What Dumbledore Saw

I lied. When Harry Potter asked me what I see when I look at the Mirror of Erised, I lied. Sometimes I see Voldemort being defeated, but more often I see something a little more benign.

I am standing surrounded by people - my family.

Like Mr. Ron Weasley, I had a huge family. My parents ran a pet shop in Hogsmeade, and we all had to help out there. My parents had six children: Andromeda, Alexia, Andrea, Aberforth, Alanna and me - Albus. We all went to Hogwarts, but it was hard for me. I wasn't very outstanding there in the beginning, and my siblings were either exemplary or horrible. The best was Alanna - Ally. She was my favorite, the closest to my age. Back then, even as my best friend Anthony and I shone, I longed to excape from my siblings' shadows.

When I graduated, I married Emily Alan and became a professional Quidditch player. I was one of the finest Seekers England had ever seen, if I do say so myself. Emily and I had three sons: Arthur, William and Richard. I must admit though that in my youth I was a poor father to my sons. I spent nearly all of my time playing Quidditch and traveling, never with them. I even lost track of my best friend Anthony (who eventually married my sister Ally). However, during my successful career, I was in an accident and had to quit Quidditch.

As a boy at Hogwarts, the head of Gryffindor was Professor Nicolas Flamel, the potions master. Upon my leaving Quidditch, he helped me get a job as Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. Transfiguration had always been one of my better subjects. Emily and I divorced soon afterwards.

Out of my sons, only my youngest -- Richard -- and I remained close. Arthur and William left with their mother, eager to escape to live their own lives. Maybe Richard would have followed them if he had not still been at school when Emily and I divorced. In any case, I clung to my youngest son. I wanted so much to be a part of his life, at least. After he graduated Hogwarts, I got him a teaching position at Hogwarts, teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.

A few years after, Minerva McGonagall came to school. She was a wonderful girl: smart, pretty, and nice. I admit that she was always one of my pets. Richard also was fond of her, only in a different way. They had an affair while she was still a student, and she became pregnant. On the last day of her seventh year, she gave birth to my oldest granddaughter, Tabitha. Of course, Richard and Minerva were married, and she began teaching at Hogwarts as well. Tabitha was a wonderful granddaughter, and I spoiled her endlessly. Several years later, Richard and Minerva had two other daughters: Victoria and Elizabeth. All of my granddaughters are so wonderful, and I adore them.

However, shortly after Elizabeth was born, Richard left. He explained that he was feeling restless at Hogwarts and longed for adventure. Richard promised to return soon, but he never did. My beloved son went missing in Eastern Europe and was eventually declared dead. After that, Minerva and the girls were never the same. Oh, Elizabeth was fine; she doesn't even remember her father, which saddens me. But Vicky and especially Tabby miss him greatly. Minerva has grown so much more serious and solemn since his departure.

So when I look in the mirror, I see my family. My sister Ally and my friend Anthony are there. My other siblings and my parents also stand near me. William and Arthur are there with their families; they no longer hate me or harbor any feelings of resentment. Richard is still alive, and he, Minerva, and the girls are smiling happily.

(And I am also holding a pair of socks.)