The Mirror of Erised

The first half of the lesson covered theory that Anna had already learned in private lessons several years ago.

But everyone understood Transfiguration a little differently. Professor McGonagall, who had taught so many students, had a broader and more detailed grasp of the subject than a private tutor.

After noting down some points about Transfiguration that she had never heard before, Anna raised her hand and asked the professor which books she should read to master them better. Her sincere, humble manner earned McGonagall's favor.

No professor disliked a hardworking student. Even if her surname was unusual, in the classroom, as far as the teacher was concerned, they were all the same: a group of students, some endearing, some mischievous, and some diligent.

The second half of the lesson was for practice. Professor McGonagall gave each young witch and wizard a match, personally demonstrated the proper pronunciation of the incantation, and explained the key to success in detail before allowing them to take out their wands and try it.

Anna drew her fifteen-inch Elder Wand from the specially made wand holster at her waist and effortlessly turned the match in front of her into a slender silver needle, complete with a tiny eye for threading.

"Oh, Miss Anna and Mr. Snape have both succeeded. Five points to Slytherin for each of you."

During the first half of the lesson, Anna had made a point of telling the professor that she was used to being called by her given name. McGonagall, who had been a little hesitant about the surname Grindelwald, immediately agreed and naturally began using the slightly familiar form of address.

Inspired by the two beside her, Lily also completed the class assignment, earning Gryffindor its first five points from a first-year.

Not to be outdone, James Potter and his three friends succeeded one after another. They were already quite gifted at Transfiguration; otherwise, they would not have figured out how to become Animagi on their own a few years later.

For the rest of the lesson, Anna also tried Reparifarge, turning the needle back into a match. She repeated this several times, stopping her top-student humblebragging only when she felt she had mastered it, then continued reading the later sections of the textbook.

The lesson soon ended, and Professor McGonagall assigned homework to every student who had failed to complete the transformation. Besides continuing to practice the spell, they had to write a seven-inch-long essay, nearly eighteen centimeters, on the day's lesson.

"Miss Anna, please wait a moment."

Professor McGonagall called out to her as she finished packing up and prepared to leave the classroom.

"Is there something else, Professor?"

She gestured for Snape to take Lily outside and wait for her.

Once all the students had left the classroom, McGonagall told Anna that Professor Dumbledore was waiting for her in the Headmaster's Office.

"If I remember correctly, you shouldn't have any other lessons this morning. When you go there, just say the password. Oh, the password is Sherbet Lemon."

"All right, Professor. I understand."

The girl nodded obediently. By the time she left the classroom, Snape and Lily were the only students left in the corridor.

"I'm going to the Headmaster's Office. I'll probably be back before lunch, so I'll see you in the Great Hall."

She chatted with the two of them briefly, then straightened her appearance and walked over to the enormous stone beast on the third floor. It was the entrance to the Headmaster's Office.

All right, this day had to come eventually. Besides, I've already prepared myself mentally.

Anna said this to herself.

If Dumbledore thought she was the next Grindelwald or Voldemort and wanted to do something to her, she would pounce on him and call him Daddy before he could draw the Elder Wand and point it at her.

"Sherbet Lemon."

The enormous stone beast slowly turned, revealing an ascending spiral staircase. Standing inside, Anna was calm on the surface, and inside... she was actually doing all right too.

When she reached the door to the Headmaster's Office, a voice came from inside before she could knock.

"Come in."

She pushed open the door. The spacious, circular Headmaster's Office was utterly quiet. Dumbledore stood before a huge floor-length mirror. He turned and beckoned to Anna.

"Oh, you're here, Miss Anna. May I call you that?"

"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore. You can just call me by my given name."

She nodded and walked over to the headmaster.

"Anna, come, stand here and look into this mirror."

It was a magnificent mirror, reaching all the way to the ceiling, with a golden frame and two claw-shaped feet supporting it.

A sentence was engraved at the top of the mirror. Read backward, it said, "I show not your face but your heart's desire," meaning that it showed not your reflection, but the desire in your heart.

The Mirror of Erised allowed people to see the deepest, most urgent and powerful desire in their hearts.

Clearly, Headmaster Dumbledore wanted to use the mirror to test her.

Anna, however, was also curious about what her own heart desired, so she obediently stood in front of the magic mirror.

An image gradually appeared in the clean, clear mirror. It was her Grindelwald Manor.

"Tell me, child, what do you see?"

Anna pursed her lips and described the scene she saw in the mirror.

"It's the view at my manor.

There are lots of people on the lawn: Lily, Severus, and my father...

It looks like everyone I know is in this mirror."

"What are they doing, Anna?"

Dumbledore spoke softly, gently prompting her.

"Everyone is chatting, playing around, and having a barbecue outdoors.

And you're there too, Headmaster Dumbledore. I can see you and my father drawing your wands and beating up a certain bald, red-eyed gentleman. Oh, he's really ugly. He doesn't even have a nose."

Voldemort: ???

"Er, your father? Well, let's leave that aside for now.

What else?

I mean, where are you?"

Dumbledore stood to one side, watching the silver-haired girl's expression closely, afraid of missing the slightest detail.

"I don't know, Headmaster.

I don't seem to be in the mirror."

Anna looked a little puzzled. She carefully examined every corner of the mirror, but she could not find herself anywhere.

Ordinarily, when people looked into the Mirror of Erised, the scene they desired always surrounded them, yet Anna could not see a single silver hair of her own.

She also saw many other people in it. Besides the Acolytes she knew better, even James Potter, Sirius, and Lupin appeared in an out-of-the-way corner of the scene.

She could vaguely make out the blurry figures in the distance as the Golden Trio twenty years later, along with one little golden head. The younger generation's faces were not very clear, though, which she guessed was because she had never actually met them.