The Mirror of Erised

Hagrid was completely flabbergasted the moment he stepped out of the pub, grabbing Kayson's shoulders and shaking him.

"Kayson! Kayson! Do you know? A dragon egg! It's a dragon egg! I've always wanted to raise a dragon! A dragon!"

"OK... OK, dragon... a dragon, I know, I know."

Kayson weakly echoed the sentiment as Hagrid shook him, his expression one of utter resignation.

"Next, I need to go back to my hut. I really want to hatch this beautiful creature as soon as possible. Oh, Kayson, can you help me borrow some books about dragons from the library? Methods for hatching and raising dragons, and it would be best if there was something that could teach me how to identify them."

Hagrid cradled the dragon egg, bursting with excitement. He circled Kayson nonstop, speaking all the while and doing his best to disorient Kayson, who had only recently regained his full senses.

"OK, I will, I will. Please, Hagrid, stop spinning me around."

Back at Hogwarts, the two of them sneakily carried the dragon egg back to their small wooden hut, while one of them, still groggy, returned to the castle.

Kayson first went to Dumbledore's Headmaster's Office. Dumbledore, upon seeing Kayson, excitedly beckoned him over.

"You really should come and see this."

Unable to contain himself, he stood up from his seat, took Kayson's hand, and led him to a corner of the office. There stood an ornate full-length mirror.

"What do you see?" Dumbledore asked.

"I've renovated Hogwarts from the inside out with block after block," Kayson said instinctively.

Dumbledore then gave him a look of indescribable kindness.

"I must say, Kayson, if you were to wear the Sorting Hat, you'd absolutely be a Hufflepuff."

"Why?" Kayson asked.

"Even your dreams are so simple and warm. I can't think of any other house for you."

"...Dreams?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Precisely, dreams. This is the Mirror of Erised. It reflects the desires hidden in people's hearts. But with such lovely desires as yours, I think calling them dreams is more fitting."

"And, to be honest, I've never stopped you from renovating Hogwarts, but I sincerely hope you'll start with the Headmaster's Office."

Kayson tapped the mirror in front of him with his knuckles. The Kayson in the mirror returned the gesture.

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

"Uh-huh. I need to move this magic mirror to another room. Want to come?" Dumbledore asked.

"With our hands?"

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

"Harry will like this gift, but I don't intend to give him the mirror. I just want him to experience it."

"When will he experience it? Honestly, why don't you just let him look in the mirror in your office?"

"After Christmas. I don't want to have too much close contact with him too early. It's not time yet," Dumbledore explained.

"Ah, oh... Christmas. I'd forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it. I haven't prepared my Christmas gifts yet." Kayson suddenly shivered.

"Who are you planning to give gifts to?"

"Everyone at Hogwarts, Neville, Harry, and their friends can't be exceptions. And my students. The twins like pranks, so I plan to make them a small item that can blast people away without causing harm."

"Jordan, he might like a new Quidditch robe. Angelina told me her broomstick is very uncomfortable to ride... and Cedric... and..."

Kayson rambled on, and Dumbledore watched the scene with a smile.

"Kayson, I must say, you are truly full of love."

"Love? Perhaps. To be honest, I've never met my parents, but I can feel that they are living very well." Kayson shrugged, saying it with a nonchalant air.

"Death is but the next great adventure, Kayson."

"Uh..." Kayson felt a bit awkward. He couldn't exactly tell Dumbledore that his parents were indeed living very well in another world, though in a way, it was similar to what Dumbledore believed.

Never mind, he wouldn't dwell on this too much.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Hagrid and I were drinking at The Hog's Head. A black-robed figure used a... bet to trick Hagrid into revealing how to calm the three-headed dog. I suspected it was Quirrell, so I also told him how to open the piston door."

"Is that so? How convenient. It saves trouble, not just for you, but for Quirrell and Tom as well," Dumbledore chuckled.

"Perhaps. Is there anything else? If not, I'll be going," Kayson asked.

"No, that's all. And remember to tell Harry how to open the piston door. They four really scared Madam Hooch and McGonagall during flying class today."

"And of course, poor Mr. Malfoy, who was hung on a tree by Mr. Longbottom's wand."

"Just as Mr. Malfoy hung Mr. Longbottom's Remembrall on a tree two minutes before his misfortune," Kayson said, a slight smile playing on his lips, though anyone could see the good mood he was in.

"It's normal for young wizards to quarrel, especially when they're evenly matched."

"Yes, and it's two pieces of good news. Poor Mr. Longbottom, with the support of his dear professor, has regained his confidence and started to resist the bullying from other young wizards."

"And Harry, through this farce, has displayed extraordinary flying talent. I must say, he will be an excellent Seeker, just like his father."

Dumbledore's face always lit up with a smile when he spoke of such happy things.

It was like Kayson's middle school homeroom teacher, a lovely old lady.

His face always wore a smile, showing off his front teeth, incredibly tolerant, incredibly kind.

And wise.

"Then I shall congratulate them."

"That's not what I'm here to say. I'm here to say they'll likely be visiting your office. Mr. Longbottom is very eager for your approval and praise. Harry has just left McGonagall's office and is probably heading to yours now," Dumbledore said.

"Ah... oh... is that so? Is there still time for me?" Kayson asked.

"I imagine Mr. Longbottom would be quite happy to wait for you until curfew, even if it meant risking a detention for being out after hours."

"Looks like I need to hurry back."

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

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