Tears in Heaven

(Disclaimer: I own nothing.)

Tears In Heaven

Chapter Nine - The Boy In The Mirror

Troy came back to their spot in the forest, his arms full of firewood for their fire. "Mari, I've been thinking and if we go through the West Routes, we can -," but he stopped when he found she wasn't there. "Mari?" he called. "Marianna?" He dropped the blocks of wood on the ground when he heard a scream some distance away.

He raced to his horse and the ropes uncoiled automatically as he swung onto the mare. "Race, boy," he said to his horse. His eyes were bright in the night and his heart was pounding painfully in his chest. "Marianna!" he yelled, looking around.

"Troy!" he heard her scream. "Troy!" she shrieked again.

He was soon cleared of the forest and was surprised when he was confronted with a large band of rogues.

Marianna's wrists were being roped together. He hopped off his horse and glared a glare filled with irrepressible rage. "Unhand her," he said in a deathly calm voice. She looked up at him with a tear stained face and grimaced as the burly man holding her still tightened her ropes.

"Or what, little man?" said the outlaw.

Troy unsheathed his sword. "Or prepare to fight me."

~*~

Ginny rolled her eyes. Mae laughed. "Aw, come on, Ginny - I was just joking," she said.

The redhead raised a brow at her. "Oh really?"

Mae shook her head. "Uh, I was kidding! Get over it!" Ginny laughed when she saw Ron coming down the steps from his dormitory. Harry was at his side. She waved and saw Ron smile somewhat uncertainly for she was still giggling irrepressibly at him.

"You okay, Gin?" he wondered. She was set into a worse set of giggles.

Mae sighed dramatically. "Mr. Weasley, perhaps I should give you the number for St. Mungo's." He just grinned and shook his head. He and Harry then left. Soon, Ginny was done laughing and clutching her side. "You're brother is a funny child," said Mae.

"A funny child? Since when have you gone off saying things like that? 'Funny child'...jeez," replied Ginny. Mae just laughed. "Oh!" said Ginny standing up suddenly. "I have to go retake that quiz in Transfiguration. I'll see you later, all right?"

"You have to retake it now? It's our free period!"

Ginny nodded. "I know, bugger." She rushed out of the classroom with Mae's laughter echoing after her. She turned the corner and ran smack dab into someone. With a surprised shriek, she fell backwards and landed painfully on her rump. She pushed her hair back from her face saying, "I'm sorry!"

"No, it's fine -," the other person started to say, but stopped suddenly when he realized who it was. He scowled and stood up, brushing imaginary dust from his clothes. "You should watch where you're going, Weasley," he sneered.

She stood up slowly and bit back a groan as she felt a shooting pain run through her back. "Nice running into you too," she muttered almost inaudibly.

"What was that?" asked Draco, leaning in closer, his brows raised mockingly.

Ginny lowered her eyes and knelt down to pick up her things. "I said 'nice running into you too.'" She then looked up at him, her eyes defiant. Draco's eyes widened slightly. Did Ginny Weasley just talk back? He had always seen her slinking after Potter or in a quiet corner talking to a few other fifth year girls. "As if I wanted to run into someone, let alone you." She stood up and turned on her heels. Then she stopped and turned back around to face him with a glare. "Know what, Malfoy? You should start watching where you're going." Then she left.

"My, my, was dear ol' Draco Malfoy just told off by a fifth year?" scoffed someone behind him.

Draco wheeled around and scowled at Gayle's smirk. "Go away."

She cocked her head to the side. "Still bitter? Will you never relax and toss it all away?" He just glared at her. "It has worked wonders with me; plus, it feels great. Besides, you wouldn't get told of by fifth years of any other toddlers walking these halls."

"Gayle, go to hell," he said.

"Been there, done that," she said casually.

He scowled. "Well, do back," he retorted and turned to walk away.

He heard her high heels clicking on the floor as she ran to catch up. She caught his arm. "No, Draco, wait, I didn't mean that," she said. He looked at the ceiling, trying to avoid her, but found that he had to look at her after what she said. Did she just apologize? She sighed. "I - I need your help with something," she whispered.

Draco's expression became aggravated and he pulled his arm away from her. "Help - you always need my help." He shook his head and narrowed his eyes at her. "Why should I help you, Gayle? Why? The last time I thought about helping you - I thought about how long we had been friends and what we went through together - then I decided I'd help you and the result was my getting stabbed in the back. What's to make me want to even try this time?"

