Mirror Mirror, do you deceive me?
Chapter Twelve- Mirror Mirror, do you deceive me?
Harry had learned many things from the years he spent under his relatives' care. He learned how to cook since he was tall enough to reach the stove, he learned how to muck out leaves from the gutters since he had enough balance not to tumble off with the slightest breeze.
But more precious than that- he learned how to survive. Not in the way most thought, how to tie a knot or start a fire. Harry learned how to navigate danger, how to pay attention to what laid just under peoples words. To brace for the hit to come so to speak.
He knew that when his uncle began fidgeting with the morning paper or his aunt fussing more than usual, or even Dudley not asking for seconds, that today wouldn’t be a good day. Harry learned to recognize the signs, and respond accordingly.
Even a mouse would be startled by him once he decided he truly wanted to go unnoticed, such a skill ensured his safety for just a few more hours on those not so good days.
And it came in handy when he decided to explore the castle in the dead of night. Cloak wrapped around his tiny body and a lantern tucked tightly against his chest giving off warmth, but no sound.
Harry moved in tandem with the natural creaks and groans emitting throughout the castle's walls, each step carefully placed and planned. Even without the cloak, someone would truly have to be paying attention to spot him, the cloak just ensured that should he mess up, he had more chances of slipping past even the more careful gaze.
The restricted section wasn't hard to find if you'd been to the library an absurd amount of times as Harry had. The shelves reaching to the ceiling made it hard to see far outside of the main rooms, but again, not too hard of a challenge.
Harry slipped past the main study area of the library- the lanterns hung above each table now snuffed out in the late hour. A few bookshelves seemed to square around the area before coming to a halt further down towards a staircase.
A few flights of stairs and gates later, Harry found his way to the entrance to the “open” restricted section. For a school as old as this, it would be no surprise there were other secret sections, this was just the one allowed to students.
Harry was hellbent on finding every nook and cranny this castle had to offer, but such missions were best left for the future when he could cast a warming charm instead of being forced to rely on a squeaky lantern.
Finally reaching his destination. Harry approached the bronze ornate gate and carefully pulled apart the fabric of his cloak to hold out the lantern and let the light stream out.
There wasn't even a lock.
Well- he could always find another opportunity to cast Alohomora.
Harry did cast a spell Blaise had taught him, checking for any wards he might spring. He found a few, but they all seemed to be deactivated. Likely assuming no one would be stupid or brazen enough to try and break in during the holidays.
With a quick pull, the latch came undone and the gate slowly swung open with a creak as Harry stepped through, careful to close the gap enough it would be hard to see without coming close. Hopefully close enough he could hear footsteps of anyone who approaches.
Harry carefully placed the lantern on the table next to the first shelf, he kept his cloak on but let the string hold up as the hood dropped to rest on his shoulders.
Scanning the shelf, the books themselves felt different in a way he couldn't explain. Hell he could see half a shelf that had the books fastened with literal chains attached to the ends.
He reached out to grab one but felt a sharp buzz shoot up his arm and he jerked away. Not that one then. Harry looked down at his palm and flexed his fingers, a small smile making its way onto his face.
Well then- this could work.
Harry lifted his hand up and held his palm out just a few inches away from each book and carefully moved closer to one or another, again and again.
Some books had just a small buzz, others a sharp and almost painful hum that made him feel like his skin was going to crawl off. He avoided any books that gave more than a soft tingle and flipped through them.
Harry took his time with each one, carrying it away from the shelf and over to the lantern. Flipping through before he was satisfied and then he carefully put it back on the shelf to go retrieve the next.
Books on dangerous creatures whose names were never spoken outside of those who knew, and those who didn't paid the price of their ignorance.
Tomes that detailed a thousand different poisons, ones that would make your eyeballs melt and others that would turn you to stone and no one knew if you truly “died” or were stuck. Conscious but not living.
There was even a Diary from an ancient German mage detailing theories of runic traps that when triggered had a thousand different abhorrent brutal ways to end someone's life, or at the very least morph them beyond recognition of what it was to be human.
Honestly- Harry was having a blast, and he had to fight the temptation to borrow one or two. But he could always return, now he needed to focus on Nicholas Flamel.
But no matter how many books he flipped through, nothing. Again and again there was no mention of the man and Harry was starting to lose patience and time.
