Post by Aeronnen on Sept 21, 2007 6:31:35 GMT -5
Albus' Erised.
Albus watched little Harry Potter padding out of the large, dusty classroom in his too-short pyjamas and bare feet, hidden to most eyes under his Invisibility Cloak.
But it isn't an Invisibility Cloak, is it, Albus, you selfish old fool? He thought. Ignotus Peverell gave James Potter that Cloak, and you just had to have it. You had the Elder Wand. You knew you were not worthy to reunite the Halllows, and you just took it to examine it. Pah!
Albus' hand twitched on the one other Hallow that resided within the walls of Hogwarts. The Elder lay dead in his fist. Hard to believe it was anything special. Hard to believe it was the Deathstick, the Wand of Destiny. And the third Hallow.
Albus sighed and turned away, following the footsteps of Harry, whom he had been watching come to this room to stare at the Mirror of Erised every day for a week now. Poor boy. Albus knew he could not let Harry continue to watch his family in the Mirror. It would destroy him before his twelfth birthday.
Albus knew what he himself would see, certainly he did.
Or did he?
Albus teetered on the threshold of the doorway. He was strong, he knew that. He was old and the things he would see would hurt him like they hurt Harry, an eleven year old boy. But still ...
His hand curled around the Elder Wand and he marched back to the Mirror of Erised, stopping smartly and staring resolutely into the Mirror.
A family stared back at him. Five of them, all happy and smiling, the little girl giggling into Albus' old face. Ariana. Sweet little Ariana, golden hair shining in some unseen light, little teeth flashing, and her blue eyes – so like his and Aberforth's – were laughing, too, as she clutched her parents' hands.
“Mother,” Albus whispered. Kendra nodded and shook her long hair with a lazy smile on her aristocratic face. Her brown eyes met his and Albus stared for a long while. Then a large hand was placed on her shoulder. Kendra's image stepped sideways and slipped her arm around her husband's waist.
Percival smiled softly and kissed the top of her head, just like he had done in life, Albus thought. His rich robes were embroidered with silver moons and little planets. He had the same dress-sense as Albus, as Minerva frequently said. Albus resisted the urge to step nearer the glass.
And Aberforth! Aberforth's eyes were shining with love and adoration or his big brother, unlike they ever did in life – never had since their sister's death. Albus knew he deserved it; and seeing that adoring look was more than he could bear, even though he knew it was only the Mirror making it.
Anger rose in him: how dare this mirror, this mere shadow of events, show him his life, his dead family? For a moment, Albus felt the anger fervour that had made him think of 'For the Greater Good.' He had even raised the slender Elder Wand to break the Mirror into a thousand shining pieces ...
He needed the Mirror for the Stone.
With a grunt, Albus returned the Wand to his pocket and stared again at his family. They laughed into his face. They were so happy. Everything had been fine before Gellert Grindelwald.
Albus turned around and marched to the door in whirl of his cloak, and he was angry, aching inside for the loss of his mother, his father, his darling sister ... and, in some ways, his brother, too.
As Albus departed the dusty classroom, a tear sparkled on his aged cheek.
--
How sad? It's not very good, but a plot bunny is a plot bunny! My first bit of HP after DH.
I love it! Don't need to read this before school my eyeliner is running now 
xXx 
