Erised.
I've always liked the mirror. In my opinion, it shows a truly twisted side of magic. We see in books how dark magic can corrupt, how it works off of anger. But we don't see many truly manipulative magics like the mirror. It is, in essence, a siren's song. It shows the hearts one true desire, something that can be so intoxicating to simply see that it is just as impossible to resist.
As Dumbledore has stated, many have lost their minds to the mirror, but I think that it is most likely just the same as the resurrection stone. It leaves the mind, but takes one's heart. It turns them gray when they see what they want, but cannot have.
So, let's go. Erised.
Desire.
—0—
The halls of Hogwarts were quiet. Quite eerily quiet in fact. With no students around there was no noise, no chatter, no footsteps or page turning. Everything was perfectly still.
No prefects were around when the keg to the Hufflepuff common room folded open, letting out nobody. Anyone who would have seen it would most likely pass it off as a trick from peeves, or perhaps just a familiar using the entrance without anyone seeing. Yet, it was in fact a student.
Merlot walked out carefully from the hufflepuff common room, making sure that her footsteps were next to mute in their volume. The young witch wore her invisibility cloak over her shoulders, with the hood drawn over her head and face, allowing her to see everything, yet allowing nothing to see her.
Still, she knew that noise was a problem, and so she took it slow. There was no need to rush it anyways, today was simply for scouting around, looking about each nook and cranny of the castle and seeing if anyone would be able to catch her.
Merlot first walked up through the corridors, sparing glances at paintings as they slept. The castle was much more spooky at night, much more… dark.
Yet, for some reason, Merlot didn't mind. Perhaps it was the fact that she was more well learned in magic now. Perhaps it's because she knew that Dumbledore would know if something dangerous was in the halls at night. Or perhaps it was the cloak. It's silvery material clung to her in a strange, ethereal fashion. She was out of sight from everything that could be lurking in the dark. Monsters, bullies, abusers.
Even death.
The girl continued to wander, a smile on her face as she took in the castle. She had never really taken the time before to appreciate the castle itself. She was far too drawn into her research projects and classes, making sure to learn at her own pace, without letting others know she was outstripping them.
The only words that came to mind were synonymous with beauty.
The smooth surface of each stone in the wall, the carved pillars and archways, depicting the four house mascots. Everything was just a masterpiece, each melding together to create this large safe haven for children of magic.
Merlot smiled as she came to a stop at one painting, a knight seated upon a pony. She had seen him in many frames throughout the castle of course, but she had never really taken the time to look at him.
His shining oil paint armor. The visor of his helmet was down, but she had seen it open before. She could remember the tiny waxed mustache on his upper lip. His blue eyes. The artist of each portrait he was linked to was quite knowledgeable of the man himself it seemed, and each of his features had been marked upon the canvases with immaculate care.
Merlot ran her hand down the wooden frame of the painting that the knight currently slumbered in. Each part of the painting she now looked at was so intricate… perhaps made by a lover? One who had been saved by him?
Merlot smiled and left the painting alone. It could wait, for now. She had more to see tonight.
The young witch walked up a flight of stairs as it moved, leading her to the West wing of the castle. She walked by a few empty classrooms, taking a peek at a few lesson plans here and there. Of course, she'd never tell the fifth year Arithmancy class that their professor simply had it in her schedule to 'give them headaches with numbers'. That would be cheating!
As she passed through the corridor to the main body of the castle, she noted the doors to the library on her left.
'Surely going into the restricted section would be an adequate test of this cloak.'
Merlot smiled to herself at the thought and opened the door to the massive cache of literature.
There was nobody inside but the librarian, Madam Pince. She had fallen asleep going over a text from the restricted section. Something on blood wards. Interesting.
Thankfully, the woman had left the gate to the restricted section open. Merlot was able to quietly slip inside without rattling the iron gate too much. She began to peruse the selection of tomes kept upon the shelves. Everything from "Wonderful Ways To Curse Generations" to "Seventy Ways to Cook Human Flesh"
Lovely.
Merlot ran her fingers down the spine of one book. "Taming Shadows." WIth a sharp tug, it was freed from the shelf.
The young witch opened the book and began peering through it. The material was a little interesting, all on spells that manipulated shadows. Merlot could see how it could be seen as dark magic, but essentially, the book was just about fear tactics. Illusion spells to twist the light and make the shade into three dimensional figures.
Merlot placed the book back upon the shelf and continued to browse the aisles of the restricted section. There was more than books on the shelves, she soon found. There were statues, tools, weapons. Merlot blinked as she pulled a small pyramid like object from a shelf. A note fell to her feet, which she picked up and began reading.
