Mr Potter,
A person or persons unknown passed this item into our care. It has come to our attention that this person is no longer
able to reclaim his property therefore, as per that person's instructions, the item previously mentioned is now
yours. Further more new emergency legislation passed by the Minister of Magic has made it unable for us to hoard large
amounts of magical artefacts in one place. In short we of Gringots have been forced to return this artefact to its
owner.
- Chief Goblin of Unidentified Artefacts, Gringots.
They sat staring at the crisp quality paper as evening drew closer, Harry, Ron and Hermione, their brows furrowed in
silent question. The dim candle light bounced off the glittering orb in a dazzling array of colours. Finally Ron voiced
the question on all of their minds.
"What is it?" Although perfectly round the silver orb balanced without moving as they spoke.
"No idea, Hermione?" Both Ron and Harry's attentions turned to Hermione expectantly. She looked up from
studying the orb with a confused look on her face.
"I think I've read about it somewhere, I just need to remember where." She turned her attention back to
the puzzle although Ron and Harry had vanished. At the sound of approaching footsteps Harry gave the orb a sharp push
and it rolled into Hermione's waiting hands.
"That owl seems to be perking up." The owner of the Cauldron gestured to the old and slightly battered bar.
The freshly tended bird sat contentedly on the counter-top. "Where did you he was again?"
"Just outside in the gutter." Hermione kept her answer short hoping that the old man would move on to another
table.
"Strange didn't hear anything." He walked off leaving the three friends alone again.
"I've got it!" Hermione jumped from her seat and ran towards the stairs. Harry followed but was almost
bowled over by her returning with a thick, leather bound book. He stopped in his tracks feeling stupid (not for the
first time that day) and tried to apologies but found his tongue didn't want to obey.
"C'mon Harry out of the way." Hermione squeezed past him and returned to her seat. This further added to
Harry's new found inability to speak, he too returned to his seat and tried to look normal which was another thing
that had suddenly become difficult. "It's a silvered-world."
"A what?" Harry's and Ron's voices mixed into one predictable question.
"A kind of mirror I think, it reflects a cretin place inside itself... kind of copies a place exactly except there
wouldn't be any people or living things. Useful if you ever wanted to, for instance, look inside the restricted
section at Hogwarts."
"Why would Sirius have had it?" Ron winced as Hermione gave him a sharp kick under the table up until now
they'd been carefully avoiding that subject. They both looked at Harry worriedly.
"Probably wanted to look at something..." Harry kept his voice level, suprising even himself. "So how
does it work?"
"Tap it with a wand and look into it." Hermione's reply was quick and book perfect.
"Let's use it." Again they both stared at Harry, this time with a different expression in their eyes,
disbelief.
"You can't be serious, for all we know it could be, well anything. There's no guarantee of where it will
take us." Hermione look as if she was about to launch into a massive list of all the reasons why he shouldn't
go near the thing. But then she smoothed her features over and smiled. "Wait until tomorrow Harry, we can't
talk you out of it but best you go prepared" Ron gaped but Harry just nodded. If it was important to Sirius he had
to do it, He felt that he owed his godfather a debt, he knew he did.
After the distraction of the package was settled they moved on to talk about more conventional things. After they'd eaten they moved up to Harry's rented room which was slightly bigger. Sitting by the window Harry stared out at the world. He debated weather or not to tell his friends about the pain he'd suddenly felt in his scar, he decided not to. It was hard to keep it from them, he wasn't dishonest naturally but if they found out Hermione might reconsider her stand on the orb. At that moment the silvered-world was resting at the bottom his trunk between his school robes. It didn't look like it would break easily but he didn't want to take any chances with the strange artefact. He looked up at Hermione she was flicking through the book he'd got her, the wrapping paper now discarded and only changing colour occasionally. She was another problem to add to his many worries, why did he suddenly feel different about her. He always thought he licked Cho but he had to fight for her. Hermione was always there; the battle was already over. She looked up at him and smiled.
That night he thought sleep would never come but strangely it was easy to slip into a pattern of smooth breathing.
He closed his eyes and new nothing until a few hours later. Hermione however discarded sleep; she couldn't not
while Harry still had the orb. It was dangerous, a trap? She didn't know but she wouldn't risk it. She would
just have one small look and then if all was well Harry never need know about it. Carrying a large book under one arm
and her wand in the other she opened the door to Harry's room. It squeaked, she gasped, he slept on. The trunk
opened smoothly on its old hinges and soon the silvered-world was on the table in front of her. She touched it with her
wand cautiously not knowing what to expect, suddenly her head was yanked towards the reflective, curved artefact and
there was blackness...