Harry Potter and the Mirror of Lehcar

Harry had returned to Privet Drive dreading his time with the Dursley's. When he finally arrived at the house, Harry had been surprised to find a package on the front step from Cho. Inside was a letter that smelled faintly of jasmine and beneath was an antique-looking mirror with a design of snakes and roses inner-weaving. The handle was a serpent that resembled the emblem of Salazar Slytherin. Harry wondered what the mysterious mirror was for and why she had sent it, he opened the letter and read.

Dear Harry,

I enjoyed the time that I spent with you this year, and I wanted to stay in touch over the summer holidays. The mirror I sent you is called Lehcar and it allows you to contact me. I have a similar mirror and we can talk to each other while seeing each other. Send me letter by owl post and I can activate it.

Love Always,

Cho Chang

When Harry received this his cheeks turned a faint red; he was happy to hear from Cho. Harry wrote her back and she activated the mirrors. They talked on the mirrors often. They talked about a lot of things, but mainly Harry helped Cho deal with the loss of Cedric Diggory, and Cho relieved Harry of the pain that his relatives brought him. By the middle of summer Cho and Harry knew each other really well.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Sirius talked regularly. This summer Hermione was going to Bulgaria for a few weeks then she would stay at the Burrow. Her parents went out of town when she went to Bulgaria and wouldn't be returning until after school had started.

Around mid-July Harry received a letter from Ron saying that his parents had gotten the okay from Dumbledore for Harry to stay at the Burrow, and he would be picked up in a few days.

Harry picked up his mirror, surprised that Cho had just called him.

"Hey Harry, you looked surprised to see me," Cho laughed.

"I am. I was just about to call you, but I guess I don't have to now. Guess what," Harry replied quickly.

"What?"

"Ron's mom talked to Dumbledore and I can go stay at the Burrow now. Isn't that great?"

"Oh, Harry that's wonderful, I'm so excited for you." Cho exclaimed, but her facial expressions didn't agree with what she was saying.

They continued to talk for a while until Harry heard the familiar voice of his aunt calling him for dinner. Harry went down knowing that it would be hard to convince his aunt and uncle to let him leave with the same family that had practically ruined their living room last year.

He walked down into the kitchen and slumped into his chair next to Dudley. He anxiously waited for the Weasleys to save him from this hellhole. That night he couldn't sleep. It was only Sunday and Wednesday seemed like an eternity to wait. He still had to break the news to Uncle Vernon that the Weasleys would be arriving via Floo Powder. Harry's mind was vividly imagining what would happen when he told his Uncle, as he unknowingly drifted into a deep sleep.

Harry was slowly walking through a clearing in a dark forest. The moon was shining bright, and yet he could vaguely make out a figure in front of him. He sped up his pace, but the distance between him and the mysterious figure remained the same. All he could see was the outline of a woman's figure in a flowing purple dress. He felt a wonderful sensation when he thought about seeing her and being with her. At that moment he knew he was to be with her forever.

There was a big smile on Harry's face as he rolled over in his bed.

* * *

Pig had just arrived back with word from Harry. Ron made his way out to the patio where Charlie, Bill, Percy, Fred, George, Ginny, Hermione and his parents were sitting around the table. Charlie was home for the summer from Romania. Bill and Fleur Delacour were now dating, and Bill was considering moving back to London from Egypt to be with her. Fleur was going to be the assistant for the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Percy had become the head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation. Fred and George secretly put some of their galleons into the family vault so when the time came their mother would find enough money for all the new supplies for the next school year, including new dress robes for Ron. The family was discussing their plans for Harry's arrival over dinner.

"Harry just wrote me back! He is excited about coming," Ron announced to the busy table.

"Oh, that's great, did he ask his aunt and uncle?" Mrs. Weasley questioned.

"Uh, well he didn't say but I'm sure he did. Everything will work out great!"

"Wicked!" exclaimed Fred and George at the same time. Hermione was sitting at the end of the table by Ginny and was staring off at the horizon. Ginny noticed Hermione was distracted.

"Whatcha thinking about Herm?" Ginny questioned.

"Huh? Oh nothing," Hermione lied.

"Are you sure you're okay? You've seemed distracted lately."

"Yeah. It's nothing. I'm fine."

"Oh. I know. You're thinking about Harry coming in, aren't you?"

"Hm....I'm just worried that he might not be safe, that's all."

"Don't worry," Ginny comforted. "Dumbledore said he'd be fine."

The plan was for Dumbledore to come to the Weasleys' house Wednesday morning to put a safety spell on the house. Once that was done he was going to go pick up Harry at the Dursley's and bring him back to the Weasleys'. With the safety spell, no Dark Magic could be performed within a 100 foot radius of the house. Harry would be completely safe.