It was the middle of the night, but Harry had grown accustomed to a semi decent sleep schedule. Maybe that was the reason, his grumpiness got the better of him and he decided on such a course of action.
Harry pulled out his spare wand- the lightning like gold markings seemed to shine against the lantern light. He'd practiced before- he knew the spell by heart, and surely it couldn't go as bad as it had the first time.
“Invenio, Nicholas Flamel” Harry said in a whisper.
A pause… and then the tip of his wand lit up. Several blue strands wisped out, stretching and curving away. One by one they vanished, but one remained. It straightened and connected to something up the stairs.
Guess the answer wasn’t in the restricted section.
Harry raced to put his wand back in his pocket, letting the string of light fade as he raced to put up his last book and grabbed for the lantern. But he misjudged the distance and instead of grabbing onto the handle he knocked his hand into it and sent it off the table and crashing to the ground.
Fuck oh fuck
Harry didn't have time to clean the mess and risked being caught in the section and with his other wand. So he made a run for it.
He made it past the gate, latching it shut as he heard footsteps from inside the section. Oh god had someone been there? How close had he been to getting caught?
Harry fumbled with the fabric of his cloak, throwing the hood up and pulling the edges tightly around his chest as he booked it up the staircase, careful to keep his steps quiet even in his quick escape.
Okay that was horrible- and now Harry had to not only silently get out of the library and back to the dungeons, he had to do so in the dark piece of cake really.
“Mew”?
NOT CAKE- NOT FUCKING CAKE-
Ms. Norris stood at the edge of the hall just outside the library entrance, her tail tucked around her legs. She stared right at Harry and tilted her head.
“Meow”? She stood up, now rapidly approaching Harry as he was forced to stumble back, praying that Filch wouldn't move fast enough to heed his feline friend’s call before Harry could escape.
Please please- he even got her a little mouse toy, sure he just kind of left it outside Filch office but surely if she could smell him now she would recognize his scent from the gift.
As if a miracle or if she was a magic mind reading cat, Ms. Norris sniffed the air and promptly turned heel to run back towards the library entrance.
Harry's heart continued to thud harshly against his chest and every breath felt like a desperate gasp as he tried to maintain at least some level of stability. But not one to waste an opportunity, he turned heel as well and continued down the hall.
He was still a decent distance from the dungeons, but if he hurried he could make it before Filch or Ms.Norris came back- he just needed no more distractions.
Footsteps.
Harry froze, they weren't coming from behind him. He turned the corner, hoping to see a prefect on duty, or even a sleepy professor. But instead he came face to face with a whole scene.
A whisk of familiar black robes and a flash of purple, Harry could recognize the figures even in the dim moonlit hall.
Snape had Quirrell by fistfulls of fabric around his neck, he marched him backwards and all but slammed the defense professor against the pillar. The sneer on his face was even more scathing than Harry had ever seen.
“S-Severus- I-I um” Quirrell stuttered out, frantically pulling at Snapes hands who only seemed to tighten their grip on the fabric.
But compared to Quirrells panic, Snape was almost eerily calm. “You don't want to make an enemy of me Quirrell” there was no pause in his speech.
“W-Whatever d-d-do you mmm-m-mean”? Quirrell’s stutter only seemed to worsen.
“You know exactly what I mean”
Harry should run- he should take his chances of Snape hearing his footsteps to get enough distance and get to safety. He was a witness.
But right as he thought things couldn't get worse, Snape turned his expression clear in the moon's light. It was a mix of confusion and mild rage as it turned right. on. Harry.
Harry couldn't help but shift as a buzz welled up in his chest, circling and constraining around his heart. It was hard to breathe. But he didn't dare gasp out. His hand shot to cover his mouth and nose, a desperate attempt to muffle himself.
Snape reached out, fingers spread widely apart. But slow enough Harry could step back right as his palm swiped down mere inches from the edge of where his cloak hung over his head.
The professor rubbed his fingers together and Harry continued to step back further and further away. But he couldn't tear his eyes off them as Snape's harsh whisper sounded off the walls.
“We will have another little chat soon enough” Snape pointed a finger just a few inches from Quirrell's face as the man seemed to tremble from sheer terror. “That ought to give you time to realize where your loyalties… lie”
Oh fuck Harry needed to go now
As if the situation couldn't get worse, Harry heard more footsteps, the all too familiar shuffling pattern growing louder as Filch turned the corner and looked at the two professors now pulled apart.
