In The Shadow of Our Choices

Chapter 110: Unbreakable

Previously:
Ominis moved the mirror from the abandoned house to the catacombs in Feldcroft, feeling especially responsible for its destruction given that it used to belong to the Gaunts. However, he had no luck damaging the item, so he turned to Aria and Albus for help researching. Albus found that it was called the Mirror Of Erised, and what it does. Ominis refused to see it as anything other than dark, and Albus wanted to look into it. After this, Ian (Ominis' roommate) pestered him. telling him to hire someone instead of researching.
Then, Anne finally came back to Hogwarts! They had a mini-welcome back get together for her, then skived off classes to explore the castle. Anne revealed what classes she would be taking for her O.W.L.s, but not what she wanted to do after graduation. Elizabeth showed them all the Room of Requirement for Anne to use to study.

Elizabeth

"I still can't believe you never told me about that room," Sebastian said as he held the door to the Three Broomsticks open.

"I'm sorry." Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she stepped into the warm taproom. "Like I told you the last ten times, it just never came up."

"But you told Ominis," Sebastian said with a sniff.

"Only because we needed somewhere to duel," Ominis said, entering behind Elizabeth and shaking off the few snowflakes clinging to his cloak. "Give it a rest already, won't you?"

"But it's so cool -"

"You've said that before too, dear brother," Anne said, prodding Sebastian's chest as she passed. "Now hush. I'm looking forward to a nice, peaceful butterbeer."

Anne's words made Sirona look up, and the barkeeper gasped.

"Is that Anne Sallow? Godric's heart girl, come here!"

Sirona met Anne with a fond hug as the rest of them made their way to a table. Between the spotty weather and the fact that it was the middle of the week, they were just about the only people in the pub. They'd decided to walk to Hogsmeade for lunch as most of them didn't have class until the final period of the day. Elizabeth had Ancient Runes after lunch, which she found herself on the fence about missing. She was enjoying their day with Anne, and skipping History of Magic was one thing, but Ancient Runes...

"So, Ominis," Sebastian said as they sat. "What did you end up doing with that mirror?"

Ominis took the chair next to Elizabeth and rested his head on her shoulder with a sigh.

"The damn thing won't even scratch," he said, "But Albus found out what it does - which, it drives people mad by showing them their deepest desires or something like that."

Elizabeth supposed this made sense - Aberforth had been very upset once they'd gotten him home and woken him up.

"If you want help -"

"Absolutely not," Ominis said, interrupting Sebastian's offer. "I still don't want to take any chances with it. Though, Knowles did say something the other day that made me think..." Ominis sat up and turned to face towards Elizabeth. "Do you happen to know any curse-breakers?"

Elizabeth didn't have to think hard to know the answer - she knew so few people in the wizarding world outside of school.

"No, I don't," Elizabeth said regretfully.

"I didn't think so but..." Ominis said with a shrug, taking her hand beneath the table and giving it a squeeze. "I'll probably ask around - someone has to know one."

The conversation dropped off as Anne finally joined them with a round of butterbeers - on the house, apparently - and a flock of menus fluttering in her wake.