Theft of a Highly Restricted Magical Artefact
Sirius,
I know I will be home for Yule in two days, but I need to write ahead about this. I received a Yule gift early from an anonymous sender- dad's invisibility cloak.
The moment I put the cloak on, I felt compelled to leave the Slytherin dorms and travel to an abandoned classroom on the fourth floor. Draco followed me, of course, because he was worried and couldn't talk me out of it.
I was compelled to gaze into a mirror that showed me things that I have not experienced. I saw myself, older, along with our closest relatives and allies. My parents were alive in the mirror too.
Draco saw some similar things- once we entered the room he had also felt compelled to gaze into the mirror.
I could have sworn I felt someone watching us, like a hidden presence was in the room. Perhaps another invisibility cloak? I'm not sure if Disillusionment charms can do that much.
Even now, I feel the urge to return to the room and gaze into the mirror. Draco has invoked the wards on our dorm room's door, along with alarming the the curtains on our beds. I'm going to take dreamless sleep as soon as I have sent this, as I do fear I have been in contact with a particularly strong compulsion charm or potion.
Love,
Harry
Heir Black, Heir Potter
______
Sirius almost incinerated the letter with sheer will the moment he read it. Thank Merlin he had given Harry that charmed letter box before he went to Hogwarts, or the letter would have taken half the night to arrive.
"Sirius?" Narcissa, his cousin frowned, "Is Harry okay?"
"Cissa, dearest," Sirius said, turning to her with magic dancing along his skin and the Black Madness shining in his eyes as he held out the letter, "I believe ourselves and Lucius should pay the esteemed headmaster a visit."
______
And that they did.
At half seven the next morning, Albus Dumbledore was alerted to the usage of the floo in his office. He frowned, alarmed. The only people who had access without express permission were the Hogwarts staff and the Board of Governors.
He entered the office with his wand drawn, hesitantly, only to be met with the incredibly intimidating trio of Lord Lucius Malfoy, Lady Narcissa Black-Malfoy, and Lord Sirius Black.
Oh, bugger.
Albus steeled himself, putting away his wand.
"Ah! Lord Black! Lord and Lady Malfoy! A pleasure to see you, if rather unexpected. What may I help you with? If it's about the Ministry's Werewolf Restriction Bill, I must admit I agree with many of your opposing points-"
"Cut the shit, Headmaster," Sirius cut in, "You gave Harry his father's cloak, layered with compulsions to lead him to what I believe was the Mirror of Erised. What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"And not only a compulsion on Harry!" Narcissa added, "Draco followed him, worried, and fell under the same compulsion the moment he entered the room! You have not only removed a highly dangerous magical artefact from the Department of Mysteries, but you have placed it in an easily accessible classroom layered with compulsion charms!”
“Lady Malfoy, Sirius, I am the Headmaster of this school. I would never place the children in harms way-”
“James lent you his invisibility cloak two weeks before he was killed,” Sirius cut in, viciously, “The cloak was never returned to me or Harry. You have had it for ten whole years, and now you have given it back to my godson enchanted!”
“Sirius-” Dumbledore started again.
“And not only that!” Sirius continued, undeterred, “You were Disillusioned in the sodding corner, watching them like a Merlin-forsaken pervert!”
“Headmaster,” Lucius interrupted, his voice icy, “We are not here to debate your guilt as we are very much aware that this is your doing. If you do not remove the Mirror of Erised, from this school immediately, I will be alerting the rest of the Board of Governors and the Ministry.”
“The Mirror is here for a reason-”
“And that reason does not involve our children. I have a letter written here to send off to the Head of the Department of Mysteries, demanding to know why the mirror has been lent out to be placed in a school.”
“May I add,” Sirius scowled, “That as Deputy Head Unspeakable, I have not been made aware of the Mirror being lent out anywhere. In fact, it is closely monitored at all times and there are strict parameters that the Mirror is only to be researched by teams of four with impeccable Occlumency barriers. I believe I will be inquiring, regardless.”
Dumbledore paled, and then sighed deeply.
“Of course. The Mirror will be relocated by the end of the break. Good day.”
With that, Dumbledore marched swiftly out of the room.
“I say we make a good team,” Sirius said.
“We shouldn’t have to,” Lucius scowled, “The man’s lost his bloody marbles, putting that in a school.”
“I hope you make good on that threat, Sirius. Ask the Head Unspeakable.”
“Oh, I will- for I think the old man’s stolen it. Greengrass is going to go mental.”
______
Head Unspeakable Greengrass,
I have been reliably informed by my godson that he has encountered the Mirror of Erised in a fourth floor classroom in Hogwarts.
Why have I not been informed that the Mirror was leant out to Dumbledore? I am due to be leading a research team down into the Mirror’s containment chamber after Yule to map out the runic inscriptions, we will need the Mirror back safely before then.
Warm Regards,
Lord Sirius Black III
Deputy Head Unspeakable
______
Deputy Head Unspeakable Black,
I was under the belief that the Mirror of Erised was still in its containment chamber, until I took a team down following your letter. This has not been signed off by myself or anyone in the Artefacts Division.
The artefact is in no circumstances allowed to leave the Department. Please come to the Ministry with haste, as ourselves and Unspeakables Rookwood and Smith will be getting that Mirror back by any means necessary.
Yours unhappily,
Lord Gareth Greengrass
Head Unspeakable
______
The Mirror of Erised was safely returned to the Department of Mysteries by the mid afternoon. Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, was thoroughly informed as to how Albus Dumbledore had stolen artefacts from the Department of Mysteries to reside in an unlocked classroom in a school full of children. She was less than impressed.
Sirius, Narcissa, and Lucius celebrated with champagne.