Deaths in OotP

[Susan Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 70376

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Kelly Grosskreutz" 
<ivanova at i...> wrote:
 THE DEATHS OF HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
<SNIP>  SIRIUS BLACK- Thinking about this death is what prompted me 
to start this whole project. There are tons of witnesses, so we don't 
have a second-hand report. We watched it happen. However, we do not 
have a body. The body disappeared. So, is he dead?
Let's take a close look at this scene. Sirius and Bellatrix are
dueling. Sirius ducks Bella's first red light spell. He taunts her, 
then is hit by a second jet of red light.

<A.G.>  We do not know the color of the second jet of light-many 
assume red because of prior spell, but this is not stated.

<KG>
We see his eyes widen in shock, although the laughter has not yet 
faded. He is still alive at this point. He begins to fall, sinking 
backward through the veil. As he falls through, his expression 
changes yet again, going from the shock we saw a moment ago into
fear and surprise. This indicates that Bellatrix's spell did not kill 
him, as his face was quickly changing expression the whole time he 
was falling up to the time he disappears. Keep in mind, though, that 
the last expression we do see is fear and surprise, two emotions that 
are commonly connected to the face of a man who has just realized his 
moment has come and death has come for him. This would indicate that 
we see the exact moment that Sirius knows he is going to die, seconds 
before he passes through the veil.

<A.G.>  all fear and surprise indicate is that Sirius was surprised 
that his cousin Bella got the best of him (recall his arrogant 
goading (spp?)); and fear-could be just that "FEAR".  After all if 
Sirius knows he is NOT dead but is passing through the veil-he could 
be afraid of what is on the other side.

Now, do I think he is dead-YES!  But, we know from Voldemort's claims 
that the dead can be resurrected-he tries to convert Harry by 
promising just that with his parents in COS(?)  We also know that 
communication with the dead is possible: poltergeists, ghosts, seers, 
magical portraits, centaurs, divination, etc.  Too, we know that the 
character of Sirius may return as a voice, a fragment of a dream, a 
vision in a mirror (Erised or otherwise magical mirror) or perhaps 
take form in a spell of protection (like James in Harry's patronus).
So, I do think JKR being what she is-will use the character again in 
either or both of book 6 and 7.  There are too many mysteries 
surrounding his role the night of the Potter deaths, and his family 
tree for us not to have "visits" of some type from Sirius.

A. G.

P.S.  If anything was learned from Book 5, it is that even Dumbledore 
can be mistaken, or be wrong.  After all he made some bad choices 
which some argue led (at least in part)to Sirius' death.