ÍROAS

I've been walking for like an hour now but I still reached nothing. I don't know where to go, how to leave this place. I didn't even know how I got here; The last thing I recall is seeing Harry standing from his bed and grabbing his invisibility cloak, then my eyes grew heavier and darkness devoured my sight. Right, I'm in a dream... it must be.

"Oh, come on! I've been walking for like ages now; all I see are white walls" I mumbled for the millionth time. I kept walking and walking until I saw a four-legged animal, it has a short, dense, black coat, an otter-like tail, a clean-cut head, and a broad back skull. When I was at close distance, it looked into my eyes. After examining me for almost a minute, the Black Labrador then bowed at me to my surprise and spoke in my mind.

"Greetings young hero, My Lady has sent me to carry her message for you" The dog then glanced at me again, I just stood at my place, not moving, waiting for whatever the dog would tell me.

"She first wanted to express her deepest apologies, as she herself foretold that it is not yet time to reveal herself to you." The she-dog began, "But rest assured that she'll show herself soon. – for now, she wanted to tell you that never look at yourself by any means, no matter what happens, never." The animal continued. I gave her a muddled expression as I'm not really sure how to react with her unspecific warning.

"What do you mean by not looking at myself? And who are you by the way? How come I could hear you in my mind?" I continuously throw more questions to the dog. But it started to retreat, and the place is starting to fade.

"Wait! Don't leave yet! Who are you?" I shouted to the dog but it is now far-away from me and a light suddenly erupted in the place causing me to close my eyes. After that, I see nothing.

I frantically jolted up from my bed. I looked around me; Neville, Seamus, and Dean are still out for Christmas vacation. I checked Harry's bed, but he's not there, same as Ron. I stood up and walked out of our room and went down to our common room.

"Where are they?" I thought when I didn't see them here either. By then, I felt figures approaching and as if on cue, I heard the portrait door slid open. I looked at its direction but I saw no one coming in but I could still feel them. Suddenly I noticed a movement and a cloak fell to the ground and two boys stood now in front of me.

"What the Hades are you two doing out there at this time of the night!?" I hissed at them

"Relax! You sound like Professor McGonagall except from the Hades thing" Ron said to me, a bit laughing from my expression.

"Sorry Iro, you're not waking up earlier when we tried to wake you. We even slapped your face, but you're too deep in sleep. So, we decided to leave you." Harry explained.

"Then care to tell me where the Hades did you two just went?"

Harry started to speak, "Err... at first I went to the library alone, in the restricted area. I tried to search for books that might mention Nicholas Flamel"

"So, any luck?" I asked. But he shook his head.

"No, I almost got caught by Filch, good thing I have my invisibility cloak. I just ran everywhere my feet got me. I then ended up in an empty classroom, aside from the giant mirror..." He stopped when he mentioned the mirror, then he exchanged looks with Ron.

"Continue..."

"Well, the mirror isn't just a normal mirror –"

'Well, I thought so' I told myself but didn't say it and let Harry continue.

"You see, when I stood in front of the mirror, I expected to only see myself but instead, I saw 10 figures standing behind me. When I looked back, there's no one there. After I examined who they were, I realized that they're my family." Harry then paused, "After staying there for a moment, I decided to leave the room and show it to both of you. But as I've said, we can't wake you so I left with Ron and tried to show him my family."

"Try?" I emphasized. Ron then answered this time.

"Err... you see mate, it doesn't work that way. – When I look in the mirror, instead of seeing Harry's family, I saw myself being the Gryffindor Head Boy, and I'm holding the house cup and the Quidditch cup – I'm a quidditch captain too"

"Yeah! So, I guess the mirror shows the deepest desire of the person looking into it." Harry concluded.

I pondered, 'I have a bad feeling about that mirror' I thought.

"What do you mean?" Ron and Harry blurted, which made me surprised as fuck.

"Did I just say that out loud?" I asked and they just nodded.

"Err... I don't know, I don't like the idea of that mirror thingy – it felt weird somehow – I think it's not a good idea going back there"

"What! Oh, Come on Iro! You can't be serious – that mirror just showed my parents to me and my other families. Maybe it's for someone like me who never got the chance to see their parents."

"Harry they're not real"

"Iro, how could you say that? I mean, I know they're not really there, but can't you see, I'll get the chance to be with them."

