A/N: Hello everyone! We apologize for the wait, and hope that this triple post will make up for it. :)

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Mirror of Erised II

To Dan and Emma, Halloween Day began as a normal day. They had already made plans to cut their afternoon short as they wanted to take part in the celebrations of the day Down Below and so it was approximately mid afternoon when they made the descent to the Hub.

Only to find an atmosphere of tension and anticipation.

There was no sign of Diana, Vincent, Fleur or other community members. It was not until they had arrived at the council/library chamber that they caught up with Dr. Jacob Wells.

One look at his face and they sat down immediately, asking him what was wrong.

Dr. Wells explained what had happened earlier and the decision that the council had made in regards to Triad and their desire to intervene. However, as he was speaking and despite his own fears and concerns about his son's condition, he could see that the news was striking Emma very hard.

"So they are down there – the three of them, trying this magical solution – without us?" She wanted to scream, but pulled back as she could see the pain and worry on Vincent's father's face.

"We are their anchors, their support. We need to be there."

Dan was looking at his wife with some concern. There was strength in her statement. This was not her normal way of coping with a crisis regarding Hermione.

"I've got to be there," she repeated. "I've got something to add."

As she continued to speak, her voice appeared to change and become lighter. Her British accent disappeared, to be replaced by a cultured voice that could only come from New York.

Dr. Wells' reaction on hearing Emma's voice surprised Dan even further. He jolted up, shock clear on his face.

"Catherine?"

"Jacob – I need to get down there. Diana might try, but I have something to say myself to Vincent. Without me, she may not succeed."

The aged patriarch of the tunnel world rose up quickly, grabbing his cane as he did so. "Follow me – I will take you to them," he said without further hesitation.

Unspeakable Black had completed his analysis of the magical object and was shaking his head in disbelief. He could easily determine the identity of the mirror – it had no business being here in underground New York, let alone the United States, as it was a restricted magical object belonging to Britain. And the sheer power of the portkey spells – a magical signature proximity trigger – he recognized immediately who had performed those spells as he had spent a few days in Hogwarts four years before.

Albus Dumbledore deserved to be shot.

His associate, Grey, had quickly established that the magical mirror was currently active with a magical connection leading away from the mirror down to lower levels of the tunnels. They knew that they could not break the magical connection from the mirror itself – instead the person connecting with the mirror would have to break the connection initially themselves before they could follow up and seal the mirror away.

But Alex's second message had also suggested that there was going to be an attempt by some magicals from the community to convince the one caught in the mirror's spell to break it. As always, Alex would say enough to suggest what was being planned, but would give nothing away on the details. Well, he and Grey would have to check out what was being planned.

Now, all they had to do was to follow the magical trail down to the lower levels.

The world Diana entered was one of mists, dead branches, and silence. What she would expect an inner mental landscape of Vincent to contain, she thought to herself, given that he had grown up in the world of the tunnels. She had encountered little to no resistance upon entering Vincent's mind or emotional centre as Fleur called it – she felt some acceptance here and took consolation in that, sure that if Vincent had not wanted her here, he would have closed the door to his heart completely.

Then she caught a flash of sudden movement and a dark figure loomed in front of her, his right hand raised in a killing stroke. With sudden motion, the hand descended, but she did not flinch. Either whatever this was would strike her or not – she was beyond fear.

"You did not flinch," a voice similar, yet different to her lover, said. "I see now why I like you. You accept me as well as him – if only he could do the same."

As he was speaking, the powerful figure came into more of the light and Diana's widened in appreciation. He was both Vincent and not – what came to mind was a darker yet simpler version of her husband. He was actually smiling as he gazed at her.

"My huntress – I see all over again why I like you. No fear – I even detect acceptance and love.

"You love me – for me," he said in a voice of wonder. However, seconds later, his face darkened.

"If only he could do the same." Now his voice was that of a petulant child: full of longing and with a twinge of bitterness. Diana felt it was important to understand this version of her husband – Narcissa's words through Fleur came back to mind – unite the man and the beast.

She reached out her hand to touch his arm and it was as if he almost melted into her touch. Was that actual purring? She wondered as he lowered his head and allowed her to run her hand through his strawberry blond hair. This version of Vincent was much more affectionate and tactile – no hint of his reserve here.

