[HPforGrownups] When Harry meets Black (PoA)

[mlacats at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 32250

In a message dated 12/18/2001 8:22:32 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
aaronmjfisher at yahoo.co.uk writes:


> 
> I'm puzzled by two things in this chapter (Cat, Rat & Dog):
> 
> SPOILER ALERT!
> 
> 1. When Harry, Ron and Hermione end up at the Shrieking Shack and 
> Harry has his first encounter with Black face-to-face (as a human), 
> why, in the ensuing struggle, does Black appear to try to strangle 
> Harry to death, when really the person he's talking about killing is 
> actually Scabbers/Pettigrew, whom he knows is protected by an 
> unknowing Ron?
> 
> Was Black merely trying to push Harry aside by his throat, in order 
> to stop Harry kicking and punching him? I just find this a very 
> strange thing for Harry's godfather to do to him...
> 
> 2. With what spell is Harry actually going to kill Black with? As far 
> as I know, he hasn't been taught any lethal spells or incantations at 
> this point, and he's only told about the Unforgivable Curses 
> (especially Avada Kedavra) in the next book, GoF.
> 
> I can only assume that Harry was going to turn Black into something 
> else, like a small rodent, and then stomp on him - but then, I'm not 
> sure if Harry's been taught to do that either at this point...
> 
> Any ideas, people?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
I've pondered the very same questions as you.  The only explanation I can 
come up with as to why Sirius appreared to be strangling Harry was that he 
was trying to push Harry away from him and, at the same time, was frustrated 
because he wanted to get at Petigrew.  Sirius was holding Harry's throat just 
tight enough to debilitate him.....still, it does seem like something cruel 
to do to a young boy, expecially someone he's supposed to love, James' son - 
his Godson!  We do know that Sirius has a temper and can be impulsive, so I 
guess he was reacting out of frustration, not really intending to hurt Harry. 
 It is a little bothersome though.

As for the question on how was Harry going to kill Sirius.......that one 
bothers me too.....no answer for that one.  Maybe, he was going to do 
Stupefy......but then what!?  Any other ideas????

Harriet


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