The Mirror of Erised

Over the next few days, Snape became almost hopelessly absorbed in Eden's Realm.

He knew it was false, but the magic was too real. Even someone with his iron will sank deep into it.

Edmund, the source of the whole matter, knew nothing about it.

Although the Christmas holiday had begun, Edmund was not idle. He studied Snape's notebook, magical inscriptions, and alchemy, often all in the same day.

During those days, he also failed to resist the itch and performed another draw.

As expected, the result was not kind. Only the guaranteed Legendary card and a handful of Epic cards appeared.

[System]

Name: Nicolas Flamel

Potions Talent: 5

Transfiguration Talent: 5

Spells: Various

Special Skill: Alchemy

After struggling over the choice for some time, Edmund selected Nicolas Flamel's alchemy knowledge.

He needed Transfiguration talent too, but alchemy knowledge was more valuable right now.

The amount of knowledge contained in a Legendary card was not something lesser cards could match. In an instant, Edmund's half-formed understanding of alchemy rose to a world-class level.

His control over magical inscriptions and Ancient Runes improved sharply as well. Even his other subjects benefited.

Alchemy was not a single isolated discipline. At its core, it was the combined application of many branches of magic. Naturally, that knowledge touched other fields too.

The gain delighted him. It was far more valuable than choosing Transfiguration talent.

However, so much knowledge had appeared in his mind at once that Edmund needed time to settle it. Once he fully digested the memories, he could begin his plan.

For the next several days of Christmas break, he sat with a notebook, writing and sketching constantly. From time to time, he searched through a mountain of reference books.

Even when Fred and George invited him to sneak off to Hogsmeade, he refused.

Then, one day, someone knocked on his door.

When Edmund opened it, a Ravenclaw boy stood outside and said Harry was waiting for him outside the common room.

Curious, Edmund left the dormitory.

Harry had never come to the Ravenclaw common room to find him before. This was the first time.

Outside the entrance, Edmund saw Harry pacing back and forth.

"Harry."

Harry turned, saw Edmund, and immediately grabbed his hand in excitement.

"Come on, Edmund. I need to show you something."

Edmund quietly pulled his hand free. The back of his neck prickled. Why was Harry acting so strange today?

"Where are we going? And why didn't you ask Ron?"

Harry looked anxious enough that he did not notice Edmund's reaction.

"Ron came with me yesterday, but today he refused to go again. He said something was wrong with me. I had no choice but to find you."

Edmund grew even more uneasy.

Then he remembered where he was.

Britain. Boarding school. Long corridors. Strange rumors practically grew out of the stone walls.

Apparently being too handsome carried risks he had not considered.

Edmund chose his words carefully.

"Harry, you know I do not judge certain things, but I do have..."

Before he could finish, Harry understood the direction of his thoughts and hurried to interrupt.

"What are you thinking? I found a mirror."

Once Harry explained, Edmund realized his mistake.

He also realized the mirror had to be the Mirror of Erised.

A magical mirror that showed the deepest desire of the heart.

Edmund was curious about what his own deepest desire might be, so he agreed to go with Harry.

Harry led him to an unused classroom on the fifth floor.

At the center of the room stood an imposing mirror that reached almost to the ceiling. It had an ornate golden frame and was supported by two clawed feet.

The moment Harry entered, he forgot Edmund entirely. He rushed to the mirror and stared at it in a daze.

"Edmund, do you see them? These are my parents."

Harry reached out and touched the glass as though he might somehow touch them.

Edmund quietly watched.

Harry's condition was not right, but Edmund did not pull him away immediately. The boy had already suffered enough. Let him feel that warmth for a little while.

After today, Edmund would explain the danger and tell him not to come back.

A long time passed before Harry slowly recovered. He looked at Edmund, embarrassed.

"Do you want to try?"

"No need, Harry. I already looked. Let's go."

Edmund lied. He had not seen the mirror at all. Harry had been practically pressed against it the whole time. There had been no chance.

They left the classroom and walked down the corridor.

"Harry, I know you want to see your parents," Edmund said. "I understand that. But I have to tell you, your state just now was not right."

"That mirror reflects what you desire most. It is not real. You have to come back to the real world."

Harry stared at him.

He knew Edmund was right. He simply did not want to accept it. He would rather believe the mirror held some trace his parents had left behind.

After a long silence, Harry finally spoke.

"Thank you, Edmund. You're right. I will not come to see it again."

Once he said it, something seemed to ease inside him. His whole bearing improved.

The two went to the Great Hall for lunch together, and then Harry returned to Gryffindor Tower.

Edmund, meanwhile, decided to go back and look at the mirror.

He did not want to drown himself in it. He wanted to know what he desired most.

After so many years in this world, and after entering the magical world, Edmund had mostly allowed events to carry him forward. Even after gaining his advantage, much of his study of magic had been driven by curiosity and old fantasies from his previous life.

If someone asked what he truly wanted most, he could not give a clear answer.

He returned to the fifth floor and found the same unused classroom.

Edmund suddenly felt guilty.

He had just persuaded Harry to stay away from the mirror, and now here he was, sneaking back on his own. That was not exactly noble.

After confirming that no one was nearby, he entered the room and stood before the Mirror of Erised.

Then an unexpected voice sounded behind him.

"Mr. Gaunt, I thought you and Harry would not enter this classroom again. I did not expect you to return quite so soon."

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