Changes

Chapter Fourteen

James Potter

Detention sucked he was cleaning the Mirrors on the fourth floor, they were huge, ridiculously huge and he wasn't allowed to use magic, instead his had to climb up and down a ladder again and again and again and scrub and scrub and scrub his arms and legs were killing him in the first five minutes. Filch took his cat and Snape to somewhere else in the castle promising to be back and expecting the massive mirrors to be spotless, had made sure his wand wasn't on him complained about not being able to hang kids by their thumbs anymore and left. 

"Ptss" James looked around in confusion stopping in his cleaning, then he looked in the mirror and jumped half out of his skin as three people appeared behind him, he whirled on Remus, Peter and Sirius.

"Bloody Hell, you scared me, I nearly became the newest poltergeist of the castle," James complains snatching his invisibility cloak and throwing it bundled up over his shoulder so it wouldn't turn his shoulder invisible.

"You said we could borrow it," Sirius replied leaning on the mirror James had just cleaned.

"And your face was too priceless." Remus chuckled.

"What are you three doing here?" James questioned pulling Sirius off the mirror.

"We're here to help." Peter put in excitedly.

"You actually want to spend your time cleaning mirrors." James voiced raising a brow.

"God, no, these hands don't do manual labour." Sirius showed off his delicate hands that indeed looked like they hadn't done a day of work in their lives.

"I found a spell, to do it for you," Remus informed.

"I don't have my wand, I'm not supposed to use magic," James explained.

"You're not supposed to, Filch did say anything about Remus?" Sirius questioned and James smirked.

"No, he didn't, okay Remus." James gestured him forward and Remus muttered a spell over the bucket and sponge they popped to life and began cleaning the mirrors.

"Brilliant, you've got to come to my house to do the dishes for me." James patted Remus's back then sat on the floor his three friends joining him.

"So what do we do while we wait for the job to be done and Filch to return," James questioned.

"Three options." Remus took out his books from his bag, "Study..." Remus first option was followed by boo's, "Test out the first part of the map-making spell to get the measurements of this hallway and record them." James nodded along likely this option was better, "Or we start planning the Halloween plans, which would be easier in the library, but we can make due here." Remus finished.

"Mapping it is." Sirius chose for them and they all nodded in agreement, Remus taught them the modified measuring charm, Remus was a good teacher, he was patient but insistent, he pushed, but didn't shove, it helped he encouraged with sweets he brought along. James was sucking on a sugar quill while measuring the length of the hall and its curves then using the sugar quill the write them down.

"Huh." Remus voiced looking at the Mirror, he turned his wand to another mirror and then back at the first, "Huh."

"What is it, Remus? inquiring minds want to know." Sirius questioned taking his own sugar quill out of his mouth.

"I was turning the sponge and bucket back and look they were scrubbing this." Remus pointed to where the mirrors met, James looked at it but saw nothing but the intricate lines and spiral of flowers and birds on the frame.

"Not seeing what you're seeing, mate," Sirius informed and Remus stepped forward and pointed behind one of the flowers and they all moved to look behind it.

"Weird line." Sirius voiced.

"Hinges." Remus corrected looking ready to face balm.

"Like for doors." James looked back at Remus.

"The Mirror is a door?" Peter questioned.

"Looks like it." Remus agreed.

"If it's a door how do we open it?" Sirius wondered and they all began looking it over seeing nothing that resembled a lock, keyhole or handle.

"You ask." They all whirled around at the voice seeing the portrait behind them with a fine-looking witch dressed in period clothing.

"Ask you?" Remus questioned slowly.

"No silly the birds, sing to them and they'll let you in now you've cleaned the mirror. of course only if they like the tune." the portrait informed.

"Thank you...?" James trailed seeking the portrait's name.

"If she was here the whole time you think she'll tell Filch we help you?" Sirius whispered his question, but the portrait still frowned.

"I'm Lady Enodia Hathgard I've watched over this door for many years and I would not tell that squib anything, he tried to move me then called my vein for always wanting to see my own reflect at all times and to top it all off he nearly dropped me when he tried to move me, he said I was heavy, a fiend and no friend of mine." Enodia huffed crossing her arms.

"Squib." Sirius picked up grinning.

"You did not know, oh yes, the caretaker can not perform even a simple beginner's spell." Enodia appeared to lean in to gossip to them.

"My Lady, we appreciate the information, may I ask what tune do the birds like?" James grinned bowing.

"Let it rain, let it rain,

The witch is in the cave,

The birds sing,

The witch rises in the air.

Oh yes, oh no,

Let it pour down

Under the bed

With water and soap."

Enodia song and James looked back at his friend a little creeped out by the song until he saw the birds on the mirror frame move and begin pulling the mirror open like a large door behind it a spacious tunnel.

"Where does it go?" Remus inquired about the portrait.

"How should, I know, I've certainly never gone down it." Enodia pointed out now admiring her nails instead of her own reflection in the mirror.

"Filch will be back soon," James warned closing the door.

"Looks like we know our plans for Sunday." Sirius grinned taking the invisibility cloak from James and pulling Remus over to him, Peter joining them as they covered themselves just in time to hear footstep approaching James grabbed the sponge and wiped away his fingerprint for closing the door in time for Filch and Mrs Noris his cat to appear.