this story...I have to thank Lady Lupin who leant me her idea for the ending of the story (Not the ending of this chapter) it is going to go in a direction you would not think of. So thank you Lady Lupin of Mugglenet! You rock. Don't worry though. The ending is far, far away with lots of things to keep you interested in the meantime. Happy reading and don't forget to review!

The mirror of Erised

The next morning Hermione woke early still wrapped in Draco's protective hold. She glanced at his sleeping face and felt a mixture of peace and dread. It was only 7 am and in less than an hour they would be heading back to the manor. Heading back to find the mirror of Erised, gods willing. She shook him gently attempting to wake him. Slowly his eyes fluttered open and when he caught sight of Hermione he smiled.

"Morning." he said.

"Good morning," she replied "how did you sleep?"

"Better than I have in years." he told her.

"Good." she said but she was not smiling.

"What's wrong? Is it about last night because I know we shoul…" he started, but Hermione interrupted.

"No, it's not that. I am just nervous about today. I want everything to go right. But I have such a bad feeling."

"Try not to worry." he said reaching for her hand.

"Not as easy as it sounds." she said feigning a smile. "We had better get ready." she said quickly standing. Draco took one last look out the window onto the misty morn and sighed.

"Let's go." he said.

An hour later the six of them were ready to go. Ginny threw a fit protesting that she should be allowed to go since she had already helped on several occasions. Harry calmed her saying he needed someone reliable to stay behind in case other order members stopped by or they had to send a message for help. Grudgingly she agreed. They gathered in the sitting room before leaving.

"I hope everyone realizes what danger may lie ahead." Lupin stated with a grim face. The five others nodded. "Harry is taking huge risks for all of us and he is in charge of this mission." Harry looked up slightly surprised. Lupin had never put him fully in charge before. He motioned for Harry to stand up.

"Thanks Remus. I appreciate every one of you today. Malfoy, I never thought I would be thanking you, but thanks to your information we have a chance." he extended his hand towards Draco who accepted it. "Now let's go over the plan." he said.

Shortly after the six of them apperated to Malfoy Manor. The sunrise was just peaking over the aging roof. Draco took them through the back entrance and finally into the kitchen. The icebox was there, as if it had never been moved.

"Maybe they haven't brought it back." Ron whispered.

"They did." Hermione stated.

Remus, Ron, Harry and Draco moved the icebox out and to the side Hermione unlocked the door. They walked along the corridor and through the cobwebs until they finally entered the round room. Remus lit the torches on the wall and they all adjusted their eyes to the flickering light. Harry looked around the room. Nothing had changed. No mirror, no cup, nothing.

"What the…?" Ron said.

"I thought it would be here!" Harry said disappointed.

"Fuck." Draco swore aloud.

"Men." Hermione and Tonks said nearly in unison. Tonks had changed her hair to long brown curls today. Hermione and she looked nearly alike from behind. Right in the center of the stone benches Hermione felt around and pulled a silvery piece of fabric off of a large object. There in the middle of the room stood the largest mirror most of them had seen.

"HERMIONE YOU ARE BRILLIANT!" Harry yelled running towards her. He wrapped his arms around her and spun her around.

"Let's get to it." Lupin said firmly.

"Wait." Draco said. "Hermione explained what this mirror does, can we all have one minute to look into it before you destroy it?"

"Malfoy, trust me no good can come of you looking into this mirror. It will drive you mad because mostly it shows some unattainable fantasy about your life. I think it's best that I just get rid of it." he said holding his wand aloft.

"No, wait Harry," Hermione said "I think it's a good idea."

"You don't know Hermione. You have never looked into it!" he said.

"No I haven't, but I have read up on it and I don't think it will hurt anyone. A little bit of happiness could be just the thing to revive everyone." Harry shrugged his shoulders and nodded.

"You have to look in by yourself." he told them. "So everyone stand here, Remus, would you like to start?" Remus nodded silently and stood in front of the tall mirror. He blinked three or four times before his grey eyes widened. He saw himself standing there, no scars looking perfectly normal next to Tonks. She was holding his hand and on her other hand was a small girl with pink hair and his eyes. A single tear fell down his face before he wiped it away and stepped away from the glass.

"What's wrong?' Tonks asked patting him on the shoulder. "Was it something awful?" Remus shook his head no.

"It was something wonderful." he said softly before sitting down on one of the stone benches.

"Tonks, want to go next?"

"Sure Harry." she said walking to the left and standing in front of the mirror. Oddly enough she saw nearly the same thing as Remus, only he still had the scars of his "furry little problem". She smiled and sat next to him holding his hand in a reassuring way.

"Ron? Do you want a go?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, why not." he said walking towards the mirror and looking into its smoky glass. He saw himself with a girl. And not one he recognized. She was holding his hand and they had rings on their fingers. The girl had long blonde hair and stunning blue eyes.

"I don't know what this means mate. I don't know this girl I am with."

"She is your soul mate." Hermione piped up. "I read about it."

"'Mione, your turn." Harry said.

"Alright." she walked towards the mirror and was shocked when she closed her eyes and looked in again properly. She was not dressed as a healer as she had thought. Her hair was pulled back and she had two small children with her. Both had white blonde hair and steely grey eyes. She looked back again and Draco was standing with her holding a small baby. He smiled brightly from the mirrored glass. She stepped back and stood there with her mouth gaping open. That was definitely not what she expected.

