Queries about Sirius's escape (slight FF)

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 54931


Angela:

I doubt he would have had the strength to Apparate.  And even if he 
could, I would wager that if Hogwarts has anti-Apparition borders, 
then Azkaban certainly would.  As to the fact that a dog made such a 
long swim, I agree with Steve about the different factors and 
advantages Sirius had.  I also believe that Padfoot/Snuffles has more 
strength and stamina that a normal dog (after all he IS magic, and 
there are various instances in the book that lead me to beleive this. 
ie fighting off werewolves, etc.)

Finwitch:

Hmm... Sirius animagusform isn't just a dog, it's a big black dog - 
probably Newfoundlander. These dogs are excellent swimmers, and thus 
water-rescue-dogs, even as Bernhard a mountain-rescue. While I do 
think that Sirius made it only barely, because his animagus form was 
suited for it and because he had lots of adrenaline, and extreme, 
desperate need to do that.

And it's a BIG dog. I don't think there's any extra magical power 
needed for a big dog to fight off a wolf - I think they were somewhat 
even. Difference is that Sirius has human mind, and if Remus managed 
to keep his, that human mind worked to same direction - away from the 
children...

What comes to apparating, I certainly doubt it's possible from 
Azkaban, and Sirius certainly couldn't stop to try when he can in the 
cold water. Once he was in the land, resting, eating something (rats -
imagining it to be Peter?) - well, he *might* have apparated, I'm not 
sure if one needs a wand for it - Bill&Charlie - no mention of them 
having wands out when they apparated into the field, is there? And he 
did cross a long way relatively fast. Dogs are faster, but that fast? 
Maybe he *did* apparate after he got away from that island, possibly 
without even knowing what he was doing?

-- Finwitch