* * *

When Hermione heard that Harry was coming she was anxious, yet she didn't know how to act around him. So far her summer had consisted of visiting Krum in Bulgaria and catching up with reading the latest version of Cosmo Witch. This week's edition was Moves to Make When Your Man Doesn't Notice You. She had been planning to spend two weeks with Victor but she didn't feel like explaining when she showed up on the front steps of the Burrow asking for a home for the remainder of the summer holiday. Her parents were vacationing in Bermuda, and she had already planned to stay with Ron, but the Weasleys were a bit surprised when she showed up a week early. She had gone straight to her room and refused to be questioned. Needless to say, this summer was not turning out the way she had hoped. News of Harry's soon to be arrival brought a smile to her face that no one had seen in days.

She sat alone in her room at the Burrow anticipating what seeing Harry would be like. Of course, it wouldn't be all she hoped, because he was still dating Cho. According to the letters Harry had sent her, the relationship was going great and he was ecstatic he finally had a chance with her. Each time he showed joy about being with Cho, a little piece of her heart broke. She was deep in thought when she jumped at the sound of someone knocking on her door. It was Ron.

"Hey Ron. Shouldn't you be sleeping? It's past midnight."

"Nah, can't sleep. What about you? You're usually knocked out by this time of night," Ron said sleepily.

"Must've been the caffeine," Hermione wished Ron would go back to bed. She didn't want to explain the late nights she'd been having. Something told Ron that Hermione didn't want to be bothered.

"Yeah, well I promised Fred and George I'd go with them to Diagon Alley tomorrow to pick out something for Harry's birthday, so I should get to bed." Ron said, and with that he left Hermione alone again. She laid her head down on the soft down pillow, and slowly drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Harry woke up abruptly to the heavy thumps of his cousin Dudley running down the stairs. Today was Tuesday. He had exactly one day to break the news of the Weasleys' arrival to Uncle Vernon. The last time he brought up Ron and his family, he uncle dismissed the conversation as if it were never to be brought up again.

"Uncle Vernon, just so you know, I'm going to be picked up tomorrow and I won't be returning anytime soon." Harry dreaded saying this- he knew his uncle's temper.

"Cor, Boy, who would be picking up the likes of you?" this question is what Harry had feared.

"The Weasleys," Harry flinched as Uncle Vernon slammed his coffee mug on the table, shattering it to pieces.

"Those things are never to return to my house again!" he shouted. Harry hesitated before he offered an optimistic point of view.

"They'll only be here shortly to grab my things and go, and once we're gone, you don't have to deal with me again," this had Uncle Vernon thinking. It was true, they wouldn't have to be bothered with Harry, and they could appear to their neighbors as a normal family, which Harry knew, Uncle Vernon had yearned forever since Harry had been dropped on their doorstep.

"Fine, fine. If they even think about staying longer than 5 minutes, you better believe I will have them permanently removed from my sight."

With that Harry left and returned to his room to give Cho his routine morning call. He never missed a chance to call her, and she the same, although she never seemed too pleased when he called, as if he were interrupting something. Harry shoved away the thought as he closed the mouth of the snake around his hand and watched the designing around the mirror illuminate to a brilliant green. No sooner had he closed his hand then Cho appeared as an image in the mirror.

"Hullo, Harry," Cho seemed semi pleased to see him.

"Cho, I'm leaving the Dursleys' house, and heading to Ron's house. Will you be able to visit?" Harry asked anxiously.

"No. I don't think so," she supplied abruptly. "My father doesn't want me associating with his kind."

This was the first hint Harry had noticed that Cho had changed dramatically from the time they had started to see each other. Never before had she objected spending time with Ron. Harry had thought she actually had taken to liking Ron.

"Oh." Harry's voice was filled with disappointment. "Well, I guess I'll be seeing you at school then. Have you found a dress for the Fall Ball yet?"

"Are you inviting me to go with you?"

"Uh....yeah," Harry had been under the assumption that they were already going together.

"Oh. In that case, I will go look for one in Diagon Alley tomorrow."

* * *

"Come on dung brain," George was tirelessly trying to wake up Ron. "We need to go now or the Floo network will be all blocked up."

"Alright, alright I'm coming," groaned Ron. "What about Hermione and Ginny? Are they coming?"

"Hermione is coming but Ginny decided to stay home." George said, annoyed. "And Fred is waiting downstairs with Hermione- we need to go now! Come on!"

