Chapter 135: "Winter, Duels and Mirror of Desires"

During the holiday season, Harry split his time between Bones Manor and Black Castle. At Bones Manor, he cherished the playful moments spent with baby Aries, finding joy in the simplicity of family time. Meanwhile, at Black Castle, he immersed himself in rigorous magical practice, sharpening his skills with a deep and intense focus.

Each night, Harry's routine included secretive trips to Hogwarts. He used the vanishing cabinet to stealthily check on Quirrelmort, employing his invisibility cloak to approach Quirrell undetected. This allowed Harry to access Quirrell's recent memories, providing insights into Voldemort's search for the Philosopher's Stone and monitoring Quirrell's deteriorating physical state. Harry often wondered why Quirrell didn't simply eliminate Fluffy using a killing curse, considering it would be typical of Voldemort's ruthless style. However, he was relieved they hadn't, as it gave him more time to delve into Voldemort's memories.

During these visits, Harry observed that Quirrell's health was in decline, but the time had not yet come to resort to unicorn blood. Quirrell and Voldemort were desperate to secure the stone swiftly to avoid such extreme measures, which they considered a last resort. Harry had already alerted the centaurs about the potential danger, advising them to be on high alert since an attack on the unicorns might be imminent within days or weeks.

One bright morning at Black Castle, Harry was deeply engaged in one of his regular dueling sessions with Arcturus. Despite being ninety years old, Arcturus maintained sharp reflexes and a keen intellect, presenting a significant challenge to Harry. This made dueling with Arcturus more difficult for Harry than sparring with Sirius, who had become less challenging over time.

Harry had fully grasped Sirius's fighting style and weaknesses, making it relatively easy to predict and counter his moves.

After a particularly vigorous duel, Arcturus took a moment to address Harry thoughtfully, "Harry, I think it's time for you to start competing in dueling tournaments. You've learned a great deal from our sessions, and I've noticed your style is becoming very similar to mine. While this is a testament to your learning ability, it's not beneficial for your growth as a duelist. You need to develop your own unique style if you truly want to excel and become a formidable wizard. To do this, you need more varied combat experiences. Our practice duels are becoming too predictable since we know each other's techniques so well. You need to face different opponents, ones who will challenge you in new ways."

Harry pondered Arcturus's advice seriously and then responded, "Yes, I also feel like I need more real dueling experience. My growth has slowed down a little. But do you think I'm ready to show my real strength to the world? Will it bring me problems?"

Arcturus gave a firm nod. "You no longer need to conceal your talents. It's time for you to step into the spotlight and make a name for yourself. By establishing a reputation now, you could deter potential adversaries and make others think twice before opposing you. It's also an opportunity to influence those who are neutral—making them hesitant to join your enemies. You can keep some tricks like your extraordinary strength from Knight training hidden, which can come in handy as a trump card but otherwise, you should go all out in duels to truly benefit from them."

"I understand. So, which dueling tournament should I start with?" Harry asked.

Arcturus replied with a strategic plan, "You should start with the European Under-17 Dueling Tournament. Winning there will provide you with the recognition necessary to enter adult-level tournaments. Begin with the under-17 tournament this coming summer, and then next year, you can progress to the All-English Dueling Tournament. From there, the world championships should be your next target. I'll take care of all the necessary formalities for you."

"That sounds like a solid plan to me," Harry agreed.

Harry was thrilled about the prospect of finally participating in a dueling tournament where he could openly display his true abilities. He was growing weary of concealing his strength, a tactic that was beginning to hinder his progress and could potentially harm his long-term development.

Keeping his powers hidden was proving to be more detrimental than beneficial. With the wizarding community now aware that Arcturus was his mentor, Harry was expected to demonstrate significant strength and skill. Failing to meet these expectations could negatively impact his reputation.

Moreover, Harry felt that he had reached a plateau in his abilities and needed more intense challenges to advance his skills. He believed that engaging in more battles, particularly those that could be life-threatening, would be crucial for his development.

