OOP: The mirror of Erised

[Serena Moonsilver]

No: HPFGUIDX 59525

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "finwitch" <finwitch at y...> 
wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Serena Moonsilver" > 
> 

> But, though being Head Boy, Quidditch Captain and holding the 
House 
> Cup are shown in the mirror for Ron, he was also _alone_. What Ron 
> wants, is gain his brothers achievements together.
> 
> Harry - it's not his _parents_ he wants, but a loving and 
accepting 
> family they represent, the idealized picture of them. > -- Finwitch



Maybe its just me, but I think that's reading a bit into it.  Yes 
the images does represent Harry wanting a loving home, but even the 
most wonderful, loving home still won't truly replace his parents.  
They are always going to hold a special and important place in his 
heart because of the sacrifice they made on his behalf.   He not 
only wants to bring them back for himself, but to make up for the 
sacrafice they made on his behalf.  He can't have them back but the 
mirror offers a tantalizing glimpse of what it might be like, hence 
he is drawn to it.

Likewise, the image Ron sees is also representive of his desire (to 
stand out, to accomplish more than his brothers).  However, his goal 
is achieveable if he works hard enough.  It may not manifest exactly 
as he sees it in the mirror but still it's possible.  And deep down, 
Ron knows that if he sits around looking at a mirror all day, he 
isn't going to achieve his goal.  Hence, his reaction is to be a 
little creeped out by it (quote anyone from SS/PS?--my copy got lost 
when we moved recently) where as Harry is enchanted with it because 
it shows him a possibility he could not otherwise achieve.

Serena