In an empty classroom.
Dumbledore pulled back a cloth, revealing a magnificent, gold-framed mirror that reached to the ceiling.
Inscribed across the top was a string of text: 'Erised stra lehru laitubi kafru lait on wohsi.'
However, Victor Wick discovered that the inscription, when read backward, formed a different sentence.
[I show not your face but your heart's desire.]
"I intend to hide your Philosopher's Stone inside this mirror," Dumbledore said.
Victor quietly examined the mirror before him. "This mirror seems quite fascinating..."
He reached out, his fingers lightly tracing the sequences of Ancient Runes etched into the frame...
They were rows of runes designed to peer directly into the soul.
"It is indeed a very interesting mirror. Why don't you come and take a look for yourself?" Dumbledore smiled and stepped aside.
Victor walked to the front of the mirror and looked at his reflection.
Upon seeing the scene within, Victor's brow furrowed slightly.
"What do you see?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's quite crowded in there," Victor said, shaking his head. "I see myself surrounded by 'friends'—people who should have been my companions... but it's an impossible dream. Many of them... can never stand before me again."
Dumbledore let out a soft sigh upon hearing this. "This is the Mirror of Erised, Victor... What people see in it is not reality, but rather the deepest, most desperate desire of their hearts..."
Victor raised an eyebrow. "How interesting... A mirror that can see how much I fear loneliness... It's a pity it's all fake. We cannot afford to live in illusions."
Dumbledore smiled warmly. "I am glad you see the mirror for what it truly is. This mirror gives us neither knowledge nor truth. Yet many have wasted away before it, entranced by what they see... or even been driven mad."
"So, Professor, what do you see in the mirror?" Victor asked.
Dumbledore paused for a moment before speaking. "I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolly socks. It's a shame people insist on giving me books for Christmas... even though I have already read most of them quite thoroughly..."
"Wool socks?" Victor looked at Dumbledore. "I have a feeling you'd see your family instead."
Dumbledore was taken aback for a second, then gave a soft sigh. "You see right through me, Victor... I knew I couldn't fool you. Yes, that is right. I see my family... I see my parents alive, my sister there with them, and my brother... he has finally forgiven me."
Dumbledore's voice sounded heavy with sorrow.
Victor noticed this and immediately changed the subject. "If a person only sees themselves in the mirror, what does that mean?"
"It means they must be the happiest person in the world. They are completely satisfied with everything they have and possess no desperate, unfulfilled desires," Dumbledore answered.
"I don't think such a person exists in this world," Victor said, shaking his head. "Human desire is bottomless. Even if someone has everything, new desires will inevitably be born."
"You are quite right, Victor," Dumbledore sighed. "Even a baby looking into the mirror would see a bottle filled to the brim... Still, as long as one remains clear-headed, they will not be led astray by these false visions."
"So, do you come to visit the mirror often?" Victor asked suddenly.
Dumbledore blinked, realizing that Victor was asking if he was becoming addicted to these illusions.
In truth, almost anyone else would never dream of asking the greatest White Wizard of the century such a question. They all assumed that someone of Dumbledore's caliber could easily see through any falsehood.
Only those who knew Dumbledore intimately understood just how heavy the longing for his family weighed on his heart.
Thanks to their close relationship over the years, Victor understood Dumbledore better than most.
"I... I do come to see it occasionally..." Dumbledore answered, sounding a bit less certain than usual.
"I've been to Aberforth's pub," Victor said. "In his bedroom, there's a portrait of a young girl... That's his way of remembering his family. I think you could find a better way too—for instance, extracting your most precious memories and placing them in a Pensieve. At least those memories are real, which is better than drowning in the illusions of this mirror."
"I... I'm not really that obsessed," Dumbledore said defensively. "I only visit it once or twice a month..."
"Longing for your family is nothing to be ashamed of. I just... don't want it to become your weakness," Victor said sincerely. "You know our enemy is returning..."
Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Thank you for the reminder, Victor. It truly is a weakness that could be exploited."
Dumbledore suddenly understood how Victor felt.
To bury one's heart's desires so deeply just to avoid exposing a weakness for the sake of the final goal... it was a chilling level of self-restraint. He wondered how Victor had managed to live like that all these years.
"You said you want to hide the Stone in this mirror?" Victor said, bringing the conversation back to the task at hand.
"Yes..."
"It's Mirror Magic, isn't it? I remember you taught me that spell before. You said that sometimes, dragging an enemy into a mirror dimension can prevent a lot of unnecessary casualties and destruction," Victor noted.
"Precisely that spell. I remember you learned it very quickly," Dumbledore said. "I will create a pocket space within this mirror to hold the Philosopher's Stone. Then, only someone who truly wants to find the Stone—but not use its power—will be able to retrieve it."
Victor looked at him again. "It seems you've been prepared for a long time. Even if I hadn't made the fake Stone, you were confident Voldemort wouldn't get his hands on it."
Dumbledore shrugged. "When I planned this fishing operation, I considered every possible outcome. If you can produce a fake Stone, it simply maximizes the effectiveness of the plan!"
Victor sighed. "No wonder the Dark Lord is so wary of you. It seems raw power isn't everything... sufficient wisdom can be just as formidable."
Dumbledore smiled. "In my eyes, you are far wiser, braver, and more determined than I am."
"I'm honored by your praise. But... even that can't wash away the sorrow of losing my holiday..."
"Oh... Victor... you know what they say. The reward for being capable is more work."
"Is that so? Capability equals more work... very logical! In that case, I'll have Professor McGonagall return your share of the workload immediately! Since you're the Headmaster, I'm sure you'll want to lead by example!"
"Then again, a balance between work and rest is quite essential! How about I have Severus help take some of the load off your shoulders instead?"