Chapter 80: Birthday Surprise
"You're going to get a big surprise from us for your birthday." Sirius said cheekily at breakfast on the Monday when they were back to Hogwarts.
"What do you mean??" James asked quizzically.
"We just derived this brilliant plan for you."
"I got the feeling this is a kind of sabotage."
"How accurate are your gut feelings anyway??"
"I think they're pretty accurate."
"The last time you said that you got a feeling I pee-ed on your face when you're sleeping, but in the end I didn't."
"That's because I know you had that in mind so I said it before you had a chance to even do it."
"May I ask when did this incident happen??" Peter asked the talking duo.
"On our Prongsie ninth birthday."
"No wonder I've no recollection of that as well." Remus said, shaking his head, laughing at the thought.
"That's like ages ago and I forgot all about it until you just so kindly reminded me."
"Well, you inspired me to do it for real this time."
"Don't you dare!!"
"You doubt my guts??"
"Padfoot!! We already outgrew the age where we compete who pee further."
"Have we??"
"Glad to know that Bell is doing fine." Joey commented. The four girls were heading to the Great Hall for their breakfast together, updating each other about their happenings in the Christmas break.
"I know, but we can't help missing her." Samantha added.
"I wonder if there would be a new girl coming into Gryffindor next year or something." Lily asked no one in particular.
"Might not. So far we hasn't come across any transfer students. Besides there are only four guys in our year as well." Stefanie reasoned.
"Well, the four guys can replace all the rest of the male population." Lily said in a sarcastic but joking manner.
"Yeah, one James replaces the whole Marauders you mean."
"You know I don't mean that."
"We know what you mean."
"Oei!!"
"Did someone mention Marauders??" A familiar deep voice called from their right side.
"I did." Stefanie smiled at the source of the voice and took a seat beside him. The rest of the three girls joined them.
"I thought I heard someone mentioning James." Sirius added extra emphasis on the name. "But then I might have heard wrongly." He was grinning from ear to ear, looking from James to Lily and back to James again.
"Haha, very funny." James said sarcastically. "Since you're not eating your food, I'm going to help myself." James took Sirius' entire plate of toast and egg in front of him and started eating.
"Hey!!" Sirius took the plate back; leaving only the toast that James was already finishing half of it.
"Guys and girls, you aren't kids anymore, so please stop fighting for food." Remus mocked.
"We're not fighting for food." James and Sirius said at the same time.
"For a moment, I forgot that the guys are girls as well." Stefanie added. The whole group of eight teens started laughing at their joke, making them the noisiest people in the Great Hall for breakfast.
"So that's our plan for the coming Saturday."
"Are you sure that's feasible??"
"Definitely. You've gotta trust me for this."
"The problem why we can't trust because you're the instigator."
"Hey, admit it, this gotta be Jamesie' best birthday present ever."
"What would Lily say??"
"She would be euphoric."
"I doubt she would be that ecstatic."
"But shouldn't she be informed about that as well??"
"Then we would lose all the fun in this surprise."
"It seems like she's a victim as well."
"Trust me."
"Sirius, the more you ask me to trust you the more I can't."
"Well, you gotta learn to."
"So what's the plan now??"
"As per normal. We've our role for that day."
"So Stef would need help from Sam and Jo if really necessary."
"But I believe Lils would fall for it without much of a problem."
"Seriously, this idea is a little absurd."
"I think it's fabulous."
"That's why we've different minds."
"So let's not argue about it anymore. Take it as settle."
"Last discussion Friday night."
"I found new place yesterday night. Just wondering if you're interested to take a look at it." Sirius said in a I-know-something-you-don't-know voice.
"Where??"
"Upstairs."
"Hasn't we already explored every nook and cranny of this castle??" James asked skeptically.
"Not fully. No one ever knows every corner of it. Besides it was like a tunnel that lead from one place to another."
"How about we wait for Moony and Wormtail to be back then we go take a look together??"
"I'm so exhilarated to find the place and you're ruining my joy about it."
"What so special about that tunnel or whatsoever place anyway??"
"It's enclosed."
"So??"
"It has something special."
"What??"
"A mirror."
"Haha, that's very funny." James said sarcastically and turned back to his homework.
"It's a special mirror."
"Like what so special. Is it full-length??"
"Yes, it's big and full-length."
"Oh, no wonder it's just so special."
"There's more than that."
"Like what??"
"You see your deepest desires inside." Sirius said breezily, knowing something like this would capture James' attention instantly.
"What do you mean??" James turned over and studied Sirius for the first time since their conversation began.
"Haha, I'm not gonna tell you." Sirius said dramatically. "I thought I wanted to share it with my best friend first." He turned around and pretended to leave their dormitory.
"Let's go and take a look." James stopped his homework instantly and followed Sirius out of the dormitory.
"Guess what I just saw!!" Stefanie said excitedly as she literally bounced into their dormitory. Lily was the only one inside since Samantha and Joey had gone to the library, which made things even easier for Stefanie.
"What??" Lily looked at Stefanie with deep interest.
"I saw a mirror!!" Stefanie said in an unusual enthusiasm.
"Did I hear you say mirror??" Lily asked in amusement.
"Yes. I did say I saw a mirror."
"Er.. what so special about the mirror??"
"It can show our deepest desire."
"The Mirror of Erised??"
"That's the one!!"
"Where??"
"C'mon, I show you." Stefanie said and left the dormitory. Lily followed along immediately.
"How did you find it??"
"Remus brought me to see it."
