This child...
Dumbledore recalled Professor McGonagall once telling him that Harry's personality was similar to Lily's.
By Merlin's beard, the child's first reaction upon seeing Severus was to draw his magic wand. I have no doubt; he's the second James!
Hmm... let's see again.
Dumbledore stroked his beard and, upon looking at Harry again, found him already pointing his magic wand at 'Severus.'
Then, he saw Harry's lips move slightly, and there was a sensation of being hit by a magic spell emanating from the transformed statue.
Silent spellcasting?
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow; this child... truly outstanding.
This also reinforced his idea that, indeed, it's important to properly test the character of this child.
The Mirror of Erised can reveal the deepest desires within a person, regardless of their age.
Thinking about this, Dumbledore maneuvered the statue to wave its robe and turn its head toward where Harry and Ron were standing.
Harry was quite surprised that the spell had no effect.
But Ron was already a bit tense; he had not seldom endured Snape's venomous attacks in magic potion class and already had some psychological shadow.
Watching "Professor Snape" turn his head toward their position and walk over step by step, he tugged at Harry's sleeve, letting out a desperate childish voice.
"Harry..."
What to do?
Harry frowned, thinking that casting some harmless small spell due to being caught night wandering was quite unnecessary.
Especially since Snape had given him a bottle of the blessing potion, under no circumstances should he attack the professor.
Since the Confusion Spell didn't work, then just leave.
He pulled Ron along, watching "Professor Snape" block their way from all angles except for an empty classroom. Before he could figure out the next move, Ron dragged him into that abandoned classroom.
After they entered, "Professor Snape's" footsteps gradually receded.
"Come on, Ron." Harry said.
"Wait, Harry..." Ron murmured, "Look, quickly look at this mirror..."
Harry turned around and saw Ron staring at that peculiar mirror with a fascinated smile etched on his face.
It was an exceptionally imposing mirror, reaching from floor to ceiling; the mirror was set in an ornate golden frame, supported at the bottom by two claw-shaped feet.
At the top of the mirror, a line was inscribed: "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi."
"What's the matter?" Harry asked.
"I—I have a badge like Bill used to have, a badge for the male student council president—holding the School Cup and Quidditch Cup, with a box of chicken legs behind me... haha, and I'm also the captain of the Quidditch team!" Ron scarcely managed to tear himself away from this splendid scene, turning back to Harry, saying: "Harry, do you think this could be a prophecy mirror, indicating I'll be student council president and Quidditch captain in the future?"
"Of course, I believe you can." Harry placed a hand on Ron's shoulder, saying to him: "But this mirror isn't a prophecy... you see, its text seems to be backwards; we should read it in a different order..."
"Look, when we reverse 'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi,' separating it, it becomes 'I show not your face but your heart's desire.'" Harry said, "It's a magic mirror that shows the deepest desires of the heart."
"So... that's just my inner desire, huh, no wonder..." Ron scratched his head.
Harry raised his gaze, recalling that this magic mirror was brought back by Villatia from outside during fifth year, always stored in the Room of Requirement.
Back then, when Vivi placed this mirror in the Room of Requirement, classmates from the Phoenix Society would rush to the mirror to see what their real innermost desires were.
Clearly, everyone was quite delighted, except for Cassandra.
She was only mesmerized for a short while before stomping her foot and walking away disdainfully.
During Christmas at Nimongard, Vivi mentioned that Cassandra later returned several times, sitting in front of the mirror unwilling to leave.
The last time Harry looked at this mirror, he saw his parents.
He lifted his eyes to glance at the inscription, pondering how exactly the mirror was brought out and placed here.
"And you, Harry, what did you see?" Ron asked.
Harry looked at the mirror, and what appeared in it was not the abandoned classroom but a layout similar to that in the Room of Requirement.
It was a long table with his parents sitting behind, gently gazing at him outside the mirror.
Behind the table seemed to be the Potter family, decorating the Christmas tree on tiptoe, some arranging the furnishings. Noticing Harry's gaze, everyone turned, smiling at him.
"I saw my parents and my family." Harry said softly.
Glancing beside his parents, he saw someone sitting next to his mom and someone standing behind her.
The one sitting beside his mom was Villatia, knitting something quickly with two needles, seemingly chatting with mom, a pair of violet eyes fixed on him.
And standing behind his mom was Cassandra, her face absent the usual disdain, instead looking uncharacteristically gentle and appealing.
Why would Cassandra be there? Harry felt perplexed. He was grateful to Cassandra for her guidance over the years, but desiring to live with her... unless he had gone mad or suffered some serious affliction.
"Then Harry, how did you know this mirror reveals the deepest desires of the heart?" Ron asked again.
"I just know." Harry said mysteriously.
At that moment, footsteps suddenly sounded at the door.
Before Harry and Ron could hide again, Dumbledore appeared at the entrance.
"Harry, Ron." He greeted them, waving his hand.
"Professor (Headmaster)." They responded.
"I must say, Harry, few young wizards your age possess such acute observation skills." Dumbledore smiled kindly, "As you said, this mirror allows one to see their truest desire... So, Harry, what is your true inner desire?"
Harry didn't meet Dumbledore's gaze, instead turning to the mirror.
Vivi in the mirror noticed his gaze, smiling gently at him, holding up a pair of woolen socks.
"I saw my parents, my family, and also..."
"And what else?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.
Harry saw Vivi nodding at him, organizing his thoughts.
"And a pair of woolen socks." He said.
Dumbledore: ...