defense of Sirius and James

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 19197

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., catherine at c... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Carole Estes" <lrcjestes at e...> wrote:
> > 
> > Magda wrote:
> > > I agree.  Lupin's alright and the jury's still out on James 
> (respect for the dead and all that) but even after reading GoF, I 
haven't changed my opinion of Sirius Black.  He strikes me as one of 
those charming guys that are great in their 20's but don't marry or 
mature like their friends.  The kind of guy who'll still show up on 
his motorbike in a black leather jacket (which is getting a tad snug
around the waist) and expect his married buds to join him at the 
pub on the night that their kids are playing a semi-final soccer game.
> 
> Carole wrote:
> > I'll agree that he was probably that type of guy (without the 
> jacket getting snug) before Azkaban.

Arthur Fonzarelli springs to mind when I hear this description.  
Fonzie was Mr. Cool, Mr. Suave, Mr. Good-with-the-Girls. But when 
push came to shove, he was a very decent man.  
> > 
> > However, if you read the scene where he talks to the trio in the 
> cave in Hogsmead (GoF, Padfoot Returns) he has a lot to say about 
what makes a good> father, a good father.  He points out that Crouch 
should have spent more time at home rather than at the office.  This 
leads me to think he  has a clue about  family priorities in the post 
Azkaban era.  So no I  don't agree that he's be that kind of guy post-
Azkaban.
> 
I don't even think he was that kind of guy pre-Azkaban.

He agreed to be his best friends' secret keeper in the time of 
Voldemort.  

If he was Mr. Footloose and Fancy-Free he'd have said, "Ah, ask Moony 
or Wormtail to do it, whydon'tcha?"  But he didn't.  He did however 
consider he might not be up to the task and offer up Pettigrew as an 
unlikely target.  But I doubt that was because he was shirking. To 
me,  it seems Sirius had always had his heart in the right place even 
if his mind doesn't quite permit him to act accordingly.

> I'd like to second this.  To say that Sirius is one of those 
> immature, irresponsible men who forever think they are cool and 
never grow up is doing him a disservice.  Sirius, IMO, has a very 
strong sense of right and wrong/loyalty and regard for his friends 
and  family.  His speech in the Shrieking Shack when confronting 
Pettigrew  about why he betrayed James bears testament to that "Then 
you should  have died - as we would have done for you" (paraphrase?).

Absolutely.  He was completely and entirely wracked with guilt. That 
is not the reaction of someone who was glib and flip then [and no 
inkling of such now!]
> 
> He is also very prepared to take responsibility for Harry - indeed, 
> he wants to - the smile which breaks across his face when he finds 
> that Harry wants to live with him touches me everytime.  

Me too.  

And the way it's described in the book.  Harry saw Sirius go 
from "the scary ragged insane prisoner" to  "the man who stood beside 
his father as best man at his wedding."   That Harry's eyes see 
Sirius differently is telling, especially since Sirius did nothing 
more than give a genuine smile through a face full of pain and 
suffering.  

He is also 
> not the kind of guardian who wants to just do what will keep him in 
> favour, something akin to a step parent trying to get a child to 
like  them, but he wants to do what is right for Harry.  There is 
more than  one occassion in GoF when Harry is slightly resentful of 
the way  Sirius is looking out for him and telling what to do and 
what not to  do.  This isn't taking the easier option, in my view.  

Agreed. Not to mention that Harry feels guilty bringing Sirius back 
in GoF.  Sirius sees right through the ploy and comes back to the 
area *anyway*, even knowing full well he's risking capture, 
reimprisonment, or Dementor's Kiss if caught.  Harry's health and 
safety mean *that* much to him [and, okay, yes, well, another shot at 
avenging himself on Pettigrew wouldn't bat a sleek black eyelash 
either!] 

Finally, as  Ron says, "Poor old Snuffles....he must really like you, 
> Harry...imagine having to live off rats."  Sirius has put himself 
to  a great deal of trouble, discomfort, and danger by coming back to 
> keep an eye on/help Harry.  This doesn't smack of someone who is not
> prepared to face their responsibilities.
> 
> Catherine

Indigo