The Mirror Too Late

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 68769

DG wrote:
>
>At the very end of OoP, Harry discovers the mirror Sirius had given 
> > him, along with the instruction to use it whenever he wanted to 
> > talk to Sirius about something.  Am I missing something, or did 
Harry 
> > make a HUGE mistake in forgetting that he had this mirror in his 
> > possession?  ... 
> >   
> > Why doesn't Harry realize that he blew it?
> > 
> > D.G.
> 
>

Then Joanne wrote:

 When Sirius gave him the mirror, it was wrapped up and Sirius didn't 
explain 
> what it was.  Intsead, he told Harry "Use it if you need me," and 
Harry decided 
> not to risk luring Sirius out of Grimauld Place.  In other words, 
Harry assumed 
> that the item would *summon* Sirius.  
> 
> I have no idea why he didn't think it might be a communications 
tool coming 
> from one of the devisers of the Marauders' Map, but anyway, that's 
why he put 
> the gift out of his mind -- he had no intention of using it due to 
his 
> misconception.

Now my two knuts:

Harry panicked, pure and simple.  He's talented, smart, resourceful, 
clever, and admired by many but he's still when you get down to it a 
15 year old kid whose only "true family" was imperiled by the party 
that murdered his parents.

No, I don't believe Harry doesn't consider the Weasleys as his "true 
family."  But Sirius has a close personal link with James and Lily, 
and so to Harry is a much more vital relative from his point of view.

Plus, keep in mind when in the book this happened. They'd ust gotten 
on the wrong side of Umbridge and her Inquisitional Squad, and 
emotions were running high all around.


--Indigo