Harry Potter and the Mirror of Lehcar

"Remus just-- just go. I'll apparate outside of Hogsmeade and go to the cave as a dog. Everything will be fine."

"I know everything will be fine, but... well, what about making the cave a more suitable place to live...?" Lupin argued hesitantly.

"Don't worry, DAD. I'm a qualified wizard. I think I can handle it."

"Oh shut up. I just want to make sure you're all right and don't get caught."

"And like I said before, DAD. I'm a qualified wizard and I can handle it. Now you better hurry up and go to Hogwarts or you'll miss your first class."

"Oh, I'm the dad? You should talk. And you've got a bug on your shoulder," Lupin said, pointing.

"Thanks. Want to come to my new swingin' bachelor pad this afternoon for tea or something?"

"Sure, I'll be there," Lupin said, pulling out his wand to Apparate to Hogsmeade.

"Oh, and don't forget a house warming gift!"

Lupin disappeared with a smile on his face. Sirius bundled up some of his belongings and apparated to the forest a mile out of Hogsmeade.

***

"Potter," Draco drawled. "Do you know where Dumbledore's office is, exactly?"

"Actually, yeah I do, but I don't know the password. He always has some kind of candy for the password, but I don't know what it is for this year." Harry stopped talking as he and Draco turned a corner. They came to the stone gargoyle and stopped.

"Am I right in assuming this to be his office, or do you just like to look at this statue?" Draco asked scathingly. "What do we do now? Just say 'sugar quill' and the thing--" Draco broke off abruptly as the gargoyle instantly sprung to life and jumped aside.

"Wow, one guess. Last year that took me forever," Harry said as he led Draco up the stairs. They arrived only to find that the office was empty. "'Lo Fawkes," Harry said quietly as he took a seat next to Draco.

"You know his bird's name?" Draco snickered. "Suck up."

"Oh, shut up. Like you don't know Snape's mom's name."

"Actually, I don't. I do know his dad's though," Draco smiled angelically. "It's Derek."

"That's enough, boys." Dumbledore's voice was kind, but he definitely meant business.

Harry sat up straight. He couldn't believe what was happening. He was in trouble with Draco Malfoy and not only that, but before they got their punishment he rather enjoying his company. The one person who he had always despised--more than anyone else--and Harry was enjoying time with him.

"Sorry Professor," Harry said, somewhat shamefacedly.

"Quite all right, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said. "Now, would one of you like to explain why you're here?"

Like he doesn't know, Harry thought.

"Ah... because we were dueling in the hall?" Draco suggested.

"Incorrect. Harry, do you know why you are here?"

"Er--no. I thought it was because of the fighting."

"I happen to know that you were not, in fact, fighting. I think I know what did happen," Dumbledore said, smiling faintly. "You two both felt faint so you left the Great Hall. You both went to the same place. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but after that you fainted. However, it wasn't a real faint. You exchanged places and saw how the other had passed the morning. Then you got up and started hexing each other. This is where I'm confused. Did you see something or feel something that made you angry?"

"How did you know all that?" Harry said in ill-concealed amazement.

"That, Mr. Potter, is not important, but it would be a help if you could tell me why it was that you two were dueling with each other."

"Well," Draco started. "We weren't."

"Yes, Draco, you were. Harry would you care to tell me?"

"Um," said Harry.

Dumbledore cut him off "I don't think I'm going to get very good answers out of the two of you so let me explain what I know."

***

Ron and Hermione made their way up to the Astronomy Tower; they were beginning to have day lessons as well as the weekly night ones. They wondered where Harry had gone off to, and why Draco had followed him.

"Hermione, you don't need to worry this much. Harry's a big boy. He can make it to class all by himself," Ron teased. Hermione gave him The Look.

"Yes, I know, but aren't you the least bit worried about Draco following him?"

"So you're not worried about Draco anymore?" Ron asked curiously. "I don't know what was up with you yesterday, but you were all worried about him."

"I know. I wasn't worried about him though, really. I was just worried about Harry, and I think that Draco is going through the same thing as Harry and that he might be able to help us as well."