Fred, George, Ron, and Hermione arrived in the Leaky Cauldron thirty minutes later. After sitting around drinking Butterbeers, they decided to go to Quality Quidditch Supplies to look for a present for Harry. When they got into the store Hermione was instantly bored by the dull and constant Quidditch talk. She had never been interested in Quidditch. She only watched to see Harry. Hermione already had a present for Harry; she didn't really know why she came in the first place.

"Hey guys," Hermione said to the Weasley brothers. "I'm going to go to Madam Malkin's new dress store and see what they have. If I don't meet you back in here I'll see you at the Leaky Cauldron in one hour, sound good?"

"Ok, see you later," said Ron, but he was totally zoned out.

* **

Hermoine made her way across the busy street towards the new dress store. Madam Malkin, who usually made the school dress robes had just opened a new store for formal witch gowns, most girls were tired of the usual dresses. These new dresses were very similar but they came in different styles and clung to the body more making the wearer more attractive.

Hermione knew that she probably wouldn't get a very good date for the Fall Ball but she was fairly attractive, so she was sure she would end up going. Even if her date wasn't the best there was no reason why her dress shouldn't be the best. When she walked in the store, Hermione was stunned to see Cho Chang being measured by Madam Malkin. As she gazed upon Cho in her long, satin blue dress, she felt a pang of jealousy, and was very annoyed at how beautiful she looked. Hermione then got in a very depressed mood. She couldn't see how she would ever get Harry. She now had competition, big competition an older, wiser, more beautiful competition. And of course Harry liked Cho and Hermione was just his friend.

"You're Hermione Granger, Harry's friend aren't you?" Cho asked politely.

"Yes, I am," Hermione grunted as she looked at the closest dress.

"Have you talked to Harry recently?" Cho questioned again.

"No, actually Harry thinks that I am in Bulgaria," Hermione replied.

"Oh yeah, you were going to Bulgaria to see Victor Krum weren't you? Why aren't you there now? There was a rumor that you were going to be there for a few weeks- shouldn't you still be?" Cho said with one breath.

"I came home early." Hermione sighed.

"Why?" Cho sputtered.

"I just did, okay?!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Okay, okay. Is it okay if I tell Harry?"

"It doesn't really matter. I'll be seeing him tomorrow. I am staying with the Weasleys and he will be arriving there tomorrow. So I will be spending the rest of the summer with him." She smiled, realizing that she would in fact be spending the rest of the summer with Harry and Cho would probably not see him all summer.

"Okay. Well-- I'm going to talk to him tonight so if you want to surprise him tomorrow then I won't tell him." Cho smirked.

"Well, actually... I would appreciate it if you didn't tell him. How are you talking to him tonight?" Hermione wondered out loud.

"Oh, we have our connections!" Cho smiled deviously.

With that Hermione turned on her heel and stormed to the other side of the store. She was really curious as to how Cho was going to talk to Harry, for even if Cho sent an owl now, it wouldn't reach Harry until tomorrow and he'd be gone by then. Hermione felt as though whatever she did or said Cho would always be better than her. Hermione felt as though she were going to cry. She ran out of the shop slamming the door as she left.

* *

She slumped into the Quidditch shop just as Fred and George brought their purchase up to the counter. It looked as if they decided to buy Harry a Firebolt Broom Servicing Kit. The kit that Hermione had bought him was for a Nimbus and therefore far out dated.

"Where did you go again?" Ron asked, barely noticing that she had been gone at all.

"I went to the dress store." Hermione said coldly.

"Wow, what happened there?" George asked.

"Nothing. Let's just go back to the Burrow already. I'm tired," Hermione muttered as she walked out the door.

"Somebody still has their panties in a twist," Fred mocked.

***

Harry eagerly awaited Cho's call. He sat on his bed with the mirror facing him. He couldn't wait for it to illuminate, but the call didn't come. Harry waited for over an hour, even missing dinner-- although he wasn't sure it would have been that great. Two hours after Cho was supposed to call Harry finally decided to call her and make sure she was okay.

"Hello," rang Cho's voice as she came into view.

"Hi," replied Harry. "Are you all right? You didn't call. I've been worried."

"Oh yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't want to call you because I'm not very good at keeping secrets." She answered slyly.

"Um, okay... I don't really know what that means but you are okay, aren't you?"

"Yes I'm fine now. I'm not going to call you until tomorrow night. Bye." Harry was left alone with a puzzled expression on his face.

Harry didn't know what to do. He couldn't talk to Ron because earlier in the holidays he had consulted him on what to do and Ron just laughed at him. Ron never took girls seriously so Harry couldn't talk to him. He decided to talk to Sirius. Harry wrote Sirius a letter at Lupin's, since that was where he had been staying all summer.

