Mark of Ancients

Chapter 13: THE SPIRIT MIRROR

(Author's Note:

It took a LONG FRIGGIN TIME to write the final scene in this chapter, you have no idea)

    "Alright, I'll speak to him. I don't like it anymore than you do."

    "Thank you, Professor Dumbledore!"

    "Run along to breakfast now, Hermione." Harry sat up in bed. Someone had changed him into pajamas, removed his glasses and cleaned up the mess. He tried to suppress last night as he stared at the profile of Dumbledore but with the look on that face, he couldn't.

    "I'm losing it," said Harry plainly. "I keep hearing the basilisk from three years ago. Nearly had me kill Malfoy. It's dead, how did it come back?"

    "It is dead," replied Dumbledore flatly.

    "Then what-"

    "-that's not a snake, Harry. That's Voldemort." Dumbledore put on a serious face. Harry didn't know what to make of it.

    "But, I thought he-"

    "-he's no longer in the United States," Dumbledore interrupted again. "Brev has been his contact for here and there. I had him confess with a Truth Potion immediately after you Disapparated. He has been thoroughly kicked out of Hogwarts, I assure you." There was fire at the name of Brev behind those half-moon spectacles."

    "And Colin-"

    "-is dead I'm afraid. His parents have been notified and they were informed that Voldemort did it, as is truth."

    "I did it..."

    "It was not your mind that was controlling your actions, Harry," said Dumbledore wisely. The words were still no comfort to Harry. "The mark must be removed."

    "And does anyone know how?" asked Harry. He felt slightly angry every time someone said that. It wasn't that he didn't agree, it was the hopelessness that Voldemort was the only one who knew.

    "You might know two more people that do..." No one ever said Harry's parents' names nor referred to them as "mom" and "dad." The subject was just too touchy.

    "BUT THEY'RE DEAD!" shouted Harry. "No magic exists to bring back the dead, you said so yourself."

    "Harry," started Dumbledore fully patiently...

    "What," he grunted back. Dumbledore pointed at a long, thin object resting at the foot of Harry's bed covered in a black cloak.

    "Open it." Harry got on his knees bending forward and ripped the cloak off to reveal,

    "The Mirror of Erised!" said Harry staring at the back of it in shock. "I can't look at it." Harry went back to laying in bed.

    "Remember four years ago when you asked me what I see in the mirror? I will tell you. For the past twenty years, one of several images has been appearing in it but for the past fourteen years two more images have been disturbing me as well." Harry's stomach swelled as he took a guess.

    "Your guess is right," said Dumbledore standing in front of the mirror. "In one, I see Lily and James bringing you to the Hogwarts Express for your first year." Harry could recall a dream of his mom bringing him to platform nine and three-quarters. "In another, I see you running up to James after your first year, grabbing him and then doing the same to your mother.

    "The third image is Voldemort... dead at the hands of James." Harry continued his stare hanging on every word. "I look into the mirror, Harry, once every two months to remind myself of whom and what I treasure most. I bring it to you so that you may find a use for it."

    "And how-"

    "I do not know what you will come up with-"

    "And how is the mirror going to help me?" snapped Harry.

    "You will find a way," said Dumbledore calmly, patting Harry on the shoulder. "You always have. I have faith and you should too." And at those words, he left. As Harry went down to breakfast, he felt sure that,

    "Dumbledore is insane," said Harry as he bit into his pancakes. "Do you know what he did?"

    "Yes," replied Hermione. She shoved her goblet up to her mouth and drank what had to be all of it in one gulp.

    "What am I supposed to do with the mirror?" said Harry, mouth full of pancakes. He chewed it down and added, "And that reminds me, I'm going to get the lowest number of O.W.L.s in the entire school because I haven't had any free time to study."

    "How about you stay out of trouble for the rest of the year, hmm?" suggested Hermione. "Then maybe I can help you."

    "Maybe... but I have to remove this stupid mark..."