"If I told you what my assignment was, I suspect you'd want to help me," she said in a weak voice, but it was too late, he had already walked away.

~*~

Draco went into his dormitory and sat at his bed. He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes tightly. Couldn't anything go right in his life? Couldn't he just be happy for once? He lied down and became lost in his thoughts.

By the time he opened his eyes, the room was dim from the light fading outside. He sat up with a solemn sigh and noticed a piece of parchment on his bedside table. It must have been there before he came in because he hadn't noticed anyone coming in while he was there.

He picked it up and looked at it for a moment. The envelope was sealed with the blood red wax stamped with the Malfoy seal.

You have failed the first part of your Ritual.

Draco pursed his lips at the bluntness of his father's words. They cut like steel in his heart and indeed, he felt a pain well there - though he wasn't sure of the reason it had arisen.

However, you know there are still two more for you to complete and I expect you to pass. I need to see you soon. Meet me in the Forbidden Forest on Thursday at midnight.

Lucius

Draco read the letter twice more then crushed it and threw it at the wall. He buried his head in his hands. There were now more decisions that would have to be made - and he wasn't looking forward to making them.

~*~

Remus looked at him in contemplation for a few moments. Who was this strange man that stumbled upon his home?

"You look familiar," he said.

Nor Griffith looked up. "Really?" he wondered in a casual tone.

Remus grinned. "Yes - it's as if I've seen you somewhere...but a long time ago."

Nor was quiet for a moment, looking in his tea. "You haven't - but you've seen my father."

"Who was your father?" asked Remus, but Nor didn't answer, he just smiled.

Hallie walked in with the main course and glared at Remus' dreaded look. She swatted at him. "I heated it, all right! Goodness!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. Nor watched the exchange in amusement.

"She's a horrible cook," said Remus. He gave Hallie an innocent smile.

"Jesus, and I've been cooking for about...ten and something years! It's -," but she cut herself off looking extremely pale. Remus raised a brow her way.

"Hal?"

"Oh my, Remus, we're old!"

Nor laughed and it was a joyful laugh, yet sad at the same time. "Dear, you aren't nearly as old as some," he told her with a slight smile. She returned the smile, though it was still a bit shaken. He looked around and saw pictures on a table nearby. Nor picked it up and looked at the two identical boys in it. They grinned and waved at him. One of them pulled on his brother's earlobe and the other took a swing at him - but missed on purpose. Nor laughed. "Are these your sons?" he asked, looking from Remus to Hallie.

They looked at each other with a quick glance before they both averted their eyes. "Yes," replied Hallie.

Nor looked at them for a moment before setting the picture back down. Probably not a good question. He picked up another one and saw a bunch of girls and boys. His eyes widened slightly when he noted the Hogwarts uniforms. Pale blue eyes wandered over the photograph and he saw four boys with the Gryffindor patch on their uniforms running around the rest of the group. One of the girls, he presumed was Hallie when she was younger. She punched one of the black-headed boys on the shoulder and Nor noticed that that boy looked much like her sons. His eyebrows raised. He then saw Remus with his arm around the waist of a blond headed girl and smiled a mysterious sort of smile. It just so happens that he had Seen the girl in the fire a few days ago. The redheaded girl next to Hallie was laughing at the other black-headed boy's antics. He also had pale blue eyes.

When he finally looked up, he saw Remus and Hallie looking at him intently. "This is a nice picture," he said. "Is this from your years at school?"

Remus and Hallie both nodded, looking away again. "Fourth year," he told Nor quietly.

Nor set the picture upon the table once more. He took a drink from his glass and wished he hadn't said anything. Then he shrugged inwardly.

It's quite all right; soon things will be better. He smiled to himself. I did See it afterall.

~*~

After Herbology, Joey took of his glasses and rubbed his eyes tiredly as he slowly followed Billy, Emery, and Tye out the door. "Hey, Joey, can I talk to you for a minute?" He stopped and looked at the girl waiting at the doorway.

"I'll meet you guys back at the common room," he said to his friends and brother. They nodded and waved a farewell to him. Tye puckered his lips at him and Joey laughed as Emery tugged him along shooting him an apologetic look as they left. Joey turned back to the girl whom he knew from class. "Hi, Adrienne, right?" he asked.

She blushed slightly. "Close, Adrianna. Ravenclaw"

He nodded. "Sorry, I'm worn - no excuse though. What's up?"

