28 You Crave Power

After bidding farewell to the Weasley brothers, Luke casually perused the forbidden book before carefully placing it back on the shelf. He knew that Filch would be patrolling the library soon, and he needed to make a swift exit before the caretaker arrived.

"Lumos!"

With a soft incantation, a small, glowing orb of light emerged from his wand, casting a gentle radiance that dispelled the surrounding darkness.

Tonight's mission included not only sneaking a peek at the forbidden books in the library but also visiting the third-floor corridor to see the three-headed dog with a penchant for music. This is why he had brought some sweets along.

Navigating through the ever-changing staircases, he finally arrived on the third floor. In a secluded corner, a magnificent mirror stood, secure and undisturbed.

Luke took a step closer and couldn't help but fix his gaze upon the mirror.

The mirror was beautifully adorned, with a golden frame and two paw-shaped supports at its base. Above it, the words "Eris Stella Uhru Ayitoubi Kaflu Aytheon Voges" were elegantly engraved, denoting the mirror's name, "The Mirror of Erised."

Above the mirror, a row of unfamiliar letters were etched: "Erisedstraehruoytubecafruoytonwohsi."

Luke furrowed his brow and studied the letters until he realized they needed to be read backward.

Translated, they meant: "I show not your face but your desire."

"Can you see what you desire?"

As Luke gazed into the mirror, his Marauder's Map remained quietly open. There was no magical presence in the vicinity, indicating that he was alone.

Dumbledore's doing, perhaps?

He recalled that Dumbledore had kept the mirror and had used it to show Harry what his heart truly desired.

After closing the Marauder's Map, Luke hesitated for a moment before stepping closer to the mirror. He wanted to see what his heart truly desired.

Was it strength or something else?

With anticipation, he stared at his reflection in the mirror. However, instead of his current face, the mirror revealed someone else. The person was familiar, but also slightly different from usual, missing certain elements.

"—?"

Luke's eyes widened, and he remained frozen in front of the mirror for a moment.

"Oh, it seems you've seen something intriguing, Luke Geralt!"

At that moment, a warm voice suddenly sounded from behind, and there stood an elderly, white-bearded man with a wand in his hand and a gentle smile on his face.

"Headmaster Dumbledore?"

Luke didn't turn around immediately; instead, he casually wiped his nose with his black sleeve.

In the throes of youth and vitality, one occasionally encounters unexpected images.

"Good evening."

When Luke eventually turned around, he was met with the sight of Dumbledore, who was also gazing into the mirror with a serene smile.

"What do you see in this mirror, Geralt?"

Dumbledore observed Luke, who appeared hesitant, with kindness and understanding. He spoke gently, "Of course, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Luke hesitated for a moment before replying with a fabricated story, "There's nothing much to say. I saw in the mirror... a wand and honor."

He couldn't possibly reveal what he had truly seen in the Mirror of Erised.

Dumbledore exchanged a knowing glance with Luke, unsurprised by the response. Pursuit of power and honor were indeed fundamental qualities for a Slytherin.

"In pursuit of honor and power, hm?" Dumbledore mused.

Luke couldn't help but wonder if Dumbledore had seen something similar in the mirror.

Dumbledore, however, surprised Luke with his next words, "I saw in it the wool socks I received as Christmas presents."

Woolen socks?

Did he mean family?

Luke, understood the significance of woolen socks. They were typically gifts from family members.

Considering Dumbledore's estrangement from his younger brother, Aberforth, the mention of woolen socks took on a deeper meaning.

"I understand, Headmaster," Luke replied, realizing that Christmas was approaching and he should consider giving Dumbledore a pair of woolen socks as a thoughtful gesture.

"Geralt, remember that in your pursuit of power and honor, you mustn't lose sight of who you are. I hope I never see you become someone you're not."

Dumbledore's tone turned serious as he continued, "If you possess exceptional talent, use it wisely, and don't let ambition consume you. And remember, the Dark Magic and curses in the Forbidden Forest are off-limits to you for now."

Dumbledore's expression changed, revealing his concern. He had recently received a letter from Professor Flitwick that disclosed Luke's remarkable talents and expressed regret over his enrollment in Slytherin.

While the letter contained much superfluous information, Dumbledore's main takeaway was whether Luke could switch houses.

Luke felt a chill run down his spine at Dumbledore's words. Was Dumbledore implying that he had been observed this evening, perhaps even in the Forbidden Forest?

Fortunately, when he used the Marauder's Map, he had kept his head down. Otherwise, Dumbledore might have already confronted him.

Dumbledore's eyes always seemed to exude a sense of dark magic, making it hard not to associate him with it.

"I understand," Luke replied, his voice steady.

"Very well, Geralt. I saw nothing tonight," Dumbledore said with satisfaction, turning to leave in his flowing white robes.

"I was merely coming out to use the restroom, and I believe you were as well," Dumbledore added.

"I did come out to use the restroom, but I ended up getting lost," Luke responded, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

As he was about to depart from the Mirror of Erised, Luke couldn't resist one last look back.

Tonight had been filled with a multitude of experiences, and Luke found himself both unwilling and unable to sleep.

.....

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