My interpretation of this quote really changed my perspective on everything, I’m starting to think when you die, you see what you want to see, you see what comforts you.

What are your thoughts?

How do you understand this quote?

What is the reality of Harry's King's Cross?

It's Joanne Rowling's favourite quote. I've read an interview where she says that has waited seventeen years to be able to use these lines. She has said it is key to the last book and the series. So it must be worth it to unpack what is in there.

Harry asks this question, because his experience at King's Cross is so unreal for him. He gives an alternative, this is all happening inside his head.

On a certain level, we can read this as Rowling speaking directly us, muggles, to the person who has picked up the book, as a self-conscious statement about the totality of the series.

I do not think it means to believe that fantasy, magic and dragons exist in reality. That is like Xenophilius who believes in the elusive Crumple-Horned Snorkack.

I understand the quote as that what you imagine, the nous, is the creative principle that bringing things into 'reality'. We first have to imagine things, before they become our reality. The words of Albus become real by acting on it. And when Harry returns, he has decided that this conversation is real.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a poet and an important person in literary alchemy, has proposed the thesis of mentalism that is prevalent in fantasy literature, like Tolkien and Lewis. That is: "imagined things are real".

We can reduce our thoughts to brain and nerve cell chemistry, we could say that what happens inside our head belong to the same domain of reality that happens outside the head.

But I think that this isn't what Dumbledore/Rowling meant. It's too neuroscience-oriented.

Is there maybe a connection between this quote and the Tale of the Three Brothers?

From the "Deathly Hallows", after Voldemort fails to kill Harry in the forest and Harry dreams about meeting Dumbledore:

Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”

Dumbledore beamed at him, and his voice sounded loud and strong in Harry’s ears even though the bright mist was descending again, obscuring his figure.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?

The question of Harry doesn't make it clear what *this* means - could be the imaginary King's Cross station, but it could be something else, e.g., the ongoing Battle of Hogwarts or even more. Also, the tense. Maybe in British English it's different (and I'm not a native English speaker to begin with), but I'd imagine "is this happening inside my head" to be more common when you refer to a 5-minute dream, while "has this been happening inside my head" to refer to a period which started longer ago in the past. I don't think it's incorrect either way; just that it could mean something broader intentionally.

Is the whole wizarding world inside Harry's mind - an unfortunate boy who needs to distract himself from the abuse at home and wants love? Are the books written by their own main character? Also, this line from the Philosopher's stone:

Uncle Vernon: There's no such thing as magic!

Petunia and Vernon were quite pissed from the start every time magic was mentioned. But imagine that Harry was speaking to himself and Hagrid was only in his mind when he first came, as that there were no owls and the letters were not for Harry, but he insisted they are. Not denying the Dursleys were extremely abusive, but that would make them mad because they would think Harry is either mocking them or really sees things that aren't true. This could go even further, if Harry's mother was also different in this way and Petunia was angry because of it.

Hermine in the "Chamber of Secrets" to Harry:

“Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.”

And let's not forget that Harry already saw things which weren't there (Voldemort getting in his mind to lure him into the Ministry of Magic). Of course, both of these things were explained by the plot and one can say "it's magic, duh", but he could also be doing this to battle with the outside world where people are telling him to get real and stop imagining things.

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Either way, even if Rowling didn't imply this with Dumbledore's words, to me it is a beautiful moment which means something for readers too. Because we also experienced it all in our heads, some people - in a similar situation as young Harry. But why on earth should that mean that it is not real? :)

It can be from the books of the movies.