17-year-old James Potter sighed. He was sitting in an old classroom staring at a huge mirror, like he had for the last 3 nights.
You may think he was doing this only to improve his ego, but in truth he was not. For the mirror showed him what he wanted most: Lily Evans. Every time he looked in the mirror her saw the two of them kissing.
He sadly got up, and was about to head off to bed to get some sleep, when he heard footsteps. He quickly hid beneath his invisibility cloak, and prayed that it wasn't Filch's scrawny cat, Mrs. Norris. Cats could see through invisibility cloaks, and he didn't trust any of them.
The footsteps came closer, and then paused outside the door. James saw a woman's shadow on the wall. He prayed that it wasn't McGonagall, who had enough feline instincts to tell when someone invisible was around.
"What's that?" James froze. That was Lily's voice. What was she doing out of bed? She firmly believed in following the rules! Didn't she?
He watched as she crossed the room until she stood before the mirror of Erised. She gasped and leaped back. James wished that he knew what she had seen. What was it that she most wanted?
"Good evening, Miss Evans." Lily gasped again, and spun around. There was Dumbledore, smiling at her.
"Professor, I'm so sorry; I didn't see- "
"It's quite alright. Being invisible is just a hobby of mine." James gaped at him. He noticed that Lily was as equally as surprised. Dumbledore just laughed. "Now, I see that you have some questions that need answering." Lily just stared at him for a moment. After a long pause-
"Professor, I looked in the mirror, and I saw myself and James Potter, kissing…" Lily trailed off looking embarrassed.
Dumbledore laughed again. "That, Miss Evans, is the mirror of Erised. It shows you what you most desire. Now I must insist that you hurry of to bed. Unless I am much mistaken, Mr. Filch is coming this way."
Lily nodded and fled. After a moment Dumbledore left. But before he did, he said, "Good night, Mr. Potter," and winked.
James just stood therefore a moment. Then he smiled. Lily liked him. There was hope after all.