OOP: Signs of Death

[zanelupin]

No: HPFGUIDX 62123

I admit I have not yet had time to read through all the posts, so I 
don't know if this has been brought up.  
I was wondering if anyone else found Sirius being the one to die 
predictible?  I don't mean before the book was released.  Before, 
Sirius was one of the characters I least suspected to die.  As I read 
OOP, though, there seemed to be hints that Sirius was indeed the one 
who would die.  Harry constantly worried about him and his reckless 
behavior.  He was trapped in a house he hated with a house elf and 
portrait who hated him in return.  The signs pointed in his direction.
I fervently hoped that Sirius appeared too obvious to be the one as 
there were other candidates like Arthur Weasley and Neville.  I hoped 
it so hard that I began believing that Sirius couldn't possibly have 
died despite how the book read.  I managed to be shocked all the same 
when Bellatrix killed him.
So, did I delude myself into believing that Sirius wouldn't die, or 
is JKR just so great that she managed to befuddle me even though I 
thought it was clear through most of OOP that Sirius would die?

Forgive me if this is rambling and makes no sense.  I've had little 
sleep as I've spent almost all my time while not at work reading and 
rereading OOP.

KathyK