Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine; it belongs to J.K. Rowling and anything you don't, belong to me.
Chapter 9: Love, Loyalty and Revelations
"Dorinda you won't believe what I've found!" Harry whispered urgently as he took a seat at their usual table. Dorinda looked at her brother, clearly annoyed at the boy for disturbing her reading.
"Well what is it then?" Dorinda asked marking her page and closing the rather large tome.
"Our parents!" Harry spluttered excitedly, his green eyes bright with amorous joy. "In a mirror."
"Harry, our parents are dead." Dorinda said slowly, her eyebrows knitted together in sadness.
"Yeah I realize that Dorinda." Harry gave her a dubious look and sighed while he rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly. "But there they are in the mirror, with loads of other people that look sort of like them! Like us."
"Mirror? What mirror is this, where is it?" Dorinda asked as she grabbed Harry's arm roughly. "How'd you find this mirror, Harry?"
"Well, it's in an abandoned classroom." Harry started and paused, his eyes ashamedly looking down at his robes. "And I guess I sort of found it last night when I went looking around in the cloak."
"Harry James Potter!" Dorinda instantly went to chide him; however she was interrupted by the arrival of Rose and Julian.
"What we miss?" Julian asked cheerfully, his shaggy black locks bouncing against his shoulders. "Uh oh I know that look."
"Our dear brother here has been wandering the castle by night using that gifted cloak!" Dorinda whispered as she snuck a look around for Madam Pince.
"Wicked!" Julian slapped his brother on the back proudly. "What did you find Harry?"
"He thinks that he found a mirror that he can see our parents with." Dorinda explained, not allowing Harry to talk.
"Our parents!" Rose's eyes sparkled brightly as the surprise spread across her face. "Oh Harry is it true!"
"Of course it isn't Rose, don't be silly!" Dorinda pursed her lips, looking like a miniature McGonagall.
"Oh quit your blubbering for a second Dorinda." Julian gently pushed his sister. "Let Harry tell us for himself."
"I did find a mirror with our parents in it." Harry said, his glare not seeming to faze the frosty Dorinda in the least bit. "I think you guys should have a look for yourselves."
"No Harry, it's against the rules to be out of beds passed curfew!" Dorinda instantly voiced her objection.
"I'm in Harry." Julian ignored his Ravenclaw sister, who didn't look too surprised at the declaration.
"Me too!" Rose agreed excitedly, she herself was making it a point to not look her sister's way.
"Rose, you will not!" Dorinda grabbed her sister's arm roughly, forcing the Hufflepuff to meet her gaze.
"Leave her alone Dorinda." Julian grabbed Dorinda's hand off Rose gently. "It's her choice to make."
"Fine but I'm not going." Dorinda said stubbornly, her arms crossed over her chest. "You guys are bound to get caught."
"Hopefully after we see this mythical mirror though." Julian's joker smile instantly brought smiles to Rose and Harry's faces. Dorinda just glared at her book heatedly.
Three of the Potters could be seen dilly dallying around the fifth floor later that night. They were waiting for curfew to approach and students to disappear into their common rooms for the evening. Time was ticking by slowly however and Julian had long since run out of jokes to tell and was now resorting to funny faces to keep his siblings entertained. Soon later the clock finally reached the nine and the dong vibrated through the castle.
"Let's do this." Julian said excitedly, looking down the deserted corridor another time. Harry lifted the cloak up and gestured for Rose and Julian to gather closely. Just as their heads were disappearing, Dorinda strode around the corridor a triumphant gleam in her emerald eyes.
"Ah good, I caught you." Dorinda cleared her throat awkwardly. "Someone has to come and make sure you all don't wind up sitting in detention with Filch."
"Sure, sure Dorinda now get under here." Julian pushed the girl's head down and covered her in the cloak. It was a tight fit and surely wouldn't work this time next year but for now it was perfect.
"Shh you two, we don't want Filch or Mrs. Norris to find us." Harry warned them as they slowly walked down the corridor. The torches crackled against the stone walls as they stumbled towards the door Harry had pointed out. "Ouch Rose that was my toe!"
"That wasn't me Harry, ugh!" Rose stumbled as Julian accidently elbowed her in the ribs. "Dorinda!"
