Chapter 14

Mirror of Erised

I was woken up by a tapping on my window. I looked out the window to see Hedwig sitting on the window perch wanting to be let in. Happy that there was no one else in the dorm since they all went home for Christmas, I let the snowy owl in. Tied to her leg was a small letter from Harry, it was asking me to meet him in the common room. I grabbed my Weasley sweater and soft pair of socks and made my way to the common room. When I got there it was empty, or so I thought. I nearly shrieked when all of a sudden I saw my brother's floating head in the middle of the room.

"Harry, what in the bloody hell happened to the rest of your body?"

"It's an invisibility cloak, It was a gift from someone, the note didn't say who. The note just said that it was our fathers and it was ours to share."

I was a little stunned but I was more stunned that he got me out of bed for this.

"Ok, yeah, that's great, now can I go back to bed?"

"No, I was thinking of using it to find out more information on Nicolas Flamel in the restricted section."

I shook my head and gave my brain a moment to process what he just said.

"I'm sorry, what? You can't be serious Harry, not only do you want to go walking around the castle after hours but you want to sneak into the restricted section as well."

"No, of course not."

Oh thank merlin.

"I want us to go and look in the restricted section after hours."

"And why am I agreeing to this?"

"Because you're my sister who loves me and if you don't say yes I'm still going to do it just without you."

I ran my fingers through my hair and groaned knowing I was going to give in.

"Fine, are you sure we can both fit under there?"

"Of course, this was meant to completely cover at least a full size adult, it can easily fit two eleven year olds."

He held up the cloak for me to join him underneath before we made our way out of the common room. We shocked the fat lady when we went through the portrait and there was no one there. We quietly made our way to the library being wary of Filch, even though he couldn't see us he could still hear us. In the daylight, the library was beautiful and magical with so many ancient books to read. At night though, it was still and eerie with shadows covering every inch of the room. Harry noticed a lamp in the corner and lit it so we could see the books better. After we carefully stepped over the rope that divided the restricted section from the regular books we went looking at the creepy looking books. Some were ancient with peeling covers and words while some had nothing on them at all. There were whispers all around us like people were there, but I had the sinking feeling that the whispers were coming from the books themselves. I was looking over all the books to see if anything stood out to me when I heard a piercing scream go through the empty room. I looked over to see that Harry had dropped a book he had pulled out and it was the book that was letting out the high pitched scream. It took the both of us to pick it back up and close it but the sound was still going. We shoved it back on the shelf but in our haste we knocked over the lanturn causing it to smash on the stone floor. We heard footsteps rushing to the library so I grabbed Harry's arm and started pulling us away from the restricted section. We got to the doorway the same time as Filch but were able to duck under his arm and avoid him. We stopped running when we reached a suit of armor to catch our breath. We didn't have long because we heard the greasy voice of Filch accompanied by the deep and dark voice of Snape.

"You asked me to come directly to you, Professor, if anyone was wandering around at night, and somebody's been in the library Restricted Section."

"The Restricted Section? Well, they can't be far, we'll catch them."

Looking at them coming down the corridor I noticed that it was too narrow and once they reached us they would easily brush right against us. I looked and saw a cracked open door and managed to pull Harry through it just in time before the two creepy men got to where we were. We held our breath until we knew that they were gone. After we caught our breath we took a good look around at the room we were in. It was a classroom, or it used to be, all the tables and chairs were pushed off to the side except for a strange looking mirror. It was gold and nearly reached the ceiling while standing on clawed feet. Along the top there was a beautiful inscription: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi. Harry had noticed it too and started to walk up to it. I followed him but when I looked I didn't see his reflection. When I looked at Harry's face I could see the panic in his eyes as he looked behind him then back at the mirror once more. This time, when he looked back at the mirror, he looked closer and tears started to form in his eyes. A moment passed before he finally spoke and what he said shocked me to my core.

"Mum? Dad?"

Our parents?

"Harry, what do you see."

"People, a lot of people, they look like us, I think Its our family."

"You see our parents? What do they look like,"

"Here, see for yourself."

He pulled me in front of the mirror where he had been standing and I waited for my family to appear but they never did, it was something completely different. In the mirror was me, but older. I still had my dark hair but it was wavy and framed my face better. On either side of me were two red headed men who looked the same, they must be Fred and George. We were smiling at each other, George looked confident with his arms crossed and his usual smirk while Fred had wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side where I happily put a hand on his chest, resting my head on his shoulder. The three of us were a trio, just like we wanted. In the background was an amazing looking shop with colors filling the air and fireworks going off, it was our joke shop. I could also see the faint figures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione looking happy with us. I was brought out of my vision by Harry.

"Well, do you see them?"

"I'm sorry Harry, I don't, I see something else."

He looked confused and a little hurt.

"What do you see then?"

"Well, honestly, my perfect future. It's me and the twins, we have a joke shop and the three of us are smiling. You, Ron, and Hermione are there too, you're happy for us."

"Oh. Can I stand in front of it again?"

I gave him a sad smile and looked at my perfect future one more time before moving out of the way. Once he was standing in front of it again he looked so happy.

"What do they look like? Our parents?"

"You look alot like mum. Her hair is similar, just more red, but she has your smile. She has green eyes just like me. Dad's eyes are like yours though, but his are more of a dark brown while yours are bright hazel. Otherwise he looks just like me, even has the same glasses."

