CHAPTER 20:

THE MIRROR OF ERISED

It wasn't until the next night that Harry began using the Invisibility Cloak. As the excitement of Christmas waned, he began to be plagued by thoughts he hadn't wanted to think about. Between Christmas and searching for the true nature of the object being guarded at Hogwarts, he hadn't thought about what he had seen back during the trials of Sirius and Pettigrew.

He had seen a man die. It wasn't like it was the first time, and while watching Pettigrew getting his soul sucked out by a Dementor was absolutely horrific, it still had to compete with, for example, the brutal end of Scarlet, machine-gunned into mincemeat by Barrett, as well as the first 'death' of Hojo, who had met a similar fate before mutating into a Jenova creature. And then, there was the Snow-Woman, and the Jenova creature that Jenova took over, and used as a meat shield during the fight with Sephiroth.

But he still felt repulsed by that hideous event. True, Pettigrew had betrayed his parents, and had done a few rather sickening things as a Death Eater (albeit coerced), but to see a man get his soul sucked out by a creature as hideous and repulsive as a Dementor…

Pettigrew, technically, was still alive. But he was just an inert, unresponsive lump of meat who would soon be allowed to starve to death. The soul, the things that made Pettigrew a person, was gone. Whether it had been utterly destroyed, or was now part of the Dementor, Harry didn't know. Nobody knew.

On Boxing Day, he had spoken to Dumbledore (in the man's office) about his feelings about the event. Dumbledore had nodded sagely. "It is not a bad thing to feel disturbed by the death of another human being," Dumbledore had said, "even one such as Pettigrew. He was motivated by fear and uncertainty to join the Death Eaters. Many of the Death Eaters should be pitied. If nothing else, then for the fact that they follow the lead of a hypocrite, of one they would enslave or exterminate."

It was, incidentally, the first time Harry had been to Dumbledore's office, and the first time he had met Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix familiar. Harry nearly considered summoning Phoenix, but didn't know whether that would be a faux pas with the magnificent magical bird.

Harry wandered, and found himself near the library. Tempted though he was to check out the Restricted Section, there was no need to. But an opened classroom door near the library's entrance caught his eye, and he wandered inside.

The classroom had been cleared away mostly, desks and chairs all piled up against the walls. Pride of place within the room, however, went to an ornate mirror. Carved along the top were eldritch words: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. Gingerly, he removed the robe, and peered into the mirror, only to start, his eyes widening.

My parents… Harry thought. And my ancestors…and Aerith, Elmyra, Jenova, Cloud, Tifa…everyone I met on the Planet.

But there was more than that. There were his friends at Hogwarts too, standing by him, and even some of the teachers, including Snape. Even Luna was there, in her Jenova form. Harry was like Sephiroth, with silver hair and green slit-pupilled eyes, a single wing protruding from his back but unlike Sephiroth, no madness danced there in his eyes. Just a content calm, rather than the arrogant grace of Sephiroth. And everyone was accepting him for what he was.

What was this? His future? Or…

Erised…

Harry blinked, before looking up at the inscription. Something came together in his mind. "Erised…" he murmured quietly. "Desire…"

It was showing a desire.

Suddenly, with fresh eyes, he thought about the inscription. He reversed the letters. And then, he fiddled around with the spaces. "I…show not…your face…but your…heart's…desire."

"Indeed," came the familiar voice of Dumbledore. Harry whirled to find him sitting on one of the desks.

"Sir, I…"

"It's all right," Dumbledore said, holding up a placatory hand. "I was hoping you might find the Mirror. I have been keeping a watchful eye on it, to make sure nobody gets ensnared." He got off the desk, and walked over to Harry. "It's funny how being invisible can make one short-sighted."

"Or maybe you just used a Disillusionment Spell," Harry said. "Sirius taught me about that."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Perceptive, Harry. And you were to decipher the meaning of the Mirror in your one and only encounter with it." Dumbledore looked at the Mirror wistfully. "The happiest, most contented man in the world would see himself, and only himself in the mirror. But to anyone else, which is perhaps everyone in the world, they would see what they desire most. The deepest, most desperate desire of all. I saw what you saw in the Mirror: you see yourself surrounded by family and friends, both alive and dead, and accepting of the Jenova cells within you. I myself…well, to most people, I would just say I would be holding a pair of socks. After all, I never get any for Christmas, usually just books, though your gift of sherbet lemons was most welcome anyway. But...in truth, I see my sister, Ariana…and an old friend, turned bitter enemy. Grindlewald, the man I am lauded for fighting, used to be my best friend."

Harry remembered the name from his Chocolate Frog card. "It must've been a big falling-out, sir," Harry said tactfully.

