Chapter 28: Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall

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Previously on The Forgiven: After recruiting Nicolas Flamel, the Forgiven are ordered by Dumbledore to move to Hogwarts. There, the three are to provide additional secret security for the Sorcerer's Stone.

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In an empty classroom, Liar and Norse pinched the sides of a blanket covered object. With a swift motion of showmanship, the two Forgiven unveiled an antique mirror before Dumbledore and Grimm.

"Ta dah! Behold, the most foolproof safeguard for your most treasured and beloved boons!" Liar paused for effect. "I present, The Mirror of Erised,"he crooned with mystical sarcasm.

Norse clapped, while Grimm sighed to herself.

"Come now, I believe this is something rather praiseworthy."

"Liar. Whenever you thieve something is the only time I find you praiseworthy, but it's always ruined by you opening your mouth right afterwards."

Dumbledore brushed his beard as he looked the mirror up and down.

"I've heard rumors of the Mirror's attributes. Impressive. Your abilities to procure the rarest artifacts never ceases to amaze."

Liar gave a curt bow. "Thank you, Albus. Unfortunately, there is a slight problem."

"What would that might be?"

"There's already something inside it. In order for the mirror to house the Sorcerer's Stone, I'm afraid we must first draw forth the current contents."

"Always a hurdle to jump," Grimm remarked with annoyance. "How does the stupid thing work again? Shows us our heart's desires. Then we can take the object if it's hiding something we don't want?"

"That would be correct, dear leader."

"….Do we know what's in it?"

"And therein lies the proverbial thorn in our buttocks. How can we repel our want for a prize, whose identity we do not know?"

"It appears we must relinquish as much of our worldly desires as possible," Dumbledore proposed as he took his place in front of the mirror. Like a monk entering meditation, the Headmaster closed his eyes and tried to empty his mind of all superfluous thoughts and wishes.

While the aged wizard worked to unlock the artifact, the three Forgiven watched.

"So what did you lot see in the mirror?"

"I saw myself wielding Mjolnir and devastating score after score of enemies. Do you think the mirror holds Mjolnir?!"

"Uh….sure. Maybe. Liar?"

"Oh, loads of stuff! First I saw a sandwich, then an autographed album from the Beatles, then my mother, and then another sandwich—!"

"Okay. Stop. You're making me hungry."

"What a coincidence. I, too, feel a lonely emptiness in my stomach."

Norse began drawing forlorn doodles of delicious sandwiches. Grimm brushed the yellow lighted projections with an annoyance.

"Stop that! You're making me hungrier!"

After five minutes of waiting, Dumbledore turned to them, and shook his head.

"It seems I was unable to let go of my desires."

"What did you see in the mirror?" Grimm asked him.

"A pair of socks," the Headmaster smiled.

The small witch rolled her eyes.

"I'll do it. There are only two things I want in this world, and I doubt my 'forgiveness' or Tonks are in there." Grimm spared a glance at Norse and Liar, who were both crossing their arms. "…And you two are out here, so you don't count! Don't pout like a couple of prats."

Grimm was reluctant to stand before the mirror. She knew her desires and loathed the idea of them given clear form. Regardless, the young woman stepped forth with a heavy heart and steely breath. Her mouth felt dry, and she could feel pain crack the scar on her lips.

After a moment's resolve, she peered into her own reflection. It had been a while since she last saw it. Grimm intentionally avoided mirrors most of the time, because she secretly loathed knowing how she looked. How many years had it been since she took in her full face?

Scarred and worn from battle. Rings formed around her eyes, which unnerved even herself. It was honestly a bit terrifying for her. Grimm thought she seemed somehow less than human.

Do I really look like that now? I can hardly recognize myself.

The mirror began to distort her appearance. Grimm's figure blurred and reformed into a more youthful, livelier version. A bright and blissful smiling her stared back. Beside her reflection was Tonks, holding her hand and—

Grimm slammed her fist hard against the mirror. The witch, barely able to control her strength enough from shattering the glass. Her breath became bated, and she seethed with anger.

The vision cleared, and Grimm began to see the Mirror portraying her exactly as she was. Then her reflection threw a frustrated hand into her pocket, and pulled out a golden object. Her copy dangled it for her to see and then pocketed it again.

Grimm turned from the Mirror and pulled out the prize. Dumbledore, Norse, and Liar eyed the artifact with intense curiosity.

It was an expertly crafted pocket watch.

The Headmaster took the timepiece and examined it closely for a time. He muttered a few lines of incantations to it, as if taking part in a private conversation. After discerning the special properties of the watch, he addressed the Forgiven.

"It appears to be a Time Turner."

Liar was the first to show shock.

"That?!"

"Yes."

"But it's size! I've never known one to be so small!"

"Neither have I. This is a special prize indeed."

"To turn back time would assist us greatly in our work," Norse pondered. "But is that not odd?"

"Now that you mention, how was Grimm able to draw such a powerful artifact?" Liar looked to Grimm. "Does the ability to rewind time not tempting to you?"

Their leader observed the watch with no apparent emotion. Though her face portrayed none of her thought, her eyes were always a different matter. Within the witch's irises lied something akin to willfulness….but also fear.

"Make sure to keep that thing away from me," she said in a terse tone.

"Grimm?" Liar worried.

"…It's too much power. If I ever used it….." Grimm shook her head. Her self-control was being pushed to her limits. "Only bad things would come from it. Don't tempt me."

Such a tool would unbiddenly provoke abuses of power in the wrong hands. Grimm knew this more than anyone and feared what she would be capable of.

Dumbledore nodded in understanding and respect. He took the Time Turner out of Grimm's sight and wrapped it in a small piece of cloth. Once he made sure it was secure, he faced the Forgiven's leader again.

"I am proud of you, Grimm. I, myself, was not able to pull this from the Mirror. I doubt many ever could."

"Yes, well…. thank you, Albus. Now get that thing away from me before I feel like stealing it back. If anyone ever uses it, make sure it's for something stupid like taking more classes at the same time."

Dumbledore made a short bow.

"I will see your intention carried out. And if you would like—" He pulled out the Sorcerer's Stone and handed it to Grimm. "—I will let you do the honors of taking care of this."

And with that, the Headmaster left the three alone with the mirror.

Once the classroom door shut, the Forgiven looked to one another, and then the Stone resting in Grimm's hand.

"It's a test," she said.

"It might not be," Liar suggested.

"It is a test," Norse assured her.

"Shite. We were supposed to switch it without him knowing. He's smarter than I give him credit for."

"Or…" Liar started. "Or…It may be a sign he trusts us. Perhaps he expects us to take action independently from himself?"

"You have suggested to Albus we destroy it before. It is possible he is giving you permission."

"Plausible deniability…" Grimm muttered as she tossed the stone into the air and caught it. "I can see Albus playing things that way. Fine. Hand me the fake."

Grimm tossed the real Stone to Liar, and he tossed back the fake one.

The small witch stared into the Mirror for a long moment again. Even if it wasn't real, a part of her ached at seeing her dreams come true once more. A glimpse of the girl that should have been, instead of the hollow, damaged individual she was now. Her reflection began to distort—

"Whooooo is that girl I see~ Staring straight, back at me~ " Liar started singing, while holding Grimm's shoulders. "When will my reflection show, who I am….INSIDE!~ "

Grimm couldn't help, but laugh and push Liar's face away.

That's right. What the hell am I doing?

She took a look into the Mirror and quickly pocketed the fake Stone. Afterwards, she patted herself and found that it had disappeared. Satisfied with the outcome, Grimm tapped the arms of her two comrades and bid them to exit the classroom with her.

"Let's get something to eat. I'm starving…."