Morris didn't know what the "mirror" Harry was talking about was, but judging from the other's eager expression, it must be very important.
Late at night, as agreed, he arrived at the top of the Gryffindor Tower stairs and waited for Harry.
Hogwarts is especially cold on winter nights; even indoors, your breath condenses into a thin white mist.
Morris wrapped his robe tighter around himself, which Warming Charm, and quietly slipped into the shadows in the corner.
At his feet, the Guantou was leisurely licking its front paws—the little guy was always very energetic at night.
Suddenly, the Guantou sensed something and keenly turned towards the spiral staircase.
Almost simultaneously, a muffled thud came from the stairwell, like something hitting the wall, followed by suppressed gasps.
" Harry?" Morris asked in a low voice.
"It's me... hiss..." Harry's voice came through.
He awkwardly moved down, his glasses askew, clutching a piece of shimmering silver fabric in his hand.
"Sorry," Harry adjusted his glasses, a small red mark on his forehead, looking embarrassed, "The stairs moved a bit, I wasn't paying attention, and I bumped into the wall."
Morris's gaze fell on the fabric in Harry's hand, and he asked uncertainly, "Is that an Invisibility Cloak?"
"Yes." Harry nodded.
Morris really wanted to say, "Hey rich, let's be friends!"
He had seen it in Diagon Alley; even the cheapest Invisibility Cloak cost several hundred Galleon.
Of course, it's the kind that's genuinely made from the fur of Demiguise.
Harry shook out the Invisibility Cloak. "Come on in, Morris. Put this on and no one will be able to spot us."
"Oh, it's okay."
Morris shook his head, drew his wand, and cast an Disillusionment Charm on himself.
His figure immediately faded from the air, leaving only a blurry outline that was almost imperceptible if one did not look closely.
The rich use props, the poor rely on spells, so his Disillusionment Charm is not entirely out of the question.
Harry was taken aback, clearly not expecting Morris to pull this stunt.
"Where are you taking me?" Morris's voice came from the void.
"You'll see soon enough," Harry said, draping the Invisibility Cloak over his shoulders, leaving only his head visible. "Come with me."
He walked toward the Marble Staircase, with Morris following closely behind.
Because of the Invisibility Cloak, Morris only saw a head drifting in the air.
... It's kind of scary.
The two hurried down the corridor and bumped into Filch was on night patrol, and his cat, Mrs. Norris.
Fortunately, Morris had brought Guantou with him.
The commotion of the two cats fighting successfully attracted Filch's attention, allowing them to escape.
Finally, they stopped in front of a half-open door on the third floor.
"I remember this was an abandoned classroom."
Morris looked at the door and asked curiously, "Why didn't you come during the day? There's no 'No Entry' sign here."
Harry was silent for two seconds.
Yes, why did he have to look in the mirror at this sensitive time?
It's the Christmas holiday season now, and there's plenty of free time during the day.
Perhaps his mind has been clouded by that mirror.
"Anyway, let's go in first." Harry said dryly, pushed open the door, and eagerly went inside.
Morris shrugged, went inside, and closed the door behind him.
He had been to this room before when he was looking for a toilet, and the furnishings hadn't changed much.
Tables and chairs were piled up to one side, and the blackboard was covered with writing and graffiti from who-knows-when, and there was a dusty smell in the air.
The only change was that a rather impressive mirror was placed against the wall directly in front of it, almost as tall as the ceiling, with a gold frame and two claw-shaped feet for support.
Harry walked straight to the mirror and stared at it intently.
Morris didn't act rashly because...
Good evening, Headmaster Dumbledore.
He turned to the corner of the room and greeted them with a hint of helplessness.
That's right, Albus Dumbledore was sitting at an old table against the wall—just the right height for him.
He was watching Harry and Morris silently, like a ghost.
No wonder the door was ajar; there was someone inside all along.
Dumbledore smiled slightly and slid off the table. "If you had been half an hour later, you wouldn't have run into me."
Morris nodded. "Yes, Headmaster, we'll learn from this next time."
X
Dumbledore said gently, "I think it's better to avoid a next time."
At that moment, Harry also noticed the commotion behind him.
He turned around in a panic, and when he saw Dumbledore, he was at a loss for what to do.
" Headmaster Dumbledore..."
"Um.
Dumbledore walked slowly to Harry's side, his gaze falling on the mirror. "It seems you've already experienced the wonders of the Mirror of Erised."
Mirror of Erised?
Morris became interested, stepped forward, and looked at the huge mirror.
In the mirror, I saw myself standing on a diving platform, with endless Galleon piled up like mountains below.
My face also had a kind of... well, how should I put it?
A silly smile that says, "I'm very rich."
The Morris in the mirror waved to the Morris outside, then made a move as if to jump into the golden ocean.
Morris's lips twitched slightly outside.
As we all know, Galleon are solids; this isn't a cartoon, and people can't swim in a sea of gold coins.
If he were to jump, he would inevitably suffer a level 10 disability, to say the least.
Morris turned to Dumbledore beside him and asked, "What exactly is this mirror?"
"Want to take a guess?" Dumbledore winked playfully.
Without hesitation, Morris said, "I think this mirror reveals people's delusions."
"Very close, Mr. Black," Dumbledore smiled, revealing the answer. "Let me explain. What you see in the mirror is actually what you desire deepest in your heart."
"So," he said softly, putting his hand on Harry's shoulder, "Did you see your family, Harry?"
Harry nodded stiffly, which was why he had been here for several days in a row.
and..
He glanced at Morris furtively.
Like him, Morris was an orphan, perhaps even worse off. At least he knew his parents' names, didn't he?
This is precisely why he brought Morris here.
Morris must have seen his parents in the mirror.
At the same time, Morris's expression turned strange.
What do you yearn for most deep down?
He didn't think that what he craved most deep down was money—although Galleon were indeed Winky and attractive.
Morris, unconvinced, looked at the Mirror of Erised again.
However, this time, the scene in the mirror actually changed!
The ocean of Galleon vanished instantly.
Instead, there was an endless deep space, surrounded by boundless darkness.
Morris himself stood alone in the darkness.
Then, change began.
Behind him, in the farthest, deepest place, a star quietly lit up.
Then, the second, the third, the fourth...
In just a few breaths, Morris in the mirror was no longer standing in the void, but was now in a sea of stars.
Vast, dazzling, and endless.
"That's more like it."
Morris smiled slightly from outside the mirror.
My goal is the stars and the sea!