Professor Sinistra walked in and they put off their conversation. They had a boring class of introduction. Now that they were doing astronomy during the day, they had new materials and had to go over the new policies in order to use them.

The class seemed to go on forever. Hermione was very upset by the end of class; Harry hadn't shown up. She couldn't understand why, it wasn't like him to skive off a class, especially on the first day. She was extremely worried, and the only thing keeping her from pulling out her hair was knowing that he had to be all right. He was in Hogwarts, and Dumbledore was here. Nothing could harm him.

***

"I don't know what curse you used, but I don't think it matters," Dumbledore was saying up in his office, more to himself than the boys. "I believe that both of you have been subjected to all'interruttore. It's a curse from ancient Rome. It means that you have temporally switched places. And yet you haven't stayed switched..."

"Er...Professor? Do you know how it happened?" Harry asked hesitantly, interrupting Dumbledore's thought process.

"The switch only happens when both parties present have an evil object on them as well as one good item," Dumbledore answered slowly. "Do either of you know what you were wearing or had in your possession? It has to come from extreme opposites. Harry, the extreme good that you possess is the necklace that I gave you at the Weasley's house. Were you wearing it at the time of the switch?"

"Um... yes. I'm still wearing it. Will all this stop if I take it off?"

"No, not exactly. In order for the curse to lift, you must follow strict guidelines. One of you has to remove the good object at the exact same time as the other removes the evil item. Then you must switch articles and remove the other one at the exact same time. If you're missing one of the items it has no effect except making the curse weaker. You wouldn't faint as much."

"So I should take off my necklace and we won't faint as much."

"No. Don't take off the necklace. It has extreme good in it, and under the present circumstances, I think you need it. Something is happening, and somehow you came to acquire something evil." Dumbledore's attention drifted to the other boy. "Mr. Malfoy, do you know what either of your items were?"

"Uh--no I don't. I can think of a ton of evil things that would be on me, from my father..." Harry wondered how this went by Dumbledore so easily. He would have thought that Dumbledore would be at least a tad interested. Draco paid no attention to Harry's confusion. "...but extreme evil, now that one I don't know about. And extreme good...there's a doozy."

"I understand. Harry, do you know of anything evil on you?"

Harry hadn't even thought of the evil part. He wondered how someone could have planted an evil object on him.

"I have no idea whatsoever." Harry seemed distraught now.

"I don't want to keep you for too much longer, but I need you both to continue thinking about what could be on you and how you got it. I'm going to send you off to class now, but before you leave I think we should set up a meeting time. The three of us need to keep in touch about what is happening and how to deal with what is currently occurring. When will both of you be open to a conference? I know that both of you have cramped schedules with Quidditch and what not, but if you could think of a time..." Dumbledore was interrupted by Draco.

"I'm free at lunch on Tuesdays and Potter is too."

"Harry, will that work for you?" Dumbledore turned his intense gaze on Harry. Harry swallowed.

"Er, yes. That's fine with me."

They got up to leave, but before they reached the door Dumbledore spoke again.

"I think it would be in the best interests for both of you if you didn't tell anyone about this."

The boys nodded in unison and walked out his office.

***

Hermione and Ron descended from the Astronomy Tower after a dreary lesson. They were both wondering why Harry hadn't managed to come to class.

"Well, let's just hope that he comes to History of Magic," Ron said optimistically.

"Yes, but you know what's strange?" Hermione inquired thoughtfully.

"What's that?"

"Well, Professor Sinistra noticed that Harry was gone because she said he would sit with us, but she didn't seem to mind or think anything of the fact that he was gone."

"True...I think maybe he was excused ahead of time or something. She was probably notified."

"But what could he possibly be doing that he has permission for?" Hermione wondered.

"Well if you think about it, Harry's been very distant since yesterday. I hardly think it possible that he would have told us."

"I wonder why he's being so distant," Hermione said as she opened the door to their class. She was greatly surprised to see Harry sitting in his chair waiting for class to start.

"Harry, where were you?" Hermione cried as she ran to his side.

"Er...nowhere. It's not important," Harry said, failing to meet her eyes.

"Bull, you don't get to just blow us off like this, Harry. I want answers from you NOW," Ron demanded in a sudden fit of temper, causing Professor Binns to actually look up.

