Harry's Obsession with the Magic Mirror

For the next period of time, a professor would patrol the castle for a while after curfew each night.

And then there's Filch, who's practically driven crazy by the ubiquitous rooster feathers. He's cleaned it five times already, but he still sees them every now and then.

Sometimes it's on a hallway corner, sometimes it's next to a door frame... there's simply no way to sweep it all.

Because of this, Filch became even more irritable, looking at everyone with a fierce expression. Even if someone just raised their voice a little, they would be targeted and scolded.

Although the students who had been reprimanded were furious, they had no choice but to avoid Filch because Filch behavior was tacitly approved by a Potions Class professor, and any dissatisfaction would result in points being deducted.

Kyle has been much more well-behaved lately, spending his days doing homework and reading at the library, returning to his dorm on time, and even putting aside his nighttime outings for the time being.

Fred and George told him that Filch spent most of his evenings loitering on the second floor, and that the professors on patrol would often take a look at the library.

It's too dangerous to copy books now, Kyle decided to wait until things calm down.

But some people clearly don't think that way, like Harry Potter.

Ever since he figured out who the people in the mirror were, only one thought remained in his mind: to go back to the mirror, do nothing, and just sit there all night.

Ron tried to dissuade him, but failed... Harry simply wouldn't listen to anything now.

It wasn't until the third night that he encountered Dumbledore in the room.

"I...I didn't see you, sir!" Harry stood there, his hands and feet cold, and said nervously.

It was only then that he remembered the professors were cracking down on nighttime outings. What if Dumbledore thought he was responsible for what happened a few days ago...?

The thought of Gryffindor losing two hundred points made Harry feel like his insides were about to freeze solid.

"That's strange, you've even become nearsighted after becoming invisible," Dumbledore said with a smile.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the smile on Dumbledore's face. Thankfully, Dumbledore didn't seem to be going to deduct any points.

He was like that Muggle grandpa in the Little Whinging who often went for a morning stroll—patient and gentle.

From him, Harry truly understood the purpose of the Mirror of Erised.

"This mirror only shows us the deepest, most urgent, and strongest desires within our hearts."

Dumbledore said softly, "People waste their days in its presence, becoming obsessed with what they see, even driven mad."

Because they don't know if everything in the mirror is real or even possible.

Harry lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before stammering, "Sir... Professor Dumbledore, have you seen this mirror too?"

"Yes, and more than once," Dumbledore smile. "I must say, no one can resist its magic, not even me... oh no, there is one exception."

"Who is that person?" Harry asked curiously.

"A second-grade student."

Dumbledore, noticing the surprised look on Harry's face, blinked and said, "What, can't believe it?"

Harry nodded.

If Dumbledore had mentioned a famous wizard or a professor, he could have accepted it.

But a second-year student accomplished something even Dumbledore couldn't do... How is that possible?

"Just as you thought, he is indeed better than me in this respect."

Dumbledore and said, "He had two opportunities to see the Mirror of Erised, but each time he left without hesitation."

"Professor Dumbledore, could that person have mistaken it for an ordinary mirror?"

"At first I thought so too, but then I realized that wasn't the case." Dumbledore shook his head and said, "He knows about the Mirror of Erised, and he is very clear about its function."

"Who is he?" Harry asked again. "Do I know him?"

This time, however, Dumbledore did not answer.

"That's enough for today, Harry."

He stood up and said, "The mirror will be moved to a new place tomorrow. I ask you not to go looking for it anymore. It is of no use to indulge in illusory dreams and forget about real life. Please remember this."

"Alright, why don't you put on that amazing invisibility Invisibility Cloak and go back to sleep?"

Harry left the room with doubts, and back in his dormitory bed, he was still wondering who the second-year student Dumbledore had mentioned was.

But he didn't know many second-year students; besides a few from Gryffindor, the only other one was Kyle.

"Could it be him?" Harry wondered uncertainly.

This continued until the next day.

During lunch that day, Kanna suddenly nudged Kyle, who was sitting across from her, and whispered, "What have you been up to lately, like practicing Quidditch at the court or something?"

"Of course not, I've been in the library the whole time these past few days, I haven't gone anywhere else." Kyle asked, puzzled, "Besides, the rest of the team isn't here, so training alone is pointless. Why are you suddenly asking this?"

"It's nothing, Harry Potter just kept staring at you." Kanna casually pointed in the direction of Gryffindor and whispered, "I thought you'd come up with some new Quidditch tactic and he'd seen it."

"Ah?"

Kyle instinctively turned around and just happened to see Harry hurriedly lower his head.

"It wasn't just now," Kanna continued, "I noticed he's been stealing glances at you several times."

Kyle was startled.

Could it be that Harry knew he was also in the fourth-floor room that day?

No, that shouldn't be the case. I had the Disillusionment Charm active the whole time, so Harry definitely couldn't see me.

As for the likelihood of him guessing it, that's unlikely... He's not that smart.

"I guess it really is because of Quidditch," Kyle said calmly. "After all, our match against Gryffindor is right after Christmas, and he's probably thinking of some tactics, so he's using me as a hypothetical opponent."

"Think of tactics?" Kanna frowned, puzzled. "But isn't he Seeker? Does he need tactics too?"

"Probably another one of Oliver Wood's crazy ideas, who knows?" Kyle said. "Never mind him... Weren't you supposed to go to Snape for tutoring today? How's your preparation going?"

"Everything is ready: books, quills, parchment, ink..."

At the mention of tutoring, Kanna instantly became much more nervous, forgetting all about peeking at Harry Potter, and whispered, "Kyle, do you think I should bring the cauldron with me?"

"That's unnecessary." Although Kyle had never had tutoring, he knew that Snape probably had no shortage of cauldrons.