"What? This mirror was clearly a treasure, yet it had been casually left in this abandoned classroom. You'd come here for three days straight without ever running into its owner. That meant it was fated to be with us."
"B-but... the mirror is so big. How are we supposed to take it away? It can't even fit through the door."
"As long as you want to, it isn't a problem. I can use the Undetectable Extension Charm to put it in a bag, or we can use a Shrinking Charm to make it smaller. Then I can keep it in our dormitory, and you'll be able to see your parents every day when you wake up. Besides, coming here on Night Patrol every night is pretty dangerous, isn't it?"
Harry seemed to see the scene Damon had described, and his expression became animated.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally failed to resist the temptation and agreed.
But just then, an aged, hoarse voice suddenly rang out behind them.
"I'm afraid that won't work, children."
Harry felt as though his insides had frozen solid in an instant.
When he turned around, he saw Albus Dumbledore sitting at a table by the wall. Damon and he had not noticed him there from beginning to end?
Had it been because all their attention was focused on the mirror?
Harry instinctively looked at Damon, only to find that his expression was remarkably calm, without the slightest trace of panic. Harry immediately felt reassured.
"Professor, eavesdropping on others isn't a very good habit."
Harry's thoughts stalled for a moment when he saw Damon strike first.
"Damon, that accusation is rather sharp. I've been sitting here the entire time; I simply didn't make a sound."
After Dumbledore spoke, he found Damon merely looking at him with a faintly amused smile.
He understood that his explanation did not hold up. It might fool Harry, but the child before him seemed unexpectedly mature.
Was it because of his upbringing in the Orphanage?
Dumbledore instinctively thought of that other child who had also been born in an Orphanage. His eyes dimmed, and before either of them could speak, he continued.
"It seems you have discovered the pleasures of the Mirror of Erised, just like the hundreds and thousands who came before you."
Harry said nothing. With Damon there, he believed he could leave everything to him.
"Pleasures?" Damon smiled dismissively. "Professor, I only saw myself. What pleasure is there in that?"
Dumbledore glanced at Damon, his face expressionless.
He had never seen anyone look into the Mirror of Erised and see themselves.
Could the child before him be lying? But how could he know the legend of the Mirror of Erised?
"Legend says that the happiest person in the world can use the Mirror of Erised as an ordinary mirror. In other words, what he sees in the mirror is his own appearance."
He stared intently at Damon, closely watching for every possible change in his expression.
"Damon, forgive an old man's ever-growing curiosity. I would very much like to know—at only eleven years old, could it be that you already desired nothing at all?"
"To be precise, I'm already twelve."
Harry abruptly turned to look at Damon. His birthday had already passed? When had that happened?
They had not even celebrated Damon's birthday.
"Oh—you don't even care about your own birthday?"
Dumbledore voiced the question in Harry's heart, his gaze behind the lenses becoming even more cautious.
"Professor, if every day of your life was incomparably fulfilling, if joy filled your chest from morning to night, would you still care about whether it was your birthday or not?"
"I enjoy everything about my life now. I like watching the sunlight stream in through the window each time and fall upon the purple curtains. It always reminds me what a wonderful world I live in. I also like the feeling of moonlight falling down, watching the curtains sway together with the moonlight. Whenever that happens, my magic is steadier than ever. I greedily enjoy everything I experience. I ask for nothing more."
Dumbledore looked at the young man speaking so freely before him, at the tranquil smile blooming across his face. Something soft within his heart seemed to have been touched.
He could not help beginning to believe that the boy truly had no desires or longings. No—or perhaps his longing was each day he lived.
Dumbledore had never imagined that such a person could truly exist in the world.
He had carefully observed this child. His life was as monotonous as that of the most devout Christian in the Muggle world. Aside from classes, he spent nearly all his time practicing Charms.
Could there really be any pleasure in that? Or was it—
Dumbledore's expression became solemn. As his mindset changed, his once kindly face instantly took on an imposing authority. Harry's heart began pounding. Simply looking at Dumbledore like this made him feel a little afraid.
"Everything you experience? Yet as far as I know, you spend every day practicing Charms and Transfiguration. Damon, is what you desire power?"
Dumbledore looked meaningfully at Damon, while Damon's face now showed an amused expression as well.
If you desired power, how could you possibly see yourself in the mirror?
So you're done pretending, huh? You even spied on me practicing Charms?
After their eyes met, Damon admitted it openly.
"That's right. I desire power."
"Then why—" Dumbledore frowned.
"I seek power so that I can protect myself from harm." Damon met Dumbledore's gaze and said lightly, "I don't want a professor secretly casting spells on my wand during a Quidditch match while everyone else remains silent."
"I don't want to be able to do nothing but pray for someone else's protection when I am in danger."
"I don't want endless difficulties placed before me, only for them all to be other people's tests for me."
Hearing the pointed accusations, and recalling how Damon had directly used a spell to blow Quirrell's wand apart that day, Dumbledore fell silent.
After a pause, he finally said,
"Let's change the subject."
He had retreated.
There were many things he could not explain plainly to the two children before him.
"You cannot take this mirror away."
Seeing that Damon was not anxious and merely raised an eyebrow at him, signaling for him to continue, Dumbledore's estimation of him rose once again as he went on.
"This mirror can neither teach us knowledge nor tell us the truth. People waste away before it, obsessed with what they see, even driven mad because they do not know whether everything in the mirror is real or whether it can ever come true."
"To indulge in illusory dreams and forget the reality of life is of no benefit at all."
Hearing this, Harry felt deeply disappointed, but another voice told him that Dumbledore was right. He should give up the mirror.
But—
At the mere thought that he would never again be able to see his parents through the mirror, Harry's heart twisted painfully.
If he had never seen his parents in the first place, perhaps he would not feel so awful now.
He could not help thinking that.
And at that moment, he heard Damon's voice.
"Professor, I cannot agree with your view."
Before you continue