Chapter 9
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"Why didn't you come to me straight away, Miss Potter?" Madam Pomfrey said as she used a spell to fix the cut, then passed her a rancid potion to down. "Drink this, then off you go to Breakfast."
"I didn't want to bother you at such an early time, Madam. I woke up at around six and sliced my finger at fifteen past." Rebekah said, then popped the top off the potion and drank it. "I am a fast healer, even for a Witch. I only bother with potions or spells when my scar hurts."
"Has it been hurting recently, more than normal?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
Rebekah nodded, her hand reached for the scar on her shoulder. It went from the left base of her throat, across her left shoulder and halfway down her bicep. "It has, only since I've been at Hogwarts. The extended exposure to Magic could be hurting it."
"I'll have Professor Snape make a salve for it, one with healing and numbing qualities," She said, taking a long look at the scar. "It'll have to be magic resistant, the scar looks like it's pulsating when I bring my wand close. Do you know the story of how you got this, Miss Potter?"
"I do, quite vividly," Rebekah gave her the empty vial and stood from the hospital bed. "I best leave you for Breakfast."
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Rebekah didn't attend breakfast or lunch, deciding to go back to her room and sleep for a few more hours. Snape had dropped off the salve just after lunch, almost demanding that she attend the dinner that night. At around two, after lunch and when everyone was inside staying warm, or outside playing with snow, Rebekah donned her thick, fur-lined cloak and boots.
The snow levels increased in the last week, at least an extra foot of snow fell. Each path was cleared of snow, even the fountains had ice and snow displays on them. Rebekah walked past two of Weasley's brothers, the twins as they threw enchanted snowballs at the back of Quirrel. Her scar sent shooting pains down her shoulder and arm, she looked away and realised that the pain was gone.
Strange.
Rebekah continued, only after charming two, large snowballs to hurl themselves at the twin Gryffindors. She quickly sent a mischievous smile to them, then hurried away before she got pelted with snowballs too.
The Mirror of Erised, or the Mirror of Desire after Rebekah figured out the true meaning, was a mirror as high as the ceiling. The frame was gold and ornate, standing on two clawed feet. Inscriptions lined the top, Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. Rebekah translated it, I show not your face but your heart's desire.
It reflected Rebekah's most sought after desire. She was older, perhaps twenty, holding her wand in one hand and an unknown one in the other. Her silver-runed Wizarding robes were mixed with Muggle clothing underneath, her hair cascading loosely, and her eyes piercing green. A long tattoo glowed on both forearms, matching on the inner sides.
Her family was around her. Aunt Petunia and her mother hugged each other as they looked on lovingly, Vernon and her father were proud. Dudley was also older, lost a bit of weight and looked successful in life with his suit.
Her friends were there, all older just as she was, and wore similar outfits. They all had matching bar brooches, just like the one Daphne gave her, on different parts of their outfits. They all looked fierce with their Familiars by their feet or on their shoulders.
Rebekah barely recognised the two men near her parents. Both were Wizards by their outfits, probably friends of her parents. Rebekah's memories recorded them as, Moony and Padfoot. She smiled as she looked on more.
She sat on the floor by one of the pillars, her back against it as she used the invisibility blanket to keep warm. She stared at it for an hour or so, only leaving when Emperor demanded that she go to bed. Rebekah was glad that she decided to venture into the dark halls of Hogwarts that night.
On her way out, she grabbed several restricted books and read them. She brought them back only after she finished them, and only on her way to the mirror the next night.
Rebekah came back the next night, she sat with Mrs Norris when she came into the classroom. Mrs Norris left when Filch called for her. She wasn't interrupted for the next few hours, sitting in silence with Emperor's purring and warmth. She was content with the quiet as she stared into the mirror, it didn't change.
Her mind wouldn't stop wandering to the thought of Moony and Padfoot, the best friends of her father. If her memory served her right, Padfoot was her Godfather. Though Rebekah didn't know where he was at this moment in time or the last ten years.
The third night, she was caught.
"Hello, Headmaster," She said sheepishly. "I didn't see you."
"Strange how oblivious being invisible can make you," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Not really, I wasn't paying attention because I was hoping to be alone again," Rebekah tugged her cloak off.
Dumbledore stood from the desk and sat on the floor with her. "You have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."
"The Mirror of Desire, I have," Rebekah said. "It reflects what one desires most, correct? I see my family, me older and my friends."
"I see, I will have to move the mirror to a new home tomorrow," Dumbledore said and stood up. "I ask you to not go and look for it. You needn't dwell on dreams and forget to live. Why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?"
"Why would I dwell and forget to live, Headmaster?"
"Because many before you have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible." He said.
