26 Mirror of Erised

Today, surprisingly everyone was gathered in the library. Draco, Theodore, Pansy, Daphne, Hermione, Harry, Ron, and even Cho was there. The atmosphere between them was awkward since it hadn't even been a week since the last Quidditch match.

Draco and Theodore were going to the library to search for some transfiguration book on animagus. Animagus was their new research topic, they wanted to research on it right away after they saw Professor McGonagall's transfiguration from a cat to a normal human; but due to the ongoing experiment on the antidote of Veritaserum, they delayed it till now. Animagus was a very interesting topic for Draco and he wanted to learn about it right after he was transmigrated here but unfortunately, there were no books on animagus back at Malfoy Manor, since none of his ancestors was an animagus.

From what Draco knew, from his past life and till now; An Animagus also known as Animagi is a witch or wizard who can morph him or herself into an animal at will. Animagus is taught to students only during their third year in Hogwarts. It is a learned skill, unlike the hereditary skill of a Metamorphmagus. Metamorphmagus was also a very rare skill, but it was an innate ability and couldn't be learned like spells or potion. Metamorphmagus allowed the witch or wizard to change their physical appearance at will without the use for stuff like Polyjuice Potion. Draco knew only one Metamorphmagus himself, but he had also heard that his cousin Nymphadora Tonks was one of them.

Talking about Tonks, Draco wanted to reconnect with his family members that have broken ties with them over the years, so he could use their help in time of need. To do so he planned to send Christmas gifts to everyone this year, to extend an olive branch towards them.

Excited to research on the topic of animagus, Draco and Theodore rushed over to the library. On the way, someone called out to them.

"Mr. Malfoy... Mr. Nott." A pretty voice called out. Draco and Theodore stopped and looked back. The person who called out to them was none other than, Cho-Chang.

Cho came over to them, "I am sorry, I couldn't meet you guys before."

"It's okay, also please call me Draco and this one Theodore. No need to be so formal." Draco said smiling, "Do you need something from us?"

"Please call me Cho as well." She said showing a beautiful smile, "I wanted to thank you, for saving me that night. I wanted to come say thank you earlier but I was weirded and freaked out after what happened so I couldn't do it. So I apologize for that."

"It's not a problem." Theodore replied, "Besides you've already thanked us for that night and are you okay? that incident might have been hard on you."

"I am fine, Thank you." She said politely, "I especially caused you a lot of trouble since it was my fault crashing into you."

"No worries." Theodore said, "Fighting a troll is pretty much what we do every day."

"Every day?" Both Cho and Draco asked at the same time,

"Yeah... Even though a troll was a first but we had fought a Murtlap before, they.. can get... very dangerous..as well." Theodore's voice was getting smaller and smaller and by the end, it was just a whisper.

Draco looked at Theodore whose ears were red and was talking weirdly, Even though Chang was pretty she wasn't his type and he wouldn't fight his friend to flirt with a girl but seeing his expression Draco wanted to tease him a little, "So Cho, where are you going right now?"

"I am heading towards the library." Cho said, "How about you guys?"

"What a coincidence!" Theodore said, "We were going there too."

"Hahaha." Draco started chuckling, "If you don't mind, we can go there together."

"Sure." Cho replied, she didn't know why Draco was chuckling but Theodore's face had completely turned red.

Draco walked in front leaving some space for Cho and Theodore, Draco felt awkward being the third wheel, since it was his very first time being one. He wondered if this is how Theodore felt every day when he flirted with Pansy, Daphne, and Hermione. Draco listened to their conversation silently and was surprised that Theodore was using his pickup lines on Cho, but unlike Draco who acted shamelessly, he was blushing quite a lot when he said those cheesy things, but it seemed to be working since the other party had a slightly red ear and was nervously playing with her fingers.

They reached the library when two distinct voice called out, "Draco!!"

It was Pansy and Daphne, "What are you girls doing here?" Draco asked

"We wanted some help with our studies so we were looking for you, then Blaise told us that you were heading towards the library." Pansy said.

"And here we are." Daphne said turning towards Cho, "And she is?"

"Oh! She is Cho-Chang, the girl I told you about."

Both Pansy and Daphne froze hearing that they looked at Theodore who was blushing and wasn't his usual self and then turned towards each other grinning.

"Nice to meet you!" Pansy said, "My name is Pansy Parkinson Since you are Draco's and Theodore's friend you can call me Pansy."

"I am Daphne Greengrass, you can call me Daphne as well."

"Hello! I am Cho-chang, you can call me Cho too." Cho said shaking hands with them.

The girls then partied up leaving Draco and Theodore alone, they looked at each other and sighed.

"Let's go in."

