Chapter 029 I really hope you all are doing great. I pray for your well being. Now here's the quote of the chapter:- "Know, then, whatever cheerful and serene supports the mind supports the body too". -John Armstrong So stay cheerful and stay healthy. * * * * * "No — I'm alone — but I'm different — I look older — and I'm Head Boy!" Ron said as he looked excited. "What?" harry on the other hand looked confused. "I am — I'm wearing the badge like Bill used to — and I'm holding the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup — I'm Quidditch captain, too!"Ron tore his eyes away from this splendid sight to look excitedly at Harry. "Do you think this mirror shows the future?" Ron asked. "How can it? All my family are dead — let me have another look —" Potter said with a downcast expression. "Give me a bit more time." Not paying attention to Harry's sad face, Ron said. "You're only holding the Quidditch Cup, what's interesting about that? I want to see my parents." "Don't push me —" A sudden noise outside in the corridor put an end to their discussion. They hadn't realized how loudly they had been talking. "Quick!" Ron threw the cloak back over them as the luminous eyes of Mrs Norris came round the door. Ron and Harry stood quite still, both thinking the same thing — did the cloak work on cats? After what seemed an age, she turned and left. "This isn't safe — she might have gone for Filch, I bet she heard us. Come on." And Ron pulled Harry out of the room. After the two of them left, Alex came out of the shadows, gave a long look to the mirror before heading back to his room. *** The next day Alex didn't feel quite well. He could not sleep all night, the nightmares which were buried deep inside his heart erupted altogether. When he came to the Slytherin's common room, the few of the students present involuntarily tried to avoid him. There was this gloomy aura all around him that made them uncomfortable. All day, Alex tried to forget about the mirror, it was all fake, it was all that he desired, he tried to make himself understand that nothing was true, but by midnight he was standing in front of the mirror once again. He looked at his parents, their smiling faces which he could not remember anymore, he tried his hardest to burn them in his memory. Today he only saw his parents, they were what he desired the most. Tears streamed down his continuously. The emotions he buried inside of him erupted once again. Soon he composed himself, maybe this was what he needed. He needed to vent out his emotions. Now he just sat there looking at his parents with a smile. Soon he was left alone in the reflection. His mind was clear, his wish to see his parents once again was fulfilled. *** Alex was sitting in front of the mirror when he heard faint sounds of footsteps, he stood up before disappearing into the shadows. Harry came again too, he walked slowly towards the mirror. He stood there for a while before he sank down to sit on the floor in front of the mirror. There was nothing to stop him from staying here all night with his family. Nothing at all. Except — "So — back again, Harry?" Alex was surprised he didn't even notice the arrival of someone. He looked closely. Sitting on one of the desks by the wall was none other than Albus Dumbledore. Harry must have walked straight past him, so desperate to get to the mirror he hadn't noticed him. Alex was wondering whether he was present when he arrived. "I — I didn't see you, sir." "Strange how nearsighted being invisible can make you," said Dumbledore, and Harry looked relieved to see that he was smiling. On the other hand, Alex felt the way Dumbledore treats Harry is different all along. "So," said Dumbledore, slipping off the desk to sit on the floor with Harry, "you, like hundreds before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised." "I didn't know it was called that, sir," Harry said. "But I expect you've realized by now what it does?" "It — well — it shows me, my family —" "And it showed your friend Ron himself as Head Boy." "How did you know — ?" Harry looked surprised. Was Dumbledore here yesterday too? "I don't need a cloak to become invisible," said Dumbledore gently. "Now, can you think what the Mirror of Erised shows us all?" Harry shook his head. Dumbledore looked at Harry, then towards the corner, Alex was hiding"Let me explain. The happiest man on earth would be able to use the Mirror of Erised like a normal mirror, that is, he would look into it and see himself exactly as he is. Does that help?" Harry thought. Then he said slowly, "It shows us what we want . . . whatever we want . . ." "Yes and no," said Dumbledore quietly. "It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge nor truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible. "The Mirror will be moved to a new home tomorrow, Harry, and I ask you not to go looking for it again. If you ever do run across it, you will now be prepared. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that. Now, why don't you put that admirable cloak back on and get off to bed?" Harry stood up. "Sir — Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?" "Obviously, you've just done so," Dumbledore smiled. "You may ask me one more thing, however." "What do you see when you look in the mirror?" "I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woollen socks." Harry stared. "One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books. Now off you go" After Harry left the professor looked in the direction of Alex. Alex didn't wait for the Headmaster to call for him, he came out of the corner. "Well, Mr Ashbridge you certainly surprise me, if it were someone else he most probably won't be able to feel your presence. I now understand why Minerva speaks so highly of you". "You overpraise me, Headmaster," Alex replied. He was glad to find that Dumbledore was not here when he arrived. "If I may ask, what are you doing here, hiding in a corner?" Dumbledore asked with a smile. "I couldn't sleep, so I just came out of the dormitories and saw Harry running down the corridor so I followed him" Alex lied with a straight face. "You saw him?" Dumbledore asked, raising his eyebrows. "Yes," "But wasn't he wearing the invisibility cloak?" Dumbledore said with a sly smile. "Umm... well..." "Don't worry, I know?" Dumbledore said patting lightly on Alex's chest, beneath which the map which professor Snape gave him was kept. "Professor there is something I want to ask". Alex said as he looked towards the mirror. "Go ahead". "What does the inscription on the mirror mean?" Alex asked. He could not figure out the language it was written in, let alone its meaning. "Hmmm... curious Mr Ashbridge?" "Yes, professor". "Why don't you try reading them backwards". Alex looked at the mirror and after a while quote, "I show not your face but your heart's desire". "Now do you understand what I meant before?" "Yes professor". "Now why don't you go back to your bed and have a good night rest". Saying this Dumbledore left the room followed by Alex but when he came out the Headmaster was gone. *** The next day an owl came into Dumbledore's office with a parcel. Dumbledore looked at the small parcel upside down before taking out the note. Dumbledore opened the note which read 'It was rude but I heard your conversation with Harry. Though I doubt what you said is true, nevertheless here's a small present for you. Merry Christmas' Alexender Ashbridge Professor Dumbledore opened the tiny package only to find himself a pair of white socks. Dumbledore could not help but let out a slight smile... * * * * *