Snape stood before Dumbledore, the warm yellow candlelight flickering erratically, seemingly reflecting the anxieties in their hearts.
Fawkes hovered above the Mirror of Erised for a while, then stopped in front of it.
It pecked lightly at the mirror twice, then looked at Dumbledore and let out a loud chirp.
Dumbledore gently shook his head. "Fawkes is very concerned about Vizette. It probably saw Vizette emerge from the mirror..."
"Fawkes, come here! You must be tired after taking me to so many places today." He beckoned Fawkes to sit on his shoulder.
"I wonder where Vizette went…" Snape's voice was flat, but he kept rubbing his fingers together.
"You mentioned to me before that the Dark Lord entered Vizette's mind, so just in case, I want to verify it..."
"Yes, that's exactly what I think. After all, he came back even after leaving a scar on Harry." Dumbledore nodded. "It's necessary to verify this again."
Snape leaned forward slightly. "So...was Vizette's disappearance from the Headmaster's office intentional...or an accident?"
Dumbledore said in a low voice, "Both. When it comes to Voldemort, I generally only believe what I see with my own eyes."
"Seeing is believing…" Snape narrowed his eyes slightly. "If you hadn't insisted on this view, probably no one would have thought that the Dark Lord had actually returned!"
"Yes! After all, magic is so wondrous and ever-changing," Dumbledore continued. "So I hope to witness with my own eyes the moment when Vizette faces the Mirror of Erised."
"This way, I can see if Voldemort is in his mind or if he is disguising himself. However, an accident happened in the middle, and this mirror... is indeed more mysterious than I imagined."
"Indeed, even more mysterious?" Snape didn't turn to look at the mirror. "What else can it do besides let people see foolish fantasies?"
"Some more ineffable magic…" Dumbledore stroked Fawkes's feathers, "Otherwise, how could it reflect the hearts of all people?"
Both fell silent, for they were both masters of Occlumency, yet they could still see their inner fantasies reflected in the Mirror of Erised.
"Let's get back to the topic!" Dumbledore began again. "Fawkes and Vizette are still in contact, and if Vizette leaves the school, it means..."
"Voldemort possessed Vizette! But Vizette didn't escape, so he wasn't possessed, right?" Snape's tone was even lower, like a venomous snake poised to strike.
Dumbledore said, "That's right! Fawkes told me that Vizette is in the mirror… a place I can't reach by magic."
Fawkes glanced at Snape and nodded in a very human way.
"A place even you can't go..." Snape stroked his chin, "Isn't that good news? It means that Vizette is just... someone qualified to enter the Mirror?"
"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "Severus, you can go back now. I will keep you informed of any good or bad news that may come."
Snape stood up and gathered his robes. "Alright!"
After the door closed and the footsteps faded away, Dumbledore let out a long sigh, his face showing obvious fatigue and worry.
The fact that Vizette was able to weaken Fawkes's connection suggests that the place he went to was definitely not simple, and could even be described as extremely dangerous.
Even though he knew that only the guardians might be able to enter that place, he still couldn't help but worry.
"Another accident."
He looked up out the window, as if through the dark sky he had returned to the distant past, to that year he no longer wanted to mention, to that Godric's Hollow.
His fate was also altered by an accident back then, and it seems that everything is repeating itself.
That was not his intention, but it ultimately led to the worst possible outcome...
Dumbledore sat there from nightfall until late into the night, until the dim moon hung high in the sky, and the sorrow and weariness on his face became more and more obvious.
Dol...dol...dol...
Fawkes would occasionally peck at the Mirror of Erised, then chirp a few words to Dumbledore.
"Yes, we will find him." Dumbledore nodded gently, his voice barely audible.
However, this time was different; the Mirror of Erised truly underwent a change, emitting a silver-blue light...
-------------------------------------
The world in the mirror.
"Geas, a binding command! An intriguing magical mark." Salazar tapped his temple lightly with his finger. "If you want to learn it, then find a way to claim my pet!"
"Regarding what happened here, if anyone asks later... I can reveal all the information except my name... Go! You should go back!"
As Salazar finished speaking, magical energy rippled across the wall behind Vizette, and an enormous mirror appeared there.
"Okay, I'll do my best!" Vizette waved goodbye. "Goodbye, Headmaster of Slytherin!"
Before he finished speaking, the statue had already returned to the color of granite, as if the Slytherin Headmaster, who had taught and imparted knowledge, had never appeared.
He looked at the notebook in his hand, and only when he saw the handwriting did he feel relieved, confirming that everything that had just happened was real.
"It's time to go back... I imagine Headmaster Dumbledore and the professors... are worried about me!"
Vizette put the notes into the inner pocket of his robe before stepping into the tall mirror and returning to the principal's office.
The principal's office was filled with the warm glow of candlelight, and he realized that he had been in the mirror world for so long, and that it was once again a familiar night.
However, after a fierce battle and brainstorming session, he didn't feel tired at all. In fact, he felt... energetic and could easily review his notes a few more times.
"Vizette!" Dumbledore strode forward, looked him up and down, and then examined him several times with his wand before letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Looks like you're alright! You... got to another place through the mirror? What happened?"
He kept asking questions with concern, but accidentally looked directly at the Mirror of Erised...
As if he had witnessed something unusual, Dumbledore trembled, his expression turning extremely sorrowful, yet mixed with a hint of longing.
He blinked a few times quickly and continued leading Vizette to his seat.
Vizette noticed Dumbledore's reddened eyes and asked in a more tactful way, "Headmaster Dumbledore, are you alright? Are you too tired? Perhaps I can bother you again tomorrow?"
"You're definitely a bit too tired. Eating some candy will make you feel much better." Dumbledore nodded gently, his voice hoarse yet soft…
...
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