Filch held up an alarmingly familiar and now shattered lantern “I found this in the restricted section- still hot”
Oh no- no no no no
“That means there's a student out of bed.”
Snape took off towards the library entrance with Filch hobbling after. Their footsteps now thundering as the sound echoed in against the barren stone floors.
Quirrell stayed for a moment more, hand clutched against his chest. He whispered a few things under his breath, almost like a prayer. Harry felt a bit bad listening in on what felt like a private moment.
The professor's eyes scanned the room, right over Harry without a second glance. He then quickly followed after his coworkers.
________
Harry listened to their steps fade in the distance, waiting until he was absolutely sure he was alone and quickly crossed the rest of the distance to the door down the hall.
The door slipped open and he had never been more thankful for a non creaky doorway. But right as he slid it closed behind him his worst fears were realized.
He had no idea where he was.
Letting the hood of the cloak slip back onto his shoulders Harry looked around the room. It was small compared to the rest of the castle, despite the ceiling still being made up of large arcs it was fairly barren.
There were no statues or portraits, there weren't even any uniquely decorated windows. Yet despite the clear indication that this was not a place people went, there wasn't a single cobweb in sight.
Harry had become all too familiar with the spiders that resided in his cupboard. What was a symbol of fear for most, he had gained a mutual respect for.
They kept the mosquitos from harassing him in the night, and in exchange he let them live out their short lives in peace.
(Though he did gain the habit of placing egg sacks hidden in the other bedrooms)
But the ones he didn't move he would watch with childish curiosity, he'd spent years watching generations pass, seeing their patterns and designs. At this point he could recognize a dozen species by just a glimpse.
Some would take a whole week to make the perfect web structure, taking great pride in every line and curve into a beautiful silvery display. Others though, mostly babies, would always make cobwebs.
Little practice structures they would stay in a few days and then abandon to try again and leave the remnants of now dust covered webs behind. You could vacuum every square inch of a room, and yet the very next morning at least a handful of webs would appear without fail.
He noticed webs throughout the castle, abandoned, but ever present. But there was none here. The absence of what was otherwise ever present set him on edge.
Harry's attention was drawn in by what seemed to be the only item in the room, a mirror. It was propped up against one of the walls and seemed to be angled just a bit towards the doorway and almost perfectly framed by one of the archways.
It was golden, straight sides leading up to spiked almost tower like ends with a curve on top resembling the framing of a window. Nonetheless compared to others he had seen in the castle it was almost… ordinary.
Yet Harry felt a small buzz under his skin, that faded just a moment later. A warning, and yet his curiosity only grew.
Snape would likely comb every corner of the library before even thinking to check the dorms, and he'd probably check Ravenclaw or even Gryffindor before suspecting his very own snakes. He had time.
Approaching the mirror, Harry noted the carvings on the head though it was hard to make out, it was covered in cobwebs to the point it hadn't been touched let alone cleaned in at least a few months.
Yet it sat in an eerily spotless room. He tried not to think too hard about that.
“Erised stra ehru… oyt- ube um.. cafru oyt on woshi” Harry muttered hesitantly.
Was this Latin? He had only just begun to read the book and it seemed he needed to practice more. Back in the dorm he’d check for a translation
Harry looked down at the mirror itself and couldn't help but stare. It wasn't on purpose but Harry pretty much avoided mirrors, his friends always helped with his hair or tie. The last time he’d spent so long in a bathroom he almost became troll mush.
He never took the time to really look at himself, but from afar he could tell he had changed a lot in just a few months. His skin had gotten darker, his cheeks were fuller even, and he'd definitely grown an inch or so.
His hair was a bit wild, then again he hadn't taken the time as much to tame it down that morning. Harry went closer, reaching his hand up and raking his fingers through several loose curls, doing his best to lessen the white frizz framing his face.
But something else caught his eye as he leaned in closer to the mirror, it was almost like a smudge at first, slowly taking shape as he drew in.
There were two figures. A bit blurry at first but slowly their colors grew more saturated and he watched as their image became clear.
Harry recognized his dad almost instantly, though he looked older than he had in the Quidditch picture. His skin was darker than Harrys, but almost everything else they shared, though without the moles that dotted Harry's cheek.
