Why it had to be Sirius

[daluben4]

No: HPFGUIDX 75996

> I think the reason it had to be Sirius in particular is probably the
> emotional impact it had on Harry. Also, and I know this sounds
> horrible, but it's possible that from a purely plot standpoint he 
was
> the most disposable character whose death would still make an
> emotional impact. We don't know what she has planned for Ron, 
Hermione
> or any of the other characters who are really close to Harry, but
> maybe they're still too important to kill off just yet in terms of
> further plot developments. 
> 
> ~dream

I can't quote a specific interview, but I seem to recall that JKR has 
said that death is a (the?) central theme in the books.  She needed 
to force Harry to deal with death in a very personal way.  Even the 
death of his parents may not have had the same emotional impact as 
the death of Sirius because Harry was really too young to know his 
parents when they died.  And, I agree that Ron and Hermione were just 
not likely candidates at this point. (In fact, I kind of expect them 
to survive the series, though it's just a hunch.)