Harry Potter
First Year
Mirror of Erised
Dark Reflection

Mirror Image

Harry already sensed the old man hidden in the room. Waiting. Watching him. Seeing for himself if he passed his test. Afterall, wasn’t that why he allowed him to have his legacy back? Given as a “gift” to earn his trust and friendship? As though returning a stolen thing to its rightful owner should be considered a “gift” and in the “gifting” a debt now owed.

The charmed threads sewed in the hem of his legacy cloak was easy to find as the Cloak itself disliked the addition to its magnificence. He and the Cloak came to an understanding. One that allowed the grifter one thread on its magnificence to lure the grifter into complacency. And with the thread the grifter’s wish that they follow breaking the rules to explore areas he wanted after curfew to this room that was in an area forbidden.

In the center of the room was the Mirror the grifter wished him to see. It didn’t take long to decipher the writing to know the trap inside. The Mirror gave those looked on it what they Desired. Allowing their Desire to let it steal their souls to eat till they died. Their bodies husks left behind for others to find, mayhap to also get sucked up in their Desires to feed the demon inside the Mirror.
Harry kept his own aura in so he didn’t tempt it further as he knew the grifter wanted him to become enamored with whatever he would see within.

He knew from his own research on cursed objects that only those looking could see their Desires and so he knew the grifter would only know from his mind rape what he saw. He felt the tendrils of the mind magics from both in the room trying to act upon him, he gave both only what he wanted them to see. A family long lost from his longing caused both to salivate at the meals they were getting.
He calmly used his connection to his Legacy which was still connected to its Dark Creator to slide the grifter to be the one fed upon by the Mirror of Desire. A Mirror that had no problem feeding the sinner his Desire to see the boy’s longing for the family he denied him.

Briefly, oh so briefly, the Mirror saw Harry’s Inner Desire.
A young boy raised to make his dark way as he only knew the true Darkness of Pain. Pain he, himself, overcame and learned to visit upon his abusers.
A boy so lovely in his seeming of beauty who now gloried in watching the grifter slowly be consumed by a magical being.
A small lifting of his right lip the only sight of his own delight at the man before him who had been hoisted on his own petard.

Casually agreeing to do his cloaks bidding, he plucked the tread off the cloak and placed it in the man’s long white hair as he stared in wonder at his dream of the boy’s longing Desire in happiness.

It was the last weekend before everyone returned from holiday, yet the staff and students were used to the headmaster suddenly disappearing on long trips. Harry knew it wouldn’t be until the school wards fell on the Depute that anyone would know there was a problem and go looking for him, and by that time he would have his own alibi.

Putting on his Cloak of Darkness from Death himself, he left his abuser alone with his abusive dreams. Heading back to his common room. He wondered as he walked, if Ron had left him any of his mother’s fudge.

Fin
6/14/2026