OOP: Re: Sirius, was OOP: was Metaphors in the WW

[darrin_burnett]

No: HPFGUIDX 67061

Amy: 
> 
> --Do you mean this is a flaw in the book?  Or just hard to take?
> 
> I think it is a real strength of the book.  We are really made to 
> feel what it means for someone to die.  No chance to apologize, no 
> chance to be redeemed, no chance for more change, no chance for us 
to learn more about him or for him to learn more about himself.

I find myself mourning all of Sirius' life as well as his death.

His happiest times were with James at school, but he has been made by 
Harry to question even those times, and upon questioning, Sirius must 
admit that he was an "arrogant berk." 

And we don't know for sure that Sirius ever matured to the extent 
that James did. There are clues he didn't, still calling 
Snape "Snivellus" after 20 years, for instance. 

His big strategic gambit - Use Peter - failed horribly and James and 
Lily died and he was framed. But, wracked with guilt, he doesn't even 
think of escaping until he realizes Peter is near Harry. 

I truly believe that had the Weasleys not gotten their picture in the 
paper for Sirius to see and be spurred by Scabbers/Peter, Sirius 
would still be rotting in Azkaban out of self-loathing.

For one half-hour, he gets to think his life will be repaired and he 
can take care of James' son, as he promised to do, but that is 
wrenched away as well. Then he finds himself thrust back to his 
boyhood home, surrounded by hateful memories and can't properly watch 
over Harry.

And he can't properly fight. His courage questioned by Snape, locked 
in a pointless turf war with Molly, his talents ignored by 
Dumbledore, etc. etc...

Sirius never had a real chance at a real life. He's been mostly dead 
ever since he was thrown in Azkaban, with only flickers of a possible 
resurrection.
 
There was a chance he could have been saved before. Now, no longer.

Amy hit it on the head. No one with a sense of balance would have 
picked Sirius' death, but sometimes, things aren't balanced. 

Darrin