A Spark of Magic - Year One (Magical Hybrid)

The man with two faces

The 11 year old pushed open another door, revealing a set of stairs. Ember walks down the stairs slowly. Halfway down, she winces, feeling her mark burning, and sees Professor Quirrell standing before the Mirror of Erised. "You?" she gaped, shocked and Quirrell turned to face her "No. I-it can't be. Snape, h-he was the one..."

"Yes. He does seem the type, doesn't he? Next to me, who would suspect, 'p-p-poor s-stuttering Professor Quirrell?'" Quirrel said, in a mock stammer.

"His injury at Halloween...he was trying to stop you", Ember breathed, everything suddenly making sense. His hurt leg...the potions bottle challenge she'd skipped...he was on of the protectors of the stone "And my broom, he really was trying to save me, wasn't he?"

"I would've succeeded too, if Snape's cloak hadn't caught fire", Quirrel remarked, annoyance flashing across his face as he recalled his failure "after my little stunt at Halloween and my attempt to kill you, he rarely left me alone" the wizard turned back to the mirror and Ember winced, her mark hurting once more "But he doesn't understand. I'm never alone. Never" he turned the mirror, staring at his reflection "Now, what does this mirror do? I see what I desire. I see myself holding the stone. But how do I get it?"

"Use the girl" a rasping voice called seemingly from nowhere. Ember looks around, wondering where the voice is coming from.

The wizard turned to her again "Come here, Potter. Now!" he ordered. Ember's jaw clenched but she walked down the stairs anyway, stopping next to him. "Tell me... what do you see?" Ember looks into the mirror and this time she only saw her reflection. Then her reflection reached into her pocket and pulled a red stone out. She winked and puts it back. Very subtly, Ember reaches to her pocket and felt a lump. She gasped. "What is it?" Quirrell pressed "what did you see?"

The ginger looked at him, then back at the mirror, determined not to let him know that she has the Stone "I-I'm shaking hands with Dumbledore. I've won the House Cup", she replied.

"She lies"

"Tell the truth! What do you see?!" Quirrell shouted, angrily.

"No!" Ember shot back, barely having flinched at the loudness of his voice.

"Let me speak to her"

"Master, you are not strong enough", Quirrell said as Ember backed away a little.

"I have strength enough for this"

Quirrell turned his back to the mirror and starts unwrapping his turban. Ember glanced over at the stairs, considering whether or not to make a break for it. She decided against it, for the moment. It was a big mistake for when the entire purple cloth is removed, it reveals a snakelike face with red eyes. "Ember Potter, we meet again", he rasped.

"Voldemort", Ember whispered, eyes wide.

"Yes", Voldemort said "You see what I have become? See what I must do to survive? Live off another. A mere parasite. Unicorn blood can sustain me, but it cannot give me a body of my own. But there is something that can. Something, that conveniently enough, lies in your pocket!" Ember spun around, darting for the stairs. "Stop her!" Voldemort ordered. Quirrell snapped his fingers and fire erupts all around the room. Ember didn't stop though, knowing she could pass through it safely. She got within mere inches when the fire suddenly flared up, throwing her backward. The ginger yelped as she tumbled down the stairs. "Don't be a fool! Why suffer a horrific death when you can join me and live?!" Voldemort said when the ginger eased herself up, wincing a little.

"Never!" she shouted.

Voldemort laughed "Bravery. Your parents had it too. Tell me, Ember, would you like to see your mother and father again? Together, we can bring them back" Lily's face with whom she would assume was her father, James, appeared in the mirror "All I ask for is something in return" the ginger pulled the Stone from her pocket "That's it, Ember. There is no good and evil. There is only power, and those too weak to seek it. Together, we'll do extraordinary things. Just give me the stone!"