"Why are you separate from him?" she finally asked after what seemed several seconds of silence. Her touch had triggered her senses – this dark one, this Other had a childlike intelligence, passion, anger, bitterness and even a hint of fear. She scared him? That made no sense – but then things were clicking into place. He feared rejection as a child would. This version of Vincent suggested that he had been born when the man and beast were young. Perhaps born in a traumatic event of early childhood.

"Everyone wants a part of me – the part of me that gives Him the power to kill, to protect. But they don't realize that I am also the part that allows him to love, to feel, to make decisions – I am his passion. And his passion scares those tunnel dwellers. Yet I protect them – I kill for them."

The Other as Diana had taken to christening him now stepped away from her touch. The bitterness and anger was more prominent, more obvious.

"They don't – He doesn't realize that I was the one who loved Her. Not him. Sure He is the one who reads poetry and love sonnets – boring stuff all of it. Stuff about gazing into one another's eyes and finding your eternal love and all that.

"No, I'm the one who summoned the courage to actually kiss her – and you. Jacob is mine – Cathy is mine – Erin is mine, not His. I pushed him towards moving beyond Her loss – He was all set to just give up and die, something about dying with nobility and returning to her."

He turned to Diana, his expression a mixture of childlike love, anger and fear. "Now He wants to take me away from you, from my huntress, from my Jacob, Cathy and Erin. Even from Harry. Just so that He can die and live a dream. I want to break that Mirror – I fear that Mirror, Diana.

"Help me!" This last was said with a sudden cry of anguish and he made to turn and flee, something she felt was an instinctive response when he was faced with situations which could not be resolved quickly either with a physical blow or making love.

Fight or flight.

"When is your earliest memory?" she asked him gently, laying hold of his arm once again. She could feel him drawing both strength and affection from her touch, and in a younger voice, he began.

"Cold, terrible cold. Shivering. Unloved, unwanted – so cold, so hungry. Thrown in the garbage, wrapped in rags. He just wants to give up. No warmth, no love. He just wants to die. I. Will. Not. Die. I. Must. Live."

Sensations of darkness, bitter cold, and a much bigger world flashed through her own empathic senses as memories flooded her mind. My God, she thought to herself. If she was right, this Other had been the survival force behind Vincent's living long enough to have been discovered in the garbage bin behind St Vincent's Hospital so long ago. The bifurcation must have occurred then – so early – when one part of Vincent had wanted to give up and die, but the Other wanted to live.

She had to get these two sides of Vincent together. But how could she do it – and would the one the Other called Him even want to listen?

The two Unspeakables arrived first at the deeper levels and, once having introduced themselves to Jamie and Mouse, were guided to where Alex was keeping watch over Triad and Diana.

Upon seeing the circle of three young people sitting with an older woman in the centre of their circle, Black turned to Alex.

"I can see the magic the three are giving off – this is some very powerful auras they project. What are they doing?"

Alex knew Black well from prior cases and he couldn't resist teasing his old colleague. "Creating magical history, Black. Creating magical history, for sure. But you need to keep your distance."

Black's colleague Grey nodded his head in agreement. "We traced the magical connection from the mirror down to a cavern very close to here."

"What did you discover – or confirm?" Alex asked quietly, not wanting to disturb the magical exercise that Triad and Diana were engaged in.

"Your instincts as always were sound, Alex," Black replied. "It is a restricted magical object from the British Department of Mysteries – the Mirror of Erised. It should not be here at all – especially not in a mixed magical and non-magical community like this – the risks are just unbelievable."
"Did you confirm what had been done with it– and by whom?"

"Oh, yes, we did. Definitely some powerful and creative spells – a magical signature proximity portkey tied to two magical signatures – with a destination somewhere in northern Scotland. The destination ties in with the source of the spells – they give the magical signature of one Albus Dumbledore. Oh, he did try to cover his tracks, but I had the recent privilege of working at Hogwarts for one term as an exchange scholar and got to know his work rather well."

"By Franklin, I'll nail that old fool now," Alex cursed out loud.

"What's happening at this end?" Black wanted to know.

Alex couldn't help feeling some pride at what he was witnessing. After all, he had played a role, albeit a minor one, in the formation of this Triad. "This is a Veela Triad and they are united to help carry the spouse of the man caught in the magical web of the Mirror into his mental landscape."

