Chapter 9: The Mirror of Erised

"Good job, Sebas." Syrme said, smiling.

"I didn't do much..." Sebas rebutted, scratching his back head with his hand.

"I took care of the problem. But you had a more important job, to took care of the innocent in danger." Syrme said proudly. Sebas just blushed and said nothing.

The troll was probably also innocent in all of this. But, something caused him to get mad to a point where he was trashing wherever he was going. The only reasonable solution was knocking him out. If there were more complications or more innocents in line, Syrme would just kill him on the spot.

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A while later the teachers came into a beaten troll in the floor of the girl's bathroom and no-one in sight. The heels of the troll were cut deeply, and there were several lacerations on the arms of it.

In the morning, Syrme and Sebas explained to the teachers about the Griffindor girl that came with them because she separated herself from the Griffindor group. Fearing of being in the corridors because of the troll, they decided to let the girl sleep in their dorms.

"Why did you lie to them, you didn't do anything wrong. You just tried to help..." Hermione said to Syrme and Sebas.

"It would cause undesirable complications. If you are okay and the danger is over, all is good." Syrme said.

Since that day Hermione spent all the time she could with them.

She was very talented and full of energy. Sometimes she could be a little bossy and overbearing. But she was just a good person in need of some friends to talk to.

There was an inkling suspicion in the mind of the Headmaster and Severus that the responsible of the state of the troll was Harry. But they didn't have any proof whatsoever, so they let the matter drop for the moment.

Quirrell was more pale and more of a nervous wreck as time went by. The stammering was an act, but the nervousness and the paleness was a sign of Voldy losing strength by the minute.

Christmas arrived and with it, presents.

From Evelyn, books.

From Mike, a broomstick.

From Alex, a black coat with gloves.

Seba's gift for Syrme was a red wristband.

Syrme bought presents for each one, too.

For Evelyn, books.

For Mike, a broomstick.

For Alex, another broomstick, but this one is for cleaning.

And for Sebas, a Tantō. A short sword.

There was a present surprise from an unknown.

Which means it was from Dumbledore.

It was the cloak of invisibility.

When Syrme analysed the cloak, he found a compulsory spell to make the wearer go to a unique location in a separated room in the castle.

'So... the room where the Mirror of Erised is located.'

'If I don't go, I will have problems later. Better make Dumbledore think he can manipulate me at the moment. Besides, I always wanted to see what I desire deep inside.'

Syrme toured through the castle in search of the room in question. When he found it, he noticed a person hiding in a Disillusionment Charm in the back. The charm was almost perfect, if not from his experience with this kind of things, Syrme wouldn't have noticed anything different.

But he had an enhanced sight with him and skills for the perception and vision of the surroundings.

He ignored the Headmaster in the back and looked at himself in the enchanted mirror.

At first, he didn't notice anything. But a while later he could see a thin thread of magic trying to connect with his mind from the mirror. He let the thread enter carefully and waited for the mirror to show what he desired.

Sea. He was in the sea. Free and happy. His friends/ family were with him.

Adventure.

The image changed again.

This time he was helping a child in an isolated street. Next to an orphanage. He gave him a little money for buying bread and-

The image changed yet again.

He was reading with his brother a story about a boy, wrongly accused with theft, went into a crazy world where myths were real, and gods had kids.

His brother.

His real brother from before coming into this world.

Syrme looked at the scene for a few more moments and couldn't help but notice something wet running down his cheeks.

But, he couldn't let his past hold him anymore. He already tried many times to make himself busy with other things and prolong the inevitable.

He needed to let go of his past family.

They surely already moved on by now.

He must do the same.

The image of the mirror changed one last time.

He saw himself, his exact reflection but from his previous body.

He was smiling at him.

"I see that you, like so many before you have discovered the delight of the Mirror of Erised." Dumbledore said, announcing himself. "I trust, by now, you realise what it does."

"It shows us... our deepest desires." Syrme said slowly.

"Yes, the happiest man on earth would look into the mirror and see only himself." Dumbledore said.

Then his posture drastically changed.

"My boy... when Severus came the day they went to pick you, you gave us quite a scare. Look... I know you are wondering why I left you at the Dursleys. And I know that you probably know more than you let, about everything. So I'm going to be blunt." Dumbledore continued.

"I'm sorry, Harry." Dumbledore apologised bowing a little. Syrme just let Dumbledore talk for now.

"The last time I saw Petunia before your mother died, she wasn't like she is right now. When I left you at their house, I thought I was doing the right thing...A family... A family isn't supposed to treat a member of their own like you were treated." He finished. His eyes downcast.

'So he put the charm in the cloak, to apologize...'

Syrme looked at Dumbledore.

He was looking at Syrme expectantly.

"I forgive you." Syrme said. Dumbledore let out a relieved sigh.

"But that doesn't mean I will forget about your negligence." Syrme narrowed his eyes at him.

"I understand..." Dumbledore said sadly.

"This is your school, so I will follow the rules about this place. But if I find something that endangers my health or someone has any ill-intentions towards me, don't expect from me to be with crossed arms." Syrme warned.

Now was the turn of Dumbledore to look at him sharply.

"What?" Dumbledore said seriously.

"You don't know?" Syrme asked, confused.

Dumbledore waited impassively for Syrme to proceed.

"Quirrell, the professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts." Syrme clarified.

"So it's true after all..." Dumbledore said with heavy eyes. "When I saw him again, I noticed something about him was different. But, I didn't want to believe..."

"I will take care of the problem, but it is going to take time. I had prepared a trap for someone the wards detected in the first days. Someone without invitation. But, now I know who the person responsible is, so it's going to be easier. Give me one month, and I'll make sure Quirrell is gone by then. First, I need to know why would he want the object for the trap. I have my suspicions but..." Dumbledore trailed. Syrme looked curiously at him.

"Why are you telling me all of this? I'm just a first-year that discovered someone is dangerous." Syrme asked.

"Let's say... you seem older than you look. And I want to build a trustful relationship with you. You don't appear like a person who likes to be manipulated, so I prefer... a friendship, or... A partnership if you want." Dumbledore said.

"Very well. Don't disappoint me, old man." Syrme said with a smile.

"It's supposed to be the other way around, Harry." Dumbledore said jokingly, leaving the room.

Syrme sighed and left the room seconds later. On the corner of his eye, the Syrme in the mirror kept smiling at him.

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When Syrme took a look at the third corridor the next day of the talk, he noticed something different about the place where the stone was guarded.

The traps were completely different.

A simple spell Alohomora couldn't open the lock, and apart from the Cerberus the trapdoor also wasn't there.

Fidelius charm.

Dumbledore was taking securing the stone seriously.

Dumbledore was frowning the entire time in the hall at dinner. The object his friend lend at him was secure enough, so Quirrell opted for an alternative.

The Unicorns attacks.

If he called the Aurors to the school and arrested Quirrell without proofs other than the word from a student, it would result in a complete disaster.

Plus, he had a hypothesis about why Quirell was sometimes seen talking to himself.

If the world was to discover that their Boogeyman wasn't completely dead as they thought...

He must do something.