"Let me have another look." she said. "That couldn't have been what I really wanted, could it Harry?" she asked waiting to be reassured.

"No Hermione. I told you." he said slightly annoyed.

"Malfoy, you still want a turn?" Harry asked.

"Yes, I want to see my mum one last time." he said straightening up and walking towards the mirror.

"Don't count on it." Harry said. "What you want to see isn't always what you do." He warned.

Draco stepped carefully in front of the mirror thinking of his mother the whole time. And when he opened his eyes his mother was standing there, fixing a tie on his tuxedo. She smiled and kissed him on the cheek before reaching out her hand and bringing a girl in a wedding dress into the mirror. Her face was covered by a thick white lace veil. In the mirror Draco lifted the veil to reveal Hermione. She looked radiant and perfect. Narcissa kissed Hermione on both cheeks and smiled as Draco took her hand.

"Well?" Harry asked. "Did you see what you wanted?"

"I think so." he said stepping away and sitting next to a still unnerved Hermione.

"You having a turn Harry?" Ron asked.

"No, I have seen it already. I just want to get it over with." he said holding his wand out.

"WAIT HARRY!" Hermione shouted. Harry stopped in mid swish and looked at his panicked friend.

"What is it Hermione?" he asked slightly annoyed.

"I think you should look into the mirror." she said breathlessly.

"No I have looked into it already many years ago, I know what it shows. I don't want to relive that."

"No Harry, what is it you want most in this world right now?" she asked. "What is your deepest desire?"

"To destroy Voldemort."

"Then look in the mirror and that's what you will see." she said patting his shoulder.

It was as if a light bulb went off inside Harry's head. He looked from Hermione to the mirror and then back to Hermione.

"Oh my gods Hermione. Why didn't I think of this before?" Harry said walking to stand in front of the mirror. He looked up and saw his reflection in the mirror. He was standing in a broken down house, debris and broken furniture everywhere. His mirror image bent down and reached beneath the mess and picked up a goblet featuring a badger. His mirror image smiled before pointing up the hill to a small cabin near a dark forest. Harry cocked his head to get a better look before his mirror twin smiled knowingly.

"I've got it!" Harry shouted. "Hermione you are brilliant!"

Hermione blushed deeply and Harry turned his attention back to the mirror. With a swish and a flash of light the mirror burst into a million pieces. The bright flash reflected in Harry's eyes and it gave him a feeling of satisfaction.

"They will know we have been here." Remus said gravely. "It's just a matter of when."

"I know." Harry said firmly. "I want them to know. I want them to know that I will be coming for him. I want them to fear me." His voice was strong and full of venom. It shook Hermione up slightly.

"Let's get out of here." Draco said heading down the hallway. The rest of them vanquished the torches as they walked, leaving the stone room as dark and cold as they arrived. This time however there were no death eaters waiting for them, only an old wooden door with no handle and an icebox waiting to be pushed back into place. Hermione erased the marks it made as it slid across the floor and they quietly crept out of the servant's entrance.

Within minutes they had apperated home. Ginny ran to greet Harry at the door and hugged and kissed him until he fell over onto the sofa.

"I was so worried. I am not staying behind next time." she said fiercely. "I mean it!" Harry was so overcome he nodded in agreement.

Ron, Remus and Tonks were smiling from ear to ear.

"So it went well?" Ginny asked.

"It went brilliantly." Harry answered. "Not only did we destroy the mirror, but Hermione's genius mind thought to have me look into it before hand. I have a pretty good idea where the cup is and where Voldemort is hiding." Hermione blushed deeply again. It was only noon but they were all fairly tired. Harry suggested they rest before beginning the next quest and dinner.

Everyone agreed but Hermione was nervous about returning to the room. Draco would be there and there had been several awkward moments between them all day. Since the moment she woke up that day the scene had played over and over in her mind. She was so scared about the visit back to the manor, and she knew he was just as afraid, though he would never admit it to anyone else. His touch had felt so gentle, and it had comforted her. But she knew it had gone too far. As she reached the top of the steps she heard him behind her. She picked up her steps and entered the room just before he did. She sat on the bed and took off her shoes. Draco entered the room quietly not looking towards Hermione. She was doing her best not to look at him as well. Five minutes had passed before either of them spoke.

"Are you hungry?" she asked in a soft, low voice.

He shook his head no and pulled the curtains shut so the room was shielded from the glaring sunlight. She laid back on the bed and closed her eyes.

'Is this how it's supposed to be?' she thought. 'Is this how guys act afterwards?'

So many things ran through her mind that it made her head throb. Draco sat on his bed and watched her out of the corner of his eye. Clearly she was confused about what had happened between them. He felt slightly bad since it had been her first time, and he had felt hurried. As if he couldn't finish quick enough before their impending deaths. It was not how he usually conducted himself. And then there was the whole mirror thing he had to deal with. His mum had been there, but not like he had expected. And he was marrying Hermione. Was that really his deepest desire? These thoughts persisted until his tired mind gave up and he fell asleep to the gently rhythm of Hermione's breathing.