Despite the hoods both Unspeakables were wearing, Alex could feel their sudden gaze on him. "A Veela what? Did you just say what I thought you said? You might as well say that you have a goblin and the Boy-Who-Lived as part of this circle.

"A Veela Triad has not existed in hundreds of years and is only cited as legend now."

Alex couldn't help smiling at his old colleague. "You must swear on your Unspeakable Oath that what you are going to learn here stays sealed to Franklin's Tomb."

Black and Grey nodded their heads in acknowledgement of Alex's request. "Well, the blond there is a Veela, one Fleur Delacour, daughter of Sebastien Delacour, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs for Magical France. The young man beside him is Harry Wells, the adopted son of the man who was caught by the Mirror. He is goblin trained and the former Boy-Who-Lived, until he was magically killed by the same old white-haired fool who sent the mirror in the first place. And the brunette is one Hermione Granger, the current Head of the Potter Family."

Black sucked in his breath. "Potter here in New York? Granger here in New York as well? Forming a Veela Triad with the daughter of Delacour? Alex, you've been holding out on us. We've been looking for Granger for at least two years – after she graduated with top marks from Great Lakes, we wanted to recruit her even if only for part-time work. She's brilliant.

"And Potter? What else is going on here?"

Alex became serious. "The two magical signatures Dumbledore was tying the Mirror to belong to Wells and Granger. Unfortunately, Wells' adoptive father, a non-magical, but a special person in his own way, opened the package from Dumbledore first – and he became ensnared by the Mirror. "

"But as a non-magical, that is extremely dangerous," Grey began.

"Even more so to a fully functional empath with inhuman speed and strength," Alex replied. "Dumbledore has a lot to answer for now."

Black was examining the magic of Triad cautiously and carefully. "There is a magical shield around them, but I believe that the woman in the centre has made mental contact with the spellbound person," he said.

"I would not go any closer at the moment – we could upset what is going on inside."

All three men sat down on rocks along the walls, their magic aware and tracking the unfolding scene, but keeping a distance so as not to influence things further.

Diana felt that she needed to tell the Other the current situation. She needed his help to find Vincent the Man in this wilderness of mist, trees and darkness.
"What do I call you?" she began.

"You can call me the Other. I think I prefer that to the Beast which is what He calls me," the Other replied, a note of boredom beginning to creep into his voice. Diana realized that the Other had a short attention span, common with young children and she had to find a way to keep his interest.

"No, I won't call you Other. I think I will call you Passion because you are the source of the passion that animates the man I love. But Passion, I need your help – and we don't have a lot of time."

"I know. He's trying to kill Himself now – He thinks that by shutting me down He will cross the gulf that separates Her from Him and that then They will live happily together.

"I. Don't. Want. To. Die." This last was said in a voice combining a child's wail and genuine fear. It was so sudden that Diana felt herself falling back in surprise. But of course, she thought to herself, Passion would know what was going on.

"Do you know where he is, Passion? I've got to talk to him – and I need you there as well."

"I can bring you there, but He will not listen. He never listens to me – just tries to build the wall between us ever higher. And all He wants to do now is keep looking at that mirror, the Mirror of Lies." His tone as he mentioned the Mirror was one of surprising hate and dislike.

"Let's go find Him." He suddenly said, grabbing her hand and with a rush, she had pierced the mist and trees and found the familiar figure of Vincent the Man gazing with evident longing into a mirror. At that sight, Passion roared, yet the Man did not move or even appear to notice.

How was she going to get his attention so that she could tell him what was really going on? How could she get these two sides of her husband together? Somehow, she knew that if they did not embrace one another, he was lost to her – and she would be lost as well.

She needed an inspiration, a way to get his attention. But what?

Jamie and Mouse were conversing quietly, trying to calm their worries. The roars continued from the cavern, but their frequency had lessened – it appeared that whatever Harry and his two companions were doing with Diana might be working.

However, while Alex had advised them that he was expecting two strangers to join him, the sight of the two men in grey and black hoods and cloak who had given Alex's name upon arriving at their sentry post, sent a shiver of unease through them even as they allowed them to pass.

Now, their senses were alert as they heard the sound of more approaching people. Mouse got up to warn whoever was coming away when he caught sight of a familiar shadow.

"Father," he blurted out, causing Jamie to jerk up to attention as well.

