Chapter 83. The Mirror's Soul Power
"Hey!" Hermione stood in front of the mirror and called to Harry and Ron in surprise. "Come over here and look at this!"
Harry and Ron exchanged a glance and hurried to Hermione's side.
"Look at me in the mirror," Hermione exclaimed. "I'm holding certificates for straight O.W.L.s!"
"O.W.L.s? What's that?" Ron looked at Harry, baffled.
"The exams we have to sit in fifth year—very important."
"But she's only a first-year!" Ron said, still confused.
Harry didn't know how to answer; he could only shrug at Ron.
After all, she was Hermione…
Harry followed Hermione's gaze into the mirror, and the sight made him hold his breath.
He saw himself in Gryffindor Quidditch robes, with a man and a woman on either side, their arms around his shoulders.
The man had the same untidy hair as Harry and wore glasses too.
The woman had brown hair—like Hermione's, only not as curly.
And her eyes, like his, were green.
Harry knew almost at once who the two people in the mirror were.
"Dad? Mum?" he murmured.
But the scene in the mirror didn't end there. He also saw Adrian Wesson standing a little way off, watching him—
An expression of warm approval: his teacher, the person he respected most…
And his friends—Ron and Hermione—were standing behind him…
Everything looked so wonderful.
"!"
A strangled yelp snapped Harry back to himself.
It was Ron. He was staring hard at the mirror, blurting out in excitement, "I see myself as boys' student council president! And captain of the Quidditch team!"
"I've got it!" Hermione said suddenly. "About this mirror."
"What is it?" Harry looked at her.
"Read the words at the top." Hermione pointed to the very top of the Mirror of Erised.
Ron looked where she pointed. "'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi'… Oh, Merlin, whose name is that—so long."
"Read it backwards!"
"Oh."
Only then did Ron realise the secret of the inscription. He read it backwards: "I show not your face but your heart's desire?"
"A mirror that can see into your heart," Hermione said with certainty. "Absolutely right. I want straight O.W.L. certificates, and you want to be boys' student council president—or Quidditch captain?"
"In fact, those two don't conflict," Ron said after a beat.
What a pity—he'd thought this was a mirror that could foretell the future.
Naturally, Harry agreed with Hermione's reasoning.
Even if it was an illusion, it was still nice.
Unconsciously, Harry let his eyes drift back to the mirror.
Just then, a voice sounded from behind them. "Ah, Miss Granger, a most reasonable deduction."
The three of them whipped round. Professor Dumbledore was standing at the classroom door, watching them calmly.
"Headmaster Dumbledore?" Hermione hid her wand behind her back on instinct.
"Good afternoon, you three," Dumbledore said as he strolled over. "Have you seen a suit of armour scattered about anywhere?"
"I'm sorry, Headmaster Dumbledore… that was an accident…" Ron said weakly.
A glimmer of amusement flashed in Dumbledore's eyes. "Of course, of course. Causing a disturbance in the corridor. Ah—seeing as you've been honest, Mr Weasley, I won't take any points."
All three breathed out in relief—Hermione most of all.
"Well then," Dumbledore turned to them, "you've discovered the secret of the Mirror of Erised?"
Harry nodded and couldn't help glancing again at the figures of his parents in the glass. "The Mirror of Erised? It shows us what we most desire in our hearts, right?"
"Quite correct, Harry," said Dumbledore. "If we were in class, I'd award you points."
"What a pity," Hermione muttered.
"If you're interested, you may look at the mirror a while longer. It will remain here until Christmas," Dumbledore said kindly. "It's fascinating, isn't it? However, I must go and mend that poor suit of armour. Farewell, all three of you."
At the doorway, Dumbledore suddenly paused. "Oh, and remember to shut the door when you leave."
Their eyes followed Dumbledore until he was out of sight.
A moment later, Harry beckoned to the others.
"Come on, Ron, Hermione," he said evenly. "I think we can finish our Defence Against the Dark Arts homework before dark."
"You're not going to look a bit longer?" Ron asked, puzzled.
"We can come back to see the mirror any time," said Harry. "Headmaster Dumbledore said it would be kept here."
All day long, Adrian Wesson had taught several classes in a row.
By the time he returned to his office and sat down, he was already a bit exhausted.
Being a professor really is hard work…
Judging by the reactions in class, everyone seemed fairly satisfied with his Defence Against the Dark Arts lessons.
That set Wesson's mind at ease.
However…
What exactly was Quirrell up to?
Whatever it was, it certainly wouldn't be anything good.
As Wesson pondered, a plate appeared on his desk with a small slice of pie and a steaming cup of tea.
Only then did Wesson remember he'd asked Tata at noon to have his lunch brought to his office.
Looked like Tata had carried out the task very well.
Wesson rubbed his temples, picked up his fork, and glanced out the window.
Without his noticing, the sky had already grown dark.
Right—the plantation. He hadn't been to the plantation today.
He wondered how Lupin was getting on with that batch of Blackroot…
Wesson quickly popped the last bite of pie into his mouth, shrugged on the thick cloak hanging on the coat stand, and stepped into the portal in the wall.
By now, the plantation was as dusky as the outside world.
As Wesson passed the Tree of Wisdom, he noticed that it looked a little different tonight.
"Lumos!"
A broad wash of light burst from the tip of Wesson's wand, illuminating a small area that included the Tree of Wisdom.
"Ding!"
A strange sound came from the Tree of Wisdom. A single leaf drifted down from a branch. Wesson reached out on instinct and caught it.
In the wandlight, the whole leaf was crystalline, as if something were flowing through the veins.
"Eldra."
[Name: Leaf]
[Description: It bears pure soul power.]
Soul power? Wesson was slightly puzzled.
Could this be a product of the Tree of Wisdom absorbing Lord Voldemort's soul fragment?
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