    "Harry," she said, putting a hand on his shoulder, "it can wait."

    "No it can't," said Sirius and he pulled her arm off. "The sooner the better."

    "He's right," muttered Harry.

    "Yes, I'm right. Why did Dumbledore give you the mirror, anyway?"

    "He said I'll find something, that I always have. Lost his marbles, he has..."

    "You seem awfully cheery this morning, Harry," piped Michelle.

    "Professor Dumbledore sorta cheered me up. Seems he wants me to find a way to talk to my parents."

    "Well that's great!" cheered Hermione. "Isn't it?" she added cautiously.

    "No, because I have no ideas," grumbled Harry.

    During Paladism that morning, Harry refused to speak to Dumbledore. The morning had been too awkward and he was slightly angry at leaving Harry with nothing than the mirror and zero words of comfort. The only thing that cheered him up was the thought of what was to come.

    Ron had repeatedly messed up deflecting a finger-flapper during Paladism that day. The end result was both hands wriggling uncontrollably and when it reached to his arms, he found himself with his hands on a very awkward part of his body... Hermione quickly remedied the situation with a body bind, letting the finger-flapper wear out (Dumbledore said to wait two minutes). Dumbledore mentioned that he and Moody were combining lessons so as to make sure they could all do spell reflection properly. "It's such a big part of wizardry," repeated Ron in a snotty voice.

    Later that night, Harry and Ron were practicing spirit-talking. Professor Trelawney had given them a spare crystal ball she bought. The two of them wondered if she hadn't bought it the day before...

    It was about midnight when everyone was sleeping did they actually get the smoke in the ball to swirl around inside.

    "What do you think we'll get this time?" said Harry in his best fortuneteller voice.

    "An old ink bottle that talks," said Ron.

    "Let's find out," said Harry. He closed his eyes and began rolling his hands over the ball, his skin glowing faintly. Harry noticed that he did not need to make his skin glow as bright each time he did this. It was getting easier.

    "Stupid old mirror," muttered Ron, standing in front of it. "I don't see anything in it."

    "Maybe you're as happy as you can be," said Harry stifling a giggle. He opened his eyes. "I'd like to know what this smoke is," he complained as the familiar foul stench filled his nose.

    "I'd like to know what's going on with the mirror," said Ron not trying to hide the shakiness. "HARRY STOP!" Harry stopped immediately. "Look, look at the mirror!" said Ron frantically pointing at it. He woke up Seamus Dean and Neville in his shouting.

    "What," yawned Neville. The three of them crowded around the mirror. Good thing the mirror seemed to not be working properly.

    Something fleshy and solid, pure black in color, was receding into the mirror as if Harry had made it come out. It looked thin like a snake but could have very well been a human arm. "Coming out! There was someone with black skin coming out of the mirror!"

    "W-what?" asked Seamus

    Something struck Harry as strange. "I'm going to try that again. Tell me when it's coming out."

    "You sure that's not stupid?"

    "Yes," said Harry confidently. "Just... just stay close to me, all of you. Okay?" Harry tried to hide it, but he wasn't sure what was going to happen either. He repeated the process.

    "It's coming out again!" blurted Ron, grabbing onto Harry's arm very tightly. "Black skin! IT'S GOT BIG TEETH! HARRY, STOP!"

    Harry ripped his hands off the crystal ball and sprang up to see what Ron was talking about. He fell backwards at the sight of what had protruded from the mirror. The black figure had extended a neck out gritting large teeth. It looked like a demon. No hair, horns protruding where ears should be and twirling around to the front of it's forehead. It had no nose but thin lips and large, fang-like teeth. It's eyes were closed as it started to get sucked back into the mirror.

    "All right, everyone?" asked Harry, asking himself just the same thing. Seamus, Ron, Neville and Dean all gave Harry a short nod. "I think we've had enough, tonight," said Harry sharply.

