Little Hall's Class Is Back in Session

"Eli, you really ought to see what I found!"

Eli was in the library, leafing through books on Transfiguration. He wanted to learn more about Animagi.

Harry suddenly rushed in, hurried and panting as he whispered to Eli.

Eli looked at Harry in confusion, but when he saw the person behind him, he lowered his head guiltily.

"Eli?"

"No loud talking in the library!"

The voice from behind made Harry jump. "M-Madam Pince?"

Eli did not even dare raise his head. He pretended not to see her and flipped through his book at random.

Everyone knew that at Hogwarts, professors ruled the classroom, Madam Pomfrey ruled the hospital wing, and no one in the library would dare challenge Madam Pince's authority.

Even putting books back required the utmost care in the library. Make the slightest sound, and Madam Pince would give you a death glare.

But someone like Harry, who rarely came to the library, probably did not know how to survive Madam Pince.

Madam Pince angrily waved her feather duster. At that moment, Harry was more intimidated than he was when facing Snape.

"And you! Don't flip through books so carelessly!"

Eli's heart skipped a beat. I was already being careful! Why was she dissing me too?

But of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing was the best.

He swiftly put the book back, grabbed Harry, who had been thoroughly frightened by Madam Pince, and ran without looking back.

"What did you want to tell me?"

Once they reached the corridor, Harry finally let out a breath of relief.

He already disliked coming to the library, and now he had another reason to avoid it.

But when he remembered why he had come to find Eli, Harry grew excited again. "Come with me tonight. I'll take you somewhere amazing!"

Eli looked at Harry strangely and pulled his clothes tighter around himself. Was this guy having some kind of idea?

"I'm not into that."

Harry was completely baffled. What was that supposed to mean?

Judging by Eli's smug expression, he had clearly gotten the wrong idea again!

"I found a magical mirror!"

Harry lowered his voice, sounding mysterious.

Eli thought for a moment. A mirror?

Could it be the Mirror of Erised?

If nothing had changed, Dumbledore would eventually hide the Philosopher's Stone inside the Mirror of Erised.

The mirror could reveal the deepest desire in a person's heart.

Eli wanted to see it too. Even he could not tell what he desired most deeply.

That night, Harry and Eli squeezed beneath the Invisibility Cloak.

Eli was practically dying of envy.

Being the younger son meant having no rights!

This cloak was one of the legendary Deathly Hallows, and it had ultimately been inherited by Harry.

But Eli was a descendant of the Potter Family too, yet he had not gotten so much as a single knut.

Look, a Deathly Hallow was right over his head, but it did not belong to him.

Harry had no idea that Eli was muttering curses beside him. He was simply excited to share the magical mirror with his friend.

When he had sneaked into the Restricted Section at night, Filch had discovered him. While fleeing, he had run into Snape and Quirrell, who had been sneaking around doing who knew what.

Snape had actually seemed to notice him and reached out as if to probe in his direction.

But Snape had ultimately failed to find him. Perhaps he had made too much noise and drawn Snape's attention?

In any case, it had been a close call.

After that, he had accidentally discovered the mirror.

He had invited Ron Weasley to see it, and the two of them had seen different scenes in the mirror.

They were all scenes they longed to see most.

So he had decided to bring Eli to experience the magical mirror as well.

"Here it is!"

Harry ran forward and lifted a huge piece of cloth, revealing a mirror as tall as the ceiling.

The ancient patterns on it showed that the mirror was very old.

This was the Mirror of Erised. Written upon it were the words: [I show not your face but your desire.]

Eli was looking forward to it. He wanted to know what he desired most right now.

Going back to his old world?

Perhaps a little, but from his first day in this world, he had already prepared himself to live anew.

That no longer seemed so important.

Becoming the strongest and dominating the Wizarding World?

It was tempting, and he truly loved magic. But he did not seem to have much ambition.

All those development plans were only meant to keep himself safe in dangerous times.

Why struggle so hard when he could live peacefully and comfortably?

Now Eli had absolutely no idea what his goal was.

Harry stood before the mirror, his face full of happiness.

"What did you see?"

Harry was still smiling foolishly. "My mum and dad."

"Is it showing the future?"

Harry turned around, his smile stiffening slightly. "But they're already dead."

He pulled Eli in front of the mirror. "What can you see?"

Eli gazed silently into the mirror. At first, there was only himself.

Gradually, images began to appear.

In the image, he stood with Mr. and Mrs. Hall. Lily and James Potter were there too, with Harry beside them.

The image suddenly vanished. When it appeared again, there was a cloaked figure.

He looked like a god, supreme and untouchable. Everyone else was merely his servant.

He held everyone's life and death in his hands.

Wasn't that You-Know-Who from his dream?

Eli tried to see his face clearly.

But his sight was blocked by mist, and he still could not make it out.

"What did you see?"

Harry sounded expectant as he watched Eli's expression change again and again.

Eli turned away. "Family."

Harry smiled somewhat stiffly and walked back to the mirror.

"You're both so lucky. Your families are still here, while I can only watch illusions through a mirror of unknown origin."

At that moment, Eli really wanted to tell him, "No, you still have one family member. He's right behind you."

"I really want to take this mirror back. At least then I could see them."

Eli shook his head and stepped forward, placing a hand on Harry's shoulder and turning him away from the mirror.