"I'm sorry, but I can't tell anyone; Dumbledore said. I'm sorry that I haven't been myself, but I'll be back to normal soon, I promise." Harry looked truly apologetic, and Hermione was angry at herself for being so worried because whenever she looked into his eyes, she forgave him.

***

After History of Magic, Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way down to the Great Hall for dinner. They had subconsciously agreed not to talk about why Harry had missed out on Astronomy. When Hermione asked him if he needed a copy of her notes, he said he already had them. When they questioned him on how, he just shook his head and looked out the window. They were both disgusted and surprised at how different he'd been acting. They decided to talk about something different and try to get their minds off the subject of Harry.

"So, Ron, who are you going to ask to the Ball?" Hermione asked as they sat at the Gryffindor table for dinner.

"There's a ball?" Ron's cousin, Sarah, asked excitedly. She was a first year and a Hufflepuff, but she had decided to eat with her cousins tonight.

"Er...yes. Last year we had a Yule Ball and it was such a popular event that the teachers decided to have three balls a year. The Yule Ball on Christmas will be the biggest one. The whole school is invited to the other two, but not the Yule Ball--it's for fourth years and up," Harry explained. His attention drifted back to Ron.

"So, Ron who are you taking to the ball? It's only two weeks away."

"Well, I'm going to ask Hannah Abbott tomorrow after dinner. I want to do something special for her and I don't know what yet, but I want to give her enough time to find a dress. I hear they take a long time to get," Ron said, blushing.

"Oh, that's considerate." Hermione smiled indulgingly.

They ate and laughed all through dinner, and when they were finished they made their way up to the common room to do their homework. After about an hour Harry left to go meet up with Cho. Ron and Hermione didn't know exactly how they had decided to meet up but they assumed that it was their mirrors, because Harry went up to the dormitory and when he came back down he told them he would be leaving in the next fifteen minutes.

***

Harry met Cho in the Entrance Hall. They decided to take a walk and enjoy the grounds while the weather would still permit them to.

"So, how was your first day?" Harry asked, taking Cho's hand and leading her outside."

"It was good, what about yours?" Cho smiled as she peered up into his eyes.

"Er, it was all right. What classes did you have today?"

"I had double DaDA this morning and advanced Herbology in the afternoon."

"Is advanced Herbology a double period as well?" Harry asked curiously as they continued to walk hand in hand around the grounds.

"No, it's one and a half so I have time off after lunch," Cho explained. "What did you have today?"

"I had Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy and History of Magic. I missed Astronomy though," Harry said, more to himself than to Cho.

"Why?"

"Because I had a meeting with Dumbledore."

"Is that why you left after lunch in such a hurry?"

"Yeah," Harry stopped, looking away, and then started walking again. Cho didn't press him any further. Harry broke the prolonged silence. "So how was Charlie's class?"

"It was all right, but Lupin pretty much conducted the whole class." Cho sighed.

"Oh yeah, I forgot you don't like him. At least you only have this year, you don't even have to take it...why are you?"

"No reason," Cho said vaguely. "Anyway, I'm really excited about the ball. It's only two weeks away!"

"Yep."

"Aren't you excited?"

"Yep."

"You sure are talkative."

"Yep."

"Harry," Cho said, getting exasperated, "are you even listening to me?"

"Yep."

"Oh really? So you're okay with the fact that I shagged Draco Malfoy senseless?"

"Ye..." she stopped him mid-word with a kiss. Harry's attention drifted back to the conversation as their lips met. Harry had no idea why she kissed him but he didn't mind.

***

"I like it!" Lupin smiled, gesturing with the teacup in his hand. "It's not too much, you can still tell you're in a cave, but it's comfortable."

"Thanks. I spent all day ordering things through owl post. It's amazing how fast things can get here. They have immediate delivery now. I had to use your name though, hope you don't mind."

"Of course not." Lupin took a leisurely sip of tea. "Wait a minute--did you use my money?"

"Of course." Sirius watched, amused, as Lupin's face contorted. "Don't be so thick Moony, I had them get the money from my account in Gringotts."