"It was. Unfortunately, Ariana was caught in the crossfire, and to this day, I don't know who felled her." He tapped his crooked nose. "My brother gave me this at her funeral. And I richly deserved it, though that is a tale for another time, and I would appreciate you being quiet about it. Know this, Harry. The Mirror gives neither knowledge nor truth. Many have wasted away in front of it, gazing into its depths, or were driven mad, because they couldn't tell whether it was reality, or potential reality, or mere dreams. Sometimes, it was the final fantasy(1) for a person." He sighed, wearily, before turning to Harry. "It will be moved tomorrow, and I would ask that you not go looking for it again. If you do come across it again, then I know you are prepared. But remember, it does not do to dwell on dreams, and forget reality. That being said, your desire is very close to reality."

Harry nodded. "I'll remember that. And Professor? Thank you very much for returning the Cloak."

"You're welcome, Harry. Now, use it, and head back to bed, hmm?"

Harry had something occur to him as he began to leave, before he said, "Professor? You do know I know what you're guarding? The Philosopher's Stone?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Your sister told me. You trust that we have it under control?"

Harry nodded back. "Yes. But…if Quirrell decides to do something in the meantime, I won't hold back. If he comes after the students or me or anyone else again…" He left it up in the air, before leaving the room.

Dumbledore considered the situation, before turning to the Mirror. In truth, he hadn't actually moved it from the room where it stood at the end of an obstacle course. This was a projection of the Mirror of Erised, which had taken some serious magic, and one that wouldn't allow access to the Philosopher's Stone under any circumstances. But in all other ways, it would act as the Mirror(2).

He knew that Harry would want to use the Cloak to explore, sooner or later, which is why he set this up: as a test of sorts. And Harry had not only fulfilled his expectations, but had exceeded them. What worries Dumbledore had about Harry were dispelled. Between the neglect and psychological abuse of the Dursleys, and the battles the boy had already fought on the Planet, Dumbledore was worried that serious damage had been done to Harry's psyche.

But if there was serious damage, Dumbledore knew that Harry was fundamentally still a good and decent boy. He wanted not glory and recognition, despite his desire to be known as the Boy Who Strived than the Boy Who Lived. Rather, he wanted acceptance, family and friends. And it was already close to reality.

He only acquired the Mirror relatively recently, it being originally in Nicholas Flamel's possession. But he wondered, what would it have shown Tom Riddle, long before he became Voldemort? Could Dumbledore have reached the nascent Dark Lord in time, had he shown Riddle what he desired? Did Riddle desire immortality then? Dumbledore was already sure, in retrospect, that Riddle desired power, but when he first came to Hogwarts, it was because he had felt powerless in his life.

Had he done something to reach out, or to otherwise check Riddle's tendencies, could he have turned Riddle away from the dark path Voldemort was currently journeying on? It was useless to speculate, and to muse on what could have been, and what choices he could have made better. McGonagall had reminded him that it wasn't the mistakes one made, but how one went about remedying them.

But there was also the question of the girl standing near Harry, the one with Jenova-like features. While he wasn't acquainted with every prospective student of Hogwarts, he did know many within the village of Ottery St Catchpole, and he was almost certain that it was Luna Lovegood he saw, albeit with the silver hair and slit-pupilled eyes that Jenova had (as well as Harry, during his brief transformation). Why did she have Jenova-like features? Dumbledore noted that virtually all of those present in the mirror's image were people Harry considered friends or family, so Luna was obviously no enemy to Harry, at least. But what did that make her to the rest of the world?

Perhaps he should visit Xenophilus sometime soon.

The plain was filled with flowers, but it had no horizon or sky. Just scintillating ribbons of green energy. And on it, a girl with silvery hair and blue, slitted pupils walked alongside a blonde-haired woman dressed in battle armour. Both seemed strangely at ease around each other.

Ever since they had met in Harry's dreamscape, Luna and Minerva had taken to meeting on a semi-regular basis. They were now discussing the results of Luna's own personal investigation. During the trial, Xenophilus Lovegood (who had been present) had heard the Dementors speak a single word: Mother. And Harry had collapsed, and Jenova had very nearly done so. Her father didn't recognise the significance, as his knowledge of Jenova and Jenova cells had been erased by his own hand. But Luna did. Her father still had Jenova cells within him, albeit not many. But she had travelled later to Azkaban, or as close as she could get, and tried to sense the Dementors. She had never tried to until now, and she was grateful for that.

"I've confirmed it," Luna said, her usually bright and cheerfully ditzy air replaced with a solemnity and seriousness that shouldn't be present on her. "The Dementors are the worst kind of Jenova creature, a parody even of Mother at her worst. Barely sentient, completely malevolent. They exist only to consume souls and cause misery for others by dredging up their worst feelings and memories."

Minerva frowned. "And the Ministry of Magic is fool enough to believe that they are under control?"

"The Ministry of Magic is composed mostly of fools. The smart ones either wield power behind the scenes, or are impotent." Luna sighed sadly. "Your children have forgotten you, Minerva. Like too many people, magical or mundane, they become focused on petty issues and power. I suspect wrackspurts are to blame."