There was a deep look in Eli's eyes. It was the first time Harry had seen him so serious.

It was almost like Dumbledore.

"Harry, illusions are ultimately just illusions. They cannot bring us knowledge. They will only make us lose ourselves."

Harry still glanced at the mirror. "But I just want to see them. They're dead."

Eli drew a deep breath. He knew what an impossible wish this was for Harry, who had lost his closest family when he was young.

But he could not simply watch Harry sink into the illusion.

"Harry, do not pity the dead. It is the living who need sympathy. Life must go on. Standing still is not a good choice."

"Very well said."

An aged voice suddenly came from behind them.

Dumbledore again!

Eli felt his scalp tingle. Did this old man make no sound when he walked?

Dumbledore winked at him as though saying, "You little brat, you stole my line."

Eli stood there obediently. He knew the old man was about to begin his moral instruction.

"Mr. Hall's words have benefited me as well. At this moment, I don't think I should say any more. I believe this mirror will find a better home."

After saying that, Dumbledore slowly left the room, leaving Eli and Harry utterly dumbfounded.

I had even gotten into position, and you're not going to say anything?

Eli was truly impressed by this old man who never played by the rules. No wonder they said old ginger was spicier.

These old men were all deeper than the last.

The mirror was going to be moved away as well, so the two could only return first. Fortunately, Dumbledore had not deducted points for their nighttime wandering.

Perhaps that was the benefit of being friends with the Boy Who Lived?

Harry suddenly grabbed Eli.

"Eli, can you teach me magic?"

Eli looked at Harry in confusion, not understanding what he was trying to do.

Harry's eyes were firm. "Yes. My family will never come back, but I still want to avenge them!"

"Do you know what you're going to face?" Eli looked at him solemnly.

But Harry's expression did not change. "Voldemort!"

The name feared by the entire Wizarding World was spoken just like that, from the mouth of a child barely ten years old.

"He's not that troll you killed."

"But I still want to kill him."

Eli did not know what to say. Whether this was a passing impulse or just a burst of enthusiasm, he should not discourage Harry.

Eli looked at him teasingly. "Fine. From now on, whatever I learn, you'll learn too. Can you keep it up?"

"I can!"

"Killing Voldemort takes more than just talking about it."

The next day, Eli brought Harry to the Room of Requirement.

Harry was utterly amazed by the magical place.

"First, you need to master a spell you can call your own, even if it's the only spell you know."

Harry did not quite understand. "One spell is enough to fight someone?"

Eli suddenly thought of a handsome fraud. "Of course. Some Wizards really do thrive by mastering a single spell to perfection."

The Room of Requirement transformed into a training ground, with several metal dummies before them.

"Expelliarmus!"

A red beam shot from Eli's wand and struck a dummy, knocking its weapon away.

"The Disarming Charm is an extremely useful combat spell. It makes the enemy lose their weapon, leaving them unable to attack."

Harry watched Eli show off, and his eyes practically sparkled.

This was great. He was already imagining himself using Expelliarmus to crush Voldemort in the future.

One slap from Eli dragged him back to reality.

"Class is in session. Stop daydreaming."

Eli rolled his eyes at him. "Come on. First, familiarize yourself with the incantation. Repeat after me: [Expelliarmus.]"

"Ex... Expelliarmus."

Harry stumbled over the words.

"Don't hesitate like that. Be firm, be decisive! When you say it, imagine knocking the enemy's weapon away."

The two began a magical lesson that resembled teaching a toddler to speak. Harry shouted until his throat nearly smoked.

"Expelliarmus!"

Eli nodded in satisfaction.

"Come on, take your wand. Remember the gesture and the incantation. Be decisive!"

Harry nodded confidently and pointed his wand at the dummy.

"Expelliarmus."

Harry: "?"

Eli: "Well, damn."

The wand crackled with a few sparks, but there was not even a hint of Expelliarmus's red light.

Theory was one thing; actual practice was another entirely.

When Harry truly picked up his wand and tried to cast the Disarming Charm, all sorts of problems appeared.

The increasingly irritable Eli began grumbling, instantly possessed by Snape.

"Are you speaking that quietly because you're afraid of scaring the enemy?"

"Put more force into the gesture! Don't be so limp-wristed. Are you afraid of poking someone?"

In the end, the exasperated Eli simply pulled out his wand and chased Harry all over the room.

Brats were so annoying!

"You need to be decisive! Casting a spell isn't just about reciting the incantation. You need a strong desire to make it happen!"

Eli grabbed the trembling Harry. "Come on, see that dummy? Imagine it's your uncle, Dudley, Snape, and that old bastard Voldemort. Are you angry now? Are you mad now? Imagine knocking their weapons away, then kicking their asses hard with your leather shoes!"

"Expelliarmus!"

A dazzling red light sent the dummy flying, its weapon slipping from its grasp.

Eli nodded approvingly and patted Harry on the shoulder. "Not bad, you did it. Come, take a break..."

Harry suddenly rushed forward like he had gone mad, raining punches and kicks down on the dummy.

He cursed as he beat it.

"Hey, hey... enough, enough..."

Eli hurried over to pull him away, but he couldn't hold him back. The kid was completely immersed in the act!

"Stop, stop hitting it! Stop! You're going to kill someone!"

"You'll have to pay if you break it..."

Harry finally stopped, panting heavily.