All five of them walked inside the library and searched for the books they wanted to study. Then all five of them sat down at the table in the corner. Surprisingly, Theodore picked out an advanced level Potion book to get close with Cho who was studying potions as well and with Pansy and Daphne studying Botany, Draco was left alone hanging with an Advanced Transfiguration book.

He sighed looking at Theodore, who looked as if he had lost all purpose in his life and now his only dream was to chase after Cho. On the other side, Pansy and Daphne were giggling teasing Theodore, losing their interest in studying.

Just as he sighed there was a loud thud, on the table next to them. All of them looked over to see who it was and to their surprise, they were none other than Harry, Hermione, and Ron. All of them stared at each other for a while, Draco coughed feeling the tense atmosphere.

"*cough* Hey! Hermione." Draco said smiling, "What are you here for?"

"Oh! We were just searching for.."

"A book." Interrupted Ron.

Hermione glared at Ron for a while and he awkwardly whispered towards Harry and Hermione, "He is still a suspect, isn't he?"

"But this topic is about Snape." Hermione whispered back. "Maybe Draco can help us."

"Yeah! but he is also from Slytherin and from what I have heard, he has a very good relationship with Snape." Ron argued back. "And if we look hard enough, I am sure we can find who Nicolas Flamel is ourselves."

"Hmph! Don't you know its rude to talk behind other's back." Daphne snapped, "Typical Gryffindor."

"Don't be rude, Daphne." Pansy said, "Potter probably still has a concussion from the fall and Weasley, well he is a Weasley so why are we even trying to teach manners to them."

"Can't argue with that." Theodore smirked, "You know, as they say, The fire's lit, but the cauldron's empty."

"You.." Ron gritted his teeth.

"Okay let's not start a fight," Draco said looking at Hermione who avoided his gaze.

Ron mumbled something and sat down. Since the other tables were already taken they couldn't leave and had to stay at the table beside them.

After some glaring, everyone started focused on their studies so they didn't bother each other anymore. Draco quickly helped Pansy and Daphne with their homework and started researching things on his own, since Theodore was too busy showing Cho, how good he was at potions.

As Draco imagined, It takes a lot of skill, practice, and patience for wizards and witches to become Animagi. The process of becoming an Animagus is long and arduous and has the potential to backfire and cause the transformation to go horribly wrong. Many witches and wizards simply feel that their time might better be employed in other ways, as the skill is of limited practical use unless one has a great need of disguise or concealment.

Animagi can only take on the form of one specific animal. This animal form is not chosen by the wizard but determined by their personality and inner traits. It may also be that the full-bodied Patronus may reveal what a witch or wizard would turn into if they were an Animagus. Draco knew that people like Minerva McGonagall, a known cat Animagus, also had the Patronus of a cat. Since the form the Patronus takes may be determined by the same inner-traits as the Animagus form.

An Animagus in animal form is also not restrained by the lifespan limit of the creature that they otherwise transform into. Each Animagus bears an identifying mark on their animal form that is caused by something on their human body. This may be a physical trait like dental structure, or an acquired trait such as glasses. Like Minerva McGonagall, who had markings on her Animagus form caused by her spectacles. If an Animagus undergoes a major physical change, such as the loss of a limb, their animal form will also reflect that. An Animagus could consciously choose if they also wanted to transfigure their jewelry and clothing with them or not.

After nearly 2 hours everyone stretched from their seat. It was time for their evening classes so they had to leave. Today Draco and the other had History with the Gryffindors so all of them were ready to leave.

"It's getting late. We need to hurry up." Hermione said.

"I think I know of a passage that can lead you guys to the history class faster." Cho said making everyone look at her.

"That's awesome! Can you show us the way?" Daphne said

"I am not really sure about the path since I haven't used it in a long time but I can walk you there, if you want." Cho replied.

"Wouldn't you be late for your class?" Theodore asked,

"No, not really. I still have an hour before the next class starts." Cho said smiling, "Let's go."

Draco looked at Hermione and said, "Are you coming?"

"Yes." She said dragging Ron and Harry. Ron decided that he would rather take the long route and be late for the class than follow them, So he looked at Harry, so both of them can leave but to his surprise, Harry was fine going with them, he didn't even hesitate as he did. So Ron reluctantly followed them too.

They walked from one passage to another, and it looked like they were getting nowhere,

"I knew we shouldn't have followed them." mumbled Ron

"Its okay Ron, everyone makes mistake." To his surprise, Harry wasn't angry instead he looked calm and was following them, without any complaint.

"I think we took a wrong turn, guys." Cho said making a sad expression, "I am sorry. I haven't used this passage in a long time, so I messed it up."

"It's okay." Replied Theodore making Daphne and Pansy giggle.

