[HPforGrownups] Can Character Change: A Separate Post

[Pen Robinson]

No: HPFGUIDX 38850

Zoe H  wrote:

>> -----Original Message-----
>> Some argue that Sirius has gone from being a prankster and
>> possibly somewhat unconcerned with the lives and mental health of
>> those around him, to being very concerned with his Godson's well
>> being.
>
>I think it's a mistake to categorize Sirius based on just what we know about
>the "prank". As of the end of book 4, we know nothing about Sirius before
>the  death of James and Lily Potter. My view is that if James and Lily asked
>to be their secret keeper, he must have been a trustworthy person. Which he
>was.

Actually, we do have some ideas about Sirius before the deaths of the
Potters.   We know by the end of PoA that Sirius - along with James and
Peter - cared a great deal about Remus, was not influenced by anti-werewolf
prejudice, and took an immense amount of trouble to do some very difficult
magic (ie the Animagus business) in order to provide comfort for his
friend.  We know he was one of the two cleverest students at Hogwarts in
his time there.  We know he was inclined to be a rule-breaker (he was,
after all, one of the makers of the Marauders Map) but was not generally
thought to be malicious.  We know that there was serious loathing between
him (and the others) and Snape, and that the Prank happened - and we
haven't had a very clear account of what exactly happened, or how, or why.
We know from Madam Rosmerta, in the scene with the discussion between
Hagrid, Fudge, McGonagall and Flitwick,  that Sirius and James were very
close. We know that the adults who knew him as a schoolboy were astounded
that he, of all people, could have gone over to Voldemort - so obviously,
although he was a mischievous and high-spirited boy, he was generally
believed to be on the side of the angels.  So we have plenty of reason to
accept the transformation of 'Evil Siriu sBlack the Murderer' into 'Good
Sirius Black the Avenger' by the end of PoA.  His subsequent, calmer
behaviour as Harry's godfather in GoF is reasonable, I think - in one who
has proved his innocence to those who matter most, who has been free of the
torments of prison for some time, and who is now in a position to undertake
his responsibilities to some extent.

>I seriously doubt if anyone reading this list would care to be categorized
>by one stupid thing that they did when they were 16. It wouldn't be fair.
>Nor, in my opinion, is it fair to diss Sirius.

I think the Prank adds complexity to Sirius, because it was something he
did which could have had terrible consequences and which he doesn't seem
willing to admit as a fault.  (I very much hope JKR gives us a bit more
background on it - though in case she doesn't, I have found a couple of
linked fanfics which have become, pro tem, part of my 'personal canon', as
they seem very satisfactorily to explain the motivations and mechanisms
involved.)  It makes it apparent that if Sirius doesn't like someone, he is
capable of doing that person great wrong without thinking through the
consequences.  He does the same with regard to Peter Pettigrew, doesn't he
- wants to kill him, without realising that a dead Pettigrew is a far less
convincing witness to Sirius' own innocence than a live one.  And without
recognising that vengeance is not the same thing as justice.

Still, I agree - it doesn't make sense to categorise someone solely on the
basis of one stupid thing he did as a teenager.

Pen