Chapter 69: The rest of the holidays

At Hogwarts, I was seeing how Harry was in front of the Mirror of Erised.

I was doing my nightly chores when my [Life Sense] warned me there was something passing in front of me but I couldn't see it. I had a camouflage spell and in the dark, it was hard to notice me considering my [Thief Essence] so I decided to follow the presence. This was a clone anyway, there was no real danger.

When I followed the invisible creature, I ended up in a room between two armors, and when I entered I could see that inside was a huge mirror with a golden frame.

At that moment I realized what was happening, Harry got the invisibility cloak and that was the mirror of desire... but I was also surprised that not only was Harry in the room, there was also Dumbledore sitting at a desk against the wall.

I sneaked to the side, hoping they wouldn't notice me and see what would happen.

"So… back again, Harry?" Dumbledore told Harry that at this moment he was very startled to hear someone behind him.

"I... I didn't see you, sir"

"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you, don't you think?" Harry was relieved to see Dumbledore smile at him. The old man walked over to Harry and stood beside him in front of the mirror "So... you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised"

"I didn't know it was called that, sir"

"But I expect you've realized by now what it does?"

"Well… it showed me my family and…"

"And it showed your friend Ron himself as head boy"

"How did you know...?"

"I don't need a cloak to be invisible… do I, Mr. Weasley?" Dumbledore looked in my direction.

Harry was confused, he knew Ron hadn't followed him, but his astonishment was greater when he saw Ron's brother step out of the shadows, who, like the headmaster, hadn't noticed him in the room.

"Harry, Greybeard" I greeted them both "shall we invite some more and have a night out party?" I joked, looking at the director.

"I don't think it's necessary, with you, it's enough to break the curfew rules"

"The same could be said for you. I was hoping the director would give an example, but if he does nights out himself, I think it can't be that serious."

"Unlike the students, I have the right to go around the castle at night, more to guide those who have problems"

"Problems like your negligence in leaving a very dangerous magical item in places easily accessible to highly impressionable children"

Harry was somewhat confused. A moment ago the director was talking nicely with him, but the next moment he seemed to start arguing with his partner, ignoring him, but something in the talk made him hesitate.

"A dangerous magical item?" The boy asked, interrupting the director and me.

The director and I stopped when we heard it. I moved closer to Harry, and the headmaster looked in a mirror before asking.

"Can you think what the Mirror of Erised shows us all?" The headmaster watched as Harry shook his head. "Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?" He gave a hint and Harry thought before saying slowly.

"It shows us what we want…? Whatever we want…"

"Yes and no" he explains calmly ""It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible"

"So it's a very dangerous object that is within the reach of children... that administrative negligence" I said sarcastically to piss off the headmaster if he gave me some annoyed looks.

"It shows us what our hearts yearn for most, even if it's something bad... I wonder what Mr. Weasley's heart hides?" He speaks to Harry clearly to encourage me to look at myself in the mirror.

"It's not going to be world domination if that's what you think" I rolled my eyes "I may not be the best person, but I wouldn't come to that... it's too tired and I don't gain anything I can't gain with a little more effort or time" I said, but still I approached in front of the mirror.

"What do you see?" Harry asked somewhat intrigued, as did Dumbledore, but he didn't say anything.

"...HHHOOOOO" I took a deep breath putting on a look of horror making the two people behind me tense "...it's...it's...nothing" I returned to a smiling expression.

"Nothing?" Harry asked confused, but Dumbledore seemed so annoyed with my joke that he even snorted.

"Yes, nothing at all" I replied.

"Doesn't that mean he's the happiest person in the world?" Harry asked Dumbledore, who didn't reply, just stared at me.

"You are misunderstanding something Harry, I am happy but not completely happy. All beings have the so-called greed, one will always want more than they have, so happiness is never complete. A person who does not seek more than they have, or at least keep what he already has, is an immutable being that cannot change in the slightest... and I am not like that, I always go forward... or sometimes backwards"

"So...?" He asked, more confused than before.

"When I told you that I didn't see anything, it was true, nothing at all, not even myself in the reflection" I explained, something that also surprised me.

"Can't you see yourself in the mirror?" Harry asked then looked at Dumbledore who was also serious.

"I can't, and I'm sure that not existing is not my greatest wish... I can think of many others that if they are reflected in the mirror, I would appreciate it if no one else saw it... Don't look at me like that, director, they are bad things but they are only with particular people"

"I don't get it, why is it like this? Is the mirror broken?" Harry was confused.

"It's not broken... it's just that Mr. Weasley is something special."

"That's right Harry, my mind is an impenetrable fortress" I looked at the headmaster who 'coincidentally' looked the other way" things like this that trying to see inside me are useless, even if I want to. It would have been interesting to know what my greatest wishes were ...although I think I have some clues..." I looked in a mirror once more with longing and then sadness.

"Okay, let's leave this here. The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?" The Headmaster completely ignored me.

"And he...?" Harry asked looking at me, not trying to get me in trouble, just curious.

"Don't worry about Mr. Weasley, he never follows the rules, it will be impossible to put him to bed" he smiled at Harry, but that was directed at me.

"Perhaps, like a certain director who keeps putting cursed objects within the reach of children"

"Who knows, maybe, maybe I'm trying to catch some rats"

"Hey, that was a lot, at most I'm an otter or something bigger, but not a rat"

The headmaster and I went back to attacking each other verbally, leaving Harry confused again. Did he miss something? Why does it seem like the director is at odds with Red? Was this always like this? Were the questions that came to mind.

"Mr... Professor Dumbledore... can I ask you something??" Harry interrupted us.

"Obviously, you've just done so" Dumbledore smiled at him, changing the grim old face he was giving me "However, you can ask me one more question"

"What do you see when you look in the mirror?"

