Mirror of Erised.

Disclaimer: Belongs to the brilliant JK Rowlings.

"What do you see when you look in the mirror?"

Dumbledore had known the inquisitive young boy in front of him would ask that very question even before he allowed him to. While it was true that one could never have enough woolen socks, especially here in the castle were some floors were cold as ice, it was hardly mountains of hand-knitted footwear he saw in Erised.

Peering into the mirror he barely registered the flash of pain piercing an already old and battered heart. He had only ever seen two things in the mirror.

On good days he saw his family. Like they had been before Ariana's attack. Smiling. Unbroken.

On bad days…

Only a few times had he allowed himself to look into the smooth surface of the mirror. Seeking out the special pain the mirror so easily dealt those who peered into it. He knew only too well what ensnaring sights it could show you. The only two times he had intentionally sought out the mirror and stood before it he had seen Gellert Grindelwald.

Gellert with his handsome face and brilliant mind still young and untarnished by what was to come. Mischievous eyes twinkling in merriment at something he, Albus, had just said. Decades after everything had been said and done and Gellert was out of his life for good this was still what he saw in the damned mirror.

The young man he had once loved, but who now only filled his heart with a burning sadness over what he had lost without ever really having.

In the mirror Gellert waved at him one last time. Albus sighed. Tomorrow he would have to move it again. Perhaps he should just sink it into the Black Lake and be done with it. Though – if there was one thing he had learned in life – there might still be use for it.