Adrianna fiddled with her hands. "Um, I was just - I wanted to know if something was wrong with Billy." Joey noticed then that she could discern who was who between he and his twin.

Interesting...Billy has an admirer...Joey grinned inwardly.

"I mean," she went on, "he's usually, you know, being all loud and stuff, but lately..."

Joey nodded slowly and wondered who else could notice Billy's strange behavior. "He's being like an introvert trying to be an extrovert." She looked at him strangely and shrugged with a half grin. "True though, isn't it?"

She smiled a small smile and nodded. "We're Herbology partners, you know? And...he was just acting a bit off." He looked down the hallway. "It's easy to tell there's something wrong with him, but also that he's trying to hide it." Joey was looking at her in contemplation. She avoided his gaze. "Anyway, I was just wondering if you knew what was up - I was just a little worried is all."

"Did anyone else notice?" he asked.

He saw her cheeks redden to a deeper color. "Um, I'm not sure, it's not really all that obvious." Joey bit back a smile. She brushed her chestnut brown hair from her face, letting the waves run past her shoulders. Her hazel colored eyes met his. "Well, um, if you know what's going on, I'd really appreciate it if you'd tell me." She looked past him once more. "Uh - I'll see you in potions later, okay?"

"All right, see you, Adrianna." She hurried down the hall with a last smile in farewell. He waved her goodbye. "I'd tell you what's wrong with Billy, except I don't know either," he mumbled to myself.

"What was that?"

Joey turned to his right to see Harry standing there with a grin at him. "Oh, hi!" exclaimed Joey. "What're you doing here?"

"I've got Herbology next."

Joey just blinked at him. "Oh."

Harry laughed. "Who was that?"

"Who?"

"That girl?"

"Oh, she's a Ravenclaw - Adrianna." Joey looked at the other boy with a bright smile. "Billy has an admirer," he declared. Harry looked at Adrianna who had now caught up with her friends.

"Well, well, well..." he replied. Joey grinned.

"Harry!" Both boys turned around to see the Slytherin girl associated w/ Malfoy jogging towards them.

"Oh, hi, Gayle," said Harry in surprise.

She was now standing beside him. "Can I talk to you?" she wondered. He was looking at her in bewilderment, but he nodded anyway. Gayle looked turned to Joey and her eyes widened slightly. "Joey right?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said back.

She nodded. "Do you mind if I take Harry from you?" Joey shook his head in response. She smiled somewhat grimly. "Thanks." She then led Harry away.

There were laughs from behind a statue nearby and Joey frowned as he advanced towards it. Suddenly, Tye jumped out with a yell. Joey jumped backwards and bumped into someone. With a quick 'sorry', he swung a punch at his friend with a laugh. The other boy ducked backwards into Emery. Behind Emery was Billy and all three boys toppled over backwards.

Joey laughed as he helped them up. "What were you guys doing?" he questioned.

Emery grinned. "Wondering what Adie wanted with you."

Tye nodded. "But it wasn't you she wanted after all, it was Billy!" Joey looked at his brother but the other boy was looking down the corridor with a strange look in his eyes.

"Billy - boy, you all right?" wondered Joey.

Billy turned to look at him and smiled. "Yeah, I'm - I'm fine. Come on, or we'll be late for Transfiguration." They boys left, but Joey lagged slightly behind, watching his brother with a certain feeling of forbidding welling inside him.

~*~

Harry followed Gayle down the empty hallway. "Where are we going?"

"Some where we won't be overheard," she replied. She looked this way and that as if afraid of being followed.

Padded footsteps sounded in their ears and both turned around. Gayle brandished her wand and muttered a spell on instinct. A beam of light shot forwards in a blinding flash of crimson. The coal black dog leapt out of its way and Gayle moved the beam away with a gasp.

"Oh my!" she exclaimed. "A dog! Gracious." She had a hand to her heart and Harry noticed that she had paled to a ghostly white. Without another word, she tucked her wand back into her robe pocket. "I'm sorry," she said, and the dog trotted to Harry.

Harry's eyes widened in recognition. He touched the dog's head affectionately. Sirius latched his teeth onto Harry's sleeve and tugged, leading him down the hallway. Harry looked to Gayle, who leaned against the wall, her eyes closed. "Gayle, are you okay?"

She opened her eyes and met his. "Um, no - yes, I'm fine." Her gaze drifted to the dog trying to pull Harry away. She nodded. "I think you had better follow him. He seems like he means business."

