Sirius: Much Ado About Nothing

[A Featheringstonehaugh]

No: HPFGUIDX 73414

Sorry.  I know this is heresy, but....am I the only reader who 
does not like Sirius?  I find him rude, dismissive, self-centered, 
petulant, egotistical and irresponsible. He lives in the past and 
seems to prefer Harry there too, as a James substitute.  On more 
than one occasion goads Harry to be more like James, even though to 
do so could not only imperil the boy but does him a disservice for 
not seeing him as his own person.  Some guardian!  I don't see him 
as a father figure at all - he's a case of seriously arrested 
development and although this is probably the result of years in 
Azkaban, it is not an excuse to jeopardize Harry's security and 
future. He seems to give little thought to the consequences of his 
actions and has an incredibly inflated view of his potential value 
to the Order; so much so that he would willingly risk the security 
of the Order just to leave headquarters.  

Yes, I know, he talks about his concern for Harry and gives him 
gifts.  Great. But frankly, I don't see that talk translated into 
action.  Harry's affection for him is understandable but misplaced.  
Harry doesn't know Sirius well enough to have formed a real bond 
with him; rather he is so hungry for a parental figure to call his own 
that he projects all the attributes he longs for in a  father onto the 
"next best thing" - his Dad's best friend. And Sirius' death will only 
add to the undeserved aura of greatness he so passionately seemed to 
want for himself.
 
Molly sees through him and I think Dumbledore, Lupin and Snape do too.  
But out of respect for who and  what he once was, as well as the 
terrible life he's had, he and his antisocial arrogance are tolerated, 
but he's marginalized.  Had he lived, I think we'd have seen more of his 
true nature emerge from the fantasy personality that has developed in 
Harry's imagination and I suspect he'd not have remained the 
sympathetic character he obviously is for so many. 

AF