OoP: What was the Point of this Death? And Phineas ??s

[greatlit2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 63013

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "kiricat2001" <Zarleycat at a...> 
wrote:
> Here's your obligatory spoiler space:
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> I confess up front that I'm a Sirius fan, so I'm probably 
approaching 
> this with a jaundiced eye.  Frankly, this death leaves a lot of 
holes 
> for me.  The relationship between Harry and Sirius seemed to be 
> getting stronger and I think that's something that could have been 
> explored further.  

I agree. I was especially intrigued by the idea that Mrs. Weasley 
presented, that Sirius had begun to view Harry as a substitute for 
James. As friends, Harry and Sirius could give each other hope, 
something which this series desperately needs right now. Harry would 
also have a father figure, which he needs more than ever. I suspect 
that Lupin, the Weasleys and Dumbledore will contact Harry more 
often, but ultimately, he will have to fend for himself and face his 
emotions alone. 


> Is this a comping-of-age thing where Harry has to deal directly 
with 
> the death of someone important to him, just to show life isn't 
fair?  
> I think the kid already has that lesson figured out.  After all, do 
> we all have to have a parental figure die when we're 15 to help us 
> grow up?

I don't see the point of this death, except to make Harry's life even 
more unbearably difficult than it already is. He holds himself partly 
responsible for Cedric's death, does he need this new burden as well?

> Is this an object lesson for Harry?  Listen to your elders because 
if 
> you leave the house when we tell you not to and go out and play in 
> traffic you might die?  

You might be correct. Harry is usually out of bounds (I sound so 
Snapeish) but he always gets away with it. This time he didn't. 
Perhaps this was a wake-up call that he cannot take matters into his 
own hands. If DD was not there to save him, he probably would have 
died that night. In a way, this makes the series more realistic and 
enjoyable, because in the real world, children do not run the show. 
Harry has been lucky so far, but he might have finally been put in 
his place.

> And the death itself leaves me with questions.
> 
> What curse killed Sirius?

We may never know, but I suspect it was Avada Kedavra, because he 
looked so surprised, but not in pain as he died. Cedric looked the 
same way.
> 
> Was he dead before he fell behind the veil?

Probably.
> 
> Is there significance to the veil being in the Dept of Mysteries?

I wonder what the purpose of that room is too. I think JKR will 
elaborate, especially because Luna and Harry discussed the room 
afterwards.
> 
> Who do we hear whispering behind it?
> 
I think it is the voices of the dead. My question is, can living 
people draw back the veil? What will they see? Was Sirius's body 
retrieved?

greatlit2003
mourning Padfoot :(