"Mouse, Jamie," the tunnel patriarch replied, his face now coming into the firelight of their small sentry fire. Two more figures were visible now behind him.

"Need to warn you. Need to protect Harry and his girls. Need to protect Diana. You need to stay away," Mouse said, even as the two figures now clearly emerged in the firelight.

"It is okay, Mouse and Jamie. These are Hermione's parents – I believe they need to be here," the patriarch replied, signaling for Dan and Emma to move forward. However, as Emma came abreast of Mouse, a genuine smile broke out on her face.

"Mouse, it has been so long," she said in the same voice she had used in the council chamber. "Still borrowing supplies from up top?"

Mouse looked confused for several seconds. "How would you know – borrowing from up top?"

"If you remember, Mouse, I fell into your chamber on the way to see Vincent," Emma replied in that same voice. "You later tried to 'borrow' stuff from Elliott Burch – I helped you there."

Jamie's face had gone pale. "C…Catherine? Catherine Chandler?"

"I believe that Emma is allowing an old friend to piggyback along for a ride, Jamie and Mouse," the tunnel patriarch said, a glint of moisture in his eyes even as he spoke in a voice full of emotion. "She wants to talk to Vincent and help him through this time."

Emma looked at Mouse and Jamie, affection clear in her eyes now. "You have done so much to help Vincent and Jacob. You have helped him to heal – and now I have to go and tell him a message so that he can complete the process of healing.

"Will you let us pass?"

The two sentries moved quickly to one side even as Mouse gave a betraying sniffle and the Grangers led by Dr. Wells moved towards Alex, the unspeakables and the circle of Triad.

Diana moved cautiously around the room where a representation of Vincent sat cross-legged in front of an ornate mirror. She tried to recall all that Alex had told her regarding his suspicions about this magical device – that it had formed a magical connection with Vincent and that it would be dangerous to break the connection without careful preparation. She saw Vincent's eyes were fixed on an image in the mirror even though she could not see what he was seeing – instinct as well as Alex's warnings told her that it would be dangerous for her to look at the mirror herself.

"Vincent," she called out in a low voice. He gave no indication that he had heard her.

"Vincent," she called out in a louder voice. Still no response. "VINCENT!" she now called out practically in a scream. Should she touch him or not, she wondered? She reached out a tremulous hand towards his shoulder only to have Passion seize it.

"If you touch him now, he will strike you. He strikes out at anyone who gets between him and the image in that cursed mirror," he said, mixing both seriousness and fear in his voice.

"He tried to strike at me when I crossed in front of that mirror, trying to figure out what it was. He said that I was trying to stop him from being reunited with her," Passion continued.

Diana thought for several minutes, and then looked at Passion. "I think that I should try to touch him, but not interrupt his sight of the mirror. If he could see me from his peripheral vision and if I were to move slowly, but deliberately, then perhaps he would allow me to connect with him."

Passion said nothing, only radiating fear and a small spark of hope. Perhaps the man had struck the beast because they had never learned to work together – because they had been in a war since the beginning of their mutual existence.

As she moved closer to Vincent's side, she could see when he had caught sight of her movement towards him. His body tensed for several seconds, but when she made no attempt to move between him and the mirror, his breathing slowed and his body relaxed. While he was not in a welcoming posture, he was no longer giving off vibes of rejection.

Finally, slowly, her hand rested on his shoulder. Then the flood began.

Memories, desires, feelings – poetry on balconies, long journeys under the caverns, laughter and dancing in the Great Hall during Winterfest. She had suspected that Vincent had had strong feelings for the petite lawyer who had changed his life; had felt the bond between he and Catherine, but now she was inundated by the feeling of need, of sorrow, and of grief. Her husband, the part she called the Man, was drowning in longing, memories, grief and pain. He was drowning so much that he could not see the shore nearby where she, Diana, and the children stood, their arms outstretched.

And he was drowning in water only three or four feet deep. The water that was so shallow was threatening to sweep her away as well.

Then she felt the presence of Passion trying to anchor her. Instinctively, Passion knew that should the Man be swept away that he would be lost as well.

There was nothing she could do for the moment but hang on.

Hang on and hope she had the strength to hang on and an idea of what to do next.

