Chapter 63: Mirror of Erised II
Luke said as he looked at the twins. "It probably doesn't show the future, but rather, it reflects what you most desire in your heart."
As soon as these words came out, Fred was fine, but George's face turned red all of a sudden.
That was because George hadn't only seen the toys and gold he had mentioned earlier.
He'd also seen a red-haired child and a girl he knew well. No, not a girl—she was already a woman in the reflection.
George glanced at his brother and Luke, relieved to see they hadn't noticed his reaction. He quietly let out a breath.
Luke, meanwhile, had no interest in prying into George's feelings at the moment.
He knew exactly what the Mirror of Erised was capable of.
The mirror showed one's truest desires. While those desires could change over time, the mirror's purpose remained unchanged.
The Mirror of Erised had originally been stored in the Room of Requirement. Now, it was placed in a classroom, right along the path to the headmaster's office. Oddly enough, it hadn't been there on the way up but was suddenly there on their return.
It was obvious that this was staged for the twins to discover.
And through them, to deliberately draw Luke to the mirror. It was likely a test to reveal the true nature of his heart.
Dumbledore's strategies were often simple and straightforward. Yet his immense power and wisdom made it impossible to dismiss or resist them.
Power truly was the ultimate catalyst, wasn't it?
Seeing that Dumbledore really was paying attention to him, Luke began to seriously contemplate whether he should take the risk of going into the Chamber of Secrets to seek its legacy anytime soon.
Fred and George exchanged glances, uncertain of what this "Mirror of Erised" Luke mentioned truly was.
But their instincts told them it wasn't something ordinary that should casually appear in a classroom.
"Forget it, Luke. Just pretend we didn't say anything. That thing isn't all that fun, really"
Fred said, shaking his head dismissively.
"Yeah, exactly. Nothing special"
George nodded vigorously. This kind of obviously suspicious object wasn't something you'd expect to stumble upon at Hogwarts.
At its core, Hogwarts was still just a school. While its magical nature gave it countless secrets, that didn't mean opportunities and dangers were lurking around every corner.
For most young witches and wizards, their time at Hogwarts was peaceful and uneventful. The biggest challenges they'd face might be failing a test or a heartbreak.
It was only the Golden Trio that managed to live through the chaos every single year.
Even the Weasley twins, notorious pranksters, mostly stuck to harmless fun to spice up their lives.
Now that they had realized the situation was more serious than it appeared, they weren't the type to push someone into danger.
That wasn't their style—nor was it the Weasley family's way.
Luke placed a hand on the shoulders of the two boys, who were taller than him by now.
"Come on now, an invitation unanswered would be such a disappointment, wouldn't it?" He smiled warmly, exuding confidence. "Lead the way to the classroom."
Fred and George looked into Luke's eyes and saw no fear there—only determination and trust in himself.
Moments later, they arrived at the door to the classroom.
George stopped, pointing at the door as he said to Luke, "When we first came here, the door was slightly ajar, and in the corner was the mirror... It's really..."
"Magnificent... Honestly, that must be the most magnificent mirror I've ever seen," Fred added, his voice tinged with awe.
Luke nodded and said, "I'll go in alone..."
But before he could finish, Fred quickly interrupted him.
He had a determined expression on his face.
"If you're going in, we're going in together."
"We have our principles, Luke," George chimed in, standing firmly with his brother.
Luke looked at their determined faces and smiled. "Alright, together it is."
With that, he led the way, pushing the door open lightly and stepping inside, with the twins following closely behind.
The classroom was empty, and against the wall directly opposite the door stood the mirror.
It was tall, stretching to the ceiling, with an ornate golden frame and claw-like feet.
Luke tilted his head back, looking up at its towering top.
"Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi"
He read the inscription engraved on the frame aloud, feeling a strange calm settle over him.
"Fred and I read that, but we had no idea what it meant"
George whispered.
"Try looking at it from a different angle—like reading it backward," Luke suggested.
Fred squinted at the inscription and began to recite, "I show not your face but your heart's desire."
Both brothers fell silent. Deep down, they had hoped the images they'd seen were glimpses of their future.
Luke, however, didn't pay attention to their moment of introspection.
The Mirror of Erised only revealed its visions to the person standing before it.
So, all of this was just a way for Dumbledore to let him see himself more clearly?
Perhaps it wasn't a bad idea. Luke was curious, too—what would he see?
Approaching the mirror with a sense of anticipation, he gazed into it.
And then he froze.
The twins noticed something was wrong. When Luke remained motionless for nearly a full minute, they moved forward, intending to pull him back.
But before they could act, they felt a hand gently tap their shoulders.
Instinctively, they reached for their wands. After their experience in the Forbidden Forest with Luke, where magical creatures had surrounded them, the twins had trained extensively to draw their wands quickly.
Turning around, they were met with the sight of an elderly man with white hair and a long beard, his face adorned with a kindly smile.
"Professor Dumbledore... What are you doing here?"
Fred asked, and in that moment, a lot of things seemed to click in his mind.
"Do not disturb Mr. Gaunt, Mr. Weasley, Dinner is being served, and I hear the kitchen has prepared something special tonight. I think you'll enjoy it."
Dumbledore didn't address their question directly. Instead, he smiled and gave a playful wink.
Fred hesitated, unwilling to leave.
But George grabbed his brother's arm and began pulling him out of the room.
"Thank you, Professor, we'll check it out. We'll leave Luke in your capable hands!"
George said as they vanished from sight.
Dumbledore turned back to Luke, who remained transfixed in front of the mirror.
With a soft, grandfatherly smile, he observed the boy. His deep, thoughtful gaze was like a still, dark lake—its depths making it impossible to see what laid beneath.
*****
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