一次偶然的机会，小哈里波特发现了魔镜，他能在镜子里看到自己素未谋面的父母。于是，每到夜深人静，他几次穿着父亲留给他的隐身衣，躲过门卫的检查，来到魔镜前。这天，他遇见了校长邓不利多，邓不利多开导他说，要离得远远的耽于幻想的魔镜，要现实地生活
D: I see that you, like many before you, have discovered the delights of the Mirror of Erised. I trust by now you realize what it does. Let me give you a clue. The happiest man on earth would look in the mirror and see only himself, exactly as he is.
H: So then, it shows us what we want, whatever we want.
D: Yes, and no. It shows us nothing more or less than the deepest and most desperate desires of our hearts. Now you, Harry1, who have never known your family, you see them standing2 beside you. But remember this, Harry, This mirror gives us neither knowledge or truth. Men have wasted away in front of it. Even gone mad. This is why tomorrow it will be moved to a new house. And I must ask you not to go looking for it again. It does not do to dwell3 on dreams and forget to live.
重点解说
delight，乐趣，好处。邓不利多告诉哈里，他猜想目前哈里已经了解镜子有哪些好处了。他说，世上最幸福的人在镜子里只能看到他一个人，只有他一个人，别无其他。
波特回答，镜子里出现的是大家想要的东西，任何大家所求的东西。邓不利多回答也对也不对（Yes, and no.）。它展示的我是大家内心最深切（deep）、最强烈（desperate）的渴望。由于哈里从生下来就没见过爸爸妈妈，所以他在镜子里看到的就是一家三口其乐融融的景象。词组nothing more or less than，正是，恰恰就是。
但，邓布利多话锋一转，这个镜子既不给大家常识，也没办法告诉大家真相（neitheror既不也不）。大家在它面前浪费了太多的时间，甚至会为它而发疯。词组wast away，荒废，白白耗费。邓布利多警告哈里，不要再去找这个魔镜，不要踯躅于幻想而忘记了现实地生活（dwell on dreams and forget to live）。