Their description made me smile, I wish I could see them, but at least I have faint memories of them, Harry doesn't. I gave Harry a few more minutes before touching his arm to get his attention.

"Harry, it's getting late, we should go."

He looked at me sadly, probably wanting to beg to stay. As he looked back at the mirror then me again, he nodded his head then wrapped the cloak around us once more. When we got to the common room I gave Harry a comforting hug before sending him to bed. For the rest of the night I dreamed about the future I saw in the mirror tonight.

The next morning Harry told Ron everything about the mirror, I even told him what I saw which delighted him more. He wanted to see this magic mirror for himself.

"Maybe I'll see my future too, or maybe I'll see my entire family like you Harry, I can't wait. Hope, are you coming with us?"

"Sure, I'll come so I can keep a lookout, plus I'm interested in what you see as well."

That night I dressed warmly again and went to meet the boys. Luckily the three of us were able to fit under the cloak with ease. We made our way out of the corridor but Harry had trouble finding the room again. Ron was getting impatient by the time we finally found the mirror again. When we came up to it I put Ron in the perfect position to see clearly what the mirror wanted to show him. After a minute I could see Ron getting excited about the reflection.

"Well? What do you see?"

"I'm alone - but I'm different - I look older - and I'm head boy! I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to - and I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup - I'm Quidditch captain, too."

I went over and wrapped my arm around his shoulders.

"That's amazing Ron."

"Do you think it shows our future?"

Harry looked even more down, now that he knew he was the only one who could see our parents instead of some future.

"How can it? All my family are dead - let me have another look -"

"You and Hope had it to yourselves all last night, give me a bit more time."

"You're only holding the Quidditch cup, what's interesting about that? I want to see my parents."

"Don't push me -"

I was getting nervous now, this mirror is starting to cause nothing but trouble. The two boys were so into their argument that they didn't notice a noise in the corridor. I quickly ran to them and smacked them in the back of the head to get their attention. The stopped their fighting and looked to me angry when I put a finger over my lips to let them know to keep quiet. I quickly grabbed the cloak and draped it around us so that we would be hidden once more. A shadow filled the doorway as something came inside the room. The figure ended up being Mrs. Norris. We did what we could to avoid touching her and hoped that the cloak also worked on cats. Finally after a few moments, she sauntered away to go find Filch and left us alone again. We all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Come on, if we stay any longer we'll get caught, let's go."

I grabbed both of their arms and pulled them out of the room. The next morning Harry seems off, almost distant, like he left his head with the mirror that night. Me and Ron both thought it was a bad idea for him to go back but he wouldn't listen. That night I waited for him to come down like I knew he would. When he saw me he was shocked.

"What are you doing up?"

"I know where you're going Harry and it's a bad idea."

"I don't care, they're all I can think about, this is the only way I'll ever get to see them."

I sighed but knew Harry had to do this, but this would be the last time.

"Fine but I'm going with you, and this is the last time Harry. I don't care if I need to stun you, but after tonight you're not going back, it's not good for you and you know it."

He nodded but I don't think he was being truthful, I have a feeling I'm going to be tying him to his bed tomorrow night. We got under the cloak once more but this time Harry was not being careful at all. He was so focused on getting to the mirror that he didn't care who heard him or knew he was out and about. It was pure luck that we didn't run into anyone. I had him give me a few minutes to see my image one final time but this time it felt different. The way I was leaning into Fred, and the way he was holding me, it looked like we were much closer than friends. Before I could think about it more, Harry was wanting time to look in the mirror. I got out of the way and let him sit there to admire our parents once more. We were there for about fifteen minutes when we heard a voice from a dark corner of the room.

"So - back again, Harry?"

We both looked to find Headmaster Dumbledore looking at us with a glint in his eye. We were so focused on the mirror that we hadn't noticed him.

"We didn't see you sir."

"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you,"

He smiled at us so I knew we were not in trouble. He came over and sat next to Harry so I joined them on the floor.

"So, the two of you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."

"We didn't know it was called that sir."

"But I expect you've realized by now what it does?"

Harry was the first to tell Dumbledore what he saw.

"It - well - it shows me my family -"

"And it showed me and the Weasley twins owning our own store."

"And it showed your friend Ron himself as head boy."

I nodded.

"How did you know?"

Dumbledore smirked.

"I don't need a cloak to become invisible. Now, can you think what the Mirror of Erised shows us all?"

Harry shook his head.

"I'm guessing it shows what we want the most?"

Dumbledore nodded.

"Yes and no, It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. You Hope, have found a family in the Weasleys and kindred spirits in the twins so naturally you want your life intertwined with them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible. The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?"

Harry and I got up and were prepared to put on the cloak when Harry turned to Dumbledore.

"Sir - Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?"

"Obviously, you've just done so, You may ask me one more thing, however."

"What do you see when you look in the mirror?"

I smiled at the odd answer

"I'll remember that for next Christmas sir."

He smiled and blushed a little

"Thank you my dear. One can never have enough socks, another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."

I laughed a little at that and decided as soon as possible I would get the man some socks. That night I slept happy knowing someone got through to Harry and he wouldn't go back to the mirror again.