Minerva blinked in bemusement, before saying, "It's still disturbing to learn that there are Jenova monsters on Earth. And that both Jenova and Harry are susceptible. Which means that you may be. Would these foul creatures serve Voldemort if he ever came to power?"

"It's possible," Luna said. "I don't think they did last time, but the Ministry may have covered it up, like they do with the Rotfang Conspiracy."

"Luna…I'll have to find remnants of the Cetra who lived at the time of Jenova's first advent," Minerva said, trying to get the conversation back on track. "They may have encountered something similar. There are a variety of beasts and monsters on Gaia, but I recall none like the Dementors. They may have knowledge of how to protect oneself against these things."

"There is one way," Luna said. "The Patronus Charm. It sends out a projection of one's hopes and best feelings that cannot feel despair, and repulses Dementors. But around Dementors, it is hard to think of a happy memory, which is what is needed. And given Harry's extreme adverse reaction to them…"

"Yes," Minerva said quietly.

"It is also an extremely advanced spell. Even older, more experienced wizards aren't guaranteed to be able to cast it." Suddenly, Luna blinked. "Wait a moment…I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"I don't know whether it will work…but Harry, when we first met, showed me the Materia he has with him3. It included something called a Summon Materia. It can summon up a powerful magical entity."

"I understand. You think it may be like a Patronus? That is not a bad idea, though a Summon does have more complex emotions than what you seem to indicate a Patronus has. Perhaps there is a Materia that could be used to trigger a Summon when a Dementor turns its attention to Harry. Perhaps I can form one." Minerva relished the challenge. Acting physically was an effort at times, but to forge a new Materia would be interesting enough to be more than worth it.

She still grimaced, though. Although Jenova had eaten souls, she was an epicure, and those she had eaten lately had been deserving of such a fate. Dementors, by comparison, were apparently gluttons, who would probably gladly sup on any soul that they wished if given leave. And to think that the Cetra of Earth, the wizards and witches, thought they could treat with them.

It was yet another burden to add onto Harry. He had a destiny to confront and defeat Voldemort for once and for all, if only because the prophecy made about Voldemort and his nemesis compelled the evil wizard. That, and his pride, his inability to admit defeat at the hands of a child. A similar destiny involved Sephiroth, and while no prophecy was involved, it was similar motives. Sephiroth would never admit defeat. Even now, in the darkest corners of the Lifestream, his fragmented will lurked, waiting. She could still smell his foul stench.

Another concern was Harry's increasing hybridisation. He was now becoming a Jenova creature. Minerva could only hope that the boy's will and morality, which had helped Jenova herself turn over a new leaf, would make sure he didn't turn out like Sephiroth. Or else get taken over by Sephiroth's will.

Because Minerva did not want to order his destruction.

CHAPTER 20 ANNOTATIONS:

The Mirror of Erised scene turns out differently than in canon (though this is partly because they found out about Flamel early, so Harry is just exploring for the sake of it), Dumbledore considers things past and present, and Luna and Minerva are chatting away like old friends.

If you think Harry was being too smart in figuring out the Mirror of Erised's purpose too quickly, well, remember he's had a lot more development on the Planet, especially after the fight with Sephiroth. He's been to school and allowed to thrive without the threat of his relatives giving him grief for outdoing Dudley. He's not as smart as Hermione (in the previous chapter, she was the one to notice the connection with Flamel, after all), but he's smarter, or at least his mind is more honed, than in canon. He also knows, thanks to Sirius, of other spells, including the Disillusionment Spell.

As for Dumbledore being more frank with Harry than in canon, remember that Dumbledore has decided to be, because he thinks Harry is ready for this knowledge. He doesn't tell the whole story, obviously, but he is willing to tell Harry about Grindlewald being a former friend, and that Ariana's death could have been his fault. Harry appreciates the candour.

Incidentally, the next episode may be some time coming. I'm finishing a playthrough of Borderlands (I've finished the main campaign, and am now working through the DLC campaigns), and I want to start nutting together one of my non-fanfic stories. Please be patient.

Review-answering time. Firstly, deathgeonous, who has posted reviews on all three of the stories in this series so far. Sorry you don't think much of the annotations, but they will stay. However, I am glad you enjoyed my stories, which is what counts.

Shadoweater666: You happy now? ;)

Zane Tribal Tyne Alexandros: I never considered what Limit Break Dumbledore would have, and I'm not sure about the name. Why did you choose 'Eternal Aria'? As for Rufus and Lucius meeting, well, we shall see. I might include a scene where they meet at the beginning of my version of The Chamber of Secrets.

1. I couldn't resist this pun. Again (I did it way back in Harry Potter and the Cetra Heritage).

2. If the Mirror was hiding the Stone in the first place, why move it out from the 'obstacle course'? This was my half-arsed attempt at a solution. Dumbledore has a facsimile of the Mirror with the same effect, but not with the Stone within.

CHAPTER 20 SOUNDTRACK:

The Mirror of Erised: On That Day, Five Years Ago (FTG).

Minerva and Luna: The Nightmare Begins (FTG).