Hermione was looking around, getting anxious about the class. Draco went over to her and whispered, "Its okay, we can skip the classes sometimes, you know."

"You don't understand, If all of us don't show up to the class we might get into trouble." Hermione said getting more anxious.

"Isn't that more fun." Said Draco.

Hermione got angry hearing Draco and was about to scold him, but Draco wasn't looking at her anymore instead he was looking at an old door, in front of them. Draco started walking over to the door. Everyone was wondering where he was going, but they still followed him out of habit.

"I know where we are." Draco said,

"Where?" Hermione asked

"The seventh floor." Replied Draco heading towards the door.

"How do you even know that?" Theodore said. "We have never been there before."

'Because this is the room of requirement.'Draco shouted in his mind but didn't say it out loud.

He slowly opened the door, to reveal a room that looked like an empty old unused classroom.

"I have never been here before." Cho said walking inside with the others.

The dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls, and there was an upturned wastepaper basket -- but propped against the wall facing them was something that didn't look as if it belonged there, something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way.

It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

"The Mirror of Erised." whispered Draco but in that empty classroom, everyone heard it clearly.

"What is that?" asked Hermione interested in the beautiful mirror in front of them. In fact, everyone was interested in it.

"The Mirror of Erised is a mirror, which, shows the "deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts." The name "Erised" is "desire" spelled backward as if reflected in a mirror." Draco replied surprising everyone of them.

"So what if a person doesn't desire anything?" Pansy asked

"It is said that the happiest person in the world would look in the mirror and see a reflection of them, exactly as they were." Draco replied walking towards the mirror.

Theodore was trying to understand what was written on top of the mirror, "Hey genius, do you know what those words mean?"

"I think its some sort of dead or a very old language, maybe." Cho said, looking confused.

Hermione was also glaring at it trying to understand.

"Its a mirror you idiot, so read it in the opposite way, Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi" on the mirror-reversed is "ishow no tyo urfac ebu tyo urhe arts desire", which with proper spacing becomes.."

"I show not your face but your heart's desire". Hermione said completing Draco's sentence.

"Correct." Draco said standing in front of the mirror.

"What do you see Draco?" Pansy asked,

"I see every one of my friends and families, smiling happily beside me." Draco said what he saw. He didn't tell the whole truth since some of the girls were in their wedding dress married to him, which would be inappropriate to say.

"Why can't we see it then?" Daphne asked wanting to see what Draco desired the most in his life.

"It's my desire so only I can see it." Draco replied.

"My turn then." Theodore said pushing Draco away, "I see.." Theodore stopped and didn't say anything. His eyes got slightly red.

"Are you okay Theodore?" Pansy asked carefully, she had never seen the annoying Theodore like this.

Draco went over and pulled Theodore, "It's not real, so don't lose yourself in it."

"I know, but it's really tempting." Theodore said, Draco knew, Theodore probably saw his mother. When Draco first met him, Theodore had just lost his mother, so he knew what he really felt about things. It took a lot of time to break Theodore out of his shell, so Draco didn't want him to go back to how he was again.

"Men have wasted away before it, not knowing if what they have seen is real, or even possible." Draco said, "The advice to 'hold on to your dreams' is all well and good, but there comes a point when holding on to your dreams becomes unhelpful and even unhealthy. To sit gazing on a vision of what you can never have, will only damage a man. The mirror is bewitching and tantalizing, but it does not necessarily bring happiness. So don't lose yourself in it."

Theodore wiped his tears and nodded, listening to what Draco said most of them were now afraid of looking in the mirror, Sometimes not knowing things is much better than knowing about it.

While all of them were considering whether to look in the mirror or not, Ron went over and looked at it.

"What do you see, Ron?" Harry asked nervously.

"I'm alone -- but I'm different -- I look older -- and I'm the head boy!"

"What?"

"I am -- I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to -- and I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup -- I'm Quidditch captain, too."

Ron tore his eyes away from this splendid sight to look excitedly at Harry.

"Hahaha.." Pansy and Daphne couldn't hold back anymore and started laughing, "Haha.. it really shows a person's desire, but it surprisingly even shows things that can never be achieved."

Ron's face turned red and with his red hair, he looked like a tomato.

"I am next." Pansy said walking in front of the mirror but after a quick glance, she quickly walked away with a red face.

"What happened Pansy?" Daphne asked but she didn't say anything.

Daphne weirdly looked at Pansy and walked in front of the mirror herself, she too like Pansy walked away blushing immediately.

"What did you girls really see?" Theodore asked getting back to his old self.

"None of your business." Both of them said at the same time. They looked at each other and stayed silent.

"My turn," Hermione said walking in front of the mirror.