chapter 19

The snow still hadn't melted the next morning.

Harry is looking at depressed, so Ron walks to Harry.

"Want to play chess, Harry?" said Ron.

"No", said Harry.

"Why don't we go down and visit Hagrid?" suggested Ron.

"No… you go…" said Harry

"I know what you're thinking about, Harry, that mirror. Don't go back tonight", Ron tells Harry.

"Why not?" asked Ron.

"I dunno, I've just got a bad feeling about it—and anyway, you've had too many close shaves already. Filch, Snape, and Mrs. Norris are wandering around. So what if they can't see you? What if they walk into you? What if you knock something over?" Ron explained.

"You sound like Hermione", said Harry.

"I'm serious, Harry, don't go", said Ron, then walks away.

At night, Key is woken by her glowing eyes.

"Harry", whispers Key.

Key follows Harry, who is heading back to the room with the mirror.

"Back again, Potter and I see you followed him, Ms. Walker", said Dumbledore.

Key and Harry turn around to see sitting on one of the desks by the wall is none other than Albus Dumbledore. Harry must have walked straight past him, so desperate to get to the mirror he hadn't noticed him.

"I didn't see you, sir", said Harry.

"Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you," said Dumbledore.

Harry was relieved to see that he was smiling and Key catches her breath.

"So," said Dumbledore, slipping off the desk to sit on the floor with Harry, "you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised."

"The mirror of Erised, interesting", Key whispered.

"But I expect you've realized by now what it does?" asked Dumbledore.

"I'm not quite sure, sir", said Harry.

"I'm not either", said Key.

"Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?"

Harry thought. Then he said slowly, "It shows us what we want… whatever we want…"

"Yes and no," said Dumbledore quietly. "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.

"The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?"

Harry stood up and Key takes his hand.

"Sir—Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?" asked Harry.

"Obviously, you've just done so," Dumbledore smiled. 

Key giggles a little, trying to hit it.

"You may ask me one more thing, however", said Dumbledore.

"What do you see when you look in the mirror?" asked Harry.

"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks", said Dumbledore.

Harry stared.

Key looks confused.

"One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."

So, Key and Harry walk out of the room.

"You can let go of my hand", said Harry.

"After you apologize", said Key.

"For what?" asked Harry.

Key hits Harry on the head, and folds her arm.

"Because you made me worry, and was barely eating, next time you do that I will show you no mercy", Key explains with anger.

"I didn't mean to make you worry, after all I thought I could come back to the dorm without any worries", said Harry.

Key kisses Harry on the cheek.

"What was that for?" asked Harry.

"For being a great cousin", said Key, then winks.