    "W-what was that," asked Dean.

    "I don't know," said Harry, not hiding he shakiness in his voice either. "Ron, would you let go of my arm, it's falling asleep." Ron removed his death grip and slowly got up to get into his four-post bed. "No mention of this to anyone, all right?"

    "All right," said Seamus and Ron. Neville quivered under his covers and Dean just sort of nodded.

    As Harry lay in bed, he couldn't help but think about what that was and why had simply trying to call a spirit make it come out? Very puzzling questions, they were, that he would try to answer the following afternoon.

    Harry waited for Ron and the others to head off to breakfast. He made the excuse that he was going to spend time studying for his O.W.L.s and had some food from breakfast (he had really given it to Hedwig).

    He sat in front of the Mirror of Erised and decided he would try to not close his eyes when attempting it. After several minutes of failure, the clouds inside the crystal ball began swirling very fast. Harry made his skin glow a perfect, blinding white in preparation for anything bad... in case that demon escaped the mirror. He felt afraid but was sure he knew what he was doing. Somehow, he missed Ron's tight grip on his arm giving him the confidence that they knew he would make sure they would all be all right should something bad happen.

    Harry looked up at the mirror. The face had started to protrude again. The black skin, the horns, the hairless head and the huge fangs... It's eyes opened up and it grinned evilly at Harry, waiting patiently for the rest of it's body to emerge. It had thick, broad shoulders and arms with unnaturally large biceps and horns at the elbows. It started to sprawl out on the floor and Harry sat, not moving, keeping his concentration. Hips protruded. It's clothing consisted merely of a loin cloth and thighs as thick as Harry's own head and legs to match.

    The moment it fully escaped from the mirror, the demon lunged at Harry. He stumbled backwards, barely getting out of the way of the huge teeth and claws.

    "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" he thundered. The demon shook off the spell and swung it's sharp claws at Harry. "WINGARDIUM LEVIOSA!" he bellowed. The demon barely moved an inch. It walked slowly, grinning madly all the same. Harry backed up across the room tripping over random objects. "FORTITUDUNUS!" he screamed, frightened half to death, wand pointing at himself. His own arms grew as thick as the demons and he tried to punch it but it skillfully dodged everything.

    "EVASTO COMPOSTIS IPSE!" he tried. The demon's legs gave a short-lived jiggle and all was well again. "INFERNUS GRANDIS INFLAMORA!"

    "I like fire," it said. Harry dashed out of the portrait hole and the creature followed. Both of them took off like rockets through the halls of Hogwarts. Harry had no idea where to go or what to do. It slowly gained ground on him.

    Harry passed Ron and Hermione as he rounded the stairs. "RUN!" he thundered. The two of them caught sight of the creature chasing him and wasted no time running in the other direction. The creature noticed them and took off after them instead of Harry.

    It picked up Ron by the middle, looking quite ready to bite his head off. Harry, panicking, kicked the back of it's knee making it growl madly but succeeded in grabbing it's attention. "Help!" he growled impatiently.

    "This doesn't look to be as easy as a mountain troll!" quivered Ron. The creature conjured a fireball in a hand and tossed it at Hermione. Harry dashed over and toppled her over. The fireball made contact with the wall but didn't do anything.

    "Come on," he said, grabbing both of them. The creature continued to gain ground and after a few minutes of running in circles, it caught up with them, lifting Harry high into the air.

    "Ah," it growled. The air from it's mouth smelled fouler than Snape's office. "You'll make a good breakfast treat." Four more footsteps could be heard making their way down the hallway. The bloody scream of Professor McGonagall startled the creature and it dropped Harry.

    "Fides in flamma, fides in ipse," Harry began chanting very fast as he motioned for everyone to continue running. Harry was heading for the entrance hall, hoping to lead it outside. The mark, however, wasn't casting a spell for him, he was totally aware of it and, in fact, it was his direct choice to use it.

