Dumbledore's greatest desire

[Athena Appleton]

As I'm sure you've all noticed, the wording around the Mirror of Erised says: "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi." That is mirror language for "I show not your face but your greatest desire."

At the end of the chapter about the Mirror of Erised, Dumbledore tells Harry that he sees himself holding socks.

Socks are a running bit in the Harry Potter books (we see them a lot)... later in the series, we see that socks in general represent freedom.

When Dumbledore tells Harry that he looks in the Mirror and sees himself holding socks, Harry gets the idea that Dumbledore wasn't being completely truthful about it, but writes it off as being unimportant, that it wasn't his business anyway.

I don't know for sure, but I just got to thinking, could Dumbledore's greatest desire be freedom from the weight of responsibility he carries? I mean, he's responsible for so many people's lives, I just wonder if he really does see himself holding socks, in the same way a house-elf in restraint might see himself holding socks.

[Emma'I'm a real witch']

I've seen some theories about DD and socks. He says at christmas ( i forget which book) that all he really wanted was socks for christmas and yet again he didn't get any.

I think this could be one of those odd things that does have a deeper meaning

[Athena Appleton]

That's the same spot, in P/SS... remember, Harry tried on the Invisibility Cloak for the first time after receiving it for Christmas, and he watches the Mirror of Erised... the next night, he and Ron go, and the next night, he goes alone again... That's when he runs into Dumbledore, and at the end of the chapter, after Dumbledore tells him that the happiest man alive would see himself exactly as he is, Harry asks what he sees when he looks into the Mirror of Erised.

"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks."
Harry stared.
"One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books."
It was only when he was back in bed that it struck Harry that Dumbledore might not have been quite truthful. But then, he thought, as he shoved Scabbers off his pillow, it had been quite a personal question."

I wonder, too, if it doesn't mean the freedom thing, if Dumbledore is as close as it is possible to get to being the happist man alive (seeing himself only as is) if his only greatest desire is to have another pair of socks.... I think I stick more to the freedom theory, but it's a thought... He doesn't seem the type to really desire the things people usually desire...

[pandora315]

Thats a good one. It would make sense the Dumbledor would long to be free. I think his fate is tied up in Harry's and voldy's. Maybe if Harry triumphs DD will get a nice holiday somewhere, and if Voldy triumphs he'll be killed and get his freedom that way. NOt a nice thought. Although I've thought a couple times about DD comment that "To the well organized mind death is but another great adventure" or something of the like. Maybe he's just hanging around till this VOldy business is decided one way or the other and then he'll die.

[Nobby]

mayb the socks thing symbolise dumbledore's desire to die. Afterall this would make Dumbledore completely free from all his worries etc. Another christmas and his didn't get a single pair could represent that he is getting older and older yet still not showing signs of age in a mental kinda way. Mayb all he wants is to be free by dying and never being disturbed

[Aberforth]

I think that Dumbledore was lying. No matter how much he may have cared for Harry his own hearts desire is personal to him and may represent something that he felt he shouldn't tell Harry at that time. Perhaps his hearts desire is for Harry not to be fated to kill LV or die trying.

btw its hearts, not greatest, but good spot anyway. Never really payed attention to what it said before.

[Nobby]

quite possibly ... but i think that DD is a straight and foward man i still reckon that he was honest with harry. although the symbolism of the socks is more important

[darkcloak]

I think I agree more with Aberforth's idea of Dumbledore's hearts wish.

Dumbledore's greatest desire is probably not for himself at that moment but for Harry to be happy and free of his burden that awaits him.

Don't forget that the image you see is only your heart's desire at that particular time, as when Harry wants to find the Philospher's Stone he no longer sees his family in it but the hiding place of the stone.

When Dumbledore meets Harry in front of the mirror, I believe he would be feeling sorry for him (and his lost family) and his heart's desire would be to see Harry free of his (unknown) burden or indeed himself to be free of the burden of having to tell him

So the socks could represent Harry's or Dumbledore's freedom.

As an extra thought, we now know that Harry would have to defeat Voldermort to be free of his burden, perhaps this is therefore Dumbledore's greatest desire at that moment and he can see this battle in the mirror?

[Athena Appleton]

I love Dumbledore. He's awesome.

I really have no idea what Dumbledore's greatest desire was. I think it's likely he just didn't tell Harry. I don't think he would lie to Harry, because he just doesn't do that, but the way it's said, it's more like he's kidding with Harry, so it could be that that wasn't the most honest answer.

I just found it odd that there is that sock reference there, and socks tend to represent freedom of some kind (though, I will admit, not all the time... Harry wraps the miniature sneakoscope up in a pair of Uncle Vernon's socks he got for Christmas or his birthday, I don't remember which... only thing I can think of there is that Vernon wanted to be free of Harry )

Sounded like an interesting idea.

[pandora315]

I think the sock theory is a good one to keep looking at. I mean clothes have always been an indication of status. I like the sockes Harry buys for Dobby, the ones that scream when they smell to bad, Where can I get a pair of them for myself?

[Amon Rê]

I think it's a great idea...I think Dumbledore was meaning more towards freedom from the fear of Voldemort rather than the freedom from the weight of responsibilities...I think he could step away from many of his responsibilities, or even have help in many of them, but chooses to remain as he is...

[Athena Appleton]

I don't know about that... after all, since Dumbledore is the only wizard Voldemort was ever afraid of, that means Dumbledore would have to act as sort of protector of the students and the people in the Order... No one else could do that job. McGonagall could take over, but Voldy's not afraid of her, so she wouldn't be able to provide the same protection.