Chapter Fourteen
Harry hadn't been able to see Pansy or Daphne at the party again. Their parents had kept them close and soon after they'd talked to Tonks, Bellatrix and Rodolphus had gotten to aggressively trying to out flirt each other which kept people mostly trying to avoid them.
So he waited on the platform of 9 ¾ hoping to spot them. Danica was already sobbing her eyes out and begging Harry not to go. He picked her up and let her play with his hair, resting her head against his shoulder.
"I'll be back soon you know." He said softly, rubbing her back.
"I know but I misses you." She sniffed.
The train blew it's whistle telling them all it would be leaving soon. Harry passed Danica to Remus who gave him a quick hug. Sirius wrapped him in a close hug, still wearing his pink dog collar.
Harry smiled, "I'll keep writing as often as I can and you guys keep writing I love hearing all the news."
"Of course we will Harry." Remus assured him, Sirius nodding in agreement.
Lilly and Severus walked him to an empty train cartridge and helped him in.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Snape smiled giving him a hug.
Lily stepped forward and handed him a small bag, "It's got the cloak in it. I think you should have it with you, just don't tell anyone you can't trust. I love you so much." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his head.
Harry held her close, "Love you too mum."
Lily stepped back as the train blew it's whistle again and the clock ticked to elven o'clock. Harry waved out the window as his mother and the platform faded from view. The last thing he saw was Snape wrapping his crying mother in a hug.
He sat for a few minutes and wiped his eyes before getting up and pulling his stuff into the corridor. He found Draco, Pansy and Daphne sitting together a few compartments down playing wizards chess.
"Hello Harry we didn't see you." Pansy said shuffling up so Harry could join them, "I could use the help, two against one isn't fair." she laughed.
Harry sat and studied the board helping her with her moves. She didn't need the help, even playing against the other two alone she was winning.
The feast that welcomed them at Hogwarts was brilliant as always, he'd eaten himself into a food coma and all but rolled down the corridor that night to bed. It wasn't until the next morning when Hedwig flew in, dropping a letter on Harry's bacon butty that he started thinking about the dog on the third floor and, more importantly, his father's cloak lying tucked away under his bed.
"What did you get?" Draco asked, sitting down and helping himself to porridge.
"A picture Danica drew." Harry smiled, he showed Draco the scribble of his family.
"She's so sweet." Draco said, "Petal loves her."
"Boys!" a sharp voice called from behind them, they turned around to see Professor McGonagall glaring over them, "I expect no more bulling from you this term. It would be a shame if Slytherin came last in the house cup for the first time in over thirty years all because of you." she strode off out the hall as Harry and Draco shot evil looks into her back.
"I can't believe her." Draco whispered as the other teachers were starting to leave. Suddenly Harry cried out in pain and clutched at his head.
"Harry what's wrong?" Draco asked panicking slightly.
As quick as the pain had come it was gone, leaving just a few stray twinges, "I don't know. Felt like my head was being stabbed. I think it was a warning." Harry whispered to him.
"A warning about what?" Draco said moving closer so there was no chance of being over heard.
A horrible thought struck Harry, "What if McGonagall doesn't want the stone for herself? What if she's helping 'someone'"
Draco turned white, "You can't mean it Harry." he said, barely making a sound, "I thought he was dead."
Harry shook his head, "Mum said he was killed in the explosion but uncle Sirius never believed it. I'm not sure Mum ever really believed it either."
"Your step-dad did though." Draco said, "And aunt Bella definitely believes it. She'd never have stopped looking if she though there was a chance that freak was alive still."
Harry nodded but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he was missing. His head ached with pain for the rest of the day so when it was nearly curfew and he saw Ronald Weasley coming the down the corridor towards him, Harry dived into the first classroom he could.
It was mostly empty and dimly lit, the rows of chairs and desks stood how they normally would except that where the teachers desk normally sat there was a large ornate mirror.
Harry walked slowly up to it and reached up to run his fingers of the inscription.
Erised stra ehru oyt ube carfru oyt on wohsi
Harry scribbled it down on a scrap of parchment and looked into the mirror. He couldn't see anything to start with but it slowly cleared to show him standing with his family. He was older, happy and smiling.
Harry turned around but he was alone in the room even though the mirror was filled with people. He reached out to an older man that looked like him but with dark brown eyes.
"James...Dad." Harry whispered.
The figure nodded and smiled. Everyone was together; everyone was happy. Harry felt his heart ache for what he saw in the mirror. He also knew he had to leave; sooner rather than later or he'd be caught after dark, but he really wanted to just walk into the perfect world in the mirror and forget the plague of worries he had.
He left the room and made sure to remember where it was before hurrying to his dorm. Draco was lying in bed reading a text book when Harry burst through the door.
"Keep it down Potter!" Crabbe growled at him.
Harry just rolled his eyes and sat on Draco's bed, "I have something amazing I have to show you!" he said quickly.
"Where is it?" Draco asked putting the book down.
"It's...it's in a classroom we can't go down." Harry looked over to where Crabbe and Goyle were play fighting, he leaned in closer to Draco, "Wait till they've fallen asleep and we'll go under the cloak." he whispered.
Draco nodded, "What is it you want to show me?"