    "NO!" it roared, breaking into a much more ferocious run. Harry stumbled on his own two feet. The demon was apparently very stupid, powerful as it might be.

    "Accio caeles intus venia," continued Harry. He was speaking so fast he nearly stumbled over the words. They rounded the stairs of the entrance hall. Ron tripped, falling hard on the stairs.

    "RON!" screamed Hermione. Dumbledore waved his wand and the body of Ron floated behind them as they ran outside.

    "STOP!" growled the creature. Another fireball had appeared in it's hand and it looked ready to throw. Harry sped up his words tenfold.

    "Ambio iaculor in comae exsuscito AD ABORIOR ABSOLVERE!" he screamed with his hands now clasped.

    "NO!" it roared, as a bright light erupted from it's center, so bright Harry had to turn away. He heard it fall hard onto the floor. They all stopped running, short of breath. Harry fell onto the ground trying to catch his own. Dumbledore set Ron down.

    "I dare not ask how you managed to conjure that," said Professor McGonagall panting heavily at the sight of the dead creature. "I also dare not ask how you managed to kill something Albus and myself have trouble with." Her legs went limp and Dumbledore caught her. "Explain yourself!" she screamed. Dumbledore looked, as always, perfectly calm.

    "I-I was just practicing spirit-talking last night when Ron and I noticed something coming out of the mirror," admitted Harry. "I wanted to see what it was, so I let it-"

    The creature gave another bloody roar and stood up.

    "STAY DEAD!" bellowed Harry. Now was the time to use Clades Ultimus under his own free will, for once. "Parcere meus vita, parcere meus anima," started Harry calmly. The creature looked too frightened to move. It obviously knew how deadly Clades Ultimus was. It made a break for the castle. "Accio potentia caeles intus veneficus adfirmo." The creature banged hard against the castle doors, which Dumbledore had conveniently locked. "Adiumentum meus via. Parcere meus vita, parcere meus anima. Addere ultimus clades AD PARCERE NULLUS ALTERA!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. The demon exploded just as Colin Creevey had.

    "Oh my goodness," said McGonagall, now taking a seat on the ground, black blood all over the five of them.

    "I'm not at all surprised, Minerva," said Dumbledore. "It was only in due time that Harry should learn to take control of the mark's power." Harry let out a weak smile. Killing otherwordly creatures can be fun, but it's not something you want to make a living out of. "It is still no time to celebrate and does not mean Lord Voldemort can no longer control you with it."

    "That creature is a type of Balrog, a shadow and fire demon," continued Dumbledore. "You said it came out of the mirror? It might be possible that Voldemort is playing with forbidden magic, abusing the mark, but... I can only hope not. Summoning and conjuring magic died along with the ancients. I can only reason that your mark conjured up a demon through the mirror."

    "I have a good question," said Harry, feeling puzzled. "If the ancients are dead, how do I and others have this thing?"

    "Descendants of the ancients were known, for hundreds of years after, to bear the mark but that's not all. Several students with the mark have had their bloodline traced down thousands of years and no sign of an ancient was found. I'm sorry. It is... unexplainable and to propose anyone is a descendant of an ancient is utterly preposterous. Entire families of ancients were thought to have been slain during a riot about three thousand years ago."

    Harry hung over Dumbledore's words all through the rest of the day and especially during Quidditch practice after dinner. He remembered hearing that Ron had been made captain (and lots of cheering took place). Harry didn't talk much during any classes and especially during dinner. He decided to once again to try his luck in front of the mirror.

    "You're crazy, Harry," said Ron flatly. "What if a real, full size Balrog comes this time? They're so big they will break the ceiling just standing up!"