"What is it you had to talk to me about?" he wondered, ignoring her comment. He nodded to the dog and patted his head, meaning he understood. Sirius let go.

She averted her gaze. "Oh. It's - it was nothing, it's all right. Go with the dog. Um, I'll see you in Potions later," she said, then turned quickly and walked away to the Slytherin Common room.

Harry waited until she was out of sight and out of hearing distance before he said, "All right, Sirius, let's go."

Sirius led the way to the Shrieking Shack. Once there, he transformed. "Harry, I've a favor to ask of you," he said.

Harry noticed that Sirius' eyes were withdrawn and filled with worry and something he believed was close to fear. "Anything," he replied.

His godfather smiled, though it was very grave. "Would you keep an eye on Billy for me? Um, the headmaster and I - we've been talking. I'll tell you what's going on for some time, but I really need you to keep a close watch on Billy." Harry nodded. Sirius smiled again and this time it was brighter. "I'm glad I can count on you, Harry. If you ever need anything, just ask me, all right?" Harry nodded once more, this time it was accompanied with a smile. "Things are going to start changing around the wizarding world, just keep your head up and always be alert." He ran a hand through his raven feather colored hair. "I've got to go, but I'll see you again soon, okay?"

"Okay, be careful," he told his godfather. Sirius smiled and hugged him. It was an awkward hug, for neither had much experience with hugs.

"I'll see you soon," repeated Sirius. He then transformed back into his dog form. Harry followed him out and waved goodbye before he went back into Hogwarts, alone.

~*~

Joey shifted uncomfortably under his brother's gaze. "What do you want me to say?" he asked.

Billy shrugged, the corners of his mouth tilting upwards slightly. "That you were going crazy for a moment there and just happened to think the opposite of everything." He paused and squinted at his brother with a disgusted look. "Really, Malfoy?" Joey avoided his gaze, instead fiddling with his pencil.

"Don't you remember?" he wondered softly.

"No," said Billy, however, it was said a bit too quickly. Joey glanced at him and the other boy turned look at the ceiling with an aggravated look. "You know what? Just forget about it. I don't care."

Joey turned to look at him squarely. "What's gotten into you, Billy-boy?"

"Just forget it."

"Why? We always tell each other everything - we don't have any secrets." He raised a brow. "Do we?"

Billy put a finger to his lips. "Shush, class is starting."

"Billy and Joey Forester," said Professor McGonagall.

"Yes?" said both simultaneously.

"Please follow me." She nodded to Professor Binns who had just floated through the door. Minerva then proceeded to leave the room, but before, she said, "I want your class work finished before I come back," then continued on her way. "I need you two to lead our guests around the school. They're school, Crescent Village Academy, has been recently attacked and they have come to Hogwarts for protection. Isabella and Neo will both be attending our school for the time being and I need you both to give them a tour of Hogwarts. Is that understood?" The boys nodded.

Bella crossed her arms over her chest. "I still don't see why we have to stay in here. Madame Pomfrey cured us already!"

Neo laughed. "My, is dear little Midget getting cranky?" He clucked his tongue and wagged a finger at her. She glared at him but couldn't hold the angry expression. A grin spread across her face and she threw one of the many pillows surrounding her at him. "Ah! Midget's gonna get it!" yelled Neo and fumbled to get a pillow from behind him and throw it at her before another one came his way.

He wasn't fast enough.

Isabella threw the next pillow at him as hard as she could and he fell over the opposite side of the bed. She laughed and pushed off the covers to get behind her own. "Bombs away!" Neo said and as she peeked over the edge of her bed, a pillow smacked her in the face.

She fell backwards with a surprised cry. She sat up again and stood up with her hands on hips and a scowl on her face. "Neo! That hurt!"

He too stood up and mocked her - his hands on his hips, a matching glare upon his face. "Bella!" He laughed. "Don't you think falling off a bed hurts?"

She pursed her lips.

"Ahem," said a voice in the doorway. Both Neo and Isabella turned around to see Professor McGonagall in the doorway with two identical boys beside her. "I suppose you both are feeling quite all right now, then?"

Bella crawled back onto her bed where she sat cross-legged. "So sorry," she said with an apologetic smile.

Neo came over and sat next to her. She tried to push him off her bed without anyone noticing, but when he fell over, he did so with a loud yell. He stood up and brushed imaginary dust from his clothes. "I'm okay."

