She looked behind herself, as if checking to see if they had appeared like the parent Weasleys, despite not hearing the pop she remembered. There was nobody there.

She frowned and looked back to the mirror. She didn't quite understand, but then looked up at the engraved letters again. Her heart's desire… She looked back at the two adults in the mirror and wondered if they might be her parents, who she had always wanted to meet.

She only shook her head, and took a step back. She turned and ran off, much like that Harry Potter had. She did not stop until she arrived at the common room. There, she took a deep breath and collapsed into one of the big chairs. She still didn't quite understand. She needed to think. This was going to be one of those nights where she wouldn't really be able to sleep, she decided. It was a common thing for her, which was usually annoying, but tonight she was somewhat grateful for the time to ponder all the possibilities of the mirror.

She looked up in surprise when she heard someone come down the stairs from the girl's dormitory. It was Hermione, with a pile of books in her arms. She looked like she was about to go off to the library for some early studying, or at least be studying at the breakfast table.

"Halley?" Hermione asked. "What are you doing up so early? You're usually still in your room at this current time…"

"Couldn't sleep," Halley answered, still slightly distracted. Then she looked at Hermione. "Hermione, you're better at memorizing the books for me. I have a quick question."

"It's not for homework, is it?" Hermione questioned. "Harry and Ron are always asking me for the answers."

Halley shook her head. "I already have all my homework done. It's more of a personal question, about an item in the school."

Hermione set her books down at the end table and sat in the chair in front of Halley. "What is it, then?"

"There's this mirror I found the other day," Halley started, trying to sound casual. It was brass and stood on two animal-like feet, and had an engraving. Have you heard of such a mirror in your books?"

"You'd probably have to be more specific than that, Halley," Hermione answered.

Halley tried her best to describe the mirror that had possibly shown her family. She finished, and watched Hermione as she thought.

"I think I've heard of such a mirror," Hermione replied. "It's only in the updated version of Hogwarts: A History. Luckily I have that checked out from the library." She dug through her pile of books, and Halley wondered if Hermione ever felt tired of carrying around such large objects. She did not like to read as much as Hermione, she figured. Hermione opened one of the books. "Right here," she said, turning to page 356 and pointing at the first paragraph. The chapter was named 'The Mirror of Erised', and it was a rather short chapter.

Halley peered curiously at it. "There's not much on it, is there?" she murmured conversationally. She leaned forward to read more about the mirror.

Hermione started reciting what she knew from the textbook. "Nobody knows where it came from, really, just that it happened to appear here at Hogwarts about ten years ago. It's said to show your deepest desire."

"I saw it last night," Halley answered, staring at the image of the Mirror of Erised. "Well, your friend Harry found it first, but then I happened upon the room that held it as well… I think it showed my parents."

Hermione looked at Halley, who had become silent, for a long while before reaching out and patting her arm in an attempt at comfort.

Halley looked up at Hermione. "Come on," she said suddenly, rising and grabbing Hermione's hand, pulling her up and along. The pile of books was forgotten.

"What?" Hermione asked, as she was pulled through the common room door. Students had started to wander out of their dormitories, but Halley didn't notice, and Hermione's attention had been yanked away. "Are you showing me the mirror?"

"Exactly," Halley answered, and brought Hermione along the halls. She had to think up a quick route depending on what she knew, because last time she had found the room it was from the library.

She eventually found the room, and glanced over at Hermione. "Come on in," Halley said, and together they stepped inside the classroom.

The mirror stood there still, shining in the dusty looking air. The girls approached the mirror together. It didn't show anything with them both, so Halley stepped away to see if that would change anything.

"What do you see?" Halley asked excitedly.

Hermione peered at the mirror herself. Halley watched her smile just slightly.

"Well?" Halley prompted.

"It's me," Hermione said. "And I'm opening up an envelope. I've passed all my exams, with the highest scores. It's a new record! I'm surrounded by people… friends, perhaps…"

Halley looked over at Hermione as she drifted off. Hermione wasn't smiling anymore; she was frowning with her lips pursed, like she was thinking negatively. "Something wrong?" Halley asked.

"Oh, no," Hermione said, shaking her head and stepping away from the mirror. "Do you want to look again?"

Halley stepped up to the mirror again, and centered herself. She looked up and saw the two adults behind her. She smiled and waved to them. The woman smile back at her.

"We should go," Hermione said, after a minute or two of silence. "People are passing by. If we hurry, maybe we can catch some breakfast."

"Yeah, okay," Halley said, giving a last glance at the mirror before turning away and following Hermione out of the room. She didn't look back, but decided to ask Hagrid about the man and woman in the mirror at a later time.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked, when they reached the Great Hall.

"Mhm," Halley said. "I'm fine."

The two girls pushed the doors open, and the mirror was almost forgotten. Halley put it in the back of her mind, since she knew there was nothing she could really do about it, and what was the point of wallowing? She smiled at Hermione as she spoke.