"The Mirror of Erised was created centuries ago by the Founders as a tool of knowledge. The thinking behind its creation was that it would be a way to motivate people to achieve their goals. If one saw themselves as Minister of Magic, or Headmaster of Hogwarts, that person would be more likely to push themselves to achieve their aims. It was thought that the Mirror would be the perfect way to encourage witches and wizards to become hardworking, productive members of society.

However, cracks soon appeared in the Founders line of thoughts. Not everyone's heart's desire was an achievable goal – and some things that were seen in the Mirror were of the type that should never be achieved.

It was found that those orphan students who looked into Mirror often saw their dead families, whom no magic could recover. Many became addicted to faces of those they would never see again, and had to pried away from the Mirror. They would go for days without food, water or sleep. Of those who survived, most went insane.

Even faced with such overwhelming evidence that the Mirror of Erised was not the miracle tool it had once been thought of, the Headmasters of Hogwarts refused to discontinue its usage as a teaching device. The Mirror remained an integral part of the Hogwarts curriculum for a few hundred years, and looked slated to remain that way – until the Wizarding World was made aware of the true power of desire.

When William Kensington first glanced into the Mirror, he saw not only his dead family, but also what he believed what his future – the sight of him taking revenge on all those who had murdered them for being Muggle. Five years after his graduation from Hogwarts, the Wizarding World would be introduced to the first modern Dark Lord.

Keeping his name so that everyone knew whose hands they were suffering at, Kensington waged war against those he held responsible for his family's deaths – every pure or half-blooded witch and wizard. Like You-Know-Who, his goal was to purify the wizarding race. But unlike his, Kensington believed that it was Muggleborns who were the pure ones.

After his defeat and death, the Ministry decided the Mirror was too dangerous to let children look into. They believed – perhaps rightly – that if Kensington had not looked into the Mirror of Erised, he would not have become the man he was.

So the Mirror was hidden away to a place where only the Headmaster was allowed access. The only way for a person to look into the Mirror was by express permission from the Head of Hogwarts.

However, today's Ministry believes that your experience with the war against You-Know-Who is enough to convince those among you who are hungry for power not to turn Dark. And so, the Mirror has once again been brought back for students' usage.

This is a strictly voluntary activity. You will not be forced to look into the Mirror should you want. Nor will you be asked to reveal what you see inside it.

Some among you may have bumped into the Mirror during your nightly strolls. I encourage you to look into once again – the human heart's desires change quickly, and, if nothing else, this promises to be an enlightening experience.

Now - who would like to be the first to volunteer? Ah - of course. There we go now -"

Inspired by Lil'MissChris' Face Your Boggart. Go read that because it's amazing! :)

For:

The If You Dare Challenge, Prompt 660. Mirror

All Canon Bootcamp, Prompt 19. Title

HP Potions Competition, Wit-Sharpening Potion

The Quidditch Competition, The Bluebottle