The Mirror and the Heart

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 105278

"davewitley" wrote:
> > Rather than stepping through the mirror to read the inscription 
> > from the other side, another way of looking at it would be that 
> > you turn your back on the mirror to use it as then the 
> > inscription is then the 'right way round', even though you cannot 
> > actually see it.

Kneasy:
> It's about time the Mirror turned up in  the posts again; a sadly
> neglected and IMO potentially important artifact. 
> 
> This "if you're on the other side of the mirror then the writing is
> the right way round" is a possible clue that I've mentioned before.
> In the WW mirrors are often much more than looking glasses - they
> are also methods of communication, either by the mirror itself
> (Harry has met a couple of these) or by someone not physically 
> present (Sirius's mirror). Erised could fall into the latter  
> category.
> 
> Consider: the  Stone being transferred to Harry's pocket wasn't 
> Harry's desire, but it could well have been Dumbledore's. And I've 
> always felt that DD skimmed over his explication of how the Mirror 
> worked.  
> I'll quote part of a previous post:
> "I'm glad you asked me that. It was one of my more brilliant ideas, 
> and between you and me, that's saying something. You see, only one 
> who wanted to *find*  the Stone - find it, but not use it - would 
> be able to get it, otherwise they'd just  see themselves making 
> gold or drinking Elixir of Life.
> But no more questions."
> 
> Pause a moment, wasn't that what Quirrell was up to? Finding the 
> Stone? He had no intention of using it - "I see  the Stone...I'm 
> presenting it to my master...but where is it?" 
> 
> The most significant part of DD's speil was the last four words:-
> "But no more questions."] - 95633.



SSSusan:
I remember this post!!  And I also remember that I disagreed w/ you 
then...and still do.  We're seeing the word "use" in different 
lights.  Here's a snippet of a response to you the first go-round:

**********************************
KAT/rxk replied in #95664:
> But Quirrel DID want the stone to use it to benefit himself-by
> giving it to LV, he expected to be greatly rewarded; perhaps
> through the riches it might create or even some of the elixer.
> Hence, his motives would not be "pure", whereas Harry's were to
> keep the Stone safe.

Siriusly Snapey Susan:
I think Kat is exactly right. Harry's & Quirrell's intentions were
quite different.
********************************

Kneasy:
> Since the Mirror belongs to DD, it's possible that it shows you what
> DD wants you to see. It's his desires, what he  wants to happen 
> that are reflected in the Mirror. Which would mean  that he also 
> wanted Harry to see his family  and for Ron to see himself as a 
> success, not just the youngest brother trailing behind his elders. 
> And if DD is on the other side of it, it would be easy for him to 
> watch Harry when he sneaked out at night to sit in front of it. 
> 
> It could be a very nice twist - 
> "I show not your face but your hearts desire".
> Yeah, but whose face and whose desire? 
> The one in front of the Mirror or the one on the other side of it?

SSSusan:
This is a fascinating take on it, and I'm really enjoying the 
thoughts you, Dave & Iris so far have put out about the Mirror.  I'm 
not sure I can quite buy going so far as to say the viewer sees DD's 
desires & wants, though.

WHY would DD want Harry to see his family?  I think he wanted Harry 
to find the mirror, yes, and to familiarize himself with what it does 
and how it works so that he would recognize it when he saw it again.  
But I don't think DD "programmed it" or has power over it in such a 
way as to establish what it shows each viewer.  I mean, what if 
DD "chose wrong" and the viewer said, "That mirror's a load of sh*t; 
THAT'S not my deepest desire"??

Siriusly Snapey Susan