Chapter 15: Mirror of Erised
Library- Night Time
The three boys walked through the dark section of the library to find what they were looking for. As they arrived at the restricted section, the three began searching the books of that section for any info on Nicholas Flamel. "Famous Fire Eaters-" Ron said as he looked at a book. "Fifteenth Century Fiends-" Naruto said as he looked between the books. "Flamel… Nicholas Flamel… where are you?" Harry said as he took out a book and opened it only for a face shooting out of the page. "AHHHHHHHHHH!" the face screamed. Harry shuts the book as both Naruto and Ron look at him with wide eyes.
"Who's there?" the three turned around to see a lantern light approaching, as Harry accidently dropped his lantern. "Shit! You guys go-" Naruto said as the two looked at him as if he was crazy. "What about you?" asked the two. "Don't worry about me, just go!" he whispered as he found a place to hide, while keeping silent. The three escaped right as Filch came into the restricted section. "Who is it? Show yourself!" Filch shouts while looking at the restricted section only to see a dropped lantern. He was looking for the culprit only to find no one, so he continued examining the dropped lantern.
With Harry and Ron
The two made it out to the hallway, and soon split. As Ron leaves, Harry notices that Filch's cat is following him and so he goes on another path. Harry made it to the other path only to find Snape and Quirrell, and from what it looks like Snape is interrogating Quirrell. Harry was sneaking past them, while listening in on the conversation. "Severus…I-I thought…" Quirrell stammered. "You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell" Snape threatened. "W-What do you m-mean?" "You know perfectly well what I mean-" Snape said before he stopped and turned around, as Harry held his breath due to being caught. Snape slowly reached out towards Harry, as the boy backed up quietly and slowly, before pointing his finger at Quirrell. "We'll meet again soon… when you've had time to decide where your loyalty lies" he said before turning to see Filch with a broken lantern. "Oh professors, I found this in the restricted section, it's still hot, that means a student is out of bed" he explained, as Snape let go of Quirrell and followed the caretaker with Quirrell trailing behind. Harry sighs in relief and takes the opportunity to enter some room, right next to him. As Harry enters the room, he finds it empty except that there's a large mirror attached to the wall. The boy stares at the mirror and gasps in shock as he sees a man and a woman appear behind him in the mirror's reflection. "Mom?" the boy asks as the woman in the mirror smiles and nods, he turns to the man, "Dad?" receiving the same response. Harry reaches out to touch the mirror only to feel the surface of the mirror, as he sees his mom put his hand on his shoulder of Harry's reflection. The boy placed his hand on his shoulder, trying to feel his mother's touch.
Gryffindor Common Room
Ron and Naruto are back at the common room waiting for Harry. "Where is he?" Naruto asked as Ron doesn't even know where he is. Soon Harry returned to the room. "Guys! You've got to see this-" he said as he and the boys left to see what was all the fuss about.
The Mirror Room
The three arrived at the room to see what was all the fuss about, only to find a mirror. "Come on you two, look… it's my parents" Harry said as he pointed to the mirror. Ron and Naruto were confused, "but I only see myself" Ron said as Naruto agreed. "Look properly; go on… stand here, now look there… You see them don't you? That's my dad" Harry said. Ron looked at the mirror and gasped, "That's me! Only I'm a head boy… and holding a Quidditch cup! Bloody hell, I'm a Quidditch captain too! I look good, Harry. Do you think this mirror shows the future?" Ron asked. Harry shakes his head, "How can it? My parents are dead" he said. Ron sighed before turning to see Naruto looking surprised and smiling, "Hey Naruto, what do you see?" Ron asked. "I'm sorry what?" he said turning to them looking dazed. "You alright there mate?" Ron asked. Naruto nods, "I'm fine… just tired… you know what, I'm going to bed" the blond said as he left. Ron looks at Harry, "what's up with him?" asks Ron as Harry shrugged; What Naruto saw in the mirror was an older version of him with a certain brunette, along with three kids and two strangers, one of them a blond haired man and a red haired woman.
The Next Day
Harry was still thinking about what he saw in the mirror and why his friends couldn't see what he saw in the mirror. Ron and Naruto asked what was wrong, but Harry doesn't reply so they figured to leave him be.
The Mirror Room- Night Time
Harry stares at the mirror looking at his parent's reflection; he hears footsteps and turns around to see Dumbledore behind him. "Back again Harry?" he asked as the boy got up and dusted himself. "I see you, like so many others, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised, I trust by now you realize what it does?" he asked, which confused Harry. Dumbledore chuckled, "let me give you a hint, the happiest man on earth would look into a mirror and see only himself, exactly as he is" he said. Harry was surprised as he understood what Dumbledore was trying to say. "So, it shows us what we want? Whatever we want?" Harry asked. "Yes and no, it shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desires of our hearts. Now you, who have never known your family, you see them standing beside you, but remember this Harry, this mirror gives us neither knowledge nor truth, men have wasted away before it, not knowing if what they have seen is real, or even possible" he said placing a hand on his shoulder. "Tonight the mirror will be moved and it would be wise to not to go looking for it." Harry understood and before he went to bed, he asked Dumbledore what he saw in the mirror, to which he said he is holding a pair of thick woolen socks, which confused Harry, but after an explanation from the professor, Harry found it reasonable. What Harry didn't know was that Dumbledore lied, as what the old man actually saw was his old friend and lover, Gellert Grindelwald.