    "I'm trying again," said Harry, throwing his cloak on his bed. "If you don't like it, go. If you want to watch, stay close to me." That didn't leave Ron much choice. He grabbed onto Harry's arm again as Harry removed the cloak on the mirror. He made his skin glow the same perfect, extraordinarily bright white as he proceeded, closing his eyes. After several minutes of nothing,

    "Something's coming, but... it's different," said Ron, sounding almost cheerful. "Harry! Look!" The sight made Harry freeze where he sat. The head of a woman with long hair was protruding from the mirror. The face was obvious and he stopped immediately, springing to his feet, not believing what he just saw.

    "Go to bed Ron," said Harry sharply.

    "But-"

    "Forget it," said Harry even more sharply.

    It was Lily's. Harry changed into pajamas as quickly as he could, crawled into bed and pulled his covers up to his chin. The thought made him shiver. Harry managed to foresee a demon's path through the mirror but he couldn't let him his mom come through. He couldn't continue that, he just couldn't.

    Conversation broke out over breakfast Friday morning when Ron mentioned what happened.

    "You killed a young Balrog," said Michelle, "but you couldn't let mom come?"

    "You want to try?" snapped Harry. "I never knew them. At least you got to say goodbye." He poked his eggs with a fork. It looked like he wouldn't be eating again. He looked up at Michelle. "Feeling better?"

    "What?" she said, sounding like she forgot that she ran out on them just a few days ago. "Oh, right. Yeah, feeling fine."

    "Are you all right?" said Harry, eyeing her. "Been acting a little strange past few days."

    "Yeah!" she squeaked. Harry sighed and stuff half a forkful of eggs into his mouth.

    "Harry, after dinner you have to call Lily," said Sirius. "Want us to be there with you?" Half of Harry's trouble of feeling weak about his mom falling out of the mirror was how she, or better yet, how he, would react. After all, all he knew about his parents was what Michelle had told him. It wasn't much to rely on. Harry's stomach gave off a feeling he couldn't recognize but it was one of pending worry. He couldn't answer when he asked himself why he couldn't show it, but he wanted nothing more than for Sirius and Michelle to be at his side when -- or better yet, if -- his mom came.

    If he fainted, they would revive him. If he cried, no one would laugh at him. If he found himself without words, they would calm him. Harry then realized... he would be with his family. A feeling of warmth and comfort crept over him, it was the best feeling Harry could ever recall... but he hid the smile rather well.

    He sorta nodded weakly, opening his mouth as if to say, "Yeah," but the word didn't come out.

    At nine, Harry and the rest of the fifth years made their way into the Great Hall for the explanation on their O.W.L.s. It was all just as Hermione had told them. They were to be tested on material during their first four years as well as material they were not taught yet. And they were to commence rabid studying immediately...

    That night, a little after twelve, Harry, Michelle and Sirius walked up to Harry's four-poster. Neville, Dean and Seamus made for the commons, they agreed to let Harry alone.

    Harry, quite tired for being up so late, took a seat directly in front of the mirror on the floor Indian style, the crystal ball in front of him. Michelle sat on the ledge near the window and Sirius sat on Harry's bed, both of them waiting for Harry to start.

    "Now or never," said Sirius.

    Harry took a deep breath, shook his head and said, "Right," through bated breath. Both Sirius and Michelle stood up and sat down on either side of Harry. Michelle put her arm around him, holding onto his shoulder. It was a strange feeling to be held by someone, he thought. Harry never got more than a smile while living with the Dursleys for ten years. He had been devoid of affection and soon, he thought, he wouldn't be able to take it all in. Harry did feel very strange and if he didn't start now, he might be able to get it over with.

    Harry's skin glowed a perfect white, lighting up the room as if he were a lamp and rolled his hands over the crystal ball. He need not close his eyes this time and after mere seconds, it all began to take effect. Long hair began to protrude from the center of the mirror. The head of a woman extended out and the face was clearly visible. Her mid section began to extend out, followed by legs and then feet, spilling out onto the floor. Harry felt the breath leaving him. Then after several moments, Lily Potter, sprawled on the floor, sprang to life and stood up. The mirror, however, wasn't finished. Another figure wanted to come out.

