Harry's prediction proved accurate, as Professor McGonagall was waiting for the pair of boys when they came down. "I understand you are to receive a new wand, Mr. Weasley," she observed with a warm smile. "I'm here to escort you to the alley through the Floo."

"T-thanks, Professor!" Ron managed to gulp out before turning to Harry. "Do you wanna come with?"

"No thanks," Harry replied easily. "I was thinking of heading to the library and browsing for a bit. Maybe find a book for new tricks in Potions."

As Ron rolled his eyes at that, Professor McGonagall chuckled. "I don't know whether to be pleased at your academic pursuits, pleasantly surprised that one of my Lions is on such good terms with Professor Snape for once, or bemused that it is you, Mr. Potter. Don't spend too long there, you should enjoy your Christmas." With that said, she escorted Ron to her office.

"You're really going to the library?" Kevin asked curiously from Harry's sleeve.

"Nah," Harry responded in Parsel. "But it was a good excuse. I was actually thinking of trying out my gift."

Kevin chuckled softly. "Not a bad idea," he allowed indulgently. "There are some areas of the castle I haven't been able to show you to since students aren't supposed to be there. It will be perfectly safe under that cloak...and you never know when you might need to know about them."

Grinning widely, Harry stepped out past the Fat Lady, ducked around a corner, and pulled on his Father's Invisibility Cloak. "So how do I attune my magic to it?" Harry asked curiously as he pulled it tighter.

"That's a more advanced lesson than you're really ready for," Kevin chided gently. "Save that for at least third year. For now, just keep your voice down while you walk, and heed my directions..."

Harry's explorations of the castle under the Invisibility Cloak proved quite enlightening. Not only did he discover many more passages back and forth in the castle itself, Kevin pointed him to several that led beyond the castle grounds...though he was firmly instructed not to use those indiscriminately. Not only were there rules against being off-grounds unchaperoned, but it would be much more dangerous beyond Hogwarts' protections when he didn't know how to use the Cloak to hide All Trace.

It was amazing just how many unused classrooms there were throughout the castle, and Kevin had a story for almost every one. Apparently, the castle wasn't just a school, but had also served as a refuge during the times when the magical community had to hide from Muggles before the Statute of Secrecy, and much of the castle was there to be residence for extended families at need. Not only that, but there had once been a great many more courses offered than the mere 12 that were now available including the optional ones that would become available at third year.

It would almost have been eerie wandering through the unused portions of the castle, barely stirring the dust as he walked, but Kevin's constant commentary - and the fact that it was daytime - erased any sense of unease he might have had. Instead, he was simply enjoying himself as they finally came to an all but empty classroom containing only a mirror. Feeling an impish feeling of mischief, Harry approached the mirror, expecting to see no reflection.

Instead, not only did he see his reflection, but it seemed he was surrounded by people. Startled, he turned around to look behind him, but saw no one. Looking back in the mirror, he again saw his own reflection, and that of many other people. "Does this mirror show invisible people or something?" Harry asked uncertainly in Parsel.

"No, it's nothing like that," Kevin murmured in amusement as he slithered out enough to look Harry in the eye under the Cloak...but he didn't appear in the reflection Harry saw in the mirror. "Did you not notice the inscription on the upper part?"

Blinking in confusion, Harry glanced up and read the words...though they seemed to be nonsense. "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi?" he asked, struggling to sound out the odd combinations of letters. "Is that...Latin?"

Kevin chuckled softly. "No. Like the mirror itself, it's reflected. Read it backwards."

Frowning, Harry looked at the words again. "Ee-shoo...no, I show? I show not...your face...but your h...heart's desire?" he asked.

"Indeed," Kevin confirmed. "This is the Mirror of Erised, a mirror that reflects the truest desire of those who look into it, as opposed to the truth."

"But...who are all those..." Harry's voice trailed off as he looked into the mirror again, finally realizing why the man and woman closest to him looked so familiar. "M...Mom? Dad?"

Kevin nodded sadly. "They aren't really there in the reflection, of course," Kevin offered apologetically. "But yes...your reflection in the Mirror seems to be you...surrounded by your family."

Harry managed an uncertain smile...which became more certain as he noticed something else. "Is...is that Professor Snape standing next to my Mom?" he asked in surprise.

Kevin chuckled softly. "I wouldn't know. I can't see what you see, only you can. But I did tell you she saw him as her little brother...perhaps it's appropriate."

"If you don't see what I see...what do you see?" Harry asked curiously.

Kevin turned to look into the mirror.

Kevin wasn't wrapped around Harry's arm. He was wrapped around Salazar's shoulders, his old friend gently caressing his head. Helga was there, as was Rowana. The massive bulk behind them was obviously Godric, by the plaid print on the armor...though even in magical reflection, he couldn't bend down far enough for his face to be visible in this mirror. Their familiars were there as well. Helga's honey badger, Rowana's athene noctua, and Godric's gorilla. They were all there around him once more.

There was no sound in the reflection, but he could read Salazar's lips as he spoke in Parsel.

I am sorry, dear K'vin. I didn't think my descendants would stray so far. You should not have been used as you were...and it was not your fault. There is nothing to forgive...and I'm so proud of what you've chosen to do with Harry. You are a good serpent, K'vin, and you make us all proud.

...it wasn't real, though. He knew that far too well.

"...Kevin?" Harry asked again, concerned at how long his friend had been silent.

"My magic's too different," Kevin responded finally. "It doesn't work for me. I see nothing."

"Oh," Harry allowed apologetically. He didn't really believe Kevin there...but he got the feeling if Kevin did see something, it was deeply personal. He wasn't going to pry.