The castle was quiet at this hour, the usual hum of student chatter replaced by the distant drip of water and the occasional flicker of torchlight against the stone walls. You walked side by side with Remus, your fingers intertwined as you navigated the winding corridors of Hogwarts, the thrill of sneaking out after curfew making your heart race.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Remus whispered, though there was a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “If Filch catches us, we’ll be scrubbing cauldrons for the rest of the year.”

You grinned, giving his hand a squeeze. “That’s only if he catches us.”

Turning a corner, you stopped in your tracks. A grand, ornate mirror stood at the end of the hall, its golden frame gleaming faintly in the dim light. It was massive, nearly touching the ceiling, and an inscription ran across the top: Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi.

“What is this?” you murmured, stepping closer.

Remus, ever the curious scholar, reached out and traced the edge of the frame. “The Mirror of Erised,” he said softly. “Dumbledore mentioned it once—it shows your heart’s deepest desire.”

Your breath caught as you looked into the glass. At first, you only saw your reflection. But then, the image shifted—your own face remained, but now you stood alongside Remus, older, happier. His arms were wrapped around you, and there was something different in his eyes, a peace that rarely settled in them. In the reflection, there was no war, no full moons filled with pain, no fear of the future. Just the two of you, safe and whole.