His eyes darted to the other, a tall woman, taller than his father- with cream colored skin and dense patches of freckles on the apples of her cheeks. Long ginger hair fell half over her face, the rest trailing far down to her waist.
She brushed the hair aside, and Harry came face to face with identical emerald green eyes. His mom.
Whipping around he was met, once again, with a barren room.
He blinked, and turned his attention back to the visage before him.
His parents stood, smiling down at Harry, nothing but pure love in their eyes. Every breath in his chest felt like coming to life, he took in every feature, every curve and line in the visage.
“Mom”?
Lily smiled at him, a soft look as she tilted her head to the side. She nodded reassuringly.
“Dad”?
James grinned, full rows of teeth on display and his shoulders shook as if a laugh. But Harry heard nothing.
They were clearly adults- but so painfully young, even as a kid himself Harry knew that. Hand trembling, he reached out to touch the glass, it felt cold.
_____________________________
“I still can't believe that worked- I mean we walked right past a prefect” Theo whispered, shifting his grip on the edge of the cloak.
The cloak was a godsend for sneaking around, Harry seemed to have a natural knack for going unnoticed. But Theo wasn't exactly the most graceful, especially when running on less than ideal sleep.
He hadn't had much choice when Harry burst into the room and practically threw him off his bed, at least this time he elected not to redo the whole arson wake up call.
Theo was half tempted to tell Harry to go away and curl back up in his blankets, but the sheer joy bordering on desperation made him give almost instantly.
Harry smirked at his comment, but maintained focus on guiding them out of the Library and back towards the corridor he had been in just an hour or so before he discovered the elusive mirror.
A mirror that showed his dead parents.
Theo had woken up pretty quickly after that description.
They turned the corner and laid eyes on a normal looking wooden doorway
“Right here-” Harry said, trying to side step around Theo without stepping on his feet as they slipped through the door.
It slid shut behind them and Theo quickly withdrew from under the fabric of the cloak, glancing around the room and likely comparing it to Harry's rushed description.
Harry had been muttering about cobwebs far too soon after Theo had just woken up, and at that point he didn't ask him to repeat. But the message stayed the same, something felt off.
The castle always seemed so… alive- even the walls without windows or ivy held a certain aura that only came from old magic given form. But here it was absent, as if it did not connect to the rest.
“You were right- this place feels weird…” Theo shuttered.
“I mean yeah, but I promise we won't stay too long”
Harry wasted no time in dropping the cloak, the string being the only thing that stopped it from hitting the stone floor. He grabbed Theos hand and quickly pulled him forward and towards what Theo had just now noticed.
A giant golden mirror, one that almost radiated magic. It was alluring, and Theo couldnt tear his eyes away.
Harry pulled Theo in front of the mirror and looked at his reflection, beaming before turning to his friend “Do you see them”?
All he saw was himself and Harry, stood side by side, the reflection just that. A mirror image of reality.
“No- It just looks like a mirror” Theo said his eyes glancing up at the engravings at the head of the mirror. They looked like English-like characters but none of the words were. It didnt look like any language he recognized either.
“Oh wait hold on” Harry pulled away from Theo, stepping just outside the bounds of the mirror's view. Theo was about to give and turn heel when something began to change in the sheen of the mirror.
Theo squinted as his reflection seemed to warp, colors faded in and out of existence until some began to take shape.
“Wait- I see something” He gaped, doing his best to pay attention as the image became clear.
“What do you see”? Harry sounded ecstatic, there was probably a giant grin on his face. But Theo didnt tear his eyes away from the mirror, only shook his head.
It was him- but older, his hair was a bit longer but pulled back in a short clip and he wasn't wearing his school robes anymore. They looked almost like masters robes, but with a clear greenish sheen like Mcgongall.
Damm- He looked good.
Harry stood next to him and it was clear he was older as well. Yet his wild locks were the same and he was still shorter than Theo. He was holding Theo’s hand and grinned as he met the mirror Harry's eyes.
Daphne and Blaise came into frame looking older as well, though they looked almost blurry in a way. Blaise placed his hand on Theos shoulder and he reached up to grab it. But he felt nothing.
They were both dressed to the nines and grinning ear to ear. All four of them in a row, looking much older and yet unmistakably happy.
