"Have you two ever heard of the Mirror of Erised?"
Neville asked excitedly. "My gran used to tell me about it when I was a kid. She said it was an incredible mirror. When you stand in front of it, you can see the deepest, most desperate desire of your heart."
"No matter if you've experienced it or seen it before, it will make your wish come true... well, in the mirror, anyway."
At that, Harrie immediately lit up.
"Of course! That sounds absolutely brilliant!"
"What do you think I'll see in the mirror?!"
Harrie, pulling both boys' hands as they hurried into the classroom, skipped with excitement. Off to the side of the cluttered, dusty desks and chairs in the empty room, a massive, ornate mirror leaned quietly against the wall.
"I found it by accident," Neville whispered, explaining. "I saw Quirrell muttering to himself again on the way to the library. I wanted to eavesdrop, but he was too jumpy, so I hid in here."
He then added a serious note: "Before you look, I have to tell you something. Everything the Mirror of Erised shows you is fake. My Gran's story said that many wizards got so obsessed with the illusions in the mirror that they lost their way, eventually confusing fantasy and reality."
"You have to remember that. I almost forgot it myself earlier."
"It's clear you remember it very well now, Neville."
Lynn nodded to Neville. He was indeed reliable when it came to important memories.
"I know, I know\~"
Harrie didn't mind Neville's fussing. After promising to be careful, she walked to the front of the mirror, a mix of excitement and nervousness on her face.
"It's Mum!"
Harrie pointed at the mirror and turned back to Lynn. "It's the same Mum I saw before, but... she looks a little older, almost as if she's been... growing up with the me in the mirror!"
Harrie stepped closer, gazing at the figure only she could see, and fell silent for a moment.
"I'm doing really well now, Mum... Lynn helped me. I was a bit uncomfortable at first, but I think it's okay now, because everyone liked you so much that they're nice to me, too..."
"The professors and students here are brilliant. I even joined the Quidditch team. Did you like it, Mum? Is that how you and Dad got together?"
Harrie murmured sweet secrets to the person in the mirror. Lynn and Neville stepped back, giving her space for her private moment with her family.
About half an hour passed. Harrie came back to them, a sweet smile on her face and completely satisfied. She missed her mother, but between Hagrid's photo and Snape's memories helping to fill in the blanks of her mother's life, she hadn't gotten stuck in the mirror's illusion.
"I had such a lovely chat with Mum. She definitely thinks I'm happy now! Thank you, Neville. Thank you for bringing me here."
"Y-you... you're welcome," Neville replied shyly, grinning bashfully.
"What do you think Lynn will see?" Harrie asked, sitting down next to Neville, full of interest. "I bet Lynn will see a huge crowd of super gorgeous, scantily-clad witches."
"Am I really that much of a pervert?"
Lynn glanced at Harrie. "If my reputation gets ruined, you're the first person I'll blame, Harrie."
"Still, I am curious to see what this mirror will show me."
Lynn strode confidently up to the Mirror of Erised, and then abruptly froze.
He stared at the mirror in disbelief, rubbing his eyes hard.
"No way. Why would this be my deepest desire...?"
Lynn's mouth twitched slightly. "I'd rather you show me a few hundred gorgeous, world-class beauties to start a harem with than this!"
"I am a lover of peace! I love helping people! I even stop on the street to feed stray cats—and those cats thank me by doing a thousand-and-eighty-degree backflip! How can a good person like me secretly crave this—"
Suddenly, Lynn cut himself off. Just as he was rambling and denying it, the image of his reflection in the mirror performed a visual trick that completely hooked his attention.
"Alright, I admit, I was being stubborn just now... A wand can be such an inconvenience."
Lynn pursed his lips, reached out, and slapped his own cheek lightly.
"Harrie!"
Lynn turned and called to her, "Lend me some Galleons, but I don't know when I can pay you back."
"Isn't your wallet on you?"
"It might not be enough."
"Oh? How much do you need? We can go to Diagon Alley and get some after the holidays."
"I need some gold. Let's start with one chest. Later, when I'm successful, I'll 'borrow' some from the bank vault and pay you back."
"That..." Harrie was stunned, then quickly waved her hands. "You absolutely don't need to do that! Just take it as a gift from me, you don't have to pay it back. And definitely don't go to the bank... that's illegal!"
"But... what do you need the gold for?"
"I'm starting a business!"
A fervent light flashed in Lynn's eyes.
"Doraemon Future Tech Company is open for business today!"
"I finally understand! I don't actually crave bosoms! I've found the biggest dream hidden deep in my heart!"
"Well, what is it?!"
Harrie was thoroughly confused by his nonsensical rant. "Why are you being so secretive? What can't you tell us?"
"You'll know when I achieve it."
Lynn, now playing the mysterious oracle, just waved his hand. "This path may be full of unknown risks. I don't plan to drag you two into it yet."
"In short—you just need to supply the 'Gold Coins,' my little Heiress. This research is going to be expensive."
"Oh..."
Harrie pouted slightly, looking a little unhappy. "Then you have to tell me first when you succeed."
"I will, I will."
Lynn nodded, then headed toward the door. "I'm going to find Fred and George first. I have something to discuss with them. See you later."
The moment he stepped out the door, Lynn's figure vanished from the corridor.
The twins, who were studying a piece of parchment in the Common Room, suddenly felt a tap on their shoulders from Lynn. "Come on, let's talk outside."
"Do you have some brilliant idea you want to share with us?"
Fred instantly understood and folded up his parchment without a word, standing up.
"I bet it's the kind of idea that will make us a fortune, right!"
George also grinned and got up. The three quickly left the Common Room and headed to the eighth-floor corridor.
Lynn, with practiced ease, led them in front of the Room of Requirement. This was the best secret hideout in all of Hogwarts.
"There's a hidden room here?!"
The twins were slightly surprised. "We thought we knew Hogwarts deeply enough already."
"It's the Room of Requirement. To enter, you just have to think about what you need and walk past this spot three times. Alright, let's go inside. I have a big business deal we can all consult on."
"A big business deal to make money?"
The twins immediately perked up.
"Absolutely. I'm going to be pretty short on cash soon, so I need to start planning."
It wouldn't be moral to keep sponging off the little heiress. That's fine for an emergency, but since he was temporarily ruling out stealing from the Gringotts vaults, Fred and George were the next best choice. Lynn admitted he had no business sense, but what's wrong with copying the experts?
That's what they call standing on the shoulders of giants to see the world.