"Erm... it's a mirror?" Ron muttered, looking at Kane with an expression that suggested he was ready to demote him from "magical mystery guide" to "personal chef."
"Can't you two just step a bit closer?" Kane gave Harry and Ron a gentle shove toward the glass. In an instant, whatever complaint Harry had about being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night died in his throat.
"This... who... who are they?" Harry asked blankly. Ron curiously craned his neck to see, but he saw nothing but a dusty classroom. The Mirror of Erised, after all, only processes one person's yearning at a ti.
If it handled two? Perhaps Harry's mother would suddenly beco the Gryffindor Head Boy and crouch down to give Harry a hug while holding a Quidditch Cup. The logic would collapse.
Harry, sensing Ron's eagerness, stepped aside to give him the floor. He turned to Kane, eyes wide. "What... what is this thing?"
"It shows you the deepest desire of your heart. What did you see?"
Harry swallowed hard. "I think... they were my family."
"Ah... family. That's nice." Kane sighed and retreated a few steps, hopping onto a dusty desk in the corner.
"Is this what you wanted to see? That Harry loves his family most?" Kane whispered, knowing Dumbledore was sitting right beside him.
"What Harry sees, or who he sees, isn't the most important part. Family, friends, lovers—it doesn't matter. What matters is the love itself," Dumbledore's voice drifted into Kane's ear, completely undetected by the boys just a few feet away.
"Harry has lacked love since he was a babe. I thought he might crave sothing more pragmatic, but it seems... he truly is a good boy."
Dumbledore gave Kane's shoulder a light nudge. "It is nearly ti to pull him from this hollow phantom. One must eventually embrace reality."
Kane shook his head. "It's not like he's committing a cri. Let the kid spend a little more ti with his parents. What's the harm?"
Dumbledore nodded slowly. "Then let him stay a little longer."
Ti flew, and the Christmas holidays drew to a close. During this period, Harry spent nearly every waking mont—aside from eating and sleeping—in that abandoned classroom.
He sat there for hours, chin in his hands, simply staring at the parents he never knew.
Eventually, even Kane, who originally saw no harm in it, couldn't take it anymore.
"So, Harry, you planning on moving out of here or what?" Kane stood at the doorway. He was worried Harry was becoming addicted, though he knew you couldn't just tell soone to "quit" love.
"Kane... have you ever seen your parents?" Harry asked, his eyes never leaving the glass.
"Never seen 'em. No mory."
"Don't you miss them?"
"They never raised . Maybe they never had the chance, and I know it sounds cold, but no, I don't. Do you miss your great-great-great-grandfather you've never t?" Kane countered.
"I won't co back after tomorrow," Harry said, finally turning his head. "Just one last day."
"Well, it probably won't be here tomorrow anyway," Kane remarked. The Hogwarts Express was due back soon; he had to go with Ron to et Hermione.
Hogsade Station
Kane stood on the platform, his Beefalo Hat pulled low and two Thermal Stones tucked in his pockets. He glanced at Ron, who was shivering violently, and nudged him.
"Here, take this." Kane pressed a glowing-hot Thermal Stone into Ron's freezing hand.
"YEOW! HOT!" Ron let out a piercing shriek.
Kane sighed and picked the stone up off the ground. Poor kid—now he was toasted on the outside and frozen on the inside.
Soon, the scarlet steam engine pulled in. Hermione scrambled off the train, looking slightly frazzled after searching the entire train for Harry and Kane without success. When she saw them standing there, she froze. Then, her brain smoothed out the confusion.
Rich kids, she thought. They probably have a special way to get back. While us commoners take the train, they probably have a 'Magical Rocket' or sothing.
"Where's Harry?" she asked, completely bypassing the "how did you get here early" question.
"We'll take you to him. We found sothing incredible while you were gone," Ron said, grabbing her heavy trunk and leading the way back to the castle.
The Abandoned Classroom
"Erm—isn't this just a perfectly normal mirror?" Hermione pointed at the Mirror of Erised, looking at the three boys with total bewildernt. She was starting to suspect a very unfunny prank.
"You can't see anything?" Harry asked, stunned. All three of them had seen sothing life-changing. Even if Kane's vision was... "abstract," it was sothing. But Hermione saw... just a mirror?
"Oh? I think I see what you an. It reflects internal desire?" Hermione scratched her head, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone. "But my desires are being t every day.
I want to study hard, so I study hard. I want to be a better version of myself, and I'm working on it. I suppose I don't see fantasies because I'm too busy making them real."
"I can only say... Hermione, you're the GOAT." Kane extended his fist and popped his thumb up with a boop. Harry and Ron followed suit, nodding in awe.
As they chatted and prepared to head to the Great Hall for dinner, Hermione stole one last look at the glass.
In the mirror, an older Hermione stood radiating confidence. In her left hand was her wand; in her right, a sturdy leather belt.
Beside her stood a lamppost, and hanging from that lamppost was a figure with no face, no features, and no discernable gender.
The only identifying trait? Two massive, dark circles under where its eyes should be.
The Great Hall
The four of them sat at the far end of the Gryffindor table, whispering loudly about things they didn't want the other students to hear. Because of this, they didn't notice Professor Quirrell leave the High Table early.
Back in his office, Quirrell stared into his own mirror—not Erised, but a mundane one reflecting the face on the back of his head.
"M-m-master, the... the ritual altar to s-s-seize the Shadow Magic from Kane Heiss... it is ready. W-would you like to inspect it?"
"There is no need. You have done well, Quirrell," Voldemort's raspy voice hissed from within the turban. "The preparations are perfect. It is nearly ti to strike."
"W-when, Master?"
"I am seeking a day when the celestial alignnt matches my magic. I will tell you when the mont arrives."
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