How was Harry going to kill Sirius?

[probonoprobono]

No: HPFGUIDX 53202

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Barclay, Maggie" 
<mbarclay at l...> wrote:
> Back to the Shrieking Shack.  How did Harry intend to kill 
Sirius?  He
> didn't yet know of Avada Kadavra, or, as far as I know, any other 
way of
> magically committing murder.  Is there something I'm missing?
> Mags
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I've always just thought that by this point in time, Harry is 
relying mostly on instinct; just impluse, hormones, and raging 
emotions. He wasn't thinking logically about the how-to's or even 
the consequences of his actions. Sort of a 'crime of passion' sort 
of scenario. 

What I really want to know is, part Kneazle or no, why would 
Crookshanks risk his/her/it's life for Sirius? As Harry approaches 
Sirius, his wand pointing straight at his heart "Crookshanks leapt 
onto Black's chest and settled himself there, right over Black's 
heart." And then wouldn't budge even as Sirius tried to push him 
away. What conclusion did Crookshanks come to about Black that lead 
to his willingness to perform this sacrice for Sirius? It's been a 
bee in my bonnet for months that just won't go away! 

-Tanya