Erised

Prologue

Footfalls echoed on the deserted hallways as a man stepped through the rubble. He meandered through the familiar corridors. Occasionally he would stop and look at something, bringing back fond memories. Soon, he came to an ornate mirror. He traced the curves of the golden inscription and stroked the cracked surface.

Nothing.

There was nothing left. He had nothing left to lose. It was all gone. He had fulfilled the destiny. No one needed him anymore. He was free.

He sat down in front of the mirror. No one would stop him now. No one cared. He could lose himself in his dreams and no one would do anything. Images danced across the fragmented screen, bright colours that shaped themselves into his desires. Green and brown eyes were smiling at him. Those eyes, they told stories of his dreams, his paradise. He sat there for hours, entranced by what he saw. He got up and approached the mirror once more. He leaned in against the mirror and peered into the crack. Intense colours swam vividly inside the mirror. He reached into the dazzling array of light.

He was falling. The ground seemed to disappear. He was falling face first into the mirror. He braced himself for the fall, but it didn't come. He plummeted through the crack, free falling. Luminous colour churned around him.

Then he saw only black.

Chapter 1: First Impressions

He shuffled around and he vaguely realized he was in a bed. "James? Are you awake?" asked a hopeful voice.

'James?' A groan escaped his lips. He felt a presence above him.

His eyes snapped open revealing emerald green. His eyes drank in the sights around him. Most prominent was thing was his mother. Limp red hair framed her face, her green eyes wide. He thought he was about to pass out again.

"Harry?" asked the woman, fear lacing her voice.

'He knew better than to reveal his identity. It could be a death eater in disguise. Actually it probably was a death eater. She was dead. It had to be a death eater.'

'But then again, what death eater would call him by his first name? And what death eater didn't know who Harry Potter was?'

The person backed away. She looked as though she was fighting a silent battle. Tears ran down her face as she screamed between sobs, "YOU!!" Her face was now streaked with tears, forming unnatural streaks down her cheeks. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM!?" shrieked the woman.

Harry Potter stared at the ranting woman before him. He sat up and got up to leave. 'This was just too bizarre.'

He realized that he was in a sterile room that greatly resembled the Hogwarts infirmary. He stopped dead in his tracks. Hogwarts was gone.

"What the HELL is going on?!"

"What are you talking about?" asked the stranger.

He stared at her incredulously. Harry started laughing at the absurdity. She was the one who was screaming at him a second ago. His laughter echoed throughout the room, filling the space with bitter cries.

The woman's expression flickered. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Why would you care?" replied Harry coldly, his demeanour changing instantly.

She looked almost hurt. "I do care. No matter what He tells you, I still am your mother." The woman looked up at him, her eyes expectantly waiting for an answer.

"I have no mother," spat Harry, venom filling his voice. 'You killed her.'

The death eater looked as though she was ready to crumble to the floor.

"Oh, I hit a nerve, didn't I?"

She whimpered.

"You're a good actor, you know that? If you're lucky, maybe you'll get on your master's

Good side."

"I don't know what lies He's planted in your head. But I am your mother and I'll still love you not matter what," said the impostor.

"How much longer would you like to carry on this charade?" asked Harry with a laugh.

"Harry, it doesn't have to be this way," said the death eater, her voice soft.

"If you don't stop sprouting lies you'll regret it." His voice was suddenly lowered to a deadly whisper. "I have killed before and I'm not afraid to do so again." Emerald green stared out gravely behind black-rimmed glasses.

"Harry, please - "

"That's enough, Death Eater," interrupted Harry.

The scene slipped away as he dispparated.

.....::.Lily's Point of View.::.....

Her husband stirred on the starched sheets of his bed. She felt hope prickling inside her. She leaped up from her chair with more energy than she had had for a long time.

"James?"

'Her voice sounded unfamiliar to herself, it was too expectant. False hope hurts more than none at all,' she reminded herself. She began to settle herself in her chair when she clearly heard a groan come from the bed beside her. She found herself hovering over the bed again, waiting for his eyes to open.

'God, she missed those beautiful chocolate eyes. They were always so passionate.'

James' eyelids suddenly opened revealing muted green eyes, devoid of expression. She felt her lips curve into a grimace.

"Harry?" It was her son. 'No, he's not my son anymore; it's been twenty years since I last saw him. It's been twenty years since he's been my son.' She looked sadly to her son. 'This was not the reunion she had planned.' Realization dawned on her face. 'It must have been him! He had taken James. Without realizing what happened she started screaming at her son, adrenaline pumping through her veins, anger flushing her face.

'He's not my son anymore, not since the mark was branded on him.'

The death eater, he looked confused.

'That was weird. Why would he be confused? Damn it. I can't be so weak. He's acting. It's what Voldemort asked him to do.' He got up and started walking towards the exit; he abruptly stopped and looked around. His face scrunched up in frustration. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"

"What are you talking about?" asked Lily completely confused. 'Had Voldemort driven him crazy? She knew that Voldemort had pushed his own followers over the edge before, sometimes on purpose.'

He looked at her as though she was crazy. Then, he laughed, complete unbridled bitterness. His laughter reverberated around her head, creating a horrible web of sound. "Are you okay?"

'Shit. I lost it again. Do not let him control you. That death eater is not your son. He can't be your son. He's a death eater.' She was just about ready to kill herself for losing it again, when Harry's voice sounded once more.

"Why would you care?" said the death eater. The simple statement echoed around the room.

Guilt welled up inside her. 'Oh God, I did this to him. I made him into this death eater.' She took a deep breath. 'There was still a chance, she could always try.' "I do care. No matter what He tells you, I still am your mother." He looked thoughtful for a second. Lily's heart welled up. 'They could be reunited, there was still a chance.'

"I have no mother." That detached voice shattered her thoughts, leaving a trail of broken dreams.

'You must never lose control. Never lose control....' Lily sighed; it was the only way to stay alive. Still, hurt was apparent on her face.

"Oh, I hit a nerve didn't I?" asked the death eater, his voice cruel.

She whimpered.

"You're a good actor aren't you? Maybe if you're lucky, you'll get on your master's good side."

'He's lost it. I gave him to this madness. I did it. It's my fault. No one else did this. Not even Voldemort. I can't blame him for this. Oh, fuck.'

She opened her mouth for one more attempt. "I don't know what lies He's planted in your head. But I am your mother, and I'll love you no matter what." It sounded unconvincing, even to her.

"How much longer would you like to carry on this charade?" asked the death eater. A frigid laugh followed, sending shivers down Lily's spine.

"Harry it doesn't have to be this way." 'She felt stupid the second the words left her mouth.'

"If you don't stop sprouting lies, you'll regret it." His eyes narrowed. "I've killed before and I'm not afraid to do so again."

'Had he really gone so far? Was he really willing to kill his mother?'

"Harry, please." 'She knew it was useless before she even said anything.'

"That's enough, Death Eater." He disapparated, leaving behind a very confused Lily Potter.