[HPforGrownups] Why Sirius

[sunnylove0 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 86530

In a message dated 12/4/2003 6:41:57 PM Mountain Standard Time, 
singersg at zahav.net.il writes:

> Although I can't deny that obviously someone HAD to die in the 5th 
> book, I'm shocked and revolted by JKR's choice of Sirius. It seems to 
> me like pure arbitrary cruelty! A similar effect  - Harry feeling guilty - 
> (which was necessary for the scene with Dumbledore) could be 
> produced by the death of almost any of the other characters involved 
> in the battle scene. Choosing Sirius and leaving a boy who's already 
> suffered SO much, including the death of both his parents and 11 
> years almost totally deprived of love - choosing to take from him the 
> one (and last) person who had a family-like relation to him, the only 
> adult he felt real attachment and love to (and who he knew that loved 
> him)  - it's too much cruelty to throw upon the inumerable fans, 
> especially the young ones like Harry. It's true that death is 
> arbitrary and there is a lot of cruelty in the world, but she just 
> didn't have to do this - it's going unnecessarily too far!
> I ask WHY??? (and I really feel like shouting...)
> Singersgoa
> 

Amber:

It was a bit horrible, and according to interviews, JKR was pretty cut up 
about it too...but:

1) Sirius was, as several characters pointed out, trapped in his childhood 
home.       (which he couldn't stand) He couldn't go out as a dog because of the 
DEs or as a human because of the Ministry.  As Hagrid said (and I'm 
paraphrasing because I don't want to type the accent) he would have rather died than 
stay home and let others do the fighting, especially where the protection of 
Harry was concerned.

2) Harry is growing up, essentially too fast, a theme in OOP.  "He is nearing 
manhood, this one." (p.756, OOP) The illusions of his "perfect" father and 
godfather are gone, he has suffered torture by Voldemort, Umbridge, and the 
Dementors, he has lost Sirius, and Dumbledore has finally told him of his destiny. 
 

It's tragic, horribly tragic, but if Harry is going to face Voldemort at 17 
or 18, in Book 7, he's going to go through a lot more losses and pain than 
Sirius, or anything he's experienced so far.

Amber


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