The three observing wizards saw the magical aura of Triad falter and then strengthen even as Grey waved his wand in a diagnostic pattern. "The connection is starting to pulse and shake – she must be at the centre of the disturbance, but she is encountering resistance. The desire that is holding her husband must be an incredibly strong one, Alex."

Black now began his own diagnostic spells. "Triad is holding, but the magical power that is being generated is enormous. I can't believe that they are not already collapsing in magical exhaustion. How much longer do you think they can hold on?"

"They will hold on as long as they believe they need to," Alex said, his respect for the three young people rising with each minute. "Harry Wells is very committed to his adoptive parents and his two companions have grown to share that love and commitment as well."

A noise of footsteps behind them caused all three to turn and in surprise, Alex saw Dan and Emma Granger being led by Dr. Jacob Wells. At a questioning look from him, the tunnel patriarch summarized the quick discussion the Grangers and he had had in the council chamber.

"I believe that the Grangers share a connection with our three young people – and I believe that Emma has a person who came along for the ride – a person whom we had already encountered when we met the Grangers for the first time.

"And in my humble opinion, Alex, I think that this 'passenger' may be the final key to breaking whatever connection this magical object has over my son."

Alex remembered the gentle presence that had graced the dinner he had shared with the Grangers and the other members of the Wells and Delacour families and he mouthed one word. At the tunnel founder's nod, he pulled the two unspeakables back and quickly brought them up to speed.

"Let me get this straight, Alex," Black began after hearing Alex's explanation. "This couple are the Granger girl's parents and you think a spirit, the spirit of this Vincent's first love, is hitchhiking on Mrs. Granger and wants to send her former lover a message? And what are we supposed to do?"

Alex resisted the effort to shake his old colleague's shoulders. Black's tone was sarcastic now and a little disbelieving. "The Grangers stood up publically and committed themselves as supporting anchors for this Triad," he said. "I believe magic honors that. As well, that same 'spirit' blessed a family gathering featuring the Wells, Grangers and Delacour families.

"So I believe that we must find a way to link our own magic and send this spirit on its way – and I believe this can be done.

"As well, I believe that the very presence of Miss Granger's parents will add emotional support, if not strength to them and perhaps by allowing her parents to touch the Triad members, they can convey this strength and support."

Grey was shaking his head in disagreement. "That is a powerful magical field those three have set up and if anyone were to touch them, it could cause either a negative reaction and result in people being thrown across the tunnel or a collapse of the entire field itself. There is no way that we can penetrate that field – nor would I want to. While they are making history here and all that, I don't want to put my life on the line and jeopardize their magical sharing."

Alex couldn't fault Grey's reasoning, but he suspected that he knew something the two unspeakables did not. "The three of them know that Miss Granger's parents support them – they did so in a public manner along with Miss Delacour's parents. I think their magic would be discriminating enough to let them through.

"But I think that we could combine our magics to at least send the Triad members a message – before her parents walk in and try to lend their support. And incidentally, giving the hitchhiking spirit an opportunity to enter Vincent's mental landscape as well."

Black looked pensive in the light of the torches, and then nodded his approval to Alex. "Grey, I can understand your concerns, but if you remember, magic is intent and the magic can distinguish between evil and helpful intent. If the parents publically stood up and confirmed their approval of the formation of this Triad, then their presence might be accepted by the magic of these three enough for them to share their strength, their support – and pass a message or spirit's presence along.

"We can combine our message for that – but I suggest that if we send a message, it should be a patronus from you, Alex. They know you – but they don't know us.

"Let's get ourselves ready for a sharing magic ritual – after Alex explains to the Grangers what we propose to do."

Alex nodded and then stepped back, speaking to Dan, Emma and the senior Jacob Wells what the current situation was.

"We are going to link our own magical energies to let Fleur, Harry and Hermione know that you are here and that you would like to lend them your strength and support as well as pass on the presence of Catherine. If we don't let them know in advance, your touching them could trigger a magical backlash or cause a collapse of the link they themselves have already set up.

"Are you game?"

Both Grangers nodded and Alex could feel the presence of Catherine also lending her agreement. The tunnel patriarch looked worried, but did not say anything, but Godspeed.

Returning to the two unspeakables, they in turn sat and, following wand movements from Black, Alex felt himself infused with magical energy. A fox patronus followed and ran quickly to the circle of Triad before disappearing.

