Mysteries and Mirror of Erised
The atmosphere in Dumbledore’s office was unexpectedly inviting. Aromatic old leather-bound books and intriguing curios filled the room, lending a unique charm. The air carried a soothing scent, one that was uncannily reminiscent of glaze lilies. The venerable wizard was deeply engrossed in penning something on the gleaming surface of his wooden desk.
"Morning, Zhongli," Dumbledore greeted, his smile exuding warmth.
"Good Morning, Headmaster," came the reply.
"I won't detain you long, but please, make yourself comfortable," Dumbledore invited, motioning towards the chair opposite his desk.
With an effort to maintain his composure, Zhongli took the seat. Dumbledore's piercing crystal-blue eyes seemed to see right through him.
Dumbledore smiled again. “Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble. I merely want a chat.”
He frowned slightly.
“Regarding what subject?” He asked. Does he want to talk about the Troll? Does he even know about the Troll? No, he definitely knew, McGonagall surely told him by now.
Surprisingly, Dumbledore said, “Regarding your name.”
“My name?” That was unexpected.
“Yes, your name. I’ve been wanting to chat with you regarding that subject for a while now,” He confirmed, “I’m sure you realized by now that Zhongli Rex Lapis isn’t your original name.”
He nodded again. “They say you changed it.”
The silver bearded wizard sighed. “I did, I had too. It’s a shame, Morax Lapis Potter was a marvellous name.”
Morax Lapis Potter. Hm, he suppose Potter was his family name then,
“Why did you change it?” Zhongli asked, genuinely curious.
Dumbledore stroked his beard. “Morax is an unusual name. To my knowledge, only you had it.” His eyes twinkled at him, “It would have been too easy to track you down.”
He smiled, amused. “So you changed it to Zhongli, a much more unusual name.”
Dumbledore chuckled. “Well Voldermort does not know that, he still thinks The Boy Who Lived is called Morax.”
“Hold on- he still thinks?” Zhongli frowned, “Isn’t he dead?”
Sighing grimly, the wizard replied, “That’s what the majority of the wizarding community believes, but tread carefully Zhongli."
He nodded. Being cautious, he was good at that. And now that he thought about it, there was no way Voldermort was killed by an infant so easily.
Dumbledore was inspecting him curiously. “Are you alright with the change?”
“Huh? That I’m called Zhongli now? I’m used to it, it’s fine.”
“That's wonderful to hear. I must admit, I felt a bit guilty changing your name without permission from your parents.”
Zhongli waved him off. “It was for the best, I doubt they’d have mind.”
“It was for the best,” Dumbledore repeated, his eyes gleamed. “You’re a wise one, aren’t you?”
Considering that I'm six thousand years old, I kinda have to be. He wanted to say. Instead, he simply gave him a grateful smile.
Following the rest of the Slytherins towards their next class, Childe muttered for the hundred times, “I really hate Astronomy.”
Beside him Blaise cocked his head, perplexed. “Why?” He asked.
“Because it’s tiring! It’s night, and I wanna sleep, but nooo we have to stay up and look at some stupid stars.”
Draco, who was in front of him, snorted. “Stop complaining.”
“There’s absolutely nothing fun about it!” He continued. “Plus, to get to the Astronomy tower, we have to climb like a million stairs.”
“I like it.” Blaise said.
Childe frowned at him. “Climbing stairs?”
“Astronomy.”
“Why?!”
“Stars are cool.” Blaise said with a shrug.
He suppose they are, but still, when are they ever gonna use astronomy in life? It’s completely useless.
Blaise then added. “We’re not going to the Astronomy Tower.”
“Huh?”
Draco scoffed in front of him, and Theodore spoke, sneering. “Didn’t you listen in class, Weasley?”
Childe did not in fact listen, he never did, which is why Draco stopped forcing him to do his homework.
Around A Week Ago:
“Bloody Hell!” The blond had cried, “Weasley! You’re supposed to write cursive! And about Transfiguration, not about the bloody sea!"
