Lone Protector

[elfundeb at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 39393

Dicentra defending Sirius:

> He's Lone Protector, and he 
> doesn't need anyone else.
> 
> Or at least, that *was* his modus operandi.  The next time Harry is 
> in trouble (GoF), we don't see Sirius trying to Go It Alone: he's 
> been corresponding with Dumbledore, and he's been taking Dumbledore's 
> No striking out on 
> his own.  No heroics.  And no screw-ups.  Let's hope he's recognized 
> that he can't Protect The Pack on his own, and that we don't see him 
> reverting to Lone Protector in OoP and the rest.

I don't know about this.  He certainly seems to be learning as GoF 
progresses, but his letter to Harry, which stresses Harry so much, implies 
that he decided on his own.  "I'm flying north immediately.  This news about 
your scar is the latest in a series of strange rumors that have reached me 
here. . . . If it hurts again, go straight to Dumbledore -- they're saying 
he's got Mad-Eye out of retirement, which means he's reading the signs. . . 
."  There's nothing to suggest Sirius has been in contact with Dumbledore 
since Sirius is getting his information from the rumor mill (the mysterious 
unidentified "they").  

No, I still think he's still hothead Lone Protector who, still wracked with 
guilt over James and Lily, needing to make it up to Harry somehow (not to 
mention his life-debt), and hearing very disturbing things, scribbles a 
rushed note to Harry and sets off on his own.  Maybe he dashes a note off to 
Dumbledore, too, on his way out, but he's not going to give anyone a chance 
to talk him out of it.  I think he only asked for help when he realized he 
couldn't hide as a dog in the Forbidden Forest with a condemned hippogriff in 
tow.  It's pretty reckless behavior, but it's classic Sirius. 

And maybe he doesn't screw up during the rest of GoF, but he can't leave the 
cave for too long with Buckbeak in hiding, too.  So that keeps him in check.  
Nevertheless, he still manages to break into someone's house to use their 
fireplace.  Now what would have happened if someone woke up at that house and 
came out to check on the noise, as happened to Harry?  Nah.  He's not over 
the reckless heroics.  Which is fine.  I like my characters better with a 
full share of flaws.

Debbie, who's been trying to work out some of her Sirius issues and hastens 
to point out to Dicentra that this is the nicest thing she's ever said about 
him


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