Strain.

Exhilaration.

Closeness.

I never knew you felt like that, Hermione.

I never knew you suffered like that, Harry. Something should be done about them.

You were and are my only true female friend, 'ermione.

Strain.

Images –rushing, cascading, falling.

Where do I stop and you begin?

Did you really live in a cupboard, 'arry?

I was so scared of that troll. My life flashed before my eyes. Why did that bastard take away my memory of it?

Strain.

Studies, portraits, loneliness, shame.

Fear, joy, anger.

Love.

I wanted to formally tell you, 'Mione, that I love you.

You do?

And what about me?

Je t'aime, Fleur.

Je t'aime, 'arry.

I love you Harry – and Fleur. What's happening to us? What are we becoming?

I don't know – and I'm not worried about it.

I can't find anything in the books about it?

You need to come to France, 'ermione. Ask les anciennes – the elders.

Is what we are doing working?

Strain.

Harry, I didn't know you thought about me that way.

'arry, I like that you think about me that way.

You think about me that way? Hold, what's this? A fox?

Strain. Trying to hold on. Now a silver fox is gamboling along and looking at all three. "I have a message!"

It's Alex.

Mom, Dad – here? Of course I would let them in.

How do we – Catherine?

We write out own rules here, 'arry? Remember? Tout est possible avec l'amour.

You have an accent even in your mind.

Strain, but hope. Acceptance. Love. "This is my family." Echoes through the minds.

I'll tell them yes.

Oui!

Yeah!

A chimera patronus.

It's from all of us.

Wow.

Fantastique!

The large chimera took everyone by surprise. It was large, solid and the feeling of love and acceptance was so strong that even Jamie and Mouse could feel it down by their sentry post.

"Mom, Dad, Catherine – come. We love you – and I think we need you."

Dan and Emma did not wait, but instead moved past the three wizards and moving behind Fleur and Hermione, seated themselves and extended their hands to touch all three.

"The magical field has expanded to include them," Black commented as he waved his wand again. "They're in now."

Alex said nothing for several seconds, looking at the faces of the Grangers. Then he noticed tears. Were they in pain, he wondered? No, he decided, those were tears of love and acceptance.

Now, all they could do was wait.

Diana had held Vincent the Man's shoulder for what seemed an eternity. She knew he knew she was there – but his gaze did not waver from that blasted mirror. Passion had not let go of her other hand either hand she swore that she had lost all feeling in her other hand. He was strong, very strong – but his was now the strength of desperation.

For despite her best efforts, she could feel Vincent the Man beginning to slip into the illusion deeper and deeper. He had lost sight of what he had and was now longing for what could never be.

And then she heard a slap.

It was a loud slap and she could feel tremors from that slap from both Passion and the Man.

And Vincent the Man's gaze wavered from the mirror – for a moment, but the connection was broken.

Just enough for a petite green-eyed woman dressed in clothes more appropriate for the East Side to stand between Vincent and the Mirror.

Vincent blinked.

Passion roared.

Vincent blinked again and looked around him.

Passion began purring.

Vincent the Man's eyes went wide on seeing Diana and then his vision returned to the petite woman.

"Catherine," he breathed in a low voice.

Her only reply was to slap him again.

"Vincent," she began in a strong voice. "You dishonor me and the love we shared.

"You dishonor the love you now have.

"You dishonor the fruit of our love and the fruit of the love you now have."

Diana could now see the tears in Vincent the Man's eyes. "But I lost you – and then I had you back, Catherine. I thought I lost you…"

"Though lovers be lost," Catherine replied. "Love shall not….

We loved, we had our time, we have our child – and one day I will see you again. But you are throwing it all away for a false dream.

"A dream that is not even real. You've been enchanted, Vincent, by a magical object not even meant for you.

"It was meant for your son – and your daughter."

Diana could feel the rage building. Vincent the Man was waking up – and for the first time, he and Passion had the same thought.

"Who would do this?"

The auburn haired detective felt that she could finally speak. "Dumbledore!" she spat.

"Vincent, look at me. I came back – for a short time – to tell you a message. Don't look for the false – embrace the real. Diana loves you. Jacob loves you. Cathy and Erin love you. Harry loves you.

"Harry's companions love you.

"They are risking themselves to tell you that.