“Why don’t you write it yourself then? Don’t tell me you still have a concussion.” He had snapped.
Draco hadn’t let him get near his homework ever since.
“Professor Sinistra said we’re going to be stargazing outside today.” Blaise explained.
“It’s November,” He slowly said, “Isn’t it too cold?”
“Magic? Remember Weasley?” Draco sneered, “Don’t tell me you forgot you’re a wizard.”
Crabbe and Gyole chuckled, and Childe merely rolled his eyes in annoyance.
It was cold outside, well, for Childe only, as the rest of the Slytherins all casted a warming spell. He had no idea how to cast one, but that’s fine, because the chilly air reminded him of Snezhnaya.
At last, they arrived at the field where the Ravenclaws and Professor Sinistra were waiting.
“Took you all long enough,” Sinistra snapped, “Come on, lay down.”
They did as told. The grass was soft beneath him, and the sky above was painted with stars, twinkling, and gleaming, and sparkling. Tonia would have loved this, Childe thought with a soft wistful smile.
“Now, I want everyone to look observed the night sky,” The astronomy professor ordered. “Tell me what you see.”
“Stars,” someone blurted out.
There was a ripple of muffled laughter.
“Yes, yes,” Professor Sinistra rolled her eyes, “But anything particular about any of them?”
Childe frowned, they all looked the same to him.
“That one looks sparklier than the rest.” Pansy pointed out, excitedly.
“Very good, a point to Slytherin,” He raised his head slightly to see Sinistra pointing her wand at a star slightly brighter than the rest, “That one is called Polaris, most popularly known as The North Star….”
Childe tuned out from there, letting out a sigh. Boring.
He wondered if he could sneak away…
His gaze drifted to Hagrid’s hut, just a few miles away. Zhongli was there. Childe would be there with Zhongli if it hadn’t been for this stupid class.
He glanced back at Professor Sinistra who was babbling about constellations now. The moonlight above was too bright, she’ll easily notice him sneaking away. Should he create a distraction? While Childe was pondering this over, the professor suddenly turned her back on them, pointing at yet another star.
Well, it’s now or never.
Slowly, he flipped over on his stomach, and edged away from the group of students. He wasn’t crawling, not exactly- he wasn’t sure what he was doing honestly, but it was working as Sinistra hadn’t noticed him so far.
When he created a decent amount of distance between them and the hut, he got up, and bolted as fast as he could.
The hut was close to The Forbidden Forest, and the ominous trees made Childe falter. One part of his brain went, That looks like the Abyss… While the other part went, Surely no one will notice if a few creatures get slaughtered…
The fight with the Troll yesterday had managed to tune down some of his urge to spar, but now it was back, and perhaps even stronger.
Childe knocked the hut door frantically when he arrived at the entrance, out of breath. He threw a swift glance behind his shoulders, making sure no one’s after him.
The door creaked open slightly, "Who this?” a gruff voice asked, cautiously.
“Me- uh Zhongli’s friend.” He panted.
The door swung open, hitting him straight in the face. He let out a pained hiss.
“Oops, sorry ‘bout that,” apologized Hagrid, patting him on the back, ushering him in.
The inside of the hut was small and cramped, but it was better than Astronomy, he supposed.
“Childe?”
He looked up to see Zhongli holding a cup of steaming tea, sitting at a small table, carrying a confused expression. Aw, cute.
Childe almost smacked himself, this was the former Geo Archon he was talking about, he should stop referring to him as cute.
“What are you doing here? I thought you ha-”
“Astronomy sucks, I’m staying here.”
Zhongli frowned, he then turned to glance at Hagrid. “Is that alright with you?” He asked.
Hagrid beamed. “Make yerself at home! Tea?”
“This is Ajax Weasley, but he prefers to be called Childe,” Zhongli told Hagrid, who was pouring tea for Childe with a large teapot.
“Another Weasley, eh?” said Hagrid, glancing at his ginger hair. “I spent half me life chasin’ yer twin brothers away from the Forest.”