"Well there's this." Harry said showing him the inscription, "I copied it from what I want to show you. Any idea what it means?"
Draco shook his head, "It's not Latin or Norse and I don't think it's Greek so no idea."
"Stop kissing each other!" Crabbe laughed
"Yeah. I mean Ewww!" Goyle joined in.
Harry huffed loudly and moved to his own bed pulling on his pyjamas and diving under the blankets. It felt like he was under there for hours before the rhythmic snores told him that Crabbe and Goyle were asleep.
Harry sat up slowly and double checked before sliding out of bed and putting on his slippers. He dug around under his bed until he felt the soft fabric of his cloak.
"Draco?" he whispered,
Draco sat up straight away and smirked, "Gods they took ages to get to sleep."
Harry nodded and held up the cloak, "Ready?"
Draco nodded and they arranged the cloak over them both, double checking that they were completely covered.
They tiptoed through the common room; it was so late that everyone was in bed. The very confused portrait let them out asking who was there a few times before giving up. Harry lead Draco quickly to the classroom and they slipped inside.
Harry made a quick check to make sure Peeves wasn't lurking before pulling the cloak off.
"It's a classroom." Draco said sarcastically.
"Over there." Harry said pointing to the mirror.
Draco moved towards it, "What does it do? Harry I don't understand." Draco huffed starting to regret that he'd allowed himself to be dragged out of bed.
"It showed me my Dad. Danica, Mum, everyone all happy and together and well. James was there! Even Lupin didn't look sick." Harry gushed.
Draco stepped forward till he was standing in front of the mirror, "I can't see your..."
His voice trailed off and his hand went out to touch the glass.
"What can you see? Draco?" Harry asked touching his friend on the shoulder.
"It doesn't matter." Draco said snapping out of his thoughts, "This mirror is bad." He said unable to take his eyes off it, "I want to go."
Harry nodded, unnerved by how upset his friend was. They pulled on the invisibility cloak and went back to bed.
The next day Draco was withdrawn and quiet. He sat at the dinner table, after getting a detention from McGonagall for being sullen, moving his rice around his plate.
Pansy sat next to him and took his hand, "Whatever is up; you have to tell me. Now." she said gently but forcefully.
"I can't." Draco muttered.
"Harry has already told me about the mirror and me and Daphne promised not to go looking for it after how much it upset you. Clearly you're right about there being something off about it. Please just tell me."
Draco looked up into her dark brown eyes and smiled, "Not here."
He lead her from the hall into a quiet corner and made sure no one was around.
"So?" She asked
"I saw….I saw me not alone. It was me, Mum and Dad and also all my siblings. Healthy and happy and growing up." He shrugged and tried not to cry.
"Oh Draco." Pansy wrapped him in a hug, "You're never alone. You will always have us I promise. I know that you wish you had siblings but you're not alone."
Draco nodded and wiped his eyes, "I know you said to Harry you wouldn't but promise me as well you wont go looking for the mirror, even if you find it just walk away."
Pansy nodded, "After seeing how much it upset you I have no desire to go looking for that thing. And Draco, I wont tell anyone what you saw."
Draco nodded, "Thank you. I know it sounds weird but there is something really wrong with that mirror."
Despite Harry warning Pansy and Daphne not to look for the mirror, he returned every night for a week. Each time he saw himself it was slightly different. He watched Danica grow up; happy without a care in the world. People just walking by her; her having a normal childhood.
"Back again Harry?"
Harry spun round to see Dumbledore sitting on a desk. Harry panicked; he had no excuse for being out of bed so late.
"Sir I'm...I'm...sir...sorry." Harry spluttered.
"Don't worry Harry." Dumbledore smiled at him, "Many wizards older and greater than you have fallen pray to the wonders of the Mirror of Erised."
"Is that what it's called? Sir what does it do?" Harry asked, "Tell the future?"
Dumbledore shook his head, "I'll give you a clue the happiest man on earth would look into the mirror and see nothing but himself."
Harry looked back to the mirror, "So it shows you what you want. Like anything you want?"
"Yes and No." Dumbledore smiled, "It shows us nothing less than our hearts true desire. You who have lived your life different, always the star of attention where ever you go, always watching over your shoulder wishing for peace. But not for yourself as a most would, but for you sister. You have an unusually kind heart Harry."
Harry smiled, "Thank you sir."
"But this mirror gives us no truth, no knowledge or wisdom and can be dangerous and so tomorrow this mirror will be moved to a new home and I must tell you not to go looking for it ever again. Do you promise me?"
Harry nodded, "Yes sir. Sir can I ask you a question?"
Dumbledore nodded.
"What do you see in the mirror?" Harry asked gathering up the cloak.
"I see myself holding a new pair of warm socks. One can never have to many socks and no one will buy me any. Another Christmas past and no socks. People will insist on buying me books!" Dumbledore smiled.
"Can I ask another question?"
"I think that's enough questions for tonight Harry, time for bed." Dumbledore said standing up.
Harry smiled and dived under the invisibility cloak and ran back to bed. It wasn't until he was safely tucked up in bed, the cloak once again hidden away that he wondered why Dumbledore couldn't just buy his own socks. A cold chill ran through him and the small voice of distrust in Dumbledore raised it's head.
