We all know what Harry saw in the Mirror of Erised, he saw his family. We also know that Ron saw himself as Quidditch captain, Head Boy etc... But what did Dumbledore see? He claims he sees himself holding thick woolen socks:

~Quote~

Harry stood up.
"Sir - Professor Dumbledore? Can I ask you something?"
"Obviously, you've just done so," Dumbledore smiled. "You may ask me one more thing, however."
"What do you see when you look in the mirror?"
"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woollen 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 entirely truthful. But then, he thought, as he shoved Scabbers off his pillow, it had been quite a personal question.

~End of Quote~ (pg 157 Philosopher's Stone)

Harry is of course right, it is a very personal question. I think it's very unlikely that Dumbledore saw himself holding socks, so what did he really see? Did he have a particular reason for not telling Harry the truth? *mystery*
I think it might have been something to do with Harry falling in love (love to defeat Voldemort.) So DD might not have told Harry what he saw because Harry wasn't ready to know about the prophecy. On the other hand Dumbledore is slightly loopy! But what do you random peeps think?

I think he did see himself wearing socks...i mean come on, Dumblefore LIE? never...

it can be possible that dumbledore can see him wearing socks in morror of erised..because he have the things he want..except socks?..

Maybe he saw socks.Or harry as a head boy or something.i don't know.

I think he saw himself with all the houracroxes (however it is spelled) and then with some jellybeans, and a hair cut, that is what i think

I think Dumbledore sees himself standing over the body of Lord Voldemort.

or him and Minerva on a cruise liner in the mediterreanean

^^ Hah I like that one. I know lots of people who would agree.

I think that Dumbledore see more than one thing, just like Ron. Perhaps socks that he is wearinf when Harry would defeat Voldmort.........

I think DD saw the end and what was to come but then again the mirror doesn't give knowledge or hope....so who knows

I know! He wasn't wishing for woolen socks-- he was wishing for cotton. With little phoenixes on them. and him sharing a cracker with Snape. and then-- look at that!--his wish came true in PoA.

I bet he *did* get woolen socks... but there's some twist, and like, it was the traditional gift he got from his long-lost love, or maybe it's the HORCRUX SOCKS OF DOOM.

Love the socks of doom thing. Very funny.

Here's a better question...If Harry looked into the mirror now, would he see something other than his parents/family? WHat does he want more now? Family or Voldy dead? hmmmmm

Question: I'm pretty sure after reading DH we'd all agree it had something to do with his sister and that whole thing....do you think he saw...his friend with him (giving no names incase a person reads this who still hasn't read the book, and I can't spell his name anyways) or his sister alive again? Maybe his sister doing magic?

I wonder if he saw himself with all three hallows?.....o_o'' oooooh...lol

It doesn't seem like Dumbledore to want the three Hallows...I mean...he had two of the three...but still...

That's what JK Rowling said it was -- Dumbledore saw his family, whole and together and getting along, and his sister again.

From our (the reader) perspective, I thought it was nice how J.K said he saw himself holding a pair of socks. In the last book your realize that Dumbledore is mistake bound and far from perfection. He's always been one of my favorite characters because he's such a complex individual that has so many outstanding traits in him; who knows what he saw, but I doubt it was socks! Whatever it was I assumed that Harry wasn't ready to know or hear about it as Dumbledore has always sheltered him from the truth until he was older.

He did see it. would never lie.

I think he saw arianna

I think he saw his family alive and well and without any of the problems that were in it

He saw all his family happy and magical and healthy.
Its all explained in DH.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:


Dumbledore may see his family alive:

Ariana Dumbledore - Terroized by three Muggles when she was 6 because they saw her perform magic; she never did magic again until the day she accidentaly killed her mother. Died during a duel that she tried to stop between Albus, Aberforth, and Grindlewald; they never knew which of them had actually sent the curse at her.


Kendra Dumbledore (if she was'nt a mugglehater like her husband) - Known for being proud and haughty, she was the mother of Albus, Aberforth, and Ariana. She was married to Percival and was accidentaly killed by her daughter


And him and Aberforth to still be friends along with ex-bestfriend Gellert Grindlewald.

maybe he saw more than one thing.
maybe he saw voldemort defeated by Harry..the prophecy coming true.
maybe he saw other things happeneing and changing(due to voldies death)..stuff we've never heard about?
maybe he saw his family

or maybe he knew all of that was gonna come true, and he had no desire for anything else, except woolen socks? :p


this is a really good topic! i wish i knew the answer

reallllly?
i dont remember..
ill have to check that out.

Hey, as I remember, Percival Dumbledore only hit those Muggles kid for revenge for little Ariana. He was considered a muggle-hater by the wizarding community.

And Dumbledore's boggart is Ariana's corpse.