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Chapter 89 — The Mirror of Erised
Filch sprinted off, and Harry finally exhaled—loudly. Relief hit him… and then shame.
He had promised he'd protect Darren tonight.
Instead, Darren protected him.
And now he didn't even know if Darren had been caught.
If he had… Harry didn't know how he'd ever look his brother in the eye again.
He stood frozen, miserable, while Mrs. Norris continued yowling at him like she was announcing his execution.
"Oh, shut up! Can't you sleep all day like Lezi?" Harry muttered, and—very unwisely—nudged her with his foot.
"Meow!"
Mrs. Norris bristled, fur puffing like a furious duster, and she screeched louder than before.
"Oh no, no, no—stop, stop! Please don't call him!"
Harry panicked.
He could already hear Filch's footsteps returning.
"Sir, here! I thought something was wrong, then a student popped out and scared me. I ran after him, but Mrs. Norris says he's still here—must be an invisible intruder!"
A second voice joined in, smooth and cold.
"Oh yes… very good, Filch. If something has slipped in, catching it would be a great accomplishment."
Harry froze.
Snape.
He would know. He always knew. Snape could sniff out Harry like a bloodhound. Harry pictured himself being hung by his ankles in a dungeon, Snape casting every mildly-legal curse he could think of.
He ran.
He didn't stop until—
"Harry, this way!"
A hand grabbed him and yanked him into a room.
"Darren?!"
"It's me."
Darren pulled off the cloak, looking thoroughly exasperated.
He'd lured Filch away, and Harry still managed to get hunted down by both Filch and Snape.
"Thank Merlin. But—how did you even find me?" Harry asked, stunned. "I couldn't hear or see you."
"Your breathing. Your footsteps." Darren sighed. "And you're terrible at staying quiet."
Harry flushed, desperate to change the subject.
He glanced around the room.
Old furniture. Stacked junk. Forgotten boxes.
And in the center—
A massive gold-framed mirror, tall enough to touch the ceiling, resting on claw-shaped feet.
Carved at the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi
The Mirror of Erised.
Harry stepped closer, pulling Darren with him.
He looked into the glass.
At first, nothing.
Then—figures.
Harry jumped and spun around.
No one was behind him.
"What is it?" Darren asked, though he already knew.
"There's someone in the mirror!"
Harry leaned closer, breath catching.
A woman with brilliant red hair and green eyes—his eyes.
A man with messy hair like his and glasses.
His parents.
"Darren, come here—look! Look at Mum and Dad. You've never seen them."
He grabbed Darren and pulled him in front of the mirror.
Darren hesitated.
He had no idea what he should be seeing.
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[Ding — Emotion Detected: Forge or Reveal?]
[Forge memory display?]
Of course forging was safer.
He didn't know if Dumbledore was watching.
[Forge.]
The mirror shifted.
Skyscrapers. Modern streets. Kind strangers. A world with less pain, less fear.
Darren let out a soft breath and whispered:
"It's beautiful. I'm seeing a future world, right? People get treated for free at hospitals. If someone drops money, no one takes it. Even if they do, they give it to the police. And people don't even lock their doors… because the world is safe."
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father +80]
Harry didn't give any points—of course he didn't.
He was frowning hard.
"That can't be right. This mirror doesn't show the future. It shows your heart's deepest desire. I saw Mum and Dad—and they died years ago."
He stared at Darren, lost.
He wanted Darren to see them too. To share that moment.
Darren listened, then asked quietly:
"Did you see a man with knees like yours? Crooked?"
Harry's eyes widened.
"Yes! Darren—you saw them too?"
"Mm." Darren nodded slowly. "I saw Mum and Dad… but they were living in the world I saw. They had more children. They were smiling. I loved them very much."
His voice softened.
His eyes reddened.
"I miss them so much."
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
[Ding, Holy Father +100]
Even the invisible observers were crying, apparently.
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