Joey and Billy looked at one another with raised brows.

"Well," said Professor McGonagall, "Madame Pomfrey said she thought you both were well enough to attend classes."

"Classes!" exclaimed Neo in disbelief. "You can't be serious!" But the professor's expression told him she was. He put a hand to his head and stumbled over to his bed and lay down. "I don't think I'm ready - I'm feeling sick."

Bella rolled her eyes heaven ward and the professor went on. "You will begin tomorrow, which, if you don't know, is a Friday. There will be a Quidditch match on Sunday." Neo shot up to a sitting position.

"Quidditch?" he wondered, his eyes brightening.

His friend looked at him with wide innocent eyes. "Oh, Neo, you just can't go! You're still feeling sick!" He scowled at her.

"This is Joey and Billy Forester," Professor McGonagall continued, ignoring their bickering, though the corners of her lips lifted a bit. "They will give you the grand tour of Hogwarts. Madame Pomfrey will be back here at six thirty to meet you when you return before dinner. You will be back here at six thirty," she repeated sternly.

Neo and Bella shared a look.

"Neo," she said, "I believe you're a year or two above Isabella. Would you prefer to join the fifth years?"

Neo ran a hand through his hair, then he shook his head. "Naw, I think I'll just stick with my buddy." He punched his friend's shoulder and she shot him a menacing glare. He grinned. "She does love me ever so much."

Professor McGonagall raised her brows. "All right then." She turned to Joey and Billy. "I expect you both to be on your best behavior." She looked once more at Neo and Bella before leaving them with a farewell.

Joey clasped his hands together. "All right then, folks, if you would follow us." Neo shared a meaningful look with Isabella before he followed the twins out. Bella watched after him for a moment before scrambling off her bed after them. They listened as Joey pointed out every detail of the school.

"Do you ever get lost?" asked Bella as she peeked around one of the many hallways.

Joey turned around to wink. "All the time."

Billy led the way up a staircase, and that was when it decided to move. They all made moves to grab onto the stair railings. "By the way," said Billy with a smile, "the staircases like to change."

Neo scowled as he looked downwards. "No shit, Sherlock."

"Where will it take us?"

Joey shrugged. "We'll just have to find out."

Billy followed his brother into the dim corridor once the staircase stopped its movement. He had the urge to stop Joey and tell him something, but for some reason, whatever it was that was so important seemed to have slipped his mind. His whole body seemed to be functioning as if automatically and he seemed to be detached from himself.

Neo was all but ready to follow the twins into the frightening looking corridor, but Bella grabbed onto his sleeve. "Neo, are you sure we should go in there?" she asked quietly.

He looked at her with a raised brow somewhat mockingly. "Afraid, eh, Midget?" She glared at him and punched his shoulder. He blinked at her. "Was that supposed to hurt? Anyway," he went on quickly when her scowl intensified, "they're going in so what could be wrong?" He quickly jogged ahead. Bella heaved a defeated sigh and followed.

She was just in time to hear the words, "Forbidden corridor," leave Joey's mouth.

"Brilliant," said Neo with a grin.

Joey turned to look at him. "Ah, I thought so," he said with a bright smile. The other boy raised his brows expectantly. "You're a crazy one."

Neo grinned. "You're a bigger one from what I've heard."

Bella slapped her forehead. The boys looked at her with raised brows. "I hope not all Hogwarts students are like you." She sent a scowl at Neo. "Or like him."

Neo wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground. She kicked around for a while before her foot met his shin and he fell over. She stood up and brushed her robes off.

Joey just laughed and shook his head. "It would be great if everyone was," he said.

Bella rolled her eyes at him.

Neo grinned at Joey. "Watch out, she does that a lot." Bella slapped the back of his head. "And that too. She's a violent one."

"Neo..." He laughed and ran in front of the twins.

Billy ran a hand through his hair. There was something here - something he was meant to find. Something that would help him. Help him? He almost cried out in frustration. Something was wrong with him and it was scaring him like anything, but the only thing was - he didn't know what the problem was. He felt fine, but he felt so detached from everything, so spaced, yet so imprisoned as well.

"Oh look, a door!" said Joey. He pushed against it, but it didn't budge.

Neo clicked his tongue and brandished his wand. "Poor impaired child, this is the way it's done - Alohomora!" The door shifted slightly and dust arose, but other than that, it did not open.

