Character Summary - Sirius (is sexy) Black

[Zarleycat at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 13553

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Carole Estes" <lrcjestes at e...> wrote:
 
 1. How did he survive with his brain intact in Azkaban all those 
years?

I agree with all that's been said about Sirius' being able to survive 
Azkaban because he knew he was wrongly imprisoned and that was not a 
happy thought.  However, he would still have had many memories of 
happier days and these surely would be good Dementor fodder.  I think 
the ability to transform into his Animagus state was enough to fend 
off madness, although not enough to leave Sirius unmarked.  

> 2. Do you think volatility is a character trait or a symptom?

I think a little of both.  Certainly in PoA, Sirius was just a tad 
DRIVEN, at times, although not without cause.  From what we know of 
his pre-Azkaban days, this was a guy who was constantly in trouble, 
along with the other Maurauders, but who seemed to be able to charm 
people nonetheless, and who owned a flying motorcycle, which surely 
would not meet the approval of the folks from the MOM.  Maybe these 
are not signs of volatility, but I'd say they indicate that Sirius 
was a bit of a wild child in his younger days.

> 3. Would he really make a good parent?

Yes, but that may be my wish for a sappy, happy ending -  We'll find 
out that Arabella Figg was the daughter of the old, cat lady from 
Harry's neighborhood, and was Sirius' old flame and knew in her heart 
that he was innocent and they can all get together and have a 
perfectly fine life.  Some how I doubt it'll play out that way.

Also, I don't think we'll see Harry living with Sirius any time soon. 
If he did, he'd logically have a lot of questions to ask about his 
parents, to which Sirius probably knows the answers, which JKR won't 
want to reveal at this point.
  
> 4.  Why do a large part of the HP fandom think he's sexy? What is 
it about his personality that is or is not attractive?

The "wronged man" character, especially one who originally seems dark 
and dangerous, has a certain appeal.  And this wouldn't work as well 
in one's imagination if the man was short, fat and bald, with bad 
skin, and hair sprouting out of his ears.  Granted, Sirius was no 
prize, appearance-wise in PoA, but we knew from the wedding picture 
that he was handsome at one point in his life.  Plus, you know there 
has to be something of substance there if this emaciated wreck of a 
man could find the words to convince Harry in the Shrieking Shack 
that he would never have willingly betrayed James and Lily.

One other note re: appearance.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've 
gone back through PoA (US edition) and not once is there a clear 
statement regarding Sirius' hair or eye color, except where his 
Animagus form is referred to as a "pale-eyed, jet black dog."
In that respect, he seems to be the only character where JKR has not 
given us, up front, some details of what someone looks like.

> 5. With apologies to Monika, who just wrote to me and asked this 
question
> this morning and I thought it was so good I included it....don't 
you think
> it's a bit weird that Dumbledore sends Sirius to alert everyone? 
What will
> they think when the escaped murderer knocks at their door?

I think Dumbledore will alert the old crowd to trust his unusual 
choice of messenger before the messenger actually arrives.  And, 
maybe the message will be more of summons for everyone to meet 
somewhere that is safe for Sirius, so he has the means to escape, if 
necessary.  If these old acquaintences are people who knew Sirius 
fairly well in the past, then Dumbledore may be able to convince them 
that he really is the person they thought they knew and not a 
murderous traitor.

Marianne