This is What Ravenclaw Looks Like

'I can't understand this…'

'I get the introduction, at least…'

'This bit's interesting, but once it dives into the deeper theory, I'm lost…'

The magazine really was fascinating — if you ignored the fact that Andrew couldn't make sense of most of it. If he hadn't had previous chats with Percy in the library, he'd have thought the older boy was trying to intimidate him with this reading material.

And once he'd forced himself through what he could understand, Andrew noticed that Percy had just about butchered that thick stack of documents…

Yes — butchered was the word. Even Andrew, glancing over occasionally, could tell Percy was treating the paperwork carelessly, basically scribbling through it without care. Of course, there was always the tiny chance Percy was so capable that he could absorb all the key points in a glance — but Andrew wasn't betting on it.

Just as he was about to pick up a second magazine, Percy, having "finished" the files, suddenly seemed to make up his mind. He stood up abruptly.

"Andrew, come over here."

"Uh? Okay."

Andrew got up, bewildered, as Percy spoke in a rush.

"The professor got a new mirror today — it's amazing. It can show the future."

As if to demonstrate, Percy half-jogged over to a very grand-looking mirror. Andrew had noticed it when he came in but hadn't thought anything of it.

Come on — he was here to talk Transfiguration. A fancy mirror wasn't unusual at all. Even if something really odd like a cat tower had appeared in McGonagall's office, he wouldn't have batted an eye.

But now that Percy had called it "a future-seeing mirror," Andrew couldn't just ignore it. He stepped closer and studied it carefully.

It was huge, with an ornate gold frame, resting on claw-like feet at the base. At the very top was a line of runes: ensedstraehruaytohsi.

Meanwhile, Percy stood before the mirror, staring at his reflection like he was bewitched.

'Is this some dangerous contraband that's supposed to be destroyed?'

'Is Percy enchanted by the mirror?'

These thoughts flickered through Andrew's mind — but he didn't have an excuse to stop Percy. And if the mirror really was that dangerous, he'd be an idiot not to bolt — that was a fifth-year prefect!

"Ah, right, you should take a look too, Andrew."

Percy spoke to him reluctantly, like he hated tearing himself away from the glass.

No, I'd rather not!

Andrew had the sudden urge to run for it, but he did the math — the distance to the door versus his odds in a scuffle with Percy. In the end, he politely stepped forward, giving up on both running and the idea of jumping Percy from behind.

"Here you go, that's it."

Andrew turned his back to Percy, secretly closed his eyes — if he could buy time, he'd take it. Hurry up, Professor McGonagall, finish your class!

But nothing happened. After a moment Percy didn't even check if Andrew was looking — instead, he just sighed dreamily.

"Right? Right? Let me have another look."

Andrew obediently stepped aside, letting Percy reclaim his spot. He went back to his seat and pretended to read his magazine — though the dense articles now made even less sense. He just sat there, enduring the awkwardness as Percy kept admiring himself in the mirror.

After a while, Percy apparently felt guilty for hogging it alone and dragged Andrew over again — reminding him that "prophecies aren't always accurate" but that it was best not to talk about them. Then, barely two minutes later, he was shoving the still-eyes-shut Andrew aside and gazing at himself once more.

Just stare at it all you want — I really don't mind.

Finally, on Andrew's third time being pushed out of the way, Professor McGonagall arrived. She opened the door and immediately spotted Andrew sitting there, half-numb, clutching his magazine.

"Mr. Taylor, more questions?"

Then she glanced at Percy.

"Oh, Weasley — done with the paperwork? And what did you see in the mirror?"

Wait — the mirror really could show the future?

"Ah — Professor, you're back." Percy jolted, a bit red-faced. "I finished the files and found the mirror…"

"It's quite all right. It is interesting."

McGonagall nodded. But Percy looked awkward and quickly excused himself.

"So — what did you need help with, Mr. Taylor?"

"Well, Professor," Andrew said, pulling out his wand as he explained, "you know how everyone's been using the Bubble-Head Charm lately? I tried to mimic it using Transfiguration principles. But right now, the spell's strength just can't match the original, and every solution I can think of depends on my magic power growing…"

"That idea is… actually quite clever. Can you show me again?"

…

"It's a structural issue… Could you compare it to how Muggle devices work?"

Just as Andrew expected, Professor McGonagall instantly offered a high-quality, practical suggestion — and she even proposed a few similar spells he could try to model.

"All right, Professor. I'll test it when I get back."

"No rush. By the way, have you looked into the Mirror of Erised yet?"

"Not yet, Professor."

Of course he wasn't going to rat Percy out.

"Go on, have a look."

Now that she'd confirmed it was harmless, Andrew was actually curious. He stepped up to the mirror, wondering what it would show to try to tempt him.

In the next instant, he saw himself making dumplings — more precisely, his past self, in his old life, making dumplings with his family.

He froze. The image shimmered — and then an old friend from those days appeared, looking older now, his expression a mix of excitement and mock annoyance. Beside him, Andrew was grinning like an idiot.

The two were playing a co-op video game. After finishing most of a level together, Andrew deliberately messed up to get his friend killed in-game.

'Damn it… I should've trolled you in-game a few more times while I had the chance…'

His eyes watered. The vision wavered again — scattered, jumbled glimpses rose and fell — then the mirror settled on just those two scenes, flickering back and forth.

'If only… if only it really could predict the future…'

Andrew forced himself to pull away, feeling a tug of longing in his chest. He knew exactly what the mirror did now.

He drew in a deep breath and turned back.

"Professor, it's amazing — better than any dream. Not even my dreams feel that real."

"Yes. That's why Dumbledore says it can be dangerous. But I'm glad you realized its flaw so quickly."

"It's… too perfect…" Andrew shook his head — its impact was stronger than he'd imagined.

"But still an unforgettable experience," McGonagall said. She seemed about to say more but then stopped. "Go get some rest. When you feel you've truly shaken it off, come see me again."

T/N: For twenty chapters ahead on all my fics become a P@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle