But, Dad...

SCORPIUS’S p.o.v.- The Mirror of Erised

Al and I both glance up at the sound of his dad entering his study. Mr. Potter doesn’t even look mildly surprised at the sight of us, but carries on with his business, sitting behind his desk and doing whatever it is that teachers do. Grade, probably. The three of us work in an easy silence for a while, before a thought begins to nag at me. “Uh, Mr. Potter,” I start, toying with my quill until he looks over at me.

“What is it, Scorpius?”

“Well... what ever happened to the Mirror of Erised? Was it destroyed, or is it still in the castle somewhere?” I ask, cocking my head to the side. Albus is watching the both of us, and his body language shows that he’s just as curious as I am.

“To be honest, Scor, I’m not really sure,” the Auror finally answers, a small frown turning his lips. “I suppose that if you wanted to find it, wanted it enough, then you just might find it.”

There’s something in his tone that makes me feel like he’s not quite saying what it sounds. Something is there, underlying, that I can’t quite figure out until Albus asks, “You mean, it might be in the Room of Requirement?”

The Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher simply shrugs, continuing to go through papers.

Al and I exchange a series of glances, a silent communication that feels natural with him, before we simultaneously stand up and announce, “We’re going to take a break from studying for a little bit.”

As we head upstairs to the seventh floor, we discuss how to make the Room appear.

“I’m pretty sure you just walk back and forth in front of it a few times,” Albus decides.

“What, just think about the Mirror and it’ll appear in the room?” I stop to think about it for a moment, then shrug. It’s magic, after all. “Alright, then.”

At last we reach the seventh floor, and together we wander through the corridors until we find a long stretch of doorless hall, with a tapestry of what appears to be trolls doing ballet. Or, at least, attempting.

“So, it’ll be around here,” I murmur, lightly tracing my hand along the wall. “Start walking.”

Albus paces back and forth three times in front of the tapestry, but nothing happens. “Why isn’t it working?!” he growls, glaring up at the wall.

“Here, let me try,” I say, stepping into the middle of the hall and beginning to walk.

Once past.

What is Al’s heart’s desire?

Twice past.

What’s my heart’s desire?

Third time past.

I need to know.

Al gasps, and I turn to see a large wooden door growing from the stone. I move to stand next to him, and we watch the door completely form. Hesitantly, I step forward and push the door open, following the path of its swing into the dusty classroom. There, in the center of a room, stands a tall, elderly-looking mirror, and immediately I recognize it.

Beside me, Al whispers, “Whoa.”

“Yeah,” I whisper back, reaching out for him as we walk towards the Mirror of Erised. We stand before it, shoulders touching, and I watch intently as the scene unfolds before me.

Albus. My stomach twists in knots as the Mirror-Al pulls me close and kisses my cheek, and we’re both smiling brightly. His eyes are the most brilliant shade of green, flooded with happiness, and the storm grey of my own eyes seems almost blue. Happiness. Happiness together.

I glance over at my friend, wondering what he’s seeing.