"Only you can break the enchantment. Only you can say no the false images of the Mirror."

And then Diana knew what she had to do. She got up from her sitting position, feeling her stiff muscles stretch and complain. But she did not let go of either the Man or Passion.

"There is also a message from Narcissa, Vincent," she began as she felt both Passion and the Man turn their gazes on her. "You must embrace one another – you must learn to accept that you are both Man and Passion.

"Or else others may succeed in attacking you this way again."

Pulling both the Man and Passion together despite the Man's resistance, she continued. "I love the Man. I love the Passion. I accept both of you – and love both of you.

"We love the Man. We love the Passion. Your family accept both of you – and love both of you."

She could feel the Man beginning to sob even as the hands of both he and Passion were joined. Then she felt Catherine's petite arms around all three of them.

"We loved, Vincent. I learned to embrace both the man and the passion. And we got a child as a result.

"We love you, Vincent. Be one. Be united – and say no to further enchantments.

"Say no to the Mirror."

When he moved, it took both Diana and Catherine by surprise. Two figures, one a man, one a beast, were seen hurling two rocks into the mirror.

And with a bang, the mirror exploded.

"The connection's broken," Grey said suddenly. They had been taking turns monitoring the magic around the three members of Triad, Diana and the Grangers.

"Yes, it definitely is," Black confirmed.

"Are they alright?" was Jacob Wells first question. "What of Diana and Vincent? What of my grandson and his companions? What of the Grangers?"

Before they could answer, movement stirred in the centre of the circle and Diana tried to stand. "Hell, I don't recommend doing that too often," she said in an attempt at humor.

"Diana!" the tunnel patriarch called out. "What happened? Is Vincent…?"

"They're all fine, Father," she replied, fatigue clearly evident in her voice. "We reunited the Man and The Beast – and together they destroyed the Mirror in his mind.

"I suspect that our Triad members are exhausted and we definitely need to get my husband back to his chamber for some badly needed rest. But I have a message before I forget, Jacob."

This last was said in the voice Diana rarely used down below. When the tunnel patriarch heard it, he knew it had to be heard.
"Diana, please share your thoughts."

"We drove him to this, Jacob – all of us. We love Vincent the scholar, Vincent the teacher, Vincent the council member – but we fear Vincent the warrior, Vincent the protector. We loved the Man, but feared the Beast.

"From now on, we embrace both – the Man and the Beast.

"Got it?"

Jacob Wells Sr could only nod his head in acceptance. He sensed the truth behind the words, but further thoughts were stilled as he saw figures stirring from the magical circle.

Then the tall form of his son emerged from the cavern where he had hid himself. He was weak and his voice was raw, but for the first time since the package opened, his eyes were clear.

"Father," he spoke slowly. "We will talk later. Can I get a hand to my chamber – and can others look after those who risked themselves here today?"

Seeing Alex in the tunnel, his eyes locked onto the MFBI agent's own. "I want justice, Alex Mackenzie – magical justice. That old criminal back in Britain has attacked me and mine for the last time."

"You have my oath on that, Vincent. You have my oath."

The tunnels were soon filled with eager people sitting down and helping all the participants up the long pathway to the welcoming chambers of the Hub.

"So we have called this council meeting together as a council of war," the tunnel patriarch began.

"We rejoice that Vincent has returned to us and that the link between the magical object and he has been broken. Alex has assured me that this magical object has been secured and will be returned from where it had been taken.

"What further steps, Alex, do you propose to do?"

The MFBI agent looked around the table at the serious expressions on all present. The Delacours had returned from France, the Grangers were present, as were the three members of Triad.

"A warrant has been made out for the arrest of one Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore," he began in a hard tone. "The only problem is that this arrest warrant is only enforceable if Dumbledore sets foot in the United States. If he steps on diplomatically neutral territory, for example, he is exempt from arrest."

Diana shook her head in disbelief. "On what charges, Alex? And how could other governments ignore an American arrest warrant?"

"He is charged with two counts of attempted kidnapping of an American magical citizen, with careless use of a restricted magical object in the presence of non-magicals, with endangering the lives of non-magicals and with risking the exposure of the magical world to non-magicals.

"However, Diana, the system of extradition for magicals is much less developed than for non-magicals. There is much less cooperation between different magical governments."