"It's Julian, watch where you're walking!" Dorinda's whispered echoed through the corridor. Harry pushed open the door, which creaked loudly, and hurriedly ushered everyone in. The cloak was quickly forgotten on a dusty desk as Harry hurried over to the mirror, the other three following closely behind.
"There they are." Harry's delight could be heard through his voice. He smiled at the mirror as the other three looked from the side, confusion on their faces and disappointment in their eyes.
"I don't see anything Harry." Rose said staring hard at the mirror as if it was perhaps holding out on her.
"No well you're not looking into it properly, here go where I am." Harry grabbed Rose by the waist and positioned her we he had previously been standing.
"Oh my!" Rose's legs carried her closer to the mirror, her hands coming up to rest on the glass. "She's so beautiful."
"What about dad, Rose?" Julian asked in impatience. Harry smiled triumphantly, half from knowing that he wasn't going crazy and the other half from getting to show up Dorinda.
"He's so handsome!" Rose laughed, her thumb caressing the glass lovingly. "Harry are all these other people related to us too?"
"Well, yeah I think so." Harry scratched his head nervously. "I mean they do look like us slightly I guess."
"Let me have a go Rose!" Julian's patience finally wore thin as he rushed to stand in the spot as to have a direct gaze into the mirror. Rose moved away dreamily. "Bloody hell!"
"Amazing isn't?" Rose's emerald eyes gazed back longingly at the mirror.
"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you," the familiar voice of Dumbledore entered their ears. Four identical gasps vibrated against the walls. Their Headmaster in all his glory strolled from a corner of the room, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Headmaster, we were-"Dorinda began to explain, her list of excuses quickly flashing in her mind but Dumbledore quickly held up his hand to stop her.
"That's enough Miss Potter I am not angry with you four." Dumbledore gave a reassuring smile. "Perhaps we can discuss the object of interest yes?" Four ashamed murmurs agreed softly. "Well, let's see then Dorinda, I do believe that you have figured out the inscription."
"In fact Headmaster, I do believe I have." Dorinda said confidently, turning back to the inscription that Rose and Julian had failed to notice. Harry gaped at the aged man and his sister; he had assumed the writing was in some other language, how would Dorinda know? "I tried a few obvious things first such as attempting to unscramble it, assigning it to another language and then I simply read it backwards and put the words together."
"Brilliant and what did you surmise?" Dumbledore's eyes twinkled madly at Dorinda's logic.
"Is how not your face but your heart's desire." Dorinda read aloud as she stared at the words on the elegant mirror.
"Excellent and perhaps an explanation Harry?" Dumbledore's eyes met Harry's in polite interest.
"It shows us what we want, whatever we want." Harry said slowly looking back at the mirror in wonder.
"Yes and no." Dumbledore tilted his head in thought. "It shows us no more or less than what we truly desire to have. You four who have never known your family, wish to be standing there with them."
"And you sir, what do you see?" Julian asked curiously. Dorinda sent him a reprimanding look. That was an awfully personal question.
"I see myself holding a nice pair of wool socks." Dumbledore's eyes looked sadly at the mirror. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People still insist on giving me books but one can never have too many socks."
"Sir, how is it that you were here without us seeing you?" Rose asked intriguingly. She was confident she would have noticed the man.
"I don't need a cloak to become invisible." Dumbledore said simply, gesturing towards the forgotten cloak upon the dusty old desk. They all had the decency to blush. "Now now children, I only ask that you do not go looking for this mirror again. It will be moved to a new home tomorrow."
"Yes sir." They all answered in unison, nodding their heads in embarrassment of their actions.
"It does not do us well to dwell on dreams and forget to live." Dumbledore said gently.
Dorinda stared back at the mirror in shame.
"Potter!" Draco Malfoy's arrogant voice rang through the corridor. Julian turned around quickly.
"Draco you've arrived early!" Julian hurried over to the pale boy and slapped him readily on the back. Draco allowed himself a small smile surprisingly but still pushed Julian's hand away. "How was the holiday?"
"Good, did you receive mother's care package?" Draco asked gesturing for Julian to continue walking.
"Yes I meant to send a thank you letter but I suppose I forgot." Julian trailed off with a sheepish smile. Draco gave a knowing chuckle.
"Well I suspect that you found my present up to taste?" Draco inquired, stopping to look out the window at the icy fog that still littered the afternoon grounds.