Dear Sirius,

How are you, Professor Lupin, and Buckbeak doing? I haven't talked to you in a long time. What are you up to? I'm going to the Weasleys' for the rest of the summer. They are coming to pick me up tomorrow! Seeing as you are in London I was wondering if I could maybe see you on my birthday. The Weasleys know about you so maybe they would be interested in having you to dinner...?

Anyway I'm going out with Cho Chang- she was Cedric Diggory's girl friend when he died last year. I talk to her twice a day and tonight she said she couldn't keep secrets from me so she wouldn't talk to me for a while. What do you think that means? Anyway, write me back soon. I'll be at the Weasleys' house.

Love

Harry

Harry didn't really know how to ask help from Sirius, so he just put it plainly. Harry tried to go to bed but he couldn't fall asleep. He was wondering what Cho was trying to say. Once Harry finally fell asleep he had the same dream of the mysterious girl in the purple gown, walking ahead of him in some kind of forest.

* * *

The Dursleys' house was quiet and clean on Wednesday morning. The family was anxiously waiting for the Weasleys to come. The last time Harry was picked up at Privet Drive the house was left in a mess. They didn't want this to happen again so they decided that they would take the plastic fire-cover off in preparation for the Weasleys' arrival. Dudley was so scared of the Weasleys that he went to stay at a friend's house. When everything was ready and Harry's school things were ready in the living room they all sat around the fireplace waiting.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and they all jumped. Uncle Vernon got really angry. He didn't want wizards coming down the fireplace when someone came to the house. He started to panic. He and Petunia quickly put the fire-cover back over the electric fire hoping that the Weasleys wouldn't break through it and make a mess. After hiding Harry's trunk and other school things they went to the door, hiding Harry in his old cupboard. Harry sat in the darkness looking around and seeing how he used to live and bringing back all the old, bad memories. After a few minutes of silence the door opened and a smiling face appeared. It was covered in long white hair and wrinkles. Along with this face there was a pair of half moon spectacles. It was Dumbledore. Harry was excited to see him and yet wondered what he was doing on Privet drive.

"Hi Harry. Would you like to come out now? I think it is time that you make your journey to the Weasleys'."

"Um, professor-- what are you doing here?" Harry said, dumbfounded.

"What else? I am here to make sure you have a safe journey to the Weasleys'. I have already safe spelled their house so you will be safe there. They will be expecting us soon we need to leave."

"Okay. How will we be going to the Weasleys' house?" questioned Harry.

"We are going to take a port key, after which I will stay for dinner. I have business to do with Mr. And Mrs. Weasley. So! We must be on our way."

Harry and Professor Dumbledore gathered Harry's stuff and said their goodbyes to the Dursleys, who oddly said goodbye back. They port keyed to the Weasleys'. The port key was different from any other one that Harry had ever seen before: it was a necklace engraved with the Gryffindor lion.

* * *

The port key led them to the Weasleys' small family room. When they got there everyone was on the back porch getting ready for dinner. The table was set for fifteen people. Attending dinner was Albus Dumbledore, the nine Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Colin Creevey, (he and Ginny had been dating since the end of term), Fleur Delacour (who was dating Bill), and Penelope (who was engaged to Percy).

When they arrived Dumbledore gave Harry the port key that they had used. He said it might come in handy some time, Harry didn't know what he meant by that but he didn't have much time to think about it. Before he knew it he was being suffocated from all the attention given to him. Once all the people had cleared Harry caught site of Hermione, and he ran to hug her. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and they parted.

"I thought you were in Bulgaria! It's so nice to see you," Harry choked as Fred and George caught sight of him.

"I left," she said dully, and then Harry was pushed away up to Ron's room with his trunk.

Thirty minutes later they were all sitting down to dinner. Afterwards Professor Dumbledore and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley went into the study for coffee, leaving the kids and their dessert to their own devices. Later after dessert, Dumbledore said goodbye to everyone and apparated back to Hogwarts. Everyone gathered around the door and watched Dumbledore leave. Ginny started to head up to bed, and was surprised to see that Hermione was nowhere to be found. Ginny went upstairs to her room, only to find Hermione was sitting on her bed.

"Gin, I need to talk to you," Hermione had a look of nervousness on her face.

"Sure, what's wrong?" Ginny answered, surprised.

"Ginny, do you know why I left Bulgaria?"

"No, I've been wondering. You seem so distant lately."

"It's because...well, it's Harry," Hermione paused.

"What about Harry?"

"I think I'm in love. Actually, I know I'm in love with him, and I don't know what to do," Ginny's mouth dropped.

"Uh....maybe we should get some water before we talk about this." Ginny's mouth was completely dry.

"Yeah, sure. I'll get it." And with that, Hermione's body went limp.