The Mirror and the Heart

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 105348

SSSusan:
> 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?

Jen: That seems a little dicey on Dumbledore's part, though. If 
there was a slip-up of any kind, he could lose the one and only 
person who can stop Voldemort from world domination, or UK 
domination at any rate ;). 

I'm not convinced this was all a set-up by DD, including Harry 
finding the mirror in the first place. I think Harry found the 
mirror because he has a penchant for wandering around Hogwarts (just 
like Snape--they do have something in common!) and Dumbledore just 
didn't stop him when he found it. In fact, DD didn't intercede until 
Harry started to show signs of 'wasting away' in front of it. That 
seems to follow his choice criteria--Dumbledore allows Harry to 
explore the mirror, but when he sees that Harry isn't moving on, DD 
steps in to give him some vital information and requests he not go 
looking for the mirror when it's moved. If allDumbledore wanted to 
do was show Harry the mirror and how it works, one evening would 
cover it.

But like Susan said, Dumbledore was probably overjoyed to find that 
Harry could get the stone from the mirror, proving he is capable of 
acting selflessly in the face of Evil. 

This brings up to the question again of how far Dumbledore is 
willing to go for his Plan to work out. I tend to think he draws the 
line at actively putting Harry or any other student in harm's way if 
he can help it. 

Jen