The Mirror of Erised
In which Christmas arrives at Hogwarts, Hermione encourages rule-breaking, and a mirror is discovered. And some cold feet/socks metaphors, which I am allowed, simply because all socks have deep metaphorical resonance.
The Sorcerer's Stone is arguably the most iconic Harry Potter book. When I think of Harry Potter, something I always think of first is Christmas. They sure know how to throw a Christmas at Hogwarts. I think the chapter can best be split up into two halves, the first half consisting of a very cheerful Christmas Day and he second consisting of a Christmas night full of mysteriousness and desperate longings of the heart.
Though Harry and Ron are two of the only people staying at the castle over holiday, it's not a sad thing. You would spend holiday at Hogwarts, too, if you were given the option. And though there are only about five students staying at the castle, Hogwarts decorates for the occasion—big time.
There's an air of mystery surrounding the mysterious Nicolas Flamel and Hagrid refuses to say anything regarding the name. Harry, Ron, and Hermione resort to researching in the library, but they can't find him anywhere. Actually J.K. Rowling is rather smart here: all the titles Hermione drops in this chapter "Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, or Notable Magical names of Our Time . . . Important Modern Magical Discoveries, and A Study of Recent Development in Wizardry" (197-198) are all associated with recentness. Of course Flamel wouldn't be in any of those—he's ancient. Hermione recommends Harry and Ron try the restricted section of the library, which is strictly out-of-bounds without a signed permission slip.
Christmas is full of celebrations, most of which are entirely new experiences for Harry. Sure, Christmas with Dudley must have been great (for Dudley), but I don't think Harry would have ever gotten to participate in any of the traditions most people share during the holidays. I think Vernon Dursley would probably relish at the opportunity to tell Harry he'd been a bad kid and stick coal in his stocking each year. For the first time, Harry receives real presents. Not socks. (Because Harry doesn't really get cold feet everatall. The anti-cold-footer.)
A prime example of things in the Sorcerer's Stone just falling into Harry's lap: First he receives a flute from Hagrid, which he'll use later against Fluffy, then he receives an invisibility cloak, which we now know is a gift directly from Albus Dumbledore himself—and is useful to the extreme. I'll also mention that the homemade fudge and knitted sweaters Mrs. Weasley gave to Harry was really kind; my own grandma is also a maker of fudge and garish sweaters (red, white, and blue themed sweaters; green and orange color-coordinated vests).
At this point in the chapter the mood of the day takes a turn from hunky-dory Christmas extravaganza to mysterious Christmas night. When Ron is asleep Harry takes his gifted invisibility cloak out for a little joy ride to the restricted section. he doesn't find anything out regarding Flamel, but whilst trying to escape Filch and Mrs. Norris, Harry does stumble across a rather interesting finding.
What would you see in the Mirror of Erised? That is the question. You may already know this, but if you read the inscription at the top of the mirror backwards it reads, "I show not your face but your heart's desire." And that is the exact purpose of the mirror.
Harry revisits the mirror a few times, bringing Ron with him once. In the mirror he is entranced by the smiling faces of his family. On his third visit to the mirror, Harry meets Dumbledore, and the headmaster tells him that in the mirror he sees himself holding a pair of warm woolen socks. Maybe a lie, my guess is that Dumbledore sees the same thing Harry does, his family, safe and well. Being a particularly cold-footed being, I don't think socks would be such a bad route to go. Maybe Dumbledore is holding socks, metaphorical socks. For his metaphorically cold feet.
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