The Black Family Manor was cursed, and not just in the usual magical sense.
It breathed regret.
Not with traps or hexes—but with memories, frozen and distorted, locked in corners where sunlight refused to touch.
Aarav stood outside its warded gates, hood drawn, wand quietly pulsing in his palm.
> "Where a mirror sees not reflection, but regret…"
> The third Time Shard lay within.
The manor had long been sealed by the Ministry, especially after Sirius Black's death. It was believed empty… but that wasn't true.
The House of Black never truly died.
Using his Goblin Favor token, Aarav activated a vault-bridge hidden beneath London's alleyways, appearing in a cracked drawing room beneath the basement level.
The walls were lined with shattered portraits.
> "This place is bleeding time," Aarav muttered.
> System Notification: Temporal Warping Detected
> Protective Buff Applied: Chrono-Skin – Moderate Time Distortion Resistance
The Hall of Regret was alive.
At the center stood an object no one dared move—not even Kreacher in his final days.
A massive, cursed mirror… cracked in three places, wrapped in chains of blackened silver.
But Aarav knew it instantly.
Not like the Mirror of Erised. This one didn't show desire.
> It showed the worst version of your choices.
System Triggered Memory Trial
Trial: The Reflection of Regret
Object: Mirror of Reversion
Warning: Emotional Resistance Required
Failure: Memory Burn (Lose random skill levels)
Objective: Witness, Endure, and Accept Three Reflections
Unlocks: Time Shard 3, Psychological Fortitude Passive, Path to Mirror Magic
```
Aarav braced himself and stepped forward.
He saw himself… turning away from Voldemort in the alley.
> Not fighting. Just watching as a child was struck by a stray spell.
> "You ran," the reflection whispered.
> "You lived," it smiled.
Aarav clenched his fist. "I did run. I wasn't strong enough."
Acceptance shimmered. The image burned away.
Now he saw himself wearing the Elder Wand like a king's scepter, Harry and Hermione bound at his feet, Hogwarts kneeling.
> "You saved everyone—but enslaved the rest."
> "You ended war—but silenced freedom."
Aarav grit his teeth. "That's not who I want to be. Power is a tool. Not an excuse."
The second reflection fractured.
This one hurt the most.
It showed him back in his old world.
> Standing beside his own grave.
> Watching his mother cry, calling his name.
> His own ghost watching silently, unable to reach them.
"I… didn't get to say goodbye."
> "You wanted greatness. You left behind love."
He knelt, eyes wet.
"I'll earn the right to see them again… someday."
And then, the mirror cracked a fourth time.
A small black gear of light emerged.
Aarav reached out.
> It floated into his palm, glowing with soft, blue heat.
> System Update:
```
Time Shard 3 of 5 Acquired: Reflection of Regret
Passive Gained: Iron Will – +20% resistance to emotional and psychic magic
Trait Unlocked: Mirror Affinity – You can use reflective surfaces as memory anchors
EXP +8500
Next Shard Hint: "Where magic forgets its name – The Library Beyond Alexandria"
```
As he turned to leave, the mirror whispered one last thing.
> "You… will shatter again."
He paused but said nothing.
Behind him, the chains rewrapped themselves.
The mirror awaited its next victim.
Back to Hogwarts
When Aarav returned through his private portal, it was nearly dawn. Dumbledore was waiting in his study.
"You've grown quiet," the headmaster said gently.
Aarav only nodded.
"Too many mirrors lately."
Dumbledore placed a cup of tea before him and whispered, "Then may you always remember who you are, not just what you've done."