AN: Okay, so I was looking through my stories, and I went over this one to see if I wanted to change anything.
There was *gasp* a mistake! I had misspelled "Hallows"! *high pitched scream*
So I redid the entire thing, and I like it much better now.
Redone!
Dumbledore's point of view
I am walking in the corridors of Hogwarts under my perfect Disillusionment charm, with my perfect beard, and perfect wand. If anyone were to see me now, I would be the Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts: powerful, but humble. They'd see wizardly quirks and a heart that was, perhaps, a little too kind to muggles.
I am not perfect.
My feet take me to the Mirror of Erised, where I know I should not linger, but where I still go every night. I know I will find Harry there; the mirror promises many things that would surely entrance an orphan such as him.
I take my usual place at a desk. Harry looks so innocent, totally absorbed in the vision of his parents- a loving family. As much as I love that relaxed look on his face, I know I must shatter his illusions.
"So- back again, Harry?" I ask.
We go back and forth, and I enlighten him on the true nature of the mirror. Oh Harry, how I wish you could remain innocent all your life. I wish the mirror gave your parents back to you, and I wish you had a real family.
But that is not to be.
"What do you see when you look in the mirror?"
Oh dear. Nothing you need to know about Harry.
I look into the mirror. I'm still holding those damn Hallows. Apparently I still wish to be the master of death. This, like everything else shows my foolishness. But then behind me: my breath catches. Arianna smiles at me. Her smile could light the world. With a flick of her wand she performs a simple enchantment, her magic restored. My brother hugs my reflection, and then looks out at me. My mother walks from behind while holding my father's hand. My parents stand behind my brother and me. Finally Grindelwald, my lover, best friend, and co-conspirator throughout my youth stands next to me and holds my other hand.
It's everything that I wish for, and everything that can never be.
"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick woolen socks."