More figures appeared, Ellie came into view, grinning ear to ear and waving at him. His… his aunt and uncle were just behind- His dad was there too and they were all just smiling.
…
What is this?
Then it changed again.
A figure stepped out from an invisible veil and approached a spot between where Theo and Harry stood. They were holding a rope of sorts, but it was covered in flowers, tightly woven together and various colored ribbons as well.
The figure drew closer and became more and more distinct until there was no doubt just exactly what- who he was seeing.
A woman stood in a long dark red dress, covered in embroidery that looked too intricate for his imagination to manufacture on a whim. Her short wavy brown hair framed her face dotted in moles that danced across her skin.
She smiled, such a sweet smile- one he hadn't seen in so so long. Yet he knew that was right- that it was really her.
She placed her hand on Theos shoulder and raised his arm up. Once again, he felt nothing. But the him in his reflection lifted its arm to match her guidance.
Lifting up the cord she laced it around his wrist- up and over, around the thumb and then extended it away. Towards Harry.
His eyes darted to his friend who didn't seem to react to the motion and yet the reflection Harry moved- it smiled at them both.
Theo was entranced. The rope drew closer yet he couldn't help but feel.. unease at what should be a beautiful moment.
One he could only dream of really.
But unlike a dream It all looked real- too real, but something in the way everything moved felt.. off.
It was like puppets being marrineted by invisible strings, no better than a talking portrait. But at the very least Portraits were imprints of the people they used to be.
The reflections felt almost uncanny in comparison. They were painfully real… but not sentient.
Just like the chess pieces.
This felt manufactured- designed for Theos eyes. He knew better than to fall for honey in the absence of bees.
Theo yanked away from the mirror, stepping far enough away where his reflection no longer showed. As soon as he was out of frame, the vision vanished. And so did the knot in his chest.
Harry had turned away as well, his eyes now glued on Theo and expression wrought with worry “What happened- did you see them”?
He shook his head, heart now thudding in his ears as he tried to comprehend what he saw but what he knew could not be.
“No, I did not see them” Though part of him wished he had instead.
“Harry-” He called as his friends gaze began to trail back to the glass “Listen, whatever this mirror is… it doesnt show you what's real, at least in this life”
Harry only looked more confused as Theo wrapped his hand around his wrist and gently pulled him away “I know you wished to see them but you were right- something feels wrong here”
“Theo what did you see”?
By the gods why could his life never be easy?
“I- Harry that isn't important, but really- whatever this is it's not what it portrays itself to be”
Harry only looked more confused and Theo could already see the argument forming in his head. Normally he would wish to explain properly, Harry deserved at least that much.
But Theo was scared.
“Your hands are shaking-” Harry reached out and Theo used all his will not to yank away as Harry's hand laced in his own. It was warm, grounding.
Theo took his time, finding solace in the comfort Harry was eager to give. They had both pulled out of view of the mirror, and yet part of Theo desperately wished to return back.
Once his heart had calmed, and breathing evened- he pulled back from Harry but kept his grip tight as he met emerald green eyes.
“Listen, I-I don't know about your parents… but I know what I saw- just.. promise me this is a mystery you leave alone”
Harry's gaze sharpened, an expression Theo had seen more times than he could count. He could practically see the argument in his head. The longing to return under the mirror's gaze, but also his desire to listen to his friend.
Theo hated making him choose- but by the gods he would sooner shatter that mirror than dare meet its vision once again.
“I will leave the mystery alone-” Harry said, squeezing Theo’s hand as he spoke.
A Slytherin indeed- it wasn't hard to pick up on the obvious avoidance of a promise not to return. But Theo couldn't bring himself to push.
Honestly at this point he just wanted to leave, get himself and Harry as far away from this room as he could, the sooner the better. He didn't need an answer more than he needed an escape.
“We should go back before Snape comes looking… okay”?
Harry hesitated, his gaze wandering once more to the mirror where it remained for just a moment. The moment passed and he returned his attention to Theo and nodded.
“Yeah.. lets go”
Theo slipped back under the cloak, keeping a tight hold on Harry's hand as they left the room, avoiding looking anywhere close to where he knew the artifact stood.
They continued down the hall and across the castle, though Theo felt a bit bittersweet as he watched yellow rays from a beginning sunrise streak across stone floors.