"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks"

"Yeah sure, it's probably the socks" I laughed, and the haedmaster gave me an even angrier look when he remembered his Christmas present "But I get it, sometimes I do too..." I said as I cast a camouflage spell on me and walked out of the room.

...

Red and Susan went out a few other times before going back to Hogwarts, but alone, since Amelia, although she took more time to be with her niece, it wasn't a long time in a row. Amelia gave Susan so many protective charms that she could possibly be considered a tank.

Susan was also a little weird on those outings at first. Amelia had talked to her about trusting strangers and stuff, which made her hesitate, but in the end, despite it being something her aunt told her she found no reason to suspect her friend... and if so, she wouldn't mind, as this time was one of the most precious in her life.

They visited mainly the cinema and a few shops, nothing very impressive, but Susan was promised that on vacation he would visit her for trips like these or more interesting ones.

...

In the Lovegood house there was the normal harmonious atmosphere...well, harmonious in its own way, since it wasn't necessarily peaceful. During that time, the girls continued to train under the guidance of Red, who, like Tenebrius, had gained much combat experience.

Something interesting is that Red these days gained some skills and one of them seemed very rewarding. [Blood Control(Courage)], [Blood Control(Jealousy)], and [Teaching].

The skill that satisfied him the most was [Teaching]. This, just like [Learning], [Reading], or [Writing], had the requirements for the multiplier. This ability was very useful, since it would help both understanding in theoretical matters or mental application, or help physical development if it was training or practice.

With this new ability, Ginny and Luna could improve even more, and Red assured her that she would often come to teach them.

...

In Amelia's office, Tenebrius was working so that at that moment the door opened and an emaciated and upset Amelia entered, falling down sitting in her chair.

"What's new? Bad news?" Tenebrius asked.

"Fudge...asked that by New Year's we finish the reports of...hajj..." he complained about having more work added "At times he gets to be..."

"A son of a bitch"

"..." Amelia didn't reply, but inside she wanted to say the exact same thing out loud herself.

"You want a massage?" Amelia didn't respond to that either, so Tenebrius walked over to her and began.

She didn't want to accept it either, but she needed it. The work was getting very hard, but at least now with her assistant everything became more bearable, she believed at times that she might not have been able to do it without him.

"Thanks again, for everything..."

"It is my duty"

...

"Mom, you can't stay mad" Tonks complained to her mother, who was still scolding her from time to time, even in front of relatives.

"I don't understand why you can't stop doing stupid things…" she sighed "Why are you asking Tenebrius to leave home for Christmas?" She reproached her mother, as in all these days.

"I've already told you many times... if it wasn't for you pushing me too much I wouldn't have to do it, I end up being afraid that you put something in our drinks" Tonks complained, truly distraught.

"Nymphadora... I know I may have been a bit pushy, but every time I see you with him, I notice that there is nothing but demands from your side. Have you thought that maybe he wants things for himself too? Not even you were able to think of the things he liked when I asked you" she stated angrily "what do you want me to do but try to help you in this way?"

"I'm not just demands, and I couldn't remember at the time, but it was just a mistake..."

"Tell me honestly... Does it help you at work?"

"... Yes?" she said somewhat uncertainly, feeling that she was not going to like knowing the answer to all of this.

"Does she protect you even if he has to put his life at risk?"

"... Yes"

"Cook? Wash? Clean?"

"... Y..."

"Does he buy you expensive gifts?"

"..."

"Tell me, has he ever denied you something you really wanted, as long as it wasn't for your own safety?"

"..."

"You didn't even give him anything, did you? If I think about it, it would be very possible that it was so..."

"I…" Tonks was left a little… distressed and confused, was her mother right about her?

"You end up being more of a daughter to him than a girlfriend, do you know why I do what I do? It's so you don't lose someone like him, he's a good man, with his things, but nobody's perfect... tell me, do you think you will find another person who does all that for you without wanting anything in return like he does?" Andromeda said those words and then turned around and left, without waiting for an answer from her daughter.

Tonks stood there, drowning in her thoughts... when her mother left without saying another word, it hurt a little. She preferred that at this moment she kept scolding her than that she left her alone.

Was all that true? Was she really a daughter to her mate?... She tried to think of things she had done for Tenebrius to prove to herself that she was not only a burden, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized that whatever she had done was not anything in comparison.

She reflected that perhaps she not only did not give anything, but she also took advantage.

The joke about the horse's penis... she had done it with one of the boyfriends she almost had at Hogwarts and after that the boy walked away from her, without speaking to her again and without thinking in the least about continuing the relationship. She did the same thing to Tenebrius, but he went about things normally, he didn't walk away from her or hate her for it...

"I... am I doing things wrong?" She told herself.

After that, she went to ask her father for advice. He, like her mother, told her that retribution is important, until she told him that she was talking about Tenebrius, with which he denied all of the above and said that she did not owe him anything, that he was already receiving a lot from her. She didn't want to contradict her father, but she didn't agree with that at all.

She went and asked other relatives who still hadn't left after coming on holidays. The answer was varied, and despite the fact that he spoke hypothetically, without clarifying that it was her, they all agreed on the idea of giving and receiving... the majority, but those who did not agree were the parasites of the family.

She ended up doing what she feared, asking her mother, without her usual confidence, but rather with the doubts of a daughter to her mother. Andromeda didn't complain to her daughter like before, just a little, and she didn't tell her much either...

"Only you will know what you have to do... but I advise you to hurry up because he won't be waiting for you all his life and I don't know if I can continue doing things for you... I already feel like I'm starting to cheat on my husband with the things I do"

Tonks didn't understand the last thing her mother meant, but she didn't get an answer from her about that, so she just resigned herself to paying attention to the first thing... What was she supposed to do?