Bella sighed and rolled her eyes again. "Amateurs," she muttered and pushed her way past Neo and Joey. "Alohomora!" she exclaimed. The door slammed open with a loud bang. She turned to look at the other two with a smirk as she flicked her wand up and down. "All in the wrist, baby, all in the wrist."

Neo laughed and picked her up, swinging her around. She tried to stay angry with him, but found herself laughing as well. He put her down after a while and they walked into the room.

Billy felt his heart pounding. We're getting closer, I can feel it. He brushed a strand of black hair from his face. Joey turned to look at him and felt a pang of worry within himself when he saw his brother's face was pale yet flushed red on the cheeks. Billy's sapphire eyes were simply glimmering and seemed to be glowing in the dim room.

Billy's steps increased and he walked to the back of the room with purpose. He stopped suddenly and there seemed to be a silence that pressed on him unbearably. He could hear the pounding of his heart and it came languidly as if time had suddenly slowed down. Before him, the Mirror of Erised was perched.

~*~

Remus jogged down the steps, fixing his dress robes. He turned to look at Nor. "You're sure you'll be all right here?" he asked.

The man smiled. "Positive."

Remus grinned back and nodded. "All right then. These balls usually run late so don't wait up. There's food in the kitchen - don't worry, I cooked. Um, get a lot of rest, Hallie says you're still feeling weak."

Nor laughed. "You sound like my mother."

The other man just grinned and shook his head. Hallie came rushing down the steps, holding her dress robes up so she didn't trip on their length. She smiled at Nor somewhat absently. "Bye, Nor! Come on, Remus, we're late."

He rolled his eyes. "We're always late." She didn't seem to hear him for she had already grabbed her purse from a nearby table and waved goodbye to Nor. She was out the door within a few seconds.

Remus said, "Bye, Nor, we'll see you tomorrow!" He then followed his friend out the door.

"Take the airway, Marvin," said Hallie, checking herself in a mirror. "We're late."

The butler/driver smiled at her in the rearview mirror. "We always take the airway, Miss," he said.

She looked up from her mirror at him. "I said call me Hallie."

"Right, Miss," he replied, and rolled the window up separating the driver and passenger seats from the back seats of the limousine. Within minutes, they were at the mansion of Lord Fiere. They thanked Marvin before walking in through the double doors.

"Good evening, Miss Forester," said the steward, holding the door open. He raised his wand, colorful sparks shooting into the air. "Hallie Forester and Remus Lupin," he announced.

Remus offered her his arm and she slipped her arm through his with a smile. They descended down the steps. Another steward was there to intercept them. "Lord Fiere awaits you," he said in his French accent and led them to the main table. They took their seats.

Lord Fiere was an elderly looking man. His hair was completely white and his complexion as such though his eyes were of an amazingly dark color - almost black. He had a kind face and when he smiled, his face was a mask of joy. "Hallie, I'm so glad you could join us. Only fifteen minutes late today," he said with a wink to Remus.

She blushed slightly. "Um, yes, the dress robes came in late you see and -," but the lord just laughed.

"It's quite all right," he told her. "Now, let us enjoy the evening, and then your performance."

She smiled and took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. Just like cooking, she had never gotten used to live performances.

Dinner went well and the first performer went on stage. The man's voice was smooth and haunting - it was mellow and sad and oddly soothing. "Excuse me, Miss Forester, but would you care for a dance?" she heard someone ask behind her. She turned around and smiled at the man.

"I'd love one," she replied and stood up. "Please call me Hallie." A small smile escaped his lips and he offered her a hand. Hallie shot Remus an amused grin for he was frowning a troubled frown at her. He was always so protective of her and she loved him for it.

"My name's Ian McLowe," he told her as he led her away from the table. His voice was much like the performer's - soothing and mellow. They stopped on the dance floor and he placed one of his hands on her waist and the other, he kept his hold on her hand. Ian's hair was a light brown with a touch of blond highlights and his eyes were a tranquil blue. His eyes seemed locked on hers and she felt something strange stirring in her. She hadn't felt that feeling in a long time and it worried her.

It seemed quite a time before the song was over. "Thank you for the dance, Ian," she said and went back to her table.

There was one more performance before her own. Hallie's nerves seemed to be ecstatic and she took a sip of her drink. The ice in the water tinkled against the glass. Lord Fiere smiled at her and Remus patted her hand reassuringly.

