The Mirror and the Heart

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 105321

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:
> Well, we can argue about this until the cows come home, but the 
> fact of the matter is that Quirrell did not want to use the Stone -
> that's made quite clear in canon. Subsequent events are 
> problematical, but it seems that to Voldy Quirrell had only one 
> use - to find and hand  over the Stone.


SSSusan:
You're right, we could argue this 'til the cows come home...and it's 
always such fun to argue with you!  But let me just *clarify* my 
position, and then I'll let it go.  

You're right that Q. didn't want to USE it in the sense of garnering 
immortal life for himself; I totally agree with that.  But there is 
more than one way to USE something.  I would argue, as KAT was 
doing, that Q. did indeed want to USE the Stone--either to make 
Voldy happy, or to get Voldy off his back [head], or to win Voldy's 
gratitude, or whatever, but certainly for no ALTRUISTIC end.  He 
wasn't going to use it up to become immortal, but he was going to 
use it for some kind of personal gain.  *Harry* OTOH really didn't 
want to USE it at all--neither use it up to become immortal, nor use 
it for personal gain--he simply wanted to PREVENT Q!V from using 
it.  It was pure altruism that guided his actions, not a desire to 
USE the object.

I hope that makes at least a modicum of sense.

SSSusan:
> > 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. 

 
Kneasy:
> Oh ye of little faith - if it's a communication device, and every 
> mirror we've seen in the WW does communicate (or at least I can't 
> remember one that doesn't) - why shouldn't DD's be one that 
> broadcasts what DD 'desires and wants' you to see? Very handy, 
> I'dve thought.
> 
> As to why show Lily and James, that's hinted at in OoP chap 37, I 
> think -  where DD vapours on about how he prevaricated in telling 
> Harry the truth, how he wanted peace of mind for Harry, how he 
> wanted happiness for him etc, etc. 
> He was giving Harry something Harry had never had before - his 
> family.
> As for programming it - no;  I think it more likely to be 'live 
> broadcast' than automatic response. That way he tailors it to the 
> viewer.
> In the climax of PS/SS it didn't show Harry what he wanted, it 
> showed him what it was going to *do*. If it was 'programmed' how 
> the hell did it know that young Harry Potter would turn up to save 
> the day? Harry's deepest desire was to get out of there but it 
> didn't bother to show him that bit. 


SSSusan:
This is all quite possible.  I wonder, though, why DD would want to 
give Harry such a gift (bec. it seems that is what you're saying, it 
was the gift of seeing his family) when he also KNEW that Harry 
would be tempted to sit there and rot in front of it, tormented.  
Yes, thrilled beyond measure, but also so obsessed that he couldn't 
tear himself away.  

It's possible that DD did cause this.  But it's also possible that 
DD set it up so that Harry would find it, come to know its 
true "mechanism" of showing our deepest desires and to then show him 
how dangerous a thing it can become precisely because it does show 
our deepest desires.  

But why do this?  

I really think it was all a set-up by DD, but for a different 
purpose than you're putting forth.  I think DD knew he was going to 
use the mirror as the final protection for the Stone, and I believe 
those 7 tasks were set up as *sort of* a protection but also as a 
testing ground for Harry--to test his character, his determination, 
and his talents & abilities.  Showing the mirror to Harry early 
allowed him to explain it to Harry; then he could test his mettle, 
to see just what Harry was made of when the stone was on the line.

BTW, I don't think Harry's deepest desire was to get out of there at 
that moment.  I don't think he was focusing on that *yet*.  I think 
his deepest desire was truly to STOP Q!V, and THIS is precisely what 
DD was testing in Harry. WOULD his deepest desire be to split, or 
would it be (as DD suspected & hoped) to stop Q!V and protect the 
stone?

That's my take, anyway. :-)

Siriusly Snapey Susan