The Mirror of Erised (Was: Petunia

[Kelsey Dangelo]

No: HPFGUIDX 114202

Kim now: 

I think the images in the Mirror must at least be true to some degree in that it does show his parents' real features (before he ever saw any photos of them) and so one could assume the images of the other dead relatives were somewhat close to true.  I'd always assumed the people Harry saw in the Mirror were only his dead relatives (not actually them, but conjured by Harry's mind's eye), otherwise, wouldn't Dumbledore have sent him to live with any other living relatives besides the horrid Dursleys?  I think it's in the books somewhere that Harry has no other living relatives but Dursleys.  From your above posts (which make good points about what the Mirror shows), I had a scary thought:  If Harry's heart's desire is to meet his relatives, and all his relatives worth meeting are already dead (add Sirius to that mix too if you like), how can Harry achieve his heart's desire, other than by dying himself?  Of course Harry will die eventually like everyone else and no doubt at a ripe old
age (at which time he can meet his dead relatives and achieve his heart's desire) which JKR will never include in a book because she's finishing the whole tale at book 7 with Harry very much alive....  Can anyone tell I shudder at the thought of JKR killing Harry off??  She can't, I won't have it... ;-)

Wait, wait, I know -- Professor Trelawney will have a stroke of genius, hold a seance, and introduce Harry to his parents and all his wonderful ancestors... 


Kelsey:

Good points. 

The Mirror (sort of like the Pensieve) seems to fill in the gaps. Ron might not know what Head Boy looks like, but he sees himself as Head Boy (maybe himself older, which he wouldn't have a clue as to it's appearence). Maybe it fills in the gaps of Harry's desires, too. Fills in his loving family members, which is what he wants.

I don't think that the Mirror shows what will happen (for instance that Harry will be with his dead relatives or that Ron will be Head Boy). But that would be awesome if it did have some portent-abilities (meaning that it's telling Harry he'll join his dead relatives). The portent abilities might be on the same level as a self-fullfilling prophesy.

The way Dumbledore talks to Harry in that scene, it seems like he's warning Harry about wanting the image in the Mirror too much.

In fact, it sounds like Harry's desire to have a loving family is his weakness. It's what sends him after Sirius in OOP, only to lose him. He, like other archytypical heroes, is unwilling to sacrifice his friends/family (Luke and Anakin Skywalker). It's a strength for him during the Tournament, but maybe it's impractical as a practice.

Does this mean that Harry will succum to his "weakness" and die?

I don't think that Harry will die at the end of the series. What would be the point? Evil/Voldemort would win! I just can't wrap my mind around that. It would negate the entire series.

But, it would certainly be the ultimate surprise ending, if he did. 

Kelsey, who loves Harry, but wants to see him die, if only in revenge to those who call it a "children's" book