Rebirth of Lady Morgana

Collecting the Stone, Alliance Solidified, Lies - To and from Dumbledore

After stepping through the room the noticed there were flames, only invisible to the eye. Morgana realized why they needed to drink the potion now.

Stepping through the fire, revealed a narrow passage that led into darkness. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever, the darkness pressing in around them. Morgana's mind was racing, thoughts of the chess game, the troll, and the stone swirling together. She could feel the weight of their mission pressing down on her, the responsibility heavy on her shoulders. But she couldn't let fear control her. They were doing this for a reason, for the safety of the wizarding world, for the truth.

Suddenly, the corridor opened up into a vast chamber, its walls lined with shelves filled with bottles of all shapes and sizes. A low, flickering light cast eerie shadows across the room, the flames of a dozen candles dancing in the still air.

In the center of the room stood a tall, ornate mirror framed in gold, its surface reflecting the faint light that seeped through cracks in the ceiling. Morgana's eyes were drawn to the mirror, its presence both mesmerizing and unsettling. She took a cautious step forward, her wand held out in front of her. Hermione followed, her eyes wide with curiosity and fear.

"What is this place?" Hermione whispered, her voice barely audible. She glanced around, her fingers clutching her wand as if it were a lifeline.

Morgana didn't answer immediately. She was drawn back to the mirror from yule, yet again feeling the strange pull that she couldn't quite explain. It was as if the mirror was calling to her, whispering secrets she longed to hear. She took another step closer, her reflection coming into view. But instead of seeing her own face staring back at her, she saw something else entirely.

In the mirror, she saw herself standing tall and confident, wearing her familiar robes of emerald green trimmed with silver. Her hair was longer, flowing around her shoulders and dragging on the ground in dark waves. Beside her stood Anthony, dressed in similar robes only his were made of a deep maroon with gold trimmings, his face alight with pride. Beside Anthony was James, an arm slung over his shoulder with a beeming smile, his eyes clear of any sign or enchantments.

Behind them stood the Founders of Hogwarts, their faces kind and approving. Salazar Slytherin's hand rested on her shoulder, a smile playing on his lips. Rowena Ravenclaw nodded at her, wisdom shining in her eyes. Godric Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff stood together, their expressions warm and welcoming.

Morgana's heart skipped a beat. This was her family, her legacy. The mirror showed her what could be, a future where she and Anthony were united with the Founders, their true heritage acknowledged and embraced. It was everything she had ever wanted, everything she had dreamed of since she first discovered the truth about her past.

"Morgana, what do you see?" Hermione asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft, but it brought Morgana back to the present, grounding her in reality.

Morgana tore her eyes away from the mirror, her heart heavy with longing. "It's... it's nothing," she said, shaking her head. "Just a trick of the light."

Hermione frowned, sensing that Morgana was holding something back, but she didn't press. Instead, she turned her attention to the mirror, her own reflection coming into view. Hermione gasped, her eyes widening as she saw herself standing with her parents, their arms around her. They were smiling, their faces filled with love and pride. It was a sight Hermione hadn't seen in years, not since she had come to Hogwarts and left the Muggle world behind.

"It shows us what we want most," Morgana said quietly, watching Hermione's face light up with happiness. "It's a mirror of desire. But it's just an illusion, Hermione. It's not real."