In the following period, every night after curfew, a professor would patrol the castle for a while.
And Filch, he was almost driven mad by those ever-present rooster feathers. Even though he had cleaned five times, they could still be seen every now and then.
Sometimes they were at the corner of the corridor, sometimes beside the door frame… Simply unable to be swept away.
Because of this, Filch became more irritable, looking at everyone with a ferocious expression, even the slightest loudness would attract his attention and result in a reprimand.
Though the students being reprimanded were seething, Filch's actions were tacitly accepted by a certain Professor of Potions, and any dissatisfaction would cost them points, so they had no choice but to avoid Filch as much as possible.
Kael had also become much more behaved lately; his routine consisted of going to the library to do homework and read books, returning to the dormitory on time, even suspending his night roaming temporarily.
Fred and George told him that Filch spent most of his time on the second floor at night, and those patrolling professors would often take a peek at the library.
It was too risky to copy books at this time, Kael planned to wait until things calmed down.
But someone clearly didn't think this way, like Harry Potter.
Since he figured out who the people in the mirror were, he had only one thought in his mind, which was to return to the mirror front, doing nothing but sitting there all night.
Ron had tried to dissuade him, but he failed… Harry was not listening to anything now.
Until the third night, he ran into Dumbledore in the room.
"I… I didn't see you, sir!" Harry stood there with icy limbs, speaking nervously.
It was then he remembered that professors were sternly checking on night roaming lately, what if Dumbledore thought he had done those things the previous days…
The thought of Gryffindor losing two hundred points because of this, Harry felt as if his insides were about to freeze.
"Strange, you actually become nearsighted after turning invisible." Dumbledore said with a smile.
Harry saw the smile on his face. He finally breathed out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Dumbledore didn't seem to intend to deduct points.
He was like the Muggle gentleman often seen strolling in Little Whinging in the mornings, patient and gentle.
From his mouth, Harry truly understood the usage of The Mirror of Erised.
"This mirror shows us only the deepest, most desperate desire within our hearts."
Dumbledore said softly, "People fritter away their time in front of it, becoming obsessed with what they see, even driven mad.
Because they don't know whether everything in the mirror is real, whether it can come true."
Harry lowered his head in silence for a moment, murmured, "Sir… Professor Dumbledore, have you looked into this mirror?"
"Yes, and more than once." Dumbledore said with a smile, "I must admit that no one can resist its magic power, not even me… Oh no, there's one exception."
"Who is that person!" Harry asked curiously.
"A second-year student."
Dumbledore looked at Harry's astonished expression, blinked, and said, "What, you can't believe it?"
Harry nodded.
If Dumbledore said it was a famous wizard or some professor, he could accept it.
But a second-year student accomplished something even Dumbledore couldn't… How was this possible.
"Just as you thought, in this regard, he was indeed better than me."
Dumbledore thought for a moment and said, "He had two opportunities to view The Mirror of Erised, yet each time left without hesitation."
"Professor Dumbledore, could it be that he mistook it for an ordinary mirror."
"That's what I thought at first, but later found out it wasn't the case." Dumbledore shook his head and said, "He knows about The Mirror of Erised and is very clear of its purpose."
"Who is he?" Harry asked again, "Do I know him?"
But this time, Dumbledore did not answer.
"We've talked enough today, Harry."
He stood up and said, "The mirror is being moved to a new place tomorrow. I ask you not to look for it anymore; sinking into illusory dreams while forgetting real life is of no benefit, remember.
Now then, why not put on that marvelous Invisibility Cloak and go back to bed."
Bringing puzzlement, Harry left the room and returned to his dormitory bed, still pondering who the second-year student Dumbledore mentioned was.
But the second-year students he knew weren't many, except for a few Gryffindors, there was only Kael left.
"Could it be him?" Harry thought uncertainly.
And so it remained until the next day.
At lunch that day, Conna suddenly nudged Kael sitting across from her, speaking softly, "Have you done anything lately, like practicing Quidditch on the field?"
"Of course not, I've been in the library all these days, haven't gone anywhere else." Kael said puzzled, "Besides, none of the team is around, practicing alone wouldn't be useful. Why are you suddenly asking this."
"Nothing, just Harry Potter has been staring at you." Conna discreetly pointed towards Gryffindor's direction, whispered, "I thought you might have developed a new Quidditch strategy which he saw."
"What?"
Kael instinctively turned around, caught a glimpse of Harry suddenly lowering his head.
"It's not just now." Conna continued, "I've noticed him sneaking glances at you several times already."
Kael was startled in his heart.
Could it be that Harry knew he was in the room on the fourth floor that day?
No, definitely not, he had been using the Disillusionment Charm the whole time, Harry definitely couldn't see him.
As for guessing, that possibility was slim too,… He's not that clever.
"It's probably really because of Quidditch." Kael said unnoticeably, "After all, the match between us and Gryffindor is right after Christmas. He may be contemplating strategies, so he regards me as a hypothetical enemy."
"Contemplating strategies?" Conna furrowed her brows, asking confusedly, "But isn't he a Seeker, does he also need strategies?"
"Perhaps it's another quirky move by Wood, who knows." Kael said, "Just ignore him… Aren't you supposed to go to Snape for extra lessons today? How is the preparation."
"All set, books, quill, parchment, ink…"
Mentioning extra lessons, Conna instantly became much more nervous, not bothering about sneaky Harry Potter, whispered asking, "Kael, do you think I should bring my cauldron."
"That's probably not necessary." Though Kael hadn't had extra lessons, just imagining, it's clear Snape wouldn't be short on cauldrons.