Sirius confusing Harry and James

[ffimiles]

No: HPFGUIDX 75842

Marianne:
> Did any characters make this accusation other than Molly? I don't 
> recall if this sentiment was also echoed by Hermione. 
> 
> I never felt for an instant that Sirius looked at or talked to 
Harry 
> and thought he was interacting with James.  I do think he made 
> comparisons in his mind between the two, and I also think he was 
well 
> along on the down-side of the scale of depression, but I don't 
think 
> he was delusional. 
> 
> The clearest instance of Sirius making comparisons was when Harry 
> told him he shouldn't come up for the next Hogsmeade weekend.  
> Harry's reaction was clearly not what James' reaction would have 
been 
> and it disappointed Sirius that Harry didn't respond to the 
> suggestion as James would have. "You're less like your father than 
I 
> thought."  I didn't read that as Sirius suddenly becoming aware 
that 
> he was speaking to Harry and not James, but rather a realization, 
> that Harry is his own person and that sometimes he'll act like or 
> think like James, and sometimes he won't.
> 
> And, as far as Sirius thinking that Harry had many of James' traits 
> in his behavior and skills, that did exist as early as PoA.  When 
> Harry and Hermione arrived in a rush at the Shack, Sirius says that 
> is exactly what James would have done.  Harry takes that as a 
taunt, 
> but I believe Sirius meant it exactly as stated.  And, later he 
says 
> that Harry flies as well as James. Finally, as he escaped with 
> Buckbeak, Sirius tells Harry that he's truly his father's son.  
None 
> of this strikes me as evidence that Sirius was confusing the two 
> Potters in his mind.
> 
> I guess it's time to do my third re-read of OoP, because the only 
> instance I can think of where this accusation is made is by Molly 
in 
> the kitchen scene when Harry first arrives at Grimmauld Place. 
> 
> Marianne
I don't have the book on me, but I at m sure Hermione said something 
about Sirius comparing Harry to James, and confusing them,w hen they 
were discussing Sirius's support for the DA.

also, though I don't think Sirius is confusing the two Potters, I do 
think he's forgetting what situation Harry's in as compared to James -
 when james took risks, it was against being expelled, or getting 
detention etc.  If Harry takes risks, it's about getting expulsion, 
putting the order at risk, death...and also that Harry really  does 
ahve to worry about others e.g Sirius getting caught if he did come 
up to Hogsmede.  I just think sirius sometimes forgot that Harry 
wasn't in such a carefree position as James, and he's got a lot more 
to loose by takin risks for the fun of it.