"Harry, listen to yourself, that mirror just made you crazy."

"What are you talking about? I'm perfectly sane, unlike you!"

"No, you don't Harry, that mirror clearly just lashed you out from reality – aren't you wondering why it's hidden? If that mirror really is doing good to people, why hide it then? – Why not show to others?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe to hide it from the likes of you who are too selfish to let someone drunk from sorrow. Or maybe! From people like you who can't be satisfied because someone is actually seeing their happiness in the mirror so they try to convince them to hate it instead, or just want the mirror for themselves."

"Harry, you know I'd do anything for you to be happy. And trust me, I don't want that damned mirror."

"No Iro! It doesn't sound like that; I think you just want my life to be as fuck as yours!"

"Really? We've been friends since forever and that's how you think of me? – selfish, egotistic, self-centered? – yes, my life is fuck, Harry, thank you for the reminder, but I never wanted yours to be the same as mine."

"No! I think not, because if you do, you'd let me see that mirror again. I have the chance to see my family again. Or you just really don't know how I feel. Do you?" He inhaled, "Why? Because you have Mrs. Figg, who's so loving and caring and I got the Dursleys; That's why you can't understand what I'm going through and can't appreciate the mirror? Is that it? Don't be selfish Iro!"

"Oh, I can't believe it! You of all people should know what my life is like. Don't act like you owned all the problems in this world. You're not the only one who lost their parents Harry. And believe me, I'd do anything for me to see them for the first time, Harry, first time! But not like this. So, don't think that I don't know how you feel Harry, because I really do, and I fucking feel it too!" I yelled in a single breath. I could now feel the deafening tension as I felt a tugging sensation rippling in my gut but also the familiar coldness in my eyes whenever my night vision activates. I watched Harry's expression change from furious onto confusion then horror.

"Uhm guys! What's happening? I can't see." Ron cried out. Only by then I realized why my night vision began, a pitch-black of clouds surrounds the entire common room. Devouring the place in total darkness.

"What's happening? I can't see anything!" Harry yelled. Even I with a night vision started to feel the terror and confusion.

"I don't know about you two. – Just try yourself to calm down."

"What? You think we're doing this?" I shouted to Ron.

"No! I think one of you is. And I think it's you Iro. If you hadn't noticed earlier, while you were doing your speech, the fire suddenly went out and it started to get dark. Plus, you're the one who affiliates with the shadows."

"What!? I don't even know what spell I just did; how could I possibly reverse it?"

"Just calm yourself mate, and please do it quickly, it's giving me creeps."

"Okay – okay, just be quiet," I said, then closed my eyes and tried to get myself calm. I imagined the ocean blue with my Uncle, I think about flying at blackjack's back, me winning against Ron in the wizard's chess, and my would-be-Animagus-form.

I then felt once again the tugging sensation I felt earlier; the threads of darkness being pulled by an invisible hand and heaving it inside me. I slowly open my eyes and see that the black clouds are starting to retrieve through my shadows underfoot. I let out a gasp as I felt the creepiness. After all the darkness went out, realization filled me.

"Did I just perform a non-verbal spell while being wandless?" I said excitedly, not minding the tension and horror that was built up before.

"Did you think of any spells?" Harry curiously asked.

"Uhm no, I just calmed myself just like Ron instructed. When I did, I felt something in me, then poof! they're gone."

"Dude! Those clouds just literally went through your shadows. I really think we should really test the shadow shield thing you were talking about."

"Yeah, sure! Asked Harry, I think he's ready to stab me any moment now."

"Err... sorry about earlier. About what I've said, it's very rude and inconsiderate of me"

I released a sigh and examined his apologetic face, "It's okay Harry, I'm being rude and inconsiderate about your feelings earlier too. – and I think I judge too much the mirror. So, what do you say? Let's go and look for it tomorrow?" Harry then excitedly smiled and nodded which I greeted back with a smile and a punch from the shoulders.

"Scar-head, just please remind yourself that too much of that mirror might not be quite healthy. I don't want my friend to be like Narcissus." Both of them raised their eyebrows and repeated the name.

"Yeah! He's the guy from the Greek Myth who fell in love on his own reflection"

"He what!?" They both exclaimed in unison.

"Just do what I said you punks! I'm too exhausted from what I just did earlier. I'm going to bed now." I said, then turned my back to them, not waiting for their response and walked straight to our room.