"You'll do fine," said her friend in a low tone. She smiled gratefully at him and found herself starting to relax. Her head felt slightly fuzzy and she wondered absently if Remus had slipped a bit of alcohol into her drink. He was crazy like that sometimes - but everything he did was always for a reason and she appreciated it. She felt better already. Alcohol had that effect on her - one drop and she was lost.

It seemed like only a minute before it was her turn to perform. Lord Fiere wished her good luck and Remus gave her a big bear hug. She smiled at them both and made her way to the stage.

"Good luck, Miss Forester," said one of the stagehands. She smiled and she thought she said 'thank you' but couldn't seem to keep her thoughts together. Her head was spinning and the world seemed to be toppling from side to side. She put a hand to the wall to steady herself. "Miss Forester, ten seconds, the director suggests you take the stage," said the stagehand. She nodded but quickly stopped for it seemed to worsen the spinning of her mind.

Hallie muttered something to him she hoped sounded like another 'thank you' and tried to keep her thoughts straight. She soon found herself before the microphone. The music began to play and she swayed slightly. The lights glowed over her and she suddenly felt like everything was too bright. It was then that the edges of her vision started turning black. A feeling of horror swept through her and she tried to find something to steady her.

"Hallie!" yelled Remus.

She saw Sirius' face before everything went black.

~*~

Billy was centered before it and his eyes were cast downward. He didn't know what he would see when he looked up, and he was frightened to do it. There seemed to be a heaviness within his heart and a sense of forbidding arising within him. Whatever he saw in the Mirror of Erised might be able to help him - might be able to tell him what he needed to know. He wanted a cure, a way to free himself from the strange prison he was trapped in.

It was strange. He walked around school as he normally would, and acted as he usually did, but there was something missing. His countenance didn't seem to give anything away, but as he thought about it, he didn't know what it was he was trying to hide. There were very few who seemed to wonder about his condition. Joey of course was one, but then again, Joey always knew when something was wrong - even if Billy himself did not. When he first noticed the change, he had exploded at his mother and brother for no reason at all. Billy wondered who else noticed his change.

The day his father had been revealed to him, for some reason, a strange and overpowering rage had taken over. It was as if he was watching himself from a distance as he saw Sirius Black walk into the room, his mum towing him along. Her smile was bright and filled with utter bliss and he knew that this man was the missing half of her. He had noticed that she never seemed to be quite herself, but when she walked in with Sirius Black, he saw the complete person of Hallie Forester. Normally, she seemed to cast an aura about her that was simply hers, but when in this man's presence, she seemed to positively radiate.

As happy as he had felt the day he met Sirius, for some reason, a rage had taken over him. It was as if he was watching himself from someone else's point of view, wishing vainly that he would just shut up. The look on his mum's face was utterly forlorn when he had started yelling at her. She seemed to have placed such a high view of his opinion and when he had gone berserk that day and shot his rage towards her...Billy swallowed the lump in his through.

What he wanted most now was to find how to make himself the way he was. He needed to get rid of the sickness inside of him. He could feel it rotting him from inside to out and sometimes the pain was unbearable - but there was nothing he could do. Whatever was keeping him this way wasn't giving him up without a fight.

Billy opened his tightly closed his eyes and slowly raised his head. Sapphire blue eyes met sapphire blue eyes. He blinked, the reflection blinked. Billy waited, desperate hope rising in his heart and it pained him. He put a hand to his chest, but his reflection did not. The boy in the mirror smiled. Billy blinked rapidly to regain his focus. The boy in the mirror shook his head, mouthing words that Billy could not discern.

Billy fought to understand what the boy before him was saying, and soon, faintly, he could hear the words. "It's coming," said the boy, his voice sounding immaterial and distant. "I'm coming."

There was a flash and the boy's smile was gone, however, not entirely. His eyes glowed red with a fire within and the curves of his mouth were tilted upwards. The smile was not the joyful smile it was before, though, it was menacing and threatening. Billy saw his mum in the background, desperately reaching for something - no, someone. It was a man, Sirius Black. He heard his mother's pained scream and saw tears running down his father's face - and right before him, the boy in the mirror's smile broadened.

Billy took a step back, but could not seem to tear his eyes away from the mirror. There was another flash of light and the boy's smile was no longer frightening, but serene and cheerful. "Fight him, fight them - I'm coming," said the boy in the mirror, his eyes sparkling. "I'm coming."

And before the lonely blanket of darkness fell of him, Billy could have sworn that the boy in the mirror was not him.