Mirror of Erised

The moment Hagrid stepped out of the tavern, he completely lost it. Grabbing Kayson by the shoulders, he began shaking him.

"Kayson! Kayson! Do you know what this is? A dragon egg! This is a dragon egg! I've always wanted to raise a dragon! A dragon!"

"Okay... okay, a dragon... a dragon, I know, I know."

Kayson echoed him lifelessly as he was shaken around.

"Next, I'm going back to my hut. I really want to hatch this beautiful creature as soon as possible. Oh, Kayson, could you help me borrow some books about dragons from the library? How to hatch dragons and raise them—preferably one that can teach me how to identify dragons, too."

Hagrid clutched the dragon egg in his arms, unable to contain his excitement. He kept circling Kayson, talking nonstop while doing his utmost to spin the barely recovered Kayson dizzy again.

"Okay, I will, I will. Please, Hagrid, stop spinning."

Back at Hogwarts, one of them sneakily carried the dragon egg back to his little wooden hut, while the other dragged his muddled body back to the castle.

Kayson first went to Dumbledore's Headmaster's Office, and Dumbledore waved excitedly when he saw him.

"You really ought to come and see this."

Unable to contain himself, he rose from his chair, took Kayson's hand, and led him to a corner of the office. An ornate full-length mirror stood there.

"What do you see?" Dumbledore asked.

"I used block after block to renovate Hogwarts from top to bottom," Kayson said instinctively.

Dumbledore gave him an indescribably gentle look.

"I have to say, Kayson, if we put the Sorting Hat on you, you would definitely be a Hufflepuff."

"Why?" Kayson asked.

"Even your dreams are so plain and warm. I can't think of any other House."

"...Dreams?"

Dumbledore nodded. "That's right, dreams. This is the Mirror of Erised. It reflects the desires people keep hidden in their hearts. But for a desire as adorable as yours, I think dream is a better word."

"And frankly, I've never stopped you from renovating Hogwarts. Still, I sincerely hope you'll start with the Headmaster's Office."

Kayson rapped his knuckles against the mirror before him, and the Kayson inside returned the gesture.

"That'll have to wait until I have time. Honestly, teaching students isn't an easy job."

"Mm-hmm. I'm moving this mirror to another room. Want to come along?" Dumbledore asked.

"By hand?"

"Of course with magic." Dumbledore placed one hand on Kayson's shoulder and gripped the mirror's edge with the other. With a low roar, the two of them and the mirror appeared in an empty classroom.

"Harry will like this gift, though I have no intention of giving him the mirror. I merely want him to experience it."

"When will he get to experience it? Seriously, why not just let him look into it in your office?"

"After Christmas. I don't want to become too close to him too soon. It isn't time yet," Dumbledore explained.

"Oh... Christmas. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would've forgotten. I haven't prepared Christmas presents yet." Kayson suddenly shuddered.

"Who are you planning to give them to?"

"Everyone at Hogwarts. Neville, Harry, and their friends can't be left out either. And my students. The twins like pranks, so I'm planning to make them a little thing that can blow people away without hurting them."

"Jordan might like a new Quidditch robe. Angelina told me that her broomstick is really uncomfortable to sit on... and Cedric... and..."

Kayson kept chattering away, while Dumbledore watched with a smile.

"Kayson, I have to say, you're truly full of love."

"Love? Perhaps. Honestly, I've never met my parents, but I can feel that they're living well." Kayson shrugged, speaking with an unconcerned expression.

"Death is a grander adventure, Kayson."

"Uh..." Kayson felt rather awkward. He couldn't exactly tell Dumbledore that his parents really were living quite well in another world, though that was not so different from what Dumbledore believed.

Forget it. There was no need to dwell on that.

"Oh, right, I nearly forgot. Hagrid and I were drinking at The Hog's Head. A man in black used a... wager to trick Hagrid into revealing how to calm the three-headed dog. I thought that person looked like Quirrell, so I also told him how to open the trapdoor."

"I see. How wonderful. That saves trouble—not only yours, but Quirrell and Tom's as well." Dumbledore smiled.

"Perhaps. Do you have anything else? If not, I'm leaving," Kayson asked.

"No. And remember to tell Harry how to open the trapdoor. The four of them gave Madam Hooch and McGonagall quite a fright in flying class today."

"And poor Mr. Malfoy. Longbottom hung him from a tree with his wand."

"Just as Mr. Malfoy had hung Longbottom's Remembrall from a tree two minutes before his own misfortune."

Kayson curled his lips, though anyone could see the good mood hidden there.

"Isn't it perfectly normal for young wizards to fight, especially when they're evenly matched?"

"Yes, and there were two pieces of good news. Under the support of his beloved professor, poor Longbottom regained his confidence and began resisting the bullying of other young wizards."

"And Harry displayed extraordinary flying talent during that farce. I have to say, he'll be an excellent Seeker, just like his father."

Whenever Dumbledore spoke of such happy things, a smile always appeared on his face without him realizing it.

He reminded Kayson of his middle school homeroom teacher, a cute little old lady.

She always wore a smile, showing her front teeth. She was endlessly tolerant and endlessly kind.

And wise, too.

"Then I should congratulate them."

"That isn't what I wanted to say. What I wanted to say is that they should be visiting your office. Longbottom desperately wants your approval and praise. Harry has just left McGonagall's office and is probably rushing toward yours right now," Dumbledore said.

"Ah. Oh... is that so? Can I still make it?" Kayson asked.

"I think Longbottom would be more than willing to wait for you until curfew, even if it meant being charged with wandering the corridors at night."

"Looks like I need to get back quickly."

"I truly wish you were a student I taught personally, though I'm not necessarily good at it." Dumbledore pushed up his glasses.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Kayson shrugged and walked out of the empty classroom.