powerful. x3.

To my shame, I always fell for the socks line! When DH was published, it became obvious that Dumbledore must have seen his family. I never really reflected over what exactly he would see in the mirror, though.

I really liked the way you showed him at several different times through his life, and how his story is told by the changing images in the mirror. Poor Albus; it seems like he mostly lost people, doesn't it?

My favourite part was this: 'Sometimes, he thinks of Gellert, when all the papers have been graded and he just can't bring himself out of memories. And seeing him in the Mirror makes him physically hurt.'

You make him sound like a man who has been battered by life, and it sounds about right. I much prefer this version of Albus to the puppet master of the books, but I can easily connect the two.

Well done!

I think this was a really great insight into Albus' mind. He really must have had one hell of life, being eaten by guilt and suppressed feelings. I like that you showed this in four snippets and how each time he looks into the mirror, something is added to the previous scene he saw. The part about Aberforth forgiving him and how much that means to him was the most touching (although the parts about his father and Adriana were too). Well done!

Wow.

That's all I can say, because this writing is just so amazing.

I like how the images in the mirror changes as time goes by: when he first sees it only his father is there, but as his life progresses more and more people are seen in the mirror. I love how you described his feelings when he lied to Harry - lying is an easier way out that telling the truth, isn't it? And the line [But that day won't be for a very long while, if at all.] is perfect. Just perfect.

Fantastic job!

Oh, I love this! I really like how each time, someone else he wrongs gets added into the mirror. It's really a great character study and it's amazing to see how you've portrayed Albus and his longing for forgiveness. Love it! :D

This is really nice. I love Dumbledore, even though I don't like reading fanfic concerning him (weird i know).

Nevertheless, this is intriguing. I love that you show us what he sees after certain intervals of time, and every time it somehow changes slightly. All of the pieces seem to just fit together. When he looks into the mirror, he sees his father first and then Ariana and omg, Gellert. :'( That was too sad. But in the end, I like it how when he sees Aberforth, he feels like he can actually forgive himself. And the ending really broke my heart. Overall, your writing was great as well.

So amazing work, Sam! :D

Despite my general disinterest in Dumbledore (blasphemy, I know, haha,) I'm quite fond about how this whole thing played out. The general progression was nice, and it intrigued me that the first thing he saw was his dad being proud of him. That seems to be a universal thing, doesn't it? Kids always want to “make dad proud.”

Gellert... *cries and goes into fangirl depression*

I really like the whole reasoning behind the socks lie. It's weird to think that socks, which are such an ordinary thing to us, mean something so much more to someone who's been to hell and back a few times. I may be reaching here, but it seems like the idea of seeing nothing but socks is a liberating thought to Dumbledore. (Which is a curious parallel to Dobby being liberated by a pair of socks. Mixing that with the way you described socks being appealing to Dumbledore, now I'm wondering if this was intentional on Jo's part. Hmm.)

The only error I spotted was “boy-ish;” it doesn't require a hyphen. Other than that, though, I didn't see anything.

This was a lovely piece! Thanks so much for sharing it with us in the Showcase!

This is gorgeous. I love how the first few sections tell us how Dumbledore got rid of the dust on the mirror, because it shows that he's growing up, learning more as this progresses. My favourite section, though would have to be the last one, then one where he lies to Harry that he sees socks, I'm not exactly sure why, but it is. I think your characterization Dumbledore of was absolutely perfect, I think that he would've seen those things in the Mirror of Erised as well. Brilliant job :)

Wow, I love this. You really did write Dumbledore spot on, here, it's wonderful. And it makes so much sense and argh basically I am dead because I read PS the other day and THIIISSSSS gosh too many feels I'm drowning in them help

No but really, you're a great writer, and I'm so happy to have read this. Fantastic work!

This was just so amazing. I don't usually like reading too much about Dumbledore, to be honest, but I really enjoyed this fic. Your characterization of him was flawless, and he was just so in-character, and this is exactly the sort of thing that I imagined him seeing in the mirror as well - his family whole again, and Gellert by his side. I really like the idea of him discovering the Mirror of Erised more than once, as well, and I think that was a lovely detail to include. Sometimes it feels like 'what would this character see in the mirror' stories are a little contrived, but yours was just fantastic. I love the different sections, and how it changes slightly, what he sees, and I really adore the last section, especially, where he lies to Harry. I love the line 'He wants it to be innocent but his desires are covered in so many wrong-doings that Albus knows it'll never be anything innocent'. Spelling and grammar were good, also, and overall this is a fantastic fic. Great work!

Wow, the intensity of it all was so beautiful and tragic that it made me tear up a bit. More so when he sees his dad and Ariana, gah, so so sad the way you wrote it was so depressing but so in character at the same time, especially realizing it was all fake when his hand touched the cold glass, I shivered. That got me. It was very bittersweet. His desire to hear what Gellert mouthed as well as Arian and his parents along with Abeforth made Albus into a human and not a god like figure. He has his faults and failures and desires which you made clear here, wonderful work. I truly loved this!

Much love!

C.G.

I love this
I've never read a stkry from Dumbleys POV especially involving his incident with the mirror, which is something i've always been curious about,
I love that his desire was Gellerts love, his fatherspride and ariannas forgiveness.

Marvellus job Sam :)

I've always wondered what Dumbledore actually saw in the mirror, I mean I knew it obviously wasn't socks but for some reason I never thought that he would see the same things as Harry with his family alive again and that just makes me think of when he lied about seeing socks because it was easier than the truth because I guess he also doesn't want to tell Harry about his past and how similar they are because Harry was only eleven. Anyway I really liked the descriptions in every different time period that he comes across and I like the small differences in each one, especially with Gellert mouthing 'i love you'

There was just one teeny tiny thing i picked up on; Woolen in the last paragraph should be woollen but that was literally all. Your SPaG is immaculate. Brilliant job!

To be honest, this was really refreshing! I usually stick with the Marauder era fics and sometimes the next gen, but I really, genuinely enjoyed this! I always wondered if what Albus told Harry was true and what you've described in this story is 100% plausible. And the last part, where he tells Harry about the socks, and he says because it's easier, is really easy for me to relate to so props on that!
Really fantastic job overall c:

I find it interesting that many of Dumbledore's desires are related to guilt as opposed to longing or greed as the desires of the other characters we see in the books are. My favorite part of your story was probably why Dumbledore lied to Harry. Good job :)