LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 81: Then....I'll Go
The morning after the eventful discussion with Tina, the household acted as if nothing had happened. Yet, David and Rove couldn't forget Tina's words from the previous night—if they learned to cast a proper armor spell, they might one day join the magical animal rescue missions.
David began sorting through the pile of Christmas gifts by his bedside. Among them, he found a long package. As he unwrapped it, his eyes lit up—it was a brand-new Nimbus 2000 broomstick, gifted by Newt. Despite his initial excitement, David felt a sudden warmth in his heart. Newt, even in the midst of his busy schedule, had remembered what David wanted. This simple act made the broomstick feel far more valuable than before.
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At lunchtime, Tina and John prepared a grand Christmas feast. Although the dishes were similar to those of past celebrations, the atmosphere was slightly different this year. Instead of Jacob and Queenie, who were off on their respective missions, John and Rove joined the table.
Queenie was busy helping with the fight against the mysterious "R Organization," while Jacob had traveled to France to promote Queenie's new line of enchanted dresses, aided by a few fairies.
The day passed with a mix of laughter and shared stories. On the eve of the school term, Newt escorted David to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. There, they ran into Hermione, who looked unusually tired—clearly, her holiday had been filled with challenges. David noticed she seemed particularly frustrated, likely because she had failed to uncover the identity of the enigmatic Nicolas Flamel.
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After bidding Newt farewell, David and Hermione boarded the Hogwarts Express and returned to school. When David entered his dormitory, he immediately sensed something was amiss. The usually vibrant energy of the room was subdued. Ron was slouched in a chair, lazily munching on a bag of sweets.
"Why aren't you outside playing?" David asked, puzzled.
Ron pointed to Harry's bed. "Ask him."
David turned to see Harry lying motionless on his bed, staring blankly at a spider web on the ceiling. Spiders crawled across the web, but Harry didn't seem to notice or care.
"What's going on? Did someone bully him?" David asked Ron.
"No," Ron replied with a shrug. "Harry saw his parents in a mirror the other night. He's been like this ever since."
"His parents?" David repeated, shocked.
Ron explained that Harry had come across a mysterious mirror, called the Mirror of Erised, which showed him his deepest desire—his parents.
David's heart ached for Harry. It was no surprise that seeing his parents for the first time, even as an illusion, had left him in this state.
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Curious, David asked more about the mirror. "What exactly is this mirror? And where is it?"
Ron chuckled. "It doesn't show the future, just your greatest desire. When I looked at it, I saw myself as Head Boy, holding the Quidditch Cup. Pretty cool, huh?"
Harry, overhearing, added weakly, "Professor Dumbledore told me that the mirror shows nothing more than the deepest desires of our hearts. He said if we keep looking into it, we'll get lost in dreams and waste our lives."
David pondered this and asked Harry if he remembered where the mirror was located. Harry perked up slightly and gave directions: "It's in a room next to a tall suit of armor on the fifth floor, near the Restricted Section. But Dumbledore said he was moving it, so it might not be there anymore."
Despite the uncertainty, David decided he had to see it for himself. Harry offered him his invisibility cloak—a magical artifact left to him by his father—but David declined. "Thanks, but I have my own way of staying hidden."
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Later that night, David ventured to the location Harry had described. He navigated the dark, quiet corridors with caution, climbing the stairs to the fifth floor. Sure enough, he found the armor and the wooden door Harry had mentioned. However, before he could enter, Filch appeared, patrolling the area with his ever-suspicious cat, Mrs. Norris.
David quickly retreated, realizing he'd have to try again another time. On his way back to the dormitory, he ran into Hermione, who was carrying a stack of books.
"David, what are you doing here?" she asked suspiciously.
David hesitated before admitting, "I was just... checking out the place Harry mentioned."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "The Mirror of Erised? I know about it. Harry and Ron told me earlier."
David blinked in surprise. "Do you want to come see it with me?"
Hermione hesitated. "Do you think we'll get caught?"
David grinned. "Not if we're careful."
Hermione deliberated for a moment, then nodded. "Then... I'll go!"