Forgotten

Book 1 Ch 9

"Professor," I called down the hallway. McGonagall halted her stride to turn to me. As she turned, the ends of her robes fanned out around her.

"Emily, is something the matter."

"Harry won't even look at me. Has anything happened?"

My voice almost sounded hopeful as it escaped from me. If something had happened to change how Harry viewed me, then that means that he knows. I could live with him hating me as long as he knows who I am to him. McGonagall's face didn't reveal any emotion as she looked down at me.

"If anything has happened to him, then I am not aware of it."

"So you have no idea why he won't approach me anymore?"

"None whatsoever."

I rolled my eyes and lean against the wall. My arms crossed in front of my chest as I stared outside. A group of students played in the freshly fallen snow in the courtyard. From this high, I couldn't make out what house colors they wore. It is nice not having to pick out who they are just from a few colors. They were all just together, playing and laughing, without a worry.

"What are you thinking?" McGonagall asked.

I pushed off of the wall and started down the corridor. "Doesn't matter."

The sun has begun to set in the windows, casting my shadow along the walls that I pass. I weaved in-and-out of the groups of students that stand between me and the Owlery. Too many people are here for me to think. They all send out letters to their families freely when I can't even speak to the family I have inside of the castle.

Athena soared down from high in the tower to perch on my arm. I stroked my fingers between her eyes. A few of the owls flew to the higher perches out of fright when my name rung through the tower. Alison grabbed onto the wall and swung into the room. A bright smile erupted over her face when she saw me. Athena took off just in time to miss the force of Alison's arms swinging around me.

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" she said.

I had to peel Alison off of me in order to breathe. "Welcome back."

"Oh, forget about that. How was Christmas?"

From behind Alison, I spotted Hermione making her way into the Owlery. She didn't look to anyone else as she strode towards me. Alison smirked back at me before moving out of Hermione's path.

"I knew that if I followed Alison, I would surely find you. I have a question that I can't seem to find the answer to."

"You understand that I don't know everything, right?"

"Says the walking library." Alison said with a short laugh.

"I need to know about a mirror. A mirror that lets you see things."

There are several mirrors that let you see things. Reflections of the past, present, and future. The revelations of hidden dreams. Truths of what you most want or need. Magical mirrors that let you see others or answer questions with pictures. Her question did not give me enough information to base an answer off of.

"What does this mirror let you see?"

"Something that you can't have, but you want. Perhaps more than anything."

The Mirror of Erised. The mirror that waits somewhere inside of Hogwarts. I haven't found that mirror in five years no matter how much I have searched for it. No matter how natural I tried to appear, I still felt awkward as I stare down at Hermione.

"Why does this mirror matter?"

"Homework for –"

"Do not lie to me, Hermione!" I said, a little too much harshness in my voice.