A Glimpse of the Soul

She slipped silently out of the empty Charms classroom, having to try to brew an acne-reducing potion. It had failed miserably and burned a large, reeking hole on her nightgown sleeve. It was a good thing though, that she didn't try it out on her face.

It was well past midnight, listening intently for the footsteps of the school caretaker Ajax Filch, she tiptoed down the dark corridor. Her bare feet made no sound on the cold stone floor as she padded toward the Gryffindor common room, carrying her slippers in her hands.

It was a cold autumn evening, Minerva wished dearly that she had chosen the small storage room near the Common Room to make his potion. The walk was dreary and cold, two things that she despaired of above all things. Though it's what she must endure on a daily basis.

She hugged her shoulders as a gust of frigid air blew past her.

"Curse the bloody open-window policy!" She muttered to herself, tucking her icy fingers under her armpits.

"Meeeeeow," a cat mewed ominously somewhere in the darkness. A light swish of a particularly bushy tail was heard not far from where she stood.

Minerva threw herself against the wall, eyes darting nervously up and down the corridor.

"What's that? You sense a midnight wanderer?" the dry crackling voice of Ajax Filch echoed through the hall, "Well done Mr. Norris."

Slowly, Minerva slid left, toward the door that she had just passed.

Please let it be unlocked... She thought.

Wrapping her hand around the round brass doorknob, she twisted hopefully.

Click.

She cringed despairingly, finding it locked.

The door stirred, "What's the magic word?" it whispered silkily into Minerva's ear.

"Open sesame?" Minerva murmured, crossing her fingers.

"Noooooooo," the door vibrated softly, tittering.

"Do I hear someone speak?" Ajax hooted, there was laughter in his voice.

"Alahomora?" Minerva held her breath for the door's answer, gripping the doorknob tightly with a certain degree dread.

"Nuh-uh."

Ajax Filch started down the corridor, accompanied by that awful fat cat Mr. Norris. His old fashioned buckled shoes clicked curtly against the smooth marble floor. Minerva pictured the rapturously insane look on his puffy face, and cringed inwardly.

"Please," the palm of her grew sweaty, her fingers began to slip around the smooth doorknob.

"Quuu-eeeek."

The lock clicked open, as the door squeaked open sharply, throwing her off balance.

"A noise!" Ajax Filch clenched his hands together in excitement as he bound forward, closer and closer. The loathsome feline was close at his heels, swishing his feather-duster tail from side to side.

At an eye blink, Minerva hurtled herself into the room and kicked the door shut, dropping a slipper in the process. As she landed heavily on her belly, it swung shut on it's hinges, without sound.

"tsk, tsk," the door made a tongue clicking noise, "Is that how you treat your 'savior'? By kicking it?"

"Shhhhh!" Minerva shushed the door and lie still, listening intently.

"A fluffy pink slippy!" Ajax was whooping for joy now, "a girly night wanderer! Let's go Mr. Norris! We'll catch her!" His rapid foot steps clicked away, growing fainter and fainter.

She sagged against the smooth wooden surface of the door, sighing deeply.

Grasping the doorknob firmly, she twisted, and was infuriated to find it locked once more.

"Please?" She tried again, it was still locked, "Now what?" She snapped, feeling extremely bad tempered.

The door was silent.

"Let me out!" Minerva hissed, reaching into her pocket for her wand.

It wasn't there.

"Oh, I left it on my night stand," She said lightly, "Lovely."

Minerva looked around without interest. It wasn't very big, with a few broken desks pushed against the wall. Splinters of broken wood littered the dust laden floor, a couple beaten copies of text books stacked in the corner, the room was a mess. A small round window over on the far side of the classroom was as dusty as the rest. A stream of silver moon light poured into this forlorn classroom through a large hole on the glass, illuminating a large grimy mirror leaning against the wall. The air around it seemed to shimmer slightly.

Or was it just the liquid mercury moonlight playing tricks on her astigmatic eyes.

She blinked at it. A feeling of mystical awareness washed over her.

Tentatively, she stepped toward it.

Closer.

Closer. Leaving a trail of crooked foot prints in the dust.

Using the sleeve of her nightgown, Minerva wiped away some dust from the face of the mirror, clearing a small space in front of her face.

Except it wasn't her face.

The face in the mirror was much prettier, gorgeous in fact, with high cheek bones and tumbling dark curls. Crimson lips, and rosy cheeks. Clear skin that anyone would murder for. A stunning, curvy figure, the sort that would make boys drool. Speaking of boys, the girl was swarmed by boys, all with eyes full of lust and admiration.

Literally worshiped.

Minerva glanced down at her slight figure, small breasts, curveless legs. She reached up to touch her face, thin lips, beak nose, pimply skin, small beady eyes. Limp gray-brownish hair, thin and unmanageable.

No wonder none of the girls want to befriend me. I'm just an ugly brainy person that serves as a laugh stock and someone to copy homework from.

Minerva felt tears welling up and blinked them away rapidly, swallowing against the lump in he throat.

She looked up again.

The beautiful girl smiled pleasantly at her, shifting her hips slightly to the side.

"We have resemblance," Minerva muttered to herself, "that could be me."

She laughed hollowly at that.

Being the brainiest student Hogwarts ever had, it didn't help her make friends. She was very eccentric and awkward, and spoke with a stutter. There is little fun in her life, books are the only things that wouldn't throw snide remarks at her. Even the younger students learned to make fun of her, knowing she wouldn't be able to have a single comeback, only to stumble away, abashed as they point and guffaw heartily.

"I'm doomed to be shunned and scorned forever?" Minerva wiped the back of her hand across her eyes, and sat down cross-legged before the mirror, staring transfixed at it, hating reality.

Hating life.

"Does this show the future?" She asked, a small bubble of hope rising in her chest. She was just 16, there are still room to change...

"No," the door snarled.

Minerva spun around, feeling disappointed and excited, "Will you let me out now?"

It refused to speak again.

And saw that here were words etched to the frame of the mirror, half buried by dust.

Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi

As bright as she was, it took her only seconds to realize what the message was.

"Oh," she said, "oh."

Minerva turned around and walked to the door slowly, turned the knob (which gave away obediently) and walked out, feeling perplexed and dazed.