    Black, untidy hair stuck out from the mirror's center. Harry's heart clamored as he watched the head he knew better as James Potter made it's way out of the Mirror of Erised. James' arms flailed lifelessly about as his body fell out of the mirror, followed by his legs... then feet. He, too, suddenly jerked to life and sprang up. What happened before Harry's eyes was all too much to take in. After his heart sped up out of control, it simply stopped for a little too long and Harry fell backwards in a cold faint.

    He woke up what must have been no more than a minute later, no longer tired. Harry's very own mom and dad, coupled with his sister and godfather beamed down at him as he lay in bed. He sat straight up, at a total loss for words. Harry hoped someone would say something soon because tears started to erupt from his eyes. He sniffed, brushed some tears away then simply threw his arms around his mom as he stood up. She immediately returned the favor and cozy, comforting warmth engulfed him.

    "We know everything," said Lily, as Harry continued sobbing. The real voice, the voice Harry only heard screaming in terror trying her best to fight off Voldemort. "The mirror, Dumbledore must have known, has a special reaction when one's desire is another person and tries to call that spirit."

    "What about your old man?" said James after a minute. It was the other voice that haunted him. Harry let go of his mom and tried to speak but only a few muffled sobs let loose and some choked words. James got on his knees in front of Harry and the two of them embraced. Harry was beside himself, too happy to care about much of anything.

    "Mom?" said Michelle. She, too, had a hard time reacting. "Dad? It's really you?"

    "Yes," said Lily softly, smiling.

    "How can you know what's going on?" said Michelle. She gave up a lot of strength to speak.

    "You have Harry's memory to thank for that," said James. He let go of Harry (who really didn't feel like letting go, but he did) and looked up at him. "It would appear he never forgot us. That, Harry, that kind of love keeps memories alive." Harry finally rang up enough of himself to speak.

    "You can stay... right?" he asked hopefully.

    "It may look like we're here," said Lily, trying to sound as sincere as possible, "and we are... poke us and we'll bleed..." She giggled.

    "But we'll disappear and it's impossible to say when..." Harry sniffed and took his usual seat on top of his bed. "Could be minutes... could be a day."

    "I'm sorry Harry," said Sirius, sounding just as sincere as Lily, "I really am, but there's stuff we have to get to in this reunion." It would appear that was the wrong word to say. Harry bawled into his hands, filling the room with the unmistakable giant hole he had in his heart for the past fourteen years. This hole longed to be filled in.

    Sirius realized this and was a little taken back by Harry's reaction. Lily sat down next to Harry and let him rest his head on her shoulder. After a few minutes, the loud crying had softened to a much more quiet, steady sob.

    "Oh, Harry..." said Lily, tearing.

    "He needs it more than I do," said Michelle. "That and I don't deserve it," she said flatly.

    "Don't be ashamed, Michelle," said James. "You did what you thought was right." Michelle could be seen tearing as well.

    "I ran out on you!" she said, her simple tearing turning into sobs. Harry's sobs had calmed into small whimpers. All the better, because Michelle would flare up at any moment. She sat on Ron's bed all by herself... at least until Lily sat down next to her and put her arm around Michelle, who grudgingly did the same.

    Harry tried for dear life to calm himself down. It had taken a great deal of effort to speak so far.

    "Why?" he said, stopping his tears. All the questions he ever wanted to ask were going to leak out. "Why everything? Why does Voldemort want me dead?" Between each question he sniffed, his voice quivering uncontrollably. "Why was I stuck with the Dursleys? Why does it have to turn out like this?" He turned over and curled up on his bed.

    "We love both of you," said Lily, "very much." Harry noticed out of the corner of his eye Sirius had been talking to James at Ron's bed. Michelle came over to Harry with Lily. "We died once to save... you... Harry, and would do it again if we had to."

    "Don't say that!" he cried.

