OoP: Lying and Emotions ( was What if? The death hadn't happened

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 62927

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "darrin_burnett" 
<bard7696 at a...> wrote:
> Stop
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> Lest
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> you've
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> Examined
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> Recent
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> in
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> and
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> Evil
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> Please.
 
> If Sirius had lived and the Order had managed to get him out of 
there before Fudge arrived, he'd have gone right back to his routine. 
Most likely, Fudge's new awakening would not have stretched so far as 
to include a pardon for Sirius. Maybe eventually, but not right away.>

I've been trying to figure out why JKR chose Sirius as the character 
who would die, and I'm coming up with some thoughts.  They're not 
fully formed, so bear with me here.

A definite theme in OoP is learning to control emotions.  Harry's 
emotions lead him to try and save Sirius, when Sirius did not need 
saving.  It was a trick.  Now, Harry might be more motivated to work 
on Occlumency more, as well as his anger and emotions in general.  
Perhaps Sirius's death will teach Harry exactly what weapons to use 
against Voldemort, because he already gave Voldemort a weapon to use 
against him.

Harry also can benefit from learning how to tell if someone is lying 
to him.  Umbridge's sick and twisted quill was evidence of that, as 
Harry's hand continued to bleed because he refused to tell her he was 
lying.  If he could master his emotions, Harry might be able to 
convincingly say "I'm sorry and I lied about Voldemort", even if he 
knew he didn't.  If he gets really good at this, Umbridge and her 
Nazi quill (and others) would believe him - whatever the lie is.

Harry, IMO, has the same capabilities as the DEs as far as rage 
goes.  There's no reason why he can't learn how to use their own 
hatred against them.  The fact that he was able to go up against 
Bellatrix at all is damned impressive.  His power in book 6 can only 
grow.

--jenny from ravenclaw *******************************************