TBAY: Wake Up Call aboard the U.S.S. SAD DENIAL

[marinafrants]

No: HPFGUIDX 73139

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Risti" <pretty_feet51 at y...> 
wrote:
> Risti and Eurydice bent down and examined the first canon.  "That 
> one explains how the curse was red, not green, that hit Sirius."
> 
> "Really," said Risti, pulling the OOTP-710 out of her jacket 
> pocket.  Taking aim, she blasted a hole into the canon with it.  A 
> voice seemed to echo around them.
> 

<snip>

> There was another bang, and again a voice relayed the same 
> information, in a slightly different accent.  "The 806 American 
> Issue," Eurydice said with a smile.  "I had George toss it in just 
> in case.  That argument doesn't hold up.  Nowhere in canon does it 
> say the second curse was the same as the first."
> 
> "In fact, from what Sirius said, it would be only natural that 
she'd 
> up the curse she was using to a higher level."  

"Excuse me," said a new voice from the doorway.  Risti turned around 
to see that Marina has entered the room.  Marina has sobered up 
somewhat since her last visit to SAD DENIAL, and was looking 
reasonably steady, thought still upset.

"Please stop inflicting gratuitous damage on a perfetly good canon," 
she requested politely.

"Perfectly good?" Risti snarled disbelievingly.  "What are you going 
on about?  As I just pointed out--"

"Yes, yes, there is no reason to assume that the second curse was 
the same as the first," Marina said impatiently.  "That's obvious 
enough.  I'm assuming no such thing.  The second bolt of light did 
not have to be red.  It might've been purple or magenta or 
aquamarine for all I know.  But there is plenty of reason to assume 
that it wasn't AK-green?"

"Oh?"  Risti's sneer was positively Snape-worthy.  "And what reason 
is that?"

"As we're so fond of pointing out on this list," said Marina, "We're 
seeing the events from Harry's perspective.  And Harry know 
perfectly well what Avada Kedavra looks like.  He's seen it, it has 
a deep and personal significance to him, he knows exactly how it 
works and what it does.  If Sirius had been hit in the chest by AK, 
Harry would recognize it instantly and know that Sirius was dead.  
Yet Harry stands there, confidently expecting that Sirius will re-
emerge on the other side of the archway, laughing and unharmed.  
Therefore, Harry knows that whatever hit Sirius, it wasn't AK. Harry 
may have become angry and angsty during OOP, but he has not become 
blind, stupid or delusional."


Risti took aim and 
> shot again.
> 
> "The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes 
widened 
> in shock
It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved 
in 
> a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil 
hanging 
> from the arch.  Harry saw a look of mingled fear and surprise on 
his 
> godfather's wasted, once handsome face as he fell through the 
> ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil."
> 
> Captain Terry looked close to tears.  "Did you have to bring that 
> up?  It still hurts to think about, you know!"
> 
> "Captain, canon shows that Sirius showed all the known signs of an 
> Avada Kedavra curse.  His face showed his last expression, as well 
> as shock, fear, and surprise.  Not only that, but the shot 
obviously 
> at least knocked him out the way he's `sank backwards'.  If that 
> wasn't enough, he disappeared behind the veil, and yes, the veil 
> would be enough to end his life.  He's dead."

"Excuse me," Marina broke in again, "But I think you need to take a 
look at the previous page (805 in US edition).  It tells us exactly 
what Sirius looks like right after the bolt hits him and he begins 
to fall: 'The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his 
eyes widened in shock.'  Notice something missing?" she asked.

"What?"  Risti's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Fear!  There is no fear in Sirius' expression when he starts 
falling.  He's surprised, but not afraid.  In fact, he's still 
laughing.  He shows no fear until he hits the arch.  That indicates 
two things: one, his expression changed during his fall, indicating 
he was still alive; and two, Sirius himself did not realize he was 
in danger until he realized he was falling through the veil."

Marina took out a soft cloth and some Windex and began to polish the 
SAD DENIAL canon, which sparkled prettily in the sun.

Marina
rusalka at ix.netcom.com