The Mirror of Erised could show people their heart's deepest desires.
In the mirror, Harry saw a family he had never met before—his father, his mother, and others with the same eyes or hair as him. They smiled at him.
Harry lovingly stroked the mirror, as though he wanted to embrace the family within it.
In the corner, Dumbledore, who had been watching invisibly, wiped at the corners of his eyes and sniffled. "How touching, Vaughn. Did you see that? That poor child..."
Vaughn sneered. "Because he's never seen his family. Some old man dumped him with the Dursleys and didn't even leave him a single photograph!"
Dumbledore pretended not to hear. He continued sniffing emotionally until Harry remained sprawled before the mirror, seemingly unwilling to leave at all. Only then did he raise a hand toward the door. With masterful Transfiguration, he made the floor rise and imitate a few footsteps, startling Harry—worried about being caught by a professor—into fleeing.
Vaughn shook his head. "Tsk. You stir up someone's desires, then refuse to let them look their fill. You really are cruel!"
Dumbledore smiled slyly. "My dear Vaughn, wasn't it you who said that everything seen in the Mirror of Erised was false, and that becoming obsessed with it did no good?"
"That applies to you and me, not to a child who has never experienced 'love.'"
Dumbledore automatically ignored Vaughn's sarcasm. Listening as Harry's hurried footsteps faded farther and farther away, he removed the invisibility magic and sighed. "Yes, love. Harry longs for love. Vaughn, as Harry's friend, I think you should..."
"No. You can raise your Chosen One yourself—I have no interest whatsoever. I agreed to help you according to our deal, but that doesn't mean I'll follow Harry around. I have plenty to do. I don't