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! :-)

[mmmarcusz.livejournal.com]

Of course we have Riddle's ridiculous arrogance and stupidity - he surely remembers mentioning seven soul fragments to Slughorn and can surely guess that he might tell someone, so why not make a load more?

[sweettalkeress.livejournal.com]

"the final test for the impure of heart"

LOL! By that she means, "the people who actually want to go out and do something with themselves and their magical artifacts, rather than just passively trusting that their resident jerk-ass god-figure will provide!"

[danajsparks.livejournal.com]

Also, if Albus knew about the ROR, including specifically about the ROHT, then why didn't he do anything to prevent the Death Eaters from entering Hogwarts through the vanishing cabinet in HBP?

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

A little more to the point; since clearly Tom knew about the Room of Hidden Things while he was still at school, how does Rowling square that with the Mirror having been there all along? Or do we get to play paradox and suppose that Tom saw himself as ruler of the world in it, and set out to make it so?