The Seven Sacraments Of Harry Potter Part : The Mirror Of Erised
Wands at the ready! We bring you the second installment of our series exploring some
Wands at the ready! We bring you the second installment of our series exploring some of the theological elements in the Harry Potter saga. You can find part one here.
And slowly, Harry looked into the faces of the other people in the mirror, and saw other pairs of green eyes like his, other noses like hisHarry was looking at his family, for the first time in his lifeHe had a powerful kind of ache inside him, half joy, half terrible sadness. How long he stood there, he didnt know. The reflections did not fade and he looked and looked
It is no coincidence that Erised backwards spells Desire, the basis of the magical mirrors enchantment. In the first book Harry, in his nighttime wanderings of Hogwarts School, stumbles upon a room completely empty and unused save for this enormous mirror, which startles him due to what he sees in its reflection. Rather than seeing just the room behind him, Harry glimpses his parents and family, those hed never known and always longed to know. Entranced, he takes Ron the next night to show him his parents. Ron does not see Harrys parents, though he sees himself, older, good-looking, and successful.
For Part 3: The Dementor, click here.
What Is The Mirror Of Erised
The Mirror of Erised is a magical object which is prominently featured in the first Harry Potter novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone . The name of the object is actually a clever pun, as the mirror image of erised is, of course, desire. The Mirror of Desire reflects the most profound wish of the person who is standing in front of it, showing him or her sublimely happy.
Readers are first introduced to the Mirror of Erised when Harry Potter encounters it stored in a side room while fleeing Argus Filch. The frame of the mirror bears the words erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi, which when reversed read I show not your face but your heart’s desire. Harry Potter looks into the mirror and sees his parents and family, stretching back for many generations. When he takes his friend Ron back to the room to look into the mirror, Ron sees himself as a highly successful Hogwarts student, holding the position of Head Boy and being praised by his family.
The Mirror of Erised returns at the end of the book as the last challenge in a series of puzzles which are used to protect the Philosopher’s Stone. Dumbledore enchants the mirror so that it will give the stone to someone who wants to find the stone, but not use it. When Harry looks into the mirror, the stone appears in his pocket.
What Was Dumbledore Drinking In The Half Blood Prince
The Emerald PotionThe Emerald Potion, also known as the Drink of Despair, is a mysterious potion which induces fear, delirium, and extreme thirst. According to Dumbledore, the potion cannot be penetrated by hand, vanished, parted, scooped up, siphoned away, transfigured, charmed, or otherwise made to change its nature in any way.
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The Stone Was Inside The Mirror The Mirror Was An Added Layer Of Protection For The Stone
The mirror was in fact the only part of the defenses that posed any real trouble for Quirrel this is evident from what we see in the book:
“Now, wait quietly, Potter. I need to examine this interesting mirror.”It was only then that Harry realized what was standing behind Quirrell.It was the Mirror of Erised.”This mirror is the key to finding the Stone,” Quirrell murmured,tapping his way around the frame. “Trust Dumbledore to come up withsomething like this… but he’s in London… I’ll be far away by thetime he gets back….”Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone, chapter 17: “The Man With Two Faces”
The Mirror of Erised is itself the final defense for the Stone. The Stone was hidden inside the mirror in such a way that only one who didn’t want to actually use the Stone could get it it was moved to where the Stone was because it was helping to guard the stone.
‘crimes Of Grindelwald’ Trailer Just Revealed A Huge Dumbledore Secret

In addition to a surprise cameo from Nicolas Flamel in the newest Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald trailer, fans finally learned what Albus Dumbledore really sees in the Mirror of Erised.
In Harry Potter and the Sorcererâs Stone, Dumbledore told Harry that the magical artifact revealed the âdeepest, most desperate desire of our hearts,â saying that he only saw himself holding woolen socks while Harry saw his parents alive. We always assumed it was a coy lie to hide the truth, which is revealed in The Crimes of Grindelwald: Dumbledoreâs deepest desire â at least in 1927 â was Gellert Grindelwald.
On Saturday, Warner Bros. debuted the latest trailer for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, in which Dumbledore requests magizoologist Newt Scamanderâs help in taking down Grindelwald. But along the way, the trailer reveals Dumbledore gazing upon the mirror, and in it, he sees his former friend staring back at him:
The first trailer released in March only tangentially addressed Dumbledoreâs relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, but readers learned in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that the two wizards were close friends in their youth when they were around 18 years old. Their violent falling out was due to a conflict of interests regarding wizarding supremacy that claimed the life of Dumbledoreâs younger sister.
Dumbledore says that he canât make a move on Grindelwald, which is why he recruits Newt Scamander.
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Harry Potter: What Each Character Saw In The Mirror Of Erised
The Mirror of Erised in the Harry Potter saga showed a person’s deepest and most desperate desires, so what did the main characters see in it?