    "It's the truth. There's a group of Aurors called the Order of the Phoenix. They're all very dedicated in bringing down Voldemort and had almost succeeded but then he started getting followers... When we had you, we knew we had our work cut out for ourselves."

    "Why's that?"

    "James joined the Order to protect you. We're descendants of Godric Gryffindor. That's something special in itself but it gets better. Godric was the descendent of an ancient." She had Harry hanging on every word, much like Dumbledore had just a few days ago. "That makes you something quite special as you're the first person to show the mark of ancients in five thousand years.

    "Remember this past summer? That was indeed Voldemort trying to pull the mark out from you. He controlled select people with Imperius during the tournament and gave them some of your blood so the mark would run through them. Voldemort wants you gone because you're a living ancient."

    "- a what?" gasped Harry, much like he did when Hagrid first told him he was a wizard. Harry sat up.

    "Yes," said Lily softly behind a big smile. "You and Michelle. You were right that the ancients turned to the Dark side. They became arrogant... killed themselves over conflicts of interest. The mark was a charm they put on themselves and their children as a way to scare others off. The mark also served as part of the Dark Arts to strengthen them. It was made to glitter when they needed a little more strength and glow when they were to use much more powerful magic. It's golden when you're using it for good and black when using it for bad.

    "After a few hundred years, the mark became permanent and they no longer needed to use the charm. It was only visible in descendants of the ancients. For thousands of years, the mark did not show up in anyone... anyone! The first night you came home from St. Mungo's, it appeared, glittering softly. James and I were just as surprised to see it as you were when you first found out you were a wizard. We never never saw it in Michelle... it took a lot longer to show in her."

    It would take Harry several days to recover from this. He, Harry, was a descendent of an order of powerful wizards more than five thousand years old. He spent ten years of his life with three people who told their friends he goes to a school for mentally inept boys.

    "Unfortunately, that also makes you the only one strong enough to kill Voldemort. Albus has tried many times himself to take down Voldemort and failed. Voldemort has the mark, but it's weak in him. He wants you dead so he can mix your blood with his... we can't let that happen. I can't even begin to think why he didn't just finish it then. Thank goodness the mark is weaker in Michelle or Voldemort might have the two of you."

    Harry's eyes started to tear again. Why would Voldemort not pursue Michelle as well? Harry felt slightly angry, angry that it all be up to him but he couldn't stay angry long. He could not stay angry when he was finally meeting his parents but it leaves him with more questions. Why remove the mark? What good will it do? Why can't he just kill Voldemort now?

    "I know what you're thinking and I can't tell you everything, Harry. You'll have to find out the rest as you go." Harry's questions were laid to rest. He trusted his own mom more than anyone. He turned to look at James who just stood there at the foot of his bed.

    "We're proud of you, Harry," he said. "Proud of everything you've done and we wouldn't change a thing." Harry's waterworks turned on but the moment was broken by two people coming up to them.

    "Severus!" shouted Lily.

    "Lily!" he shouted back.

    "Severus!" shouted James.

    "James!"

    "Remus!" Lily shouted.

    "Snape!" shouted Harry.

    "Someone want to tell me what's going on?" asked Michelle.

    "Harry, you know Remus," said James.

    "I do," said Harry, wiping the last of his tears so Snape couldn't see, "but... Snape... I thought?"

    "Save your wild stories, Potter," said Snape, looking directly at Harry, who's attention was averted by his dad.

    "You will not speak so coldly to him," he warned. Snape gave James a weaker version of the look of resentment he saves for Harry but it morphed into a weak smile. Harry hid a grin. Finally, someone to stand up to Snape for him.

    "No, Voldemort did not find me," said Snape flatly. "Albus asked me to immediately go find Remus after the end of the first term. We now have the fifteen people required to remove the mark of ancients." They all stared at Harry as his skin began to glow the usual perfect white, but dim. It lit the room with a soft moon glow.

