Pottermore implications - Mirror of Erised

[oryx_leucoryx]

From the spoilers blog, about History: Mirror of Erised:

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.

So if we believe Rowling, the mirror had been in the ROR for about a century and Albus took it out, apparently in 1991, when he decided to use it to keep Flamel's stone. This has several implications: First, in contrast with what Harry thinks in DH, Albus was well aware of the use of the ROR as a hiding place. So why didn't he search it for one (or more) of Tom's Horcruxes? He knew Tom had access to the school when he came to interview, the school fit the pattern Albus guessed, of using significant locations from his past as hiding places. (Does this mean Albus did not have a Horcrux-revealing charm?)

Also, if Harry was wrong about whether Albus knew about the ROHT then anything Harry 'thinks', 'believes' or 'guesses' that isn't actually supported by facts in the text is fair game. Might be right, might be wrong. Long live fanfic!

Comments

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice! I'm really looking forward to some fun when Rowling/Pottermore gets going and she displays ignorance of her own canon. :-)

I definitely remember the impression that Dumbledore didn't know about the RoR but I'm not sure how firm that was. I guess it's not a 'hard error' but it makes the whole idea of the diadem being hidden in the school that much more wobbly.

Does this mean Albus did not have a Horcrux-revealing charm?

I'm pretty sure such a spell just doesn't exist; one was never mentioned. Of course, if Hermione had been allowed to *think* beyond the limits of Rowling's poor story she would have asked or researched about such. It's pretty obvious to do so.

But Rowling couldn't have a 'horcrux detector' spell, because it would zoom in on Harry's forehead in two seconds flat. And that just had to be a surprise. So we have all the imprecision of the horcruxes and where they were and why the guesstimate of 'seven' sufficed even though it was really eight and Riddle could have made another one or two or ten and why Harry had to be led by the nose to where they were by mental newsflashes from his own arch enemy.

I guess Rowling didn't want Hermione to find a 'horcrux detector' because it would make this weakness of the entire series too obvious.

anything Harry 'thinks', 'believes' or 'guesses' that isn't actually supported by facts in the text is fair game.

I think that's always been the case. Certainly I've used it in arguing against H/G! :-)

[oryx_leucoryx]

I definitely remember the impression that Dumbledore didn't know about the RoR but I'm not sure how firm that was.

Harry decided Albus was a model student who never had to hide anything, hence his supposed ignorance. Of course it was Albus who hinted to Harry in GOF about the existence of the ROR (as a room that gives one what one needs, not necessarily as a hiding place, but I find it hard to believe the mirror was kept in some other manifestation of the room and Albus got it from there somehow).

I'm pretty sure such a spell just doesn't exist; one was never mentioned.

I mean a spell Albus invented himself. I agree it wasn't in any of the books Hermione 'borrowed'. I also agree Albus wouldn't want the kids to know such a spell because they'd immediately find the Harrycrux. But if Albus is so brilliant wouldn't he try to invent one for his search?

I think that's always been the case.

I have seen the claim that Harry is also Rowling's stand-in, and unless proven otherwise anything he thinks reflects Rowling's intent. Well, forget it.

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

No, actually, I think Harry was channeling Tom in that silly sequence with the supposition that Albus was too intent on following rules to have ever known about the Room of Hidden Things (when it was right there in the same school) and only rule breakers like Tom could have found it.

Actually it's possible that Albus really didn't know about the underlying RoR's function until he wandered in looking for the loo, but I think everyone on staff (with the *possible* exception of Filch) knows about the Room of Hidden Things. *They* probably know it as the 7th floor storage room. It's the Elves that told Harry that it does more than simply provide a place to stow things you want out of the way.

The Twins had stumbled in there once looking for a place to hide themselves, but all it gave them was a broom closet.

I also think that the troll ballet tapestry is set up to monitor who gets in and what they are looking for when they do it.
I mean, c'mon, if you were the Headmaster of that place wouldn't you want access to anything that potentially disasterous watched, and reporting back to you whenever someone went in or out?

[oryx_leucoryx]

I mean, c'mon, if you were the Headmaster of that place

A decent headmaster or Dumbles?