-The Feldcroft Relic,
Originally one of two relics discovered in the village of Feldcroft by an unknown practitioner of the Dark arts. The second relic was found by Sebastian Sallow, who became corrupted by its power. His uncle, Solomon Sallow, lost his life destroying the relic and freeing his nephew of its hold. Several years later, this relic was found by Sebastian, as he returned to pay his respects.
Studies show that it functions much like the first relic that Sebastian had discovered, possessing the ability to control inferius, as well as cure dark curses through ritual sacrifice. It's magic has been bound now, but it still holds unspeakably dark power-
Merlot looked at the relic, before slipping it and the note back upon the shelf and continuing on. She eventually decided it was time to move on from the restricted section, finding nothing of interest to her, not that she was really looking.
As the young witch walked through the corridors, she hears a scuffle from around a corner.
"You don't want me as your enemy Quirrel."
"P-p-please, Severus. You are h-hurting my s-s-shoulder!"
Merlot bit her tongue as she watched Snape shove Quirrel up against the wall. The potions professor held him by his collar, his face twisted into a snarl.
"I don't care! One more toe out of line-"
"Please! I p-p-promise Severus-"
"Figure out where your allegiances lie." Snape spoke lowly, before turning his head slightly. Merlot made eye contact with the man through her cloak and watched in horror as he reached towards her.
The professors hand grabbed only thin air as Merlot took a quiet step back. The man looked at his empty hand with distaste, before whirling around once more and sneering at the timid defense professor.
Merlot quickly slipped away and hid within an empty classroom as the potion maker swept by, his robes billowing around him.
'That was close…'
"Thank you for your assistance Filius."
Merlot sucked in a breath and turned around, finding that the room was not as empty as she assumed.
Headmaster Dumbledore stood at the center of the room, with Professor Flitwick beside him. Both were facing a large, ornate mirror.
"You are certain that it shall be returned by the end of the term?"
"Unless it is destroyed." Albus nodded.
"Fat chance of that." The charms professor sniffed. "The goblin nation has been trying to destroy it for centuries, ever since it claimed-"
"King Ragnar the eighth, yes?" Dumbledore's eyes sparkled. "I remember the tale. Rest assured, it will not be stolen."
"I understand. I must now go to bed, headmaster."
"Filius."
The professor left through a different door, leaving Albus standing, looking at the mirror, and Merlot standing invisibly beside him.
After a few minutes of silence, the headmaster spoke.
"I was beginning to wonder when you would be using that fine cloak to move about the castle."
Merlot pulled the hood of the cloak down. "Good evening to you as well Headmaster."
The man's eyes twinkled as he gave a nod in response, before turning back to the mirror.
"A magnificent piece, is it not?"
"Indeed. Quite intricate. Is it what allowed you to know that I was here?"
The headmaster chuckled warmly. "No. Despite its numerous enchantments, the mirror fails to compare to that cloak. Perhaps if you look closer, you will see its true purpose."
Merlot blinked, before turning and looking at the mirror. She had not lied, it was a very intricate artifact. The golden frame glinted where it caught the light, revealing some lettering, a few pictures, and carved patterns all painstakingly made by whomever had created it.
"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi…" Merlot mumbled. "Of course… a mirror."
Albus smiled as he watched the girl's mind work. His smile fell a bit when the low chuckle she let out was hollow, devoid of happiness.
"I can see how this mirror could take souls. It drives one mad by showing them their one true desire." Merlot walked forward and placed a hand upon the surface of the artifact. "How… completely and utterly wasteful."
Albus placed a hand on the girls shoulder as he stared into the mirror, and for a second, he saw his family in the reflection, smiling around them, giving gifts to the girl as she laughed. A combination of his desire and hers, he supposed. To have his family, and for her to have had one that accepted her from the beginning.
Yet, if Albus had asked what Merlot saw in the mirror, her response would most likely have broken his old heart.
In the silvery surface, Merlot saw herself how she used to be, Harry Potter. The boy was dressed in jeans that fit him, and a nice button down shirt. On either side of him were the Dursleys. Miss Petunia and Sir Vernon, and on his left was Dudley, their arms wrapped around each other as if they were really brothers. They were there, happy, normal.
Alas, Merlot knew it was never to be.
"I must ask that you don't spend your time in front of this mirror, as I once did." the headmaster spoke. "Many hours, days I spent in my youth, wishing for the impossible. For some, their dreams are attainable, but for me and you."
"I will never be happy." Merlot ground out through clenched teeth, holding back tears.
Albus frowned, kneeling down next to the girl. "Miss Scortwit… I can understand how you must feel… many days you have suffered, and that does something to a person. It hurts them, here."
Merlot wiped tears from her eyes as Albus placed a finger upon her heart.
"The strongest of us, the happiest of us. They have gone through the worst. And you my dear, you have it within you to be that happy, to have that life that you dream of."