He grinned.
The tea was a bit strong for his taste, and the rocks cakes almost broke his teeths, but he pretended to enjoy them as he listened to Zhongli and Hagrid discuss mythical creatures.
At some point during the conversation Zhongli asked innocently, “How about Cerberus? How much do you know about them?”
“Er- not much, not much.” He mumbled
Yet Childe couldn’t help thinking that Hagrid didn’t quite meet Zhongli’s eyes when he said that.
“How’s yer brother Charlie?’ Hagrid turned his attention to Childe. ‘I liked him a lot- great with animals.”
He changed the subject, Childe thought perplexed.
“Charlie? He’s doing great! He’s working with dragons now!” He replied with genuine amazement. He still couldn’t comprehend that actual dragons existed in this universe.
While Childe told Hagrid all about Charlie’s work with dragons, Zhongli picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of dark wizards or witches unknown.
Gringotts’ goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.
"But we’re not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what’s good for you,” said a Gringotts spokes goblin this afternoon.
31 July? Wasn’t that when Hagrid and he went and visited Diagon Alley?
“Hagrid,” said Zhongli. “That Gringotts break-in- it happened during our visit, didn't it?”
There was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didn’t meet Zhongli’s eyes this time. He grunted and offered him another rock cake. Zhongli read the story again. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. If he remembered correctly, Hagrid had emptied vault seven hundred and thirteen, taking out that grubby little package. Had that been what the thieves were looking for?
Had Hagrid collected that package just in time? Where was it now?
Oh.
Of course, where else would it be? It was in The Third Floor Corridor.
That’s why Hagrid had been so uncertain about the subject Cerberus, he was probably the one who placed that creature there! It made so much sense now, who in the world would own a Cerberus other than Hagrid? Was the creature guarding whatever was in that package? If so, from who? The thieves?
Snape!
He went to the corridor last night! Was he trying to steal the object?
“Childe,” said Zhongli urgently, “Snape- was he acting weird today?”
Childe blinked. “Uh- I don’t think so? Oh wait, I guess he was limping during class. Why?”
“The Cerberus! It must have bit him! Remember- last night, he went to the corridor!”
The ginger’s eyes widened.
Hagrid dropped the teapot, shattering it.
“How do you know about Fluffy?” he asked.
“Fluffy?” said Childe and Zhongli simultaneously. He named it?
“Yeah- he’s mine- bought him off a Greek chappie I met in the pub las’ year- I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-”
“Yes?” said Zhongli expectantly.
“Now, don’t ask me any more,” said Hagrid gruffly. “That’s top secret, that is.”
“But Snape’s trying to steal it.”
“Rubbish,” said Hagrid. “Snape’s a Hogwarts teacher, he’d do nothin’ of the sort.”
Childe snorted. “Snape’s suspicious as hell. I mean, he really hates Zhongli for some reason. I don’t doubt he’d steal something.”
“Rubbish, Snape hates all students equally,” argued Hagrid, “Now, listen to me, the two of yeh – yer meddlin’ in things that don’ concern yeh. It’s dangerous. You forget that dog, an’ you forget what it’s guardin’, that’s between Professor Dumbledore an’ Nicolas Flamel-”
“Aha!" said Childe. "So there’s someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?”
Hagrid looked furious with himself.
Nicolas Flamel. There’s that name again. Who is he?
Astronomy class had long ended by the time Childe and Zhongli bid goodbye to Hagrid. It was after curfew, not good. He doubts that they'll manage to elude Filch like they did the prior time.
“Wait.” He heard Zhongli whisper as they arrived at a corridor.
“The room with the Teyvat object- it’s right here,” said Zhongli, tipping his head towards a door to their left.
“Oh?” muttered Childe, “Should we check it out?”
“I… suppose so, but let’s make it quick.”
Childe nodded, and silently made his way towards the door. Fortunately, it did not creak when he opened it, but dust bellowed under his nose making him sneeze.
