“Woooooooow….” Aoide stood still in the great atrium of the museum, admiring the vaulted ceilings and brickwork. The beautiful enchanted windows let in the Friday afternoon sunlight. She had been brought to the museum before when she was younger, but today she noted the grandeur. Perhaps it was owing to spending so many months at Hogwarts which gave her more of an appreciation for wizarding architecture. Either way, the fact that you walked through a wardrobe and into this magical hidden part of London never lost its charm.

Behind Aoide, not staring up at the ceiling was Auror Pinn, off duty. In one manicured hand she held a coffee from Alohomocha and in the other she held the museum’s brochure, reading about the Mirror of Erised exhibition. She only glanced up to be nosy at passers by or check the time on the clock above the information desk. Ariadne was running late, again.

With a rush of footsteps and panted apologies, Ariadne dashed out of the back of the wardrobe and towards her mother and half sister.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, had to apparate - problem at work with the copy - I … hello mum. Hey Dee…” Aoide jumped on the spot and threw her arms around her older sibling, so very glad she had made it.
“Ariiii!”
   “Late again Ariadne.” Nadine tutted, and quickly drank the rest of her cooling coffee, vanishing it before herding her daughters over to the queue.

“I’m so glad you came,” Aoide grasped Ariadne’s hand, “Mum’s making this into an educational visit. She’s going to make me do an essay for Professor Greyfriar…” The students had been offered to do such by the Headmaster, if they came along on one of the group trips. Aoide had hoped her friends might sign up, but most of them were also going home for the holidays like she was, and bound to the timetables of their parents. She was determined to set up some opportunities to meet her friends during the summer holidays!

“Ugh, lame,” Ariadne whispered and laughed, squeezing her sister’s hand. “Tell me about how your term’s gone. Made any good friends?”

“Well…” Aoide drew a deep breath and launched into an exciting blow-by-blow account of the valentines party where she’d experienced uncontrollable dancing, how she’d fought Feliks Spectre in the duelling tournament, and hadn’t died (and he’d helped her up, which was sweet of him). She took care to recount her flying experiences for Akira’s party, the Hogsmeade business with the werewolves in Gryffindor and then left the best until last, Professor Malfoy pranked. Ariadne marvelled. She’d have liked to have seen that.

Aoide’s vivid descriptions, though interrupted regularly by their mother prompting them to observe the information boards, had brought them to the front of the queue. Time passed as quickly listening to her sister as it did when she was already running late, Ariadne mused.

They listened intently to the guide’s instructions, and Aoide was ushered up first. She stood on tiptoes and peered in, mouth dropping open. She was tall, as tall as Ariadne, maybe taller, and much more grown up. Around her were lots of friends, was that Ivy? Feliks? Sulwen? They were crammed into the frame like a photobooth. Aoide’s heart swelled, forgetting for a moment that the Mirror showed her heart’s desire, rather than the future. She skipped from the spot as Ariadne approached, eager for her turn.

To Ariadne she appeared much her own age, but holding a copy of the Prophet front page, pointing to where the byline and author photo would be, grinning and winking. It wasn’t a quidditch headline, but proclaimed Mystery of Stolen Memories Revealed! and Ariadne’s face was right there, as the author of the featured headline.
“Damn, wish you could take a photo!” Ariadne sighed, hands on hips. She would commit it to memory, spur herself on when her quidditch match summaries were cut to mere words.

“Come on mum!” Aoide called, bouncing on the spot, keen to hear what Ariadne had seen. Their mother approached with steady, assured strides and squared up to the mirror as if inspecting her own outfit for the day rather than her heart’s desire. She had a good idea what it would be, but there she was in white robes, on the arm of Rex, holding a bouquet of flowers, her hair beautifully braided and jewelled. Nadine put a hand to her chest, taken aback with the vision. Rex looked so handsome, and she looked so happy. It took a moment for her to prise her gaze from the scene.

“Mum, I saw myself with soooo many friends, and Ari saw herself on the front page of the Prophet! I bet she’ll do it too!” Aoide exclaimed with great enthusiasm. “What did you see?” She grasped her mother’s arm, gazing up.
“Head Auror of course,” Nadine explained with a mere shrug, composing herself.
“Of course,” Ariadne echoed, shrugging. Her mother was always very career oriented, and expected it of them both. It was obvious, wasn’t it?
“Now remember daughters mine,” Nadine put her arm around each of them as they wandered away, “What the heart desires the head can achieve, with hard work and smarts.”