It was morning, for better or worse the night was over. Well- he didn't think he'd have any luck falling back asleep at this point anyways.
“Let's go play some chess okay- gotta make sure were both prepared for when Daphne comes back”
Harry blinked, seeming caught away in his thoughts for a moment before he smiled at Theo “As if we'd ever stand a chance- but your on”
Truth be told, Theo wasn't really in the mood for Chess, but if it meant keeping an eye on Harry- it was for the better.
Regardless of what Theo said or did, Harry would inevitably return to the mirror.
Hopefully he could postpone that until their friends came back, Theo couldn't stop him alone. But he knew one thing for sure, whatever that thing was- did not belong in a school anymore than a Cerberus.
__________________________
Harry felt bad for lying, but he felt less bad when he saw the not so subtle knowing look in Theos eyes. He knew.
It was an unspoken understanding as Theo began finding excuses to stick together almost constantly, sure they hadn't parted much even before the whole mirror. But now it was blatantly obvious.
He'd even suggested visiting Hagrid, and had not complained once when the man kept offering them inedible “treats”.
It was accommodating to the point Harry did in fact avoid the mirror, but it seemed to linger in the back of his mind. The faces of his parents that he'd etched into memory and yet some details wavered.
What scarf was his mom wearing again?
What color were his dads glasses?
How exactly did they smile when looking at each other, at him.
So Harry found excuses to slip away, if only for a moment. But then it became like a habit to the point it seemed harder and harder to pull himself away when he knew Theo would otherwise come looking.
But there was no harm in it- they were still on vacation so he wasn't avoiding any major responsibilities. He had been denied so much his entire life- the least he could have was the solace of staring at his parents loving smiles, even if they weren't fully real.
At least at this point he didn't need the cloak, he'd already made such a habit of going to the Library at odd hours no one batted an eye. Though he did have to ignore the long looks Theo would give every time he wandered off.
That and it was hard not to feel guilty when he turned down going flying with Marcus or reading with Percy. But he'd make up for all his nos later.
Harry sat, crisscrossed on the pristine stone floor. He was careful on exactly how he sat considering last time his legs had gone numb and he'd had to embarrassingly hobble his way back to the dungeons.
Lily and James stood side by side, Harry on the ground between them just watching. At first he'd tried talking to them- but after a while he'd run out of stories to tell, he didn't want to talk about the Dursleys. He didn't want to spoil the little time they had.
They couldn't respond, but they would always move as if they understood, always smiling and had even seen them laugh a handful of times. But they rarely did more than that. Not that he minded- he was just happy to see them.
“-I feel bad, sure, but I deserve the chance to see my parents, you know- I've spent my whole life without you, what does a week or so mean in comparison to almost twelve years” Harry lamented.
James nodded, giving Harry another blinding smile. It felt almost encouraging in a way. But when he turned to his mom he noticed she was.. Still.
Dad looked up at her, tilting his head. That was new.
Lily looked between them both before starring James down, a question Harry didn't comprehend but could tell was there.
His dads eyes widened, almost unnoticeable had Harry not memorized almost every expression they had shown. James eyes flickered to Harry and then he nodded, his glasses slipping forward as his carefree expression changed to something more- intimate.
As if in tandem- both of their gazes fell on Harry once more. Lily reached out her hair slipping off the edge of her shoulder as she beckoned him forward.
Harry stumbled to his feet, cursing that once again he was burdened with the familiar pins and needles. But she was asking for him, he couldn't not listen.
Once Harry had managed to get on his feet he reached out to the glass, to touch where his Moms arm stretched out. Of course all he felt was the chill of the glass in turn.
Then something changed.
For the first time they looked away, away from Harry and even eachother and looked behind them and into the blank expanse of the mirror.
Harry squinted into the mist like color as something else seemed to form. It was a figure, but its form seemed to waver like smoke unsure of what space to fill. It was black like a shadow, no features except a shaky outline of someone Harry didn't recognize.
But unlike the first time, this time the form did not solidify. It came to settle it right where Harry stood, seeming to cover his reflection.
Both his parents placed their hands on its shoulders. It.. it was him wasn't it. At least a version they could feel. He'd never seen his reflection change, but Theo apparently had.
Theo had dodged any questions about what he saw- but he did reference his “mirror self” so maybe that's what was happening now.