"Many do that because they didn't know the true meaning. As you said, I needn't dwell but I will," She said. "If this is what my heart's true desires, I will try to achieve it best I can. Even with my parents dead, I can try my hardest to make them proud. It wouldn't do to waste away in front of it when one can achieve it."
"Good, Miss Potter. It wouldn't do for someone with such potential as yourself to waste your life," He said. "Nonetheless, the mirror will be rehomed."
"What do you see when you look in the mirror, Sir?" Rebekah asked. She knew this was a personal matter but she didn't care.
"I see myself holding a pair of thick, woollen socks." Rebekah looked on in fake shock. "One can never have enough socks. Another Christmas has come and gone, I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."
"Books? Books are good," Rebekah commented, then got up. "I'll take your advice and head back to my dorm. Goodnight, Sir."
Rebekah rushed to her dorm, her cloak lifted as she ran. She knew Dumbledore lied to her, his breathing got that little bit quicker when he looked into the mirror. She had Quidditch Practise in the morning anyway, then a 'detention' later that day.
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"You'll be making the Wiggenweld Potion today, Miss Potter," Snape said during the 'detention'. "Please use the instructions on the board."
"Sir, I've noticed that the potion instructions you use on the board are different from the book," Rebekah said as Snape sat down.
"Yes, they are. Over my years, I have improved many potions but since their creation, I have not been allowed to publish my modifications on them," He said, looking through a drawer at his desk. He took out a textbook that looked to be slightly worn, it was a copy of Advanced Potion-Making. "If you are curious, look through this. This has many of my alterations that may advance your potion-making, though I strongly advise that you do not try any of these potions until your NEWT years, which I hope you take Potions as an option."
"I plan to, Sir, if my skills continue to improve over the next few years," Rebekah said as the book swayed in the air closer to her. "How many vials do you want me to make for this Wiggenweld Potion, Sir?"
"Fifty, if you can, Miss Potter," Snape said, dipping his quill into a red inkpot. "If they are up to the normal standard, they can be used in the Hospital Wing if needed."
Rebekah started the potion; she added salamander blood until the potion turned red, stirred until orange and then added more until it glowed yellow. It changed colour to green, then she added more blood and turned it turquoise. It was heated and then blood was added, turning the potion indigo then pink. It was heated once again until red.
She added five lionfish spines, stirred, then added five more. She gagged when she added flobberworm mucus and turned it purple, then red when she stirred. More flobberworm mucus turned it orange, the yellow. The added Honeywater turned it back to turquoise, then she added bloom berry juice and stirred it again.
Rebekah left the potion to simmer for thirty minutes, she went through the Advanced Potion-Making textbook and added any of the alterations that could help her first and second-year potions to her own textbook. She tried to remember everything that she read.
When the thirty minutes was up, she took it away from the heat and allowed it to cool. After that, she carefully bottled around seventy-five vials, enough for Madam Pomfrey, and Snape's collection. Snape allowed her to take two successful potions each time she made them, adding them to the growing collection in her little endless pouch.
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An hour before dinner, Rebekah made her way to McGonagall's office. If she remembered correctly, McGonagal was her parents' Head of House, so she would know who her parents were friends with, hopefully. Rebekah knocked on the wooden door and waited for the 'come in' before she dared open the door.
"Good evening, Miss Potter," Professor McGonagall looked over her glasses. "Is this about the essay I assigned your class?"
"No, I have that done," Rebekah said. "I was wondering, if my maths is correct, did you teach my parents at their time here?"
She nodded. "Yes, I did. Is there a reason you are asking? My curiosity is piqued."
"As Deputy-Head, I would assume that you know about the Mirror of Erised. I found the mirror a few days ago, then the Headmaster moved it after speaking to me about it."
"And?"
"I saw what everyone does, their heart's true desire. In mine, my parents and friends were in it," Rebekah sat in the seat in front of the desk. "Although, I also saw two people who I assume are my parents' friends. I can't remember their real names, or even if they were friends with my parents. I know that one is my Godfather. Who are they?"
"I assume one is quite lanky and the other had slightly long hair, correct?" Rebekah nodded. "Your father was best friends with these two men, the lanky one was Remus Lupin and the other was Sirius Black. Sirius Black was indeed your Godfather, but since he is in Azkaban, his duties were revoked."
"Azkaban, the Wizarding prison?" Rebekah fidgeted. "I remember reading about it. Why is he in it?"
"I am sorry to say that he had a part in killing your parents, he was apprehended and placed in Azkaban for his involvement. I could not believe it at the moment, he and your parents were best friends." McGonagall's eyes teared up the smallest bit. "But what has happened, happened. There is no use to dwell on the past if it cannot change the future."
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