"Wow, the guys found something as exciting as that."
"That's why I'm so excited."
"So what's your deepest desire??"
"I tell you tonight when you tell me yours."
"Why tonight?? Aren't we going together??"
"Of course we are. But I don't want to talk about my deepest desire at a place where others might eavesdrop or something."
"You've got a point." Lily and Stefanie were walking briskly and Lily barely had much idea which direction Stefanie was leading her to.
"Padfoot, what's this place??" James was saying when the door behind him went shut. "Let me out!!" He called out.
"This is our birthday present for you." Sirius called out. He could hear Remus and Peter laughing outside as well. "Enjoy yourself."
"Alohomora." James muttered, pointing his finger at the door but the door would not bulge. "Damn. They must have used that stupid charm which I've no clue how to break." Just two years ago, the Marauders were locked in an enclosed room with the four exchange students whom started off with enemy and ended up being long distance friends. How could I be so stupid to trust Sirius!!
"Stef, as I was saying, where are you taking me to??" Lily asked Stefanie who was beside her but not anymore. She could hear the door behind her closed and seemed like a charm had made the door into the wall. The door had disappeared. "Stef?? Let me out!!" A sudden rush of panic ran through her spine.
What's this place?? Lily knew there was no way she could get out from the way she came in. Stefanie had used a charm, which Lily had yet to memorize to lock her in. Great!! In that moment of hurry, I even forgot my wand. What sort of witch am I to travel around without a wand??
The room was dimly lit with a few candles and chandeliers high above. There was only one path in front and since it was not possible to leave, she decided to move forward. Tiptoeing forward silently, she moved along the wall, avoiding the possibility of someone noticing her shadow.
Is there really the Mirror of Erised here?? Stef wouldn't lie to me, or would she?? After what felt like a long walk, she reached a regular looking room, which seemed slightly smaller than their normal classroom.
What on earth is Sirius doing?? James walked along the twining tunnel and ended up in a normal looking room. One of the smaller classrooms around. In the middle of the room stood a large rectangular object. Could that be the Mirror that Sirius was talking about?? James walked closer and noticed a shadow cast behind the mirror. Someone else is here. Being armed with the wandless magic ability, he prepared himself to fight whoever that was behind the mirror.
"Oh my god!!" This mirror is so magnificent. Lily touched the mirror's edges with her fingers. In the mirror, she saw herself standing there alone, her exact reflection. So what's my deepest desire?? It isn't showing. Slowly other images formed. James?? She saw James holding onto her waist from her back in her reflection, both of them were smiling blissfully back at her. With normal reflex, she turned back to confirm that James was not behind her. My deepest desire is to be with James?? This is something I don't even know. In her reflection, she saw herself and James smiling in total bliss disappearing and another figure appeared. A little boy. Harry?? A young boy who looked like the younger version of James appeared between them, holding onto their hand. The small family in the reflection seemed so fairytale like, right till the idyllic backdrop and contented smiles. Is that really what I truly want??
"Lily??" James walked forward, and to his surprised, the least likely person he expected was standing there.
"Huh??" Lily looked at James with a blurred look.
"What happened to you??" James asked with concern.
"Nothing." Lily felt her face a little flush and looked away from James quickly.
"So this is the Mirror." James looked at his reflection in the mirror.
"This is the Mirror of Erised."
"Mirror of Erised??"
"A mirror that will show your deepest desires. Only the truly happy and contented person can see their own reflection."
"So what did you see??"
"Nothing much." Lily looked at the mirror again. The three figure were still standing inside, smiling back at her, except this time James was carrying Harry with one arm and the other holding onto Lily's hand. She looked away quickly again. "What did you see??"
"Myself." James answered instantly. But slowly, his reflection disappeared and another figure surfaced from inside of the mirror. Lily is in the mirror?? He blinked his eyes a little. Obviously she's inside the mirror. The mirror is that huge and she's right beside me.
James studied the figures, which were emerging out of nowhere. I'm holding onto Lily's hand. A reflection of him holding onto Lily's hand appeared, both of them looked so blissfully happy in the reflection. He turned to see Lily totally engrossed watching the mirror. I wonder if she's seeing the same thing as I'm. He thought to himself. The image of James and Lily holding hands and strolling together disappeared and a third figure appeared. He looked exactly like me. Harry. James was shocked to see the scene in front of him. I'm hugging Lily, her body close to mine. My head is resting on her shoulder. It's something that won't happen but I know I want that to happen. Harry was running around happily in front of them and they were looking at their son with such fondness and love. James took a quick glimpse at Lily who was still occupied by the images she was watching in the mirror. Wonder what is she watching to keep her so deeply concentrated in the mirror??
How could we look so happy together?? We won't even live long enough to watch our son grow. The image of James and herself walking along the beach and their son running in front of them was captivating in the sense that it was sweet and romantic but sad to say, would never happen. Maybe this is the life I really want. To spend the rest of my life with him and our son. If only I'm given the chance to do so. I don't think I would even live long enough to see all these. A bitter sadness swept through her spine and brought her back to the harsh reality.
"So what did you see?? You are so wrapped up by it." James asked casually, trying to keep the conversation light-hearted.
"I – I saw you." Lily looked into the mirror and saw the fairytale scenario inside continue to move.
"I saw you too." James looked into the mirror as he answered.
"And Harry."
"Same."
"So this mirror really shows our desires??"
"I guess so." Both of them went silence for some time as they continued watching the images inside the mirror.