"It was useable I guess." Julian let out a bark of a laughter ignoring Draco who was rolling his eyes.
"Bloody hell you're back." Ron said disgusted at the very sight of the Slytherins. Julian turned around and smiled brightly at his brother, who returned the gesture happily. "I was hoping you would manage to land yourself in some fatal disaster."
"You would spend time thinking of me Weasley." Draco retorted, his lip snarled back in his own disgust.
"Alright there Harry?" Julian asked changing the subject before another fight broke out. Harry nodded, his eyes rolling behind his glasses as he dragged Ron away from the two Slytherins.
"Ugh I hate Gryffindors." Draco grimaced, a shiver going down his spine. "But not more than I loathe Ravenclaws."
"The feeling is mutual I assure you Malfoy." Dorinda appeared a sneer on her face to match Draco's.
"I see you still haven't changed Potter." Draco spat at his friend's sister as he straightened his robes. Dorinda gave him an annoyed look.
"You haven't been gone that long Malfoy." Dorinda clenched her fists. "Besides, I would need millenniums to change my mind about you."
"Oh trust me Potter, the last thing I want is a know-it-all Ravenclaw like you actually liking me." Draco sighed in a bored tone and looked away from Dorinda seemingly disinterested.
"For all the Malfoy money, you couldn't pay me to even look at you twice." Dorinda threw her long lustrous hair over her shoulder in her own arrogance and met the amused eyes of her brother. "Think he's funny do you?"
"Well in fact, I think you both are quite entertaining if I may say so myself." Julian laughed loudly, attracting quite a few looks from the older years. "Well, well, well if it isn't the most exquisite Padma Patil."
"A pleasure to see you again as well Julian." Padma greeted the boy with a tight lipped smile, her eyes betraying her amusement. "Your flattery however, as always, falls short."
"Ah well, doesn't hurt to try." Julian shook his head in mock sadness. "Well excuse us ladies but us Slytherins better be off."
"To study of course, right Julian?" Dorinda grabbed her brother's arm before he could take off. "Term starts again tomorrow you realize?"
"Slytherins don't need to study Potter." Draco drawled his voice as fine as silk and laced with mock sweetness.
"And why is that Malfoy?" Dorinda asked, her upper lip curled in repugnance. She regretted asking the question as soon as it left her tongue.
"Slytherins are far superior to your average housemate." Julian smirked as he instead answered. "Thus we already know everything." Dorinda just groaned.
Another week passed without event, all the school soon learned that Snape would be refereeing the next quidditch match. The Gryffindors were suspicious, which could only be expected. The day of the match arrived soon and Dorinda could be found trying to console Harry just before it was due to start. It would be taking place that afternoon.
"Look Harry, just do your best and you'll be fine." Dorinda soothed him, but it wasn't the problem of beating the Hufflepuffs Harry was worried about. "Professor Snape can only referee so much."
"You're a natural up there Harry, there's nothing to worry about." Hermione interjected, coming up to stand by Harry with Ron in tow.
"Bloody hell Harry don't listen to these girls, there is plenty to worry about." Ron insisted. "It's Snape for Merlin's sake!"
"You shush your mouth right this minute Ronald Weasley!" Dorinda instantly scolded him. "Professor Snape would never intentionally harm Harry."
"Yeah, the bloody well he wouldn't." Ron muttered under his breath as Dorinda hugged her brother and went up to the stands.
"You'll be fine Harry; Ron is just being a bit dramatic." Hermione smiled at her friend tightly, as if she didn't quite know what to believe herself.
"Good luck." Ron gave Harry a pat on the back as he and Hermione went to join the rest of the students in the stands as well.
"Thanks." Harry muttered darkly, his shoe rubbing a design into the dirt beneath his feet.
"Harry will be alright won't he Julian?" Rose asked as she looked out at the Quidditch Pitch nervously. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor were just coming onto the field.
"Don't worry so much Rose." Julian reassured her over the booming clapping and booing that was going on as the teams were announced. "Harry was born to fly."
"I suppose you're right." Rose nodded trying to support herself. All the while thinking along the same lines as Ron was.
"Should've broken his leg." Ron shook his head sadly as he watched from a few rows over in the Gryffindor section. "I told him too."
