Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is not meant to infringe upon copyrights.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The legendary Mirror of Erised, a renowned alchemical artifact, allows anyone standing before it to see what they most desire.
It's truly magical.
"Is this... a mirror that reflects the mind?"
Kyle resisted the urge to glance over and averted his gaze.
"It seems you recognized the Mirror of Erised."
Dumbledore appeared behind Kyle at some point and said gently, "I'm glad you were able to resist its temptation. This is something many adult wizards can't do.
People always waste their time in front of it, obsessed with what they see, and even driven crazy."
"I just don't want to add to my troubles, Headmaster." Kyle turned around and smiled, "I'm quite satisfied with my current life."
"A wise choice."
Dumbledore walked around Kyle, came to the mirror, gently stroked the golden frame and said, "I must admit that in this regard, you have surpassed me, an old man, because even I can't help but look at it sometimes."
"Then what do you see when you look in the mirror?" Kyle asked at the right time, "The true meaning of magic? Or a more profound theory."
"You're praising me to the point of blushing, Kyle."
"I may not be as great as you think, because what I see is myself holding a pair of thick wool socks."
"I never have enough socks," Dumbledore said with a wink. "Christmas comes and goes, and I haven't received a single pair of socks, yet people insist on giving me books."
Kyle had reason to suspect Dumbledore was hinting at a gift. After all, Christmas was less than two months away.
Just as Kyle was debating whether to express his gratitude, Dumbledore had returned to his desk and ordered him a cup of black tea and a plate full of sugar cubes.
"Would you like a drink, Kyle?"
"Lemonade,"
Dumbledore nodded, and soon a large glass of lemonade appeared on the table.
Kyle took a sip and found it tasted just like regular lemonade, no different just because he was in the headmaster's office.
After he finished his entire glass of lemonade, Dumbledore across from him continued to leisurely sip his tea, making no effort to speak.
The portraits of past headmasters on the wall were also very quiet, each snoring softly in their frames, though occasionally one would half-open their eyes and furtively glance at him.
In this atmosphere, Kyle felt completely uneasy.
Just then, the whistle for a Quidditch match rang out the window.
Kyle, composing himself, was the first to speak, "Headmaster, what do you want to talk to me about?"
"Look at me, I was so engrossed in my tea I almost forgot what I was talking about,"
Dumbledore slapped his forehead, stood up, and led Kyle to a tall, gilded perch behind the door.
There, perched a fiery red phoenix, Fawkes.
"Fawkes has been mad at me lately," Dumbledore said distressedly. "But I don't know why. Could you help me find out?"
"Is that so?"
Kyle understood, turning to look at Fawkes. He knew the phoenix must understand what Dumbledore had just said.
Fawkes glanced at Kyle, then back at Dumbledore. A look of disdain was clearly visible on his face, and he let out a reluctant cry.
Kyle nodded and said, "No wonder you're so angry."
"What did it say?" Dumbledore asked curiously.
He was a linguistic genius, even able to learn Parseltongue and Goblin, but the phoenix was different. This ancient creature's language was so obscure that even he struggled to fully understand it.
Furthermore, the angry Fawkes spoke with a hint of an accent, making it even more difficult for him to understand.
Kyle carefully considered his words and said, "Headmaster, Fawkes told you not to put cockroaches in its food anymore."
Dumbledore looked puzzled. "I always thought it would like that."
Fawkes, upon hearing Dumbledore's words, turned angrily and pointed his rear end at him.
It was a phoenix, not a chicken. How could it possibly like insects?
Dumbledore realized his mistake and quickly apologized, trying to make amends.
But Fawkes ignored him. Wherever Dumbledore walked, it would immediately change direction, always leaving him with its rear end. It even covered its head with its wings, ignoring his words.
In the end, it was Kyle who managed to appease the enraged Fawkes by offering his own white dandelion leaves and a bluebell.
Don't get me wrong, the bluebell wasn't something Kyle had taken from the common room; it was a reward for cleaning the greenhouse for Professor Sprout.
It was gone before it could even warm up.
Watching Fawkes devour it in a few gulps, Kyle felt heartbroken.
"I knew I'd find the right person,"
Dumbledore said, patting Kyle's shoulder happily. "If it weren't for you, it would have taken me ages to appease him."
"That's nothing, Headmaster," Kyle said with a forced smile. "Anything else? If not, I want to go to the Quidditch match."
Kyle touched his lizard-skin pouch; he didn't want to stay even a minute longer.
What if Fawkes felt he hadn't had enough and started a tantrum? He was just a first-year wizard, and he didn't have any extra herbs to waste.
Besides, the phoenix wasn't his, so he'd better let Dumbledore handle it himself.
"There's just one more small matter. Don't worry, it won't take up too much of your time." Dumbledore turned around and pulled out a bottle of potion from the drawer behind his desk.
"This is a Suppressant Potion for Mikel,"
Dumbledore explained. "Originally, I wanted Madam Pomfrey to bring it to him, but I didn't think he'd want to go to the infirmary. Since you're here, I'll take it back with you."
Kyle took the potion and couldn't help but ask, "Headmaster, hasn't Mikel learned to control his magic yet?"
"It's not an easy task," Dumbledore thought for a moment and said, "But Madam Pomfrey said he's making rapid progress. By the time he reaches second year, he shouldn't need the Suppressant Potion anymore."
Kyle nodded.
"Remember." Dumbledore instructed: "I know that the magic suppressant potion brewed by Professor Snape may not be so delicious, but it is very important to Mikel. So you must make sure that he really drinks it, and not just pour the potion out somewhere."
"Don't worry, Headmaster, Mikel is my roommate." Kyle smiled and said, "I will make sure he finishes it."
"Then I'm relieved." Dumbledore picked up the cup of black tea again, "Let's go watch the game, it shouldn't be over yet."
[End of the chapter]