Merlot sniffed as the man rose back to his feet. "You owe it to yourself, my dear. You will find happiness. I know it."
The young witch nodded and wrapped her arms around the headmaster, giving him as much of a hug as she could muster.
Albus smiled gently, sighing as the girl began to cry into his robes. He gently patted her head with one hand. "There there… it is okay to cry."
Merlot sniffed and wiped her face. "I'm not crying."
Albus smiled. "Of course not, but perhaps you should return to your room for the night. I feel that we all need some sleep after such a festive day."
Merlot nodded. "Thank you… Professor Dumbledore sir."
"Merlot, you are always welcome to call me Albus." the man bowed. "Again, I must ask that you do not seek out the mirror. It is to be moved to a new location in the coming weeks, and it would be far too dangerous for you to search for."
Merlot nodded. "I won't spend my time chasing dreams. Goodnight headmaster."
Albus sighed as the girl left the room. "Oh poor lost souls…"
'We could help them, you and I…'
Albus sighed. "I was wondering when your voice would fill my head again."
'Yes, I had a delightful nap. What year is it?'
"The time is unimportant." Albus spoke. "As are you. I am still Headmaster at Hogwarts, the children are growing up splendidly. Your counterpart hides from the world."
'Ah… Dark… Do they still cling to my chosen plane?'
"Their effect still lingers, believe me."
'Wonderful. I will have something to do in your body once more. You are going to hand over control to me, correct?'
Albus smiled cheerily to himself. "No… I don't think I will."
The elderly wizard winced as the entity forced itself against his mind, yet he held firm.
'What have you done… why can't I-'
"You have slumbered these past years, Light." Dumbledore chuckled. "I have only grown."
'No mortal can stand to a god!'
"I have stood with the greatest of Sorcerers in the last century of my life." Dumbledore spoke, gently pushing Light from his mind, not too far, mind you. Just enough to stop his headache. "In your folly, it is you who made a mistake. You told me that you could make me strong, stronger than anyone. And I have. In your slumber, you have developed nothing new. Your magic remains the same, but mine only grows."
Light tried again and again to breach the man's mind, to force him under its command once more, but its attempts were for naught.
'Why… why can't I touch your mind?'
"Because I am the greatest sorcerer alive." Dumbledore responded, before diving into his own mind and doing something he had never done before.
Attacking the Light.
'YOU DARE-'
"Yes, I dare."
'Vile traitor! Submit to me!'
Within the mind of Albus Dumbledore, the first battle of a new war began. Albus stood within the white forest of his thoughts, his wand in hand as he faced a man made entirely of light.
Tendrils of psionic power flowed from the being, striking at Albus in a blaze of multicolored sparks. The attacks were fruitless as they met a wall of force around the man. Albus raised his wand and drew it along his arm, before swinging the appendage forward.
A rope of red sprang from the man's arm and wrapped around Light, who growled.
'Blood magic? You use dark arts against me?'
Albus grunted as the spell took its toll upon him. Light began to laugh.
'You know what such spells do within this world? The price may show itself here upon thy body, but you are severing connections in your brain!'
"I have resigned myself to that fate, Light." Albus spoke, as he began to tug the entity closer. "With what I have planned, there will be little more than four years before my time is up, and my body is yours."
The entity glowed brighter at that, but Albus reached out and wrapped a gnarled hand around its neck.
"But until then…" The man's eyes turned white and began shining with lights power. "You will submit to me."
In the mortal world, in the mirror room. Albus Dumbledore's eyes shot open. Blazing with white magic, he reached into his pocket and withdrew a blood red gemstone.
Light bright enough to bleach black to white shone from the wizards body as he drew his hand back, before plunging it and the stone into the mirror of Erised.
A flash blasted through the school, causing the land to shake, and then it was over.
Albus fell to his knees, panting. Blood trickled down from his eyes and a bit from his nose from the overflow of Light's magic. The walls of the room were now completely white, as was the floor, and the ceiling. The only place that wasn't was the set of footprints upon the floor, which undoubtedly would become a mystery for students to prattle on about.
The headmaster looked up at the mirror, finding that it was perfectly normal. Looking closer, he saw the magic of it and the stone of Nicholas Flamel.
Albus couldn't help himself. As Fawkes flashed in and began singing somberly, the man patted his head and let out loud, rolling laugh. He had done it.
He, Albus Dumbledore, had beaten a god.
—0—
And that's it for this chapter. Maybe a bit much at the end, but I wanted everyone to see just how good Dumbledore is in this. He is the world's most powerful Wizard for a reason, and I feel that it should show you all just how his story will slowly progress.
Let me know what you think, if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.
So until next time,
Adios.