The smoke-like figure reached a hand up and Harry followed suit, mimicking the motion in perfect tandem. Yet for the first time something made him feel.. Uneasy. He hesitated.
But he looked at his parents, both of them continued to say nothing, but they looked so encouraging as if begging him to reach out.
How was he supposed to say no?
The moment the tips of his fingers made contact with the mirror the smoke looked to tremble. Whisps falling off in every direction as flashes seemed to fill the screen- fill it with mists of images that refused to fully form.
Harry felt a buzz well up under his skin, so harsh it bordered on pain and he flinched away from the mirror. Instinctively his eyes darted to his parents who were now gripping on each other as well as the shadow.
The buzzing only got worse, but Harry didn't know what to do. They looked scared he couldn't leave- he wanted to help, to be there with them.
But he didn't have a choice as a hand came down on his shoulder and yanked him away from the mirror.
The last thing he saw was his parents' mouths opened wide and yet no sound came out. Looking almost desperate as they reached out to Harry as the shadow vanished. They followed suit as soon as Harry crashed against the cold stone floor.
“Are you alright my boy”? Dumbledore stood in front of Harry, between him and the mirror with a concerned expression on his face. “I didn't mean to make you fall- but I could see you had fallen deep in the mirrors allure”
Harry blinked as the hand in front of him came into focus. The buzzing had not left, but it had lessened considerably. He took the headmaster's hand and let himself be lifted back onto his feet.
Dumbledore dusted off his shoulder and then turned to the mirror “Harry- do you know what the mirror does”?
Harry had several theories- but he hadn't really taken the time to explore any of them. He'd been so focused on the mirror, he hadn't thought to question more than necessary. He knew it was too good to be true, but he enjoyed the fantasy.
“I'll give you a hint- the happiest man on earth, should he look into the mirror will see only himself exactly as he is”
“It shows whatever you want-” Harry said, his cheeks going a bit red in shame.
“Yes.. and no” Dumbledore replied, great- he was being cryptic “It shows nothing more than your deepest most desperate desire”
It showed his parents.
He turned to face Harry, a look of clear understanding in his eyes. “You long for the family you were denied, that is what you see correct”?
Harry nodded, his eyes still trained on the mirror that now remained blank with Dumbledore by his side. How on earth had the Headmaster found him?
“Remember this Harry- The mirror shows us neither knowledge nor truth many men have wasted away in front of it being no closer to their desire than when they first laid eyes on its allure”
Now Harry just felt stupid- just how far had he been from that same fate? Driven by his desire alone to the point of self destruction.
“That's why tomorrow it will be moved” Dumbledore stated and Harry couldn't help the sheer pain that contorted his expression as he met the headmaster's gaze. “I expect you not go looking for it-”
He placed his hand on Harry's shoulder, and he couldn't help but lean into the comfort just a bit. Even from a man he barely knew, let alone barely trusted.
“It does no good to dwell on dreams, and forget to live”
“Yes Professor-” Harry said, letting his eyes give a mournful glance at the mirror as he was led away.
The door slammed shut behind them loud enough Harry couldn't hold back a small flinch. That was it- the last time he would see his parents and it was their faces in complete distress while clinging onto his shadow.
How on earth had he desired that?
How had he managed to let his desire control his life that badly? Sure he was in the house of ambition- but he was meant to be cunning, and Theo had warned him about the mirror. Yet all he did was break a promise to his best friend
Fuck he needed to apologize to Theo-
Preferably with the bribe of some dried meat he could steal from the lunch hall.
Or better yet- he could send Hedwig out to order some, get some of the really expensive stuff and then Theo would be required to forgive him for his stupidity.
But for as idiotic as the whole thing had been, he was grateful for the memories he now had. Even if they weren't real, they were comforting. It was nice to put a face to what had always been a mirage of reality.
Though he did need to make the best of the break he had left, Daphne and Blaise were due to be back soon and hopefully they would have results on-
Oh god.
Oh fuck fuck FUCK-
Daphne was going to kill him if he didn't kill himself first from sheer embarrassment.
He forgot about Nicholas Flamel
He never even checked where the book was- oh my god he was so dead, he was such an idiot. Harry really was an absolute buffon.
…
Harry needed to ask Dripfang how to get expedited shipping on that jerky.