Sirius Consequences/other POA thoughts

[dowen331]

No: HPFGUIDX 47783

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Rebecca Stephens <rsteph1981 at y...> wrote:

> The thing about Sirius is that he *still* doesn't seem
> to understand that his actions have (unintended)
> consequences.  He doesn't think about all the people
> he hurts along the way.  He just doesn't seem to care
> about anything but his own agenda; everyone and
> everything else can just go to hell.
> 
> 
> Rebecca


On this question of Sirius understanding the consequences of his 
actions, I came across this statement by Dumbledore when re-reading 
POA:

Ch. 21 "Hermione's Secret", (p. 392 US Paperback) Dumbledore is 
responding to Hermione and Harry's proclamations of the truth of 
Sirius's story:

"Sirius has not acted like an innocent man.  The attack on the Fat 
Lady--entering Gryffindor Tower with a knife--without Pettigrew, 
alive or dead, we have no chance of overturning Sirius's sentence."

The way I read this, Sirius certainly does face consequences for his 
behavior.  His consequence is having to continue living in hiding and 
on the run, because he can't prove his innocence.  IMO, if Sirius had 
done things differently, maybe gotten a message to Dumbledore instead 
of trying to get Pettigrew himself, he would be free and clear now.  
And even though we don't see Sirius himself coming to this 
realization, I'm sure Dumbledore had the same conversation with him 
right before coming down to see HH.  As I see it, as he lives a life 
of hiding, he ponders every day about the consequences of his 
actions, and resolves to conduct himself differently in the future 
(hence his much changed demeanor in GOF).

Now, if I may be indulged for a moment:  I had one of those "aha!" 
moments on this reading of POA, and while I'm sure this is not new to 
many of you, I don't have anyone here who can share my excitement 
about making a new discovery!

P. 327, as HRH are getting ready to go down to Hagrid's hut right 
before Buckbeak's execution, they are waiting for the entrance hall 
to clear, hiding in an empty chamber.  "They heard a last pair of 
people hurrying across the hall and a door slamming."  This time 
around it hit me:  *They heard themselves!!*  It was time-travel!HH 
that were hurrying into a closet and slamming the door right before 
they went out!  I never noticed that before--thanks for letting me 
share my moment of discovery :-).

Finally, a question of accuracy:  p. 370:  Is it a known FLINT (is 
that the right term?) when Sirius says to Peter (in the Shrieking 
Shack): "Voldemort's been in hiding for fifteen years, they say he's 
half dead."  By my count he's been in hiding for 12 or 13 years at 
the most at this point, so where does 15 come from?

Thanks for everyone's help on this.

Deb331 (proud to say she actually caught up on the flurry of posts 
from the last week, although she's afraid her family is losing 
patience with this!)