Jumbled thoughts on how Harry could have killed Sirius

[Zarleycat at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 21501

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., catherine at c... wrote:

> I have often wondered how Harry was going to kill Sirius.  The 
> conclusion I came to, was that Harry has on occassions, let his 
> emotions get the better of him and performed uncontrolled magic - 
the 
> blowing up of Marge is an excellent example of this.  Would it 
> therefore be a natural progression to assume that Harry's anger 
over 
> Sirius' alleged betrayal of his parents is an anger which is a huge 
> magnification of his anger at Aunt Marge?  If he can blow up his 
aunt 
> as a result of his anger, is it possible that his anger during this 
> scene, which must be much stronger, could allow him to kill 
someone, 
> without knowing exactly how to do so?  The fact that he is holding 
> his wand could serve him to channel his anger, thereby making his 
> actions more effective.  
> 
> I think there is a moment there when it would have been possible.  
> The difference between this scene and the one with Aunt Marge, is 
> that (as Joy says) Harry knows that the ramifications of what he is 
> doing are much further reaching, which gives him pause for 
thought.  
> Crookshanks' involvement also hinders him - this delay forces him 
to 
> control his anger, therefore stopping him from acting on it.
> 
> I did initially think that the two incidents above were materially 
> different, as with Aunt Marge it was a very hotheaded emotional 
> reaction, whereas with Sirius it was a very cold fury which had 
been 
> allowed to fester over a period of time.  Now, however, I think 
that 
> they are more similar than I thought - Harry's anger at Aunt Marge 
> was a culmination of years of abuse - the one week we see at the 
> beginning of PoA could be seen as a microcosm of the whole of her 
> treatment of him over the past years.  Harry, until this point had 
> reined in his anger - controls it until the memory of his parents 
are 
> abused which is when he loses control.  With Sirius, Harry has had 
> time to dwell on his alleged betrayal of his parents, and seeing 
> Sirius in the flesh has the effect of bringing his long-felt anger 
to 
> the fore.
> 
> What also interests me is the fact that on the few occassions that 
> Harry does lose his temper, it is generally because of his 
parents.  
> Aunt Marge, Sirius, Snape.  
 
Sirius is probably lucky that Harry didn't have his wand in his hand 
when he first broke free from Hermione and Ron.  I think damage would 
have been done to everyone's favorite convict.  And I agree that 
Crookshank's intervention caused Harry to pause.  

On the point of Harry's losing his temper when someone verbally 
trashes his parents.  I have wondered if, in the future, we will see 
Harry have the same reaction people making disparaging comments about 
Sirius. Harry has not had many adults in his life he can trust and 
respect and love.  If the relationship that's growing between Harry 
and Sirius continues (no death in book 5, please), and if Sirius is 
unable to clear his name, Harry can easily be in situations where he 
will hear people revile Sirius.  I think it will be harder and harder 
for Harry to remain quiet.

Marianne