“Lumos.” He heard Zhongli cast, pushing him inside, and closing the door behind.
The golden glow from the tip of Zhongli’s wand, managed to brighten the whole room up, revealing what looks like a disused classroom. The dark shapes of desks and chairs were piled against the walls and there was an upturned waste-paper basket – but propped against the wall facing him was something that didn’t look as if it belonged there, something that looked as if someone had just put it there to keep it out of the way.
It was a magnificent mirror, as high as the ceiling, with an ornate gold frame, standing on two clawed feet. There was an inscription carved around the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.
“Woah,” said Childe, “That’s a pretty mirror.”
“It certainly is,” agreed Zhongli, walking up to inspect it closer.
Suddenly, the brunet jolted back in surprise, eyes blown wide.
“What’s wrong?!”
“Come here,” said Zhongli, tugging him towards him by the sleeve, “What do you see?”
Childe squinted at the mirror, but saw no reflection of himself. Bemused, he stepped right in front of it.
“Oh,” whispered softly Childe, although his heart was pounding furiously, for he had seen not only himself in the mirror, but a whole crowd of people standing right behind him.
Familiar people too.
Mother, Father, Anthon, Tonia, Teucer, Tsarista- Zhongli was there too, but Zhongli was actually here so it might just be his reflection. He watched, awed, as Teucer waved at him, smiling brightly.
“Are you seeing this too?” He asked, his eyes never straying the mirror.
“No, it’s different for each person, I think,” replied Zhongli.
“I don’t get it,” Childe mumbled. “How are they here?”
Zhongli sighed. “They’re not, it’s an illusion- look on top of the mirror: it says Mirror of Erised, flip it over and it says: Mirror of Desire- it shows our desires I guess. It’s created by magic,” He paused, “Teyvat magic.”
Childe finally teared his gaze away from the mirror. “So you’re saying someone from Teyvat created this? Why is it here then? And who in the archons could have created this ?”
Zhongli didn’t answer, he went silent.
When he spoke again, there was a disbelief and puzzlement in his voice, “...Childe.”
“Yes?” He raised an eyebrow expectantly.
“The borders- they’re made of Mora…”
He stared at Zhongli for a moment before whirling around. Examining the borders of The Mirror of Erised, and swiping a hand over them, it is indeed made of Mora. From far, it may look like regular gold, but up close there’s a slight glow to it that only Mora has.
“But how?” wondered Childe. “Aren’t you the creator of Mora? Did you make this?”
“No! I did not…”
There’s something he’s not telling me.
He turned around again, facing Zhongli who had a troubled look on his face.
“What’s wrong?”
The brunet frowned.
"I may be wrong, but..." He hesitated. "I may have figured... who created this,"
“Who?” demanded Childe eagerly. Perhaps the creator of this mirror could help transport them back to Teyvat.
Moving to stand beside him, gazing at The Mirror of Erised wistfully, Zhongli said, “...Her name was Guizhong, she was the Goddess of Dust, and was exceptionally skilled at mechanism- I wouldn’t doubt that she created something like this. However…” He trailed off. “She passed during the Archon War, if she indeed created this mirror…It would be nearly three thousands years old.”
Childe, who was listening intently, scrunched his face up. “Three thousand years old? It looks brand new!”
Zhongli nodded. “That’s because Mora doesn’t rust.”
“The thing that I don’t understand,” Zhongli continued. “How did this mirror get here? Was it transported here like us?”
Childe frowned, and pondered over that.
“Hey, what if the mirror was created here ?”
Zhongli gave him a weird look. “What do you mean?”
“What if…” Childe tipped his head thoughtfully, “Guizhong was the one transported here.”
Zhongli went silent again.
“That may be…But she died thousands of years ago, remember?” He finally replied, crossing his arms, gold eyes filled with doubt. “But let’s say she came to the Wizarding World prior to our first meeting, and created this mirror around four millennia ago, but then, that’s impossible as she used Mora to make the mirror, and I only created Mora after I met her.”