    "Oh good," started Ron as he teetered around as well, Hermione behind him. "a flashli - WHOA!" He had obviously caught sight of Harry's parents. Hermione did not look surprised at all. Harry grinned broadly at Ron. "What - what are they... ?" said Ron. The grin grew bigger.

    "I finished it," said Harry as he pulled Ron into the room.

    "N-nice to meet you!" Ron looked like he was staring into the white eyes of a ghost. Lily and James walked over to Ron.

    "Hello!" cheered James. "You look a lot like your father when he was young."

    "You knew my parents?"

    "Oh, yeah... even told Arthur he'd have two little pranksters in his bag of kids."

    "This young lady is Hermione Granger?" said Lily.

    "Yes, pleasure!"

    "Ah!" said Dumbledore brightly as he, too, invaded the room. "I forgot!" He slapped his forehead with his hand. "The Mirror of Erised has been known to act strangely around spirit talkers... and ancients alike."

    "Hello, Albus," said James and Lily in unison.

    "Nice to see you again," James said as he shook Dumbledore's hand.

    "What?" said Dumbledore suspiciously as he looked at Harry. "You think I'd let you have them all to yourself?" The sparkle was evident behind his half-moon spectacles and he broke into a smile. "I believe Muggles might call this a Kodak moment?" He pulled out a camera. "How about it?"

    Harry broke into another big grin. Another picture to add to the photo album, he thought, but there were two words he had been wanting to say for a while now. He was overjoyed, yet slightly tired. It was getting late and tonight he would be sleeping the best in fourteen years.

    "Mom, why don't you stand behind me? Dad, stand over here on my left with Michelle on your right. Sirius, on my other side." They all followed Harry's direction, except Lily put her arms around Harry's front (he grabbed her hands), James put an arm around Lily and Michelle, and Sirius stretched his arm all the way out to James. Dumbledore snapped.

    Normally Harry wouldn't do this kind of thing around Snape but he couldn't resist. Lily let go of him and he turned around fast saying, "I love you, mom!" and grabbed her again.

    "Touching," said Snape, "very touching."

    "Get out," Harry barked, his skin glowing significantly brighter now. Snape's footsteps could be heard leaving.

    "You two will become friends eventually," said James. Harry let go.

    "He hates me so much I thought in my first year it was him that wanted me dead," said Harry flatly. James laughed. He knew obviously knew well the feeling Snape gave off.

    "Old Severus hates me more than you. I didn't think he'd ever forgive me from stopping him from getting to Remus. Like Albus said, when he did all he could to protect you from Voldemort that year, it was so he could let my memory rest easy and go back to happily hating you." He laughed shortly and added, "Some people never change..."

    "Well now," said Lupin. "Dare I say we get some sleep? It's after midnight!"

    "Just a little longer?" said Harry.

    "I'm afraid not," said Dumbledore. "Tomorrow we absolutely have to take a visit to the Ministry of Magic. We'll be spending much of the day there. I'll explain in the morning. You will see them again when you are older, I promise."

    Dumbledore's word was always final. He acted like a distant father sometimes... and sometimes much to Harry's detestment.

    "All right," he said gloomily.

    "Why don't they stay the night? Ron?"

    "Sure! No problem..."

    "Excellent. Please inform Dean, Neville and Seamus?" Ron ran out. Dumbledore moved Ron's bed over with a wave of his wand to make room for the three new beds, two conjured in the space between his and Harry's.

    When Seamus, Neville and Dean came in they gave reactions similar to Ron's. Harry lay between Lily and James while Michelle lay next to James. Sirius lay on one stretching from Harry's out to Ron's. The arrangement was very tight but Harry could not ask for more.

    For what could have been a few hours, Harry accidentally bumped lightly into Lily. It was partly to make sure she was still there and partly on accident but never once did she wake up. She and James were fast asleep like they hadn't slept in days (and truth be told, they hadn't slept in years).