This need for greater challenges was also evident in his Knight training. The daily routines were no longer yielding any noticeable improvements, and his practice sessions were now mainly aimed at maintaining his current level and preventing any decline in his skills.

Harry recognized that minor skirmishes, like his previous encounters with acromantulas, were no longer sufficient to enhance his capabilities. He was now faced with a choice: either he must confront the entire colony of acromantulas or discover another method to significantly push his limits and grow as a knight.

That night, Harry stepped into Hogwarts through the vanishing cabinet and immediately noticed something intriguing on the Marauder's Map. Dumbledore had visited an unused part of the castle the previous night and was there again tonight. Finding this repetitive behavior unusual, Harry decided it warranted a closer look.

He patiently waited for Dumbledore to leave the area. About an hour later, once Dumbledore had moved away, Harry approached the location with caution. It was an unused classroom, seemingly forgotten by time. As he reached the door, he noticed protective wards had been placed around it. Luckily, the wards were simple enough that Harry could bypass them without setting them off or breaking them.

Upon entering the room, Harry quickly surveyed his surroundings. The room was bare except for a large, full-scale mirror which he recognized as the Mirror of Erised. Even if he hadn't been familiar with it from the books, the inscription on the frame would have given it away. The script, which appeared to be in a foreign and likely ancient language, "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi" when read backwards and spaces rearranged, said "I show not your face but your heart's desire" 

Harry was puzzled about the Mirror of Erised's location; he had expected it to be set up behind the obstacle course on the third floor by now, safeguarding the Philosopher's Stone. The decision to leave such a crucial and dangerous artifact in an almost unprotected room seemed illogical.

In the canon, the Mirror of Erised served a specific purpose: it helped Dumbledore understand Harry's psyche following his troubled childhood, ensuring that he did not become another Voldemort. But in this situation, without Charles around and no apparent need to test anyone's character, Harry found himself confused.

The only sensible explanation Harry could think of was that Dumbledore might have placed the mirror here temporarily to work on an enchantment that would secure the stone, planning to move it to the third floor once ready. It was possible that Dumbledore, wary of what the mirror revealed to him, preferred to keep it at a distance to avoid falling under its spell.

Given that it was the holiday season with fewer students around, the risk of keeping the mirror in such a remote location while working on the enchantment seemed manageable to Dumbledore. 

Standing before the mirror, Harry paused, reflecting on his own desires. Desires are fundamental to everyone; they are not a cause for shame but are the driving forces behind our actions and ambitions.

As he gazed into the mirror, his reflection transformed to show an older, more mature version of himself, encircled by his loved ones like Cordelia, Emma, and Arcturus. Noticeably, the Potters, including Charles, were missing from the vision. Some of the faces were blurred, yet each was smiling, creating a warm, inviting scene around him. In the center stood Harry, exuding confidence and a formidable aura of strength that seemed to pulse outward from his reflection.

Seeing this filled Harry with a sense of fulfillment and affirmation. For a long time, he had been committed to becoming strong enough to protect his family and ensure their safety and happiness. This vision was a reminder of the promise he had made to himself long ago, reaffirming his path and the choices he was making.

Pleased with the reflection he saw in the Mirror of Erised and realizing there was nothing more to gain from staying in the room, Harry decided it was time to leave.

He continued on his usual routine to check up on Quirrelmort, sure that the Philosopher's Stone was not hidden in the mirror at this time. Harry felt certain that Dumbledore would not leave such an important artifact unguarded in this room once it contained the stone, so he saw no reason to return here again.

During the remainder of the holidays, Harry maintained his nightly visits to monitor Quirrell, but nothing out of the ordinary occurred. He noted, however, that Quirrell's physical condition was deteriorating rapidly, indicating that it wouldn't be long before Quirrell sought out the unicorns. Anticipating this move, Harry prepared some healing supplies specifically designed for treating unicorns, ensuring he was ready to intervene and help protect them when necessary.

With his preparations complete and feeling rejuvenated from the holiday break, Harry returned to Hogwarts, ready to face another semester filled with new challenges and adventures.