Sebastien interrupted. "Madame Diana, while what Albus attempted to do and what his actions actually caused are both unacceptable and deplorable, his faction of the British magical world would actually agree with his actions and would not surrender him to the US MFBI for trial." It was obvious to all observing him that he was keeping a tight grip on his own rage.

Stonemason Brandon could barely keep a grip on his own anger. "That's the problem with all this magical stuff. We are now involved in a firing range between this British magical guy and our own magicals here in this community.

"These differences nearly killed one of our own – and threatened a whole lot more.

"I wish we could roll back the clock to a time when we didn't know about magic."

Vincent waited until Brandon had resumed his seat before he spoke. "Brandon, other members of this community, members of the Granger and Delacour families – if there is anyone who should be angry at the changes that magic has made in our world, it should be me.

"Magic attacked me. Magic nearly killed me.

"But magic also saved me.

"I learned a lesson then. Magic is like any force or object. Magic is not evil or good in itself.

"It is simply there. What makes the difference with magic is the intent of the one who uses it.

"Brandon, I understand your fear. I understand your concern. But let me ask you – do you fear me?"

The stonemason shook his head, confused now as to where Vincent was going.

"Do you fear these?" With that, he lifted up one hand, the claws clearly visible.

"No, Vincent – because you would never attack us."

"So the claws and the other features I possess are safe – because I control them?" Brandon nodded. "Do you fear Harry? Do you fear Hermione? Do you fear Fleur?"

"No. Harry is your son, Hermione is learning how to doctor from Dr. Peter and Father and Fleur helps our children."

"Yet they do magic. They are magical – they command the same power that attacked me. Yet they used that power to save me – they use that power to help us.

"Do you understand now?"

The stonemason and several other members of the council shook their heads in agreement.

"Then let us agree to bring down the man who used magic in an evil way to attack us."

Turning to Alex, the leonine man spoke softly, bur clearly. "We are counting on you for justice, Alex – you and the American magical community. Do not let us down."

The message had been sent the now established way of communications between Minister Bones and the MFBI agent. Amelia walked into the Irish pub not knowing what to expect, but sighing in relief when she saw the familiar figures of Sebastien and Alex.

Alex's face remained grave on seeing her and wordlessly, he handed her several papers. She took them and read both the official warrants and then the summary of the events that had led to their current meeting. Her eyes went wide at several points in her review, but she kept her comments to herself until she had finished perusing the documents.

"So that is where the Mirror of Erised went," she began. "You know that I can do nothing about arresting him in Britain, Alex, even if he deserves it."

"I know, Madame Minister. But I want you to send that old fool a message – if he steps foot on American soil, he will be arrested and tried for all the above offenses.

"The gloves are off our wand hands, Madame Minister – he steps into America and he is a dead man.

"What I need to know is whether you would support him or not?"

Amelia had no hesitation in answering. "No – and I will be sure to give him the message."

The shortly worded message from the British Minister of Magic triggered a rare burst of anger from Albus Dumbledore. It had only been a mirror and he hadn't meant any harm by using it, he told himself, but now the Americans had issued a warrant for his arrest.

And the fact of the matter was that he still had no means of guiding Harry to take up the mantle of the Boy-Who-Lived and to face his destiny of meeting Voldemort.

Well, he had tried subterfuge and he had tried cunning. Perhaps it was time to try a more Gryffindor approach.

Perhaps he would go to America and meet Mr. Potter and his team face to face. He trusted in his ability to persuade almost anybody to see the rightness of his case.

Of course, he had no intention to step foot on American soil. No, this involved contacting the goblins at Gringotts for a meeting at their branch in New York.

Thankfully, Gringotts was not legally on American soil.

He would risk going there – for the Greater Good. And of course, he would bring his own hidden weapon.

After all, Voldemort might have his Bellatrix. He had his Severus Snape.

A/N: We are moving along now – our old fool will now try to set up a confrontation using a more direct approach.

We wish to honor one of the great writers of BATB fan fiction here – Nan Dibble, who passed away a few years ago, but who was the source of some of the ideas about Vincent (The Man and The Beast) in her excellent series "Acquainted with the Night Vols 1-3). I do not know where you could find copies of them, but if your appetite has become whetted for more Vincent and Diana, we strongly recommend this series.

And notice – no cliffie other than the meeting in Gringotts. Until next time.