CHAPTER DISCUSSION: PS/SS 12, The Mirror of Erised

[Joey]

No: HPFGUIDX 188473

1. Who did you think the Invisibility Cloak was from?

I wasn't sure at the time though by the end of the book I was convinced it was Dumbledore. Presumably because he said so.

2. Filch says that Snape asked him to inform him if anyone was prowling the corridors at night - what did you think of this the first time you read it? Who did you think that Snape might suspect would be out of bed?
I just assumed that it was the normal sort of patrolling I think. Odd but I can't remember my reaction to it though first time round was ten years ago so it's not surprising!

3. Dumbledore says later that he didn't get the idea to use the Mirror of Erised to hide the stone until after Harry's encounter with it- so why was it in the school or in that classroom to begin with? What do you think is the origin of the Mirror?
I just assumed it was something that was hanging around Hogwarts because there was just so much strange stuff around the corner all the time!

4. Harry sees at least ten members of his family in the mirror. Two are his parents, and we can assume that four are his grandparents. Who do you think the remaining four-plus people are, and what happened to them? How could such a large family all die so young in the wizarding world, leaving Harry alone?
Harry knows nothing of his wizarding family at this time - his desire for a large family may simply have manifested itself as such and many of them may not have actually existed. Both sets of grandparents had died prior to 1981 and James was the only child of elderly parents who also died prior to '81. It's possible his family had died of old age (James' parents did just after he left Hogwarts) - I'm sure if James had cousins they would've cropped up at least once.

5. Did you expect Ron to grow up to be Head Boy and Quidditch Captain? Do you think he might have if events had unfolded differently and Voldemort hadn't returned?
No, not really. We didn't see any Quidditch talent until the fifth book and he was distinctly lax about the rules even when he was a Prefect!

6. How did Dumbledore know that Harry had found the mirror and what Harry and Ron had seen in it? What do you think are his ways of becoming invisible without a cloak?
Apparently it is possible to render yourself invisible with a powerful Disillusionment Charm which we learn later in DH Dumbledore is capable of doing.

7. Did you believe Dumbledore when he said he saw himself holding socks in the mirror? What were your theories on what he might have seen?
No, I didn't! I couldn't guess what it was he was seeing but in hindsight I expect he saw his family reunited.

8. What would you see if you looked into the Mirror of Erised?
Nothing fancy - I'd be married to a good, kind, handsome man, I'd have an interesting job, stability. Maybe even children.