The Harry Potter novels and movies introduced a number of magical objects that might seem harmless but actually hold a lot of power, and thus can affect each person differently. Among those is the Mirror of Erised, one of the most fascinating objects in the Wizarding World and which showed different things to those who saw their reflection in it, and heres what the main characters in the saga saw in it. Readers were introduced to the Wizarding World in 1997 in J.K. Rowlings debut novel Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, which would become the first entry in a successful series of seven novels.
The Harry Potter books tell the story of the boy who lived and Lord Voldemort, the darkest wizard of all who had sinister plans for both the muggle and wizarding worlds and a personal vendetta against Harry as the young wizard was the only survivor of his attacks. The Harry Potter series became a worldwide phenomenon, so it wasnt surprising that it made the jump to the big screen between 2001 and 2011 . The movies were very well-received by critics, fans, and casual viewers, and it allowed fans of the books to see more clearly some moments, objects, and more, though many others got lost in the jump from the pages to the big screen.
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Filch Probably Tipped Him Off
There are three contributing factors at work here that I think indicate how Dumbledore was able to know that Harry would be using the Mirror of Erised that night.
- Dumbledore himself had only recently given Harry the Cloak – and he knows how inquisitive Harry is.
Remember that Dumbledore himself gave Harry the Cloak in the first place. Harry gets a magical Cloak of Invisibility. Are we really to suppose that Dumbledore thought Harry wasn’t going to use it? If you give someone a Cloak like that then you wouldn’t be surprised to find out that they’ve been wandering around at night when they weren’t supposed to. It’s basically an aide to rule-breaking. Dumbledore knew that James used it to steal food from the kitchens. I don’t think he was at all surprised to find Harry using it for mischievous purposes over the Christmas period. Harry gets given an incredible Cloak. It’s only natural that he’d want to try it out straight away.
- Filch is a telltale.
However, Dumbledore had some more concrete intel that Harry had found the Mirror. Filch is obviously the member of staff who has the primary responsibility for policing the corridors at night. He is also a stickler for disciplinarian. He seems to go running to Dumbledore every time he thinks a rule is being broken. Consider the following examples:
So Filch has an interest in catching Harry out-of-bed. So does Snape:
Harry decides to go back to the Mirror that night :
- Dumbledore knew that the Mirror of Erised was dangerous.
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Muggles’ Guide To Harry Potter/magic/mirror Of Erised
The Mirror of Erised is a very old device. Nobody knows who created it, or how it came to be at Hogwarts School. The Mirror of Erised is one of those magical artefacts that seems to have been created in a spirit of fun whether innocent or malevolent is a matter of opinion , because while it is much more revealing than a normal mirror, it is interesting rather than useful. Only after Professor Dumbledore makes key modifications to the mirror which has been languishing in the Room of Requirement for a century or so before he brings it out and puts it to work does it become a superb hiding place, and the final test for the impure of heart. Dumbledore knows that life can pass you by while you are clinging on to a wish that can never be or ought never to be fulfilled. Desperately sad though it is that he has been deprived of his family, Dumbledore knows that to sit gazing on a vision of what he can never have, will only damage Harry.
What Would Ginny See In The Mirror Of Erised
In the middle of the war against Voldemort, a 16 year old Ginny would see Voldemort defeated, her marrying Harry, and her entire family being happy and healthy. People dont always see the same thing in the Mirror Harry, for example, saw his parents and later himself rescuing the Philosophers Stone from Voldemort.
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The Mirror Of Erised Quotes In Harry Potter And The Sorcerers Stone
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers StoneHarry Potter and the Sorcerers StoneChapter 12Quotes
It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts. You, who have never known your family, see them standing around you. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them. However, this mirror will give us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away before it, entranced by what they have seen, or been driven mad, not knowing if what it shows is real or even possible.
Did Draco Kiss Hermione
One day, Draco decides to erase Hermiones memories. During the Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione and Draco reunite on the room of requirement. Thats a symbolic place for them cause thats where they exchanged their first kiss, thats why Hermione recovers her memories but its too late since shes already with Ron.
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What Does Dumbledore See In The Mirror Of Erised
We know from the first book that Dumbledore guessed what Harry must be seeing in the Mirror of Erised .
In the chapter in which this happens, JKR doesn’t immediately reveal what Dumbledore sees when he looks in the Mirror.
Is it later revealed by JKR what Dumbledore sees when he looks in the Mirror of Erised?
- 4Apr 4 ’16 at 9:53
- 2Apr 4 ’16 at 9:54
- 1Apr 4 ’16 at 18:32
- 4No images of Dumbledore wearing ‘socks’ please. You’re not the only one, and you WILL get reported.Apr 5 ’16 at 9:13
- 1
Dumbledore sees the same thing as Harry – his family, alive and well. Harry realises this in Deathly Hallows.