"He'll be fine." Hermione murmured, trying to assure herself more than Ron. She had her pair of binoculars out and was attempting to look at everything all at once. However, her eyes were mostly positioned on the now airborne Snape. "Hopefully, this is over quickly."
And it was. Harry managed to catch the snitch in just over five minutes once the game started. It was a relief because Snape had immediately begun to call unfair penalties on the Gryffindor team but it didn't matter. They had won fair and square and now were ahead of Slytherin for the first time in seven years. To say there was a celebration going on would be an understatement surely.
Nevertheless, that wasn't the only event that was currently being discussed avidly through all four houses. In the short amount of time that the match actually took place in, the Gryffindors and the Slytherins had managed to get into a fight. But it hadn't taken place on the quidditch pitch.
Three Minutes into the Game:
"Move squib." Draco was trying to make his way over to where Julian was sitting with the Slytherins, a bit late for the match. Neville squeaked and practically jumped into Ron's arms in effort to get away from the Slytherin.
"Shove off Malfoy." Ron instantly came to Neville's rescue; he had certainly been waiting for this moment to catch Malfoy alone.
"Or what Weasley?" Malfoy snickered amusedly, however his eyes instantly caught Julian's from above. "Going to send your pathetically poor family after me?"
"Go to hell Malfoy." And Ron then took the moment to throw a forceful punch at Malfoy, which landed squarely on his nose. A crack could be heard; however it was overpowered by a much louder pop.
Sometime between the arguing Julian had managed to make his way down to the escalating confrontation. Ron was of course too distracted in his own hatred to notice anything but the superior smirk on Malfoy's face. So, when Ron went to successfully punch Malfoy, he failed to miss the actual fist that connected with his own jaw.
"Ron! Ron! Where are you! Look Harry caught the snitch!" Hermione was jumping up for joy. "We won!" After Hermione was done hugging Parvati Patil it was then she noticed Ron on the ground moaning in pain, Malfoy holding his bleeding nose and an angry Julian standing over it all. "Oh my, Madam Pomfrey!"
"Don't worry about Malfoy, Neville; you're worth twelve of him." Harry tried to console the whimpering boy outside the Gryffindor locker room. "Here have a chocolate frog."
"What about me! I'm the one who ended up getting hit!" Ron held his aching jaw in his hand, Madame Pomfrey had of course instantly healed it but it still hurt.
"Well, mate you did hit Malfoy first." Harry winced, not of course trying to defend the slimy Slytherin but in fact his own brother's motives. "I would have hit Malfoy, if he would have hit you first as well."
"Your bloody stupid brother." Ron muttered in annoyance.
"Thanks Harry for the frog would you like the card? Only I know that you collect them." Neville offered the card to Harry, who smiled and took it.
"I will meet you guys in the common room after I get changed." Harry sighed in exhaustion, today had been a very eventful day. Ron and Hermione started walking quickly away, excited to begin celebrating in the common room, Neville hurried to catch up.
Absently, Harry glanced down at the card, it was Dumbledore, and began to read. As he reached the bottom, the card slowly fell from his hands in astonishment! The answer he had been seeking had been here all along! He knew he had read about Nicholas Flamel somewhere! The Sorcerer's Stone was the key to everything; it was surely what Fluffy was protecting.
However, before he could think more on it, he became distracted once more by the appearance of Snape heading towards the forbidden forest. Harry hurried to follow him; swiftly he jumped on his broom and soared after the Potion's professor.
"What do you think you are doing in here Quirrell?" Harry heard Snape ask the other Professor, Harry could see neither of them. Quirrell's voice however spoke low so Harry couldn't quite hear him.
"You know perfectly well what I mean." Snape hissed angrily at Quirrell, who Harry could only imagine was practically weeping at the feet of Snape.
"The Sorcerer's Stone is guarded too well as you very well know." Snape went on, Harry's ears perked up at this. An owl hooted so he missed the last part of the conversation and then rustling could be heard, so Harry hurried to make sure he could not be seen as Snape left the forest alone. Harry watched until Snape was out of view and then hurried back towards the broom shed. He didn't bother to notice that Quirrell hadn't left the forest.
It was apparent now what he and his siblings would have to do.
Severus Snape was trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone.
And they would have to stop him.
Redone: Decemeber 14 2010