This time it was Childe who went silent.
“This might sound crazy, but what if she created a hopping universe machine? I mean, she did create this cool mirror, and you wouldn’t have noticed her missing because, perhaps time works differently between Teyvat and The Wizarding World.” Childe knew he sounded out of his mind, but he was sleep deprived, okay? It’s hard to have a good rest with all the snoring in his dormitory.
However, Zhongli being Zhongli didn’t call him out for being mad, instead he contemplated his words.
Humming, the brunet tapped the glass part of the mirror with his glowing wand.
“I do agree with you on: time works differently between Teyvat and The Wizarding World, but a hopping universe machine? I don’t…” His voice trailed off into surprised silence.
Childe and him watched, dumbfounded, as a small meteorite looking thing rolled out of the mirror.
The ginger blinked. “What is that?”
Zhongli seemed to recognise it, he leaned down and picked it up. “The Stone Dumbbell, a gift from Guizhong to me. I didn’t even realize it was missing…What a pleasant surprise, what was it doing in the mirror?” He sounded beyond confused.
Peering at it, Childe asked, “What does it do?”
At that, Zhongli’s eyes misted, and he almost felt bad for asking.
“Before she passed, she placed all her wisdom in this dumbbell, said to me to unlock it, however I…”
“You weren’t able to?” Childe guessed.
Zhongli sighed, “Unfortunately so.”
Then the brunet frowned, and said, “But this looks unlocked, does it not?”
After inspecting it, Childe shrugged. Honestly, he doesn’t know what an unlocked dumbbell is supposed to look like, but The Stone Dumbledore looked oddly glowy, and loose, and fragile so perhaps.
“Do you think the Dumbbell brought us here?” Childe inquired curiously.
“Maybe….” Zhongli rubbed his temples. “At this point, I don’t know anything anymore, everything’s just so absurd. ”
Childe agreed.
The brunet wearily sighed. “Let’s call it a night, we’ll have a higher chance of figuring this out with a clearer state of mind.”
So they left the room.
But of course they ran into Filch on the way out.
He felt Zhongli tug on his sleeve, a warning. Filch was right in front of them, a mile or so away, fortunately he had not seen them yet, but he was coming towards them, fast.
He heard Zhongli softly murmur something, flicking his wand. Before he could ask what he just did, the former archon tapped him on the shoulder with then stick. Childe gasped as he felt something like raw egg being cracked onto his head. Running a hand through his hair, he was glad that it was only a sensation.
“What did you do?” He whispered, distantly Filch was drawing near.
“Disillusionment charm,” Zhongli whispered back. “He won’t be able to see us, but he can hear us so be quiet.”
Childe did as he was told, holding his breath as Filch scurried past them, with his lantern and a scowl on his face.
“Woah, cool spell, where’d you learn it?” He asked quietly, when the man disappeared from view.
“A book, took me a long time to cast it. It's a hard one, for fifth years apparently. I can teach you it, if you like.”
Childe snorted a soft laugh. “The only spell I can cast is Lumos , and I’ve spent a week on it. I doubt I’ll be able to cast a fifth year spell.”
“You casted the Levitation spell yesterday.” Zhongli pointed out.
"And I still don’t know how I managed it," He shrugged. “Plus, I won’t need to learn more spells if your dumbbell does turn out to be a hopping universe machine, we’ll be back in Teyvat in no time.”
Zhongli thoughtfully hummed. “I’ll try my best to figure out The Stone Dumbbell then,” he paused, "And The Mirror of Erised, I suppose."
"What about me? I can't let you do everything!" Childe argued with a frown.
"You should concentrate on your spells, I'll be fine."
"But-"
"Actually, could you do some research on Nicolas Flamel, please? You could ask Hermione to help you."
Despite the fact that he hated doing researches, and being next to Hermione again will probably be extremely awkward, he still nodded eagerly. He didn't want to burden Zhongli with everything, and if looking up a random dude would help him, then Childe will gladly do it.