"Jerk," Lupin muttered as he settled down in one of the new chairs.

"So how was your first day? Did you see Harry?" Sirius asked, draining his cup.

"It was good. I saw him and we waved but then he left. It was during lunch. He was sitting with the Ravenclaws." Lupin didn't look too excited.

"That's his girlfriend's house," Sirius said, dismissing the subject. He was eager to hear more about his godson. "How did he look, did he look okay?"

"He looks like he's managing perfectly fine. A bit tired but otherwise pretty good." Before Sirius had time to reply, a big gray tawny owl swooped into the cave.

"What the hell?" Sirius shouted in alarm as it landed on the back of his chair. People were not supposed to be sending him owls.

"It must be from Dumbledore. He's the only other person who knows about you living here," Lupin said in a calm voice, while opening the letter and handing it to Sirius. Sirius read the letter out loud.

Dear Sirius,

Say hello to Remus for me, I know he's there. How are you? Are you finding the cave a suitable place for a home?

The real reason I'm writing is Harry. Yesterday he and Draco Malfoy were dueling on the train. I don't know if you're aware of this curse but they are both under it. It is called all'interrutture, and it means that they temporarily switch places. The conditions are extreme; Remus can fill you in on them, but I must warn you. If you write to Harry don't write anything about yourself. Draco will find out what you said and possibly where you are. We don't know if he is reliable and he could go to his father, so beware and I'll keep you posted with the latest information.

Albus Dumbledore

"No fucking way. I have to talk to Harry," Sirius said in a quiet voice, which was somehow more frightening than his shouting.

"He didn't say you couldn't talk to Harry," Remus replied. "He just said to be careful about what you say to him because Draco will most likely intercept the information. And when he sees it he will not see it like Harry. He can interpret more from his position."

"What is this all...uh...allinter..."

"All'interrutture? It's a curse from the ancient Romans." Remus explained the origin of the curse and all of the effects on Harry and Draco.

***

Harry angrily walked up the stairs alone. He and Cho had had quite the snog session. But when they were done they had gotten into a stupid fight, about how to say 'fudgesicle'. Harry didn't understand how she could be so nice and sweet at the beginning of the night, and then turn into such a bitch. He blamed it on hormones and tried not to think about it. He was glad that at least Hermione and Ron could distract him from all the crazy things going on in his life.

***

When Harry walked into the common room he didn't like what he saw. Hermione and Neville were hugging, and she had a bouquet of roses in her hand and a dozen balloons behind her. Ron standing in the background, laughing quietly. Hermione and Neville parted. He was bright red but Hermione had no emotion showing on her face. Harry didn't know what to do. He didn't want to talk about it, so he just looked at them and went up to his dormitory.

"Ron, what's with Harry, did you see him?"

"Yeah, I'll go see what's going on," Ron said, still chuckling a little.

Ron made his way up to the dormitory to find the hangings around Harry's four poster tightly closed.

"Hey Harry, there's no point in hiding. What's up with you?" There was no response. "You're going to force me to take points from Gryffindor."

"You wouldn't take points away from your own house." Harry's voice was muffled.

"Okay, so maybe I wouldn't, but I got you to talk."

"Oh god. Nothing's wrong. I got in a fight with Cho. I'm pissed and that's all there is to it."

"Ah, the classic girl problems. I can help you there, what'd you fight about?"

"Er...it was really stupid but she wasn't being very nice," Harry said, giving in. "We were fighting about whether fudgesicle is pronounced fudgesicel or fudgesicle."

"And you're upset about this why?"

"Because I'm being a dumb git," Harry said, laughing a little at himself.

"Damn straight you are!"

"And what's been going on with you and Malfoy lately?" said a new voice. It was Hermione's. Harry opened up the curtains and saw Hermione standing in his room.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" Ron said.

"What's going on? How'd you get here? I didn't hear the door open." Harry added his two cents.

"That doesn't matter. I want answers!" Hermione was starting to look angry.

"I can't tell you. I'm sorry, I would, but I've been told that it would be better if I didn't tell you," Harry said apologetically. "I'm sorry." He truly looked it, but before another word could be said, Hermione was gone.

***