Harry did not ask whether Dumbledore had ever found out who struck Ariana dead. He did not want to know, and even less did he want Dumbledore to have to tell him. At last he knew what Dumbledore would have seen when he looked in the mirror of Erised, and why Dumbledore had been so understanding of the fascination it had exercised over Harry.
This question has a quote from JK confirming this:
Allie: What did dumbledore truly see in the mirror of Erised?J.K. Rowling: He saw his family alive, whole and happy Ariana, Percival and Kendra all returned to him, and Aberforth reconciled to him.
Why Did Dumbledore Move The Mirror To The Chamber Where The Philosophers Stone Was

If Harry saw his parents in the mirror and Ron saw himself holding the Quidditch cup, it could be a useful mirror. But Dumbledore had told Harry:
“it will be moved to another location and you must not go looking for it again.”
Harry asked Dumbledore what it shows and Dumbledore said:
“it shows the deepest desire of our hearts”
So later in the movie when Harry, Ron and Hermione take a huge risky rescue mission to prevent Snape from getting the stone, Harry goes on after Hermione stays behind to help a knocked out Ron on the wizards chess.
So Harry went forward to find Quirrel in the chamber…and the mirror that Quirrel tried using to get the stone.
My main question is:
Why, when it was suspected that someone was trying to break in to steal the stone, that Dumbledore had moved the valuable mirror to there in particular?
It makes no sense to me as Dumbledore was supposed to be the greatest wizard alive at the time.
So why did he do it?
- The question title and the bold version below seem slightly different to me. Are you asking why the mirror was moved to that chamber rather than another location in, or outside, the castle?
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A New Fantastic Beasts Trailer Is Out And There Is A Lot To Discuss Lets Take A Look At One Of The Key Moments Why Does Dumbledore Seeing Grindelwald In The Mirror Of Erised
One of the few snippets of young Dumbledore we get in the new trailer is Dumbledore staring into the Mirror of Erised, as Harry once did in the Sorcerers Stone. Dumbledore warned Harry of the power of the mirror, and how wizards have lost themselves in the images they see. Was he speaking from experience?
Harry asks Dumbledore what he sees when he looks in the mirror. Dumbledore tells Harry that he sees a thick pair of wool socks when he gazes into the mirror. Obviously he is lying to Harry, who is 11 at the time. It is a very personal question to ask indeed.
After this trailer, we now know what Dumbledore wants more than anything in the world. Johnny Depp, with a Jamie Lee Curtis haircut.
What Does Hermione See In The Mirror Of Erised
4.7/5Hermioneseesmirror
What would Lord Voldemort’s greatest wish appear as in the Mirror of Erised? Surprisingly, not immortality, nor even his domination of both the wizarding and the muggle worlds. Surprisingly, not immortality, nor even his domination of both the wizarding and the muggle worlds.
Beside above, what does Dumbledore see in the Mirror of Erised in Fantastic Beasts? Dumbledore Saw Grindelwald In The Mirror Or Erised, So Everything Makes Sense. This post contains spoilers for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Dumbledore later informed him that the Mirror showcased one’s greatest desire, revealing that his own wish was a pair of woolen socks.
Consequently, what did Snape see in the Mirror of Erised?
Severus Snape would see himself with Lily Evans in the Mirror of Erised. Marrying Lily would not be his true deepest desire. Being worthy of Lily’s love would be what he wanted most. Ever since their fight in fifth year, Snape had not been worthy of her love or even her friendship.
What did Ron see in the mirror?
The Mirror of Erised is a magic mirror, which, according to Albus Dumbledore, shows the “deepest and most desperate desire of our hearts”. The happiest person in the whole world would look in the mirror and see a reflection of exactly the way he/she is.
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The Mirror Of Erised And Boggart: Changed For The Sake Of The Plot
Warning: Spoilers ahead.
Besides Dumbledore, Hogwarts was the other thing we were waiting to see back. And with Hogwarts, two devices from the Harry Potter books came with it. In fact, we see them inside the walls of the magical castle: The Mirror of Erised and a Boggart. Both are used to show us the feelings about certain characters, but their original meaning and purpose are changed just for that.
The first one is the Mirror of Erised, which should show the deepest desire of those who look at it. However, for Dumbledore it shows a memory , but it is used in the film to depict the moment Dumbledore and Grindelwald made their blood pact. If Dumbledores deepest desire was to change that moment, he would have seen that: himself avoiding the blood pact, but not the exact memory of that moment. The Mirror of Erised doesnt show happy memories . If the purpose was to show the moment of the blood pact through Albus eyes, a Pensieve would have worked better.
So at the end, we are left with the feeling that both devices, the Mirror of Erised and the boggarts, changed their concept to be used to explain certain aspects of these characters by betraying their original meaning from the Harry Potter books. Although we understand this decision, since it is complicated to explain things or show something without a narrative voice , we would have prefered to leave these magical artifacts to do the work from the original series.